Chapter Seven
I must have eventually fallen asleep because the next thing that I can remember was waking up and Draco not being next to me. I made a noise, starting to panic a little, I turned and he was sitting on the window ledge, watching me.
"You scared me," I accused, glaring first at him, then where I thought he should be laying.
I don't know what made me attach to Draco so quickly, but at this particular moment I wouldn't have wanted to be with anyone else. Perhaps the loss of Ron and Hermione was still raw and making me do strange things... Like fall asleep with Malfoy... Again.
"How exactly did I scare you? He said airily glancing out the window for a moment.
I suddenly felt very stupid. He was there and had been all along. I had almost panicked for no reason and it was making me feel quite foolish.
"Erm.... Never mind..." I said, blushing.
Draco grinned and came back to sit by me. He settled himself into the corner and pulled me close, covering us in the blanket again.
"Blaise is going to tell people, isn't he?" I asked weakly. I got enough negative attention without this being spread around school....
"Yes, he probably will. Do you want to deny everything and just stop all this?" Draco asked, staring down at me.
I didn't answer for a moment. My eyes looked from the window down over the stone walls and floor of the small tower. In the back of my mind I noted that the charm Draco had used earlier was wearing off and the room was getting cold again. After a moment in silence he nudged me in the ribs with the heel of his hand.
"Well....?" He asked, moving slightly and resting his chin on my shoulder.
"No..."
"No what?" he whispered, kissing my neck between words.
How could anyone not want him? Even if he was rude and obnoxious and stuck up, he was gentle when he wanted to be.
"No I don't want to deny it...It would be no use denying it..." I said with a heavy sigh. I knew this was bad, not to mention didn't make any sense. Me and my worst enemy kissing... Falling asleep together... Protecting each other... It was all too strange, but that was part of what was making me trust it.
He nodded, his chin digging into my collar bone as he did.
"Then what are we going to do? I won't be able to salvage my reputation after Blaise is finished. I'm sure he'll embellish it and embroider it over to make it sound like he saw much more than he did.... He's like that," Draco said quietly.
I knew his reputation meant a lot to him, it always had. That's not a hard thing to spot, really.
~*~
The holidays passed without much incident. Draco and I spent every moment together and avoiding everyone else completely. We didn't go to the Great Hall at mealtimes, but snuck down to the kitchens at midnight where Dobby, grudgingly, mind you, gave Draco and I food.
"That elf never did like me," Draco said, looking amused.
"Gee, I wonder why," I replied sarcastically and threw a muffin at him.
"Hey!" He said, grinning and throwing it back.
"Ack no!" I said, giggling like a little girl.
I grabbed him by the wrists and forced him to the ground where I pinned him, straddling over his stomach and holding his shoulders down with my hands. His hands rubbed over my thighs as I leaned down to kiss him, completely forgetting that we were surrounded by about a hundred house- elves.
"Harry Potter sir!" came Dobby's voice.
I sighed and broke the kiss with Draco to look at Dobby, who's eyes were even larger than usual.
"Harry Potter cannot kiss Master Malfoy!" Dobby shouted indignantly.
"Master Malfoy?" Draco sneered, "you didn't call me that when you worked for us and I don't suggest you start now.
I laughed at Draco and at the horrified look on Dobby's face.
"Why can't I kiss him, Dobby?"
Draco answered before Dobby could.
"Don't mind him, Harry. Just 16 years of listening to my homophobic Father has addled his view of the world," he drawled, glaring at Dobby.
I stared at him. I had completely forgotten that Lucius Malfoy was alive and in prison.
"So I don't suppose your Father will be too pleased when he finds out about us,? I asked nervously, Dobby's presence escaping my memory.
"Of course he wouldn't. Don't worry though, he's got a life sentence, he won't be bothering us," Draco whispered, rubbing my thigh again.
"Master Malfoy, stop it!" Dobby screamed, looking like he might explode.
"I'd rather continue, if it's all the same to you," Draco said coldly, glaring at the little elf.
"No, Draco, I think he's right. We at least shouldn't be doing this in front of impressionable little elves..." I said, snickering inwardly. Hermione would be so angry if she heard me refer to them that way.
~*~
Classes started again the following Monday. I could only remember two occasions where I had been so miserable. One was, of course, the Triwizard Tournament where three quarters of the school thought me to be a glory- hound. The other was fifth year when the majority of the wizarding population thought I was a lying madman when I tried to tell them Voldemort was back.
Yes, Blaise had told anyone who would stand still long enough that he had caught me and Draco doing "unspeakable things" in the corridor that led to Snape's dungeon.
Draco, of course, wanted to tear Zabini to shreds and feed him to the skrewts, but I wouldn't let him. It was bad enough without him being expelled for murdering the stupid git.
"Hey, Potter, where's your boyfriend?" Blaise called across the Charms corridor as I headed for my class Monday morning.
"He's in Defense Against the Dark Arts," I said coolly and with an indifferent look on my face. "What about yours?"
Blaise's face went red, then purple, then back to it's normal color in about five seconds and he drew his wand.
I pulled my wand out of my pocked and stood in the ready position to duel. We both completely ignored the rules of engagement in our haste to curse each other as badly as we possibly could before a teacher swooped down on us.
"Densaugeo!" Blaise yelled, taking careful aim at me.
I instinctively ducked and the shot of green light went right over my head. Judging by the sound, it hit a first year.
"Tarantallegra!" I shouted, aiming at his left knee.
I laughed as his legs started jerking around in a stupid looking tap dance. Letting my guard down wasn't a good idea. "Rictusempra," he said when he got a chance to aim at me again.
We had started to attract a crowd by now, and my choking laughter as I was hit by the tickling charm didn't help.
"Incendio!" I choked out between convulsions of laughter.
Blaise squeaked and put the fire that had just ignited at the hem of his robes out with some water from his wand.
I cackled with laughter, not only from the tickling charm, but from the look of terror that had just crossed Zabini's face.
"Potter! Zabini! What on earth do you think you're doing? Finite Incantatum!"
The tickling sensation stopped instantly, but the look on McGonagall's face didn't.
"I am escorting you to Dumbledore's office immediately, there is no reason for you to be dueling in the corridors – "She went on. She said more after that, but I didn't hear her. I was fuming with rage.
I walked silently behind her, throwing evil looks at Blaise every chance I could.
"Sugar Quill," McGonagall said flatly to the stone gargoyle, which sprang to life and jumped aside.
"Get going. I won't be going with you," she said before turning on her heel and heading back up the corridor.
"After you," he said icily.
"Fine," I snapped and started up the stairs, making sure to keep a safe distance in front of him.
I knocked on the door at the top of the stairs and heard Dumbledore's voice.
"Come in," he said. I turned the golden knob and stepped inside the office, followed closely by Zabini.
"Ahh Misters Potter and Zabini, how pleasant it is to see you on this fine Monday morning," he said with a smile. "Now, why have you been sent to me looking so disheveled?"
"We were dueling," I said, staring angrily at the side of Zabini's head.
"Ahh, I see. Mr. Zabini, you have a detention to be served with Hagrid on Saturday evening, you may go," Dumbledore said. "Mr. Potter, you stay. What class does Mr. Malfoy have right now, do you know?
"Uh, Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin," I said slowly, wondering what Dumbledore was getting at.
"All right, then. Thank you," Dumbledore said, scratching something on a piece of parchment. He beckoned to Fawks and tied the note to his outstretched leg.
"Take that to Professor Lupin, Fawks," Dumbledore said, giving me a fair idea of what was going on.
"Why do you need Draco, Professor?" I asked, looking out the window through which Fawks had just flown.
"I need to talk to you. Both of you," Dumbledore said. "Mr. Malfoy will be here in a few moments, I trust..."
I sat there, completely silent, for several minutes until a light knock came through the door.
"Come in," Dumbledore said again.
Draco pushed the door open and stepped slowly inside, looking nervous.
"Welcome, Mr. Malfoy. Sit down, please," Dumbledore said politely, gesturing to the chair next to me. "As you both know, word travels like wildfire through this school. Mr. Malfoy, I assume you know about Mr. Potter's little duel earlier?"
"No, actually, I didn't sir," Draco said sharply, glancing at me as if to ask who I had been dueling with.
"Oh. Well, that changes things a bit. Mr. Potter dueled with Mr. Zabini in the Charms corridor a few minutes ago. I gave Mr. Zabini a detention, but kept Mr. Potter and called you here because I think I know what that duel was about.
"I know about you and Draco, Mr. Potter. I know all that has gone on over the past two weeks and that neither of you have been sleeping in your dormitories.
"I must impress upon you the importance of not walking around after hours. I want you both in your own beds tonight, do you understand me?" Dumbledore said, looking at me, then at Draco, then back again on alternating sentences.
"How did you know, Professor?" Draco whispered, staring at his hands.
"Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger came to see me with concerns on the matter last week. I've been watching you closely ever since," he answered, his blue eyes twinkling. "I don't encourage this relationship. Not that I don't want you to be happy, but look what happened to Mr. Potter this morning. I think that if you allow this relationship to continue, you will both be under more stress than you need."
Pure anger boiled under my skin. Not be with Draco because of the stress? I had been under much more stress than this.
"Excuse me, Professor, but I have been much worse off than I am now. At least something is making me happy," I said, folding my arms across my chest.
"I am just telling you what I think, Harry. I cannot tell you and Mr. Malfoy not to be together, I can just express my opinions on the matter," he said.
Draco was glaring at him. The same sort of glare he had given Zabini in the common room.
"Can we go now?" I said in a hard voice.
"You are dismissed," Dumbledore replied, gesturing at the door.
~*~
In the corridor beyond the stone gargoyle, Draco and I stopped to talk. We sat against the wall and he rested on my shoulder.
"We should go to class..." I whispered, petting his back.
"I know... But not yet," he said back, snuggling against me and keeping his voice low.
We sat together like that until the class was over, not saying anything. When the bell rang, we stood, gave a quick kiss on the cheek, and headed for our next class, which for me, was Defense Against the Dark Arts.
~*~
In the Gryffindor Common Room that night I sat in front of the fireplace and tried to ignore the stares and comments being made by some fifth years over in the corner. I was staring absent-mindedly into the conflagration when Hermione tapped my shoulder.
"Harry, we need to talk to you," she said.
I must have eventually fallen asleep because the next thing that I can remember was waking up and Draco not being next to me. I made a noise, starting to panic a little, I turned and he was sitting on the window ledge, watching me.
"You scared me," I accused, glaring first at him, then where I thought he should be laying.
I don't know what made me attach to Draco so quickly, but at this particular moment I wouldn't have wanted to be with anyone else. Perhaps the loss of Ron and Hermione was still raw and making me do strange things... Like fall asleep with Malfoy... Again.
"How exactly did I scare you? He said airily glancing out the window for a moment.
I suddenly felt very stupid. He was there and had been all along. I had almost panicked for no reason and it was making me feel quite foolish.
"Erm.... Never mind..." I said, blushing.
Draco grinned and came back to sit by me. He settled himself into the corner and pulled me close, covering us in the blanket again.
"Blaise is going to tell people, isn't he?" I asked weakly. I got enough negative attention without this being spread around school....
"Yes, he probably will. Do you want to deny everything and just stop all this?" Draco asked, staring down at me.
I didn't answer for a moment. My eyes looked from the window down over the stone walls and floor of the small tower. In the back of my mind I noted that the charm Draco had used earlier was wearing off and the room was getting cold again. After a moment in silence he nudged me in the ribs with the heel of his hand.
"Well....?" He asked, moving slightly and resting his chin on my shoulder.
"No..."
"No what?" he whispered, kissing my neck between words.
How could anyone not want him? Even if he was rude and obnoxious and stuck up, he was gentle when he wanted to be.
"No I don't want to deny it...It would be no use denying it..." I said with a heavy sigh. I knew this was bad, not to mention didn't make any sense. Me and my worst enemy kissing... Falling asleep together... Protecting each other... It was all too strange, but that was part of what was making me trust it.
He nodded, his chin digging into my collar bone as he did.
"Then what are we going to do? I won't be able to salvage my reputation after Blaise is finished. I'm sure he'll embellish it and embroider it over to make it sound like he saw much more than he did.... He's like that," Draco said quietly.
I knew his reputation meant a lot to him, it always had. That's not a hard thing to spot, really.
~*~
The holidays passed without much incident. Draco and I spent every moment together and avoiding everyone else completely. We didn't go to the Great Hall at mealtimes, but snuck down to the kitchens at midnight where Dobby, grudgingly, mind you, gave Draco and I food.
"That elf never did like me," Draco said, looking amused.
"Gee, I wonder why," I replied sarcastically and threw a muffin at him.
"Hey!" He said, grinning and throwing it back.
"Ack no!" I said, giggling like a little girl.
I grabbed him by the wrists and forced him to the ground where I pinned him, straddling over his stomach and holding his shoulders down with my hands. His hands rubbed over my thighs as I leaned down to kiss him, completely forgetting that we were surrounded by about a hundred house- elves.
"Harry Potter sir!" came Dobby's voice.
I sighed and broke the kiss with Draco to look at Dobby, who's eyes were even larger than usual.
"Harry Potter cannot kiss Master Malfoy!" Dobby shouted indignantly.
"Master Malfoy?" Draco sneered, "you didn't call me that when you worked for us and I don't suggest you start now.
I laughed at Draco and at the horrified look on Dobby's face.
"Why can't I kiss him, Dobby?"
Draco answered before Dobby could.
"Don't mind him, Harry. Just 16 years of listening to my homophobic Father has addled his view of the world," he drawled, glaring at Dobby.
I stared at him. I had completely forgotten that Lucius Malfoy was alive and in prison.
"So I don't suppose your Father will be too pleased when he finds out about us,? I asked nervously, Dobby's presence escaping my memory.
"Of course he wouldn't. Don't worry though, he's got a life sentence, he won't be bothering us," Draco whispered, rubbing my thigh again.
"Master Malfoy, stop it!" Dobby screamed, looking like he might explode.
"I'd rather continue, if it's all the same to you," Draco said coldly, glaring at the little elf.
"No, Draco, I think he's right. We at least shouldn't be doing this in front of impressionable little elves..." I said, snickering inwardly. Hermione would be so angry if she heard me refer to them that way.
~*~
Classes started again the following Monday. I could only remember two occasions where I had been so miserable. One was, of course, the Triwizard Tournament where three quarters of the school thought me to be a glory- hound. The other was fifth year when the majority of the wizarding population thought I was a lying madman when I tried to tell them Voldemort was back.
Yes, Blaise had told anyone who would stand still long enough that he had caught me and Draco doing "unspeakable things" in the corridor that led to Snape's dungeon.
Draco, of course, wanted to tear Zabini to shreds and feed him to the skrewts, but I wouldn't let him. It was bad enough without him being expelled for murdering the stupid git.
"Hey, Potter, where's your boyfriend?" Blaise called across the Charms corridor as I headed for my class Monday morning.
"He's in Defense Against the Dark Arts," I said coolly and with an indifferent look on my face. "What about yours?"
Blaise's face went red, then purple, then back to it's normal color in about five seconds and he drew his wand.
I pulled my wand out of my pocked and stood in the ready position to duel. We both completely ignored the rules of engagement in our haste to curse each other as badly as we possibly could before a teacher swooped down on us.
"Densaugeo!" Blaise yelled, taking careful aim at me.
I instinctively ducked and the shot of green light went right over my head. Judging by the sound, it hit a first year.
"Tarantallegra!" I shouted, aiming at his left knee.
I laughed as his legs started jerking around in a stupid looking tap dance. Letting my guard down wasn't a good idea. "Rictusempra," he said when he got a chance to aim at me again.
We had started to attract a crowd by now, and my choking laughter as I was hit by the tickling charm didn't help.
"Incendio!" I choked out between convulsions of laughter.
Blaise squeaked and put the fire that had just ignited at the hem of his robes out with some water from his wand.
I cackled with laughter, not only from the tickling charm, but from the look of terror that had just crossed Zabini's face.
"Potter! Zabini! What on earth do you think you're doing? Finite Incantatum!"
The tickling sensation stopped instantly, but the look on McGonagall's face didn't.
"I am escorting you to Dumbledore's office immediately, there is no reason for you to be dueling in the corridors – "She went on. She said more after that, but I didn't hear her. I was fuming with rage.
I walked silently behind her, throwing evil looks at Blaise every chance I could.
"Sugar Quill," McGonagall said flatly to the stone gargoyle, which sprang to life and jumped aside.
"Get going. I won't be going with you," she said before turning on her heel and heading back up the corridor.
"After you," he said icily.
"Fine," I snapped and started up the stairs, making sure to keep a safe distance in front of him.
I knocked on the door at the top of the stairs and heard Dumbledore's voice.
"Come in," he said. I turned the golden knob and stepped inside the office, followed closely by Zabini.
"Ahh Misters Potter and Zabini, how pleasant it is to see you on this fine Monday morning," he said with a smile. "Now, why have you been sent to me looking so disheveled?"
"We were dueling," I said, staring angrily at the side of Zabini's head.
"Ahh, I see. Mr. Zabini, you have a detention to be served with Hagrid on Saturday evening, you may go," Dumbledore said. "Mr. Potter, you stay. What class does Mr. Malfoy have right now, do you know?
"Uh, Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin," I said slowly, wondering what Dumbledore was getting at.
"All right, then. Thank you," Dumbledore said, scratching something on a piece of parchment. He beckoned to Fawks and tied the note to his outstretched leg.
"Take that to Professor Lupin, Fawks," Dumbledore said, giving me a fair idea of what was going on.
"Why do you need Draco, Professor?" I asked, looking out the window through which Fawks had just flown.
"I need to talk to you. Both of you," Dumbledore said. "Mr. Malfoy will be here in a few moments, I trust..."
I sat there, completely silent, for several minutes until a light knock came through the door.
"Come in," Dumbledore said again.
Draco pushed the door open and stepped slowly inside, looking nervous.
"Welcome, Mr. Malfoy. Sit down, please," Dumbledore said politely, gesturing to the chair next to me. "As you both know, word travels like wildfire through this school. Mr. Malfoy, I assume you know about Mr. Potter's little duel earlier?"
"No, actually, I didn't sir," Draco said sharply, glancing at me as if to ask who I had been dueling with.
"Oh. Well, that changes things a bit. Mr. Potter dueled with Mr. Zabini in the Charms corridor a few minutes ago. I gave Mr. Zabini a detention, but kept Mr. Potter and called you here because I think I know what that duel was about.
"I know about you and Draco, Mr. Potter. I know all that has gone on over the past two weeks and that neither of you have been sleeping in your dormitories.
"I must impress upon you the importance of not walking around after hours. I want you both in your own beds tonight, do you understand me?" Dumbledore said, looking at me, then at Draco, then back again on alternating sentences.
"How did you know, Professor?" Draco whispered, staring at his hands.
"Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger came to see me with concerns on the matter last week. I've been watching you closely ever since," he answered, his blue eyes twinkling. "I don't encourage this relationship. Not that I don't want you to be happy, but look what happened to Mr. Potter this morning. I think that if you allow this relationship to continue, you will both be under more stress than you need."
Pure anger boiled under my skin. Not be with Draco because of the stress? I had been under much more stress than this.
"Excuse me, Professor, but I have been much worse off than I am now. At least something is making me happy," I said, folding my arms across my chest.
"I am just telling you what I think, Harry. I cannot tell you and Mr. Malfoy not to be together, I can just express my opinions on the matter," he said.
Draco was glaring at him. The same sort of glare he had given Zabini in the common room.
"Can we go now?" I said in a hard voice.
"You are dismissed," Dumbledore replied, gesturing at the door.
~*~
In the corridor beyond the stone gargoyle, Draco and I stopped to talk. We sat against the wall and he rested on my shoulder.
"We should go to class..." I whispered, petting his back.
"I know... But not yet," he said back, snuggling against me and keeping his voice low.
We sat together like that until the class was over, not saying anything. When the bell rang, we stood, gave a quick kiss on the cheek, and headed for our next class, which for me, was Defense Against the Dark Arts.
~*~
In the Gryffindor Common Room that night I sat in front of the fireplace and tried to ignore the stares and comments being made by some fifth years over in the corner. I was staring absent-mindedly into the conflagration when Hermione tapped my shoulder.
"Harry, we need to talk to you," she said.
