Title: Nella Fantasia
Author: Gia
E-Mail: divinechild18[at]hotmail[dot]com
Website: www . geocities . com / nella [underscore] fantasia /
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Time: 5th Year
Summary: During the first day of Potions Class, Draco refuses to take a Blinding Potion, insisting that Harry do it instead. For reasons of his own, Snape will not allow this and even threatens to take away house points. So, in retaliation, Draco improvised. He drank the potion but did not swallow. Instead, he kissed Harry Potter.
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. I use a line from, "The Picture of Dorian Gray", in this chapter. The first letter of the sentence is bold to indicate it. Also, I use a line from Dante's Paradise Lost. The first letter of the sentence is in bold to indicate it, too. Essence of hellbore's information was taken from Harry Potter Lexicon.
Author Notes: How do you like the story so far? I'm even surprising myself with the length, so I'm working on making ALL of my stories with long chapters. XD Did I mention the website for this fanfic? I know, I know, I've been on and on about all those websites I made for all these fanfics. I was bored. So sue me. Anyway, nothing to mention so onto the chapter!
Guide to the story -
DAYS: The duration of Harry's blindness will be 44 days. Not every single day will be written out, instead, it may skip a week or a couple of days. All in consecutive order!
Day 17
It had been a week since their little squabble. Although Harry felt slightly avenged when he managed to show Draco that he too, could banter like him, he was still suffering the effects of Draco's grumpiness. It became painfully clear to Harry that Draco could hold grudges, and the Slytherin boy used every opportunity to make Harry's life a little less than horrible.
'More along the lines of annoying.' Harry thought dryly.
Far from being deterred at Harry's newfound insults, Draco came back with even more. Even Harry to admit that Draco's comebacks were clever, and if it hadn't been directed so harshly, he might've found it even funny.
Harry grimaced as he headed towards the bathroom. The morning proved to be a seemingly innocent one, but he found himself dreading to go into the place. His mind's eye traveled to the day after their trade of insults…
...He frowned in his sleep, enjoying the comfort the sheets provided but knowing that he had to get up. Harry sighed, sitting up in his bed as he stretched his arms. He padded over to the bathroom, letting his left hand drift outward so as to trail along the doorway. It was just a check to see that he was heading in the right direction.
He went straight to the toilet, no longer expecting it to move. And it didn't… instead, its lid widened and snapped at him.
"AARRGHH!--what the!!?"
Harry furrowed his eyebrows, stepping back slightly. He usually pegged bypassing the toilet as his own clumsiness, but never before had the toilet actually snapped at him.
--"Perhaps your arse is too bony, and it's hurting the poor toilet. Or, your arse is too ugly that it can't help but move."--
Draco's words came back to him and he scowled. Even now, Draco's insults still bothered him.
Keeping his body alert, just in case he needed to jump back, Harry approached the toilet. With the fact that he couldn't see and was running the risk of being eaten by a toilet, Harry felt less than lucky. With a lot of trepidation, Harry came closer.
One step.
Another step..
One more…
Harry breathed a sigh of relief when nothing happened. After taking care of his business, he made to flush until--
SNAP!
"GAAAHHH!"
He'd spent the entire day wincing every time he sat, and had been caught more than once rubbing his sore bottom. Needless to say, it earned him looks…
Harry put back his shoulders determinedly. He'd already become use to the snapping, and it was odd to say that people no longer laughed aloud when they caught sight of him rubbing himself… 'It has to be something Malfoy did! It's always his fault!'
He put that thought away as quickly as it had come. Harry didn't have a long list of people to discuss things with, so the only person he could turn to was Jun. He spent almost equal time with Jun, as with Draco. However, their conversations always started wrong, and proceeded to get worse.
Did Harry mention confusing?
Harry went towards the toilet, hardly paying attention to the threatening sounds coming from the toilet, and barely batting an eyelash when he received a sharp mark from the lid. After splashing cold water onto his face, Harry went towards his bed and got his clothes ready. As he changed, Harry remembered his experience that occurred with Jun. How he had tried to explain his odd behavior, with rubbing his sore bottom, to Jun.
Harry winced, hands fumbling with his tie. Harry hadn't wanted a repeat of their interesting conversation about Transfiguration class, but after it happened once, it was bound to happen again. Yet again, another memory surfaced to his head as he tried to explain his odd behavior to Jun…
…It was during one of their fighting lessons. Jun was trying to show Harry some type of stance that would be more comfortable. It didn't make sense to Harry either way because he didn't see how it mattered. Quite unconsciously, his hand traveled behind him and--
"Er.. Harry?"
Harry blushed bright red and his hand whipped out from behind him. He clasped his hands tightly, trying to strike a calm pose, but it was hardly convincing. "Hm?" was pretty much all he could manage without stuttering.
"I don't mean to pry.."
Harry could tell this was going to be one of those embarrassing things, and prayed that it wouldn't be a repeat of their conversation about Transfiguration. "Go on.." Harry prompted cautiously, mentally preparing himself.
"Why are you… that is to say, are you alright… physically?"
Harry could tell that Jun was fumbling with his words, and wondered what he was getting at. 'Physically?' Harry tilted his head curiously.
"I don't know what you mean."
"I've noticed--- well, not that I'm intentionally… everyone's noticed too and.."
Harry laughed, forgetting his earlier embarrassment. "Just spit it out Jun."
Unfortunately, Jun didn't seem to like that course of action, and sputtered incoherently. Harry dropped his alert stance for the lesson, as it was obvious it wouldn't start up until Jun had his say. Harry patiently waited for the Korean boy to elaborate.
"This is difficult for me to say.."
Harry's breath hitched. It was starting to resemble the beginning conversation they had when Harry misunderstood Jun. 'Argh! Get your head out of the gutter!' Harry berated himself silently.
'It was only a misunderstanding.. I'm not going to let it happen again. I shouldn't even be thinking that Jun's insinuating anything..' Harry tuned back into what Jun was saying, flushing when he realized that he hadn't heard anything Jun was saying.
"--certainly explain Draco's hostility."
Harry could feel Jun's weighty gaze on him, and briefly wondered if he should ask Jun to repeat that. Inwardly shrugging, Harry remained silent.
"Although if he's taking it out on you..er.."
Harry frowned. "Jun, what are you talking about? You're making no sense at all."
"Harry, are you seeing anyone?" Jun said after a lengthy pause.
Harry's eyebrows rose. "Actually, I'm not seeing anyone."
Jun tilted his head in confusion at Harry's odd emphasis. Then it he realized what he meant. "Oh! Well, of course you're not seeing anyone…er… I guess I should get straight to the point.." Jun admitted reluctantly.
"Yes, you should." Harry said firmly, wanting to get back to the lesson.
He heard Jun take a deep breath. "I know it's not my business, but I've noticed and I know everyone else's noticed that you've seemed uncomfortable." Jun was rambling, taking no evident pauses.
"Ju--"
"--And then if you take into account that you're always.. Well, rubbing your.. Er.."
Harry colored. "Wait--"
"--and I know that you mentioned that you weren't a.. a v-virgin.."
Harry's blush deepened, when it clicked as to what Jun might be thinking. "Jun, no--"
"--I'm not… you know, against it or anything!" Jun rushed on, his words tumbling out without restraint, "but you don't seem to be on good terms with Draco. He's always insulting--"
Harry couldn't help but smile at Jun's observation but he was still trying to get a word in. "Jun, listen--"
"--You always cringe when you sit, and you look like you're in pain when you--"
"JUN!"
"--yes?"
Harry rubbed his temples lightly, wondering why everything had to be misunderstood. "Jun, it's not what you think."
"It isn't..?" Jun repeated faintly.
"No." Harry emphasized the word. "It's just that stupid toilet!"
"…?"
Harry gave a nervous laugh. "That didn't come out right.."
Harry quickly explained his rabid toilet and his suspicions that it might be Draco's fault…
Harry had been glad to find a confidant in Jun, as they were both in the same boat. Harry didn't know which person Draco suddenly loathed more. Himself or Jun.
The harmless pranks in the morning were bearable. And the insults proved to be tad more entertaining then annoying, but Draco deciding to include Jun in his hate list was quite harsh in Harry's opinion. Draco had more or less become a different person in Harry's point of view, different in a surprisingly good way. He hadn't acted all cheery and friendly, but he was tolerable. 'Even more so, actually.' Harry thought to himself with a blush.
He shook of the stirring of an unnameable feeling, and proceeded to go to the main room of their shared residence. He had taken longer than he assumed because Draco was already there. He could sense the boy's presence, but what alerted him more to Draco's being there was--
"It's about time, Potter!" Draco snapped.
Harry didn't respond, choosing instead to walk towards the sound of Draco's voice. He automatically reached out to grasp Draco's forearm, and was immediately forced to keep up with the boy. Harry was always wary of climbing over the threshold of the portrait because he was trying to keep in contact with Draco. Harry was beginning to doubt that the boy would wait for him. 'I almost regret showing Draco that I'm capable of retaliating with insults..' Harry thought wryly.
He wasn't lucky this time, his right leg tripping when he didn't lift it high enough and he pitched forward. He gasped, his hand gripping Draco, as he tried to keeping from falling. Surprisingly, Draco stepped back to keep him from falling. Draco barely budged when Harry connected into his back ("Oomph!") and waited for Harry to right himself.
"Thanks." he said softly, wondering if Draco was finally letting the incident go.
"…"
Harry smiled when Draco rearranged his grasp so that he was clasping Harry's wrist. "We'll be late for breakfast." Draco said crisply, walking ahead but at a milder pace.
'Liar..' Harry thought fondly. 'You're just too confusing to figure out…'
Miles away, Voldemort was at his seat, regarding several deatheaters who were kneeling before him. Sending two deatheaters to infiltrate Hogwarts so they could lure Harry Potter out no longer held promising potential. Voldemort didn't find it as irritating as he led the others to believe, already expecting failure. However, a dark lord was naught without backup plans.
Voldemort could persuade much with his words. He knew the precise psychological moment when to say nothing, and when not to. It was key when convincing witches and wizards who were more easily swayed with his 'reason'. It was most invaluable when speaking to people from abroad.
He turned his mind away from his musings and remained silent. The act itself, of saying nothing, was powerful in its own right. Voldemort's threats and curses didn't come close to the imagination he inspired in his deatheaters. The images they conjured up for themselves when their dark lord mentioned torture, was enough to instill fear. Voldemort made sure to cultivate that fear every day.
He let a smile spread over his lips. "Progress." It was a question; he was in no mood to speak.
"Going accordingly, my lord."
"Really." Voldemort leaned forward. "Then tell me why I see no Harry Potter."
"It is difficult if we rush," spoke another deatheater, "my lord."
"Speed is useless if you are ineffective." he hissed, leaning back in his seat.
"But we are trying--"
"Silence!"
The deatheater who had spoken out immediately followed the order. The deatheaters were immediately acquainted with the silence that Voldemort had recently taken to employing. It was unnerving, to say the least, and each feared a curse heading their way.
"Tell me, what does trying accomplish when you fail every time?"
They shifted in their kneeling positions, unease settling over them. Voldemort's tone was so.. casual seemed wrong to be applied to him. He appeared to be musing about their failures, and that thought was not a pleasant one. He was posing the question, and if it were even possible, it held traces of amusement. Rarely did any emotion come from their lord, save for the common chill that always gripped them. Questions raced through each of their minds. Should they answer back? Did their lord expect an answer in return? If they did answer, what was the right one?
"Privo callum!" Voldemort hissed, his wand having been drawn unnoticed to all.
The three other deatheaters watched in horror as the targeted deatheater screamed in agony. There was a tearing sound, his robes having ripped away in shreds. However, it didn't stop there.
"AAARRGHHH!"
The man's skin was being stripped off him, unraveling and suspended around the man. It started from the hands, the inhuman sound of flesh tearing making the present deatheaters cringe.
By that time, the man was screaming hysterically, staring at his hands. There was something mutual in the fact that people could not tear their eyes from a macabre scene. It was morbid fascination that glued their eyes to the grotesque scene. It was each and every scream ripped from the man's throat that kept them in their places.
Voldemort watched the scene with impassive eyes. They lingered on the man's convulsing form, watching the blood pool at a startling rate, and he did nothing. Times like this, Voldemort found that he derived no pleasure from this. Nor any emotion, for that matter. So fixated on his goal, that he abandoned any inhibitions he had. No semblance of compunction wracked his brain. He was impenetrable.
The screams died down to whimpers, and the spell itself vanished. The effects of the curse had been quick, stripping quickly the torso, and already halfway down the man's thighs. Voldemort pocketed his wand, and he turned on his attention to the remaining deatheaters.
"It needn't be said that I will be displeased if there is no advancement."
"Yes, my lord." they said simultaneously.
"Leave me."
The deatheaters were quick in backing up and fleeing threw the doors. Voldemort stood up slowly, and headed towards the prone figure of the mutilated man. He showed no visible expression at the sight, but kept clear of the dark blood. He looked down at the man's eyes, still seeing a flicker of life beneath the pain.
"Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire…" he said slowly, inclining his head gently. "Do you recognize it? Hm?"
There was a flash of recognition in the man's eyes, followed by terror.
"From Dante, I believe." Voldemort paused, walking around the man's body, stopping once again at the position he stood before. "He was a wizard, you know. He squandered his time writing."
Voldemort drew out his wand again in a languid fashion. "Writing and writing.."
He pointed his wand down at the naked and mutilated man, levitating him up and laying him down in a conjured chaise lounge. It's apparent opulence stood out starkly in the otherwise, bare room. Confusion was written in the man's eyes, although the emotion was greatly muted by the pain that wracked his body.
"Do you like your accommodations?" Voldemort asked, staring down at him.
Fearing a repeat of the spell, the man tried to answer. He could only gurgle incoherently, his torn throat bringing forth blood. Voldemort tilted his head a bit, watching the man's pitiful attempts at speaking. 'Weakness.. something I had when I was young, but will no longer have once I am rid of Potter's presence.'
Voldemort stepped back, the motion quieting the deatheater's attempts to speak. He raised his wand, absorbing the terror radiating from the other's eyes.
"Incendio.."
Moaning Myrtle floated through the empty corridors of Hogwarts. This had been her longest time away from her customary bathroom, but every time she approached the place, something charged in the air actually made her feel queasy. That in itself was surprising, what with the fact that she was dead. She realized that she had forgotten to approach Harry about what she'd witnessed. She was too caught up in her latest past-time. For some unexplainable reason, she kept a close watch on one Neville Longbottom. She found their similarities growing, and vaguely wondered if they were related.
It was a notion she half-heartedly toyed with, but she knew in truth that is wasn't so. Still, she found his clumsy nature reminiscent of her own. She had watched him during class, seen him berated by his teachers and watched his less than smooth movements. Something in the back of her mind told her that he was important for something.
She couldn't fathom why, as she had never spoken to the boy. It was imperative that she tell Harry about his friends, but something was keeping her attached to this boy. 'Could he be connected to the impersonators?'
It was a question that had been plaguing her for awhile. Until it was answered, Myrtle found herself staying away from Harry.
'The boy can sense me..'
It was true. Myrtle saw that her watching him caused the boy to be more anxious than he naturally was. It wasn't surprising, because others felt her weighty gaze whenever she regarded others around her. It was infinitely more interesting than staring at a wooden stall all day, that much was true.
She lazily floated through the wall, coming into the History of Magic class. This was her more dangerous stunt, yet. Ghosts could sense other ghosts to a certain level. They shared a distinct link between each other because they were tied to the mortal realm. Their unconscious desire to stay was what bound them, and through this link, they sensed each other.
Whether Professor Binns noticed her, or didn't care to notice her, Myrtle was glad that he made no move to remove her. She kept to the back of the class, her eyes searching out the Neville's form and when she found them, the boy instantly tensed. She didn't feel the usual offense at his behavior because he didn't know it was her.
She lazily floated down, in a mockery of a sitting position, and spent the rest of the class contemplating the Gryffindor.
'Do you know the impersonators..?'
During lunch, Harry was surprised to find that Hedwig had delivered a letter. He was thankful that it was mail sent by her, because if it were any other bird, they might have just dropped it there. 'And I'd be none the wiser.'
Hedwig landed softly on his shoulder, as he grasped the letter. He was quick in tucking it into his robes, before anyone could really take notice. Draco made no move to comment about the arrival, so Harry let it go. He was wondering who the letter could be from, but it raised yet another question. How was he supposed to read it? If it was a letter of importance, then he couldn't let just anyone read it. Normally, he'd have no qualms about heading over to Hermione and Ron and asking them to read it for him… but that was a choice that Harry didn't feel like taking.
Draco was probably going to be a last resort for him. If it was something potentially private, then the Slytherin might take this time to read it and feed Harry something else. 'I don't know him well enough to trust him…' Harry thought dispassionately.
'I guess I could ask one of the professors, but…' Harry felt dread wash over him as he considered the sender of the letter. 'I haven't heard from Sirius or Moony in awhile…' Harry couldn't even fathom their reactions when they learned of his situation. Harry feared going into the details of it all, unsure of what they'd think. Harry blanched, not wanting his mind to come up with any scenarios. The fact was, it would be better if the Headmaster were to read it for him. And if it turned out to be from Sirius and Remus, then he'd have his answer of whether Dumbledore informed them.
'Why do I have this sinking feeling that Dumbledore didn't tell them?'
Harry sighed, checking once more to see that the letter was secure. He pushed his plate away, and thought about his situation. For a moment, he had actually gotten used to being temporarily blind. It just became… routine. It was a cold blow to realize the serious impediments that he was going to have.
He felt Draco move beside him, "Time to go to class."
Harry was led down the hall, his mind still on the letter he received. He realized that he couldn't get Dumbledore's attention without bringing Draco along, but that was only if Draco went along with it. They were heading to Transfiguration class, but it did not stop Harry from his worried thoughts. Harry found himself barely listening, deeply thankful for his charmed parchment and quill. Professor McGonagoll was fortunately giving them an entire class of notes and lecture, but Harry still found the work tedious. He was actually grateful when Draco led him to their next class. Potions.
The arrival to the classroom came quickly for Harry. This time, it was effective in pushing out the depressing feeling he was starting to gain, but it was replaced with discomfort. Potions class wasn't exactly Harry's idea of a relaxing one. Especially when this was the last class he had when he could still see. It was odd taking classes in the dungeons again, and it had taken awhile for Harry to push off the feeling.
Draco was always strangely quiet during class. Harry assumed that the events of Draco's improvisation had been burned into his mind.
"Today's potion is the Draft of Peace." There was an odd look on Snape's face as he spoke the last word. "As its name implies, it gives the drinker a sense of peace."
The class remained silent, writing down descriptions of the potion they were making. "One of the primary ingredients for the draught is the essence of hellebore." Snape continued, eyes roaming the class for a slacking student, "Who can go into detail on this particular ingredient?"
Harry felt tense every time Severus asked a question, always waiting for the question to be directed at him. He was relieved, but slightly put out, that the Potions Master chose to ignore him outright. 'Then again,' Harry thought sourly, 'His indifference doesn't prevent him from removing points and giving me horrible marks…'
A student in the back raised his hand, and Harry was struck by how the male student reminded him of Hermione's usual answers.
"There are several kinds of hellebore." the boy recited, "the name comes from the Greek words 'elein', which means to injure, and 'bora' which means food. This indicates that the hellebore is poisonous."
Severus nodded approvingly. "Five points to Slytherin. Anyone else?"
Draco raised his hand. "In some belief systems, it's been believed to be a purgative, sometimes of bad things generally, used for things like protecting livestock from evil spells, and in powdered form for invisibility."
"Excellent. 5 points to Slytherin."
Harry's jaw nearly dropped. 'So this is a potions class with only Slytherins. Snape's handing out points if anyone speaks.'
Harry felt indignant on his fellow Gryffindor's behalf. Some of their students gave answers as thorough as theirs, but they were never credited for it. Harry didn't dislike the students for their gaining points, as they were good answers, but it was so down putting when particular students didn't receive any points.
'But that's life..'
"The ingredients will be at the front tables, and directions are already at your desks. I expect completed potions from each table."
Rather than the mad scramble for ingredients, as was customary to the Gryffindor - Slytherin Potions class, there were only quiet footsteps. Harry assumed they were forming a line. 'If things went this smoothly in classes shared with Gryffindors, then why might just have a decent class.'
Since their return to Potions class, Draco had made it clear that Harry was to never get the ingredients. Draco didn't want to risk getting the wrong ingredients, or dropping them, or anything that was possible when it came to a temporarily blind student. Harry was in no rush to argue, although he made it a point to do as much as he was capable of doing in his state.
Draco returned shortly after, the exotic smells of the ingredients wafting under Harry's nose. The smells were mixed, and strangely potent under Harry's nose. He waited for Draco to recite the instructions for him and they continued in silence.
After fifteen minutes, they were well on their way to finishing the draught. "Stir it clockwise for now." Draco instructed.
Harry did so with a nod, his hand immediately falling to a synchronized pace. He could feel the steam wafting up, making his arm uncomfortably warm. It was a common feeling, one that Harry got used to, especially when it was cold in the dungeons. It was Harry's own little way of keeping warm.
"I just need to add a little bundimun secretion." Draco said softly, directing himself aloud.
Harry slowed down his stirring but was surprised when a hand grasped his. "No, don't stop… stirring."
The sudden heat that spread to from his neck and to his face informed Harry that he was indeed blushing.
"Time's up!"
Draco withdrew his hand the same time Harry did. The potion was complete, quickly in both their opinions, although neither voiced it. Harry shifted in his spot uncomfortably, barely nodding in Draco's attention when the boy went up to hand in their potion.
"Dismissed."
Harry felt the tension drain out of him at that one word, and he felt around for his bag. He sat up, pushing the bench back a bit to step out with banging his knees. He leaned against the table, waiting for Draco to come back. The other students headed out, and Harry focused on their footsteps. He had time to reflect about Sirius and Remus. He needed a plan to explain things to them if the circumstances called for it.
'What I'm saying? Of course they'll find out, it's only a matter of time.'
Harry absentmindedly slid the strap of his bag more on his shoulder, and looked towards the front of the class. He gave a sharp in intake of breath when he felt a shadow of pain ghost over his scar. The speed in which the feeling left was so quick, that Harry was almost positive he imagined it. He ignored it for the moment, instead, he was straining his ears to catch what was keeping Draco so long. 'Probably talking to Snape or something..'
"Harry."
Harry swiveled on the balls of his feet to face the sound. "Jun?"
"Yes, just dropped by to walk you to class. I came from Runes, and we share the same class after, am I right?"
"Yes." Harry grinned. "How did you know?"
"I have my ways." Jun said in a mock conspiratorial tone.
"Really, Jun. Do tell."
Harry swiveled back around to face Draco. "Took you long enough." Harry said jokingly, trying to diffuse any arguments that might arise.
"Hm." Draco agreed, not taking his eyes off Jun.
Harry frowned but quickly wiped it off his face before either noticed. 'He finally lets his grudge go and now he's going to go back to ignoring me again.'
"Why don't we go to class now?" he suggested.
"…"
Harry found his wrists being clasped by two different people. "Er…"
"I believe I'm to escort him there." Draco bit out, tightening his grip on Harry reflexively.
"Harry can have other contact, you know." Jun pointed genially, not letting go.
Draco narrowed his eyes, and while keeping a strong grip on Harry, tugged him towards the door. Harry gave a small cry of alarm when he found that hadn't budged from his spot. Draco whirled around, "The hell-- let go. Now."
"Why are you always dragging him around?" Jun returned. "He's not an object."
"I'm not dragging him around, Jun." Draco retorted coolly. "He's blind, if you haven't noticed."
Harry frowned and said loudly, "I'm not deaf either."
He didn't know if they felt his disapproving glare, but he made sure he tried his hardest to get noticed. 'They're talking as I'm not here… where's Snape when you need him?'
Unbeknownst to the three boys, Severus Snape was still present in the room. Sitting at his desk, actually, and watching the scene unfold. 'Interesting…' Severus said to himself, raising an eyebrow. Normally he'd snap at them all to get them moving, but he was curious to see how it would play out. His afternoon was no longer proving to be a dull one.
"Look, Draco." Harry spoke again, "We're wasting time. Let's all go. I don't see the problem." Harry pointed out crossly, shaking both his hands free.
He made a move towards the door, and instantly felt a hand clasp his left wrist.
'Oh honestly--!'
Another hand grasped his right wrist. 'WHAT'S WITH ALL THE DAMN HOLDING!!?'
Both Draco and Jun stalked towards the door, dragging Harry along for the ride. Severus watched in amusement as the three got stuck in the doorway. They were already fifteen minutes late to their final class, and judging from their attitudes, they'd be another fifteen minutes late.
"Extrudere." Severus muttered quietly, his smirk growing when the three boys were shoved out the door. The resounding slamming of said door silenced any complaints the boys were yelling. The silence pervaded the room once more, and the Potions Master went back to testing their potions.
He sighed tiredly, 'No rest for the wicked..'
Harry was annoyed. He no longer cared whether he had their attention. He wanted none of it. Draco, he could understand. Jun? Well, he was another story all together. Harry had the distinct impression that Jun had the wrong idea about him. Harry tried keeping his point of view like an outsider's and analyzed it while they were walking towards class.
'I first meet Jun when I'm blind. So from the beginning, he thinks I'm helpless. It doesn't help that I'm stuck in the oddest moments. He must think I'm some neurotic prude, or naïve wanker.'
Surprisingly, Harry wasn't that far off the mark. Jun didn't think any of those things using those words, but he did think that Harry was ignorant about certain things. His opinion about Draco had quickly become bias because the boy just disliked him. Loathed him to a large degree. Jun had tried to get along with him in the beginning, but he wasn't going to put up with insults if that was what it took. Jun vividly remembered Harry's words..
--"It'll just take awhile for him to warm up to you. Look at me. It took me five years, and blindness to get him to actually be nice. So I wouldn't feel too bad. He's okay when he tries to be."--
Jun was positive that Harry was under the wrong impression about Draco. The boy, in Jun's opinion, was clearly in denial or just ignorant to how Draco was. It slightly irked him that Harry allowed himself to be tugged around.
Jun chanced a glance at Harry. The boy was keeping his gaze on the ground, strands of his hair shielding view of his face. 'Maybe he's not allowing himself to be dragged, but he doesn't put up much of a fight.'
In that sense, Harry was correct. Jun didn't know of Harry's more adventurous side. It wasn't about to show, however, as he was blind. Waking up and going to the bathroom was all the adventure Harry was getting for the moment.
They finally reached the class, Charms, until they realized they were already half an hour late. 'And we don't have a note..' Harry thought, his heart sinking. Professor Flitwick wasn't the type of teacher who'd berate you in front of the class, nor was he to lose his temper so quickly. Still, he removed points with such an offhand manner that you couldn't even drudge up feelings of hate towards the small man.
Harry scowled, glancing back and forth between Draco and Jun. He didn't need his sight to know where they were standing because they still hadn't let go. 'I bet they're still glaring at each other..'
Quite the contrary, both boys were facing away from each other. It would've explained why neither seemed affected by Harry's more than potent glares, but he was in no condition to be aware of that. With a small noise of impatience, Harry wrenched his hands away and knocked on the door. The charms professor's naturally squeaky voice called them in and Harry reached out blindly.
Grasping the robes of both boys, Harry dragged them in behind him. He quickly let go just before the students could see, and urged Draco to explain.
"Sorry, Professor." Draco called out, sugary sweetness oozing from his voice. "We were helping Professor Snape."
Flitwick raised a bushy eyebrow. "Do you have a note Mr. Malfoy?"
"No," Draco continued easily, "we realized half way that we were going to be late and rushed out before Professor Snape could hand us a note."
It seemed Professor Flitwick had no qualms continuing his line of questioning because he pressed their story. "Then surely, it should not have taken you more than fifteen minutes to get here. You are half an hour late."
Draco wasn't fazed by the man's logic. "True, but you have to take into consideration that we're leading a blind student, not to mention a foreign one."
Jun opened his mouth, and quickly shut it when Draco sent a look his way. "It's still hard for.. Potter to walk around. And I'm also assisting Jun to class."
Harry inwardly rolled his eyes. 'Draco's painting a perfect picture of himself.'
Whether or not Professor Flitwick believed their story didn't matter because he ushered them to take their seats. Harry set his book down, charmed parchment and quill the first thing out of his bag. 'Should I even bother? I've already missed the primary notes, anything I hear now won't make sense..'
Harry sighed, but kept them on his desk. It wouldn't hurt to go over them later.
"As I was saying," Professor Flitwick continued, "praestigiarum,the disillusionment charm, will hide the true, magical nature of something. Depending on the force exerted behind the spell, you can hide the magical nature of an object or person."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Professor Flitwick, it seemed, was going over the general meaning of the beginning of the lesson. He felt a rush of gratitude towards the short professor, and was determined to perform the spell.
"It's counter-charm, apertum rhombus, will negate the effects of the disillusionment charm. I have prepared a different exercise for you today, and it will most certainly take up the rest of class time. With the fact that this will be your remaining class for the day, I guarantee that you will stay longer due to the exercise."
There was a definite mischievous tone to the professor's voice, and everyone's interest was piqued.
"I will choose a student whom I will cast the disillusionment charm. For the remaining class time, you will search out the student. The search will be limited to the classroom itself--"
By that time, murmurs had already begun from the students. Harry was already excited about the class, surprised at Professor Flitwick's decision for class. 'He's more at ease with the older years' Harry thought with a smile. He turned his head when he heard a student call out.
"But Professor, the classroom isn't exactly large. And just because we hide a person's magical nature, it doesn't mean we won't see the person--"
"Yes, yes, Mr. Zabini. However, may I remind you that I am the Charms Professor."
"..er."
There were appreciative giggles around the class and Blaise quieted down. "I've already prepared clearing charms for the classroom. And as to your other question, there will be more than a disillusionment charm on his person."
Something clicked in Harry's mind, and he frowned. 'Did he say… his?'
"I won't go into the specifics but I'm sure this will prove to be an educated class."
The students immediately protested, most saying that they weren't prepared by Professor Flitwick had already begun to chant.
"Caeco.. praestigiarum.. disserenat abdere!"
The entire classroom was plunged into darkness, and the sound slightly muffled all around the students. Harry muttered a small curse when he found himself no longer seating at his chair, but on the floor. The lightness that rested outside of his eyelids was gone, and Harry suddenly knew utter darkness.
He felt around, crawling immediately towards the wall. He could feel other students around him talking, but everything was muffled to his ears. Harry stilled in his spot when he felt an almost magical probing at his person. It was hard to explain, but it almost felt like someone was poking him.
'What was Professor Flitwick thinking?' Harry thought incredulously, wondering if anyone was feeling the same effects as he was.
He continued his crawl to the wall, and upon feeling the cool stones, felt around for his wand. Clasping the wand provided Harry with the comfort that Harry didn't know he needed. 'What was that counter-charm..?'
Harry brandished his wand in front of him, "Apertum rhombus!"
To his disappointment, nothing happened. 'Did we have to point it to the person? How am I supposed to find him?'
He quieted his breathing, straining his ears to hear if anyone was near him. The sounds were distorted, muffled really. Harry growled to himself, and pushed himself to a standing position. Although he was afraid that he may fall over someone who may be crawling on the floor, he needed to find the hidden person.
"Apertum rhombus!" Harry pointed to his right. "Apertum rhombus!" Harry pointed to his left. "Apertum rhombus!" Harry pointed straight ahead of him.
Harry groaned with frustration, wondering why it wasn't working. He took a step forward and collided with someone. Harry winced when he fell back on the floor, but not from the impact itself, which was barely painful. He received a sort of electric shock from the brief contact, and that was why he was wincing. "Sorry. Couldn't see." Harry spoke, reaching forward blindly to help him up.
"Apertum rhombus!"
Harry blinked, feeling the sunlight suddenly on him. 'The windows never had any curtains, so that must mean..'
"Well done Mr. Li, well done!"
Harry muttered a small 'huh?' and found himself pulled up into a standing position. "Thanks."
"No problem." Jun replied, leading Harry back to the reappeared seats.
"We didn't go over class time as I had expected, but I still have time to assign work," Professor Flitwick spoke aloud, silencing the happy chatter of the students, "I would like two rolls of parchment on the advantageous usage of the both the charm and its counter-charm. Class is dismissed!"
Draco seemed to appear out of thin air beside Harry and he quickly grabbed Harry's forearm. "Found him awfully quick, Jun. What did you use? An accio?"
Jun made an indignant sound. "Wouldn't you like it if it were so?"
"I didn't hear any denials." Draco snapped back.
"Well, I didn't."
Harry pulled his forearm slightly, trying to get Draco's attention. "Draco, I walked into him. It's my own fault."
Draco didn't reply, choosing instead to lead Harry out of the room. The walk towards the Great Hall carried a stiff atmosphere. Draco was silently fuming, it was obvious to Harry. 'So what if he wasn't the first person. You can't win at everything.' Harry thought savagely, but he kept it to himself. Harry was tired of the animosity between Draco and Jun, and he wondered if any of his friends felt the same way when he used to argue with Draco. That thought immediately sobered Harry, and he wondered how his friends were doing.
"Draco--"
At that moment, the doors opened and admitted in the sounds of other students who were enjoying their dinner. Harry shut his mouth after that, and he walked with Draco to the Slytherin table.
The dinner was a regular one, students conversing with their housemates. Harry, who usually didn't speak at the table, found Draco's own silence unnerving. Draco's fellow Slytherins had obviously sensed his mood because no one engaged him in idle chat. He finished eating relatively quickly and was prepared for Draco to lead him back to their rooms. The feeling of wanting to cheer up the Slytherin youth surprised Harry, but he felt that he wasn't completely adverse to the idea. 'Which is insane because I have no reason to… or well I.. I feel like I'm at fault here..'
Harry inwardly frowned, idly acknowledging the fact that he was already stepping in their room. Draco was in front of him, his back to him. Draco had relinquished his hold on Harry and seemed to be content just standing there. Harry had to squash the impulse to lay his hand on the other's shoulder.
"Dra--"
"What Potter?"
Harry quirked an eyebrow. "What's wrong?" Harry lifted his leg to admit himself fully into the room, but tripped yet again.
Draco, who took his time turning around, didn't see Harry falling until he was effectively pinned to the floor by Harry's weight. It was lucky for Draco that his head landed on the soft rug of the floors, if not, and then he'd leave quite a nasty stain on the floor.
"You.." Draco started, his voice slightly muffled in Harry's robes.
"..Yes?" Harry asked slowly, face staining pink. Harry was too busy figuring out why he wasn't scrambling away to really care what Draco was asking.
"..Are.."
"Hmm..?" Harry encouraged, blind eyes open wide.
"SO HEAVY!"
"WHAT?!---HEY!"
Harry was pushed off rather roughly, and found himself lying on his back beside Draco. A scowl was the immediate expression on his face as he picked himself up. "What was that for?"
Draco, mimicking the boy's movement, sat up too. "What do you mean, what was that for? You fell on me, or did that fall kill some brain cells?"
"I didn't do it on purpose, you know! Gods, I'm not that heavy." He insisted, a pout starting to form on his mouth.
"Tch! Right. I thought I was going to die." Draco drawled, his annoyance at the situation distinct.
"WHY YOU!" Harry sputtered indignantly, too angry to form words.
An uneasy hush followed Harry's yelled words. Harry reigned in his breathing, not having noticed that he was breathing slightly hard. There was a pregnant pause that signaled a sort of foreboding feeling in Harry's stomach, making him fidget badly as he stood at the back of the couch, and Draco standing only a short distance away. As abruptly as the blonde's mood had changed before, it shifted again, his expression replaced with a seductive grin.
Harry didn't hear Draco approach him until said blonde was in his personal space.
"Why is it," Draco purred, face suddenly close to Harry's, "that you are constantly falling on me? Hm?"
The change in behavior was so dazzling that Harry found himself at a loss for words. Harry hardly had time to mutter anything coherent before Draco stepped across the short distance, pressing their bodies closer.
"--nnnhh!"
Their lips were suddenly fixed together heatedly. It was only a touch of strong lips against his own soft ones, but they soon grew more insistent, and Harry couldn't bring himself to resist. Draco chuckled deep in his throat as he felt the brunette relax. With a quiet moan of impatience, Harry tilted his head up a little, trying to move closer, but Draco had already stepped back.
"I think I'll call it a night."
Harry stood there gaping, his ears focused on Draco's rapidly distancing footsteps. The quiet sound of the other boy's door clicking shut seemed to echo around the room.
'What… what was that!!?'
Harry touched his lips faintly, and unsteadily made his way to his room.
"Thanks for the room, Tom."
"S'alrigh' Remus! Dumbledore'll be wanting to see you in top condition."
"Yes, well," Remus smiled nervously, "thanks for allowing..er--Snuffles inside."
"Nah! I've got a soft spot for dogs. You go on ahead to your room."
Remus nodded, leading Sirius in his animagus form, up the stairs. Remus fumbled with the keys, ignoring Sirius' impatient bark and finally managed to open the door. The faint light from the hallway illuminated the room, and Sirius bounded inside. Remus sighed, shaking his head as he closed the door behind himself. Sirius was quick changing back into his human form, his own wand drawn.
"What was it…?" Sirius muttered to himself, staring at the single bed in the room.
"What are you doing Sirius?"
There was a frown of concentration on Sirius' face as he contemplated the bed. "What was that spell McGonagoll taught us…? Abeire-- something.."
Remus 'tsked' and brought out his own wand. "Abeire cubile."
A mirror image of the bed in their room appeared beside it. Sirius made a sound of disappointment. "Moony! I was going to do it."
Remus rolled his eyes, quickly changing his robes into sleeping ones with a flick of his wand. "At the rate you were going at it, you'd be sleeping on the floor."
Sirius raised an indignant hand, "Moony! Thy cruel barbs wound me!"
"Yes, yes Sirius." Remus replied dismissively.
Sirius adopted a martyred look but dropped it when a glint appeared in his eye. "Moony, how'd you remember that spell so quickly?"
Remus, who had taken a seat on his own bed, looked up at Sirius sharply. "Sirius, don't even think about saying--"
Sirius shook his head, that one action stilling Remus' protests. "Remy, you wolf-boy you."
Remus narrowed his eyes angrily. "Sirius!" he hissed, minding himself to keep his voice down. "I've done nothing of the sort--"
Sirius grinned, waving his hand in a placating way. "It doesn't make any difference what you do in the bedroom, Moony, as long as you don't do it in the street and frighten the muggles." Sirius winked.
"--!"
"Night, Moony!" Sirius called cheerily, dropping off to sleep before Remus could stammer anymore protests.
A/N: What do you think of the story so far? XD I'm in full updating mode, it scares me..o.O.. I just had to include another misunderstood conversation in the beginning of the chapter because people reacted in a good way towards that scene. Honestly, I was afraid no one would find it funny.. .. Glad that's not the case. And GAH! I've never done a kissing scene.. If it's completely dry and all that.. Don't murder me! I'm still blushing from writing it! XD AND 2 pages longer than the last chapter. XD
Draco can't seem to hold a grudge to Harry? Actually, to explain that just in case people might have questions. When Harry tripped when he was trying to get out, Draco was immediately reminded of why Harry's blind the first place. Guilt hits him. I didn't include it, but it's a given that Draco is thinking angrily in his head about Harry. Insulting him and whatnot. Then he hears Harry's intake of gasp, yada yada yada, fall, yada yada yada, guilt, yada yada yada.
So, for that moment he'll loosen up a bit. Still, he's not all peaches and cream with Harry, is he? I don't expect him to be like that. He didn't feel sorry which turned into love or anything. Okay, he felt sorry for Harry's situation but not for his action. That may not make sense, but it does to me, so nyaah! =P
Jun's a neutral character, eh? Sometimes, he's almost as clueless as Harry but then he comes back out with all these stuttered innuendos.. What am I going to do with him? If I had a Draco muse, I think something along the lines of castration or bludgeoning by blunt objects would suffice. But we don't agree, do we? XD And two excerpts from books.. I've outdone myself. XD What will happen now that Sirius and Remus have finally decided to come..o.O..!?
ALSO: I used a Mr. Zabini, because it has been confirmed by J.K. Rowling herself, that Blaise Zabini is INDEED A MALE. XD Confirmed on June 15, 2004, if you want the specifics. =P
Phew! Long author's note. I hope people have read it to see what I think about the story so far.. XD.. IF YOU WANT UPDATES, LEAVE YOUR EMAIL AND A MESSAGE SAYING SO!
IMPORTANT: Oh.. About that bold, italic, and underlined words above, I meant if you want an email from me to tell you that I've updated! Why? Sometimes, the notifications from FFNET don't go through so you'll never know if I update. Believe, it's happened countless of times. XD