Title: Emotion Sickness

Author: Miss T

Spoilers: Takes place after The Chamber of Secrets book - kind of my own interpretation of their 3rd year at Hogwarts. Or how I would like it to be.

Rating: PG13, so far

Main characters: Draco, Harry

Pairings: DM/HP to come later, so if you don't like slash, don't read it

Notes: ooo and the plot thickens!

Disclaimer: Ms Rowling owns the characters and everything… not me :( However I am responsible for the plot, and the town of Bettersmeade. Oh, and JK - kudos for the excellent world of HP.

Dedicated to: my bestest bud Linzi for loving this story *hugs*

Emotion Sickness

Chapter 10 – The Big Bad

Draco and Harry exchanged glances as they watched the man struggle to make words.

"What?" Harry blurted, standing up straight.

"You mean to tell me, that you two lads… WALKED through the Big Bad – and… and made it unscathed?"

Frowning and looking at each other, Harry and Draco both nodded their heads, shrugging their shoulders.

"Holy Mother of Merlin! No one has managed to get through that forest together without ripping each other apart!" The bartender's mouth quivered as he spoke.

"Listen, old man," Draco spat, "Please tell us what you're talking about because me and Harry have had a –very- long day."

Harry looked at the bartender and nodded.

The old man behind the bar leaned onto the counter, peering around the crowd to make sure no one was listening, and motioned both boys to lean in closer.

"Well, legend 'as it, that those there woods are enchanted. Enchanted by a deep mystical force that two men are supposed to get out of alive. It's meant to turn folks emotions about, you know? Turn friends against each other –" The bartender kept his voice very low, "- well, folks round here don't like to talk about it, see – but it all started when two sisters went into those woods there together. They were close as any two sisters can possibly be, witches, mind you. But the oldest, held an enraging jealousy over the other – for she was prettier, smarter and got more attention from her parents, you know? And it's said there was something in the air that day that made her jealousy turn – turn to murder, I tell ya! Well, of course the murderous hag got her tuppance worth! Got sent to Azkaban o course, but they say that the soul of the youngest sister keeps those woods alive. Keeps them blooming with life, and whenever companions enter, she will live out her revenge and force them out on each other – turnin' there love to pure hatred. Ever since, no ones dared enter those woods… well up until now, apparently." The bartender was now looking at the boys sternly.

"That's a load of old bollocks!" Draco blurted, watching Harry's face go slightly pale. "We made it through, didn't we Harry?"

"Well, you must have a pretty strong bond if you did, boy" The bartender chuckled, and began to serve another wizard on the other end of the counter.

"Harry – please don't say you believe in any of that nonsense?" Draco placed a slender hand on Harry's shoulder making him jump slightly.

"Malfoy, we were fighting in there – remember? Like I said, I really didn't mean to say those things to you, it was just like someone had taken over."

Draco's faced changed ever so slightly as a look of worry danced about on his forehead.

"Well, we made it, didn't we?" Draco let out a small smile.

"Did we?" Harry murmured, peering out of the window.



"Severus will you be joining us?" Professor Dumbledore stood up from behind his desk in his office, where 3 other wizards stood silently beside him.

"Of course." Snape replied, opening the door and leading them outside.

"Now, they can't be far – we only hope. We know they had went to the Quidditch field" Dumbledore started.

"And how do you know that?" A tall wizard with black shaggy hair said beside him.

"We over heard their conversation during lunch. Now, if you'll follow me, gentlemen."

Dumbledore lead the wizards outside to the fields, and where the 5 figures stood opposite the woods, greeting a tall and bulky form trudging its way over to them.

"Ah, Hagrid. Glad you could make it." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as the half-giant stood beside them.

"Of course I came, sir! Ohh, Harry – he better be safe" Hagrid sniffed, pulling out a table cloth sized handkerchief and noisily blowing his nose with it.

"We'll find them, don't worry Hagrid. Now, gentlemen, I think it's safe to bet they made their way into the woods – probably on their brooms as they are both missing from their tower. If you would like to follow me?" Dumbledore took lead as they all walked, wands in hands into the gloominess of the dark forest.



After the rather odd incident in The Bettersmeade Inn, Draco and Harry decided it would be best to rent a room with the money Draco had left in his pockets and settle down for the night.

The room was small and very dusty, at the top floor of the small pub, and there was only one, very small and uncomfortable looking bed.

"You take it…" Harry mumbled, staring at the floor. *It would be completely wrong of me to ask him if he would like to share it… after all, he's forgotten anything happened yesterday*

"O," Draco began, feeling a bit pissed off that Harry didn't even offer to share it with him – after all, the windows didn't look very sturdy and they looked like they were in for a cold night. "Where are you going to sleep then?"

Harry looked at the hard wooden floor, tattooed with years of footsteps and nails that seemed to protrude out in every direction. "On the floor" He said quietly.

Draco raised his eyebrows, and laughed. "There's no way in hell I'm letting you sleep on that – you can share the bed with me." His inner Draco was frowning and shaking his fist at these words, but it was true – Harry would wake up with one hell of a back ache if he let him sleep on that.

Harry's face seemed to brighten up slightly, and he smiled shyly. "Thanks." He muttered, and sat down on the bed next to Draco.

They sat in silence for at least three minutes before Draco finally blurted out, "Thanks… for yesterday." His voice was barely a whisper.

Harry turned his head to the side and looked at Draco. His hair was dirty and his face was covered in grime and dried blood, but he still looked like an angel. Harry's heart panged.

"I thought you didn't like it." He said quietly, watching his words.

"Well, it did take me by surprise – but that doesn't mean I didn't like it." Draco's hand was now resting on Harry's knee. Looking up and seeing stormy grey and fear of rejection in Draco's eyes, Harry reached out and gave the blonde a tight hug.

Draco's body stiffened in reaction at first, but before he knew it he felt tears running down his face as he relaxed his body against Harry's. "I can't believe the hell we've been through in these past days," He sniffed, feeling Harry loosen his grip a little. "And I thought my life couldn't get any worse" Harry let go of Draco and held onto both of his hands.

"Don't cry" he whispered softly. "We'll get out of this."

Feeling a sudden rush of unexpected adrenaline, Draco gripped onto the back of Harry's head and pressed his lips against his. It wasn't like the kiss they had shared the previous day – this was more about longing than about searching. Harry raised his eyebrows and jumped, feeling his skin ripple all over as Draco pushed his tongue up against his own. Groaning and leaning in closer, he felt Draco's warmth press against him as a sudden mutual feeling of desire swept over their bodies.

"Wow…" Harry choked as Draco let go of him.

Draco nodded back with wide eyes.

"That was…" Harry began, before finding Draco's lips again on his own.

As the night drew in, the boys eventually fell asleep in each others arms, oblivious to the fact that time was an issue, that they were once loathed enemies and that a group of 5 wizards had just entered the same deserted village they were now sleeping in.