Flammy: :::Jumps::: That was a loud scream!!! Lol.
DragonVampire: Hehe, sounds like you were having fun playing Truth or Dare…reminds me of one of my favorite stories on here ((ff.net))…it's called Spin the Bottle…can't remember the author.
Silverblue-eyes: Hey new reviewer! Here's another chapter for ya and that detention. Don't worry…this story is going to be filled with D/H happiness. Ginny's just the frosting. Hehe, ok, weird way of putting it, but yeah. You know what I mean right? Good.
:::A/N: I know I know! It's been longer than I usually take! I had a fight with the characters. They stole my pen and I had to go chase them through the world of writing. Not to mention, I wanted to come up with a good way to have the detention go. I decided to get a little bit into sappy stuff then get to the good stuff then make you go NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO as you pound your fists through the keyboard ((or chew your fingernails, whichever one you do)). So after a few duels (with pencils and helmets), and a lot of pen scratches and ink marks, here is my next chapter!
People/Places/Things: that I give thanks to for helping me get through this chapter: ((may ignore, I'm just putting this stuff in for good measure :::grin:: ))
: "The Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter (Analysis of Books 1- 4) " by: The Wizarding World Press.
: Perkins, with their never ending coffee, root beer and always a clean ashtray waiting to be filled.
: My muse, faeries, Gods and Goddesses
: Harold, Phil, Jimmy and Don ((kudos' for whoever can guess who those guys are!))
: And last, but not least, my reviewers ((even if it is just you four)).
Songs used to inspire this chapter:
Whatever was playing…not much this time…except for 'Mickey'….can't remember who sings it….I keep thinking Tony Braxton, but it's not her….I think her names starts with a T…lol. Anyhoo…..please read!
======================================
"'allo, 'arry!"
Harry made circles as he turned, getting off of the train, searching for Hagrid. He had heard the familiar booming, yet harmless (that is, if he wasn't hatching dragons), voice. He found him, towering over a bunch of first years that looked horrified. Their eyes growing wide as Hagrid lifted his hands up over his giant head.
"Firs' years, this way, please." Hagrid instructed as he turned, waiving a bye to Harry. Harry turned as well and saw his friends heading toward the carriages pulled by the invisible 'horses.' He joined in a carriage with Hermione and Ron, Ginny had left with Lavender and Parvati.
"I wonder what speech Dumbledore is going to give this year." Ron asked, starring out the carriage window at the towering Hogwarts on the top of the hill.
"Something worthwhile, I hope." Hermione answered, satisfied. Harry just shrugged. The ride to the castle seemed just as long and as silent as the train ride had been. The quiet clip-clopping of the thestral's hoofs made the chilly night air seem eerie and the low glow from the castle lights weren't helping.
They had reached the castle and were making their way to the Great Hall when Harry noticed on the wall, a painting. It was no ordinary painting, at least to Harry it wasn't. Sir Cadogan, the Knight that had helped Harry and Ron find their way to the Divination tower in their third year, was riding the back of a shaggy black dog. He froze, staring into the dog's eyes as a feeling of sadness passed over him. Hermione and Ron bumped into Harry with a grunt, oblivious to the picture.
"Harry, why did you--" Ron had started before Hermione gave Ron a hit in his side with her elbow. She had followed Harry's gaze and was staring at the picture as well. Ron joined looking at the picture, his mouth dropping open slightly. Sir Cadogan, getting a feeling of being watched, looked out from his spot and raised his sword.
"Ho there!" He had to pause as the dog jerked backwards, causing the faceplate on his helmet to fall over his bearded cheeks. He lowered his sword, pointing it straight at the three kids.
"Hast thou come to challenge a battle with the Sir Cadogan of Hogwarts Hall?"
Harry shook his head. "No."
"Then thou has a quest."
Hermione shook her head, Ron moving closer to the portrait and Sir Cadogan huffed.
"Then would you be so polite as to stop staring at my portrait? I'm not fond of--WOAH!"
"OW!" Ron screamed. He had moved up to the picture and proceeded to lift a finger to the dog and poke at it. The dog had bitten him, reared back with an awful snarl and took off, galloping out of the picture frame.
"Stupid git." Ron cursed, waving his finger around before sucking at it.
"Serves you right for sticking your finger into their territory." Hermione scolded. Ron glared at her before pointing to the picture.
"I thought that was Snuffles…but he wouldn't bite me…would he?" Ron asked, a bit unsure. Harry studied the painting for a while longer before shaking his head, reluctantly.
"No, no."
Among standing in the hallway, observing the painting, they hadn't noticed that the corridor had emptied, leaving Harry, Hermione and Ron standing alone with only the luggage and animals of their fellow students as well as a sallow, black figure, lurking silently, watching them with pit less black eyes.
"Harry…" Hermione said, her eyes tearing up as she looked sympathetically at Harry. He stood there, shaking slightly, looking at the painting, wishing the dog to come back. Even if it wasn't Sirius, he still felt an urge to see him once more.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger." Hissed a velvet voice. Harry, Ron and Hermione turned, their veins chilling as the voice iced them over from head to toe. It would have been one thing for Professor McGonagal or Ms. Norris to find them in the halls after the sorting ceremony had begun, but Professor Snape, the head of Slytherin and hated by all Gryffindors, there couldn't have been a worse time.
"Why aren't you at the ceremony?" Professor Snape asked. His voice now giving goose bumps on top of the endless chill the trio had already felt.
"We thought we saw--" Hermione started, her voice sounding meek as she pointed to the picture. Snape glanced over, bored with her answer before looking sternly back at her.
"I suggest you join your classmates. It would be a shame for me to take points when term hasn't even fully started yet?"
Ron, Harry and Hermione turned immediately and took off at a run, up the stairs and into the Great Hall before Snape could breathe another word. They pushed open the door and fell into the huge dinning room. White candles hung in mid air, the ceiling, "Charmed to look like the night sky," Hermione whispered under her breath, just like she had done at their sorting. As they looked around, a few new faces were sitting at each house table and a few more people were left to be sorted. Faces stared at them as they moved silently to a few open seats at the Gryffindor table and sat, exchanging glances of embarrassment with each other.
They could feel Professor McGonagal's cold stare as she looked over the edge of her list of students. She cleared her throat before continuing with the ceremony.
"Ebony Stills." She called, her voice remaining old and calm. Her eyes drifted slowly off of Harry, Ron and Hermione, to a black haired girl. She was taller than the few students left, standing around her. Her skin was a pale white and she seemed too skinny. She made her way up to the stool at which Professor McGonagal placed the sorting hat on her head. A few seconds later, the hat yelled a miraculous, 'Slytherin!' and Ebony jumped from her seat and rushed to sit at her table which hollered and whooped with delight.
"Raven Wood." McGonagal called again, and a girl with mahogany colored hair and freckles made her way, mildly, up to the stool. McGonagal placed the hat on her head, where it yelled in triumph, almost immediately, 'Gryffindor!' Then came Sandra McWeaver (Hufflepuff), Judy Bowles (Hufflepuff) and Bridget Neeley (Ravenclaw) who took their seats with great applause.
Dumbledore raised his hands, welcoming the new students. His twinkling eyes searched every face around the room, pausing on Harry. He diverted his eyes, as he wasn't up to the usual welcomed glance from the Headmaster.
"I would like to welcome you all to another year by saying, there are only two types of people in the world. The magical, and those who wish they were." Dumbledore smiled and clapped his hands. The tables filled with delicious food and desserts.
"Dig in." Dumbledore assisted as he sat down, holding his long, silver beard to his chest as he grabbed for a platter of chicken legs. Ron, heeding Dumbledore's words, sat and began to fill his plate with a plethora of food. Hermione, hungry enough to not bother on with her S.P.E.W. beliefs, picked at a few steaming ribs from in front of her. Harry looked at the food, the familiar feeling of fullness revisiting him, just as it had that morning. Ron, glancing sideways as he took a bite of his drumstick noticed Harry's lack of appetite.
"You should eat, Harry, while it's hot." He said, chewing ferociously on his piece of meat. Hermione looked at Harry as well.
"I'm still--" Harry began. Ron interrupted him, rolling his eyes.
"--not hungry. Honestly, Harry. You haven't eaten all day." Ron said, placing his drumstick on his plate and grabbed for his glass, filled with milk. Hermione stopped eating as well and looked at him with a sense of utter understandment.
"I know how you feel, Harry. Those poor house elf's, slaving over a hot fire day in and day--"
"--it's not the bloody house elf's!" Harry snapped, loudly. A little too loudly, perhaps as it made Hermione jump, Ron stopping his chewing and half of the Gryffindor table went silent as they watched Harry, curiously. Harry got up.
"Harry, I'm sorry--" Hermione apologized quickly, seeing Harry stand.
"No need to be, you did nothing." Harry walked by the table and headed for the doors. He made his way up the stairs, hoping that Ron and Hermione didn't chase after him. He came to a halt at the Fat Lady's portrait. The Fat Lady stared back at him.
"Password?" She drawled sternly. Harry cursed. Once again, he hadn't asked anyone for the password. He lightly glared at the Fat Lady.
"You see me year after year, day after day, and still you need a password from me?"
"Security reasons, Mr. Potter." Harry nodded dully and sighed. He leaned back against the wall and slid down until he was sitting on the cold, hard, stone floor. He furrowed his brow and rested his head back against the wall. He closed his eyes and started drifting into a light sleep until he was hit in the head with a few spit wads. He peeked through an eye and saw a pale green figure hovering a few feet in front of him, using a straw as a spit wad shooter. Where he was getting the spit from, was a question to Harry.
"Leave me alone, Peeves." Harry ordered. Peeves spit another one at him.
"Is Pee-wee Potty getting angry?" He cooed. Harry glared.
"Aw, that's too bad." He shot another spit wad, hitting Harry square in the forehead. Harry stood, taking a deep breath. Peeves let out a squeal of delight.
"Where are you going?" Peeves asked.
"I'm getting the Bloody Barren and you better hope to Merlin that you'll still be in haunting condition when--" But Peeves had disappeared. McGonagal had made her way to the hallway that led to the Gryffindor common room. She regarded Harry with a halfway smile. Harry attempted a smile, but got as far as barring his teeth in too much effort and gave up, altogether.
"Mr. Potter." McGonagal stepped up to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder. He resisted the urge to shove it off.
"Yes?"
"You took off in such a hurry."
Harry shrugged. "Wasn't hungry."
McGonagal watched Harry carefully.
"How was your summer?" She asked, carefully.
"Miserable, as always."
McGonagal cracked a smile as she sensed a little hint of sarcasm in Harry's voice.
"I know you're having a hard time--"
"--no, no one knows--"
"--I'm pretty sure we do, Harry."
Harry glared, maybe a little harsher than he meant to, judging by the return look on McGonagal's face. He turned and stormed back to the portrait of the Fat Lady who was watching him carefully.
"What's the password?" Harry asked. McGonagal stepped up behind him.
"We should talk, Harry."
"I'm just tired, I don't feel to well, I just want to go to sleep and be alone for a little bit right now. What's the password?" Harry repeated. McGonagal brought a hand up to her left temple and rubbed it lightly. She looked at the portrait.
"Herbridean Black."
The portrait flew open, exposing the round doorframe and the common room that was lit softly from the burning fire.
"Thank you." Harry whispered, stepping through the door. Professor McGonagal watched as Harry headed up the stairs and to his dorm before leaving.
=======
Although Harry didn't quite feel up to expectations, he put on a smile and worked through the day as best as he could. At breakfast, Professor McGonagal passed out the class schedules and as always, Hermione, Harry and Ron groaned at the sight of double potions with the Slytherins. They rolled their eyes at the Divination class, which Hermione drastically explained how full of rubbish that class was. Ron and Harry had joked on why Hermione was taking an advanced Muggles class.
So it was, they went to their potions class. Professor Snape, who had made the class begin brewing a anti-sleeping potion, had yelled at Neville Longbottom for adding his Liondragon heart in before the Doxy venom, thus turning his potion into a genuine sleeping potion. Luckily, a Slytherin knocked over their cauldron by accident, saving Trevor from having to take it. Snape took five points from Gryffindor for the Slytherin's accident.
In Divination, Madame Trelawney didn't foretell Harry's death, surprisingly. Instead, she had 'seen' how his detention that night was going to lead to new insight in live and love, making the class break out into hysterical laughter, including Ron who nudged Harry, grinning as he whispered, 'don't drop your wand, 'eh Harry?' Harry had to force a laugh. Something about Madame Trelawney's prediction scared him, she barely got her predictions right.
The day passed and before Harry knew it, he was walking down the corridors. They smelled like stale air and Filch's cleaning supplies. He opened the door into the trophy room and saw Draco's dark silhouette in the corner where the candle light didn't exactly reach.
"Potter." Draco acknowledged in a wondrous tone. He stayed hidden in the shadows as Harry stopped walking in the middle of the room.
"You're right on time." Draco said again, sounding disappointed.
"Well, you did say--"
"--but I figured you'd be late. If even a minuet."
Harry tilted his head.
"You're confusing me."
"Well, I gave you detention when you did nothing wrong. It would surely lay on my conscious to punish you now for nothing." Draco stepped out of the shadows, a pout on his face. Harry laughed.
"You…have a conscious?" He asked innocently.
"Don't make fun, Harry." Draco hung his head.
"I'm not." Harry answered, his laughing stopped and his voice went serious.
"Are you always this mean?"
"No, but I figured--"
"Shh, don't say another word." Draco had rushed up to Harry and covered his mouth with his hand. They stared at each other for a while, the air even seemed to stop moving around them. Draco reached a hand up and moved hair from Harry's forehead, revealing the scar. Harry usually hated when people stared at his scar, but Draco seemed different. He wasn't staring at it like it was a piece of History, used as a marking of something extraordinarily horrid. Draco was studying it, like it was something unwanted.
"Does it hurt?" He asked. Harry tried to speak, but as Draco's hand was still over Harry's mouth, no words were heard, but still, Draco nodded as if he understood.
"I'm so sorry." Draco cooed softly. Harry furrowed his brow and Draco traced his scar with a finger.
"The more I think about it, the more I start hating Voldemort. He shouldn't have done what he did."
Harry tried to speak again, but Draco pressed his hand tighter against his mouth.
"It wasn't my decision."
Harry tilted his head.
"I was raised with the Malfoy name. That meant being snobbish to everyone un-like me, anyone who didn't think themselves good enough to be my friend and through the past six years, the meaner I became to you, the more I realized that I was being pulled into the Malfoy trap. No matter how much my father pulled or pushed me into joining him on Voldemorts side, and no matter how much I made myself believe that joining him, this feeling would go away. But it didn't. It grew stronger." Draco slowly dropped his hand down from Harry's mouth. Harry watched Draco, now intent on every one of his words. Draco started walking around to each of the shining gold trophies hidden in their glass cases as he started to talk again.
"I know that you're probably thinking that I'm making all this stuff up to win you over and earn a little sympathy." Draco looked over his shoulder to Harry, who shook his head.
"I just needed to tell you before…before something happened this year and you wouldn't be able to trust me and came to your own conclusions." Draco looked back at the trophy case and put his head down, resting his forehead on the smooth glass. Harry walked up behind Draco and put his arms around his waist, trapping his arms in his embrace.
"Oddly, I believe you." Harry whispered. Draco's eyes shifted to his right as he bit nervously at his lower lip. He hesitated before speaking.
"I've been so mean to you. Why are you…How come you let me…"
"There is this thing called forgiving. It's not that hard of a concept."
"But I've been rotten to you, your friends--"
"--What you told me tonight is a good enough explanation."
"If I were you, I wouldn't have even given me a chance to explain."
Harry kissed the back of Draco's neck.
"Yes, but you aren't me, are you?" Harry whispered, his breath, warm on Draco's neck, causing his hairs to stand on end.
"Harry." Draco warned.
"Hmm?" Harry asked, drawing the kisses to the side of Draco's neck and nibbled slightly.
"You do know what that does to me, don't you?"
Harry flicked his tongue, teasing the back of Draco's ear.
"No, I don't believe I do." Harry answered before biting the ear lobe lightly, making Draco growl softly. Harry smiled and gripped Draco tighter in his arms.
"Harry." Draco warned again, his voice cracking slightly this time.
"Hmm?" Harry bit at the skin below the beginning line of Draco's sharp jaw.
"I'm going to be the power in this relationship. You are aware of that, right?"
"No one's informed me."
"Well, now you know." And with strength only Draco could muster, he turned and flipped Harry against the case, pressing him against the glass. He teased Harry by placing his mouth just inches away from his lips and brushing them against the corners of his mouth. Draco's hands released Harry's arms, which had magically seemed to stay in place, sticking to the case. Draco dropped down to Harry's buttons on his shirt. Harry, excitement boiling in his veins, urged Draco to undo his buttons faster, but Draco only answered by a devious smile and slower movement. Much slower, torturing movement. After each button that came undone, Draco leaned in and teased the newly revealed skin under the shirt with a small lick and kiss. Harry, his eyes growing wide as he watched. As Draco neared the fourth button, Harry had noticed that they weren't alone in the room and Draco was too involved in getting Harry's shirt off to notice the person standing behind him until a cold voice sounded.
"Mr. Malfoy. What is going on?"
Draco paused and stood upright, looking at Harry's frightened and quite nervous face, matching the look with his own.
"I am enthralled at your actions, you foolish child."
Draco spun around and Harry quickly started buttoning up his shirt. Draco winced as he came face to face with a pissed off Professor Snape.
"Professor." Draco lowered his head slightly. Professor Snape breathed invisible flames toward the two boys. His eyes switching hastily from Draco to Harry, back to Draco.
"I would have expected this behavior from Mr. Potter, but from you?" He hissed in only a rave Snape could manage. Draco, as well as Harry, stood speechless. Draco's jaw flapped silently a few times, trying to explain, but Professor Snape, disappointed for the momentary silence, snapped again.
"This will be a hundred points from both houses."
"A hundred?" Harry exclaimed a little harsher than he would have liked to, for Professor Snape flew by Draco and got inches away from Harry's nose. He could feel the anger radiating from Snape.
"Fifty points for being out past hours. Fifty points for this illicit show and make that another fifty points from Gryffindor for challenging me for my power to take away points."
"Professor…Harry and I--" Draco spoke, his voice quiet as Professor Snape turned again, his billowing black robes, bunched up at his feet like smoke.
"I do not need an explanation, Mr. Malfoy. You are lucky if I don't decide to write to your father and explain to him that I found you and Potter…kiss…making…performing sexu…" He stopped talking and clenched his jaw tightly. Snape found himself unable to describe what he had walked in on and took a few deep breaths, closing his eyes.
"You shall report to the Headmasters office first thing in the morning. I shall speak with him tonight. If I should daresay he knows about this already." His voice purred with such an effort to stay calm. He looked at the two boys once more, his eyes glowing with anger.
"Get back to your rooms." He ordered, storming out of the trophy room, his robes following eerily behind him. Draco and Harry stared at the door for a long while, both of their mouths screwed up in a scare.
"We're in deep shit." Draco whispered. Harry did not reply. He started walking forward, Draco joining his side in silence. They separated, Draco following his corridor down to the dungeons, Harry, going through the portrait and up to his room where he lied in bed, his curtains closed around him, staring up at the ceiling. He was dreading the time when the castle stirred and secrets were shared and having to explain to his classmates why another a hundred and fifty points had been taken from their house.