Not Only In Dreams
By Goddess JacquesPierre
Chapter Nine: What Happened?
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all associated and/or non-associated things that I don't own do not belong to me. Perhaps it was redundant, but it certainly beats my English substitute, whose comment "Partners is definitely sufficient enough" led me to lose all respect I may have had for her. Anyone who uses the phrase "sufficient enough" should be shot (not necessarily lethal except in the case of the repeat offender. As far as I am concerned, the breed of people who perpetually mix up 'lose' and 'loose' belong in the same category). Moving along, they belong to their respective owners, who are not I. My writing, sarcasm, witty remarks, not-so-witty remarks, comments, ideas, and other creative property, however, do belong to me, and anyone caught filching them without permission will be sentenced to the same fate as those select few for whom loosing their lives is not sufficient enough. (So I didn't feel like coming up with something new. Bite me.)
Author's Note: If this chapter is short, it's because I'm going off to an English course for three weeks, and while I will be refining my writing skill, I will not have access to a computer. I shall, however, return, hopefully with a three-page outline (hmmm, maybe I should have listened to my grade school teachers earlier; it helps immensely. Hence the sudden increase in chapter length). I have less than 24 hours to get this finished after struggling with the last chapter (not to mention the fact that I was busy beyond belief last week with one thing and another). Many regrets, but have faith. If you're bored, go read "Something More" by Roguemessanger or "Unthinkable Thoughts" by Aidan Lynch. If you still haven't come up with a better way to occupy your time, try finding "Domino Effect" and "Of Shooting Stars and Battle Scars", the two fics (the latter is the sequel of the former) that sealed my firm belief in H/D slash. I lost them and have been unable to relocate them or find the author, something that bothers me greatly. If you can find either them or the author in the three weeks I am gone (or even afterwards), I shall be greatly surprised and, in orgasmic bliss, do something completely unexpected (no promises... just veiled hints for now). In any event... let's go on with the show (that's an "Annie, Get Your Gun" reference, by the way).
-----
Harry was in a foolishly good mood when he got to lunch. Before his confrontation with Draco, the Slytherin had been plaguing him, but now Draco was a part of his life that he had condoned, rather than an irritant.
Ginny and Hermione picked it up instantly. Both of them smiled widely and knowingly and offered thier congratulations.
"What?" asked Harry. "What have I done this time?"
Ginny grinned. It was approaching Cheshire Cat proportions, unnerving Harry slightly. "You're obviously not moping about Draco anymore, which means you've come to your senses and quit telling yourself that you don't find him attractive."
When she said the "D"-word, the entire table hushed and listened.
Harry went scarlet. "It wasn't that big of a thing, Ginny! It's not like we're engaged or anything..."
Dean winked. "It's only time, mate. Only time."
Harry rolled his eyes. "He's on probation. Honestly, all we agreed to was to stop antagonising each other."
Hermione nodded. "Sure, Harry. That's what they all say."
Harry glared at her. "I certainly hope that no one else has put Draco on probation-- his inflated ego would probably pop."
Over at the Slytherin table, Draco winced. He had NOT got an inflated ego; he was simply self-confident, gorgeous, and brilliant. It wasn't ego if it was true, was it?
"You hope that no one else has got Draco on probation because you're possessive of him. You want him for yours." Ginny was teasing Harry, and Harry was not amused.
"Cut it out, or I'm leaving."
Ginny humphed into her pumpkin juice but relented. She could be heard to mumble, "Geez, you'd think he'd be used to it by now," but Harry decided not to notice. He was feeling too good about having solved his problem. Even the choker wasn't bothering him nearly as much as it had earlier that morning.
-----
In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry noticed a fat roll of parchment on his desk. It was sealed, but it had his name written on it. In green ink. He surreptitiously slid it into his bag.
They were still doing dream work, but this class, the counterspell of the day came easily ("Oooh, very good, Mr. Potter! Ten points to Gryffindor!). Even Hermione hadn't been able to master it as quickly as he had, her first attempt having gone awry when Seamus, who was partnering Ron, had gotten a mouse up his pant leg and shrieked, distracting Hermione, whose spell hit Neville and accidentally sent him to sleep, muttering about pickled newts.
The combination of curiousity and boredom loomed over Harry's head. He knew that there was a note from Draco in his bag, and it felt to him that if he waited too much longer, it would spontaneously combust before he could read it. He was rather possessive of his letters after the Dursley's almost-successful attempt to keep him from Hogwarts first year by keeping his letter from him and Dobby's try at the same a year later.
After all, what could it possibly hurt? He didn't have anything to do; Professor Tofty had distractedly told him to work on homework or something while he was busy trying to fix the aftereffects of Parvati's counterspell, which had inexplicably turned Lavender's hair bright orange and caused it to grow a foot and a half. It wouldn't have been such an immediate problem if it had been just the hair on her head that had been altered, but eighteen-inch eyebrows and eyelashes created sudden temporary blindness, and there was a suspicious lump under her skirt as well. Lavender was sobbing, Parvati was babbling, and the entire class was in an uproar.
Harry resolutely broke the seal and began to read under his desk.
It began:
"Darling Harry..." and continued in the same vein for at least twenty-five inches. It was also naughty, explicit in ways Harry had never dreamed of.
Despite his very obvious blush, he might have gotten away with reading it in class if he had not, halfway through the last paragraph, murmured subconciously, "Merlin, I didn't know that was physically possible!"
The uproar had subsided, Lavender had regained her sight, and everyone heard. Including Professor Tofty.
In a whirl, the note was confiscated, the rumor mill churned, and Harry was given detention the following evening at seven o'clock.
Dazed, Harry wandered off to an uneventful dinner.
-----
Harry slid into bed, exhausted. There had been a mountain of Tranfiguration homework, and he had spent hours on a single essay.
When he slept, there were no dreams.
-----
Further Author's note: Erk, I'm sorry. It was an excessively short chapter. What's more, it's probably riddled with errors... I hate writing when I'm rushed. Hopefully this morsel will tide you over until I return; the length of the previous two chapters should help.
Thank-you's!
Dragenphly: I just can't imaging Dumbledore condoning two underage boys' sex life. Even if he is a pretty awesome old geezer, he's protective of Harry, he probably doesn't completely trust Draco (especially with something as precious as Harry), and he's probably also a bit uncomfortable with a homosexual relationship. Even really cool old people can freak a bit-- he'll get over it eventually, but as long as our characters are sixteen (and thus not consenting adults), Dumbledore is absolutely NOT going to give them a private room together as he does in so many fics. It just doesn't seem plausible to me, so I'm writing it as such.
Kingess: Even if Lucius doesn't read Witch Weekly, he'd find out about an article that discussed his son's sex life, especially one that suggested that said sex life was tied up with Harry Potter, who was raised with Muggles (if not Muggle-born), is a Gryffindor, and is the perpetual Thorn In Voldy's Side. Lucius Malfoy, if nothing else, has connections. Oh yes, he'd find out.
Rapturous Torture: I like the choker, too. You can special order them at just kidding. I really, really don't think you're going to find dragon hide anywhere in Muggle shops... sorry.
Purity-in-Black: Oooh, very good! I didn't come out and say it was a collar, but you picked it up! Seven points to whichever house you're in... maybe I should start keepin score...
Lady Myotismon: Dreams are fun to play with. Besides, it was an all-too-perfect opportunity to flaunt my limited knowledge of Shakespeare. As for Terry Pratchett... he's witty, British, and completely correct about most things. What more can you ask for?
Potterfan8807: Continuing I am. If I hadn't gotten lovely reviews like yours, you would have just had to wait three weeks (maniacal cackle).
chisox727: I wasn't going to quit... just go on hiatus. Last chapter was, if you'll excuse the expression, a bitch to get through. I certainly hope it was worth it.
dobbiessweetie: I do try to be original... I was actually quite worried about ripping off fics I adore when writing this. I'm glad I'm not rehashing anything (I was worried about Unthinkable Thoughts when using the magical creature as a gimmick, mostly, but it's a very different creature-gimmick and I'm not going to give Harry and Draco superpowers for being in love, either, so I think I'm okay there). As for summaries... I just don't know what to do with three lines of space. I like to think that the strength in my writing lies in my manipulation of language and lack of glaring grammatical errors, and I don't know how to showcase that properly in under fifty words. I'll try something new, and see how that works.
FredandGeorgeRmine: Of course Harry's plan backfired. Harry is many positive things, but 'slick and suave' belongs to Draco alone of the two of them. It's one of the things that makes them so adorable together.
starlollie: Well, that's one nagging worry off my list. I was afraid that any sex I write is on the side of cliché... originality is a major thing I strive for, and it is very nice to hear that my effort is paying off.
Anyway, thank you all so much (again), and best wishes until I return!
By Goddess JacquesPierre
Chapter Nine: What Happened?
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all associated and/or non-associated things that I don't own do not belong to me. Perhaps it was redundant, but it certainly beats my English substitute, whose comment "Partners is definitely sufficient enough" led me to lose all respect I may have had for her. Anyone who uses the phrase "sufficient enough" should be shot (not necessarily lethal except in the case of the repeat offender. As far as I am concerned, the breed of people who perpetually mix up 'lose' and 'loose' belong in the same category). Moving along, they belong to their respective owners, who are not I. My writing, sarcasm, witty remarks, not-so-witty remarks, comments, ideas, and other creative property, however, do belong to me, and anyone caught filching them without permission will be sentenced to the same fate as those select few for whom loosing their lives is not sufficient enough. (So I didn't feel like coming up with something new. Bite me.)
Author's Note: If this chapter is short, it's because I'm going off to an English course for three weeks, and while I will be refining my writing skill, I will not have access to a computer. I shall, however, return, hopefully with a three-page outline (hmmm, maybe I should have listened to my grade school teachers earlier; it helps immensely. Hence the sudden increase in chapter length). I have less than 24 hours to get this finished after struggling with the last chapter (not to mention the fact that I was busy beyond belief last week with one thing and another). Many regrets, but have faith. If you're bored, go read "Something More" by Roguemessanger or "Unthinkable Thoughts" by Aidan Lynch. If you still haven't come up with a better way to occupy your time, try finding "Domino Effect" and "Of Shooting Stars and Battle Scars", the two fics (the latter is the sequel of the former) that sealed my firm belief in H/D slash. I lost them and have been unable to relocate them or find the author, something that bothers me greatly. If you can find either them or the author in the three weeks I am gone (or even afterwards), I shall be greatly surprised and, in orgasmic bliss, do something completely unexpected (no promises... just veiled hints for now). In any event... let's go on with the show (that's an "Annie, Get Your Gun" reference, by the way).
-----
Harry was in a foolishly good mood when he got to lunch. Before his confrontation with Draco, the Slytherin had been plaguing him, but now Draco was a part of his life that he had condoned, rather than an irritant.
Ginny and Hermione picked it up instantly. Both of them smiled widely and knowingly and offered thier congratulations.
"What?" asked Harry. "What have I done this time?"
Ginny grinned. It was approaching Cheshire Cat proportions, unnerving Harry slightly. "You're obviously not moping about Draco anymore, which means you've come to your senses and quit telling yourself that you don't find him attractive."
When she said the "D"-word, the entire table hushed and listened.
Harry went scarlet. "It wasn't that big of a thing, Ginny! It's not like we're engaged or anything..."
Dean winked. "It's only time, mate. Only time."
Harry rolled his eyes. "He's on probation. Honestly, all we agreed to was to stop antagonising each other."
Hermione nodded. "Sure, Harry. That's what they all say."
Harry glared at her. "I certainly hope that no one else has put Draco on probation-- his inflated ego would probably pop."
Over at the Slytherin table, Draco winced. He had NOT got an inflated ego; he was simply self-confident, gorgeous, and brilliant. It wasn't ego if it was true, was it?
"You hope that no one else has got Draco on probation because you're possessive of him. You want him for yours." Ginny was teasing Harry, and Harry was not amused.
"Cut it out, or I'm leaving."
Ginny humphed into her pumpkin juice but relented. She could be heard to mumble, "Geez, you'd think he'd be used to it by now," but Harry decided not to notice. He was feeling too good about having solved his problem. Even the choker wasn't bothering him nearly as much as it had earlier that morning.
-----
In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry noticed a fat roll of parchment on his desk. It was sealed, but it had his name written on it. In green ink. He surreptitiously slid it into his bag.
They were still doing dream work, but this class, the counterspell of the day came easily ("Oooh, very good, Mr. Potter! Ten points to Gryffindor!). Even Hermione hadn't been able to master it as quickly as he had, her first attempt having gone awry when Seamus, who was partnering Ron, had gotten a mouse up his pant leg and shrieked, distracting Hermione, whose spell hit Neville and accidentally sent him to sleep, muttering about pickled newts.
The combination of curiousity and boredom loomed over Harry's head. He knew that there was a note from Draco in his bag, and it felt to him that if he waited too much longer, it would spontaneously combust before he could read it. He was rather possessive of his letters after the Dursley's almost-successful attempt to keep him from Hogwarts first year by keeping his letter from him and Dobby's try at the same a year later.
After all, what could it possibly hurt? He didn't have anything to do; Professor Tofty had distractedly told him to work on homework or something while he was busy trying to fix the aftereffects of Parvati's counterspell, which had inexplicably turned Lavender's hair bright orange and caused it to grow a foot and a half. It wouldn't have been such an immediate problem if it had been just the hair on her head that had been altered, but eighteen-inch eyebrows and eyelashes created sudden temporary blindness, and there was a suspicious lump under her skirt as well. Lavender was sobbing, Parvati was babbling, and the entire class was in an uproar.
Harry resolutely broke the seal and began to read under his desk.
It began:
"Darling Harry..." and continued in the same vein for at least twenty-five inches. It was also naughty, explicit in ways Harry had never dreamed of.
Despite his very obvious blush, he might have gotten away with reading it in class if he had not, halfway through the last paragraph, murmured subconciously, "Merlin, I didn't know that was physically possible!"
The uproar had subsided, Lavender had regained her sight, and everyone heard. Including Professor Tofty.
In a whirl, the note was confiscated, the rumor mill churned, and Harry was given detention the following evening at seven o'clock.
Dazed, Harry wandered off to an uneventful dinner.
-----
Harry slid into bed, exhausted. There had been a mountain of Tranfiguration homework, and he had spent hours on a single essay.
When he slept, there were no dreams.
-----
Further Author's note: Erk, I'm sorry. It was an excessively short chapter. What's more, it's probably riddled with errors... I hate writing when I'm rushed. Hopefully this morsel will tide you over until I return; the length of the previous two chapters should help.
Thank-you's!
Dragenphly: I just can't imaging Dumbledore condoning two underage boys' sex life. Even if he is a pretty awesome old geezer, he's protective of Harry, he probably doesn't completely trust Draco (especially with something as precious as Harry), and he's probably also a bit uncomfortable with a homosexual relationship. Even really cool old people can freak a bit-- he'll get over it eventually, but as long as our characters are sixteen (and thus not consenting adults), Dumbledore is absolutely NOT going to give them a private room together as he does in so many fics. It just doesn't seem plausible to me, so I'm writing it as such.
Kingess: Even if Lucius doesn't read Witch Weekly, he'd find out about an article that discussed his son's sex life, especially one that suggested that said sex life was tied up with Harry Potter, who was raised with Muggles (if not Muggle-born), is a Gryffindor, and is the perpetual Thorn In Voldy's Side. Lucius Malfoy, if nothing else, has connections. Oh yes, he'd find out.
Rapturous Torture: I like the choker, too. You can special order them at just kidding. I really, really don't think you're going to find dragon hide anywhere in Muggle shops... sorry.
Purity-in-Black: Oooh, very good! I didn't come out and say it was a collar, but you picked it up! Seven points to whichever house you're in... maybe I should start keepin score...
Lady Myotismon: Dreams are fun to play with. Besides, it was an all-too-perfect opportunity to flaunt my limited knowledge of Shakespeare. As for Terry Pratchett... he's witty, British, and completely correct about most things. What more can you ask for?
Potterfan8807: Continuing I am. If I hadn't gotten lovely reviews like yours, you would have just had to wait three weeks (maniacal cackle).
chisox727: I wasn't going to quit... just go on hiatus. Last chapter was, if you'll excuse the expression, a bitch to get through. I certainly hope it was worth it.
dobbiessweetie: I do try to be original... I was actually quite worried about ripping off fics I adore when writing this. I'm glad I'm not rehashing anything (I was worried about Unthinkable Thoughts when using the magical creature as a gimmick, mostly, but it's a very different creature-gimmick and I'm not going to give Harry and Draco superpowers for being in love, either, so I think I'm okay there). As for summaries... I just don't know what to do with three lines of space. I like to think that the strength in my writing lies in my manipulation of language and lack of glaring grammatical errors, and I don't know how to showcase that properly in under fifty words. I'll try something new, and see how that works.
FredandGeorgeRmine: Of course Harry's plan backfired. Harry is many positive things, but 'slick and suave' belongs to Draco alone of the two of them. It's one of the things that makes them so adorable together.
starlollie: Well, that's one nagging worry off my list. I was afraid that any sex I write is on the side of cliché... originality is a major thing I strive for, and it is very nice to hear that my effort is paying off.
Anyway, thank you all so much (again), and best wishes until I return!