Disclaimer:
Same as it was in Chapter one!
A/N Oh, check it out I got myself one hundred reviews! That is so very cool that I don't even know what to say! Oh wait, yes I do, THANK YOU! You guys have received this fic so graciously and I thank you for that. Also, for those of you who have asked, "A Christmas Kiss" is remaining a one chapter fic until Penguin tells me otherwise lol, but I am glad you've enjoyed it. Anywho's, I know this is kind of early but HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
The Twelve Days Of Christmas By: Gum Acacia
On The Tenth Day Of Christmas, My True Love Gave To Me...
There was light, that much he was aware of. Light so blinding that he almost went insane by it. He knew his eyes were closed, so he had no way of knowing how the light had snuck in, the unwanted pest that it was.
Then he became aware that something was in his mouth, and whatever it was, it was like having a desert in his head. It was unbearably dry, like someone had shoved about ninety cotton balls in his mouth or something.
And suddenly came the pain, undefinable and so intense it was causing his ears to ring! He tried to move but it was like someone was filling his head with lead and his skull was about to crack from the pressure.
He heard himself moan and immediately wished he could call back the utterance as the small sound reverberated off his skull causing the pain to momentarily intensify. It subsided to the slightly less painfully throbbing pressure again. He was aware for the first time in his life that he could be thankful for a lesser pain, even one so horrible.
And then someone spoke and he would have sworn to Merlin that he was about to die. "Alright there, Harry?"
He put his hands in front of his chest as if to shield himself from all noise. "Quiet," he hoarsely whispered. He thought he felt a tear slide down his cheek and he was quite aware he was mentally trying to slip into a self induced coma.
"I'll take that as a no." The very evil voice was back, and he now understood that it was roommate, Seamus.
Harry made a sort of grunting noise in which he meant to say, 'you bastard, you evil ruddy bastard, die you evil ruddy bastard, you're the cause of all this!' but only managed to make a noise that sounded as though he were snoring again.
"Get up!" Seamus the owner of the evil voice seemed to scream directly into his brain. "If you can't take a little hangover, then don't pick up the bottle, Potter."
Harry wanted to laugh at Seamus' definition of a 'little' hangover, but instead laid perfectly still willing away all his senses. He felt a hand come down hard on his bum, stinging him slightly but the pain in his head that it caused made him gasp.
"You Englishmen, you just can't hold your liquor." Seamus mercifully pulled out his wand and held it at Harry's forehead. "Hold still now."
Harry barely had time to think of what Seamus had meant when a wonderfully icy feeling seemed to be seeping into his brain. It was cooling off the fire and the pain and leaving a lovely tingling feeling in its place. Harry blinked his eyes open once amazed that the pain was completely gone. "What did you do?" he tiredly croaked out.
Soon Seamus' head was over the other boys, a large grin filling Harry's view. "It's a pain spell I learned from Pomfrey, only slightly modified for Whiskey's less friendly sister...the hangover!"
Harry laughed slightly coughing as he did. The dry feeling in his mouth was still there and he found himself thirstier then he had ever thought possible in his entire life. "I need water," he choked out.
"Then I suggest," Seamus started moving himself from above the other boy so Harry could sit up, "you get off your arse and come down stairs with me. We'll get some food in you."
When Seamus said 'downstairs' a sudden feeling hit Harry so strongly in the stomach it was as though someone had punched him. Yesterday came flooding back to him. Staying in his room and then finally going down to dinner just to run out again. Madam Pomfrey and the chocolate which he never finished. And then Seamus with a bottle of Whiskey. He vaguely recalled what he thought might have been himself singing 'Frosty the Snowman' but he wasn't sure. Everything about last night seemed to be a blur. "What happened last night?" Harry heard himself asking.
Seamus had the nerve to look slightly embarrassed, but did not divulge everything that had actually transpired the night before. "You got drunk, and we just talked."
"What about?" Harry asked suddenly suspicious of what he wasn't remembering.
"Oh, Quidditch, Christmas and the fact that neither one of us has done our tasks yet," Seamus answered thinking quickly.
Harry seemed to consider for a moment racking his brain to see if anything would turn up. But he only drew a blank and so he shrugged his shoulders resigned to just take the other boys word for it. "I need water," Harry said for a second time.
Seamus laughed throwing a towel at the other boy, "You also need a shower because you smell like my uncle after New Years and that's not a compliment, Harry."
Harry made a very rude gesture with his finger and grabbed his things and made his way down to the bathrooms. He showered quickly swallowing some of the water as he did enjoying the feeling of the liquid coating his much too dry throat. He dressed as fast as he could and went down to the hall with greater courage then he had managed the night before.
"Oi! Harry, over here!" Harry turned to see Seamus waving at him from the Ravenclaw table. He was siting with Padma, Parvati and Lavender and Harry was pleased to see that the great hall was relatively empty. There were in fact less then fifty students inside at the moment.
Harry made his way over to where the four students were sitting and sat down himself. His stomach growled loudly as he reached for a plate off eggs and he blushed feeling extremely embarrassed. "I'm a bit hungry," he offered sheepishly as an explanation.
Lavender just laughed, "Yes well, we were just talking about the tasks. It seems we're in for it! The Slytherins simply had more people then we did, and only one of them has managed to screw up! Draco Malfoy is the only one left who hasn't done a task, and even if he manages to muck it up, we'll still be out."
Parvati tried to muster up as much enthusiasm as she could possibly find; "we might tie then!"
Seamus snorted, "Yes well, there's less pride in that!"
Harry bit into a biscuit the crumbs falling messily onto his shirt. He pointed a finger at Seamus and spoke in a very muffled voice, "mind you, it is better then getting all your things taken."
Seamus sighed dramatically. "But I really wanted to win. Just imagine what I could have taken from Blaises' room." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"Does this mean you're going to leave my sister alone then?" Parvati said, a small scowl on her face.
Seamus gasped in mock alarm, he placed the back of his hand dramatically over his eyes and fanned himself with his napkin, "Parvati dear, don't ask the impossible of me, I'm only human and your sisters' siren call does such wicked things to me."
Parvati made a retching noise, Padma blushed deeply and Lavender laughed. Harry however just rolled his eyes, "You're hopeless, Finnigan."
The Irish boy stuck out his tongue playfully, "Never without hope, Harry mate! Not when it comes to the two most delectable students at Hogwarts," Parvati and Lavender both glared at him and Harry had the sense of mind to look somewhat indignant, "outside of Gryffindor of course!"
The four students spent the rest of the morning playing around, Harry for the first time feeling equally in the mood. It was though a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders since last night, and since then he seemed to be lighter of step and more in the spirit of Christmas which truly pleased Seamus.
The afternoon faded quickly away into the evening and before Harry knew it, dinner was over. There was only a slight tension at the meal when Draco had finally made his way into the hall. Harry faltered only momentarily, and then decided to ignore the boy and concentrate on his potatoes. Seamus had in fact noticed the halt but decided to say nothing.
As they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room, Harry had a sudden urge to remain in the halls that night. Maybe he would just pick up his invisibility cloak and wander the halls. It had been ages since he had a good sneak.
'Or,' he thought to himself, 'this might be a good time for a task.'
He suddenly felt incredibly guilty. He had been ignoring his task since he had found out what it was, and with recent 'events' going on, it had really slipped his mind. And then Seamus had brought it up this morning, or rather had said they brought it up last night.
Could he really do something like this? It was really a stupid prank when you thought about it. Not only was it crossing the boundaries (you just did not do anything to cross Dumbledore!) but to take something that was so significant in the fight against Voldemort? Was he ready for that?
'It's not as if I plan to keep her or anything,' he yelled back to himself.
He had already made such a show of excepting the task in front of everyone ('Draco you mean.'---'Sod off!') that he couldn't back out now. He had made up his mind, tonight the cloak would come out and he would do what he had to.
He was vaguely aware that Seamus was pulling on his arm, he looked over to see his friend had a very annoyed expression on his face. "Did you say something?"
"For Merlin's sake Harry, I've only been talking to you for the past five minutes. I've had more productive conversations with Pixies!"
Harry looked somewhat penitent and apologized insisting he had been busy thinking about tonight. He told Seamus in a soft whisper that he had every intention of doing his task tonight! This seemed to appease the other boy, and they both began talking in excited whispers as to what he would do exactly and when he would go.
They both excused themselves from the common room, Harry feigning extreme fatigue and Seamus a very bad headache. When they both got to their room adrenaline began to take over for Harry. He sat down on his bed and decided it was time to let his roommate in on one of his most prized secrets. His fathers' invisibility cloak!
Seamus sat in stunned silence while Harry told him how it had come to him, and all the delightful intrigues he had managed to pull off with it. Even the time when he had used it to distract Voldemort long enough for Dumbledore to rescue Ginny when she had been kidnapped.
"Oh Harry, that is fantastic! Do you think maybe I could borrow it sometime?"
Harry just grinned, "Plan on visiting the Slytherin showers do you?"
Seamus grinned wickedly, "And maybe the Ravenclaws."
Harry set off an hour later securely hidden by his cloak, Seamus helping him out of the portrait by loudly announcing to everyone that he had to go to Pomfrey's for his headache and that he would be back within the hour.
"You might want to rule out 'Actor' on you list of things to do when you leave Hogwarts," Harry teased playfully.
The boys separated down the next corridor Seamus insisting he keep up his guise of a headache should anyone question about it later.
Harry pulled the cloak tight around him feeling suddenly eager and reticent all in the same moment. He made his way stealthily down passage after passage and up three staircases only to go down four more. He had become used to the labyrinth that was Hogwarts and now found it even comforting.
He was extremely cautious as he made his was slowly past Filch's office. Instincts that were more amplified then the average boy his age told him to stop. There was a small light coming down the hall towards him, it almost looked as though it were a tiny lost snitch wandering the halls.
As it came closer, he realized it was the light from a wand. It was quickly extinguished as the person came nearer to where Harry was standing. There was a flash of white blonde hair as the person looked up to and through where Harry was standing. The person quickly lowered his head again dousing the light emanating from his head now hidden by a deep black cloak.
Harry watched as the person moved almost catlike towards Filch's office. The person made their way to the door and slowly twisted the knob creeping inside. Harry saw a quick flash of the persons' face before the door closed. White blonde hair, pale translucent skin and silver eyes were burned into Harrys' eyes. The person was Draco Malfoy.
Harry knew he should just keep moving. That he had a task of his own to complete and that staying here and waiting to see just what the hell Malfoy was doing was seriously the wrong thing to do. But something seemed to anchor him to the spot. He had to see what the boy was up to.
He waited for what seemed like an eternity but in all reality was only a minute for Draco to come back out. But still the door remained closed. What was he after? School records? Maybe Snape was wrong, maybe Draco was in fact working for Voldemort and right now was busy going through the school records finding out all the weaknesses the schools wards and protections had!
Harry was about to storm into Filch's office and demand to know just what the Slytherin thought he was up to when he heard a sound that made him freeze, his blood suddenly turning to ice.
"-damn Peeves. If he steals one more tree I swear I'll get rid of him! I'll find away, won't I my pretty Mrs. Norris?"
Harry watched in silent horror as Filch made his way down to his office. Harry wanted to yell out and warn Draco but he didn't want to give himself away as well. 'Besides,' he thought to himself, 'he's probably doing something unspeakably evil.'
As Filch neared the door to open it, it suddenly flung open and Draco ran straight into Filch, both man and boy falling to the floor, Mrs. Norris hissing in anger.
"Student out of bed!" Filch yelled grabbing onto Draco's cloak. "Mr. Malfoy, just what do you think you were doing in my office? Trying to still something, weren't you!"
Draco wrenched away from Filch's grasp, managing somehow to look completely superior to the situation as he did so. He straightened his robe and glared at Filch. "And what would a squib like you have that I would want?"
Filch blanched, his mouth moving open and closed but no actual sound coming out. "How dare- I don't know what you're- I'm not- You just shut your mouth right now lad, I'll not have you spreading such lies about me!"
Harry was somewhat awed by Draco's reaction, the boy actually began to laugh right in Filchs' face! "Do you honestly think you're managing to fool anyone?" Draco sneered at the older man and Harry felt his stomach twist. "Get out of my way, Filch."
Harry gasped quickly covering his mouth praying that Draco or Filch hadn't heard him. He saw Mrs. Norris glance in his direction for an instant but she focused her attention immediately back to her master.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Filch yelled, his spit flying out of his mouth. "I'm taking you to the Headmaster right now, we'll just see what he has to say about you being out of bed and in *my* office without my permission!"
Harry noticed the fleeting look of panic that crossed Dracos' face, but it was quickly replaced buy his usual sneer and look of total disdain. Filch grabbed his arm with a force that looked like it would bruise and shoved him forward. Both men began walking towards the end of the hall, Draco beginning to lag behind as he did so.
Harry didn't know what it was that made him do it, but he quietly jogged forward careful to make no noise. In a flash he thew his invisibility cloak over Draco and pushed him flat against the wall. Harry quickly covered the other boys' mouth with his hand managing to muffle his cry. Draco's eyes were wide with confusion and surprise as he found himself less then an inch away from Harry Potters' face.
He felt his heart began to pound and he knew the look of total composure he normally wore was completely gone. His eyes shifted to where Filch was walking, panicked that at any minute he would turn around and see that Harry had him pinned to the wall with what looked like a blanket thrown over them both.
Harry felt his stomach ignite into fire again as his body pressed firmly into Dracos' trying to pin the other boy so he would not run out and give their presence away. 'Too close' a voice screamed inside his head, his body was hugging Malfoys' curve for curve. He pulled back slightly thankful that in the darkness his blush would go unnoticed. Harry felt his breath leave him as he noticed the heat of Dracos' mouth against his hand. He wanted to wretch it away not wanting to feel the fiery contact anymore, but he couldn't risk the other boy crying out.
Harry heard Filch gasp and he turned to see the other man looking madly around the hall trying to find where Draco had managed to sneak off to.
"Where did he go Mrs. Norris, where?" The cat was luckily on the other side of the hall and apparently had not picked up either of the boys' scents. Filch and Mrs. Norris immediately took off back into the direction of Filchs' office and Harry took the opportunity to pull the other boy out of site down an empty corridor.
Draco had the sense to stay quiet though he had no idea why Potter had grabbed him. He knew that they must be under an invisibility cloak or something very like it if Filch hadn't spotted them, but he was racking his brain trying to come up with how Potter of all people had come buy such an expensive and rare object!
Harry opened the door to an empty classroom and pushed Draco inside finally liberating them both from the cloak. His breath was coming in heavy gasps but somewhere in the back of his mind something had said that it wasn't the quick run or the fact that Filch had almost caught them that had caused his breath to speed up.
Both boys' stared blankly at each other for a moment. Draco looked both confused and angry, but Harrys' face was once again a mask of blank emotion.
"Don't touch me, again," Draco said calmly. He knew it was a completely absurd thing to say at a moment like this, but he could still feel Harrys' stinging grasp on his arm, and it didn't feel as though it would be fading anytime soon.
Harry just laughed quietly; "you can't even say thank you, can you?" He moved closer to the other boy suddenly feeling as if he now had the upper hand. It was a feeling he very much liked.
Draco sneered, "and why the hell should I say thank you? You didn't do anything, Potter."
Harry moved again slightly closer careful to keep his voice from rising to loudly. "I just saved your sorry arse! Filch was going to take you to Dumbledore, and I don't think he would have liked to hear that little Draco Malfoy was out of bed and in a staff office after hours *without* permission."
"And what does 'goody goody' Harry Potter care about that for?" Draco said stepping back slightly but rising his head in defiance.
"Believe me Draco," Harry began, "I don't give a damn about you. I just didn't want the rest of the seventh years to get into trouble because you got caught doing something stupid!"
"And what pray tell, is Gryffindors favorite pet doing out at night when he should be tucked in bed already?" Draco prayed that he hadn't blushed just then, but if he had Harry didn't seem to notice.
Harry moved another inch closer feeling as if he were somehow magnetized to the other boy. He realized he was being stupid. He should just get out of here and get away from this person in front of him as quick as possible, but he couldn't. He would definitely be looking into what possible spells could be on him later. "I don't see how that's any of your business, Malfoy."
Draco laughed feeling as if some of the power had shifted back to him, pleased to see Harry rock back slightly. "But it was your business to interfere with mine, is that it?"
Harry moved away from Draco all to aware that the ringing in his ears had returned and that dizzy feeling was back again. He tried to stare directly into the other boys' eyes but he felt his gaze being too frequently drawn down to the other boys' mouth. "I can fix that if you like, let me just go run and fetch Filch shall I?"
Draco grabbed Harrys' arm as he moved towards the door stopping him. Draco felt as if he were branding the other boy with that touch, not entirely wanting it to end but not being able to come up with a plausible reason to continue the touch. He let Harrys' arm go and just stared at the other boy.
"I didn't think I'd have to say thank you since I thought that's how you normally get your rocks off. Running around school and playing savior to us all. Brave and wonderful Harry Potter, here to protect us all, isn't that how you like it?"
Harrys' smirk returned, but somehow Draco had noticed that his eyes held a kind of illuminating sadness to them. "I'd like nothing more then to just be lost in the shadows, never noticed at all."
Draco moved a step closer, the sneer of his face fading. "That's not possible, Harry. Boy who saves the world or not, you were never meant to be in the shadows. The light will always find you." He wanted to say something mean and nasty to wipe the look of surprise that was now etched on the other boys' face. After all, he hadn't meant to compliment the other boy, he was just stating a fact!
"About the other night-"
This seemed to wake Draco up and he quickly stepped away. "You don't need to bring it up, Potter. Things like that happen it's no big deal." When Harry had actually leaned into Draco, the boy had thought he must have been dreaming things! He liked to be suggestive and lewd to Harry because the other boy never seemed to notice. And that was one way to deal with the mild attraction that Draco felt for him. But when he had leaned in, Draco had followed suit, and then the other boy had pulled away in disgust! There was no way he was going to let that happen again.
'No big deal,' Harry thought in his mind. He thought it was a very big bloody deal! But maybe he had sickened Draco even more then he thought. "Ya, good," was all he managed to say.
He moved his way towards the door and opened it and without saying another word stepped out into the darkened hall. Draco thought he must have been going crazy after all. His entire life seemed to be flipping around and for some reason only known to God and The Devil; he followed Harry into the night.
A/N What the hell was I thinking leaving it right there? I must be evil or something! :::looks down and notices tail, horns and pitchfork:::: Oh that's right, I am! HAHAHA! Anywho's, hope ya'll liked that. Don't worry you'll find out what happened next, I promise. ::::Begins to dig very deep hole:::::
A preview for tomorrow - Two more days! Get ready for some serious Christmas brooding ;o) We found out what happened after the classroom incident. And just WHAT the hell was Harry dreaming?
A/N Oh, check it out I got myself one hundred reviews! That is so very cool that I don't even know what to say! Oh wait, yes I do, THANK YOU! You guys have received this fic so graciously and I thank you for that. Also, for those of you who have asked, "A Christmas Kiss" is remaining a one chapter fic until Penguin tells me otherwise lol, but I am glad you've enjoyed it. Anywho's, I know this is kind of early but HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
The Twelve Days Of Christmas By: Gum Acacia
On The Tenth Day Of Christmas, My True Love Gave To Me...
There was light, that much he was aware of. Light so blinding that he almost went insane by it. He knew his eyes were closed, so he had no way of knowing how the light had snuck in, the unwanted pest that it was.
Then he became aware that something was in his mouth, and whatever it was, it was like having a desert in his head. It was unbearably dry, like someone had shoved about ninety cotton balls in his mouth or something.
And suddenly came the pain, undefinable and so intense it was causing his ears to ring! He tried to move but it was like someone was filling his head with lead and his skull was about to crack from the pressure.
He heard himself moan and immediately wished he could call back the utterance as the small sound reverberated off his skull causing the pain to momentarily intensify. It subsided to the slightly less painfully throbbing pressure again. He was aware for the first time in his life that he could be thankful for a lesser pain, even one so horrible.
And then someone spoke and he would have sworn to Merlin that he was about to die. "Alright there, Harry?"
He put his hands in front of his chest as if to shield himself from all noise. "Quiet," he hoarsely whispered. He thought he felt a tear slide down his cheek and he was quite aware he was mentally trying to slip into a self induced coma.
"I'll take that as a no." The very evil voice was back, and he now understood that it was roommate, Seamus.
Harry made a sort of grunting noise in which he meant to say, 'you bastard, you evil ruddy bastard, die you evil ruddy bastard, you're the cause of all this!' but only managed to make a noise that sounded as though he were snoring again.
"Get up!" Seamus the owner of the evil voice seemed to scream directly into his brain. "If you can't take a little hangover, then don't pick up the bottle, Potter."
Harry wanted to laugh at Seamus' definition of a 'little' hangover, but instead laid perfectly still willing away all his senses. He felt a hand come down hard on his bum, stinging him slightly but the pain in his head that it caused made him gasp.
"You Englishmen, you just can't hold your liquor." Seamus mercifully pulled out his wand and held it at Harry's forehead. "Hold still now."
Harry barely had time to think of what Seamus had meant when a wonderfully icy feeling seemed to be seeping into his brain. It was cooling off the fire and the pain and leaving a lovely tingling feeling in its place. Harry blinked his eyes open once amazed that the pain was completely gone. "What did you do?" he tiredly croaked out.
Soon Seamus' head was over the other boys, a large grin filling Harry's view. "It's a pain spell I learned from Pomfrey, only slightly modified for Whiskey's less friendly sister...the hangover!"
Harry laughed slightly coughing as he did. The dry feeling in his mouth was still there and he found himself thirstier then he had ever thought possible in his entire life. "I need water," he choked out.
"Then I suggest," Seamus started moving himself from above the other boy so Harry could sit up, "you get off your arse and come down stairs with me. We'll get some food in you."
When Seamus said 'downstairs' a sudden feeling hit Harry so strongly in the stomach it was as though someone had punched him. Yesterday came flooding back to him. Staying in his room and then finally going down to dinner just to run out again. Madam Pomfrey and the chocolate which he never finished. And then Seamus with a bottle of Whiskey. He vaguely recalled what he thought might have been himself singing 'Frosty the Snowman' but he wasn't sure. Everything about last night seemed to be a blur. "What happened last night?" Harry heard himself asking.
Seamus had the nerve to look slightly embarrassed, but did not divulge everything that had actually transpired the night before. "You got drunk, and we just talked."
"What about?" Harry asked suddenly suspicious of what he wasn't remembering.
"Oh, Quidditch, Christmas and the fact that neither one of us has done our tasks yet," Seamus answered thinking quickly.
Harry seemed to consider for a moment racking his brain to see if anything would turn up. But he only drew a blank and so he shrugged his shoulders resigned to just take the other boys word for it. "I need water," Harry said for a second time.
Seamus laughed throwing a towel at the other boy, "You also need a shower because you smell like my uncle after New Years and that's not a compliment, Harry."
Harry made a very rude gesture with his finger and grabbed his things and made his way down to the bathrooms. He showered quickly swallowing some of the water as he did enjoying the feeling of the liquid coating his much too dry throat. He dressed as fast as he could and went down to the hall with greater courage then he had managed the night before.
"Oi! Harry, over here!" Harry turned to see Seamus waving at him from the Ravenclaw table. He was siting with Padma, Parvati and Lavender and Harry was pleased to see that the great hall was relatively empty. There were in fact less then fifty students inside at the moment.
Harry made his way over to where the four students were sitting and sat down himself. His stomach growled loudly as he reached for a plate off eggs and he blushed feeling extremely embarrassed. "I'm a bit hungry," he offered sheepishly as an explanation.
Lavender just laughed, "Yes well, we were just talking about the tasks. It seems we're in for it! The Slytherins simply had more people then we did, and only one of them has managed to screw up! Draco Malfoy is the only one left who hasn't done a task, and even if he manages to muck it up, we'll still be out."
Parvati tried to muster up as much enthusiasm as she could possibly find; "we might tie then!"
Seamus snorted, "Yes well, there's less pride in that!"
Harry bit into a biscuit the crumbs falling messily onto his shirt. He pointed a finger at Seamus and spoke in a very muffled voice, "mind you, it is better then getting all your things taken."
Seamus sighed dramatically. "But I really wanted to win. Just imagine what I could have taken from Blaises' room." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"Does this mean you're going to leave my sister alone then?" Parvati said, a small scowl on her face.
Seamus gasped in mock alarm, he placed the back of his hand dramatically over his eyes and fanned himself with his napkin, "Parvati dear, don't ask the impossible of me, I'm only human and your sisters' siren call does such wicked things to me."
Parvati made a retching noise, Padma blushed deeply and Lavender laughed. Harry however just rolled his eyes, "You're hopeless, Finnigan."
The Irish boy stuck out his tongue playfully, "Never without hope, Harry mate! Not when it comes to the two most delectable students at Hogwarts," Parvati and Lavender both glared at him and Harry had the sense of mind to look somewhat indignant, "outside of Gryffindor of course!"
The four students spent the rest of the morning playing around, Harry for the first time feeling equally in the mood. It was though a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders since last night, and since then he seemed to be lighter of step and more in the spirit of Christmas which truly pleased Seamus.
The afternoon faded quickly away into the evening and before Harry knew it, dinner was over. There was only a slight tension at the meal when Draco had finally made his way into the hall. Harry faltered only momentarily, and then decided to ignore the boy and concentrate on his potatoes. Seamus had in fact noticed the halt but decided to say nothing.
As they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room, Harry had a sudden urge to remain in the halls that night. Maybe he would just pick up his invisibility cloak and wander the halls. It had been ages since he had a good sneak.
'Or,' he thought to himself, 'this might be a good time for a task.'
He suddenly felt incredibly guilty. He had been ignoring his task since he had found out what it was, and with recent 'events' going on, it had really slipped his mind. And then Seamus had brought it up this morning, or rather had said they brought it up last night.
Could he really do something like this? It was really a stupid prank when you thought about it. Not only was it crossing the boundaries (you just did not do anything to cross Dumbledore!) but to take something that was so significant in the fight against Voldemort? Was he ready for that?
'It's not as if I plan to keep her or anything,' he yelled back to himself.
He had already made such a show of excepting the task in front of everyone ('Draco you mean.'---'Sod off!') that he couldn't back out now. He had made up his mind, tonight the cloak would come out and he would do what he had to.
He was vaguely aware that Seamus was pulling on his arm, he looked over to see his friend had a very annoyed expression on his face. "Did you say something?"
"For Merlin's sake Harry, I've only been talking to you for the past five minutes. I've had more productive conversations with Pixies!"
Harry looked somewhat penitent and apologized insisting he had been busy thinking about tonight. He told Seamus in a soft whisper that he had every intention of doing his task tonight! This seemed to appease the other boy, and they both began talking in excited whispers as to what he would do exactly and when he would go.
They both excused themselves from the common room, Harry feigning extreme fatigue and Seamus a very bad headache. When they both got to their room adrenaline began to take over for Harry. He sat down on his bed and decided it was time to let his roommate in on one of his most prized secrets. His fathers' invisibility cloak!
Seamus sat in stunned silence while Harry told him how it had come to him, and all the delightful intrigues he had managed to pull off with it. Even the time when he had used it to distract Voldemort long enough for Dumbledore to rescue Ginny when she had been kidnapped.
"Oh Harry, that is fantastic! Do you think maybe I could borrow it sometime?"
Harry just grinned, "Plan on visiting the Slytherin showers do you?"
Seamus grinned wickedly, "And maybe the Ravenclaws."
Harry set off an hour later securely hidden by his cloak, Seamus helping him out of the portrait by loudly announcing to everyone that he had to go to Pomfrey's for his headache and that he would be back within the hour.
"You might want to rule out 'Actor' on you list of things to do when you leave Hogwarts," Harry teased playfully.
The boys separated down the next corridor Seamus insisting he keep up his guise of a headache should anyone question about it later.
Harry pulled the cloak tight around him feeling suddenly eager and reticent all in the same moment. He made his way stealthily down passage after passage and up three staircases only to go down four more. He had become used to the labyrinth that was Hogwarts and now found it even comforting.
He was extremely cautious as he made his was slowly past Filch's office. Instincts that were more amplified then the average boy his age told him to stop. There was a small light coming down the hall towards him, it almost looked as though it were a tiny lost snitch wandering the halls.
As it came closer, he realized it was the light from a wand. It was quickly extinguished as the person came nearer to where Harry was standing. There was a flash of white blonde hair as the person looked up to and through where Harry was standing. The person quickly lowered his head again dousing the light emanating from his head now hidden by a deep black cloak.
Harry watched as the person moved almost catlike towards Filch's office. The person made their way to the door and slowly twisted the knob creeping inside. Harry saw a quick flash of the persons' face before the door closed. White blonde hair, pale translucent skin and silver eyes were burned into Harrys' eyes. The person was Draco Malfoy.
Harry knew he should just keep moving. That he had a task of his own to complete and that staying here and waiting to see just what the hell Malfoy was doing was seriously the wrong thing to do. But something seemed to anchor him to the spot. He had to see what the boy was up to.
He waited for what seemed like an eternity but in all reality was only a minute for Draco to come back out. But still the door remained closed. What was he after? School records? Maybe Snape was wrong, maybe Draco was in fact working for Voldemort and right now was busy going through the school records finding out all the weaknesses the schools wards and protections had!
Harry was about to storm into Filch's office and demand to know just what the Slytherin thought he was up to when he heard a sound that made him freeze, his blood suddenly turning to ice.
"-damn Peeves. If he steals one more tree I swear I'll get rid of him! I'll find away, won't I my pretty Mrs. Norris?"
Harry watched in silent horror as Filch made his way down to his office. Harry wanted to yell out and warn Draco but he didn't want to give himself away as well. 'Besides,' he thought to himself, 'he's probably doing something unspeakably evil.'
As Filch neared the door to open it, it suddenly flung open and Draco ran straight into Filch, both man and boy falling to the floor, Mrs. Norris hissing in anger.
"Student out of bed!" Filch yelled grabbing onto Draco's cloak. "Mr. Malfoy, just what do you think you were doing in my office? Trying to still something, weren't you!"
Draco wrenched away from Filch's grasp, managing somehow to look completely superior to the situation as he did so. He straightened his robe and glared at Filch. "And what would a squib like you have that I would want?"
Filch blanched, his mouth moving open and closed but no actual sound coming out. "How dare- I don't know what you're- I'm not- You just shut your mouth right now lad, I'll not have you spreading such lies about me!"
Harry was somewhat awed by Draco's reaction, the boy actually began to laugh right in Filchs' face! "Do you honestly think you're managing to fool anyone?" Draco sneered at the older man and Harry felt his stomach twist. "Get out of my way, Filch."
Harry gasped quickly covering his mouth praying that Draco or Filch hadn't heard him. He saw Mrs. Norris glance in his direction for an instant but she focused her attention immediately back to her master.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Filch yelled, his spit flying out of his mouth. "I'm taking you to the Headmaster right now, we'll just see what he has to say about you being out of bed and in *my* office without my permission!"
Harry noticed the fleeting look of panic that crossed Dracos' face, but it was quickly replaced buy his usual sneer and look of total disdain. Filch grabbed his arm with a force that looked like it would bruise and shoved him forward. Both men began walking towards the end of the hall, Draco beginning to lag behind as he did so.
Harry didn't know what it was that made him do it, but he quietly jogged forward careful to make no noise. In a flash he thew his invisibility cloak over Draco and pushed him flat against the wall. Harry quickly covered the other boys' mouth with his hand managing to muffle his cry. Draco's eyes were wide with confusion and surprise as he found himself less then an inch away from Harry Potters' face.
He felt his heart began to pound and he knew the look of total composure he normally wore was completely gone. His eyes shifted to where Filch was walking, panicked that at any minute he would turn around and see that Harry had him pinned to the wall with what looked like a blanket thrown over them both.
Harry felt his stomach ignite into fire again as his body pressed firmly into Dracos' trying to pin the other boy so he would not run out and give their presence away. 'Too close' a voice screamed inside his head, his body was hugging Malfoys' curve for curve. He pulled back slightly thankful that in the darkness his blush would go unnoticed. Harry felt his breath leave him as he noticed the heat of Dracos' mouth against his hand. He wanted to wretch it away not wanting to feel the fiery contact anymore, but he couldn't risk the other boy crying out.
Harry heard Filch gasp and he turned to see the other man looking madly around the hall trying to find where Draco had managed to sneak off to.
"Where did he go Mrs. Norris, where?" The cat was luckily on the other side of the hall and apparently had not picked up either of the boys' scents. Filch and Mrs. Norris immediately took off back into the direction of Filchs' office and Harry took the opportunity to pull the other boy out of site down an empty corridor.
Draco had the sense to stay quiet though he had no idea why Potter had grabbed him. He knew that they must be under an invisibility cloak or something very like it if Filch hadn't spotted them, but he was racking his brain trying to come up with how Potter of all people had come buy such an expensive and rare object!
Harry opened the door to an empty classroom and pushed Draco inside finally liberating them both from the cloak. His breath was coming in heavy gasps but somewhere in the back of his mind something had said that it wasn't the quick run or the fact that Filch had almost caught them that had caused his breath to speed up.
Both boys' stared blankly at each other for a moment. Draco looked both confused and angry, but Harrys' face was once again a mask of blank emotion.
"Don't touch me, again," Draco said calmly. He knew it was a completely absurd thing to say at a moment like this, but he could still feel Harrys' stinging grasp on his arm, and it didn't feel as though it would be fading anytime soon.
Harry just laughed quietly; "you can't even say thank you, can you?" He moved closer to the other boy suddenly feeling as if he now had the upper hand. It was a feeling he very much liked.
Draco sneered, "and why the hell should I say thank you? You didn't do anything, Potter."
Harry moved again slightly closer careful to keep his voice from rising to loudly. "I just saved your sorry arse! Filch was going to take you to Dumbledore, and I don't think he would have liked to hear that little Draco Malfoy was out of bed and in a staff office after hours *without* permission."
"And what does 'goody goody' Harry Potter care about that for?" Draco said stepping back slightly but rising his head in defiance.
"Believe me Draco," Harry began, "I don't give a damn about you. I just didn't want the rest of the seventh years to get into trouble because you got caught doing something stupid!"
"And what pray tell, is Gryffindors favorite pet doing out at night when he should be tucked in bed already?" Draco prayed that he hadn't blushed just then, but if he had Harry didn't seem to notice.
Harry moved another inch closer feeling as if he were somehow magnetized to the other boy. He realized he was being stupid. He should just get out of here and get away from this person in front of him as quick as possible, but he couldn't. He would definitely be looking into what possible spells could be on him later. "I don't see how that's any of your business, Malfoy."
Draco laughed feeling as if some of the power had shifted back to him, pleased to see Harry rock back slightly. "But it was your business to interfere with mine, is that it?"
Harry moved away from Draco all to aware that the ringing in his ears had returned and that dizzy feeling was back again. He tried to stare directly into the other boys' eyes but he felt his gaze being too frequently drawn down to the other boys' mouth. "I can fix that if you like, let me just go run and fetch Filch shall I?"
Draco grabbed Harrys' arm as he moved towards the door stopping him. Draco felt as if he were branding the other boy with that touch, not entirely wanting it to end but not being able to come up with a plausible reason to continue the touch. He let Harrys' arm go and just stared at the other boy.
"I didn't think I'd have to say thank you since I thought that's how you normally get your rocks off. Running around school and playing savior to us all. Brave and wonderful Harry Potter, here to protect us all, isn't that how you like it?"
Harrys' smirk returned, but somehow Draco had noticed that his eyes held a kind of illuminating sadness to them. "I'd like nothing more then to just be lost in the shadows, never noticed at all."
Draco moved a step closer, the sneer of his face fading. "That's not possible, Harry. Boy who saves the world or not, you were never meant to be in the shadows. The light will always find you." He wanted to say something mean and nasty to wipe the look of surprise that was now etched on the other boys' face. After all, he hadn't meant to compliment the other boy, he was just stating a fact!
"About the other night-"
This seemed to wake Draco up and he quickly stepped away. "You don't need to bring it up, Potter. Things like that happen it's no big deal." When Harry had actually leaned into Draco, the boy had thought he must have been dreaming things! He liked to be suggestive and lewd to Harry because the other boy never seemed to notice. And that was one way to deal with the mild attraction that Draco felt for him. But when he had leaned in, Draco had followed suit, and then the other boy had pulled away in disgust! There was no way he was going to let that happen again.
'No big deal,' Harry thought in his mind. He thought it was a very big bloody deal! But maybe he had sickened Draco even more then he thought. "Ya, good," was all he managed to say.
He moved his way towards the door and opened it and without saying another word stepped out into the darkened hall. Draco thought he must have been going crazy after all. His entire life seemed to be flipping around and for some reason only known to God and The Devil; he followed Harry into the night.
A/N What the hell was I thinking leaving it right there? I must be evil or something! :::looks down and notices tail, horns and pitchfork:::: Oh that's right, I am! HAHAHA! Anywho's, hope ya'll liked that. Don't worry you'll find out what happened next, I promise. ::::Begins to dig very deep hole:::::
A preview for tomorrow - Two more days! Get ready for some serious Christmas brooding ;o) We found out what happened after the classroom incident. And just WHAT the hell was Harry dreaming?