AN: Eh, this chapter isn't really edited yet. My beta's taking forever, but I've been getting really pestered to put up this chapter, so I'm breaking a cardinal rule and posting it pre-edit. I'll update it to the edited version when (if) I get it. Meanwhile, please please please feel free and encouraged to give me any edits you notice, grammar to clarification to content. Well, at least the plot's progressing. Enjoy.
Warning: This is a slash fic, blah de blah blah. If you don't like men being attracted to each other… too bad.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of J. K. Rowling's WONDERFUL creations and I am sincerely sorry about the butchering that they receive at my hands. Nat, however, is mine. Hands off!
Parlance of the SerpentChapter 12
"Watch it Harry," called Ron as his friend nearly walked into him.
"What?" Harry mumbled, blushing. "Oh. Sorry Ron."
"You look tired," Hermione said. "You'd better wake up before class. Professor McGonagall said the spell she's showing us will be on the final exam."
Harry nodded dumbly. The Gryffindors were walking to Transfiguration early in the morning. It was an easy excuse, so Harry just let his friends think he was too tired to watch where he was going. The truth of the matter was that he had caught sight of some Slytherins walking down the hallway and had stopped to watch. It had been one week since their first Quidditch match and Malfoy hadn't spoken to him once. Harry had expected him to be angry or to at least make fun of him for what had happened on the broom, but nothing had been said at all. In a way this made him feel even more uncomfortable. Could it be he hadn't noticed? It wasn't very likely. Harry bit his lip to distract himself from the memory. The memory of Draco leaning back into his chest. The memory of his arms around Draco's waist. The memory of Draco's ponytail gently caressing his cheek. The memory of…
Harry rushed into the classroom with the other students. He quickly banished those thoughts from his mind, allowing himself only to wonder when he had started calling him Draco. He grabbed a seat next to Ron and behind Hermione, and pulled out his books. McGonagall stood at the front of the class looking stonily out a window by her desk. When the class had settled down, she turned and flicked her wand at the door, closing it with a snap.
"Good morning class," McGonagall said briskly as she strode into the classroom. "Today we will be practicing Librarius Perscripticum. Let me see now. Ah, Mr. Finnigan, may I borrow that book you are reading under your desk? Thank you. Now watch carefully."
Harry leaned forward, trying to see around Hermione's bushy hair in front of him. McGonagall took Seamus's thin red book and placed it on her desk. Loudly, she said "Librarius Perscripticum." With a flick of her wand and a twist of her wrist, she turned the book into a large disc. McGonagall lifted it up to show to the class and Harry saw that it was actually a record. Hermione and a few other students sucked in their breath in admiration. When she was sure the entire class had seen the record, McGonagall returned it to her desk and said "Finite Incantatum," and the book returned to it's normal state.
"Now that you have seen this spell in action," McGonagall announced. "You will practice on a book of your own."
"Please, Professor," Lavender Brown said timidly. "What would the record have played?"
"You will find that out when the first of you has succeeded. On that note, I would suggest that none of you use a diary. Hurry up now, we haven't got all day."
The class hurried to pull out books. Harry grabbed his copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and began trying to cast the spell. He succeeded in turning his book into a cover binding thin sheets of vinyl together. Glancing over to Ron, he saw that his friend was having no better luck. Ron had a copy of Intermediate Transfiguration in front of him. It looked no different, except that it was circular instead of rectangular. Ron looked down on the book in disgust then turned and caught Harry's eye. Seeing his friend's poor attempt, he grinned.
"Not really our thing," he whispered.
Harry was about to whisper back when Hermione raised her hand.
"Professor. I think I've done it."
"Very good Miss Granger. Five points. Bring it up here please."
Hermione got to her feet and walked nervously up to the front of the class, clutching her record to her chest.
"But Professor," she said nervously. "I think I may have made a slight mistake. You see I have four records."
She laid them out on the desk as the class watched. Harry heard Ron mutter something about over achieving, but otherwise the room was quiet. McGonagall placed one of the records on a small record player she had set up on her desk.
"There is no problem Miss Granger. The book you chose was just longer than usual."
Harry met Ron's eyes and whispered, "I bet I know what book it is."
Hermione walked back to her seat and sat down. As McGonagall placed the needle, Ron leaned forward and patted Hermione on the shoulder reassuringly. When the record started the class jumped and Hermione gave a little squeak of surprise.
"Hogwarts a History," came Hermione's voice. "Volume One. Chapter One."
McGonagall allowed it to continue for a few moments before turning off the record player and placing the record back on her desk.
"As you all heard," she said. "The record was Miss Granger's voice dictating the book she transformed. If I had played Mr. Finnigan's book you would have heard me dictating Quidditch Through the Ages. For the rest of the class you will begin to research a report on the many uses and history of Librarius Perscripticum. Two parchment lengths will be due next week."
After class, Harry left Ron and Hermione on the way to the common room. He took a different staircase and went outside into a courtyard for a breath of air. Seeing an open bench at a corner of the castle, he sat down and entertained himself by watching his breath condense around him. He closed his eyes and leaned back to enjoy the winter sun, letting his mind empty. He frowned as he heard voices approaching around the corner, not wishing to be pleasant with intruders. Thankfully, whoever it was stopped right around the corner. Their voices seemed muffled by scarves, but he could still make out some of what they were saying.
"How do we do it?" one of the voices asked.
"I don't know," replied the other. "I asked you that."
The voices were deep and familiar, though Harry couldn't place them. He assumed they were teachers and that their scarves made them hard to recognise. The thought that they might not want a student listening in made him even less eager to show himself.
"It was your bloody idea that failed at the Quidditch match."
"I didn't know something would save him. I can't control other people getting themselves in the way."
"Look, he'll be upset if we don't get the job done. You've got to think of something."
"It can't be that hard to get him. I mean look at how unguarded he is. There's nothing for him to watch out for. Especially now that the Master's… well, you know, gone."
Harry stiffened. He had hoped that with Voldemort's death and the end of the war he would no longer have any threats to worry about. Apparently here were two more. In the very place he hoped he could be safest. So what had knocked Draco off his broom had been aiming for him. Not knowing what to do, he waited and listened.
"Look, here's an easy idea. We'll just…"
Harry leaned over to hear better, but the bell rang for the start of class, cutting off the sentence.
"Alright," one of the voices said. "Tonight. We'll do it tonight."
Scared through, Harry listened to them walk the way they had come. Only waiting until he was sure they were far enough away, he peeked around the corner. There was no one in sight. Shaken, he went inside and headed towards Snape's dungeon. He met Ron and Hermione on the stairs. Stopping them, he said,
"Look, something's happened. I have to tell you about it."
"But Harry," Hermione frowned. "We can't be late for potions. Professor Snape would deduct points."
"It's important," Harry hissed. "I overheard…"
He stopped speaking as Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle walked past them.
"Alright, I'll tell you after class. But it's important."
"Are you sure you should wait?" Ron asked nervously.
Harry nodded grimly. They hurried into the dungeon, taking their usual seats at the back. As they set out their books, Ron leaned over to say something to Harry, but the door slammed open and Snape swept in. The class was silent as the potions master watched them from the front of the room. His large green magical eye swept around the class, but his normal eye remained focused on one student; Harry.
"Today you will take notes," Snape walked behind his desk as the class dutifully pulled out parchment. He sat at his desk and began to read from a book, his head turned down and his face away from the class. "Auxiliqus. It is a healing potion. It is used for healing open wounds. When placed on the injured skin it stings and smokes. Five points from Gryffindor Thomas."
The class looked up to see Dean Thomas stopping mid yawn. Normally he would never be rude enough to yawn into a teacher's face, especially not this teacher, but Snape had caught him with his magical eye.
"I do not remember telling you to look at Thomas," Snape looked up, again fixing only his normal eye on Harry. "If you do not profit from my teaching you will look up the ingredients of Auxiliqus and turn in a written description of the brewing process at the end of class. Get to work."
Harry and Ron threw open their books and started scanning pages. Hermione stopped them and divided the appropriate pages among them to get the work done quicker. As Harry read about the history of Auxiliqus, he felt eyes watching him. He glanced up at Snape, but the professor was using both his eyes to intimidate Neville. As Harry trained his eyes back towards his book, they caught on another pair of eyes. Grey eyes. Harry blushed and turned away as Draco sneered. He looked back at his book and set his jaw. Distracted as he was he gave up trying to read and merely pretended to be paying attention. He wondered again what Draco knew about what happened during the Quidditch game. Harry heard again the unknown voices from outside. It was your bloody idea that failed at the Quidditch match. I didn't know something would save him. I can't control other people getting themselves in the way. It appeared that Draco had unknowingly saved Harry's life by getting in the way of, well something.
"Potter."
Harry looked up and swallowed nervously. He had not noticed Snape coming up next to him. He glanced back down at his page of notes, grimacing at the single line written there. Again he met Snape's eye, trying to ignore the shiver that always went down his back when the professor smiled that way.
"Do you remember the assignment Potter?" Snape asked icily. "Good. Now will you tell me why you are not doing it? No. I see. Perhaps your own thoughts were much more riveting than the history of Auxiliqus. I hope at least that you can pay attention to the brewing process. The class will be testing it on themselves next week."
He raised his voice for the last sentence. He turned back to Harry, ignoring the subdued whisper of complaints.
"Not that I expect you to do well. Much like your father, you've never had the skill needed to brew a proper potion. In fact I'm amazed I've been able to pass you all these years. We will see how you do next week. Of course," he added maliciously. "I will have to take into account that your little cuts don't heal very well, do they."
His magic eye flicked up to Harry's scar, but his normal eye stayed riveted on his student's face. Used to Snape's taunts, Harry set his jaw again and said nothing. Snape's smirk grew as he turned his magic eye to Ron.
"Ripping school books Weasley? Ten points from Gryffindor."
He swept up to his desk again and Harry breathed easier. He looked over at Ron and saw that his friend had accidentally crumpled a page in his book under the table.
"Sorry," he mouthed. "I just got angry."
Harry nodded and went back to his work. When the bell rang for the end of class he was glad to get away from Snape's glare. He walked up the stairs from the dungeon, talking to Ron and Hermione. He tried to ignore Draco in front of him and failed miserably. It didn't help when Nat came up and said hello to Hermione, causing Draco to turn and look back at him. Ron glowered at him, but said nothing. When Nat ran up to walk with Draco, Harry noticed his scarf lying on a step near him.
"Oy, Nat," he said. "Here's your scarf."
He reached over to pick up the green and silver length of fabric. Suddenly Hermione screamed and he felt a body hit him. He rolled down the stairs, his arms and legs flailing and tangled in the other person's limbs. They landed at the bottom of the stairs in a twisted heap. One of Harry's arms burned with pain. He felt around for his glasses with the other hand. As he did so, he noticed that the other person had long silvery blond hair. Furious, his groping hand finally found his glasses. Before he could put them on Hermione and Ron ran over to him.
"Oh my goodness Harry," said the blurry shape that was Hermione. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Harry replied. "It's just my arm and my glasses that hurt. I think they're both broken."
"Malfoy knocked you over," growled Ron.
He quickly performed Reparo on his glasses and put them on correctly. Able to see clearly, he saw that he and Draco lay in a pile of books and school supplies. Like Ron and Hermione, Nat, Crabbe, and Goyle had rushed to Draco's aid. Frowning, he magically gathered his books together. When he saw that Draco was standing, albeit on one leg, he turned on him.
"What the hell was that about Malfoy?"
"Nothing Potter," Draco drawled, biting back pain as he tried to put weight on his hurt leg. "I just thought it would be good fun to roll down the stairs with you and break my leg."
"Piss off," Harry yelled.
"Now, now," Draco said coldly. He met Harry's eyes and held them, forcing the meaning of his words on his opponent. "Don't get excited."
Catching the double meaning, Harry blushed. So Draco had noticed. Well there was nothing he could do now that would change the other boy's memory. He turned his back on Draco.
"Come on," Harry said to his friends. "I've got to go to the infirmary."
As the three of them marched up the stairs, he heard Nat behind him urging Draco to visit Madam Pomfrey as well. Not looking forward to walking up two flights of stairs with Malfoy, Harry sped up.
"I'm sure Draco didn't mean to," Hermione said as they walked. "After all, he did fall too."
"Yeah, well that won't make my arm feel better, will it?" Harry growled.
He silently stomped up the stairs, his friends striding along beside him. He could hear a slow uneven clumping noise behind him, accompanied by Nat shrilly begging Draco to let Crabbe and Goyle carry him.
"For the last time, no," came Draco's furious whisper. "I can walk on my own. Either shut up or get away."
"I will not go away," Nat said to Harry's surprise. "But I will carry your things for you. Accio books!"
There was a loud clattering noise, a squeak from Nat, and Draco swore softly. Hermione turned quickly and clicked her tongue in dismay. Harry and Ron also stopped to look behind them. Nat was busily trying to gather up his and Draco's schoolbooks, which had flown all over the stairs. Hermione hurried down and started helping him collect the books. Harry could hear Ron grinding his teeth, but neither of them showed any other reaction.
"Thanks Hermione," Nat said cheerily. "Draco couldn't carry all of these on a twisted ankle."
"Oh well," Hermione said, catching Ron's eye. "I'm not doing it for him. I just knew there was too much here for you to handle on your own."
She hurried back up to where Ron and Harry were waiting and smiled brightly. The three of them kept going at the same pace as before. Harry grinned inwardly to see Ron awkwardly shoulder some of Hermione's burden. They reached the infirmary without any other stops. As they entered, Hermione and Ron dumped Draco's books on a spare bed. Harry hurried over to Madame Pomfrey and displayed his arm.
"I… fell down some stairs," he explained. "Malfoy did too. He should be here any moment."
As if on cue, Draco, Nat, Crabbe, and Goyle came into the infirmary as well. Harry glowered at Draco, but said nothing. Madame Pomfrey told Draco to sit quietly while she mended Harry's arm. She uttered a spell and Harry felt the break heal. For a moment he was in excruciating pain, but it passed and he found that he was able to use his limb again. Madame Pomfrey shooed Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of the infirmary before starting on Draco. Outside, Harry stretched his arm a bit.
"Well, that's much better," he said absently.
"Of course it is Harry," Hermione said soothingly. "Madame Pomfrey can cure anything. A little break like that wouldn't be a problem like that, remember when she regrew your whole arm?"
"Yeah," Harry raised his voice, watching Draco saunter out of the infirmary only moments after he had arrived. "Only that time Malfoy didn't push me down any stairs. It was a different slimy git."
Draco turned and looked Harry straight in the eyes. Harry glared back and for a moment no one said anything. Finally Draco broke the silence.
"Look, Potter," he spat. "I know you don't have much to work with in that head of yours, but try to comprehend that while I have no problem with you falling headlong down the stairs, it is not one of my common afternoon routines."
"Yeah, well you still pushed Harry," Ron growled.
"Really Weasel?" Draco sneered. "Why would I waste my energy on that? He's stupid enough to trip on his own without getting me in any trouble."
"That is the only important thing, isn't it?" Harry said, standing purposefully in front of Ron. "Too scared to do anything that'll incriminate you. Oh no, you're too scared to really have a go at me, aren't you? We've known that since we were first years. Couldn't even show up for a duel after you'd challenged someone who'd never even been near a jinx. No. You're just a stupid coward!"
"I am no coward," Draco said softly, his face even paler than usual.
"Yes you are," Ron cried angrily, ignoring Hermione's persistent hand on his shoulder. "You're an evil murderous coward… just like your stupid father!"
Harry sucked in his breath as an ominous silence fell. He heard Hermione gasp behind him, but he kept his eyes on Draco's face. The pale grey eyes widened for a moment, before returning to angry slits. Nobody moved for about a minute, then Draco broke the stillness. He stepped forward and slapped Ron across the face. Ron was in such shock that he momentarily did nothing. Harry was sure that his friend would physically attack Draco, and with all his work with magical creatures and his Quidditch practices, Ron was becoming exceptionally strong. Draco was no weakling, but Harry knew he would be beaten to a pulp if Ron really got started. Somehow, he didn't want that to happen. Thinking quickly, he acted. He shoved Draco backwards and took a menacing step forward.
"No one touches my friends!" He said levelly. "I challenge you to a wizard's duel."
"Harry, no." Hermione whispered, placing one hand lightly on his shoulder. "Don't be foolish!"
"Leave off Hermione," Ron snapped. "I'm his second."
Nat tugged urgently at Draco's sleeve. "Don't Draco. Come on, it's not worth it."
"Fine," Draco said coolly, displaying no sign that he noticed the insistent redhead at his elbow. "Crabbe's mine. Name your place and time."
"Astronomy Tower. Midnight tomorrow," Harry said shortly. "Let's see if you can actually show up this time."
He stalked off, Ron and Hermione in his wake. When they were a ways down the hall, Hermione burst out.
"Harry I can't believe you challenged Draco to a duel!"
"Hermione," Ron responded, exasperated. "Did you hear what that git was saying? Did you see him hit me?"
"Yes, but that's no excuse," she said shrilly. "Harry could be seriously hurt out there. I mean he knows some very advanced curses, but so does Draco!"
"Oh yeah. I forgot you and your little friend were on a first name basis now. Why didn't you offer to be his second?"
"Ron! Of course I'd support Harry. How can you suggest something like that?"
Harry tuned his friends out and stared at the ground as it flew under his feet. His heart was pounding in his chest and he could feel his temperature rising. He was going to fight Draco. He was going to have a duel with Draco Malfoy. What had he gotten himself into?
As he turned a corner, he looked back. The four Slytherins still stood in the hall. Nat was waving his arms around, clearly furious, but Draco wasn't paying attention. He was watching Harry. Harry caught his eye briefly, but looked away again as he and his bickering friends marched up a staircase. Yes, he was in trouble alright. Not only was he going to duel with someone who had been raised by a very powerful Deatheater, he was going to duel with someone who was more attractive than anyone he had ever seen in his life. Harry mentally kicked himself and hurried up the stairs, wishing that tomorrow would never come.