Title: New Beginnings: The Seventh Year
Summary: Harry begins his seventh year, having to deal with the dangers and joys of life in school. He also notices that a certain someone is quite good-looking… (Slash) Harry/Draco, Ron/Herm, Dean/Seamus
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Chapter 2: On the way to Hogwarts
Passing through the barrier, the first thing he saw was the Hogwarts Express. People were boarding it, trying to find compartments for themselves. Harry looked around, trying to sport familiar faces. Then he saw a group of four redheads. Smiling, he walked towards the group. It seemed that Ron and his sister Ginny Weasley made the trip to the station with their twin older brothers Fred and George Weasley this year. Amazing in that Mrs Weasley actually decided that those two were mature enough for this job. He thought to himself. Fred and George graduated from Hogwarts two years before and were what you term as 'people who never grow up' as they were big pranksters when they were in school. They were now operating a joke shop in Diagon Alley which was quite profitable. Harry was even their first investor. It seemed that in times when there was an evil overload threatening the lives of people they felt that they should be able to take a few jokes, hence the success of the shop. Last that Harry heard, they were planning to open a branch of the shop in another wizarding village. However, as Harry stayed with his relatives for the summer and they absolutely hated magic and owl post, Harry did not get the chance to get much news about the wizarding world.
As he walked towards the group, he noticed that Hermione was with them, as expected, as she had the habit of spending the last two weeks of summer holidays with the Weasleys. Hermione was wearing a blue tank top with blue jeans this morning, making her look quite feminine, with her hair tied up. No one had noticed Harry yet, and Harry wondered if they would be surprised with his new changes. He stopped behind Hermione and bended down to her, whispering, "Hi Herm." Hermione spun around, expecting to see Harry's eyes slightly above her eye level but stopped in shock, before dragging her eyes slowly up to Harry's grinning face.
"Harry, what fertilizer did you eat this summer? It's been only less than three months since I last saw you! Oh you got a tan! And muscles! And new glasses! And… And new clothes!" Hermione stared at the new Harry in front of her in wonder.
Even Ron seemed astonished over the fact that his best friend had changed so much over the course of a few months. However his twin brothers did not seem so. The two of them punched Harry on the arm playfully, with Fred exclaiming, "Harry! I knew that you cleaned up good. Finally grew to the height that you should be. Thought that you are forever going to be at Ginny's height and when she even seemed to be getting taller than you, we were all getting a little worried! Looks like our dear Harry have no problems now."
George then went on, whipping out a notebook and a quill, looking very serious, "Yes, and pray tell us the brand of the fertilizers your stupid and disgusting muggle relatives bought so that we can sell it in our shop as 'the fertilizer which made Harry Potter grow tall'! Bet that can bring in lots of galleons!"
The whole group burst into laughter as Harry was trying unsuccessfully to frown at the twins as he absolutely hated people making fun of the fact that he was the Boy-Who-Lived. Ginny finally rescued him by asking everyone to not laugh at him any more and Hermione suggested that they go find a compartment.
The twins helped them load their trunks onto the train, and got off the train. Harry then looked at Ron and Hermione who were sitting opposite him, cuddling and sighed. "Ron, Herm, we are barely out of the station and you two are cuddling already. Herm, you just spent two weeks in his house, you are behaving like you haven't seen him for two months! What have you two been doing?" Hermione and Ron both blushed as they glared at the boy sitting opposite them.
"Harry, you don't know how difficult it is for them. They see each other EVERY day in school last year. Then Herm went HOME for summer and Ron missed HER like mad. Then after SO long they finally get to see each other, BUT Mum watched them like a hawk! The rule in the house is that they are only allowed to hold hands! And Fred and George keep telling on them to tease Ron that they don't have any privacy in the two weeks she was there. Just let them snog for Merlin's sake!" Ginny explained the situation with an impish smile. Ron blushed even redder. Then Ginny turned to Harry. "If you are jealous, we can snog too, you know!" Ginny's grin got even bigger.
"Well, I don't really mind, but that person at the door would." Harry replied in a mischievous tone to Ginny. He just caught sight of Ginny's boyfriend, Neville at the door of the compartment frowning at Ginny, as he heard Ginny's last comment. Neville was one of Harry's most insecure friends and it took Harry forever the year before to get the two of them together after he found out that both were interested in each other. However, Harry had noticed that Ginny had grown into a confident young lady and the relationship helped Neville feel more secure about him. Maybe he heard that comment and thought that Ginny still liked me, Harry thought to himself and felt that he should explain the situation that Ginny was just joking. He, however, was surprised at what Neville said.
"Gin, you mustn't tease Harry this way, just because you have a boyfriend doesn't mean that Harry should have one. You should be on the lookout for a nice boy for Harry, not say this kind of words. Hi there, Harry! Sorry about what Gin said. Ron, I'm bringing her to another compartment to scold her. Come on Ginny." Ginny obediently followed Neville out of the compartment, after giving Harry a small wink and blushing. It seemed to Harry that Neville can't wait to say hi to Ginny either.
Ron laughed, "Scold her, my foot. Snog her to death is more like it. But at least Nev is a really nice guy, unlike that disgusting Malfoy type…"
"Ron, don't say such things. He is already pitiful enough." Hermione was frowning at her boyfriend, making Harry frown in puzzlement.
"Wait a minute, since when is Malfoy pitiful? Herm, are you sick?" Harry asked.
Draco Malfoy had been a rival of Harry's since first year when Harry rejected his hand in friendship, thinking arrogantly that he deserved a better friend than a person who made fun of people who were nice to him. From then on he had been against Harry in almost everything, from Quidditch to studies. The two of them were on par with their competition in their studies with Harry being better in Defense against Dark Arts classes and Malfoy being better in potions. Although they both lost out to Hermione, since she had the habit of studying about twenty hours per day and reading textbooks in the library for fun. The fights and quarrels between Malfoy and Harry were legendary in school and when one occurred, the whole hallway would freeze in position to watch the show. It was as if the two of them were performers. Harry once commented that if they actually charge admission to their fights and quarrels, he would be so rich that his family would not need to work for three generations. He often wondered what would have happen if he had accepted the offer then. Maybe he would have another best friend. Having more friends was better than having more enemies.
"You mean you didn't hear?" Dean asked, after coming into the compartment with Seamus. Harry shook his head.
"His parents passed away. ALL his relatives passed away. Word's out that his parents said something wrong to You-Know-Who and he was so angry that he killed them all. He's the ONLY Malfoy left." Seamus collapsed beside Harry and cuddled up to him. Harry just let him be as always while all the people in the compartment frowned at Seamus' behavior. He had the tendency to think that just because both Harry and he were gay so they could cuddle when both were unattached. Harry did notice that Dean was trying to avoid looking at the two of them. Seamus continued, not caring about the others, but staring at Harry, "Oh Harry, you have grown so much! Hmm… promise me you will lend me this shirt one of these days? I think I'm drooling…"
Harry liked the fact that someone seemed to think that he looked good, but as he was used to Seamus flirting with everyone, even Hermione, he didn't agree to anything, as he did happen to like that shirt. Something told him that if Seamus ever borrowed that shirt he would never get it back. He did grin down at Seamus who seemed to be stuck to his left arm, "Thanks Seam, but… then why is Malfoy still alive?"
"Hmm… no idea, but if he really marry Pansy after they graduate, that bitch is going to be so rich as Malfoy got all the stuff from his relatives!" Seamus pouted.
"But… isn't Malfoy blacklisted, so Pansy won't even go near him? Unless Pansy wants to be blacklisted too." Hermione frowned, thinking about the issue.
"Hey, we haven't even seen that git and you are all talking about nothing else. This is not a good topic. Change topic!" Ron exclaimed.
All of them settled down in the compartment as Seamus finally let go of Harry's arm to start a game of chess with Ron, while Harry just looked out of the window at the changing scenery outside. After a while, Harry noticed from the reflection of the window pane that Dean was staring at him. He turned to his friend and lifted his right eyebrow in question. Dean shot Seamus a look and back at Harry and then tilted his head towards the door that seemed to indicate that he wanted to talk to Harry. Harry gave a slight nod and got up from his seat.
"Hey, where are you going?" Hermione looked up from the textbook she was reading.
"Umm… I'm bored, so I'm going to walk around… I'll be back in a while." Harry answered.
"Harry, good idea. I'll join you." Dean hurriedly added and ushered Harry out of the door. Once out of the door, he pulled Harry till he came to an empty compartment and they went in.
"Okay, what's wrong, Dean?" Harry sat down opposite Dean this time looking at his friend who was frowning away and biting his lower lip. Harry had never seen his friend like that before.
Dean opened his mouth then shut it again without saying anything. He then did it again. He breathed in deeply and let his breath out and tried opening his mouth again. All this while Harry only looked at him with a questioning look, hoping that it would encourage him to open up to him. Dean never came to him with problems before. His roommates were all so different in personality. Ron would combust at hearing a single word that seemed like an insult towards his girlfriend or housemates. Neville was the insecure type who had the tendency to go speechless with fright in front of professors. Seamus was the flirty and bouncy type who seemed to be forever moving and talking. Dean was the quiet type who seemed to be mature and reasonable at all times. In other words, Dean seemed to be the last person to come to Harry with a problem.
"Well, umm… sorry for calling you out here like this. Just wondering, what happens if I keep… um… dreaming about… someone? What does that mean?" Dean finally asked.
"That… will depend on what type of dreams. Nightmares? Like when I dream of Voldemort all the time?"
"No… not nightmares. Definitely not nightmares like yours. Um… those TYPE of dreams." Harry finally found out that Dean could blush as red as Ron, because of the color that Dean's cheeks were presently.
"Oh. THOSE dreams. Well, I can quite safely say that at our age, it should be normal. And if you keep dreaming about a particular someone, then maybe, you know, you like that person." Harry was starting to see where this was coming from, as well as understanding why Dean was behaving that way just now. And he had just the idea who the other person in the dream was. He was trying hard not to smile and waiting for Dean to confirm his suspicions.
"Well, what if that person… is a guy? Does that mean that I'm gay?"
Harry smiled at Dean. "Then we can safely say that you are at least bisexual. And… maybe you should tell Seam about it." Harry had never seen Dean's eyes grow that big before as he burst into laughter.
"How do you know? I didn't… oh…. What if he doesn't like me? What if it's just lust? We have a perfect friendship going on! What if it doesn't work out and… Harry, stop laughing!" Dean looked so frantic that Harry finally realized that Dean was really feeling wretched for liking his best friend.
"Sorry Dean, you look so cute just now. Well take it slowly then. You don't have to tell him now. Just wait a while. You know what Seamus is like. Ask yourself if you can actually accept all his good points as well as all his flaws. If you can accept him as he is, and that he does like you, then… I don't see how come this is not going to work. It is just the next step after so many years of you guys being such good friends. Everyone, even Seamus and I know that we don't belong together. That's why he feel safe being near me as both of us won't mistake him as interested in me or vice versa. Look at Ron and Herm. They look stable. If any wagers are placed on which couple are the likeliest to settle down I would bet on them. And Ron liked Herm after at least three years of knowing her so well. And I think that Seam is interested in you, just that you always seem to promote yourself as a straight guy so he didn't try anything. I did see him check you out before." Harry grinned to put his friend's mind at ease.
Dean finally relaxed and sat there deep in thought. His erotic dreams had started during the summer. Before those dreams, he could safely say that he was as straight as Ron was, but after two weeks of waking up from wet dreams of Seamus and him making love, he stopped pushing away the thoughts that he liked Seamus. He actually had a secret sketchbook stashed in his trunk that was filled with images that he remembered from his dreams and had drawn upon waking up. He at first thought that it was just a phase but just now when he saw Seamus at the station, he wanted to kiss Seamus so badly that he almost couldn't stop himself. That's why he dragged Seamus in search of his other roommates thinking that if other people were around he should be able to control himself. However, seeing Seamus latched onto Harry was not a sight he wanted to see. He knew that Seamus had the habit of cuddling people be it boy or girl but found himself wanting to be in Harry's place. Thus when the opportunity arose, he decided to ask Harry.
"So I should wait until I'm sure that this is really what I want?" Dean asked Harry, who seemed willing to give him space to think about the situation at hand.
Harry turned back to Dean. "You can wait. Or just be a Gryffindor and you know, step in… but seriously, with this kind of situation out there, you do know that this is likely going to be the only year of peace left. And who knows what will happen tomorrow. If you give me a choice, I would want someone I like beside me too." Harry said, looking a little depressed. Now Dean felt really bad about bringing this problem to Harry.
"Harry, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be bringing this up to you. It seems so insignificant compared to what you…"
"No," Harry cut in, "it's not insignificant, it's important to me too, because you are my friend, and Seam is my friend too, and god knows, you guys deserve to be together if you like each other. I'm just pointing out that you shouldn't wait too long and also lamenting that I don't seem to have anyone, when all of you seemed to be at least eyeing someone and… sometimes, it gets lonely. Oh, now you're making me sappy. It's not your fault that no one likes me." Harry sighed.
"No one likes you? You are kidding me. Before you announced that you were gay, the girls were fighting to catch your eye. Then after you made half the school heart-broken over that fact, we have the boys starting to be extra friendly to you to catch your eye. It's just that they don't seem to be effective as you don't seem to like them. And this appearance change, maybe this year you would get someone." Dean was desperately trying to comfort Harry. Harry then tried to smile at Dean and pulled himself out of the sappy mood.
"My father says that no matter what, we are not supposed to talk to that idiot Malfoy again. And that we can do whatever we want to that git. So tonight, Vincent, you and Gregory can beat him up to your heart's content. He won't dare to say a word to Professor Snape tomorrow." Both Dean and Harry stared at each other with stunned expressions. Harry suddenly got up and leant against the wall behind Dean and both of them heard Vincent and Gregory grunt their agreement. The voice belonged to Pansy Parkinson and she was talking to Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, the "bodyguards" who had for the last six years followed Malfoy around. So what Herm said was true, Harry thought to himself. Slytherin had sanctioned Malfoy.
The two of them listened against the walls of the compartment as Pansy went on planning torture on Malfoy, with the two bodyguards who currently belonged to her grunting their agreement every now and then, till Pansy announced that she was going to change into her robes as the train was reaching Hogwarts soon. Both boys then relaxed and sat down beside each other.
"We got to warn Malfoy." Harry said softly, afraid that if they can hear Pansy, then Pansy may be able to hear them now.
Dean then nodded as well. "No one deserved to be treated that way."
"Let's keep this quiet. Not a word to any one else while I try to get to Malfoy." Harry look at Dean straight in the eye and finally Dean nodded his agreement.
"If Seam knows, everyone knows. And Ron will blow if he knew that you are helping Malfoy. He really doesn't like that guy."
"Understatement of the century. Let's go back to find them." Harry got up with Dean to make their way back to their compartment to change into their robes.
Finally the train slowed down and everyone got ready to get up to get down from the train into the horseless carriages that lined up beautifully outside the station. On the way out, Harry, Ron and Hermione saw the games keeper of Hogwarts as well as the professor in charge of teaching them Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid, calling for the first year. As he was a personal friend to the three students, they all waved at him and he waved back, trying to guide the first years into the little boats that were the transportation for the first years to the school. All this while, Harry was looking around trying to spot the blond hair of Malfoy's in the cloud of students but he didn't seem to be anywhere in sight. Harry exchanged a frown with Dean as they settled themselves in an empty carriage which moved towards Hogwarts after the five entered.
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A/N: wow!!! I got reviews!!! *jump with joy* I know my tenses sucks… always get that comment for my essays. Don't care. I'm just writing what is on my mind now. No plan, just write. And seeing that it is Chapter 2 and I'm not even at Hogwarts yet, this is expected to be a LONG story. Does anyone think I'm too long winded? And no Draco yet!!! And I decided that Dean and Seamus really belong together. There will be some of that in here. Seamus is just so cute!!!
A/N II: better tenses??? Tried changing.