Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue…please?
Pairing: Eventual Draco/Harry…
A/N: By the way, I haven't read OotP yet, so this story will just carry on as it is. But I'll definitely revise it after I finish the new book. If anyone wonder why I haven't read it yet, it's because I refuse to buy hard cover books!! So I had to wait till my friend finish with his book first…hehe…
Thanks to everyone who reviewed: Innocent Victim, CrUsHeDvElVeT, James Jago, Autumsun, hpgryffin, faith, silver_elven_fox, azerty, HeartoftheDragon, Emma, paws10081…love you all…
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What the hell…??
Chapter 2: Of Hellish Project and Nosy Hufflepuff
Harry had no idea why he was laughing. Maybe it was an attempt to hide his own embarrassment. Maybe it was the irony of the situation. The normally calm and poised Slytherin seeker did not routinely collapse in hysterics in front of the whole school after all. Or maybe it was just the way Draco laughed that made Harry wanted to laugh with him too.
But they both knew that years of rivalry and misunderstandings had died from that moment they first shared their laughter.
Harry and Draco staggered towards their respective tables laughing endlessly, while the rest of the school watched them in horrified fascination.
Once securely seated and thoroughly amused by god-knows-what, Harry turned to regard the questioning gazes of his friends. Seeing that they finally had Harry's attention, Ron and Hermione and the rest of the fifth year Gryffindors then plunged into a bombardment of questions. Although what came out of their mouths were mostly consisted of jabbering that were incomprehensible to any sane human being, Harry got gist of it.
Harry shot his eyes across the hall to Draco who were in an identical situation. Draco, with a pretty smile still spread across his face, shrugged nonchalantly, and totally ignored his friends. Harry decided to follow his example, so he also shrugged offhandedly, and started stuffing his face with food and tuned out his friends' pitiful attempts at interrogation.
Harry absent-mindedly sneaked another glance at the Slytherin side. Draco was still smiling, which made Harry's lips tucked a little upward too. He noticed that Draco's smile made him looked innocent, almost shy. Draco was discreetly peeking at something. From his dazed expression and misty eyes, Harry immediately realized what, or who, he was peeking at, as he recalled the tiny piece of information he came upon yesterday night about a certain Ravenclaw. He couldn't help but set his own eyes on the Head Boy.
Although they had known each other for a few years, Harry had never really took a good look at Terry before now. Even though he was sitting down, Harry could still see that he was quite tall, maybe slightly less than a head or so taller than Harry, who was about the same height as Draco. He was also quite thin, not the athletic type, Harry supposed, but he was a Ravenclaw, so not much of a surprise there. He had tanned skin, black hair, black eyes, and a nose, and a mouth… Well, all in all, Harry concluded that Terry Boot was just a typical boy. He certainly wouldn't call him 'really cute'. A wee bit geeky too, actually. Totally unlike someone that Harry had assumed Draco would be interested in.
Harry had always imagined Draco's choice of lovers would be dependent on one's aesthetic assets mostly, if not entirely. Certainly someone from Slytherin, like Pansy or Blaise, would be a more appropriate choice, wouldn't it? Because wasn't that how any successful relationship should work? A compatible lover with whom one could share his own ideals and interests. Like Ron and Hermione.
From familiarity brewed intimacy, and from intimacy brewed love.
And speaking of brewing…it was time for Potions!
Shit! The others left without me! I'm going to be late…
Without another thought, Harry devoured the remaining food and shot out of the Great Hall.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Potions was the first class for Gryffindors and Slytherin on Thursday mornings.
Harry barely made it to the Potions classroom without being late. He scowled at his friends for ditching him, but they shrugged and told him that he was too absorbed in his own little fantasy world to notice their departure.
Snape glided into the room with the usual vindictive aura that could've easily made first years wet their pants. His icy glares scanned across the room to mentally check everyone's presence. But before commercing his lesson, he eyed Harry briefly. His expression was thoughtful, yet terrifying, nonetheless. No doubt he was also curious about this morning's episode.
Throughout the lesson, Draco tactfully avoided looking over to the Gryffindors' side, especially at Harry's face, but from his tightly pressed lips and clenched fist, anyone could deduced that he was desparately trying to maintain his composure. However, his attempt was under challenge when his own Godfather deliberately paired him up with Harry for the rest of the lesson. He narrowed his eyes at his professor, who pretended he didn't noticed.
Draco sighed silently as Harry approached, still not letting his eyes travel anywhere near the vicinity of Harry's absurdingly comical face. Harry settled down beside Draco as calmly as possible, as the others watched them in a mixture of curiosity, alarm and concern, but he completely disregarded his fellow classmates's nosy tendencies. They worked rest of the class in relative peace, since both of the boys suddenly became decidedly shy and refused to speak to each other more than necessary. Harry found that Draco's unusual bashfulness was quite amusing…and somewhat adorable.
Just ten minutes before the end of class, Snape addressed the class again. "As I have said earlier this term, you will be doing a major project which will count as fifty percent of your total grade," said Snape. The class frowned, except Hermione, of course.
"The project will consist of two parts," Snape continued, "Part one: You will be given an unknown potion, which you will identify by determining its ingredients, and their quantities. You will be allowed access to the lab whenever there's no occupying class. After that, you will write a report in which you will explain in detail how you proceed with your analysis. Give evidences that will support your findings. Part two: You will do a thorough research on your identified potion, including the history and effect of your potion."
The professor didn't stop for breath until now. He paced around the room. He was satisfied and silently amused at the flabbergasted expressions of his students. He loved this part of his job. However, he was slightly disappointed when he reached one Hermione Granger, who wasn't at all fazed by his harsh requirements. Her expression could only be classified as intrigued. So with added antagonism and relentlessness, Snape continued, "I'll expect the report to be no less then thirty feet long."
He stopped again for dramatic effect, and, as anticipated, he was greeted with disgusted groans and useless whining. But amongst the complaining noises was one ecstatic expression of Hermione. Snape sighed in defeat at the annoying and unwanted enthusiasm of the working-craving Gryffindor, and finished his speech, "The project will be due at the end of this term, just before Christmas break. And you will be working with your current partner."
Harry and Draco chose this exact moment to turn to each other with an identical looks of horror. Any leftover urges from this morning to laugh, or even smile were killed by the prospect of having to do the mission impossible. Draco was first to recover from his state of stupefaction, and he went up to the potion master to retrieve their mysterious potion, which happened to be a pinkish paste with a strong garlic-like smell that was noticeable even in a closed vial.
"Well, looks like you are going to be stuck with me on this fun-filled project," said Harry, attempting to make conversation once he found his voice.
"Yes, I'm thrilled. You know how much I love you, I mean, love working with you," Draco teased.
"Okaaaaay!" Harry blushed lightly, and looked around to make sure no one heard that before turning back his attention to Draco's smirking face. "Let's talk about the project, shall we?"
"Alright," agreed Draco, who obviously considered that the project a more important issue at hand. "Let's see, we have three months to do two parts: analysis and research, which means one and half months on each part…no, wait, a little less than one and a half months, because we ought to plan extra time for revision and just in case something goes wrong…"
Harry gaped as Draco narrowed his eyes in concentration and he was strongly reminded of some bushy-haired Head Girl he might know.
"So we don't have much time… We should start this as soon as possible. We should arrange times to meet," the Slytherin concluded.
They compared their schedules and found that the only time they were both available between class, quiddich practice and prefect's duties were Tuesday nights, Saturday mornings and Sundays. Since Draco refused to do any kinds of work on Sundays, they decided to meet on the other two time slots.
"By the way," Draco said just before class ended, "I already informed to McGonagall about us changing shifts. So you'll be patrolling with Justin Finch-Fletchley tomorrow night."
"Justin?"
"Yes. What's the matter? You don't like him? Oh, oh, does he have a crush on you too?" Draco whispered the last part in scandalous tone, earning a half-hearted death glare from the Gryffindor.
"No!" Harry sighed, "It's just that I'm patrolling with him tonight too. That's all."
Harry quickly left the potions classroom before Draco could make fun of him anymore. He met up with his friends, who offered Harry their sympathy for having to work with Malfoy, while, at the same time, trying to curse Professor Snape's pants off. Despite their magically training, their attempts were unsuccessful since none of them had yet to master the art of wandless magic.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The rest of the day dragged on as the fifth year Gryffindors grumbled on and on about The Evil Project from Hell, which they affectionately dubbed, against Hermione's disapproval.
By Friday night, Hermione was so sick and tired of his housemates' constant complaining that she immediately fled from the Gryffindor tower when it was time for prefect's duties. She was surprised when she saw Harry followed her and told her that he had swapped patrolling shifts with Draco Malfoy. She, naturally, was curious, but Harry refused to tell her his reasons for willing to exchange. Hermione, being Head Girl and one of Harry's best friends, knew better than to pressure any answers from him, for which Harry was grateful, and relieved.
Hermione hadn't known about the exchange between them since she was exempted from patrolling duties. Only boys were required to preform such duties. Each night, except Sundays, two male prefects would patrol the grounds when two female prefects were assigned to other chores, such as helping the professors prepare for classes and supervising detentions, which was what Hermione had to do this night, together with Pansy Parkinson, another Slytherin prefect.
They parted shortly after Justin Finch-Fletchley and Pansy Parkinson showed up.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
By the time the two prefects were on their last round of patrolling, Harry was thoroughly exhausted and utterly bored. Harry hid another yawn as his companion droned on endlessly about…something. Something which Harry could not perceive, but was definitely certain he had heard about the night before. Urg, most likely another gossip the nosy Hufflepuff had dug up somewhere….I swear, Justin Fince-Fletchley must be the single most talkative person to have walked the planet. Amongst the living and the dead. Harry was overcame with a sudden urge to pull out his own ears. He sighed at his bad luck for having to tolerate this mind-numbing chattering two nights in a row.
He suddenly remembered Draco, who was supposed to be the one hearing this crap right now, instead of him. Draco, who was currently partying in the Ravenclaw common room, with the Head Boy… his crush!
Harry sighed again, but the sound was lost amidst the Hufflepuff's everlasting yaks and the chill night wind.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Well, hello, Harry, the love of my life. How are you this beautiful Saturday morning?" Draco greeted Harry cheerfully when they met in the potions classroom the next morning.
The classroom was empty except for the two boys, since nobody else was life-less and pathetic enough to do nothing else but work on a dumb potions project, on a Saturday morning.
Harry scowled at the happy Slytherin. How many cups of coffee did he have this morning? I've never seen him this hyper. He wasn't exactly in a good mood today, but Draco's extra cheeriness was seriously pissing him off. "Looks like you had fun with Terry last night." He said, bitterness evident in his tone.
"You could say that. What, didn't you had fun patrolling with Justin the-Motor-Mouth Finch-Fletchley last night?" Draco smirked at Harry, who couldn't help but snorted at the amazingly appropriate nickname for the garrulous Hufflepuff. Demeaning nicknames had always been one of the Slytherin's specialties. "Didn't he confess his undying love for you too?"
Harry glared at him in a, he hoped, threatening manner. Undoubtedly, the merciless teasing will continue throughout their session today. His frustrated mind desperately searched for a comeback. He didn't fail to notice the way Draco had purposely avoided the topic of Terry Boot.
"Tell me, dear Draco, does anyone else know about your love interest?" He smiled maliciously. However, Draco was not fazed by his sudden burst of Slytherin-ness. He was the prince of Slytherin, after all.
"Of course," Draco said and pulled out the vial containing their potion.
"Who?" Harry started setting up the cauldron and retrieving ingredients needed to carry out the experiments.
"…Professor Snape?"
"And?"
"And…Terry?" Draco blushed at his whispered confession.
Harry stopped in the middle of adding the frog's livers to the cauldron, "He knows?" His teasing tone was replaced with genuine curiosity, "How did he find out? Did you tell him?" Then Harry suddenly realized that Draco hadn't been avoiding the topic of Terry, per se, rather, he was avoiding the topic of last night. "You told him last night, didn't you?"
The shade of red that appeared on the pale boy's face had surprised Harry. He didn't know anyone could turn this red in a blink of an eye. Even Ron, at his best moments, couldn't achieve this shade of crimson at such a record time.
"No! And don't ask. There's no way in hell I'm ever going to tell you what happened last night." Draco snatched the frog's livers from Harry's hand and started adding them himself.
"Alright," said Harry, while pouring some water into the cauldron. He found himself a little disappointed that Draco wouldn't satisfy his curiosity, and vaguely wondered when he had became so much like a nosy Hufflepuff.
But before he could pry anymore about Draco's love life, the Slytherin himself had launched into a wordy monologue that was the life story of Terry Boot.
Harry stared wide-eyed at Draco while he started to recount every little detail about the Head Boy.
Personally, Harry had no interest whatsoever in knowing that Terry Boot was left-handed or had a shoe size of nine and a half or cut his hair once in two months. And he couldn't comprehend why in hell would anyone want to know such absolutely irrelevant information.
Harry suspected that Draco probably had no one else except Professor Snape to talk to about this. He pitied the Slytherin for having to discuss his love problems with the uncompassionate professor.
Somehow, Harry felt obligated to listen to his ranting since he was the only one else available. However, Draco's lengthy speech was starting to unnerve him. Harry suddenly wondered if there was a little Justin Finch-Fletchley in everyone.
Between all the "you know Terry…"s and "then Terry said…"s, Harry's attention drifted off to somewhere outside of England. Somewhere tropical, preferably, with beaches and coconut trees, and men and women in swimsuits…
He was snapped back to reality when the yellow liquid in their cauldron boiled. Harry decided a change in subject must be initiated to safe his own sanity. So he faked a little cough to gain Draco's attention, and asked something that had been bothering him for a while now, "Hey, why did you, and the rest of the Slytherins, stopped picking fights with the Gryffindors?"
"Why? You wanted us to fight with you again? I didn't know you were such a masochist, Potter," said Draco. He opened the vial and winced at the strong smell of their mysterious potion. He added a drop of it to the boiling liquid, which immediately turned blood red.
Harry noted the change, which indicated the acidity of their potion.
"No, I'm just curious. Besides, Hermione and Ron had different theories, and I wanted to know which one was correct."
"What did they reckon?"
Harry told him about their reasoning.
"Well, I'm sorry to say that Granger is once again correct, though only partly. The war had a lot to do with it, but not all," Draco stated.
Harry watched him silently, prompting him to continue his explanation. Draco realized Harry wouldn't be satisfied until he told him more. So he continued, "Do you know the Acheson twins?"
"The second years? Clara and Jordon Acheson?" Harry actually only knew Clara because she was a Gryffindor. Jordon was, if Harry could remember correctly, a Slytherin.
"Yes, them. I once saw them hexing each other last year."
Brief silence followed.
"What? That's it? You stopped fighting with us because some first years were fighting each other?"
"Not just any first years, they were brothers and sisters. They shouldn't fight with each other just because they were in different houses. They shouldn't fight each other at all. Don't you see? They fight because we fight. We are role models for them. Do you realize how much of what we do effect the younger students?"
Harry was slightly taken aback with Draco's explanation. He had never considered that before, and it was completely true. The idea of house rivalry was so firmly established ever since they were first years that none of them realized that it might tear apart families and friends. If I had been put into Slytherin, would I still became friends with Ron and Hermione?
He looked astonished at Draco, whoes silver eyes glinted under the dim firelight as if the torches were inside his eyes instead of on the dungeon walls.
"You are right. We are setting bad examples for the little kids."
It was all Harry could say. He never thought that Draco Malfoy would be the one to inspire him to be considerate of the welfare of children. He chuckled at the thought.
"Wow, you actually agreed with me. This must be a first," said Draco, grinning triumphly as he started to clean the cauldron.
The sound from Harry's stomach notified him that it was nearly time for lunch. He had been in here for almost two hours with Draco, talking about his love life, discussing the future of children, joking and conversing as if they were friends.
Draco froze as he was also struck by the same thought. His eyes widened slightly and asked, "Are we becoming friends?"
Harry stared at the mildly bewildered Slytherin. What he said earlier still fresh in his mind. "I guess so," he replied tentatively.
After a moment of silence that made Harry wanted to withdraw his answer, Draco said calmly, "Cool, my first Gryffindor friend." Then he resumed his task of cauldron scrubbing.
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A/N: Finally finished chapted 2…hoped you liked it…please review!