Chapter Seven

Draco knelt down in front of the tall pine tree. The bark on its wide base was cracked and brittle from where the vines strangled it. He set the satchel onto the ground next to him and began reaping each of the Romeo's Kisses.

With nothing better to do than hold up the light, Harry slumped down against a nearby tree. He winced as he sat on a pinecone and tossed it aside. He shifted to a more comfortable position and crossed his ankles. He shivered, though no breeze broke through the dense foliage above. He wished he had worn a warmer cloak and looked at Draco's green and silver scarf enviously.

His aristocratic features were set in a look of concentration as he worked diligently, but slowly. He lifted one gloved hand to gently cup a flower, while the other hand twisted the stem behind it. He then repeated the process, carefully setting each flower into the bag, being mindful not to damage the petals as he handled them. Harry was surprised at how serious Draco was in his task. In his mind he always saw Draco as arrogant and careless.

He was also surprised Draco wasn't trying to make him do all the work. So far, Harry hadn't had to do anything more than watch. He suspected Draco was probably doing it to show off to Snape. Not that he needed to. Harry believed that even if Draco started swinging from the trees above singing 'I'm a little Clabbert' Snape would still praise him. He would probably even award Slytherin points for cleverness and reprimand Harry for not thinking of it first.

Such was the life of Harry Potter.

He glared at the other boy impatiently. He was still picking flowers. "Can't you hurry that a little?"

Draco didn't turn his head, but his steely grey eyes shifted toward him. "You're welcome to try and do better, Potter, but when we return with the bag half filled with mutilated blossoms, you can explain it to Professor Snape."

Normally Harry would have risen to the challenge, but it was late and he was tired. Though he'd never admit it to Malfoy, he didn't really think he could do a better job. Plus he didn't want to give Snape any reason to give him another detention. So instead he settled on making a face at Draco when he wasn't looking.

Draco sensed the movement out of the corner of his eye and turned in annoyance only to find Harry had closed his eyes and tilted his head back against the tree behind him. His black hair fell over his eyes, in desperate need of cutting. The light from his wand washed out his features making him appear paler than usual. As much as Draco despised everything Harry was, he couldn't help feeling a small amount of attraction. This more than anything else about Potter, annoyed Draco the most. He was much too thin, his clothes hardly ever fit right and his hair perpetually made him look as though he'd just rolled out of bed. Add to that he was a Gryffindor, a mudblood sympathizer, his archenemy, and the bloody Boy Who Lived and the attraction made no sense. And yet, at times, he still found Potter infuriatingly... cute.

Draco sneered at himself in disgust for thinking such a thing and turned back to his task. He kept his eyes averted from the other boy and tried to focus on what he was doing. He paused when he got to the last flower and dared another glance at Harry. His eyes were still closed and his mouth was slightly parted. His chest rose slowly up and down. Draco would have guessed he was asleep if not for the fist firmly grasped around his wand.

He waited a short moment to be sure Harry wouldn't open his eyes and slipped the flower into a pocket in his robes. He rose to his feet with little trouble and straightened out his robes. He was just pulling off his gloves, when a shadow caught his eye.

Its shape twisted slightly and moved closer, gliding silently across the ground. Draco's heart pounded heavily against his chest. He clutched a shaky hand around his wand and swallowed nervously. 'No, not a shadow,' Draco soon realized as it neared. It paused as it reached the threshold of Harry's wand-light. It edged around the barrier of light and darkness.

It rose up, resembling something out of Draco's nightmares, before crossing over into the light.

Draco held back a gasp. It appeared to be a black robe, moving without a corporeal body. All light vanished against it, as though it was nothing more than a dark void or some kind of sentient black hole.

It slowed as it reached Harry's feet.

Draco forced his breathing to calm, before he attempted speaking. Quietly, he warned, "Potter, don't move. Don't speak."

He saw Harry's hand tense around his wand, before his eyelids flashed open, revealing startling green eyes. They widened as they saw what was inching up his leg.

Draco pointed his wand at what was now up to Harry's knees and shouted, "Stupefy!"

A spark flashed from Draco's wand and hit the dark creature against its side. The spell seemed to be absorbed into its blackness and had no affect. With a determined scowl, Draco straightened his arm. "Stupefy!" Still, the spell did nothing. However the creature finally took notice of Draco and turned away from Harry.

Its flattened body rippled across the ground as it glided towards Draco. Draco's stormy eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and fear. The muscles on his arm tensed and flexed under the sleeve of his robe as he took aim. In a strangled voice he cried, "Crucio!" The thing faltered only slightly, before it readied itself to attack.

Draco, fully realizing his imminent danger, pushed away the feeling of shock that was creeping over him and jumped out of the way. He ran, stumbling, toward Harry, who was already on his feet. He grabbed him by his arm, pulling the dark haired boy along as he ran. It didn't take long for Harry to start moving his feet too and Draco let go.

"What was that?" Harry demanded in a breathless voice as they ran through the forest.

"How should I know?" Draco snarled angrily, but even as he said it, he was searching through his mind for some recollection of a similar creature.

"Wait!" Harry exclaimed grabbing a hold of his sleeve, stopping him.

Draco turned in annoyance. "Don't stop, the thing's probably still behind us."

"We need to get back to the path! We're going in the wrong direction."

"Well, what direction is it?"

Harry looked wildly around. "I... I don't know."

"Great." Draco quickly looked around their surroundings then pointed in a direction. "That way."

"You're sure," Harry asked, looking unconvinced.

"Yes," growled Draco, before clamping a hand on Harry's shoulder and shoving him in the direction, ahead of him.

They ran for a long while and it became obviously clear that they were nowhere near the path.

When Draco's side began to hurt and both boys became too breathless to run any further, they slowed then halted under a grove of younger trees. Draco clutched his side and tilted his head up, trying to catch his breath. The branches of the trees were thinner here and Draco could see the stars piercing the night sky above.

When Harry finally had enough breath to speak he turned on Malfoy with a glare. "This is the way to path, huh, Malfoy?"

Draco didn't flinch. "Oh please, Potter. Like you had any better idea what direction the path lay."

Harry's eyes narrowed in accusation. "You just picked a direction at random and ran, didn't you?"

Adrenaline still pumped through Draco and his face already a faint shade of pink from the running, deepened. He angrily spat, "So what if I did? Better than standing around waiting for that thing to catch up with us!"

At the mention of the creature that pursued them, both boys quieted. They looked uneasily at the dirt ground and tried ineffectually to peer into the shadows that surrounded them. Forgetting their argument, they moved closer together, holding their wands firmly.

"Do you see it?" whispered Harry.

"I can't see a thing, Potter. Only shadows and more shadows. It could be anywhere," Draco said in a less than quiet voice.

Harry made a shushing noise.

Draco sneered irritably. "Why? As far as I could tell that thing doesn't have ears."

"Maybe not, but there are other things in this forest, than just... whatever that was."

Draco felt a sudden queasy sensation in the pit of his stomach. He wondered how he could have been so daft as to follow Potter. He knew it was a bad idea and yet he went along anyway. He couldn't have Potter thinking he was afraid, his pride wouldn't allow it. Draco realized his pride got him in more trouble than anything else did. 'No, scratch that. Harry Potter gets me into more trouble than anything else.' He glanced at the boy next to him. 'I should have let that monster have him. I could have runaway. Why didn't I? Why did I save him?'

His thoughts were interrupted by a muttered exclamation. "Snape, of course!"

Draco stared at the black haired teen in confusion. "What?"

"Snape is still out there! Send a flare up, he'll come find us."

Draco nearly slapped himself on the forehead, but refrained. 'Snape. Why didn't I think of that? Instead we've been running around like madmen.' He ignored the little voice that told him it was because he was too scared at the time to think of anything else. 'Malfoys' are never afraid.' At least that's what Draco's father always told him. Determined not to let his emotions rule his actions any longer, he lifted up his wand and pointed it at the sky.

A green light burst from the tip of Draco's wand and shot up into the air leaving a sparkling trail after it. It hung in midair a moment, before dispersing in a brilliant explosion of sparks. The forest was cast in an eerie green glow as the sparks fell down and shimmered around them.

Draco watched as the magical specks of light twinkled down, when he felt something nudging his side. He looked down to see it was Harry's hand and glanced up to meet his face, only to find Harry wasn't looking at him, but something past him. He turned with a sense of dread and saw what it was.

The lingering light from the flare illuminated the area around them and everything in it, including a sinuous black shape that skulked along the trees that encircled them. It seemed wary of the green light and kept to the shadows.

Draco's heart, which had finally started to slow down, sped up again. This time however, he forced himself to remain calm. He studied the strange creature as it rippled like a cloak over the weeds and grass that covered the forest floor. He went through the catalogue in his mind of all the beasts and magical creatures he had memorized over the years. There was very little that could withstand the Cruciatus Curse, which quickly narrowed down the choices. Finally something clicked. "I know what it is. It's a Lethifold!"

"Great! Now how does that help us," asked Harry and Draco noticed how much closer the Lethifold had gotten.

"I know how to defeat it," Draco said with more confidence then he really felt.

"Terrific, what are you waiting for then? Do it!"

Draco raised his wand once more. He took a calming breath, closed his eyes, and in a clear voice said, "Expecto patronum!"

Nothing happened.

Draco swore loudly. "I can't do it. You'll have to."

Harry squeezed his eyes shut, but no happy memories would come to him.

"What's the matter," Draco's snappish voice broke his concentration.

"I can't do it either."

Harry heard Draco curse under his breath. "I've seen you do this first-hand, Potter. I know you can do it. Just think of something pleasant. Think about... your first kiss," suggested Draco urgently.

Draco didn't know how it was possible for Harry to blush in a life-threatening situation. "I've never..." Harry was too embarrassed to continue.

"You've got to be kidding me," but Draco knew he wasn't. Harry had just the sort of nobility that would probably prevent him from using his celebrity status to get girls. Draco doubted many girls, or guys for that matter, would even be interested in Potter if it wasn't for that scar on his head. He didn't have the kind of stunning beauty that was noticeable at first glance. It was there, but one had to look closer to see it.

Harry's eyes were wide as he stared back at Draco. His cheeks were rosy from the combination of cold and embarrassment. Draco's eyes drifted down to his pink lips, which parted slightly. In the back of his mind, Draco knew the Lethifold was getting closer. Something compulsive inside him took over and unthinkingly Draco grabbed the front of Harry's robes, pulled him closer, and pressed his lips against the other boy's. Harry stood momentarily still, in shock. It quickly wore off as he fully realized who was kissing him. With a disgusted noise, he forcefully pushed Draco away.

"Wha-" Harry's voice cracked. He tried again, "What was that?"

Draco did his best to shrug nonchalantly, though on the inside he was reeling at what he'd just done. "Just trying to give you something pleasant to think about."

Anger sparked through Harry's eyes. "Draco, that was not pleasant!" He wiped a shaking hand across his mouth.

Draco didn't know why, but anger swelled up inside him at Harry's words and he shouted, "Well forgive me for not thinking clearly when I'm about to be devoured by a living cloak! Which you are about to be too, if you hadn't noticed. Now if you don't mind, think some bloody happy thoughts and summon that damn stag!"

The last of the magical embers were dying out and the Lethifold took the opportunity to glide towards them.

Harry once again closed his eyes and visibly calmed himself. He let the first happy thought that came to mind, wash over him. A strange warm sensation surrounded him. His toes and fingers tingled and it felt as though butterfly wings fluttered against the insides of his stomach. He felt light and heavy at the same time. He tried not to think why this particular thought made him feel this way and instead tried to just lose himself to it. Unbidden, he heard his voice say, "Expecto patronum!"

He opened his eyes to see a silver-white stag charging from his wand toward the Lethifold that threatened them. It speared the cloak-like creature with its antlers and shook its head viscously, tearing it apart. Black shreds fell to the ground harmlessly. The Patronus stomped its hooves, then turned to look back at Harry. Harry stared back at it and took a step forward. His arm reached out to touch the stag, but before his fingers could brush against its silver hide, it disappeared. He let out a disappointed sigh, then looked down at the remains of the Lethifold. It was no longer a threat.

He heard Draco step beside him and say, "That was incredible."

"You think?" Harry glanced at him sideways. Shadows accentuated his angular face and his grey eyes remained fixed on the spot where the stag had stood. His expression was that of awe and Harry blinked in surprise.

Draco caught Harry staring and quickly schooled his expression into that of his usual apathetic manner. Silently he cursed himself for letting his guard down. He turned away and peered into the forest around them. "Where the bloody hell is Snape?"

Harry continued to stare at him. He seemed distracted and it took a moment before he answered, "I- I don't know."

Draco turned to face him and was slightly taken aback by the strange expression Harry was studying him with. Draco stared back trying to decipher its meaning. His sharp voice cut through the silence, "What?"

"Malfoy, why did you kiss me? Really?"

Draco physically flinched at the question. He briefly wished that he knew how to properly use the Obliviate curse. It would be much easier to erase the memory from both their minds than try to explain it. "I panicked. That's all. It didn't mean anything, if that's what you're thinking."

"Oh." Harry didn't say anymore. His gaze drifted down towards the ground at his feet.

Draco narrowed his eyes at him. "You're not going to tell anyone are you?"

Harry's eyes widened as he looked up. "No!" Quieter he replied, "No, I'm not. It's not exactly something I want others to know about either, you know." After a moment he added, "Besides," an impish grin grew on his face, "Who would believe me?"

"There's that," agreed Draco, glad that Harry didn't seem to be making too much of it. "I'm having a bit of trouble believing it myself."

"Hmm," was all Harry said. He was still staring at Draco strangely.

Draco shifted uncomfortably and crossed his arms. "Was there something else?"

Harry shook his head. "No. Nothing," he replied, but his expression clearly said otherwise. "I don't think Snape's coming. We should try to find the path and get back to Hogwarts. I have a bad feeling about this."

Draco looked at him incredulously. "Now you have a bad feeling?"

Harry ignored his sarcastic tone. "Something's not right. I remember now, reading about Lethifolds. They like hot climates, right? So what was one doing here at Hogwarts? I think this may have been more than a chance encounter. And where's Snape? He must have seen the flare."

"So what are you saying? That someone deliberately set that thing on us? Who would do such a thing?"

Harry narrowed his eyes on him. "Gee, Malfoy, I don't know. Who could possibly want me dead?"

"You can't mean..." Suddenly everything seemed to click together in Draco's mind. Draco receiving detention with Harry. Draco informing his father. Snape leading them into the forest and sending them off alone. The Lethifold. It all made sense. They had been set up. 'By Voldemort.' Draco shook the idea from his head. 'It couldn't have been Voldemort. It doesn't make sense. Why tell me to make friends with Potter, then immediately try to kill him? And why not tell me beforehand?' "You're insane, Potter. How could he even get onto the school grounds? There are wards protecting it just for that reason! And why would he send some creature after you? Why not come himself? Its more likely that great oaf, Professor Hagrid, is at fault. He's always smuggling in dangerous creatures. Maybe it's one of his?"

Harry looked offended. "Even Hagrid wouldn't bring something that dangerous near school grounds!"

"Are you so certain?"

Harry's indignant look faltered and Draco could see that he wasn't. He decided it was useless debating where, or whom, the creature may have come from and said, "I think we should get back to finding the trail."

Harry looked like he wanted to say something more, but instead nodded his head in agreement. "But which way?"

Draco smiled, slightly smugly, as an idea came to him. He held up his wand and muttered a spell. The wand lifted from his hand, perpendicular to the ground. It spun around a few times before finally settling on a direction. Draco looked at where it was pointing, then pointed his hand to the left. "That way."

Harry looked at him curiously. "What was that?"

Draco grabbed his wand from the air and smiled. "A compass spell. The wand will always point to the north. Hogwarts is to the west of us, therefor we go left."

"Hmm... That's a very handy trick there, Malfoy, but I'll believe it when I see it."

Draco bowed mockingly. "Then watch, Potter, and be amazed."

"Right." Harry waved his arm in the direction Draco had indicated. "Shall we go then? I think I'll feel a lot better once I can actually see the Hogwarts castle."

Draco agreed, happy to leave the forest and its beasts behind.

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