True Friends
By: Craw/Brad
Author's notes: South Florida sucks!
Chapter Eleven
"What did you need?" I asked after we were all seated in my common room. Harry and I were on one of the couches and Blaise was stretched out on a love seat.
"Some of my sources tell me that your father found out about your relationship with the Boy Who Lived," The dark teen said solemnly. "Word is he is none too pleased."
"Well then that's his problem then isn't it?" I asked sardonically. "He no longer has the right to tell me who I can and cannot date, if he ever did."
"I'm afraid that he will be making it your problem Drake," Blaise replied. "Or rather Harry's"
"What do you mean?" Raven asked with a raised brow. I think that he really might be spending too much time with me.
"He went to the papers."
Those five words were enough to drain all the blood from my boyfriend's face. "What did you say?" he asked. I could see the small hope for having misheard the teen shining in his eyes.
"It will be all over the WWN by tomorrow night," Zabini said in a very straight forward way.
"I am so fucked," the green eyed man at my side announced before burying his face into my shoulder.
"Calm down Raven," I said, petting his hair. "Look at it logically; the entire school knows. It would have gotten out eventually." I can't honestly say that it didn't confuse me a little that he was reacting like this. He had no problem being open about us at school.
"But now we'll be getting all of the letters," Harry replied softly. "I didn't want you to have to go through the letters."
"When this mass of prophesized letters arrive, we can hold a bonfire. I don't care what those mindless fools think about us," I said in the most soothing voice I could muster. "All it will do is break the hearts of countless witches across the world. I mean really, to find out that the two hottest guys in the wizarding world are both taken. I think it might cause a few deaths."
I managed to get a small chuckle out of him for my commits. Now if only I could keep him from getting hurt by any of the countless letters he will surely get.
X
The next morning, the hall broke out in whispers with the arrival of the Prophet. After ten minutes of putting up with it, I snatched Granger's copy from her hands and began to read. It wasn't anything like what I expected.
Boy Who Lived going dark and what does Draco Malfoy have to do with it?
It has come to this reporter's attention that newly disowned Draco Malfoy is in a relationship with Harry Potter, better known as the Boy Who Lived. It has been a widely known fact that these two young men have not gotten along since they first met. Their rivalry will go down as one of the worst in Hogwarts history. So why is it they are suddenly a couple?
It appears that while on the train to school this past September first these two youths found peace. Afterwards, they were placed on the same team for an inter-house competition that Headmaster Dumbledore put in place for the first month (See more on page seven). They are said to have been inseparable since, as they have lead their team to victory.
Our sources tell us that this act caused a rift between Mister Potter and long time best friend Ronald Weasley. When questioned about their falling out, Mister Weasley has this to say: "Harry was different after the fight at the Ministry two years ago. He was willing to do anything to fight You-Know-Who, even learn the Dark Arts. Now he's hanging all over Malfoy, I don't know if it's safe to put all our trust in him any longer."
Are we willing to believe that our Hero isn't as pure as we thought? One of Mister Potter's dorm mates had this to say on the matter; "I don't believe that Harry would ever go to the other side. He hates He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named far to much to join him, but I do think tht there might be a danger of Harry following in his footsteps once he's gone. He hasn't really been getting along with the Headmaster for years."
Headmaster Dumbledore didn't design to comment, but what of Draco Malfoy? No one seemed to think of his involvement in the entire mess until we were contacted by Lucius Malfoy, his former father, on the matter. "Draco was disowned for behavior unbefitting a Malfoy. He ran from his duty to his family and the wizarding world as a whole."
It seems clear to this reporter that the savior of seventeen years ago no longer exists. Young Mister Potter shouldn't be trusted with the well being of our world, much less the safety of his classmates.
Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet
How dare that woman say such things about my Harry! I'll kill her! OK, so maybe I won't actually kill her, but I'm sure there has to be some kind of law against this. She'll cause a public panic, declaring that their hero is turning evil on them! I know that there is a difference between a Dark Wizard and an evil one, but most of the public doesn't.
And Weasley! I can make him pay for what he has done. Isn't it enough to abandon my precious Raven? No, of course not! Then he goes and slanders his name. I was going to hurt him for last night, but now the punishment will increase tenfold!
X
All through classes that day other people would slink away from us when we walked by. All these people that had been fawning over us for the last week suddenly didn't want to be within ten feet of us. Sure there were a few students that didn't believe the article and were the same, but they were in the minority.
I, personally, though it was all rather amusing. Sadly, my dear boyfriend was a people person and didn't see it quite the same way. The toll that it was taking on him to sit there while someone made a comment about him within his hearing was almost visible. I doubt that they saw it, but I did. He just didn't understand how they could all believe that he might be evil.
"Raven, calm down would you?" I asked as I rubbed his back. "It doesn't matter what that great lot of fools think. All the people that matter know the truth."
"How could all these people believe that I could, or would, do that?" he asked with pleading eyes.
"They don't know you like I do," I said to him and in truth, I believed it. If they had simply taken the time to get to know this amazing person, they wouldn't have been taken in by all of the hype. "They are just a mindless flock following the shepherd of idle gossip. Only the useless masses will believe this."
"Hmm," he said noncommittally as he rested his head on my shoulder. We were resting on a couch in our common room with dinner set to begin in fifteen minutes.
Deciding that Raven needed a good laugh and that this was a golden opportunity, I lightly ran my fingers over his side. When I received a small chuckle for my efforts, I repeated it. In a matter of minutes I had the dark haired man pinned under me as I tickled him unmercifully.
"Draco! Please!" He gasped between burst of hysterical laughter. "Please stop!" Merlin, I love it when they beg.
"Very well." I relented as I sat up and began to fix the hair he had mussed in his attempts to get free. "We need to go to dinner anyway."
"Brighten up!" he said with a smirk. "We have rehearsal after dinner." At the bright smile that crossed my face he laughed. He then kissed me on the cheek and whispered a soft "thank you" into my ear before disappearing from the room.
X
Earlier in the day we had been informed that rehearsals would be held in a secluded part of the dungeons. Turns out that way back when Hogwarts was first founded there had been a drama department. Apparently, Ravenclaw had been a lover of the arts, but lack of space on the upper levels forced her to place her stage in the recesses of Slytherin territory.
"Ah! Good you're here," Sev said as we entered through the large double doors. "It has come to my attention that we neglected to fill the roll of commentator and the lips for the opening."
Evidently, we were last to arrive seeing as the rest of the cast was seated at various places around the stage. "Well," Harry started, "Draco can fill in as the lips. Merlin knows that all Rocky does is stand there and look pretty."
"Hay! I have lines," I object. Just because I didn't want lead doesn't mean that I don't talk! There are no small parts, only small actors.
"In all of three scenes." Well, there really isn't a graceful reply to that. "And you are already so good at standing around looking attractive, that it really wouldn't be fair to the rest of us if you got out of it."
"Since you seem to have all the answers, oh omnipotent one, who should be the commentator?" I asked the green eyed Adonis.
"Remus of course," he replied lightly. "We really shouldn't have left him out in first place. He must feel so unloved."
"Not to worry, cub, I feel very well loved at the moment. Severus sees to that," the werewolf says, stepping out from behind the curtain. His comment caused a few giggles from the girls, a glare from Sev, and a smirk from Harry. "Who would be left to direct you lot of miscreants if I was in the play?"
"Well then, who do you suggest?" Raven questioned with a raised brow.
"Well, we are allowed to use all the resources at our disposal, right?" the amber eyed man asked.
"When did you become part of the team?" I asked with a small smirk.
"We'll call me an honorary member. Between Sev and Harry, I don't believe I have much choice in the matter," he answered with a smile.
"Get on with it, Moony!" my little impatient kitten called.
"Mister Moony would like to remind Prongs Jr. that he will get on with it when he is good and ready. He is not too old to be bent over Mister Moony's lap," the older man said in the third person and smirked at the pallor that overtook my boyfriend's face. It must be getting close to the full moon.
"You're right, I apologize," Harry murmured speedily.
"Now there's a good cub," Remus replied with a smirk. "As I was saying, resources include favors owed. I have a friend that moved to the States years ago, but he owes me one for setting him up with his current girlfriend. He was as much into Rocky Horror as I was and will love to use this to get out of my debt."
Before anymore discussion could be had, Sev said, "Let's do the read through tonight and see whose voice needs tweaking."
No one argued and so it was that by the end of the floor show, we all had our voices perfect for our part and were ready to start running lines. Some people needed their voices made higher or deeper. Others needed it made more harmonious and yet others needed a complete overhaul to simply be able to carry a tune. After that we broke into smaller groups to run lines together.
Hermione, Boot, Vince, Susan , and Sally-Anne were practicing the first scene with the Time Warp. Everyone else was practicing the scene in the lab, with Sev filling in for the lines where the others were needed. A short time later we all retired to our rooms for the night.
X
The next few days were about the same. Any free time was spent working on the play. The fifth and sixth years had decided to get together and provide props. Basically, they just sat down one afternoon and made a list to send to their chosen finical backer, Mister Natoli (He had made millions importing exotic potion ingredients and his only daughter was a fifth year on the team). Meanwhile, the second and third years had taken it upon themselves to research spells they could use for the 'special effects'.
On more than one occasion, I had to retreat to the library to do my homework. The common room tables were covered in fabric, wood, plans, designs, and just about every tool known to man. Apparently, everyone felt the need to do things the muggle way. Why, you may ask, did I not simply go to my own common room? It was always full of people running lines of practicing songs. I love hearing Raven sing, but if I hear Granger say that atrocious line about being lucky one more time I will be forced to hurt her.
It was Thursday, twelfth and at the moment I was helping Harry with his first scene. The only people to talk in it are him and Brad, who has like three lines, so I was filling in. Earlier that day, Boot had stopped by to try and practice with him, but he just wanted to try out the bedroom scene, in private, and neither of us were having it.
"I see you've met my faithful handy man. He's just a little brought down 'cause when you knocked he thought you were the candy man." Raven was getting good at that sexy drawl. Before he could say anymore though, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." I volunteered as I stand and walk toward the door. I dispel the curses that I had previously put up to keep Boot out, before opening it to see Remus and a new person. He was tall with midnight blue eyes and deep, almost unnaturally so, crimson hair. Said hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck and clasped there by a golden ornament. This man's skin was a mocha tone, but it looked like under his inherent coloring, he was pale.
"Hello," the man said in slightly accented English. "I am called Edwardo Berryhill. I have been told that you are doing a play."
His words snapped me out of my stupor and I said, "Yes, please come in." as I gathered my manners once again. I proceeded to usher both men into the common room and motion for them to sit. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"No, thank you, Draco," Remus answered and I reseated myself beside Raven. "I just brought Edwardo here so that he could meet the remainder of the cast. Everyone else was in the Common Room."
"Yes, well, it will be a 'mercy killing' If Boot dares to hit on Raven one more time," I reply with a scowl. "Besides, how are we to learn lines with those people using that what do you call it? Hamber?" I looked at the boy who knew muggles for an answer.
"Hammer," Raven supplied.
"Yes, how are we to even think with them using that?"
"I understand," Edwardo said with a smile. "I am the friend that Remus told you about from the States."
"Oh, you'll be playing our commentator?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow. "Merlin help you. You'll need it."
"What do you mean?" Mister Berryhill asked.
"Our Rocky is going to use all of that brute strength to rip Brad limb from limb," the boy who lived began, "Various parts of the crew, cough costumes cough, are at war with other parts, cough set cough, for table space in the common room. Our lovely Magenta is beginning to get on everyone's nerves and the light people think it would be cool to do the whole show with just strobe lights."
"Merlin save us! Remus what the hell are you doing about this?" the redhead exclaimed.
"I have told the second years that the lights shall be properly done or they will each have five feet to do on why they should listen to their professor," Remus answered.
"What about everything else?" I question with a raised brow. Can't let the Gryffindors be the only ones with facial expressions.
"Nothing I can do about the quote unquote war, and Hermione means well," Remus said with a small smirk. "And quite frankly, if it were Sev that kept getting hit on, I might have hurt someone by now." That caused a small round of laughter. I'm not sure if it was because of his words or because of the idea that someone would be masochistic enough to repeatedly make unwanted advances on my godfather. Either way, it is good to know that I wasn't the only possessive one. "Anyway, we just stopped by to say hi. Albus wants to meet Edwardo before dinner, so we better be on our way."
"Bye Remmy. It was nice to meet you Mister Berryhill," Harry said with a smile.
"And you Mister Potter, Mister Malfoy," the older man said as he and Lupin made their way to the door.
After they left, Raven turned to me and asked, "Where were we?" in a quizzical voice.
"In the middle of Sweet Transvestite. Near the beginning," I reply.
Picking a random spot to start with, he began to sing, "I'm not much of a man by the light of day, but by night I'm one hell of a lover..."
TBC