Author's Notes:
Hmm. Some readers have pointed out that it is a bit fast that Draco already
knows how to speak. But the way I have set it up, the spell Snape cast is to
ensure communication between Harry and the ferret. So the ability for speech is
intrinsic/implanted. If you want the full explanation I can tell you that the
spell causes the brain's synapses to take memories of the words Draco
remembered and give his new nervous system the implanted memory of how to move
his vocal cords, tongue and face muscles to produce the exact sounds his brain
remember. It also gives him a 'pictorial dictionary', if you will, of common
objects and actions, and the pronounced names of them.
*Whoa*. That sounded scientific. But that's what you would expect from a science
student like me.*
But well, think of it as magic. This is fantasy, people. Of course, I
have to admit that the reason why I put it that way is just so that the story
will move forward faster. Having poor Harry teach him grammar and human etiquette
is bad enough, but if Draco has to learn to pronounce everything word by word,
I think Harry would go downright crazy. Remember, he is a teenage boy, a lot
not exactly known for their patience. Now, on with the story. This chapter's
kinda long, though. I apologies if it bores you. Enjoy!
=====================================================================================================
Chapter 5
Harry was wiped. Totally and absolutely. Throwing himself into bed, he cursed the Gods for the situation he found himself in. The day had been the most mortifying ever in his life. He felt the urge to start crying in frustration, something he had never allowed himself to do, as he recalled the events that have transpired since the morning.
*Flashback*
Harry had exited the bathroom to find Draco, still lounging around in the buff on his bed. He immediately went in search of some clothes for Draco. Pulling out a white T-shirt and a pair of black track pants, he placed them on the bed before Draco, taking care to keep his gaze on Draco's face and not somewhere southwards.
"Draco, you have to wear some clothes. Put these on."
Puzzled stare.
"Erm--how to put this-- in human form you have to cover yourself up with this...it keeps you warm, you know...like fur!"
Draco's eyes widened and he nodded. As he leaned forward to pick them up, his fingers brushed against the pile of robes next to them. He stopped, sniffed and grabbed the robes instead. "I want these!"
"Why?" Harry was confused as to why Draco preferred the drape-looking black robes.
"They smell nice!"
"Nice? Can't be. These are the ones I wore last night..."
"Yeah, they smell like Mine!"
"Yours? No, they're m..."Harry trailed off as he suddenly remembered what Draco had called him in the Potions classroom –'Mine!'-- 'Oh dear, more things to explain. Apparently he, no, its, got the ownership issues mixed up.'
"Draco, my name is Harry. HAIR-REE. Just like yours is Draco. So call me Harry, got it?"
Nod.
"And yes, fine, you can wear the robes if you want. I'll teach you how to put them on."
Once they were done, Draco gave Harry a blindingly-bright smile. "Thanks, My Harry!"
--NO!!!--Harry mentally howled and dropped his head into his hands. After several moments in which he calmed down enough to judge himself capable of explanation, he opened his mouth, only to be interrupted, before he could even start, as Ron burst in.
"Harry! Lunch's already started! You're going to miss it completely if you don't go immediately!"
"But, I..." he stuttered, motioning to Draco.
"Come on, he's already dressed!" Nodding at Draco, Ron grabbed Harry's arm, ready to haul him out of the room. However, Draco reached out lightning-quick, dug his nails into Ron's hand.
"OUCH!" "DON'T TOUCH MY HARRY!"
Harry could barely make out the two simultaneous, loud, rapid-fire yells. Shocked and ears ringing, he intervened before the shouting match could escalate. "Shit! Ron, I'm sorry! Draco, Ron's right, we do need to eat something. Let's go for lunch at the Great Hall first, ok? Come on."
Draco nodded and latched on to Harry's outstretched hands, and with Ron still glowering at Draco, the three boys hurried out of the Gryffindor tower.
On the way, Draco stumbled a few times and nearly fell, unused to walking on two limbs as opposed to four. Harry tried to slow down as much as possible to allow him to keep up, and to be ready to grab Draco incase he fell.
As they reached the Great Hall, Harry saw that Hermione had thoughtfully kept three seats beside her empty. Taking the middle seat, he motioned for Draco to occupy the one beside her, while Ron sat on his other side. He resolutely ignored the whispers and curious glances, or even outright staring, sent at him and Draco. Knowing the gossip mill that is Hogwarts, the whole school has probably heard about the incident in Potions by now. The Boy-who-Lived had become used to unwanted attention over the years. He had piled his plate with food and was about to tuck in when he noticed that Draco was just sitting there.
"Draco, go ahead and eat. That's food."
"Food? But that's not what I normally eat."
Harry suddenly realized that Draco would indeed need a change of diet presentation for the month. In fact, he would need an entire set of etiquette lessons. 'And it all falls to me.' he thought glumly. 'Oh well, no better time to start than now.'
Harry started explaining while filling the plate in front of Draco, "This is chicken, this is lamb, they're cooked," and at Draco's confused expression, clarified, "Put at fire to make them easier to chew and swallow. This is pumpkin juice," he said, setting a cup in front of Draco, "which we drink, like water. You eat the meat using these so that you don't get your hands dirty. There, go ahead." He gave a fork and knife to the boy who was listening attentively. Turning back to his own plate, he started devouring his lunch until he was interrupted by Hermione who had finished by now, "Harry, look."
Harry turned and nearly face vaulted as he saw that Draco was trying to stick his tongue into the cup of pumpkin juice just like he use to when drinking from his plate.
"Eek! Draco, you don't drink from a cup that way. You bring the cup up instead." He demonstrated and Draco followed suit, tasting the pumpkin juice and blinking at the strange flavor.
"He needs help with the cutlery too," Hermione noted. "I can help with that. Draco," the boy flinched away as Hermione laid a hand on his shoulder, "or not. I think you'd better do it instead."
Harry resisted the urge to knock his head on the table. "Draco, just follow what I do, ok?" He started cutting into his food at a reduced rate, hoping that Draco would be able to follow.
After lots of fumbling, Draco soon threw down the fork and knife. "Feed me, my Harry!"
Harry opened his mouth to correct him, looked at the other boy's petulant expression and sighed. Time was running short, so Harry gave in and cut some of his own food into bite-sized pieces and fed them to him. 'What a sight I must make. Feeding another boy. Good thing lunch is almost over and most of the people have left or I'll never live this down.'
Just as they were finished, a solitary grey school owl swooped in to drop a piece of parchment in front of Harry.
Dear Harry,
See me at my office after lunch. And you can bring company along, if you like.
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster.
'This must have something to do with Draco,' Harry thought. 'But what?'
************************************
"Ah, Harry, there you are. And this young man is Draco, I presume?" Dumbledore was definitely expecting them both. 'Maybe he wants to help change Draco back?' Harry positively jumped for joy at the thought. He really wanted Draco to go back to his natural (not to mention low-maintenance) form. What came out of Dumbledore's lips next, however, completely dashed his hopes.
"Since Draco will be with us for a while..."
"WHAT? You aren't changing him back?"
The headmaster's eyes twinkled. "No, my boy, I can't expressly go against one of my staff's wishes, can I?"
'Oh yes you can, you old coot,' thought Harry, 'you just want to sit there and laugh your ass off at the sight of my suffering.'
~Suffering? Really? I thought you were enjoying the view for a moment earlier...~
'Whaat....who the hell are you? How do you know what I was thinking anyway?'
~I'm you, you stupid ass. Albeit repressed, but still you. ~
'Oh no you are not. I know what I'm thinking, and I'm not......Hey!......Hello?? ......he's gone. Never mind. Good riddance.'
He kept the rebellious thoughts to himself, choosing to sulk and cast the Headmaster a sullen glare.
The man was either blind or just acting it. "As I was saying, I have informed the other professors that Draco will be joining you in your classes for the time being. I trust you can settle his accommodations in the Gryffindor tower by yourself?"
Harry nodded reluctantly, still too miffed to reply, or to even consider what Dumbledore was saying. "If that's all..." he turned and stomped out of the office, Draco still trailing behind him, keeping silent as he sensed Harry's bad mood.
************************************
Charms lesson in the afternoon was a respite for Harry, after all the madness of the morning. Draco had not tried to disturb Harry in his black mood, and was otherwise occupied watching the class practicing their charms, which he had never seen before as he had always been in Harry's pocket when attending classes, sleeping away. They were doing a complicated one that made the charmed object invisible to all but the castor and move anywhere he wishes. Rather useful for pranks. Draco watched, fascinated as the pillows they were using for practice disappeared one by one. After a while, though, Draco lost interest as the novelty wore off, and was soon nodding off.
Harry saw a movement from the corner of his eye and whipped around. His seeker reflex made him move his shoulders to cushion Draco, whose head lolled sideways and body swayed as he went to sleep sitting beside Harry. Glancing at the peaceful-looking boy, Harry felt his anger melt away. One cannot stay angry at such an angelic-looking face. 'It's not Draco's fault that he had gotten himself turned into human form, anyway. He must be finding it very hard to adapt, too.' Harry told himself. He resolved not to take his anger out on Draco anymore.
Shrugging mentally, he decided to take a break, since he thought he could manage the charm without difficulty by now. He took the chance to study the sleeping face. Long dark eyelashes, small delicate nose, high cheekbones, sharp refined chin...... Harry was leaning forward unconsciously by now....porcelain smooth skin, delicious-looking pink lips......OWW!!!
Draco had suddenly jerked awake and sat up straight, hitting Harry's jaw in the process. "WHAT?"
"SORRY! Lost control of my pillow!" Seamus called out and waved from a few seats away. Harry waved back and grimaced, rubbing his bruising jaw. Draco blinked, realizing the damage he had caused. He looked stricken.
"Hey, Draco, it's all right!! Only a little bruise!" Harry hurriedly consoled the poor boy-ferret who looked like he was about to cry. He reached over and clasped his hand over his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Draco looked unsure. "Really?"
"Yes, really. See, I can heal it easily." Harry used his free hand to cast a healing spell on the aching jaw. The pain disappeared. Draco looked relieved. Harry realized he was still holding Draco's hand and blushed, thinking about their close proximity moments ago. He tried to pull back, but Draco wasn't letting go, and since he did not want to upset the boy again, he left their hands clasped.
~You were thinking about kissing him, weren't you? Those enticing lips, inches away...~
'No! Nothing of the sort!'
~Really? You don't think he's attractive and utterly kissable? ~
'Yes, he is, but.....NO!! I mean, he looks attractive, but he's not attractive to me in THAT way!'
~Why not?~
'He's, he's a BOY!! NO! I mean a ferret!'
~Well, he looks like a perfectly beautiful boy to me.~
'Yes, he's beautiful, but I'm NOT gay! I don't like boys!'
~What's wrong with liking boys? You a bigot?~
'NO! It's just....he's not...I'm not...he looks like a girl anyway!'
~Isn't that better since you insist that you like girls?~
"NO!! I don't...see what you made me do! I'm all confused now!"
Dead silence. Harry suddenly realized that the whole class was staring at him, like he had gone nuts. His last mental outburst must have been not so mental then.
"Yes Harry? Who's making you do what?" The diminutive Professor Flitwick asked.
"Erm...Sorry? I was talking to myself."
Flitwick frowned, and then nodded. The rest of the class turned back to their work, but not before casting Harry weird glances.
'Great. Talking to yourself. What a lame excuse. The class obviously thinks you've gone starkers now.'
~The class? Hell, I think you've gone starkers too! Arguing with yourself.~
'You started it!'
~No. YOU started it. I'm you, remember?~
"SHUT UP!"
Ten-plus pairs of eyes were on him again.
'Whoops. That came out not-so-mentally again.'
************************************
*End Flashback*
After the horror that was Charms lesson, Harry had holed up in the Gryffindor tower, where he was now wallowing in misery. He was not going to come out for the rest of the day if he could help it. He couldn't even blame Draco or anyone else for it. It had been his own bloody fault that he couldn't keep his own trap shut when thinking. Speaking of Draco, he was now fast asleep, curled up on the floor at the foot of Harry's bed. Harry felt a bit guilty. He had ignored Draco ever since the horrifying charms lesson, and now the poor boy was sleeping on the floor, when there was a perfectly usable bed nearby. He dragged himself off the bed and went to pick Draco up to lay him down on the bed instead. Feeling very tired himself, he sat on the bed beside the sleeping form, closed the curtains, laid his head on the headrest, and decided to take a nap. He was fast asleep in seconds.
So, how was it? Reviews please! I need inspiration to carry on!! *Brainstorming for next chapter now*
