This is a re-formatted version of this chapter; I was give a suggestion to do so by someone. Thanks, I appreciate it!
Bond Stronger Than Love Chapter 6
And it goes a little somethin' like thiiiis
Hit it!
Strutting into the Great Hall with a forced air of confidence, Draco faked a smile and placed himself next to fellow Slytherin, Blaise Zabini, who he thought was turning out to be a very fine young man. All the better for what Draco had planned.
"Hello Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle." Draco said cheerfully, flashing them his most attractive smile. "How are you all this morning?" Blaise and Crabbe, who were seated across from each other, exchanged curious glances. They had both heard Draco slam in to the dormitory late last night, sniffling and throwing things about before collapsing into bed and tossing and turning for the better part of this night.
"Err... Fine, Malfoy. How're you?" Blaise said carefully.
"Excellent. Couldn't be better." Draco lied, forcing another one of his charming smiles. "My! This breakfast looks delicious. Let's dig in." Blaise nodded, eyebrows furrowed as they began to fill their plates, Draco was constantly "unintentionally" bumping into Blaise, and grabbing for the same things. But before he went to grab the essential part of his breakfast, a bagel half he ate every morning, Draco glanced at the Gryffindor table.
His gaze was instantly drawn towards Harry, who was looking grim. 'Hah! He's suffering!' Draco thought, a small self righteous smile gracing his lips. That was immediately replaced by a scowl when he noticed Hermione's sympathetic looks and Ron's bitter expression. 'Damn Gryffindors, nothing but a bunch of gossips. I wonder how many people loud-mouth Potter told. Well, it's time to see if my actions really have any influence on him at all. It's now or never.' Draco reached across the table, and while reaching for a bagel, he accidentally stuck his finger in the cream cheese.
"Eww!!" Draco shrieked, gaining the attention of his surrounding Syltherins, and, as he has hoped, the Wonder Trio. "I HATE cream cheese. Blaise! Get this off, will you?" Draco grinned mischievously and stuck his finger right next to Blaise's mouth. Blaise furrowed his eyebrows and eyed him suspiciously.
"Malfoy... I don't think... Well I...umm..." Draco jabbed his finger into Blaise's mouth while he was babbling on.
"Come on, Blaise!" He demanded. "What're friends for?" The Slytherins nearby laughed at Draco's antics. Despite his reputation, he did things such as this often.
Hesitantly, Blaise closes his lips on Draco's long index finger, and Draco took his sweet time in pulling it out, being sure to rid it of all the dreaded cream cheese. He turned to face Blaise, who was licking his lips. "Thanks." Draco said simply with his smirk firmly is place. He treated it as if Blaise had just picked up a dropped quill.
"No problem," Blaise said, treating it the same. He was continuing to lick his lips, and he looked as if he was considering something. "That tastes good... Really good. Hey, Malfoy, do you use...Wow, this is going to sound weird, but do you use edible loti-" quickly, Draco covered Blaise's mouth, a blush was rampantly taking over his face.
"I like to have soft hands! And it was all that was left!" he lied in a hushed voice. Blaise grinned deviously.
"Yeah? Well let me borrow it sometime. That was... What was that?" Draco blushed even deeper.
"Strawberries and cream." He murmured, "It's my favorite because..." Draco trailed off and looked up to see a certain group of Gryffindors staring at his and Blaise's interaction with odd looks on their face. But... Were Draco's eyes deceiving him, or did Harry actually look... Jealous? Was this twisted scheme of his actually working?
"Because...?" Blaise prompted, waving his hand in Draco's face. Draco turned back to face Blaise.
"Oh, right. Ah, the thing about the strawberries and cream is... Well I lied. I have it because one of my, err,' Draco's mind was working to try and find a satisfying excuse for why he would posses edible strawberries and cream lotion. "Because one of my 'female acquaintances' left in my room once, and I'm particularly fond of it."
Blaise grinned at him and chucked him on the shoulder. "You sly dog, you. Only thing left, eh?" Draco chuckled and they both went back to eating. Draco realized he was very lucky to have is quick wit.
After that day on the train, Draco felt blissfully whenever Harry was around, and that enchanting strawberries and cream scent followed him without fail. Draco shook his head at himself and scoffed. 'Favorite female acquaintance.' He thought, bitterly. 'If only it was that simple.'
-------
Ever since the encounter with Draco last night, Harry had been dreading the classes he had with Slytherin. Of course he wasn't going to be tickled pink to see that certain blond boy that shan't be named, but now he was angry and Draco for two things. For some reason seeing Blaise suck cream cheese off his finger irritated Harry. There was something missing- what was going on with that other kid during breakfast? Suddenly it was as if Harry had an Angel and a Devil sitting on his shoulders to voice the thoughts he had running about in his mind.
'Malfoy seemed to have been flirting with that 'Blaine' guy, and I'm supposedly his soul mate. Why on earth would he flirt with some other guy?' Devil Harry on his right shoulder inquired, spinning his pointed tail.
'Oh yes,' Angel Harry on the left began, "but what does it matter. It's not as if he's your property, is it?' An evil cackle rose from Harry's right shoulder.
'No! It's quite the opposite! It's more like you're HIS property! He sniffed you out of the pack!' Devil Harry was in a fit of hysterics on Harry's right shoulder. Harry winced. He didn't want to be property of Draco Malfoy! Imagine! What would that maniac do to him? Oh, the insanity of it all...
"Potter. Stop your foolish daydreaming and get to work. Can't you ever keep your head on straight?" Snape sneered, before turning with a swish of his robes and disappearing into his storage closet.
"Yeah, Potter. Try and think of something other than yourself." Ron said coldly, giving him a sideways glare from around Hermione. Harry sighed. Last night when he'd come back Ron had absolutely refused to let him fall asleep until he was told what was up. So Harry sighed and told Ron the problem that had been that had been eating him alive for the past few days. Harry had thought Ron had handled it quite well at the moment.
That was outrageous lie. Ron exploded. He nearly yelled him blue in the face while Harry sat and took it with tears in his eyes. Harry knew that Ron wasn't going to take it well at all; he has grabbed his wand from his bedside table and cast a silencing spell on his bed the second Ron has burst through the curtains. Even if Ron's reaction was predictable, it still made Harry feel terrible, and every word Ron yelled felt like a heavy blow to chest. To make matters worse, when Ron was all done, he wouldn't even talk to Harry. He just stood, and when Harry opened his mouth he put up a firm hand to silence him and violently yanked back the curtains- he almost pulled them down. He then got into his own bed where Harry heard his mercilessly beating his pillow before he went to sleep.
Although Ron sat by Harry at breakfast, he hadn't said a word to him since last night. (And the last ones weren't very encouraging, "When you get your head out of your ass and realize that Malfoy is still the lying bastard he's always been, come and find me.") Now Hermione had the duty of standing in between the two boys who were acting like two five year olds fighting over a toy truck. Neither one of them would cooperate with each other and Hermione was left to bandage their hurt feelings.
Hermione was trying as hard as she could to tell if the relationship was completely lost or not. She had a suspicion that Ron wasn't ready to hate Harry yet, as every time Draco looked at Harry and Harry got this look that was a cross between extreme anger and terrible sadness on his face, Ron would glare at Malfoy and mumble, "I swear I will kick so much ass." Then hack away furiously at his dragon kidneys.
"Hermione, would you tell Harry not to mope about like he is, he's ruining the cheerful atmosphere that Snape radiates." Ron said flatly.
"Mione? Could you please tell Ron that I'm not moping, I'm brooding." Harry shot back. "Also, tell him I'd like to talk to him later. That is, if he's done being an insufferable prick."
"Now wait one second-" Hermione began, but was cut off by Ron.
"Well if that's how it's going to be then could you tell Harry I said to shut the hell up!"
"Weasley!" Malfoy turned around, silver eyes narrowed and ablaze in fury. "Do not speak to Potter that way. It is rude and he does not deserve to be spoken to in that tone." He turned back around, ignoring that fact that the whole entire room was frozen in awe, and carried on as if nothing had happened.
"Excuse you, Malfoy." Ron said in low voice. "Don't you dare tell me what to do, because I do believe that this is completely your fault."
Draco set his blade down and turned around slowly. His silver eyes had turned into a dark stormy grey, and he was breathing heavily. "Do not talk about what you do not understand, Weasley. It is none of your business what is going on between Harry and me, and suggest that you do not try to go figuring it out." He turned around once more and picked up his blade again.
"He knows, Malfoy." Harry said weakly, and regretted saying it seconds later as Draco's body stiffened up. His blade clattered to the floor, and he started to turn around. No on in the class room dared move, they all had their eyes fixed on Harry and Draco, eager to find out what in the world could cause so much trouble. Chaos was stirring and Snape seemed to sense it, he briskly marched back into the room and there was an explosion of movement and noise in the dungeon as everyone got back to work. No one said much for the rest of the period, but there was hushed discussions and gossip on the other side of the room.
"Class dismissed." Snape said twenty minutes later before going back into his store room. Everyone clambered to put away their ingredients and hurry out of the class. Harry kept trying to catch Ron's eyes, but Ron wouldn't even dare look at him. He was ready to burst with fury. Hermione stood in between them, casting nervous glances at them as they made their way down the crowded hall.
"Potter? Oh Potter!" Harry heard a familiar voice calling out his name in the crowded hall. He and Hermione stopped and turned around as Draco jogged up to them.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Ron said, angrily. Draco ignored him.
"Harry, may I have a word?" asked, silver eye pleading. Trying to show courtesy, he turned and nodded towards Hermione and Ron. Ron returned the nod with a scathing look of hatred, and Hermione smiled, as she was always one to be polite.
Draco turned back to Harry, who met his gaze with a cold stare. "What's this about?" Harry asked with raised eyebrows.
"Last night." Draco stated, and Ron rolled his eyes. Hermione gasped.
"Harry! What happened last night? Why am I not already well aware of last night's happenings? Ron do you know?" Ron grimaced and nodded. "Oh, goodness, we're going to late to Transfiguration." Hermione grabbed Harry and Ron and told Draco that Harry would talk to him only after he talked to her. And so the three hurried off to class, leaving behind the Slytherin boy, who despite his greatest desires, was becoming very well accustomed to being alone.
------
Even though Draco had many tests he should be studying for, and many homework assignments he should be completing, instead of going to his common room for his break period he wandered to through the many corridors that ran throughout Hogwarts. He trailed a lone finger along the wall was he walked. He ambled down a staircase and before he knew it he was right outside the room of requirement.
Draco stood alone in the middle of the hallway where he had kissed Harry for the second time. In the hallway where Harry had kissed him back for the first. In the middle of the hallways where for the briefest of moments Draco had felt overwhelming happiness and serenity. He pushed his back against the cold wall and slid to the floor just as he had done last night. Being gave Draco an incredible sense of loneliness and a burning sense of longing that could only be fulfilled by one person- the only person that wouldn't accept him. 'Draco... How could you fall for the one person that wouldn't catch you?' He mumbled to himself before burying his in his hands and tried to ignore the approaching footsteps.
Agh... He closed his eyes tightly in agony as a scent that had become all but too familiar got stronger and stronger. Although it was his favorite, this smell was always followed by some form of disaster, for whenever he smelled it his heard would skip a beat, and then double its rate, and his stomach would twist and turn. The scent was a sure sign of-
"Hey." Harry said softly. "I thought I'd find you here."
Perhaps it was because Draco had tried to make himself invisible by pulling himself into a ball that he was surprised Harry said anything to him. "Hey." Draco replied, not looking up from his hands. "I thought you have Transfiguration?" Draco mumbled, ashamed that he knew for a fact Harry had Transfiguration this period- he had his whole schedule memorized.
"Yes, but I got out of class with this." Draco glanced up to see Harry pulling a small yellow tablet out from one of his pockets. He placed it under his tongue and within a matter of seconds blood began to flow freely from his nose. He took the tablet out and placed it back in his pocket.
'I'm supposed to be in the nurse, these help out a lot when you'd rather not be in class. Fred and George Weasley made them, they're quite clever despite the hooligans they appear to be." Draco nodded, staring up at Harry.
"That's quite impressive, Potter. But when does the bleeding stop?" Alarmed, Harry's hand shot up to his nose.
"It hasn't? That's no good- it's supposed to after I take the pill out. Oh, oh-no, this isn't good." Harry began to search his pockets for tissues.
"Here, Potter. Let me help you." Draco said, motioning for Harry to come down on the ground next to him. "Don't worry. Just relax. Lay down." Draco placed Harry's head so it rested in his lap. He then pulled out a white handkerchief with the Malfoy family crest sewn into its corners in black thread and placed it over Harry's nose. He smiled down at Harry and cradled the side of his face gently. "Now hold that in place, and tilt your head back." He instructed. Harry obeyed without any objections, pushing himself to give Draco a second chance.
"Does Hermione know where you are?" He asked. "I was under the influence that talking to me was off limits." Harry scowled.
"It's not as if she can stop me from talking to you. I'll so what I want, when I want. I don't have to answer to anyone." Draco was slightly taken aback buy this little outburst.
"I see. Sorry. What made you come and look for me?" Harry shrugged.
"McGonagall gets boring. You wanted to talk to me, didn't you?" Harry asked.
"Well, yes." Draco admitted. Harry shifted in Draco's lap.
"What did you want to talk about?" He inquired. Draco cheeks flushed crimson. "Last night. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry-" (Harry fought back the urge to tell Draco that he should be sorry) "and that I'll try to control myself next time. I promise." Draco paused, and took a deep breath. "So, how about it? Do you think we could try to do something together again?" Harry nodded.
"I'd actually want to, I did have fun you know- until you mauled me." Draco smiled, and nodded back. He felt like a great weight had been lifted.
"Alright. Drop me a note or something when you want to get together. But for now let's see if your nose has stopped bleeding yet." He said, and Harry pulled off the handkerchief.
"It seems to have stopped. You should be alright to go to class now... That is, unless you want to stay?" The question lingered in the air. Draco was looking down at Harry hopefully.
"No," Harry said, getting up. "Not this time." Harry extended a hand to Draco to help him up.
"Uh- You want this back?" Harry asked, holding out the bloody handkerchief. Draco grimaced at the sight of his once wonderful handkerchief
"Ah...No, actually. You can keep that." Harry shoved it into his pocket, grinning.
"Alright. I'll wash it, or something. So, uh, I'll see you around. You're not such a bad guy, when you want to be." Draco smiled brilliantly.
"Really? Well, I'll see you later then." Just as Draco had turned to leave, Harry recalled something, and called out his name.
"Hey, Draco, what was the deal with you and the Blaine guy at breakfast this morning?" He said crossly. "Does he normally suck on your finger?" Draco smiled.
"Oh. You mean Blaise? About that. It was just to see if I could get a rise out of you or not, you know, make you jealous."
Harry shook his head. "Well, it worked. See you around."
Draco waited until Harry had left, then he walked around the corner to break character and do a little jig.
A/N: It's about damn time, huh? Probably because the summer is here. And while I'm grounded I write and such. But it takes me a while because I always write each chapter out in my little slash book before I type it. Which I always do in bed because that's where I think and work, you see there is this little bedside table and... Uh, never mind. I'm pretty sure that chapters will be getting out sooner, now that pesky school is out of the way. Don't you love summer?
Oh, one last thing. I think my beta reader jumped ship on me, I haven't heard from her in a while... So this isn't beta'd. Sorry if there are any mistakes.
Review my darlings! xoxoxoxoxoxooxoxo