True Friends
By: Craw/Brad
Author's notes: Family… Now I remember why I dislike Summer Vacation.. Would anyone care to shoot me?
Chapter Eight
"Nev?" Harry asked as he cautiously approached his housemates. "Calm down mate. He isn't worth it."
"You know what? Your right." The younger boy said. "I wont waste any more of my time on this loser."
"I see how you are you traitor!" Ron yelled to the blond lions back. "Go and get your pity fuck. We all know what a slut you really are." the redhead spat.
"Ron! What has gotten into you?" Hagrid yelled in shock. "Go see the Headmaster." Weasley glared at the half-giant, but made his way toward the school none the less. "Now, today we will be working with a Diricawl."
X
The rest of the week passed normally. Whenever there was any free time, the first years would gather in one of the corners and produce an infinite amount of giggling, as well as many odd smells. We could only hope that they were working on the banner and not sacrificing goats to the old gods.
The points were taken and given more freely as the professors were no longer dedicated to only one house. The classes were also notably more difficult than the ones from years before, but the assignments were more often projects or hands on training than essays.
Harry hadn't had to suffer from the cold since the first night, but our relationship didn't go any father than snuggling and a few stolen kisses. It was Friday night before anything of interest happened again. We were sitting in the common room, side by side on one of the couches.
"Harry, can I talk to you?" asked a good looking sixth year Ravenclaw.
"Sure Brian," Harry answered with a smile and a nod.
"Has anyone asked you to the dance yet?" the younger boy asked with a slight darkening of his mocha cheeks.
"Three people since lunch." Raven answered with a slight smirk.
"Are you going with anyone yet?"
"Not yet. I can't figure out how to go about asking the person I want to take." He said with a quick glance at me. "If you still need a date, though, I know for a fact that Nick isn't going with anyone yet. Why don't you ask him?"
"Thanks!" The Ravenclaw said before running along.
"You know," I said from Harry's left, "I do believe that he was trying to ask you out."
"Of course he was, but there is someone else I had in mind." Harry replied.
"Oh really?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "And who, by chance, would that be?"
"I don't know, maybe a little silver dragon." He countered with a grin.
"What if I was to tell you that said dragon had been turning down dates all day because he wanted to go with a raven?" I asked in return.
"I would say that that was a very happy raven indeed." The boy who lived then leaned over and pecked me lightly on the lips. Leaning his forehead against mine, he said, "If you would like, we could go and get our robes and accessories next weekend."
"If it will give me more opportunities to flaunt you, half dressed no less, then how could I say no?"
"Should be fun." Harry said. He then wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his lap. This set the first years into another fit of giggles.
X
The next morning we were awoken by a pounding outside the common room. "Go away." Harry mumbled from his resting place on my chest.
"Harry, love, I don't think that is working." I said softly and ran my fingers through his tangled locks. "We should answer it."
"Don't care." Harry said as he nuzzled closer to my chest. "Don't wanna move. Warm."
"Open up! I know your awake Dracie-pooh!" came the voice of Blaise from the corridor. "We need to talk and they are presenting the flags this morning. Do we need to get your godfather?"
"I'm coming Zabini!" I yelled toward the direction of the common room. "Raven, I need you to let me up."
"Don't wanna." He repeated as he tightened his arms around my waist. "It's not time to get up yet."
"Yes it is, come on." I said with a small smirk. He grumbled a little but made his way to the bathroom as I moved to answer the door.
Blaise, Vince and Greg walked in and took seats on the sofa. "Where is your little bird on this fine morning?" Greg asked after they were seated.
"He is showering now. Before you made us get up at this ungodly hour, he was in a very comfortable position." I answered coldly.
"Good," Blaise said, "We have some personal matters to discuss."
"Go on," I replied to the darker boy's cryptic message.
"There are more snakes that want to leave the dark, but they want assurances that they won't be eaten."
"I think we can assure them that it is safer in the warmth of the sun than in a dark hole." was my reply. If Zabini wanted to play this word game, then we could play.
"They will need to know that the light wont burn their eyes."
"It might burn at first, but their eyes will adjust. Tell them to watch out for mongees and that a dragon will be ready to protect his smaller cousins."
"Are you two done yet?" Vince asked.
"Yeah," Greg added, "I don't know why you bother talking like that, any idiot could follow."
"Vince! Greg! Your ruining my fun!" Blaise whined with a downtrodden look.
"If you four are done," said Harry from he doorway of our room, making us all jump, "I believe that Draco needs to get a shower so we can make an entrance before the unveiling of the banners. "With a smirk he added, "Besides, Greg is right," before turning and reentering the room.
"I'm afraid that he is right. Neither of you will ever be a seer." Vince conceded.
"Just go and break my heart Crabbe!" Blaise yelled with fake tears streaming forth from his dark eyes. "And I was so looking forward to becoming the next Trelawney. Woe is me!"
"Out you three." I demanded with a smirk. "Harry was right, I need a shower so we can make another grand showing."
I walk the trio out, having to physically force Blaise out. I walked back into the bedroom to find the boy who lived's bear bum in the air in front of the closet. Try as I might a 'mmm' of appreciation managed to escape my lips. My Raven just looked over his shoulder to throw a smile at me and went back to whatever it was he was doing.
"As much as I am enjoying this view, what in Merlin's name are you doing?" I asked him.
"I can't find my pants." Was his amazing reply.
"You can't find any pants?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "What is wrong with the black ones over the chair?"
" I didn't say that I couldn't find any pants. I just can't find the ones I want." Was the smaller teens answer.
"Harry, dearest," I said in mock tenderness. "You are a wizard are you not?"
"Oh… "I now know for a fact that his blush didn't go all the way down. "Accio bondage pants." We waited… and waited. "Why didn't that work?"
"I don't know. Let me see your wand."
"Any time you like." Harry said with a wink, but handed over his wand nonetheless.
"It doesn't look like there is anything wrong with it." I said scanning it for any oddities. "Try doing a different spell." I tossed the piece of wood back to the other teen.
"Accio leather pants." A pair of black leather pants flew out of the closet and into his hand. "That worked fine."
"Then wear those. I'm going to go take a shower and then we can go meet up with every one else." I smirked. Really, I liked his bondage pants, but they didn't hold a candle to the leather ones. The leather was tighter.
X
When we finally got out of our rooms, the only difference between our outfits was the shirts. Harry was wearing a tight red cotton tee. Where as my own shirt was dark green silk that flowed down my chest. I must admit that I good dam good.
"Are we ready?" Raven asked before we entered the great hall.
"I'm frightened to think that we will be at the mercy of those first years, even if it is only a banner." I said grimly. "I bet they used pink. Lots and lots of pink."
"After hearing our name, I rather think they will use green and black, maybe a little red." the savior of the wizarding world said. "Besides, they wouldn't want the banner to look like Huggle Bunnies'."
"Dear Merlin I hope not." I said before pulling him close and throwing the doors open.
X
"It is now time for the revealing of the banners." Dumbledore said from his perch at the high table. "The first years will be presenting them, starting with Starfire and ending with Dragons of Bad Faith. I do hope that you remembered our game of capture the flag this afternoon." He said with that infernal twinkle in his eye.
A few first years from each table rose and entered the room behind the head table. The reappeared a moment later. They stood three per piece of fabric. The twelve first years stood before the head table, facing the rest of the student body.
"Starfire," The head master said and Professor McGonagle levitated the banner from in the first years hands. It unfolded as it moved to float over the first table. It had a black background with a large silver star in the upper right corner. Falling down to the left of the star was a crimson, indigo and navy tail.
"Huggle Bunnies," Apparently the first years weren't much better than the seventh. There banner was basically a pink rabbit. This banner got groans and snorts form the rest of the students.
"Winners," I was mildly impressed with this flag. I mean, there isn't really all that much one can do for a team with that team name, but these little first years had managed to make a half decent banner. It was deep sea blue with silver wings in the middle. It didn't necessarily go with the name, but in a way it fit.
Finally, the moment we had all been waiting for. The Headmaster said, "Dragons of Bad Faith." My godfather, ever the dramatic, floated the banner over the table and held it there for a moment before allowing it to fall open. My mouth fell open with it.
There, chained to the black background, was a 3-D, animated, Hungarian Horntail. It was pulling and tugging against it's bonds, while gold sparks flew from it's mouth. Around it's neck hung a sliver medallion and at it's feet was what looked like fifty other pieces of jewelry.
After a few seconds people started to snap out of their daze, but Harry was the first to speak up. "Those are my chains." he said in a deathly quite tone, the anger burning just behind his emerald orbs. A few Malfoy's throughout history have been know for not being a hundred percent stable, I mean Great-Uncle Tobin swore that his blood hound told him to kill hundreds of muggles, But I'm pretty sure that I wasn't imagining things when the Boy Who Lived growled at the first years sitting near us.
Sally-Anne said, "That is my necklace!" She was about fifty times louder than our dear Mister Potter. A few more of my fellow teammates also laid claim to various parts of the flag. I think that was a fifth year Ravenclaw that said the Horntail was "Billy".
The first years made a wild leap over the table and a mad dash from the hall. "As much as I'm sure you would all like your things returned," Sev said from his position at the head table, "The banner will stand as is. If any of you wish your things returned to your possession, I suggest that you don't lose this afternoons game." He the calmly returned to his breakfast.
All around me I could hear my teammates murmuring things like, "Greasy git", "Cold hearted bastard", "Overgrown bat", and "Meanie", the last coming from the fifth year Ravenclaw. However the emerald eyed man beside me said nothing, but it was clear to all that could see his eyes, that he was thinking, "I'm gonna get me some first years."
Dumbledore stood and said with that infernal twinkle, "The games will begin at one this afternoon with start fire playing Huggle Bunnies. I suggest that you all hide your lags before then so we may begin promptly. They must be hidden in the designated arena and no magic is allowed to be used to place them. This includes invisibility cloaks, brooms, and potions." He then sat and decisions brook out among the teams. Although it was rather strained when it came to my teams first years.
X
Once the flags were hidden, people waited around impatiently. The common room was full of hyper second years. I'm sure that the first years would have been hyper as well if it weren't for the numerous Glares o' Death that were shot their way by the older teammates whose things they had taken.
I was, as always, with Harry. We were discussing tactics with Hermione and Boot. I have decided that I don't like the way, or the amount of time, that the Ravenclaw looked at my Raven. Anyway, we were thinking on the best plan of attack with Winners.
"I don't think we really need to worry about them," Boot said, referring to the above mentioned team. "They are basically Hufflepuffs."
"Just because they aren't as big a threat as Starfire doesn't mean we should write them off so fast." Harry replied.
"Never underestimate the enemy," Vince said from his place on my left. "It's the 'good' ones that will give you floating cupcakes full of sleeping potion."
A touch of red darkened Raven's cheeks at the larger man's commit. "So you know about that?"
I answered for my large friend, "We are Slytherin's Harry, we know everything. Or at least know someone that does."
"Back to the subject at hand," the bushy haired girl to my right interrupted. "We should use younger students to hold the prisoners, and to protect the false base. Fifth year and up should be protecting the real flag and looking for the other teams."
"Good plan, but we will only want a few strong, smart, older students at the flag. Too many in one place and they will know something is up." I said in response to her statement. "I suggest that you three be the ones to stand guard."
"And what do you plan on doing while we keep the flag safe Malfoy?" Boot asked defiantly, yet aging glancing at my Harry. It was becoming more and more obvious that our little Ravenclaw wanted what was mine.
"Why I will be doing as the name of the game suggest Boot." I said coldly.
"Calm down Drake." Harry said from near my feet. He seems to enjoy sitting on the floor. "We need to remember that this is just a game," he then added a mumbled, "Not worth getting worked up over." as he nuzzled my thigh.
I smiled down at him and ran my fingers throw his hair, enjoying the look of pale skin over ebony stands. Looking around our circle, I see that Boot's glare would have killed if it could, and Hermione was as red as a Weasley's hair. Vince was staring stupidly at the far wall. A few might have been enlightened as to the truth, but the mass majority still only saw his mask.
"We should start getting ready," Vince said after about five minutes of silence.
X
One o'clock rolled around and found the entire school in the clearing that had once belonged to the dragons. Every one had donned jeans and T-shirts for the occasion. At one end of the clearing, the teachers sat on a raised platform. On each side of the platform stood Half of the student body. At the opposite end, hung in midair, was a large movie screen.
Dumbledore stood in the middle of the stage motioning for silence. He was going to give yet another speech. Oh joy! "Today we will be undertaking a teambuilding activity. Winning is not what's important here. What matters is working with your team to achieve a common goal and trusting on another." He paused for effect. "We will begin with Huggle Bunnies vs. Starfire. Magic is allowed to be used, but not to find the other team's flag. Points will be awarded for each member of the opposite team captured and the game will end when one team returns to their base with the other's banner. No dark magic will be allowed, and just use your best judgment with the younger students."
TBC
Much love to all reviewers and, of course, my lovely beta, Frito the Great. Read her fics or ... something... bad will happen... like the end of the world... or the'll outlaw piercings... It would also be nice if you could review. Yes, that would be very nice of you. Brad