Disclaimer:
Same as it was in Chapter one!
A/N OK, I have to say thank you here to all the people who read and reviewed my other little Christmas ficlet "A Christmas Kiss" Thank ya'll so much. I'm happy Harry and Draco snogged too lol. Second, to all of you who have been so nice to review THIS fic and who have been so patient as I'm soooo behind, thank you dearly! I really am having a fun time with this fic. And I'm glad ya'll seem to be too! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (whatever you celebrate)
The Twelve Days Of Christmas By: Gum Acacia
On The Ninth Day Of Christmas, My True Love Gave To Me...
Harry Potter had managed to stay hidden inside his room for the entire morning that day. Seamus had tried to bring him down for breakfast but Harry had adamantly refused. There was no *way* he was going anywhere near any room that could possibly contain 'him' inside. But of course, he didn't tell Seamus this, instead he concocted the reason that he simply didn't feel like socializing.
But this, Seamus pointed out, was exactly what the blonde boy was trying to keep the dark haired boy from doing! So, Harry relented towards the later hours of the day and agreed to at least come out of his self- induced tomb for dinner.
As Gryffindors' 'Golden Boy' made his way into the hall, he felt a sudden overwhelming reluctance wash over him. Without even looking towards the Slytherin table, he knew the object of his reclusivness was in the hall, his silver eyes already on the now wary young boy.
Harry felt himself start to flush and he quickly made his way towards the Gryffindor table upset that the only remaining seats would have him directly facing the Slytherin side of the room, the exact direction he in no way wanted to look.
He steeled himself with resolve always associated with Gryffindors and sat down. His face was frozen, a mask of emptiness. But Seamus, who was used to seeing his friend wear his emotions abundantly open, immediately knew something was wrong.
"Harry, are you-"
"I'm fine, Seamus," Harry replied quickly not waiting for the other boy to finish. He grabbed a few things and piled them onto his plate. Then he proceeded to stare blankly at the suddenly unappetizing food.
Seamus nodded his head. He was used to the other boys' sudden change of moods, but lately they had been even more difficult to follow. He was determined to get to the bottom of things as soon as possible...tonight if all went according to plan.
Seamus turned his attention towards the object of his seduction attempts pleased to see that Blaise was having a very difficult time keep his attention away from the Irish boy. He caught Blaises' eye for a moment, winking at him, before Blaise ripped his eyes away turning a vibrant shade of red.
"It's almost too easy," Seamus whispered to himself. When he had grabbed Blaise yesterday and had kissed him, he had truly believed the other boy was going to try and kill him. Hell, at least hit him. But the Slytherin had just frozen on the spot his eyes wide with surprise, but other then that, no negative reaction. Seamus could have sworn he even felt a small response from the other boys' lips.
And now he had the look of someone who had been thoroughly snogged and had something to hide. 'Something to hide,' Seamus thought to himself. That looked like Harry. He returned his focus back to his friend, this time concentrating on the expression hidden beneath his facade. He was definitely hiding something.
'A little too much like Blaise,' Seamus thought with surprise. Had both boys had similar things to hide? He looked back over to the Slytherin table and nearly spit out his pumpkin juice as he did. Draco Malfoy was busy practically burning holes into Harrys' downcast face. What had gone on last night?
As Harrys' eyes looked up and met Dracos' for the briefest moment before both quickly looked away, Seamus had begun to suppose that what he suspected to be happening between the two, might actually be occurring. Which was in itself amazing, but even more so that the world had yet to come to an unexpected end.
Harry however was trying to hide the surfeit of emotions that were now cascading through his body. He felt as though he were doing something very wrong suddenly, but at the same time he felt a longing for whatever supposed forbidden thing he was still refusing to name. He felt embarrassed and suddenly very candid. And that openness made him feel incredibly naked and vulnerable.
Suddenly Hogwarts, the one place that had always seemed to be an unbreakable refuge for him, felt like a prison. He wanted to get out of the hall, get out of the building and get off the bloody grounds! The air felt dense with tension. It was as though there was an electrical field around the boy, and it's constant humming was starting to drive him mad.
That tugging in his gut was back and his breath was suddenly gone. He knew what would give him back his breath, what would alleviate the pull he was feeling. He had to look; he had to see what the other boy was doing.
Harry glanced up, a silent gasp leaving his lips. Draco was looking right at him! He averted his eyes swiftly, but not before noticing the other boy was turning away also. His blood was boiling again and the ringing was back.
"Harry mate," Seamus said interrupting Harry's thoughts, "you look like you're gonna be sick! That's not very festive of you." He laughed as he said this hoping his friend would join him, but Harry just looked at him, a silent plea hidden somewhere in his eyes.
"I don't think I should have come down here Seamus," Harry stood abruptly. He almost tripped as his moved his legs from one side of the bench to the other.
"But you haven't eaten a thing! And Dobby told me earlier that we're supposed to have fig pudding tonight! Damn it Harry, figgy pudding! You can't get more Christmassy then that, it's in a bloody song!" Seamus stood up grabbing his friends arm, he noticed that it was shaking slightly.
"If you don't want me to throw *up* that pudding, you'll just let me go." Harry pulled his arm away feeling suddenly overwhelmingly dizzy. He had to get out of here, to somewhere he could breath!
"That's it! I'm taking you to Pomfrey." Seamus stepped forward grabbing the other boy by the arm, pointing his wand at him in case he needed further 'persuasion.'
Harry nodded mutely; he didn't care where he ended up as long as it was away from here. Harry could feel that burning in the back of his head again and he put on an added burst of speed so that his friend had to jog to keep up with him.
"You're not supposed to get sick at Christmas Harry. That really sort of impairs most of the plans I've made." Seamus chewed on his lip thoughtfully.
"What plans?" Harry asked not really caring what the answer was as an overwhelming sense of relief mixed with something else ('not regret,' he thought quickly) washed over him.
Seamus paused for a moment, "Oh, umm, just the Christmas stuff." He watched the other boy closely. Harry just nodded and Seamus doubted he had even been paying attention.
They made their way to the hospital wing and Seamus quickly explained to a very impatient Madam Pomfrey that Harry had been feeling ill.
"-and I mean he looks green, which I think is taking the spirit of Christmas just a tad to far." The Irish boys said pointing to his friend.
Harry laughed feeling suddenly calmer and more in focus. "I think I just got a bit dizzy is all."
Poppy clucked her tongue, did a few quick sensory spells and then diagnosed Harry was probably just over-stressed. She handed him a bar of chocolate insisting that he eat half of it now before he left and the other half before he went to bed.
Seamus walked Harry back to their dorm relenting on trying to get him to at least stay in the common room and instead keeping his company in their quiet room.
"Blaise was there tonight." Harry spoke suddenly almost as an afterthought, a small grin on his face breaking the almost haunted look that had appeared and stayed since their entrance into the great hall.
"That he was," Seamus said sighing as he fell down onto his bed, "in all his Slytherin glory. Harry, was there ever a time when snogging someone was actually something I didn't think appealing?"
Harry laughed, "Not since you were three I'd wager."
"Harry, I need to ask you a question."
"No, I've never snogged Blaise." Harry said laughing lightly. He crossed the room and laid down on his own bed grinning at his friend from across the room.
Seamus snorted, "Well, thank you for that little bit of information, but I wasn't going to ask you that." Harry motioned his hands as if to say continue, and Seamus did. "What's going on with you?"
Harry looked slightly confused but said nothing ignoring the sudden pounding that was deluging his heart.
Seamus tried again, "I mean, what happened yesterday with the trees? You left early and then you didn't even say a word when I came up here. And now you and Draco both look guiltier then the Weasley twins when their Mum found out about their store."
Harry started at the mention of the other boy, he face immediately going blank. "I don't know what you mean."
"For crying out loud, Harry. Talk to me!" Seamus rolled off his bed and moved to sit next to Harry, his added weight making the bed creak slightly as he sat down. "Do I have to go and steal some Veritaserum from Snape?" He grinned down at the other boy trying to make him smile.
He succeeded in getting only a slight smirk. "I can't tell you what I don't know."
Seamus stood quickly again crossing his way back over to his bed. "If I told you I had a potion that would help you figure that out, would you take it?" Seamus ignored the questioning look on Harry's face and began to search his chest. He whispered a few words to take down privacy wards and in a few minutes found what he was looking for.
He crossed back over to Harry who eyed the bottle the boy was now holding suspiciously. He read the label and couldn't resist laughing, "Mouthwash? This is your big potion?"
Seamus shook his head, "That's just to keep anyone from stealing it if they managed to get past my wards. This Harry, is a powerful potion that the Irish have used for generations to solve problems!"
Harry sat up, "What is it?"
The blonde boy opened the bottle and took a small swig. His eyes widened slightly before he burst into a big grin, "Ogden's Fire Whiskey! If Dumbledore and Moldy Warts sat down with a bottle of this, we wouldn't have to worry about a war this summer."
Harry laughed quietly, he reached for the bottle Seamus was holding ignoring the voices of Hermione, Mrs. Weasley and Sirius that were now flooding his mind. He took the bottle wiping the mouth with one shaky hand and took a deep gulp. The liquid burned his throat as he swallowed and he immediately began coughing trying to ignore the fire in his stomach.
Harry realized the whiskey was well named, his stomach felt like it was housing molten lava and his skin began to itch underneath, as tiny flames seemed to dance on Harrys' skin. When he opened his eyes the room looked like it was on fire. Red and orange were surrounding everything now, and Seamus' head appeared to be burning.
Harry gasped but Seamus quickly explained the side effects, laughing at the look of terror that was slowly fading from his friends' face. "Sent a bottle to my dad last year, he's been hooked on the stuff ever since."
Harry took another deep gulp from the bottle amazed that the liquid seemed to be putting out the other smoldering fire, only moments later to re-ignite anew. He began to feel deeply relaxed and his vision felt slightly blurry. He realized that other then a half bar of chocolate, he hadn't really eaten anything that day, and perhaps it was not such a good idea to be consuming so much alcohol. He silenced that doubt with another swig.
Seamus pulled the bottle from Harrys' fingers; amused that the other boy seemed to be already well onto his way to being completely drunk.
"Englishmen," Seamus whispered softly under his breath.
Harry was busy opening and closing his fingers amazed at how different they felt. "You know, I've never actually had al-mo-hal before." His words were slurring but he continued to stare at his hands, which were varying from shades of red to orange. He took the bottle back from Seamus tracing the word 'mouthwash' with his fingers.
"Well that," Seamus said his voice laden with sarcasm, "is a complete surprise to me!" He let the boy have another long drink before he took the bottle away replacing the cap tightly. "I think you've already had enough of my 'magic potion' Harry."
Harry sat up amazed at the dizzy feeling in his head. It was somewhat pleasant as though all the problems that were plaguing him only minutes before had somehow vanished. He looked around the room trying to see just where they went. "Did they go over there?" Harry asked, his hand pointing to an empty bed.
Seamus just laughed having no clue as to what the other boy was speaking of. "I don't really know, mate." He grinned as Harry stumbled off his bed crouching down on the floor next to Rons' bed looking underneath. "Any luck?"
Harry shook his head, "s'not here."
Seamus helped the boy to his feet charmed at his friends' inability to stand without swaying.
"S'windy in here, don choo think?" Harry tried to focus on Seamus but realized it was futile. He pulled off his glasses to see if that made any difference. Seamus contorted even more out of focus and Harry laughed, "Choo look like a Gnome!"
Seamus helped the other boy put his glasses back on and guided him to his bed. He took off the dark-haired boys' shoes and pushed him back so that he lay on his bead. "Is that better?"
Harry laughed sounding slightly giddy as he did so, "No, choo still look like a Gnome."
The Irish boy laughed, "I'm going to take great insult to that when you're sober."
Harry sat up, his face screwed up in unbelieving anger, "Gannifin, are trying to say I'm drunk?" He hiccuped loudly and returned to giggling.
"Oh no, not at all! As a matter of fact, I've never seen someone so collected." Seamus pulled off the other boys' robes and unbuttoned the top of his pants.
Harry sat back up quickly his glasses falling to the bed as he did so. He turned in Seamus' direction and laughed as he now saw two Seamus shaped Gnomes. "Do you want to know what I got you for Christmas?"
Seamus, always one to take advantage of an inebriated friend, nodded his head. "If you want to tell me."
Harry pointed to his dresser drawer. "S'in there. But you can't tell me I told you, or I'd have to kick my arse, s'posed to be a secret!"
Seamus greedily opened the drawer and saw that it contained a small envelope. Inside was a ticket and itinerary dated for next Christmas. "What's this?"
Harry suddenly had a very sad look on his face. "S'for if we don't die."
Seamus put the envelope back down and closed the drawer. "What are you talking about?"
Harry had a very glazed look in his eyes, and Seamus thought it looked as though the other boy was going to cry, but he remained emotionless. "S'for the five of us," he said pointing to the other empty beds, "when the war's over, *if* it's ever over. If we don't die, I want us to go somewhere together. Choo are my best mate's ya know?"
Seamus embraced the other boy, suddenly feeling very foolish for only buying the other boy a new traveling cloak for their last year. "I know." Seamus released the other boy deciding he had already spoiled his Christmas present, he might as well ask some questions. "What happened between you and Malfoy?"
Harry wrinkled his nose in disgust, "Think he's put a shpell on me."
"Why's that?"
Harry lay back down, suddenly more awake. "Dunno really. He just won't get out of my head, ya know? S'really rude."
Seamus sat back down on the bed wondering how far he should go with his line of questioning, he crossed his fingers praying that Harry wouldn't remember this in the morning. "What happened yesterday?"
Harry snorted rolling onto his stomach pressing his face into the pillow. "Dunno." Harry said nothing else for a few minutes and Seamus was about to try again when Harry rolled back over staring at the boy, his eyes wide with confusion. He pointed at nothing trying to emphasize some nameless point. "I almost kissed him."
Seamus didn't even bother trying to hide his surprise. He had suspected as much but to actually hear it confirmed was incredible. "Wait, you tried to kiss him or he tried to kiss you."
Harry thought for a minute with some difficulty. "Bothe I S'pose. I leaned in first, but he wanted to too. S'there some'n wrong with me?"
Seamus smiled sadly. "No, Harry there isn't."
"Choo think he jinxed me?"
"Not unless he jinxed himself as well. Are you going to do anything about this?" Seamus brushed the hair out of Harry's face, suddenly feeling very paternal. It was a common feeling when you were around the boy for very long. He had a weight and years that shouldn't belong to someone so undeserving of burden.
Harry sleepily looked at Seamus, "was planning on hiding up here for the rest of the year, ac-chooly." Harry got up on his hands and knees trying to stop the swaying feeling.
"I don't think that's going to help anything."
"When I'm 'round him though, my heart goes s'fast and my hands keep shaking. I think I'm 'lergic to him."
Seamus laughed, "I don't think that's the problem, Harry."
Harry fell back down almost immediately going to sleep leaving Seamus to think without distraction. Seamus always knew Harry would need someone strong, maybe even stronger then he was, to be with. That was definitely Draco. And Seamus couldn't imagine it not being a good thing for the Slytherin to have someone like Harry.
He got up and covered Harry smiling down as the young boy softly snored. Draco was looking at Harry, and there was definitely something in his eyes that wasn't resolved. There were only a few days more to Christmas and he hadn't helped Harry with Christmas yet. Hadn't claimed Blaise for his own, and hadn't finished his task. He laid down on his own bed trying to drift off to sleep. Time was running swiftly and there was still so much left to do. In the end, whatever happened, this was going to be a Christmas to remember!
A/N Of COURSE I don't think underage drinking is a good idea :::noticing two people with pitch forks---points at the other people reading the fic::: this is fiction, they all know that! You don't know how tempted I was just to end this and have them finally snog the hell out of each other, but NO! I will wait for the ending I originally envisioned lol...
A preview for tomorrow - Three more days! Harry sets out to do his task...but is he alone in the corridors? Hmmm, ME THINKS NOT!
A/N OK, I have to say thank you here to all the people who read and reviewed my other little Christmas ficlet "A Christmas Kiss" Thank ya'll so much. I'm happy Harry and Draco snogged too lol. Second, to all of you who have been so nice to review THIS fic and who have been so patient as I'm soooo behind, thank you dearly! I really am having a fun time with this fic. And I'm glad ya'll seem to be too! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (whatever you celebrate)
The Twelve Days Of Christmas By: Gum Acacia
On The Ninth Day Of Christmas, My True Love Gave To Me...
Harry Potter had managed to stay hidden inside his room for the entire morning that day. Seamus had tried to bring him down for breakfast but Harry had adamantly refused. There was no *way* he was going anywhere near any room that could possibly contain 'him' inside. But of course, he didn't tell Seamus this, instead he concocted the reason that he simply didn't feel like socializing.
But this, Seamus pointed out, was exactly what the blonde boy was trying to keep the dark haired boy from doing! So, Harry relented towards the later hours of the day and agreed to at least come out of his self- induced tomb for dinner.
As Gryffindors' 'Golden Boy' made his way into the hall, he felt a sudden overwhelming reluctance wash over him. Without even looking towards the Slytherin table, he knew the object of his reclusivness was in the hall, his silver eyes already on the now wary young boy.
Harry felt himself start to flush and he quickly made his way towards the Gryffindor table upset that the only remaining seats would have him directly facing the Slytherin side of the room, the exact direction he in no way wanted to look.
He steeled himself with resolve always associated with Gryffindors and sat down. His face was frozen, a mask of emptiness. But Seamus, who was used to seeing his friend wear his emotions abundantly open, immediately knew something was wrong.
"Harry, are you-"
"I'm fine, Seamus," Harry replied quickly not waiting for the other boy to finish. He grabbed a few things and piled them onto his plate. Then he proceeded to stare blankly at the suddenly unappetizing food.
Seamus nodded his head. He was used to the other boys' sudden change of moods, but lately they had been even more difficult to follow. He was determined to get to the bottom of things as soon as possible...tonight if all went according to plan.
Seamus turned his attention towards the object of his seduction attempts pleased to see that Blaise was having a very difficult time keep his attention away from the Irish boy. He caught Blaises' eye for a moment, winking at him, before Blaise ripped his eyes away turning a vibrant shade of red.
"It's almost too easy," Seamus whispered to himself. When he had grabbed Blaise yesterday and had kissed him, he had truly believed the other boy was going to try and kill him. Hell, at least hit him. But the Slytherin had just frozen on the spot his eyes wide with surprise, but other then that, no negative reaction. Seamus could have sworn he even felt a small response from the other boys' lips.
And now he had the look of someone who had been thoroughly snogged and had something to hide. 'Something to hide,' Seamus thought to himself. That looked like Harry. He returned his focus back to his friend, this time concentrating on the expression hidden beneath his facade. He was definitely hiding something.
'A little too much like Blaise,' Seamus thought with surprise. Had both boys had similar things to hide? He looked back over to the Slytherin table and nearly spit out his pumpkin juice as he did. Draco Malfoy was busy practically burning holes into Harrys' downcast face. What had gone on last night?
As Harrys' eyes looked up and met Dracos' for the briefest moment before both quickly looked away, Seamus had begun to suppose that what he suspected to be happening between the two, might actually be occurring. Which was in itself amazing, but even more so that the world had yet to come to an unexpected end.
Harry however was trying to hide the surfeit of emotions that were now cascading through his body. He felt as though he were doing something very wrong suddenly, but at the same time he felt a longing for whatever supposed forbidden thing he was still refusing to name. He felt embarrassed and suddenly very candid. And that openness made him feel incredibly naked and vulnerable.
Suddenly Hogwarts, the one place that had always seemed to be an unbreakable refuge for him, felt like a prison. He wanted to get out of the hall, get out of the building and get off the bloody grounds! The air felt dense with tension. It was as though there was an electrical field around the boy, and it's constant humming was starting to drive him mad.
That tugging in his gut was back and his breath was suddenly gone. He knew what would give him back his breath, what would alleviate the pull he was feeling. He had to look; he had to see what the other boy was doing.
Harry glanced up, a silent gasp leaving his lips. Draco was looking right at him! He averted his eyes swiftly, but not before noticing the other boy was turning away also. His blood was boiling again and the ringing was back.
"Harry mate," Seamus said interrupting Harry's thoughts, "you look like you're gonna be sick! That's not very festive of you." He laughed as he said this hoping his friend would join him, but Harry just looked at him, a silent plea hidden somewhere in his eyes.
"I don't think I should have come down here Seamus," Harry stood abruptly. He almost tripped as his moved his legs from one side of the bench to the other.
"But you haven't eaten a thing! And Dobby told me earlier that we're supposed to have fig pudding tonight! Damn it Harry, figgy pudding! You can't get more Christmassy then that, it's in a bloody song!" Seamus stood up grabbing his friends arm, he noticed that it was shaking slightly.
"If you don't want me to throw *up* that pudding, you'll just let me go." Harry pulled his arm away feeling suddenly overwhelmingly dizzy. He had to get out of here, to somewhere he could breath!
"That's it! I'm taking you to Pomfrey." Seamus stepped forward grabbing the other boy by the arm, pointing his wand at him in case he needed further 'persuasion.'
Harry nodded mutely; he didn't care where he ended up as long as it was away from here. Harry could feel that burning in the back of his head again and he put on an added burst of speed so that his friend had to jog to keep up with him.
"You're not supposed to get sick at Christmas Harry. That really sort of impairs most of the plans I've made." Seamus chewed on his lip thoughtfully.
"What plans?" Harry asked not really caring what the answer was as an overwhelming sense of relief mixed with something else ('not regret,' he thought quickly) washed over him.
Seamus paused for a moment, "Oh, umm, just the Christmas stuff." He watched the other boy closely. Harry just nodded and Seamus doubted he had even been paying attention.
They made their way to the hospital wing and Seamus quickly explained to a very impatient Madam Pomfrey that Harry had been feeling ill.
"-and I mean he looks green, which I think is taking the spirit of Christmas just a tad to far." The Irish boys said pointing to his friend.
Harry laughed feeling suddenly calmer and more in focus. "I think I just got a bit dizzy is all."
Poppy clucked her tongue, did a few quick sensory spells and then diagnosed Harry was probably just over-stressed. She handed him a bar of chocolate insisting that he eat half of it now before he left and the other half before he went to bed.
Seamus walked Harry back to their dorm relenting on trying to get him to at least stay in the common room and instead keeping his company in their quiet room.
"Blaise was there tonight." Harry spoke suddenly almost as an afterthought, a small grin on his face breaking the almost haunted look that had appeared and stayed since their entrance into the great hall.
"That he was," Seamus said sighing as he fell down onto his bed, "in all his Slytherin glory. Harry, was there ever a time when snogging someone was actually something I didn't think appealing?"
Harry laughed, "Not since you were three I'd wager."
"Harry, I need to ask you a question."
"No, I've never snogged Blaise." Harry said laughing lightly. He crossed the room and laid down on his own bed grinning at his friend from across the room.
Seamus snorted, "Well, thank you for that little bit of information, but I wasn't going to ask you that." Harry motioned his hands as if to say continue, and Seamus did. "What's going on with you?"
Harry looked slightly confused but said nothing ignoring the sudden pounding that was deluging his heart.
Seamus tried again, "I mean, what happened yesterday with the trees? You left early and then you didn't even say a word when I came up here. And now you and Draco both look guiltier then the Weasley twins when their Mum found out about their store."
Harry started at the mention of the other boy, he face immediately going blank. "I don't know what you mean."
"For crying out loud, Harry. Talk to me!" Seamus rolled off his bed and moved to sit next to Harry, his added weight making the bed creak slightly as he sat down. "Do I have to go and steal some Veritaserum from Snape?" He grinned down at the other boy trying to make him smile.
He succeeded in getting only a slight smirk. "I can't tell you what I don't know."
Seamus stood quickly again crossing his way back over to his bed. "If I told you I had a potion that would help you figure that out, would you take it?" Seamus ignored the questioning look on Harry's face and began to search his chest. He whispered a few words to take down privacy wards and in a few minutes found what he was looking for.
He crossed back over to Harry who eyed the bottle the boy was now holding suspiciously. He read the label and couldn't resist laughing, "Mouthwash? This is your big potion?"
Seamus shook his head, "That's just to keep anyone from stealing it if they managed to get past my wards. This Harry, is a powerful potion that the Irish have used for generations to solve problems!"
Harry sat up, "What is it?"
The blonde boy opened the bottle and took a small swig. His eyes widened slightly before he burst into a big grin, "Ogden's Fire Whiskey! If Dumbledore and Moldy Warts sat down with a bottle of this, we wouldn't have to worry about a war this summer."
Harry laughed quietly, he reached for the bottle Seamus was holding ignoring the voices of Hermione, Mrs. Weasley and Sirius that were now flooding his mind. He took the bottle wiping the mouth with one shaky hand and took a deep gulp. The liquid burned his throat as he swallowed and he immediately began coughing trying to ignore the fire in his stomach.
Harry realized the whiskey was well named, his stomach felt like it was housing molten lava and his skin began to itch underneath, as tiny flames seemed to dance on Harrys' skin. When he opened his eyes the room looked like it was on fire. Red and orange were surrounding everything now, and Seamus' head appeared to be burning.
Harry gasped but Seamus quickly explained the side effects, laughing at the look of terror that was slowly fading from his friends' face. "Sent a bottle to my dad last year, he's been hooked on the stuff ever since."
Harry took another deep gulp from the bottle amazed that the liquid seemed to be putting out the other smoldering fire, only moments later to re-ignite anew. He began to feel deeply relaxed and his vision felt slightly blurry. He realized that other then a half bar of chocolate, he hadn't really eaten anything that day, and perhaps it was not such a good idea to be consuming so much alcohol. He silenced that doubt with another swig.
Seamus pulled the bottle from Harrys' fingers; amused that the other boy seemed to be already well onto his way to being completely drunk.
"Englishmen," Seamus whispered softly under his breath.
Harry was busy opening and closing his fingers amazed at how different they felt. "You know, I've never actually had al-mo-hal before." His words were slurring but he continued to stare at his hands, which were varying from shades of red to orange. He took the bottle back from Seamus tracing the word 'mouthwash' with his fingers.
"Well that," Seamus said his voice laden with sarcasm, "is a complete surprise to me!" He let the boy have another long drink before he took the bottle away replacing the cap tightly. "I think you've already had enough of my 'magic potion' Harry."
Harry sat up amazed at the dizzy feeling in his head. It was somewhat pleasant as though all the problems that were plaguing him only minutes before had somehow vanished. He looked around the room trying to see just where they went. "Did they go over there?" Harry asked, his hand pointing to an empty bed.
Seamus just laughed having no clue as to what the other boy was speaking of. "I don't really know, mate." He grinned as Harry stumbled off his bed crouching down on the floor next to Rons' bed looking underneath. "Any luck?"
Harry shook his head, "s'not here."
Seamus helped the boy to his feet charmed at his friends' inability to stand without swaying.
"S'windy in here, don choo think?" Harry tried to focus on Seamus but realized it was futile. He pulled off his glasses to see if that made any difference. Seamus contorted even more out of focus and Harry laughed, "Choo look like a Gnome!"
Seamus helped the other boy put his glasses back on and guided him to his bed. He took off the dark-haired boys' shoes and pushed him back so that he lay on his bead. "Is that better?"
Harry laughed sounding slightly giddy as he did so, "No, choo still look like a Gnome."
The Irish boy laughed, "I'm going to take great insult to that when you're sober."
Harry sat up, his face screwed up in unbelieving anger, "Gannifin, are trying to say I'm drunk?" He hiccuped loudly and returned to giggling.
"Oh no, not at all! As a matter of fact, I've never seen someone so collected." Seamus pulled off the other boys' robes and unbuttoned the top of his pants.
Harry sat back up quickly his glasses falling to the bed as he did so. He turned in Seamus' direction and laughed as he now saw two Seamus shaped Gnomes. "Do you want to know what I got you for Christmas?"
Seamus, always one to take advantage of an inebriated friend, nodded his head. "If you want to tell me."
Harry pointed to his dresser drawer. "S'in there. But you can't tell me I told you, or I'd have to kick my arse, s'posed to be a secret!"
Seamus greedily opened the drawer and saw that it contained a small envelope. Inside was a ticket and itinerary dated for next Christmas. "What's this?"
Harry suddenly had a very sad look on his face. "S'for if we don't die."
Seamus put the envelope back down and closed the drawer. "What are you talking about?"
Harry had a very glazed look in his eyes, and Seamus thought it looked as though the other boy was going to cry, but he remained emotionless. "S'for the five of us," he said pointing to the other empty beds, "when the war's over, *if* it's ever over. If we don't die, I want us to go somewhere together. Choo are my best mate's ya know?"
Seamus embraced the other boy, suddenly feeling very foolish for only buying the other boy a new traveling cloak for their last year. "I know." Seamus released the other boy deciding he had already spoiled his Christmas present, he might as well ask some questions. "What happened between you and Malfoy?"
Harry wrinkled his nose in disgust, "Think he's put a shpell on me."
"Why's that?"
Harry lay back down, suddenly more awake. "Dunno really. He just won't get out of my head, ya know? S'really rude."
Seamus sat back down on the bed wondering how far he should go with his line of questioning, he crossed his fingers praying that Harry wouldn't remember this in the morning. "What happened yesterday?"
Harry snorted rolling onto his stomach pressing his face into the pillow. "Dunno." Harry said nothing else for a few minutes and Seamus was about to try again when Harry rolled back over staring at the boy, his eyes wide with confusion. He pointed at nothing trying to emphasize some nameless point. "I almost kissed him."
Seamus didn't even bother trying to hide his surprise. He had suspected as much but to actually hear it confirmed was incredible. "Wait, you tried to kiss him or he tried to kiss you."
Harry thought for a minute with some difficulty. "Bothe I S'pose. I leaned in first, but he wanted to too. S'there some'n wrong with me?"
Seamus smiled sadly. "No, Harry there isn't."
"Choo think he jinxed me?"
"Not unless he jinxed himself as well. Are you going to do anything about this?" Seamus brushed the hair out of Harry's face, suddenly feeling very paternal. It was a common feeling when you were around the boy for very long. He had a weight and years that shouldn't belong to someone so undeserving of burden.
Harry sleepily looked at Seamus, "was planning on hiding up here for the rest of the year, ac-chooly." Harry got up on his hands and knees trying to stop the swaying feeling.
"I don't think that's going to help anything."
"When I'm 'round him though, my heart goes s'fast and my hands keep shaking. I think I'm 'lergic to him."
Seamus laughed, "I don't think that's the problem, Harry."
Harry fell back down almost immediately going to sleep leaving Seamus to think without distraction. Seamus always knew Harry would need someone strong, maybe even stronger then he was, to be with. That was definitely Draco. And Seamus couldn't imagine it not being a good thing for the Slytherin to have someone like Harry.
He got up and covered Harry smiling down as the young boy softly snored. Draco was looking at Harry, and there was definitely something in his eyes that wasn't resolved. There were only a few days more to Christmas and he hadn't helped Harry with Christmas yet. Hadn't claimed Blaise for his own, and hadn't finished his task. He laid down on his own bed trying to drift off to sleep. Time was running swiftly and there was still so much left to do. In the end, whatever happened, this was going to be a Christmas to remember!
A/N Of COURSE I don't think underage drinking is a good idea :::noticing two people with pitch forks---points at the other people reading the fic::: this is fiction, they all know that! You don't know how tempted I was just to end this and have them finally snog the hell out of each other, but NO! I will wait for the ending I originally envisioned lol...
A preview for tomorrow - Three more days! Harry sets out to do his task...but is he alone in the corridors? Hmmm, ME THINKS NOT!