A/N: hey, this chapter's out 2 days early. Wow.
Dedication: Sparks, for the idea about the Points, and things that I can't even begin to explain. Coffee addiction put aside (no, Harry, you can't have another cup! You'll wet the bed, and we know Drac won't like that... *g*), your emails have given me the motivation to not put this on hold just yet.
Everything Changes
by T.K. Yuy
Chapter 10- Questions of Love
Harry stormed back into his room, Draco trailing after him, trying to get him to stop for a second. Since Nathalie had left them, Harry hadn't said a word, and everytime Draco tried to touch him, he either sped up of brushed him off. He wasn't liking that. His lover's moods were changing far too quickly for it to be natural.
"Harry, please, would you just slow down and-"
"How dare you threaten her! You don't even know her."
"You didn't do much to stop me! For Merlin's sake, I've been having dreams with these fucking Dragons for months, what the hell amd I supposed to do? Ignore it? Ignore the fact that the man I'm sleeping with and falling in love with has been my arch-nemesis for almost 7 years? Am I supposed to ignore the fact that I have this God damned feeling that everything is going to end once we get inside the Hall? You tell me, Potter, what am I supposed to do?! You own me, damnit, and you fucking know it! Once you don't need me to be your grounding, everything is going to change. End. I'll be tossed out of your life faster than your parents were, and you won't give me the priviledge of being remembered as you remember them."
"You really think that I would ignore you, just because I don't need a mortal as my grounding? You're more than just my grounding, you're-"
"Bull. Fucking. Shit! Since 4th year, I've doubted my own feelings. Denied my father. Denied myself. I came to terms with the fact that I'm gay when I was 12, and I finally let myself accept that I was attracted to you in 5th year. Do you have any idea what it feels like to try and insult the one you know you're destined to protect? To love?"
"Yes, I do. Summer of 4th year, I told Ron and Hermione that I was gay. Beginning of 5th year, I tried to deny the fact that I was falling for you. By the end of 5th year, I had fallen hard, and it was then that I met the Council of Change. I had been inducted to the Order of the Phoenix the year before, and Dumbledore had no idea that I was more than the Heir of Gryffindor. Ormand helped me finish my Dragon Change, and once the final battle happened, I finished my Change as the Heir, my Power finally becoming active. I was completely Changed by the time 6th year ended, and once I completed yours, I was sure that what I was feeling wasn't just my Change. When I talked to Severus, he confirmed it. He said that he'd had strange 'attractions' to some of his fellow students during his Change. Well, his Change was completed before he graduated Hogwarts, and he found that it wasn't just an 'attraction', he was in love with my father."
Draco was shocked, to say the least. Severus Snape, was in love with James Potter? No way. Why would he have hated Harry so much if he was in love with his...
"Bloody hell!" he shouted, running both hands through his hair as Harry pulled Voldemort's wand from its place in the wall. "How did Snape meet Ormand?"
"Where did that come from?"
"Just answer the damn question, Potter."
"When he was Marked, his Watcher alerted the Council. Ormand was sent to take care of him, as he is the Slytherin representative."
"You know, even as Council member, I don't understand the whole 'representative' thing. Care to explain it?"
"When Hogwarts was built,the Powers thought it would be a good idea if they appointed someone to watch the students. The Powers found that teaching magic in a school like environment increases the speed at which a persons Change occurs, so they thought it best to have someone to watch over the Houses. The first students to complete their Changes at Hogwarts became their House representative. Liona is the Gryffindor Lion, Ormand, although his name means 'serpent', is the Slytherin Dragon, Fala is the Ravenclaw Crow, or Raven as it may be, and Brock is the Hufflepuff Badger. It was only an added bonus that they take those forms as their animagi."
"Ah, well, that explains it. So Snape and Ormand have been a 'thing' for all these years, huh?"
"They've only been 'together' since the Triwizard, but they saw eachother on a regular basis, more or less to discuss the Changes within the Slytherin House. Any other questions, or can we go into Hogsmeade now?"
"Potter..."
Harry had been changing his clothes as he and Draco spoke, and now leaned against the door frame, his wild hair wet looking and shimmering with something. Kaki pants and a blood red, ribbed, wide-necked turtleneck sweater, a black cloak hanging over one arm. Draco's eyes flashed, and he turned away before he could see Harry's do the same. He put a hand on the back of the couch, trying not to rip it apart, when arms wrapped around him from behind. He shuddered and an involuntary tear rolled down his cheek.
"I hate this." he said, his throat tight. "I hate not having any control over what I feel when I'm around you. I hate not being able to stop this over whelming fear that you're going to wake up one morning and hate me more than you ever have. For fuck's sake, I hate not being able to hate you any more!"
"Draco, I told you, as my grounding, things are going to be a little difficult."
"Difficult?! Difficult is not the word I would use, Potter! Do you have any idea how close I came to hitting Parkinson last night? Any idea what it took for me to not blow Zambini's insides up at dinner? Forget trying to have a normal life again, I'm stuck-"
"Do you love me, Draco?"
"What?"
"You said before that you loved me. Is it real, or is it just what you think is love? I can tell you right now, I've been in love with you since the day I first saw you, in Madam Malkin's. Thought you were unbelievable. Of course it wasn't until later that that feeling let itself be known as love, but I've always respected you, and looked up to you. Believe it or not, after I denied your friendship back in 1st year, I had to convince the Sorting Hat not to put me in Slytherin just because I was afraid of saying something, or doing something, that would make you hate me. Obviously, I shouldn't have."
They were quiet for a bit, before Draco threw himself into Harry's arms and kissed him, apparating them to his room so he could change his clothes and grab some money. Harry smiled as he then apparated them directly into Hogsmeade. To the Quidditch supply store there to be exact.
"What, may I ask, are we doing here?"
"I ordered something awhile back, and it came in yesterday. Good enough explaination for you, Potter?"
"Quite."
!*~*!
Dinner was just ending when they returned to Hogwarts, having apparated to Diagon Alley to go to Madam Malkin's and then to journey into Muggle London. They'd spent quite a bit of money, but were pleased with their purchases. In 2 weeks time, the whole of Hogwarts would see something they'd never forget. Their children's children's children would be talking about it, and even long after that.
"Harry, mate, where the hell have you been?!" Seamus asked, not noticing the blonde that walked by and up to Snape, "We've been worried sick man."
"Sorry 'bout that. I had a few last minute things to pick up for the Halloween Ball. You all have your costumes ready, don't you?"
Everyone started chattering about the ball, a much more appealing subject than where Harry Potter had been all day, and for a good portion of the evening, but he noticed that Ron and Hermione hadn't started to take part in it. He smiled and leaned over to Ron.
"You and 'Mione, come down to my room tomorrow. Draco and I have something for you." he said, eyes darting up to the afformentioned Slytherin as he started back towards him. "And watch out, he's sitting with me."
Draco ignored the silence that fell over the Hall as he sat himself right in his lap. Dumbledore smiled, and looked down at his 'House Point Calculator'. The red and green sands that represented Gryffindor and Slytherin were going up. As they started eating, it started filling faster. It seemed as if it was going to add Points to the Houses until something happened.
"Well, are you all just going to stare at us, or are you going to finish your meal?" Harry said, kissing Draco with a smirk.
That was all it took. The Hall erupted in a roar of talk, and McGonagall tapped Dumbledore on the shoulder.
"Albus, what's happening with the House Points?"
"It seems, Minerva, that Gryffindor and Slytherin have been awarded nearly 100 points each."
"I can see that, Albus, but why?"
"I don't know, but I intend to find out. Nothing like this has happened since the Point System was set into motion."
At the end of the Gryffindor table, ice blue eyes danced, and Nathalie smiled, dipping her quill as she went to finish her letter.
'... questions about love have been raised throughout Hogwarts, but they've figured it out. For the first time in many years, there's gonna be a tie for the House Cup. I wonder how they'll do with the upcoming quidditch match. Well, tell Teek I said 'hi'. Later!'
~TBC~
I have nothing to say about this chapter, other than I'm not overly happy with their argument. And yes, I am getting somewhere with this. Next chapter... I'm not sure when it'll be out. I've got it planned, I just have to find the time to write it. Should be out by next weekend, at the earliest. As always, send your questions and comments my way. I love getting them, and love even more to reply to them.
TK
Dedication: Sparks, for the idea about the Points, and things that I can't even begin to explain. Coffee addiction put aside (no, Harry, you can't have another cup! You'll wet the bed, and we know Drac won't like that... *g*), your emails have given me the motivation to not put this on hold just yet.
Everything Changes
by T.K. Yuy
Chapter 10- Questions of Love
Harry stormed back into his room, Draco trailing after him, trying to get him to stop for a second. Since Nathalie had left them, Harry hadn't said a word, and everytime Draco tried to touch him, he either sped up of brushed him off. He wasn't liking that. His lover's moods were changing far too quickly for it to be natural.
"Harry, please, would you just slow down and-"
"How dare you threaten her! You don't even know her."
"You didn't do much to stop me! For Merlin's sake, I've been having dreams with these fucking Dragons for months, what the hell amd I supposed to do? Ignore it? Ignore the fact that the man I'm sleeping with and falling in love with has been my arch-nemesis for almost 7 years? Am I supposed to ignore the fact that I have this God damned feeling that everything is going to end once we get inside the Hall? You tell me, Potter, what am I supposed to do?! You own me, damnit, and you fucking know it! Once you don't need me to be your grounding, everything is going to change. End. I'll be tossed out of your life faster than your parents were, and you won't give me the priviledge of being remembered as you remember them."
"You really think that I would ignore you, just because I don't need a mortal as my grounding? You're more than just my grounding, you're-"
"Bull. Fucking. Shit! Since 4th year, I've doubted my own feelings. Denied my father. Denied myself. I came to terms with the fact that I'm gay when I was 12, and I finally let myself accept that I was attracted to you in 5th year. Do you have any idea what it feels like to try and insult the one you know you're destined to protect? To love?"
"Yes, I do. Summer of 4th year, I told Ron and Hermione that I was gay. Beginning of 5th year, I tried to deny the fact that I was falling for you. By the end of 5th year, I had fallen hard, and it was then that I met the Council of Change. I had been inducted to the Order of the Phoenix the year before, and Dumbledore had no idea that I was more than the Heir of Gryffindor. Ormand helped me finish my Dragon Change, and once the final battle happened, I finished my Change as the Heir, my Power finally becoming active. I was completely Changed by the time 6th year ended, and once I completed yours, I was sure that what I was feeling wasn't just my Change. When I talked to Severus, he confirmed it. He said that he'd had strange 'attractions' to some of his fellow students during his Change. Well, his Change was completed before he graduated Hogwarts, and he found that it wasn't just an 'attraction', he was in love with my father."
Draco was shocked, to say the least. Severus Snape, was in love with James Potter? No way. Why would he have hated Harry so much if he was in love with his...
"Bloody hell!" he shouted, running both hands through his hair as Harry pulled Voldemort's wand from its place in the wall. "How did Snape meet Ormand?"
"Where did that come from?"
"Just answer the damn question, Potter."
"When he was Marked, his Watcher alerted the Council. Ormand was sent to take care of him, as he is the Slytherin representative."
"You know, even as Council member, I don't understand the whole 'representative' thing. Care to explain it?"
"When Hogwarts was built,the Powers thought it would be a good idea if they appointed someone to watch the students. The Powers found that teaching magic in a school like environment increases the speed at which a persons Change occurs, so they thought it best to have someone to watch over the Houses. The first students to complete their Changes at Hogwarts became their House representative. Liona is the Gryffindor Lion, Ormand, although his name means 'serpent', is the Slytherin Dragon, Fala is the Ravenclaw Crow, or Raven as it may be, and Brock is the Hufflepuff Badger. It was only an added bonus that they take those forms as their animagi."
"Ah, well, that explains it. So Snape and Ormand have been a 'thing' for all these years, huh?"
"They've only been 'together' since the Triwizard, but they saw eachother on a regular basis, more or less to discuss the Changes within the Slytherin House. Any other questions, or can we go into Hogsmeade now?"
"Potter..."
Harry had been changing his clothes as he and Draco spoke, and now leaned against the door frame, his wild hair wet looking and shimmering with something. Kaki pants and a blood red, ribbed, wide-necked turtleneck sweater, a black cloak hanging over one arm. Draco's eyes flashed, and he turned away before he could see Harry's do the same. He put a hand on the back of the couch, trying not to rip it apart, when arms wrapped around him from behind. He shuddered and an involuntary tear rolled down his cheek.
"I hate this." he said, his throat tight. "I hate not having any control over what I feel when I'm around you. I hate not being able to stop this over whelming fear that you're going to wake up one morning and hate me more than you ever have. For fuck's sake, I hate not being able to hate you any more!"
"Draco, I told you, as my grounding, things are going to be a little difficult."
"Difficult?! Difficult is not the word I would use, Potter! Do you have any idea how close I came to hitting Parkinson last night? Any idea what it took for me to not blow Zambini's insides up at dinner? Forget trying to have a normal life again, I'm stuck-"
"Do you love me, Draco?"
"What?"
"You said before that you loved me. Is it real, or is it just what you think is love? I can tell you right now, I've been in love with you since the day I first saw you, in Madam Malkin's. Thought you were unbelievable. Of course it wasn't until later that that feeling let itself be known as love, but I've always respected you, and looked up to you. Believe it or not, after I denied your friendship back in 1st year, I had to convince the Sorting Hat not to put me in Slytherin just because I was afraid of saying something, or doing something, that would make you hate me. Obviously, I shouldn't have."
They were quiet for a bit, before Draco threw himself into Harry's arms and kissed him, apparating them to his room so he could change his clothes and grab some money. Harry smiled as he then apparated them directly into Hogsmeade. To the Quidditch supply store there to be exact.
"What, may I ask, are we doing here?"
"I ordered something awhile back, and it came in yesterday. Good enough explaination for you, Potter?"
"Quite."
!*~*!
Dinner was just ending when they returned to Hogwarts, having apparated to Diagon Alley to go to Madam Malkin's and then to journey into Muggle London. They'd spent quite a bit of money, but were pleased with their purchases. In 2 weeks time, the whole of Hogwarts would see something they'd never forget. Their children's children's children would be talking about it, and even long after that.
"Harry, mate, where the hell have you been?!" Seamus asked, not noticing the blonde that walked by and up to Snape, "We've been worried sick man."
"Sorry 'bout that. I had a few last minute things to pick up for the Halloween Ball. You all have your costumes ready, don't you?"
Everyone started chattering about the ball, a much more appealing subject than where Harry Potter had been all day, and for a good portion of the evening, but he noticed that Ron and Hermione hadn't started to take part in it. He smiled and leaned over to Ron.
"You and 'Mione, come down to my room tomorrow. Draco and I have something for you." he said, eyes darting up to the afformentioned Slytherin as he started back towards him. "And watch out, he's sitting with me."
Draco ignored the silence that fell over the Hall as he sat himself right in his lap. Dumbledore smiled, and looked down at his 'House Point Calculator'. The red and green sands that represented Gryffindor and Slytherin were going up. As they started eating, it started filling faster. It seemed as if it was going to add Points to the Houses until something happened.
"Well, are you all just going to stare at us, or are you going to finish your meal?" Harry said, kissing Draco with a smirk.
That was all it took. The Hall erupted in a roar of talk, and McGonagall tapped Dumbledore on the shoulder.
"Albus, what's happening with the House Points?"
"It seems, Minerva, that Gryffindor and Slytherin have been awarded nearly 100 points each."
"I can see that, Albus, but why?"
"I don't know, but I intend to find out. Nothing like this has happened since the Point System was set into motion."
At the end of the Gryffindor table, ice blue eyes danced, and Nathalie smiled, dipping her quill as she went to finish her letter.
'... questions about love have been raised throughout Hogwarts, but they've figured it out. For the first time in many years, there's gonna be a tie for the House Cup. I wonder how they'll do with the upcoming quidditch match. Well, tell Teek I said 'hi'. Later!'
~TBC~
I have nothing to say about this chapter, other than I'm not overly happy with their argument. And yes, I am getting somewhere with this. Next chapter... I'm not sure when it'll be out. I've got it planned, I just have to find the time to write it. Should be out by next weekend, at the earliest. As always, send your questions and comments my way. I love getting them, and love even more to reply to them.
TK