Author's Notes: Wow! I actually took my time to write Author's Notes and not just AN! Anyway, let's start with the usual an stupidity. Yes! Another chapter! I'm happy to see that I've reached over 20 reviews. Yes, it's not like I've reached 200, but then, After a few months in the fandom, I see I can work through it… anyway, some people I'd like to thank! Well, at least some of them!
abigfan – 'come on, lets start the harry draco action here' hehe!
Alle – …for caring about the crackers!
beautifulelf – thanks for reading my fics! I've noticed that you reviewed quite a number of the fics I've written… ;P
chickamoomoo – and again. Another one who reviews tarantella several times! Even went as far as to add me to their favorite author's list! Thank you!!! ^_^
forfirith – too lazy to log in! ehhe! ^_^;;
koureshin – another reader who actually R&R the fic! You made me write this fic, you know! :P thanks!
Rowan Arkenson – I feel sorry for the cow… *sigh* ^_^ thanks! Oh yeah, your review made me spew my yogurt back to the bowl…(!) a transition chap (well, me and my pals are the only ones who use it… -_-) one of those chapters where not much happens, but it's needed so they can move on to the next chapters… something like that!
Shupatra - *hurrying* well, I 'hurried' it up, don't know if the hurrying made the chapter come out early!
slytherin-cool –also one who actually R&R. I try to do my best because I want your first dose of slash be great! Thanks loads for the emails and encouragement!
s-star – wah! Thanks! I'm not sure if you'll be able to see this, as you read the l.o.t.r. but judging from your review, well… you might! So here, thanks for the review and the faves list thing… (I get jittery when people put me in their list… it's scareeee~~)
Tirla - True, true. I should really edit. And look at what I did with the 4th chapter. _____ Potion… sheesh. Thanks for the review!
Oh my, I didn't get to see the next page of the reviews. Anyway, I'll add it in the next chapter! :) Thanks to all who reviewed and read my fic, especially this one! I love 'Tarantella' that I neglect my other fics… Anyway, here is the 5th chapter! ENJOY! ^_^
Disclaimer: No money, No own, No right, No sue. All Harry potter stuff belong to the Big Momma of the Wizarding World, JK Rowling.
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Tarantella
Chapter 5 – Vivace and Another Encounter
Harry was walking in the halls one night. He could still feel Draco's feelings, though not as strong as it was a while ago. There was still the depression, the anger, the gap in his heart, but since their little conversation, the feelings seemed a little more bearable.
He was thought deeply and came to the conclusion that if Draco really feels that way, how can he even bear to go on as normally as he does everyday? Harry had to admit, there was a sudden change in Draco, but he never thought about it this way… Well, that wasn't including several times.
He knew it wasn't his problem. That he shouldn't be interfering with Draco's life. But he just couldn't help but do it. How can he leave someone feeling so bad as that, pretending not to know anything? The thought itself was cruel.
Truly, Harry tried not to care, but try as he might, he couldn't find the reason not to help out. Even if it was Draco.
Harry reached the Great Hall, and as it was almost dinnertime, he proceeded to the Gryffindor side and thought about what he was going to say when his housemates come in and assault him with questions, that in all candor, he didn't really want to answer.
-
Draco lay down on his bed, mulling over the happenings in Potions class. Why had he even agreed to let, of all people, Harry, pry on his feelings? He admitted to himself that it was ignorance that got the best of him. But all the same, somehow, letting Harry know how he felt gave him a sense of… liberation? A break from all the anxiety that he felt. And the conversation they had after the class… After that, he felt so light.
Questions raced in his mind. How was he going to take what Harry said? He pretended not to really listen, but he hanged on to his every word.
"…If there's something bothering you, you can tell me."
He thought about that last line. Should he consider it? Should he risk his feelings? Being the Draco that he is, things like this, he knew not to believe.
He can't risk it.
Draco sighed. Whitewashed again. By the name, Malfoy.
So Draco lay there, locked again in his bed, watching it's green fabric. Trapped in his box like a rat caught in a trap.
-
People started coming in for dinner, much to Harry's dismay. He sat there alone in his seat, the usual one that faced the Slytherin table. Sooner or later, his housemates will come in, and knowing Seamus Finnigan… There was bound to be some questioning.
In what seemed like a second, the Great Hall was packed with the usual students and faculty and his peace, in turn, was broken.
The offensive began with Seamus Finnigan, just as expected.
"So Harry, what did Malfoy do?"
As if on cue, others like Neville, Dean, Hermione, Ron and Fred and George joined in.
"I'm sure he's done something with it!"
"Harry, what are you going to do about it?"
"Hey! We just designed a new trick, maybe we can use it on Malfoy!"
"Yes, yes! Great Idea Forge! So, Harry, what do you think?"
"Harry, it's most likely that he did something with that potion! We saw your pain through your face and you could've screamed! We've got to tell professor Dumbledore!"
"That little bastard's got himself in a hole this time! We're going to get him, just wait!"
The only plan Harry could think of was to keep his mouth shut. If he said anything more, he's bound to say something that they didn't need to know. Like what really happened. He can't go on telling them about Draco's feelings, how their potion was done correctly and that what he felt was obviously what Draco felt. No. He promised he wouldn't tell. And for the plainest of reasons, it wasn't right.
Speaking of Draco, he blocked out all sound in his surroundings, especially the questions, when he felt himself tense up a little. The potion was still working on him, as the dosage was high* and he could still feel the effects. He looked up, almost certain Draco was there. His vision lingered to the Slytherin table, but he didn't find the blonde there. Then his eyes traveled to the Great Hall's entrance and there, he found him. He was just entering the Great Hall and must've thought that Harry was telling his housemates about the incident in class.
Seeing Malfoy's own questioning eyes, he shook his head, gesturing that he hadn't said anything and almost instantly, he felt himself, or rather Draco, calm down. Soon, the blonde reached his own table and started eating, occasionally chatting with his friends.
Harry realized that the interrogation suddenly ceased. He looked around him and saw that the others were already engaged in their own conversations. This eased Harry's mind as he enjoyed the silence that was left with him. Not only that, he also felt Draco's feeling lighten up even more.
-
Harry found that silence can also be deafening, even if you're the only one silent. He didn't talk all throughout dinner and to his relief, Hermione spoke to him.
"Harry, are you alright?"
Harry smiled at the girl. He knew he was lucky to have a sensitive friend like her, even if she did join the the interrogation a while ago.
"I'm fine. It's nothing to worry about."
Ron, seeing that his two best friends were talking, joined in.
"Harry, we were just concerned because you looked like you were being burned alive back there in Potions. Are you positive that there's nothing wrong?"
"I am. Really, it's nothing. And if it'll make you feel better, I'll tell you what's happening when I get some… things sorted out. But, I promise, it's nothing to get so worried about!"
Hermione and Ron looked at Harry, who gave them reassuring looks. Hermione patted Harry's back and said, "Alright. But if there's anything you need, just tell us."
Harry just smiled as they proceeded to their common room. Finally, he'll get some rest and some of his homework done. Then, maybe, he could think about the current situation with Draco.
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Try as he might, Harry could not sleep. He's been lying there for what seemed like hours now, but the potion was still alive and kicking in him, giving him no chance to sleep a wink.
Knowing fully well that slumber won't come near him, he decided on having a stroll outside by the lake. All those feelings mingled together… It was going to give him a headache. He wasn't used to having so much emotions all boxed up in what seemed like a microscopic package that is his heart. Then again, he could only feel the reflection of what Draco felt.
So he took the Marauder's Map and the Invisibility Cloak, which he hid under and started to walk for the lake.
On the way, he started to think of Draco again. He could feel the desperate need of release, even if it was fainter now. It seemed that the potion was wearing out slowly, but still fading.
He wondered how Draco was now. What he could be thinking? What could be his problem? There was so many of those that needed to be answered and Harry was ever determined to ask, being that Draco was, well, Draco. He wouldn't even consider telling Harry… would he?
Soon, Harry found that he'd already exited the school and was walking in the grass. He could see the glow the lake water reflected of the moon. The wind was blowing softly, but it made Harry's hair sway with it as it coiled around Harry, seemingly bathing him with cool kisses.
-
Draco sat under a tree, watching the wind blow on the surface of the clear waters of the lake. Night was his only refuge. It was the only place that he could feel peace surround him. Maybe it was because it's dark that it matched his own dark self.
Draco leaned back on the tree, and gazed at the stars. Here he was again and the little beauties that shimmered like scattered jewels in the sky. Under the stars, he would only be Draco. They're the only witness of the sheer paradox of him living under the name of Malfoy.
Maybe it wasn't a contradiction. Maybe his father, who was once a teen like himself, was this weak and vulnerable. Maybe he'd grow up to be like Lucius. He didn't now. But all he was certain about is that he'd do anything not to grow up to be like his father. He'd be his own. A Malfoy that never reached the 'Malfoy' expectations, but happy to be what he is. Content and true to what he believes.
There, under the stars, no secrets will be kept but no questions will be asked. No intrusion will be present, but no enemies would bask. He would only be Draco, the one who lies in the body's core.
-
Harry couldn't believe the sight he'd just caught. He found Draco Malfoy crying.
'That explains the sudden change of feeling…'
He could feel the burn in his heart, well, probably not his heart, but he could feel something. His breathing grew harsh. He was tempted to go and scoop Draco in his arms, wanting to comfort him.
He knew Draco was alone. That nobody understood him. But after the twist of fate that allowed him to dance with Draco in his music, he knew it wasn't a coincidence. Maybe Draco was waiting for someone to help him. Whatever it was, he knew what he had to do.
Fighting the urge to make his presence known, he hid under the invisibility cloak still, and silently crept by Draco's side.
He watched as tears flowed from Draco's eyes and fought another urge to wipe the tears away. It never ceased. It just kept on flowing and flowing, even if Draco's face didn't show any emotion. His face was hard, but the reflections of the moon that lightens up his features made him beautiful. Harry looked back on their encounters. He was beautiful, even then. He was even beautiful in the dungeons!
This time, however, he could see, not to mention feel, the sorrow Draco was in. And in truth, the loneliness was beautiful. In itself, it was exquisite. The very feeling that Draco held. The sorrow, the pain, but amidst the darkness, there was the purity in it.
He fought, yet again, another urge to kiss him right on the lips.
So Harry just sat there, staring at Draco's face, the tears dripping down the margin of his face. The fair skin was pale, his gray eyes, looking so pretty that they could've belonged with the stars up in the heavens.
And speaking of heaven, he could see that Draco was looking, watching the stars. Just like he was doing in the Quidditch Pitch.
Then, Harry knew, that this was where Draco held on for his sanity. Night was the only place he held on to keep on going. And him, being there, seemed somewhat like intrusion. But then, Draco acknowledged him before. Why not know?
Harry decided to let Draco know he was there. It wouldn't be right for him to just sit back and not say that he was watching him. So he moved to the other side of the tree, and took off his cloak. Then he softly spoke Draco's name.
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I didn't continue it… because… well… I wanted it to end like that! Hehe! Cliffhanger? Great isn't it? :) Anyway, I'm working on Tarantella Chapter 6 right after I eat lunch (which is now, by the way!)… Or maybe I'll save lunch for later and write a little more… :P
And again, what do you think? Scenes are shorter, I've noticed, but there wasn't anything I could write! And the transition was going so slow that my outline is totally revised! Things were supposed to be… "sizzling" at this point, but no!
Anyway, enjoy the wait for the next chapter! :P *evil* -Oh yeas, I know this is a shorter chapter! I just had to cut it at that part! Besides, at least there's a new chapter! A little hurried, but then, it's getting long. I have to find some way to get to the yummy parts…
REVIEW my pretties!
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