Chapter 6
Harry woke up, almost two weeks later, smiling. Today was the day when he could claim to the entire world that Draco was his, and vice versa. Nothing could go wrong.
He had barely managed to last the past few days without talking to Draco but he knew it was important not to. He had caught Draco staring at him intently and he wished he knew what was going on beneath that cold expressionless face, underneath those lifeless grey eyes. He was glad he knew that Draco was a brilliant actor and liar; for at times, he almost believed that Draco had no feelings for him. Which was impossible.
Harry went over to his chest and got out the box containing his robes for the party that night. He went to check that everything was in order but got the shock of his life when he saw them. Although they were still bright red, they caught the light in a way that made them seem like they were on fire. And beneath this light, and the golden edging that shimmered around it, were small golden snakes stitched into the robe. Barely visible to the eye, unless you knew what you were looking for; Harry knew this was Draco's way of branding him. The robes proclaimed he was a Griffindor, but those close to him could see the love of a Slytherin possessing him.
Although he loved the thought of wearing the stylish robes, he knew he could never wear them without being entirely self-conscious the entire night, even without the strain of being centre of attention over his relationship. He was about to leave to replace the dazzling robes with his original ones when Ron woke up.
"Wow! Is that what you're wearing tonight? You'll look amazing; you'll definitely break the hearts of all the girls out there when they discover you're Malfoy's."
"I'm about to take them back, Draco switched them. And honestly, I know there have been numerous fights and things but can't you at least call him by his name?"
"Fine, I'll do that, on condition that you wear those robes tonight. Whatever I've said in the past, the boy does have taste. And if you argue with that, you're putting yourself down as well as the robes."
Harry saw he'd been well and truly caught and sat down defeated. How he could wait till tonight to see Draco he didn't know but he'd manage. He had to.
// Where is he? He's half an hour late. Has Draco dumped him already and he's too upset to come out? //
Neville was waiting for Harry in the reception just outside the Great Hall. He had seen Draco looking at Harry with pure venom in his eyes, so he knew the potion had worked. What he didn't understand was that Harry still appeared to be oblivious. Neville had taken every step he could do endear himself to the famous boy, but all he seemed to talk about was Draco, Draco and Draco. It was sickening really and he would be glad when Harry was over with him.
Draco must have planned something for tonight. The stories were still going around about what had happened in Greenhouse 7. Neville was panicking; he only had tonight and tomorrow before Draco realised he was still in love with Harry. Word was that the boys had planned a big display weeks ago to announce their intentions towards each other. Would Draco still go through with it now that he hated Harry Potter? Something had to be in it for him now he no longer loved the boy, Neville knew, or else he would never risk getting involved with the Golden Boy and losing his father's approval.
Neville sighed and went inside the room. He knew something would happen and he would be around to pick up the pieces. For now he must go and entertain that girl, Ginny, who had been hanging round him for ages. He must admit it gave him a safety barrier from everyone discovering his adoration for Harry but she was rather tiresome. If she didn't leave him alone when Harry was his then he would have to deal with her.
And Harry WOULD be his.
A quarter of an hour later, Harry and Draco entered together. Everyone turned to see the usually quarrelling boys calmly walking into the Great Hall, then gasped in shock.
Harry wearing such an impressive robe would have been enough to make them gasp but the thing that made them struggle for breath was what the other boy was wearing. Bright Green robes with a silver lining, which reflected the light as if off a lake at night. And glistening in the light of the green were thousands of tiny silver lions. Both robes were identically styled to match and nothing could have made a larger statement than this.
Harry looked up at his partner smiling. When Draco looked down at Harry, he smiled too, if only at the adoring way in which Harry was looking. The boy found him irresistible and treasured him. How easy it would be to crush him; one small word could have him running away in tears. But he must be patient; the deal was to dump Harry at the end of the party. For now, he would have to be with Harry, dance with Harry, and kiss Harry. Although he hated the Raven-haired boy, he still remembered how well he could mould his lips to his, how well Harry could bite and lick. Pity.
In the dark, Neville glared at Draco. He was ruining everything. Harry was so taken with everyone knowing they were an item, Neville was almost afraid Harry might not notice when Draco dumped him. Draco would have to hurt him badly.
Harry, on the other hand, was really enjoying himself. He sensed something wasn't right with Draco but his stunt with the robes was enough to show his love. He loved walking in to all the attention, all the people staring and realising. He loved spinning around the floor, alternately leading and following Draco in the dances. And now he loved feeling everyone's gaze rest on him and his lover as Draco leant towards him and claimed his mouth in the centre of the dance floor. Harry responded and they kissed passionately until Harry was barely aware of the hundreds of other children and teachers gaping at the two seemingly eternal enemies making out in plain view. When Draco broke off the kiss Harry glanced confusedly up. Draco smiled with a hint of evil playing at corners of his mouth and he whispered to Harry that he would get drinks.
Harry returned to his friends on the edge of the dance floor. Some of them hadn't moved since the two boys had walked into the room.
"That was some show, Harry! You're a lucky guy." Ron stood up and walked over to where Hermione and Dean were dancing.
"Excuse me, may I intervene?"
Dean bowed to Ron and said certainly, but Hermione gazed in shock as Ron grabbed the other lad and danced him off around the floor. She walked up to Harry, and slapped him gently on the head to try and get him to stop laughing. He sobered up briefly at the hit but after looking at the annoyed expression on her face, collapsed into giggles on the floor. Hermione kicked him and sat down in a huff.
"Don't do it."
"Huh?"
"I said, don't do it, Draco."
Draco had been staring at the boy in scarlet across the room. He didn't understand what Goyle was talking about.
"Draco, it's off. I'm not gonna dump Seamus. I've fallen in love with him. I saw you a few weeks ago. You're in love with him. This past two weeks, you've been different; you haven't been with him. You can have the room; I forfeit."
"You're forfeiting? For the hyperactive Irish well established poof?" Draco snorted in disbelief. "Your death. I, however, am still going to crush Potter. In a while, I'm a tad thirsty. Fancy a drink?"
"You're crazy."
"Seam- you've got to warn Harry. Draco's going to dump him. He's going to humiliate him and then laugh. You have to get Harry out of here, now!"
"But- but."
"NOW!"
Harry walked calmly up to Draco. Seamus had warned him but Harry ignored him. Draco wouldn't do that to him; he couldn't. They were in love. Trusting emerald eyes met hard steel ones.
"Fancy a dance?"
The two boys made their way to the dance floor. They were so different; one so pale with hair so blond it could blind on a summer's day, the other tanned, with hair as dark as the other was fair. One so innocent, so trusting; the other deceitful and cynically evil.
They danced closely their bodies twisting in time to the music, swaying to the strong beat of the song. As the song reached its highest peak, Draco grabbed Harry's hair forcing him backwards. He bent him till Harry was relying on the hand in the small of his back to support him, then he claimed his lips in a long and final kiss. Then he let the smaller boy fall as he turned and walked out the room with everyone's eyes on his retreating figure and the defeated hero in the centre of the dance floor.
"Draco." came the strangled whisper.
"Goodbye Harry Potter" was the silent reply.
God, I hated writing that.
Harry woke up, almost two weeks later, smiling. Today was the day when he could claim to the entire world that Draco was his, and vice versa. Nothing could go wrong.
He had barely managed to last the past few days without talking to Draco but he knew it was important not to. He had caught Draco staring at him intently and he wished he knew what was going on beneath that cold expressionless face, underneath those lifeless grey eyes. He was glad he knew that Draco was a brilliant actor and liar; for at times, he almost believed that Draco had no feelings for him. Which was impossible.
Harry went over to his chest and got out the box containing his robes for the party that night. He went to check that everything was in order but got the shock of his life when he saw them. Although they were still bright red, they caught the light in a way that made them seem like they were on fire. And beneath this light, and the golden edging that shimmered around it, were small golden snakes stitched into the robe. Barely visible to the eye, unless you knew what you were looking for; Harry knew this was Draco's way of branding him. The robes proclaimed he was a Griffindor, but those close to him could see the love of a Slytherin possessing him.
Although he loved the thought of wearing the stylish robes, he knew he could never wear them without being entirely self-conscious the entire night, even without the strain of being centre of attention over his relationship. He was about to leave to replace the dazzling robes with his original ones when Ron woke up.
"Wow! Is that what you're wearing tonight? You'll look amazing; you'll definitely break the hearts of all the girls out there when they discover you're Malfoy's."
"I'm about to take them back, Draco switched them. And honestly, I know there have been numerous fights and things but can't you at least call him by his name?"
"Fine, I'll do that, on condition that you wear those robes tonight. Whatever I've said in the past, the boy does have taste. And if you argue with that, you're putting yourself down as well as the robes."
Harry saw he'd been well and truly caught and sat down defeated. How he could wait till tonight to see Draco he didn't know but he'd manage. He had to.
// Where is he? He's half an hour late. Has Draco dumped him already and he's too upset to come out? //
Neville was waiting for Harry in the reception just outside the Great Hall. He had seen Draco looking at Harry with pure venom in his eyes, so he knew the potion had worked. What he didn't understand was that Harry still appeared to be oblivious. Neville had taken every step he could do endear himself to the famous boy, but all he seemed to talk about was Draco, Draco and Draco. It was sickening really and he would be glad when Harry was over with him.
Draco must have planned something for tonight. The stories were still going around about what had happened in Greenhouse 7. Neville was panicking; he only had tonight and tomorrow before Draco realised he was still in love with Harry. Word was that the boys had planned a big display weeks ago to announce their intentions towards each other. Would Draco still go through with it now that he hated Harry Potter? Something had to be in it for him now he no longer loved the boy, Neville knew, or else he would never risk getting involved with the Golden Boy and losing his father's approval.
Neville sighed and went inside the room. He knew something would happen and he would be around to pick up the pieces. For now he must go and entertain that girl, Ginny, who had been hanging round him for ages. He must admit it gave him a safety barrier from everyone discovering his adoration for Harry but she was rather tiresome. If she didn't leave him alone when Harry was his then he would have to deal with her.
And Harry WOULD be his.
A quarter of an hour later, Harry and Draco entered together. Everyone turned to see the usually quarrelling boys calmly walking into the Great Hall, then gasped in shock.
Harry wearing such an impressive robe would have been enough to make them gasp but the thing that made them struggle for breath was what the other boy was wearing. Bright Green robes with a silver lining, which reflected the light as if off a lake at night. And glistening in the light of the green were thousands of tiny silver lions. Both robes were identically styled to match and nothing could have made a larger statement than this.
Harry looked up at his partner smiling. When Draco looked down at Harry, he smiled too, if only at the adoring way in which Harry was looking. The boy found him irresistible and treasured him. How easy it would be to crush him; one small word could have him running away in tears. But he must be patient; the deal was to dump Harry at the end of the party. For now, he would have to be with Harry, dance with Harry, and kiss Harry. Although he hated the Raven-haired boy, he still remembered how well he could mould his lips to his, how well Harry could bite and lick. Pity.
In the dark, Neville glared at Draco. He was ruining everything. Harry was so taken with everyone knowing they were an item, Neville was almost afraid Harry might not notice when Draco dumped him. Draco would have to hurt him badly.
Harry, on the other hand, was really enjoying himself. He sensed something wasn't right with Draco but his stunt with the robes was enough to show his love. He loved walking in to all the attention, all the people staring and realising. He loved spinning around the floor, alternately leading and following Draco in the dances. And now he loved feeling everyone's gaze rest on him and his lover as Draco leant towards him and claimed his mouth in the centre of the dance floor. Harry responded and they kissed passionately until Harry was barely aware of the hundreds of other children and teachers gaping at the two seemingly eternal enemies making out in plain view. When Draco broke off the kiss Harry glanced confusedly up. Draco smiled with a hint of evil playing at corners of his mouth and he whispered to Harry that he would get drinks.
Harry returned to his friends on the edge of the dance floor. Some of them hadn't moved since the two boys had walked into the room.
"That was some show, Harry! You're a lucky guy." Ron stood up and walked over to where Hermione and Dean were dancing.
"Excuse me, may I intervene?"
Dean bowed to Ron and said certainly, but Hermione gazed in shock as Ron grabbed the other lad and danced him off around the floor. She walked up to Harry, and slapped him gently on the head to try and get him to stop laughing. He sobered up briefly at the hit but after looking at the annoyed expression on her face, collapsed into giggles on the floor. Hermione kicked him and sat down in a huff.
"Don't do it."
"Huh?"
"I said, don't do it, Draco."
Draco had been staring at the boy in scarlet across the room. He didn't understand what Goyle was talking about.
"Draco, it's off. I'm not gonna dump Seamus. I've fallen in love with him. I saw you a few weeks ago. You're in love with him. This past two weeks, you've been different; you haven't been with him. You can have the room; I forfeit."
"You're forfeiting? For the hyperactive Irish well established poof?" Draco snorted in disbelief. "Your death. I, however, am still going to crush Potter. In a while, I'm a tad thirsty. Fancy a drink?"
"You're crazy."
"Seam- you've got to warn Harry. Draco's going to dump him. He's going to humiliate him and then laugh. You have to get Harry out of here, now!"
"But- but."
"NOW!"
Harry walked calmly up to Draco. Seamus had warned him but Harry ignored him. Draco wouldn't do that to him; he couldn't. They were in love. Trusting emerald eyes met hard steel ones.
"Fancy a dance?"
The two boys made their way to the dance floor. They were so different; one so pale with hair so blond it could blind on a summer's day, the other tanned, with hair as dark as the other was fair. One so innocent, so trusting; the other deceitful and cynically evil.
They danced closely their bodies twisting in time to the music, swaying to the strong beat of the song. As the song reached its highest peak, Draco grabbed Harry's hair forcing him backwards. He bent him till Harry was relying on the hand in the small of his back to support him, then he claimed his lips in a long and final kiss. Then he let the smaller boy fall as he turned and walked out the room with everyone's eyes on his retreating figure and the defeated hero in the centre of the dance floor.
"Draco." came the strangled whisper.
"Goodbye Harry Potter" was the silent reply.
God, I hated writing that.