AN Hey all, another chapter for you! I've decided to try and update every monday, which should give me the week and weekends to write the chapters out and everything. I know you'll love this arrangement, even though it will undoubtedly stress me to unknown levels. Oh well!
Enjoy the chapter!
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Chapter 3
A week before school started Harry found himself standing inside Hogwarts High School, talking to Mr. Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster. He really was quite a remarkable man, he had a long, pure white beard, the reached nearly down to his waist, making him seem a hundred and fifty years old. Yet he still managed to skip up and down the stairs like a mountain goat.
"We're very happy to have you with us, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "now, there's just the matter of signing you up for your classes, and such. I'm afraid that your new classmates did this in the spring last term, so there might not be much to choose from."
Harry nodded and followed the man down a hallway. They stopped in front of the counseling center. "This is Mrs. McGonagall's office, she will be your counselor." Dumbledore said, pointing to a frosted glass door. There was a skull and crossbones painted on the glass that a surly looking janitor was trying to scrub off.
"It looks better, Argus," Dumbledore said, cheerfully, "at least it doesn't say "Priss Queen" any more."
Harry stifled a laugh.
"Now, Harry, Mrs. McGonagall isn't here at the moment, so I'll be filling out your class schedule for you, is that alright?"
Harry nodded and followed the man into the strictly ordered office. He sat down, looking around interestedly.
"Alright, Harry, your old school headmaster, Mr. Fauker wrote us during the summer, with your marks and such, so how about we base your classes on that? It seems that you are a very fine math student. Top of your class, weren't you?"
Harry nodded, liking this man more and more. "Yes, sir."
"Though, history seemed to be one of your weaker subjects. I'm sorry to say, that our history teacher, Mr. Binns, is also rather boring. Sorry." He laughed before continuing. "Now, at Hogwarts, we have a seven period day. Six classes and a study hall. Homeroom is a twenty minute check-in right before first period. The announcements are also read at this time, along with a list of after-school activities, club get together's and such. Here, you also turn in all your homework from the previous night. We feel that this way you are given an equal amount of time to complete it."
Harry nodded, "that makes sense..."
"Now, about your schedule... I'm afraid, that since you would be going into second year Latin, it has to be a second period class, is that alright?" Harry nodded, "So, what would you like to have first? We have an open space in an honors Algebra 2 class, and also it seems we have a history course there."
"Algebra," Harry said quickly.
"That's what I figured. Now, It says your elective is art, correct?"
"Yes," Harry said, his eyes gleaming.
"Forth period art. Now, history and Honors English... let me see..." The headmaster started flipping through a stack of papers on McGonagall's desk. "Mr. Lupin has a third period English course I'm sure you would find very interesting, and Binn's doesn't teach sixth or seventh period Junior history course, which I guess will leave it at fifth. Does that sound alright to you?" He passed a rough copy of a schedule across the desk and Harry picked up it, scanning it carefully.
"Homeroom with Miss Trelawny... first period math," Harry read, "second; Latin, third-" He continued on, taking a look at each course and the teachers name next to it. "But, sir," he said hesitantly, "I have no sixth or seventh period."
Mr. Dumbledore took the paper back. "Oh! Silly me, I forgot study hall and Chemistry, Honors student, weren't you?"
Harry nodded.
"Sixth period Honors Chemistry with Professor Snape. Which leaves seventh with study hall." He scribbled it down before turning to his computer and began typing it out. "So, Harry, tell me, were you going to do any after-school activities, as mediator of Art Club, I'm forced to tell you that it's a lot of fun, and also the fall play is supposed to be a big success this year. What's more, there are come more outdoors things. Rock climbing club, Saturday club, dance committees and such."
Harry smiled. "I was planning on joining Art Club, and I've been tricked into joining the play. And, I'll be playing basketball, of course."
"Tricked," Dumbledore mused, "you don't seem one easy to trick. It must have been your mother. They always seem to get you young people involved in things."
"Partly my mother," Harry said, suddenly looking down at his hands, "mostly my boyfriend."
Dumbledore looked up from the computer, "Boyfriend? Really?"
Harry nodded, bracing himself for the worst.
"Well, I'm surprised. You've been in this town for what, two months, and you've already found a boyfriend. That's quite a talent, Mr. Potter."
Harry grinned. "It was actually more like, an hour."
The headmaster's eyebrows went up a little more as he continued poking his way through the keyboard. They sat in silence until the printer began humming, spitting out a copy of Harry's schedule and his book list. Dumbledore handed them to him, along with a recommended reading list and a map of the school. "These books are your course books, you'll receive them in your classes. These are books we recommend that you read during the school year, you don't have to, of course, but we feel it broadens the students mind."
Harry nodded, glancing over it and noticing that he already had read most of the books there.
"School starts at eight next Monday, it's over at three. Upper classman, such as yourself, are permitted to leave school grounds for lunch, and as tradition we have a welcoming back Con (assembly) at the beginning of the year. It begins at seven o'clock. The football team will be promoted a little there, and the cheerleaders will be performing a bit, along with a few clubs and such. It should be fun." He smiled and stood up, holding out his hand.
Harry took it, smiling widely. "Thank you, sir."
Dumbledore nodded. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Harry Potter."
===
Harry made his way out of the school, taking next to no time at all. He sat down on the stone steps outside the main doors and proceeded to wait for his mother to pick him up. He began flipping idly through the papers Dumbledore had given him, and didn't react when a car pulled into the far end of the parking lot and made it's way over to the sidewalk closest to him.
His head snapped up, however, when a clear, familiar, much missed voice hailed him.
"Hey, Potter, are you just going to sit there all afternoon looking cute, or are you going to come over here and say hello?"
Harry sprang to his feet, "Draco? When did you get back?! You're not supposed to be back till Friday!" He abandoned his seat on the steps and rushed down to his boyfriends side, embracing him tightly and claiming his mouth instantly.
"Father got sick, so we came back early," Draco explained when they parted for air. "We got back last night, and I would have called you - but I was rather tired."
"It's alright," Harry assured him, grinning and placing another kiss on his boyfriends mouth. "But, what are you doing *here*?"
"Well, I do come around here nine months out of the year, I thought I'd merely get a headstart this year."
Harry rolled his eyes and Draco relented.
"Okay, I stopped by your house first, looking for you, but your mum said you were registering here, so I offered to pick you up." He grinned again. "Now, get in the car you lazy little annoyance. Honestly, making me pick you up from school... what am I going to do with you?"
"I have a few ideas," Harry grinned cheekily, slapping Draco's backside and skipping to the passenger side of the car. He got in, but Draco was still standing, watching him carefully.
Eventually, however, he got into the car and started the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot. He cast a curious look over at the raven haired boy next to him. "Hey, Harry," he asked, "how long were you and Dean dating before you-"
"Nine months and three days." Harry answered promptly.
Draco's face fell. "Oh, okay."
"However, we also didn't progress to making out in public until about three months after we got together, and we did get further then kissing multiple times, so..."
Draco perked back up. "Oh, okay, so there are a few perks!"
===
Harry's interview with Rita Skeeter didn't make it into the newspaper, until the last day of Summer Vacation, and, traditionally, the first day of classes. On the second page of the sports section, was a very large color photograph of him playing basketball, one of the shots the paunchy man had gotten without Harry noticing. Underneath the picture was a flashy headline.
"Junior Athlete Among Us." James read, his nose wrinkled in disgust, before continuing to read the article. "Mr. Harry Potter, just recently moved up here with his parents, is indeed one of the Nations most prized Junior Athletes. His main sport, basketball...."
"You mean only sport," Lily cut in, buttering a piece of toast.
James nodded, "...comes fascinatingly easy to him. Potter, who has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember, says that the game just felt right to him." James here paused and rolled his eyes. "Which is no surprise, seeing how he manages to average a score of forty points a game. After that, our conversation went on to his new school, Hogwarts High School, which he will be attending as a Junior. 'I guess I'm a little nervous about starting at a new school,' Harry says, 'But I'm sure that all the people there will be great.' What's more, Mr. Potter went on, mentioning that he had already met a few students, and that they were "extremely nice.""
"If I ever said that phrase," Harry's voice said from the doorway, "I'd shoot myself. Don't tell me she finally published that dumb article."
James waved the paper at him. "Afraid so, kiddo."
Harry sighed. "If you wouldn't mind burning it... I'd be much obliged."
"I'll burn it first thing." James promised, putting down the article and grinning at his son. "What are your plans for today?"
"Hermione, Draco and I were going to head over to the mall and do a bit of shopping." Harry answered. "For clothes and things, I already got the practical supplies last week with Draco, after I registered."
"You paid for your own school supplies?" Lily asked, slightly surprised.
Harry nodded and moved to sit down in his usual seat at the table.
Lily set down a plate for him before returning to the stove. "I'll give you the credit card then," she said, "even if clothes are more expensive then binders and backpacks."
Harry grinned his thanks, picking up his fork and biting into his breakfast.
===
"Alright, boys," Hermione cried, tugging her two friends into the mall behind her. "Let's get to shopping!" She directed the two boys into a department store, heading directly for the men's department, and began pulling clothes off racks, seemingly at random. She then shoved the clothes into their arms and dragged them over to the dressing rooms.
Harry sighed, but neither he nor Draco bothered to protest. It was almost scary, Harry reflected, how similar Hermione and his old friend Hannah Abbott were. He emerged moments later wearing some of the clothes that Hermione had selected for him.
"The pants are good, but the shirt's not right." Hermione said circling him carefully, before turning to Draco, who had just emerged, looking at Hermione as though she were the whole firing squad. "How is it you seem to look good in everything you get!" She demanded, staring at him and reaching over to adjust the color on his ice-blue three quater sleeve shirt.
"You look nice, Draco." Harry grinned. "These next nine months and three days might just go by a little faster with those clothes."
Draco flushed.
"Harry, you try this shirt, Draco you take his - I think that color might suit you more."
Draco smiled widely and walked over to Harry's side, quickly and efficiently striping the shirt off of Harry and whistling appreciatively, causing Harry's face to do a slow burn.
This went on in nearly every store at the mall. When they had finally escaped, Harry and Draco carrying Hermione's bags as well as their own, the two boys were begging for mercy. Draco was on the verge of speeding back to Harry's house, in a good attempt to get back to his manor.
"Wow," Draco said, remaining in the car and consulting his watch. "Look at the time... I should go and - er - sleep! That's right, I should get some sleep. Need to be up bright and early tomorrow, after all!"
Hermione nodded her head, getting out of the car and dragging her many, many shopping bags out after her. She stood waiting as Harry leaned over and kissed his boyfriend.
"Can I spend the night at your house?" He asked softly against Draco's lips, "I'm kind of afraid of Hermione right now. She's got that look in her eyes."
Draco chuckled, "What look? And, sorry. But my excuse is to get some sleep. That won't happen if you're over. By the way, do you want a ride to school tomorrow?"
Harry shook his head. "The look that she wants to pick out an outfit for her and me and I'm doomed to help her. And, no thanks, but I'll see you at the assembly, right? You'll save me a seat?"
Draco nodded. "I have to be there early anyway, because Jazz Choir tryout's are early, before the 'welcome back thing'."
"You have to try out?" Harry asked, kissing him lightly.
"Just for show. I'm a shoo-in. I'll probably sing tomorrow, to open the dumb thing."
"I'd like to hear you sing." Harry said shyly.
"Hello," Hermione called impatiently, cutting into their conversation. "Harry, come on, we still need to decide on what outfit you're going to wear tomorrow! You have to make a good impression, you know!"
Harry whimpered, "don't leave me," he whispered against Draco's lips.
"Sorry, babe," Draco grinned, "but this is your house, and I've got to go. Call me when you're done?"
Harry pouted. "Fine." He slowly moved away from Draco and began gathering his things. Just as slowly, (and with a little more wiggling of his bum then necessary) he got out of the car. He heard Draco's growl, before he pulled out his shopping bags, and shut the door. He then went over to the driver's side and leaned in the open window, receiving a kiss that didn't last nearly long enough.
"See you tomorrow," Draco grinned, before turning up his music and driving away, leaving Harry to his fate.
===
Thanks to Harry's nerves, he woke up nearly half and hour before his alarm was due to go off. He groaned and got out of bed, knowing it was hopeless to try and sleep any more. He stumbled into the bathroom before changing into his running clothes and setting out, running in the dim pre-dawn light.
He got back and jumped into the shower, trying to convince himself that it wasn't a big deal to be starting school in just an hour. And that it wasn't a big deal to be facing hundreds of new faces that would do nothing but judge him. Especially since Hermione had forced him to agree to 'competing in a small event in the Con'. And it definitely wasn't a big deal if they knew he was gay or not, because he wasn't even going to bother hiding it. In fact, when he saw Draco, he was going to go and kiss him, in front of the school if he had to!
Because he was perfectly confident with himself! And he knew that no matter what, Draco wouldn't judge him!
After his shower, Harry dressed in the outfit Hermione had picked out for him. A pair of off white khaki's, a loose white tee-shirt and a nice pair of brown sandals. He put in his contacts and went up the stairs into the kitchen, greeting his parents and quickly ate his waffles.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door and Harry picked up his backpack and opened the door. Hermione was standing there, in a green and silver cheerleading skirt, top and matching green shoes. They didn't even say a word, just got into Harry's car, heading directly towards school.
"Hey, Mione!" Someone called when Harry had parked, "where'd you pick up the babe?" A cheerleader ran up to Hermione's side and began batting her eyelashes wildly at Harry.
The latter, rolled his eyes and got out of the car. "I'll see you later, Mione," he said, picking up his bag and pocketing his keys. He then began the seemingly endless trek out of the parking lot and into the school. A large group of fat boys were standing outside the main doors, sneers painted on each of their faces.
"Well, well, well," A blond, pink and porky boy shaped blob said, seemingly the leader of the "Fat Mob". "What's this, a new boy?"
"Let him through, Dudley Dursley," Hermione said from behind him. "You might be able to flatten and tackle people on the football field, but that means nothing off of it."
The boy scowled at Hermione, but he obviously knew better then to fight with her.
"Oh, come on Mione," Harry protested after the head cheerleader had steered him away, "I could have taken him! Or at least insulted him with big words that he can't understand!"
"Yes, well, you don't want to get into a fight on your first day of school. Now, find your locker, and I'll have Ron show you where the gym is, alright? I've got to go and tell the other cheerleaders what we're doing."
Harry nodded and began searching down the hallway he was in for his locker. Noting that his locker number started with a three, and all the lockers around him started with two's, Harry found a flight of stairs and continued to look for his locker, finding it right at the end of the hallway. He was pleased to find it was one of the wider one's before he quickly opened the lock, seeing that some things had already been placed on the shelf. A note was tapped to the inside of the door.
Harry peeled it off. "Harry, put your books on the bottom, binders on top, alright? I'll see you in homeroom. You have Trelawny, don't you? Talk to you later, babe. Draco."
Harry grinned and began unloading his binders and folders onto the top shelf next to Draco's. They contrasted nicely, Harry's dark blue things, and Draco' plain white.
Just as he was finishing, a boy with a head of red hair approached him in the seemingly empty hall. Which was logical, Harry reflected, considering that it wasn't even seven yet.
"Harry?" The boy asked, smiling easily at him.
"Yeah, and you must be Ron." Harry responded, smiling and closing his locker door. Ron motioned that Harry should follow him, and Harry hurried after him down the hallway.
"Mione said that I should show you around, help you get used to Hogwarts, it can be a bit confusing. I should know, my first year it took me a week to figure out how to get from my locker to the cafeteria."
Harry laughed, not mentioning that he had already had a tour of the school and had memorized the map Dumbledore had given him. He liked Ron, and feel immediately at ease with him. They talked lightly on their way to the gym, but as they got closer, Harry's nerves returned with a vengeance. Unwillingly, he hesitated a moment before following the red head into the room.
The bleachers were packed with students, all talking to each other loudly. A few students were standing on the opposite side of the gym, Harry supposed that they would be preforming, leaning against the wall or talking in groups. Hermione was there, talking to the cheerleaders, and Draco was talking to an unfriendly looking man with greasy dark chin length hair. Another man approached them, also with dark hair, but this one much more friendly looking. The first man scowled before turning back to Draco.
Harry shook his head before turning and following Ron into the bleachers. The lights dimmed a few minutes later, and everybody stopped talking as Dumbledore walked up to the microphone in the middle of the room.
"Welcome and welcome back," he said into the stillness. "I'm proud to see so many faces out here today." There were a few cheers. "I'm also proud to introduce Draco Malfoy, who will be singing a song of his own choice."
The room quieted expectantly as Draco took Dumbledore's spot and music began pounding through the room. The blond danced a bit along to the beat, winking and blowing kisses into the crowd. There were a few more cheers, before Draco finally began singing.
Harry sat in shock. Draco was singing his favorite song, his gray eyes searching through the crowd, even as he danced, until they were locked with Harry's. But the song, coming from Draco, was even better and the words meaning more then they had before. The tune, dancing along with Draco's vocals was enrapturing the entire school. All too soon, the song was over and Draco bowed into the cheering and clapping before retreating back against the wall, where the cheerleaders were doing kicks and shaking their pom-poms.
Next moment, the girls in green and silver and rushed out to the middle of the floor, and preformed a routine and pulling off moves Harry had never seen before. Group after group went, football, drama club, dance team... a whole variety of things. Finally, Hermione made her way to the microphone, gesturing for silence.
"We're going to have a little mixed sports competition," she announced, "with some people that have volunteered. Could you guys come down here?"
Harry stood up and he made his way down to the floor with five others, and another cheerleader came away from the wall.
"Now, we've been divided into teams," Hermione announced, once they were all standing in the middle of the floor. "The first person, will have to take this basketball, and shoot it into the hoop over there," she held up a basketball and pointed to one of the hoops. The next person who will be waiting under the hoop will grab the ball and run and score a touchdown over there." She pointed again. "Then, the ball will be dribbled back down by our soccer players and then they'll pass it to their respective basketball player. But before the player can shoot, a cheerleader will back flip their side and tag them. Who ever finishes first, wins."
She quietly turned to the group and listed who was grouped with who. Then she turned to her group. "Harry, you start and finish, Dennis you're running, Neville you do soccer, okay?"
They all nodded and moved into their possessions.
Someone came over and handed Harry and the boy he was going against basketballs.
"Good luck," the boy muttered sarcastically.
"Thanks." Harry said, brightly.
A whistle blew and Harry shot the ball, right there from half-court. It arched beautifully and swished in without touching the net. Next moment, Dennis, holding the ball, charged past Harry. Half a minute later, Neville streaked over to him, and the other football player ran by in the other direction. Hermione began a series of impressive looking back handsprings, and tagged Harry, the second cheerleader right behind her. Harry didn't even waste any time. He just shot the ball again from half-court. Watching as it went in.
The crowd was roaring, and Harry allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction.
===
"Harry, that was amazing!" Ron said excitedly when he had caught up with the latter.
"That?" Harry asked surprised, "that was nothing. I could do that blindfolded." He waved his hand dismissively.
Ron looked doubtful but didn't say anything more. "Who's your homeroom?"
Harry didn't answer, just handed Ron his neatly folded schedule. Ron glanced at it before handing it back and the two boys continued walking until they reached Harry's locker. Draco, it seemed, had already been there and Harry quickly grabbed a binder before following Ron towards room three-twelve.
Draco was standing talking to someone just inside the doorway and Harry draped his arms over the blonds shoulders. "You had to sing *that* song, didn't you?" He teased.
Draco smiled over his shoulder at him. "Yep."
Harry grinned and let go of his boyfriend whispering "cheeky" in his ear as he did.
Draco chuckled and continued talking to the person Harry now recognized as Neville. But, Neville wasn't to interested in his and Draco's conversation anymore.
"Aren't you Harry Potter?" Neville asked, his voice a little strange, his hands moving in front of him. Sign language, Harry realized, then Neville must be deaf.
"Yes," Harry said clearly, "And you're Neville, right?" His own clumsy attempts at sign language seemed to get his question across, though Neville did laugh.
"Yeah," he said, dropping his hands to his side. "I read that article in the newspaper about you, I thought it was pretty impressive."
Draco cast Harry a curious look at the mention of the article but didn't bother saying anything.
"I thought it was annoying," Harry smiled, shaking his head.
"To each his own," Neville replied, his hands moving again. "Would you like me to teach you sign language?"
Harry grinned, "sure, that'd be cool!"
Before either boy could say anything more, or Draco could comment, a woman who strongly resembled a glittering insect. She was holding what looked like a stack of computer printouts. "Take your seats," she said in a loud, yet misty voice. "Where ever you sit will be your seat for the rest of the semester."
Everybody shot to a seat. Harry ended up right behind Hermione and next to Draco, in the very back row, closest to the door.
The woman introduced herself as Mrs. Trelawny, before taking role and laying out the rules. "This year," she said, "we're having a new homework system-"
"We're not having homework?" The fat boy from outside the school, Dudley, called.
Nobody laughed.
"No, Mr. Dursley. You're homework will be turned in to me every morning. Or more specifically, into your file, before you leave this room. Now, also every morning, as is tradition with my homeroom classes, we will begin with horoscopes. I find them fascinating, and I'm sure you will too. Now," she began passing out her handouts. "For your first piece of homework, I would like to fill these out and return them to me tomorrow."
The intercom clicked on just then, accompanied with a bell, cutting off the classes groans. A monotone voice filled the room and Harry ignored it, looking over his "homework". He quietly snorted at it before stashing it in his binder. The announcements ended and another bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom.
"Hey, Harry!" Hermione said, standing up and turning around. "You have McGonagall next right? So do I, walk with me?"
Harry nodded, picking up his things and placing a lightning fast kiss on Draco's lips before following the girl out of the room.
===
The day went on like that, people staring at him in the hallways, their whispers following him like bloodhounds. The more "brave" ones would come up and talk to him. Such as Seamus, who Harry had a few of classes with. By the time Harry collapsed into a chair in the library for his study hall, he had already received a lengthy math assignment, and a demand from Professor Snape, the greasy haired man from the gym, that the class memorize the first twenty-five elements from the periodic table. A body sat down next to him, and gentle hand pushed his hair out of his face.
"Tired?" Draco asked, his hand moving to rest on Harry's, which was playing with his pen.
"Partly, more annoyed really," Harry muttered, looking over at his boyfriend. "Would you believe how many people came up to me today. Some even wanted autographs!" His voice was low, to accommodate the quiet atmosphere. "One girl asked me out."
"Why would they want autographs?" Draco asked, digging in his backpack and pulling out his chemistry work.
"Um..." Harry said, his hands now playing nervously with his pen. "Did I ever mention to you that I'm the most valued basketball player in the country?"
Draco froze. "What?"
Harry gulped, now extremely nervous. "Um, did you happen to see the newspaper yesterday, the second page of the sports section?"
Draco shook his head, his gray eyes narrowed.
Harry squeaked. "Erm, there's kind of this article about me in it... that Rita Skeeter wrote over the summer."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Draco asked quietly, though his eyes burned with a sudden repressed anger.
"I didn't want you to judge me, like you're doing now." Harry whispered, "and I was scared that you would only be dating me for the game, and not the player."
"Logical," Draco muttered, snapping open his binder and pulling out his periodic table.
"You're not mad at me, are you Draco?" Harry asked quietly, pulling out his math. "It's just, I went out with someone once, and they had been using me for my title... and it really hurt. I didn't want that to happen again."
Draco's shoulders slumped a little, a small smile playing on his lips. "I could never stay mad at you for long. I'm sorry I got so offended... I'm just going to have to fight harder to keep you know, that's all. With all your new admirers... now, shut up and let me study!"
Harry grinned and pressed a quick kiss to Draco's temple before concentrating on his already half completed Algebra homework. It was extremely easy, and he finished it in fifteen minutes, then he snatched Draco's chemistry.
"A kiss for each right answer," he proclaimed, cutting off Draco's protests. "And if they're all correct, something a little better."
Draco's eyes lit up.
"Hydrogen, oxygen, and Lithium." Harry said, randomly choosing three off of the list. He had already memorized that table, in the eight grade. And had recited them, one second slower then Blaize. Still, Harry figured that saying the whole periodic table in less then three minutes was still impressive.
"H, O, and Li." Draco answered.
Harry made three tally marks on some scrap paper, before listing off three more. Three more tally's. Harry got to the bottom of the list.
"Mercury, and if you get this right, you get a special present, much better then kisses." He slipped his hand down to Draco's thigh, tracing tiny circles on his inner leg.
Draco's eyes went blank and glassy. "Mercury," he whispered desperately, "um... it's..."
Harry slowly started moving his hand away from its place on Draco's leg.
"No, wait! Don't! It's, it's... HG!" He practically shouted out the answer, earning them in a visit from Madam Pince, their study-hall supervisor.
"What are you two boys doing?" She asked, brandish a feather duster at them.
"Studying," Harry smiled innocently. "We need to memorize this list of elements for chemistry. Professor Snape hinted that there would be a test on it tomorrow."
The woman frowned, "just keep it down back here." She turned her gaze to Draco, who was looking rather flushed.
"Are you alright, boy?" She asked, regarding him carefully.
"Yes," Draco said, his voice tight. "I'm, ah... fine."
Harry was still grinning wildly.
The librarian just rolled her eyes and walked away, muttering to herself about noisy children. Draco suddenly slumped over with a almost inaudible sigh, his head hitting the table, though he didn't seem to mind. He was thinking privately to himself that this way of studying definitely beat out books.
"Much better then kisses," he said quietly after he had recovered.
"I don't think you're going to have to fight to keep me, Draco," Harry whispered moving his hand back to the table top. "Because unless you do something incredibility stupid, there's very little possibility that I'm giving you up."
===
By the end of the next week, most of the students had successfully switched into "school mode".
Harry was sitting in homeroom, receiving a backrub from Draco. The announcements were being read, this time by a more energy filled person. Harry glanced around the room at his new friends and was startled to find Seamus Finnigan looking at him with a strange look in his eyes. It made him uncomfortable so he looked back down at his desk, rolling his shoulders a bit as Draco's talented hands continued to rub.
There was a break in the talking before an announcements came about try outs for the fall play.
Draco bent down, his voice tickling Harry's ear slightly. "We're going to do that," he whispered.
"Why?" Harry whined quietly, "you know I can't sing! And you'll probably get the lead, and have to kiss some girl... and then I'll be all jealous."
He twisted around and saw Draco's amused expression. "Don't try to worm out of it, Potter," he smiled, "you already promised."
Harry's shoulders slumped, admitting his defeat. "When are tryouts?"
"Tonight at eight," Draco's eyes were excited.
"Fine, come and get me tonight. What's the play?"
"'Oklahoma.' It's supposed to be really good. Thanks for doing this with me, Harry." The backrub began again and didn't end until the bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom.
===
Tryouts were hell. Harry had the misfortune of going first, and he was sure that he heard glass breaking in the back of the room. He was then recommended to be stage manager. Not that Harry minded, the less singing, the better.
Draco, on the other hand, did perfect. His vocal piece was good, his acting was amazing, and most of the room was blown away.
"Excellent, Mr. Malfoy! Just wonderful!" The director, Mr. Lockhart cried, clapping wildly when Draco had finished. "You'll be perfect for Curly." The man looked down at his roster. "Miss Lavender Brown, if you please."
A pretty brown haired girl got up and made her way to the stage. While she was singing, Harry leaned over and placed a kiss on Draco's cheek. "I told you," he whispered. "You're on stage, and I'm already behind it."
Draco grinned. "You were right when you said you couldn't sing." He joked quietly, "you were awful!"
Harry rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Lavender, who had just finished her song, and had begun reading her lines.
"That was wonderful, dear." Lockhart said when she finished. The auditions continued on until the very last person had stepped off the stage. "I think that's was all of you, was it not?" When nobody said anything he continued. "I'm sure that this play will be a complete success, with all you wonderful little Shakespere's..."
"Doesn't he mean 'actors'" Harry whispered.
Draco shrugged.
"...and me directing it, of course, we can do no wrong."
The room rolled its eyes.
"Now, all of you need to head home, and don't forget to pick up a copy of the script. The list of cast will be up in front of my office tomorrow by lunch. Hope to see you all then. And, Mr. Potter, a word?"
Draco cast Harry a symphetic look, muttering a quick, "I'll meet you outside," before heading out the door, leaving his boyfriend to his fate.
"Now, Mr. Potter, were you going to be stage manager for me?" Lockhart asked, walking up to Harry, who stood next to the stage.
Harry nodded.
"Excellent. If you could find some people to help with advertising and building the sets and such, I would be very pleased. It's not every day that Hogwarts High School has a chance to put on such a famous play. I'm just glad that I'm here to put it together. Did you know that I was the top of my class in acting school, nearly everyone was my friend, all my teachers loved me..."
Harry nodded politely, privately wondering if the man was such a good actor why he was stuck as head of the Drama Program at a high school.
"Well, I'll let you go then, Harry. It was nice meeting you..." Lockhart smiled, his bright white teeth nearly blinding Harry, who grimaced nicely and quickly walked out to the door, towards the parking lot.
He was joined by Seamus Finnigan. "What did Lockhart want?"
"He wants me to find a stage crew," Harry said, smiling at his friend. "Any ideas who I can ask?"
"I'll help," Seamus said, tentatively. "I know a little bit about building set platforms."
"Really?" Harry asked, grinning. "That'd be great! Thanks!"
Seamus smiled, seemingly relived and the two continued walking out of the school and into the parking lot, where Draco was leaning against his car, looking annoyed.
When Harry and Seamus approached, the blond moved away from his car and embraced Harry, kissing him thoroughly. He moved away, glancing at Seamus.
"See you Monday, Seamus." He said lightly, unlocking the car door for Harry and smiling at the other boy.
Seamus nodded and went to his own car, while Harry turned to Draco. "Draco, why did you do that?" He asked, frowning at the other. "Seamus knows that we're together, he's not going to try anything."
"I just wanted to make sure he knows." Draco said sulkily.
Harry didn't say anything for most of the ride, and eventually, Draco began squirming.
"Come on, Harry, Seamus is known for being a player. If he sees something and he wants it, next to nothing can stop him from getting it. And I've seen the way he looks at you." He pulled into Harry's driveway. "I just don't want to loose you."
Harry sighed, but had to smile. "Who would know you're so protective over little ol' me." He teased, leaning over to kiss Draco for being cute. "Well, to make up for it you're going to a movie with me tomorrow. No complaints!"
Draco faked a groan.
"And you're paying." Harry added. "Now, get your arse out of the car and come talk to my parents, they're starting to wonder why you never come over any more."
Draco smiled but got out of his car and followed Harry inside the house none the less. James and Lily were sitting in the living room. Lily was curled up next to her husband, reading a book, and James was sitting, continuously running a hand through her hair. They sat up when they heard Harry and Draco come in.
"Say hello to the new school male lead in the play!" Harry announced, smiling widely.
"Really son?" James asked, looking impressed.
"He's over there." Harry added, pointing at Draco.
"Well, that makes more sense," Lily smiled, putting her book down. "Hello, Draco."
"Hello, Mrs. Potter, Mr. Potter." Draco smiled, sitting down. Harry collapsed in his lap. "Congratulations about your new baby."
Lily smiled and placed a hand on her stomach. "Thank you."
"Do you know its gender yet?"
"Not yet," James smiled, "we won't know for a few months yet. Heck, we thought that Harry was going to be a girl until he came out. It was... a surprise to say the least. We had the prettiest name picked out for him, Amber Haley."
"That's so cute!" Draco exclaimed, trying desperately not to laugh at his boyfriend. His attempts were in vain, as both he and the Potter parents began laughing helplessly.
"I think it's a boy." Harry stated, pouting and trying to change the subject.
"I'm betting on a girl." Lily smiled at Draco, a spark of laughter still in her green orbs.
Draco rolled his eyes, and the conversation continued into the night, only stopping when Harry, who was *still* sitting on Draco, became so relaxed that he fell asleep in his boyfriends embrace.
"Well, that settles it," Lily said, standing up. "Draco, could you help me bring him downstairs? You're free to stay the night here, I'll make up the couch for you."
Draco stayed the night, but he didn't sleep on the couch.
===
When Harry arrived at school that Wednesday, he had a little surprise waiting for him right outside the doors. Namely, the Blob Mob had finally decided to begin bullying him.
"Look boys, it's Potty," Dursley jeered, "our own little gay boy. So, Potty, what's it feel like to be queer? Take it up the arse much?"
Harry's eyes narrowed. He had been bullied before about being gay, but it still made him feel like punching Dudley in the face. And besides, after the first time that had happened, he had never been bullied again. "Would you like me to demonstrate for you how it feels?"
The Blob Mob collectively took a step back, but Dursley took a step forward. "I doubt that you could even hit me hard enough to leave a bruise, you freak."
Harry's eyes narrowed a little more. "Is that a challenge?"
"Yeah."
A little smirk appeared on Harry's face and he dropped his bookbag, flexing his arm muscles. "You remember that I can shoot a basketball from halfcourt," he reminded the boy harshly, the smirk widening. "And you might not know this, but I am fully trained in the martial arts, I could take you out in a second."
Before Dudley could answer, Harry let his fist fly, hitting the blob of fat and feeling his fist sink into the rolls of skin. Dudley howled in pain and sent his own fist flying. It missed of course, and Harry kicked out, contacting behind Dudley's knee and felling the boy. He was pretty sure that the ground shook with the force of a small earthquake.
"MR. POTTER!" He heard a screeching voice say from behind the small mountain in front of him. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Defending myself." Harry answered.
Mrs. McGonagall made her way around Dudley, who was apparently knocked out from the force of his fall. "From what, precisely?"
"From them." Harry said, gesturing to the Blob Mob vaguely. The group of boys were staring at him in shock.
McGonagall sighed. "I think you and the headmaster will need to have a little chat about the school rules regarding fighting." Harry sighed and followed the woman to Dumbledore's office.
===
"Mr. Potter, why did you deem it necessary to render Mr. Dursley unconscious?"
"I think that is a rather personal matter, headmaster," Harry answered, his green eyes were still burning with anger.
"When it comes to the safety of my students, I think you'll find that I have the power to ask such things, now tell me." The old man looked angry, and Harry suddenly felt ashamed.
"He insulted me."
"How, precisely?"
"The usual. Homosexual stuff, the same thing happened to me in Surry when I came out. You'll find that I... don't take to insults about that very well."
"I see..." Dumbledore mused, "now, I noticed something a little strange about your personal records... that you had almost died when you were smaller, was this something along these lines?"
"No, sir. That was about basketball, and I'd rather not talk about it. Draco doesn't even know about that... you must realize that I'm doing everything in my power not to loose him."
"I've noticed. Especially during study hall... very interesting conversations you have in there." The headmasters eyes were twinkling. "Sorry for eavesdropping, but sometimes you two are too much."
Harry turned bright red.
"Now, about Mr. Dursley... seeing how he was degrading you, he will be punished with a week of suspension... but you, as you retaliated, will have to be suspended for the rest of the day. I'll get somebody to collect your assignments for you."
Harry sighed. "Yes sir." He stood up, reaching for his bookbag and taking out his assignments that were due that day. "Could you get these into my homeroom for me? Professor Snape doesn't like me very much, and not turning in homework wouldn't help the cause."
The old man chucked and took the stack of neatly written out assignments. "It won't be a problem."
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AN Review and I'll update.
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PS Did anyone else think that Dumbledore was a creepy peeping tom just then? Or was it just me putting more bad thoughts in your minds?
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Enjoy the chapter!
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Chapter 3
A week before school started Harry found himself standing inside Hogwarts High School, talking to Mr. Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster. He really was quite a remarkable man, he had a long, pure white beard, the reached nearly down to his waist, making him seem a hundred and fifty years old. Yet he still managed to skip up and down the stairs like a mountain goat.
"We're very happy to have you with us, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "now, there's just the matter of signing you up for your classes, and such. I'm afraid that your new classmates did this in the spring last term, so there might not be much to choose from."
Harry nodded and followed the man down a hallway. They stopped in front of the counseling center. "This is Mrs. McGonagall's office, she will be your counselor." Dumbledore said, pointing to a frosted glass door. There was a skull and crossbones painted on the glass that a surly looking janitor was trying to scrub off.
"It looks better, Argus," Dumbledore said, cheerfully, "at least it doesn't say "Priss Queen" any more."
Harry stifled a laugh.
"Now, Harry, Mrs. McGonagall isn't here at the moment, so I'll be filling out your class schedule for you, is that alright?"
Harry nodded and followed the man into the strictly ordered office. He sat down, looking around interestedly.
"Alright, Harry, your old school headmaster, Mr. Fauker wrote us during the summer, with your marks and such, so how about we base your classes on that? It seems that you are a very fine math student. Top of your class, weren't you?"
Harry nodded, liking this man more and more. "Yes, sir."
"Though, history seemed to be one of your weaker subjects. I'm sorry to say, that our history teacher, Mr. Binns, is also rather boring. Sorry." He laughed before continuing. "Now, at Hogwarts, we have a seven period day. Six classes and a study hall. Homeroom is a twenty minute check-in right before first period. The announcements are also read at this time, along with a list of after-school activities, club get together's and such. Here, you also turn in all your homework from the previous night. We feel that this way you are given an equal amount of time to complete it."
Harry nodded, "that makes sense..."
"Now, about your schedule... I'm afraid, that since you would be going into second year Latin, it has to be a second period class, is that alright?" Harry nodded, "So, what would you like to have first? We have an open space in an honors Algebra 2 class, and also it seems we have a history course there."
"Algebra," Harry said quickly.
"That's what I figured. Now, It says your elective is art, correct?"
"Yes," Harry said, his eyes gleaming.
"Forth period art. Now, history and Honors English... let me see..." The headmaster started flipping through a stack of papers on McGonagall's desk. "Mr. Lupin has a third period English course I'm sure you would find very interesting, and Binn's doesn't teach sixth or seventh period Junior history course, which I guess will leave it at fifth. Does that sound alright to you?" He passed a rough copy of a schedule across the desk and Harry picked up it, scanning it carefully.
"Homeroom with Miss Trelawny... first period math," Harry read, "second; Latin, third-" He continued on, taking a look at each course and the teachers name next to it. "But, sir," he said hesitantly, "I have no sixth or seventh period."
Mr. Dumbledore took the paper back. "Oh! Silly me, I forgot study hall and Chemistry, Honors student, weren't you?"
Harry nodded.
"Sixth period Honors Chemistry with Professor Snape. Which leaves seventh with study hall." He scribbled it down before turning to his computer and began typing it out. "So, Harry, tell me, were you going to do any after-school activities, as mediator of Art Club, I'm forced to tell you that it's a lot of fun, and also the fall play is supposed to be a big success this year. What's more, there are come more outdoors things. Rock climbing club, Saturday club, dance committees and such."
Harry smiled. "I was planning on joining Art Club, and I've been tricked into joining the play. And, I'll be playing basketball, of course."
"Tricked," Dumbledore mused, "you don't seem one easy to trick. It must have been your mother. They always seem to get you young people involved in things."
"Partly my mother," Harry said, suddenly looking down at his hands, "mostly my boyfriend."
Dumbledore looked up from the computer, "Boyfriend? Really?"
Harry nodded, bracing himself for the worst.
"Well, I'm surprised. You've been in this town for what, two months, and you've already found a boyfriend. That's quite a talent, Mr. Potter."
Harry grinned. "It was actually more like, an hour."
The headmaster's eyebrows went up a little more as he continued poking his way through the keyboard. They sat in silence until the printer began humming, spitting out a copy of Harry's schedule and his book list. Dumbledore handed them to him, along with a recommended reading list and a map of the school. "These books are your course books, you'll receive them in your classes. These are books we recommend that you read during the school year, you don't have to, of course, but we feel it broadens the students mind."
Harry nodded, glancing over it and noticing that he already had read most of the books there.
"School starts at eight next Monday, it's over at three. Upper classman, such as yourself, are permitted to leave school grounds for lunch, and as tradition we have a welcoming back Con (assembly) at the beginning of the year. It begins at seven o'clock. The football team will be promoted a little there, and the cheerleaders will be performing a bit, along with a few clubs and such. It should be fun." He smiled and stood up, holding out his hand.
Harry took it, smiling widely. "Thank you, sir."
Dumbledore nodded. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Harry Potter."
===
Harry made his way out of the school, taking next to no time at all. He sat down on the stone steps outside the main doors and proceeded to wait for his mother to pick him up. He began flipping idly through the papers Dumbledore had given him, and didn't react when a car pulled into the far end of the parking lot and made it's way over to the sidewalk closest to him.
His head snapped up, however, when a clear, familiar, much missed voice hailed him.
"Hey, Potter, are you just going to sit there all afternoon looking cute, or are you going to come over here and say hello?"
Harry sprang to his feet, "Draco? When did you get back?! You're not supposed to be back till Friday!" He abandoned his seat on the steps and rushed down to his boyfriends side, embracing him tightly and claiming his mouth instantly.
"Father got sick, so we came back early," Draco explained when they parted for air. "We got back last night, and I would have called you - but I was rather tired."
"It's alright," Harry assured him, grinning and placing another kiss on his boyfriends mouth. "But, what are you doing *here*?"
"Well, I do come around here nine months out of the year, I thought I'd merely get a headstart this year."
Harry rolled his eyes and Draco relented.
"Okay, I stopped by your house first, looking for you, but your mum said you were registering here, so I offered to pick you up." He grinned again. "Now, get in the car you lazy little annoyance. Honestly, making me pick you up from school... what am I going to do with you?"
"I have a few ideas," Harry grinned cheekily, slapping Draco's backside and skipping to the passenger side of the car. He got in, but Draco was still standing, watching him carefully.
Eventually, however, he got into the car and started the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot. He cast a curious look over at the raven haired boy next to him. "Hey, Harry," he asked, "how long were you and Dean dating before you-"
"Nine months and three days." Harry answered promptly.
Draco's face fell. "Oh, okay."
"However, we also didn't progress to making out in public until about three months after we got together, and we did get further then kissing multiple times, so..."
Draco perked back up. "Oh, okay, so there are a few perks!"
===
Harry's interview with Rita Skeeter didn't make it into the newspaper, until the last day of Summer Vacation, and, traditionally, the first day of classes. On the second page of the sports section, was a very large color photograph of him playing basketball, one of the shots the paunchy man had gotten without Harry noticing. Underneath the picture was a flashy headline.
"Junior Athlete Among Us." James read, his nose wrinkled in disgust, before continuing to read the article. "Mr. Harry Potter, just recently moved up here with his parents, is indeed one of the Nations most prized Junior Athletes. His main sport, basketball...."
"You mean only sport," Lily cut in, buttering a piece of toast.
James nodded, "...comes fascinatingly easy to him. Potter, who has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember, says that the game just felt right to him." James here paused and rolled his eyes. "Which is no surprise, seeing how he manages to average a score of forty points a game. After that, our conversation went on to his new school, Hogwarts High School, which he will be attending as a Junior. 'I guess I'm a little nervous about starting at a new school,' Harry says, 'But I'm sure that all the people there will be great.' What's more, Mr. Potter went on, mentioning that he had already met a few students, and that they were "extremely nice.""
"If I ever said that phrase," Harry's voice said from the doorway, "I'd shoot myself. Don't tell me she finally published that dumb article."
James waved the paper at him. "Afraid so, kiddo."
Harry sighed. "If you wouldn't mind burning it... I'd be much obliged."
"I'll burn it first thing." James promised, putting down the article and grinning at his son. "What are your plans for today?"
"Hermione, Draco and I were going to head over to the mall and do a bit of shopping." Harry answered. "For clothes and things, I already got the practical supplies last week with Draco, after I registered."
"You paid for your own school supplies?" Lily asked, slightly surprised.
Harry nodded and moved to sit down in his usual seat at the table.
Lily set down a plate for him before returning to the stove. "I'll give you the credit card then," she said, "even if clothes are more expensive then binders and backpacks."
Harry grinned his thanks, picking up his fork and biting into his breakfast.
===
"Alright, boys," Hermione cried, tugging her two friends into the mall behind her. "Let's get to shopping!" She directed the two boys into a department store, heading directly for the men's department, and began pulling clothes off racks, seemingly at random. She then shoved the clothes into their arms and dragged them over to the dressing rooms.
Harry sighed, but neither he nor Draco bothered to protest. It was almost scary, Harry reflected, how similar Hermione and his old friend Hannah Abbott were. He emerged moments later wearing some of the clothes that Hermione had selected for him.
"The pants are good, but the shirt's not right." Hermione said circling him carefully, before turning to Draco, who had just emerged, looking at Hermione as though she were the whole firing squad. "How is it you seem to look good in everything you get!" She demanded, staring at him and reaching over to adjust the color on his ice-blue three quater sleeve shirt.
"You look nice, Draco." Harry grinned. "These next nine months and three days might just go by a little faster with those clothes."
Draco flushed.
"Harry, you try this shirt, Draco you take his - I think that color might suit you more."
Draco smiled widely and walked over to Harry's side, quickly and efficiently striping the shirt off of Harry and whistling appreciatively, causing Harry's face to do a slow burn.
This went on in nearly every store at the mall. When they had finally escaped, Harry and Draco carrying Hermione's bags as well as their own, the two boys were begging for mercy. Draco was on the verge of speeding back to Harry's house, in a good attempt to get back to his manor.
"Wow," Draco said, remaining in the car and consulting his watch. "Look at the time... I should go and - er - sleep! That's right, I should get some sleep. Need to be up bright and early tomorrow, after all!"
Hermione nodded her head, getting out of the car and dragging her many, many shopping bags out after her. She stood waiting as Harry leaned over and kissed his boyfriend.
"Can I spend the night at your house?" He asked softly against Draco's lips, "I'm kind of afraid of Hermione right now. She's got that look in her eyes."
Draco chuckled, "What look? And, sorry. But my excuse is to get some sleep. That won't happen if you're over. By the way, do you want a ride to school tomorrow?"
Harry shook his head. "The look that she wants to pick out an outfit for her and me and I'm doomed to help her. And, no thanks, but I'll see you at the assembly, right? You'll save me a seat?"
Draco nodded. "I have to be there early anyway, because Jazz Choir tryout's are early, before the 'welcome back thing'."
"You have to try out?" Harry asked, kissing him lightly.
"Just for show. I'm a shoo-in. I'll probably sing tomorrow, to open the dumb thing."
"I'd like to hear you sing." Harry said shyly.
"Hello," Hermione called impatiently, cutting into their conversation. "Harry, come on, we still need to decide on what outfit you're going to wear tomorrow! You have to make a good impression, you know!"
Harry whimpered, "don't leave me," he whispered against Draco's lips.
"Sorry, babe," Draco grinned, "but this is your house, and I've got to go. Call me when you're done?"
Harry pouted. "Fine." He slowly moved away from Draco and began gathering his things. Just as slowly, (and with a little more wiggling of his bum then necessary) he got out of the car. He heard Draco's growl, before he pulled out his shopping bags, and shut the door. He then went over to the driver's side and leaned in the open window, receiving a kiss that didn't last nearly long enough.
"See you tomorrow," Draco grinned, before turning up his music and driving away, leaving Harry to his fate.
===
Thanks to Harry's nerves, he woke up nearly half and hour before his alarm was due to go off. He groaned and got out of bed, knowing it was hopeless to try and sleep any more. He stumbled into the bathroom before changing into his running clothes and setting out, running in the dim pre-dawn light.
He got back and jumped into the shower, trying to convince himself that it wasn't a big deal to be starting school in just an hour. And that it wasn't a big deal to be facing hundreds of new faces that would do nothing but judge him. Especially since Hermione had forced him to agree to 'competing in a small event in the Con'. And it definitely wasn't a big deal if they knew he was gay or not, because he wasn't even going to bother hiding it. In fact, when he saw Draco, he was going to go and kiss him, in front of the school if he had to!
Because he was perfectly confident with himself! And he knew that no matter what, Draco wouldn't judge him!
After his shower, Harry dressed in the outfit Hermione had picked out for him. A pair of off white khaki's, a loose white tee-shirt and a nice pair of brown sandals. He put in his contacts and went up the stairs into the kitchen, greeting his parents and quickly ate his waffles.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door and Harry picked up his backpack and opened the door. Hermione was standing there, in a green and silver cheerleading skirt, top and matching green shoes. They didn't even say a word, just got into Harry's car, heading directly towards school.
"Hey, Mione!" Someone called when Harry had parked, "where'd you pick up the babe?" A cheerleader ran up to Hermione's side and began batting her eyelashes wildly at Harry.
The latter, rolled his eyes and got out of the car. "I'll see you later, Mione," he said, picking up his bag and pocketing his keys. He then began the seemingly endless trek out of the parking lot and into the school. A large group of fat boys were standing outside the main doors, sneers painted on each of their faces.
"Well, well, well," A blond, pink and porky boy shaped blob said, seemingly the leader of the "Fat Mob". "What's this, a new boy?"
"Let him through, Dudley Dursley," Hermione said from behind him. "You might be able to flatten and tackle people on the football field, but that means nothing off of it."
The boy scowled at Hermione, but he obviously knew better then to fight with her.
"Oh, come on Mione," Harry protested after the head cheerleader had steered him away, "I could have taken him! Or at least insulted him with big words that he can't understand!"
"Yes, well, you don't want to get into a fight on your first day of school. Now, find your locker, and I'll have Ron show you where the gym is, alright? I've got to go and tell the other cheerleaders what we're doing."
Harry nodded and began searching down the hallway he was in for his locker. Noting that his locker number started with a three, and all the lockers around him started with two's, Harry found a flight of stairs and continued to look for his locker, finding it right at the end of the hallway. He was pleased to find it was one of the wider one's before he quickly opened the lock, seeing that some things had already been placed on the shelf. A note was tapped to the inside of the door.
Harry peeled it off. "Harry, put your books on the bottom, binders on top, alright? I'll see you in homeroom. You have Trelawny, don't you? Talk to you later, babe. Draco."
Harry grinned and began unloading his binders and folders onto the top shelf next to Draco's. They contrasted nicely, Harry's dark blue things, and Draco' plain white.
Just as he was finishing, a boy with a head of red hair approached him in the seemingly empty hall. Which was logical, Harry reflected, considering that it wasn't even seven yet.
"Harry?" The boy asked, smiling easily at him.
"Yeah, and you must be Ron." Harry responded, smiling and closing his locker door. Ron motioned that Harry should follow him, and Harry hurried after him down the hallway.
"Mione said that I should show you around, help you get used to Hogwarts, it can be a bit confusing. I should know, my first year it took me a week to figure out how to get from my locker to the cafeteria."
Harry laughed, not mentioning that he had already had a tour of the school and had memorized the map Dumbledore had given him. He liked Ron, and feel immediately at ease with him. They talked lightly on their way to the gym, but as they got closer, Harry's nerves returned with a vengeance. Unwillingly, he hesitated a moment before following the red head into the room.
The bleachers were packed with students, all talking to each other loudly. A few students were standing on the opposite side of the gym, Harry supposed that they would be preforming, leaning against the wall or talking in groups. Hermione was there, talking to the cheerleaders, and Draco was talking to an unfriendly looking man with greasy dark chin length hair. Another man approached them, also with dark hair, but this one much more friendly looking. The first man scowled before turning back to Draco.
Harry shook his head before turning and following Ron into the bleachers. The lights dimmed a few minutes later, and everybody stopped talking as Dumbledore walked up to the microphone in the middle of the room.
"Welcome and welcome back," he said into the stillness. "I'm proud to see so many faces out here today." There were a few cheers. "I'm also proud to introduce Draco Malfoy, who will be singing a song of his own choice."
The room quieted expectantly as Draco took Dumbledore's spot and music began pounding through the room. The blond danced a bit along to the beat, winking and blowing kisses into the crowd. There were a few more cheers, before Draco finally began singing.
Harry sat in shock. Draco was singing his favorite song, his gray eyes searching through the crowd, even as he danced, until they were locked with Harry's. But the song, coming from Draco, was even better and the words meaning more then they had before. The tune, dancing along with Draco's vocals was enrapturing the entire school. All too soon, the song was over and Draco bowed into the cheering and clapping before retreating back against the wall, where the cheerleaders were doing kicks and shaking their pom-poms.
Next moment, the girls in green and silver and rushed out to the middle of the floor, and preformed a routine and pulling off moves Harry had never seen before. Group after group went, football, drama club, dance team... a whole variety of things. Finally, Hermione made her way to the microphone, gesturing for silence.
"We're going to have a little mixed sports competition," she announced, "with some people that have volunteered. Could you guys come down here?"
Harry stood up and he made his way down to the floor with five others, and another cheerleader came away from the wall.
"Now, we've been divided into teams," Hermione announced, once they were all standing in the middle of the floor. "The first person, will have to take this basketball, and shoot it into the hoop over there," she held up a basketball and pointed to one of the hoops. The next person who will be waiting under the hoop will grab the ball and run and score a touchdown over there." She pointed again. "Then, the ball will be dribbled back down by our soccer players and then they'll pass it to their respective basketball player. But before the player can shoot, a cheerleader will back flip their side and tag them. Who ever finishes first, wins."
She quietly turned to the group and listed who was grouped with who. Then she turned to her group. "Harry, you start and finish, Dennis you're running, Neville you do soccer, okay?"
They all nodded and moved into their possessions.
Someone came over and handed Harry and the boy he was going against basketballs.
"Good luck," the boy muttered sarcastically.
"Thanks." Harry said, brightly.
A whistle blew and Harry shot the ball, right there from half-court. It arched beautifully and swished in without touching the net. Next moment, Dennis, holding the ball, charged past Harry. Half a minute later, Neville streaked over to him, and the other football player ran by in the other direction. Hermione began a series of impressive looking back handsprings, and tagged Harry, the second cheerleader right behind her. Harry didn't even waste any time. He just shot the ball again from half-court. Watching as it went in.
The crowd was roaring, and Harry allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction.
===
"Harry, that was amazing!" Ron said excitedly when he had caught up with the latter.
"That?" Harry asked surprised, "that was nothing. I could do that blindfolded." He waved his hand dismissively.
Ron looked doubtful but didn't say anything more. "Who's your homeroom?"
Harry didn't answer, just handed Ron his neatly folded schedule. Ron glanced at it before handing it back and the two boys continued walking until they reached Harry's locker. Draco, it seemed, had already been there and Harry quickly grabbed a binder before following Ron towards room three-twelve.
Draco was standing talking to someone just inside the doorway and Harry draped his arms over the blonds shoulders. "You had to sing *that* song, didn't you?" He teased.
Draco smiled over his shoulder at him. "Yep."
Harry grinned and let go of his boyfriend whispering "cheeky" in his ear as he did.
Draco chuckled and continued talking to the person Harry now recognized as Neville. But, Neville wasn't to interested in his and Draco's conversation anymore.
"Aren't you Harry Potter?" Neville asked, his voice a little strange, his hands moving in front of him. Sign language, Harry realized, then Neville must be deaf.
"Yes," Harry said clearly, "And you're Neville, right?" His own clumsy attempts at sign language seemed to get his question across, though Neville did laugh.
"Yeah," he said, dropping his hands to his side. "I read that article in the newspaper about you, I thought it was pretty impressive."
Draco cast Harry a curious look at the mention of the article but didn't bother saying anything.
"I thought it was annoying," Harry smiled, shaking his head.
"To each his own," Neville replied, his hands moving again. "Would you like me to teach you sign language?"
Harry grinned, "sure, that'd be cool!"
Before either boy could say anything more, or Draco could comment, a woman who strongly resembled a glittering insect. She was holding what looked like a stack of computer printouts. "Take your seats," she said in a loud, yet misty voice. "Where ever you sit will be your seat for the rest of the semester."
Everybody shot to a seat. Harry ended up right behind Hermione and next to Draco, in the very back row, closest to the door.
The woman introduced herself as Mrs. Trelawny, before taking role and laying out the rules. "This year," she said, "we're having a new homework system-"
"We're not having homework?" The fat boy from outside the school, Dudley, called.
Nobody laughed.
"No, Mr. Dursley. You're homework will be turned in to me every morning. Or more specifically, into your file, before you leave this room. Now, also every morning, as is tradition with my homeroom classes, we will begin with horoscopes. I find them fascinating, and I'm sure you will too. Now," she began passing out her handouts. "For your first piece of homework, I would like to fill these out and return them to me tomorrow."
The intercom clicked on just then, accompanied with a bell, cutting off the classes groans. A monotone voice filled the room and Harry ignored it, looking over his "homework". He quietly snorted at it before stashing it in his binder. The announcements ended and another bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom.
"Hey, Harry!" Hermione said, standing up and turning around. "You have McGonagall next right? So do I, walk with me?"
Harry nodded, picking up his things and placing a lightning fast kiss on Draco's lips before following the girl out of the room.
===
The day went on like that, people staring at him in the hallways, their whispers following him like bloodhounds. The more "brave" ones would come up and talk to him. Such as Seamus, who Harry had a few of classes with. By the time Harry collapsed into a chair in the library for his study hall, he had already received a lengthy math assignment, and a demand from Professor Snape, the greasy haired man from the gym, that the class memorize the first twenty-five elements from the periodic table. A body sat down next to him, and gentle hand pushed his hair out of his face.
"Tired?" Draco asked, his hand moving to rest on Harry's, which was playing with his pen.
"Partly, more annoyed really," Harry muttered, looking over at his boyfriend. "Would you believe how many people came up to me today. Some even wanted autographs!" His voice was low, to accommodate the quiet atmosphere. "One girl asked me out."
"Why would they want autographs?" Draco asked, digging in his backpack and pulling out his chemistry work.
"Um..." Harry said, his hands now playing nervously with his pen. "Did I ever mention to you that I'm the most valued basketball player in the country?"
Draco froze. "What?"
Harry gulped, now extremely nervous. "Um, did you happen to see the newspaper yesterday, the second page of the sports section?"
Draco shook his head, his gray eyes narrowed.
Harry squeaked. "Erm, there's kind of this article about me in it... that Rita Skeeter wrote over the summer."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Draco asked quietly, though his eyes burned with a sudden repressed anger.
"I didn't want you to judge me, like you're doing now." Harry whispered, "and I was scared that you would only be dating me for the game, and not the player."
"Logical," Draco muttered, snapping open his binder and pulling out his periodic table.
"You're not mad at me, are you Draco?" Harry asked quietly, pulling out his math. "It's just, I went out with someone once, and they had been using me for my title... and it really hurt. I didn't want that to happen again."
Draco's shoulders slumped a little, a small smile playing on his lips. "I could never stay mad at you for long. I'm sorry I got so offended... I'm just going to have to fight harder to keep you know, that's all. With all your new admirers... now, shut up and let me study!"
Harry grinned and pressed a quick kiss to Draco's temple before concentrating on his already half completed Algebra homework. It was extremely easy, and he finished it in fifteen minutes, then he snatched Draco's chemistry.
"A kiss for each right answer," he proclaimed, cutting off Draco's protests. "And if they're all correct, something a little better."
Draco's eyes lit up.
"Hydrogen, oxygen, and Lithium." Harry said, randomly choosing three off of the list. He had already memorized that table, in the eight grade. And had recited them, one second slower then Blaize. Still, Harry figured that saying the whole periodic table in less then three minutes was still impressive.
"H, O, and Li." Draco answered.
Harry made three tally marks on some scrap paper, before listing off three more. Three more tally's. Harry got to the bottom of the list.
"Mercury, and if you get this right, you get a special present, much better then kisses." He slipped his hand down to Draco's thigh, tracing tiny circles on his inner leg.
Draco's eyes went blank and glassy. "Mercury," he whispered desperately, "um... it's..."
Harry slowly started moving his hand away from its place on Draco's leg.
"No, wait! Don't! It's, it's... HG!" He practically shouted out the answer, earning them in a visit from Madam Pince, their study-hall supervisor.
"What are you two boys doing?" She asked, brandish a feather duster at them.
"Studying," Harry smiled innocently. "We need to memorize this list of elements for chemistry. Professor Snape hinted that there would be a test on it tomorrow."
The woman frowned, "just keep it down back here." She turned her gaze to Draco, who was looking rather flushed.
"Are you alright, boy?" She asked, regarding him carefully.
"Yes," Draco said, his voice tight. "I'm, ah... fine."
Harry was still grinning wildly.
The librarian just rolled her eyes and walked away, muttering to herself about noisy children. Draco suddenly slumped over with a almost inaudible sigh, his head hitting the table, though he didn't seem to mind. He was thinking privately to himself that this way of studying definitely beat out books.
"Much better then kisses," he said quietly after he had recovered.
"I don't think you're going to have to fight to keep me, Draco," Harry whispered moving his hand back to the table top. "Because unless you do something incredibility stupid, there's very little possibility that I'm giving you up."
===
By the end of the next week, most of the students had successfully switched into "school mode".
Harry was sitting in homeroom, receiving a backrub from Draco. The announcements were being read, this time by a more energy filled person. Harry glanced around the room at his new friends and was startled to find Seamus Finnigan looking at him with a strange look in his eyes. It made him uncomfortable so he looked back down at his desk, rolling his shoulders a bit as Draco's talented hands continued to rub.
There was a break in the talking before an announcements came about try outs for the fall play.
Draco bent down, his voice tickling Harry's ear slightly. "We're going to do that," he whispered.
"Why?" Harry whined quietly, "you know I can't sing! And you'll probably get the lead, and have to kiss some girl... and then I'll be all jealous."
He twisted around and saw Draco's amused expression. "Don't try to worm out of it, Potter," he smiled, "you already promised."
Harry's shoulders slumped, admitting his defeat. "When are tryouts?"
"Tonight at eight," Draco's eyes were excited.
"Fine, come and get me tonight. What's the play?"
"'Oklahoma.' It's supposed to be really good. Thanks for doing this with me, Harry." The backrub began again and didn't end until the bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom.
===
Tryouts were hell. Harry had the misfortune of going first, and he was sure that he heard glass breaking in the back of the room. He was then recommended to be stage manager. Not that Harry minded, the less singing, the better.
Draco, on the other hand, did perfect. His vocal piece was good, his acting was amazing, and most of the room was blown away.
"Excellent, Mr. Malfoy! Just wonderful!" The director, Mr. Lockhart cried, clapping wildly when Draco had finished. "You'll be perfect for Curly." The man looked down at his roster. "Miss Lavender Brown, if you please."
A pretty brown haired girl got up and made her way to the stage. While she was singing, Harry leaned over and placed a kiss on Draco's cheek. "I told you," he whispered. "You're on stage, and I'm already behind it."
Draco grinned. "You were right when you said you couldn't sing." He joked quietly, "you were awful!"
Harry rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Lavender, who had just finished her song, and had begun reading her lines.
"That was wonderful, dear." Lockhart said when she finished. The auditions continued on until the very last person had stepped off the stage. "I think that's was all of you, was it not?" When nobody said anything he continued. "I'm sure that this play will be a complete success, with all you wonderful little Shakespere's..."
"Doesn't he mean 'actors'" Harry whispered.
Draco shrugged.
"...and me directing it, of course, we can do no wrong."
The room rolled its eyes.
"Now, all of you need to head home, and don't forget to pick up a copy of the script. The list of cast will be up in front of my office tomorrow by lunch. Hope to see you all then. And, Mr. Potter, a word?"
Draco cast Harry a symphetic look, muttering a quick, "I'll meet you outside," before heading out the door, leaving his boyfriend to his fate.
"Now, Mr. Potter, were you going to be stage manager for me?" Lockhart asked, walking up to Harry, who stood next to the stage.
Harry nodded.
"Excellent. If you could find some people to help with advertising and building the sets and such, I would be very pleased. It's not every day that Hogwarts High School has a chance to put on such a famous play. I'm just glad that I'm here to put it together. Did you know that I was the top of my class in acting school, nearly everyone was my friend, all my teachers loved me..."
Harry nodded politely, privately wondering if the man was such a good actor why he was stuck as head of the Drama Program at a high school.
"Well, I'll let you go then, Harry. It was nice meeting you..." Lockhart smiled, his bright white teeth nearly blinding Harry, who grimaced nicely and quickly walked out to the door, towards the parking lot.
He was joined by Seamus Finnigan. "What did Lockhart want?"
"He wants me to find a stage crew," Harry said, smiling at his friend. "Any ideas who I can ask?"
"I'll help," Seamus said, tentatively. "I know a little bit about building set platforms."
"Really?" Harry asked, grinning. "That'd be great! Thanks!"
Seamus smiled, seemingly relived and the two continued walking out of the school and into the parking lot, where Draco was leaning against his car, looking annoyed.
When Harry and Seamus approached, the blond moved away from his car and embraced Harry, kissing him thoroughly. He moved away, glancing at Seamus.
"See you Monday, Seamus." He said lightly, unlocking the car door for Harry and smiling at the other boy.
Seamus nodded and went to his own car, while Harry turned to Draco. "Draco, why did you do that?" He asked, frowning at the other. "Seamus knows that we're together, he's not going to try anything."
"I just wanted to make sure he knows." Draco said sulkily.
Harry didn't say anything for most of the ride, and eventually, Draco began squirming.
"Come on, Harry, Seamus is known for being a player. If he sees something and he wants it, next to nothing can stop him from getting it. And I've seen the way he looks at you." He pulled into Harry's driveway. "I just don't want to loose you."
Harry sighed, but had to smile. "Who would know you're so protective over little ol' me." He teased, leaning over to kiss Draco for being cute. "Well, to make up for it you're going to a movie with me tomorrow. No complaints!"
Draco faked a groan.
"And you're paying." Harry added. "Now, get your arse out of the car and come talk to my parents, they're starting to wonder why you never come over any more."
Draco smiled but got out of his car and followed Harry inside the house none the less. James and Lily were sitting in the living room. Lily was curled up next to her husband, reading a book, and James was sitting, continuously running a hand through her hair. They sat up when they heard Harry and Draco come in.
"Say hello to the new school male lead in the play!" Harry announced, smiling widely.
"Really son?" James asked, looking impressed.
"He's over there." Harry added, pointing at Draco.
"Well, that makes more sense," Lily smiled, putting her book down. "Hello, Draco."
"Hello, Mrs. Potter, Mr. Potter." Draco smiled, sitting down. Harry collapsed in his lap. "Congratulations about your new baby."
Lily smiled and placed a hand on her stomach. "Thank you."
"Do you know its gender yet?"
"Not yet," James smiled, "we won't know for a few months yet. Heck, we thought that Harry was going to be a girl until he came out. It was... a surprise to say the least. We had the prettiest name picked out for him, Amber Haley."
"That's so cute!" Draco exclaimed, trying desperately not to laugh at his boyfriend. His attempts were in vain, as both he and the Potter parents began laughing helplessly.
"I think it's a boy." Harry stated, pouting and trying to change the subject.
"I'm betting on a girl." Lily smiled at Draco, a spark of laughter still in her green orbs.
Draco rolled his eyes, and the conversation continued into the night, only stopping when Harry, who was *still* sitting on Draco, became so relaxed that he fell asleep in his boyfriends embrace.
"Well, that settles it," Lily said, standing up. "Draco, could you help me bring him downstairs? You're free to stay the night here, I'll make up the couch for you."
Draco stayed the night, but he didn't sleep on the couch.
===
When Harry arrived at school that Wednesday, he had a little surprise waiting for him right outside the doors. Namely, the Blob Mob had finally decided to begin bullying him.
"Look boys, it's Potty," Dursley jeered, "our own little gay boy. So, Potty, what's it feel like to be queer? Take it up the arse much?"
Harry's eyes narrowed. He had been bullied before about being gay, but it still made him feel like punching Dudley in the face. And besides, after the first time that had happened, he had never been bullied again. "Would you like me to demonstrate for you how it feels?"
The Blob Mob collectively took a step back, but Dursley took a step forward. "I doubt that you could even hit me hard enough to leave a bruise, you freak."
Harry's eyes narrowed a little more. "Is that a challenge?"
"Yeah."
A little smirk appeared on Harry's face and he dropped his bookbag, flexing his arm muscles. "You remember that I can shoot a basketball from halfcourt," he reminded the boy harshly, the smirk widening. "And you might not know this, but I am fully trained in the martial arts, I could take you out in a second."
Before Dudley could answer, Harry let his fist fly, hitting the blob of fat and feeling his fist sink into the rolls of skin. Dudley howled in pain and sent his own fist flying. It missed of course, and Harry kicked out, contacting behind Dudley's knee and felling the boy. He was pretty sure that the ground shook with the force of a small earthquake.
"MR. POTTER!" He heard a screeching voice say from behind the small mountain in front of him. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Defending myself." Harry answered.
Mrs. McGonagall made her way around Dudley, who was apparently knocked out from the force of his fall. "From what, precisely?"
"From them." Harry said, gesturing to the Blob Mob vaguely. The group of boys were staring at him in shock.
McGonagall sighed. "I think you and the headmaster will need to have a little chat about the school rules regarding fighting." Harry sighed and followed the woman to Dumbledore's office.
===
"Mr. Potter, why did you deem it necessary to render Mr. Dursley unconscious?"
"I think that is a rather personal matter, headmaster," Harry answered, his green eyes were still burning with anger.
"When it comes to the safety of my students, I think you'll find that I have the power to ask such things, now tell me." The old man looked angry, and Harry suddenly felt ashamed.
"He insulted me."
"How, precisely?"
"The usual. Homosexual stuff, the same thing happened to me in Surry when I came out. You'll find that I... don't take to insults about that very well."
"I see..." Dumbledore mused, "now, I noticed something a little strange about your personal records... that you had almost died when you were smaller, was this something along these lines?"
"No, sir. That was about basketball, and I'd rather not talk about it. Draco doesn't even know about that... you must realize that I'm doing everything in my power not to loose him."
"I've noticed. Especially during study hall... very interesting conversations you have in there." The headmasters eyes were twinkling. "Sorry for eavesdropping, but sometimes you two are too much."
Harry turned bright red.
"Now, about Mr. Dursley... seeing how he was degrading you, he will be punished with a week of suspension... but you, as you retaliated, will have to be suspended for the rest of the day. I'll get somebody to collect your assignments for you."
Harry sighed. "Yes sir." He stood up, reaching for his bookbag and taking out his assignments that were due that day. "Could you get these into my homeroom for me? Professor Snape doesn't like me very much, and not turning in homework wouldn't help the cause."
The old man chucked and took the stack of neatly written out assignments. "It won't be a problem."
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AN Review and I'll update.
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PS Did anyone else think that Dumbledore was a creepy peeping tom just then? Or was it just me putting more bad thoughts in your minds?
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