Well, I *tried* to get this out by New Year's but... I'm lazy! What else can I say? ^__^ As for the next part... I don't know when *that* will be happening. Hopefully sometime next week. And I'm pretty sure that there will be 12 parts to this series. Disclaimer Crap: The characters aren't mine, BLAH BLAH BLAH. Well, enjoy this, and Happy New Year's!!
My Fire, My Love: Part Nine
Madam Pomfrey had shooed Draco out that night after dinner, complaining that he was perfectly fine. Draco left, muttering dire threats and promising to return in morning (since thankfully, it would be a Saturday).
He went to the Slytherin common room and tried to avoid everybody. Unfortunately, Pansy spotted him skulking towards his dormitory.
"Muffin!" She cried, launching herself at him and hugging him round the waist.
"Ugh! Get off me!" and he pushed the pug-nosed Slytherin back and glared at her. It was all he could do to keep from striking her dead right then and there. She looked at him, puzzled.
"Draco, where *were* you? I was so *worried*! And they cured Potter, did you hear?" She stomped her foot. "And we almost had him. The poison was really hard to get, too!" she added plaintively. Draco clenched and unclenched his fists.
"Don't." he said stonily. "Call. Me. Muffin." She looked at him, fear and confusion on her ugly, simple features, and then dawning comprehension. "The only person I told," she said slowly, "was you." Draco said nothing, just stared at her, face tilted upwards imperiously. Her eyes widened.
"You!" she cried, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You *saved* Harry *fucking* Potter!" And she now had the attention of all the Slytherin's in the room.
"Why would I do a thing like that?" he asked calmly, and walked to his dormroom, leaving a stunned Pansy behind. Blaise Zabini looked up at him when he came in.
"Everything all right, Draco?" the tall boy asked.
"I'm fine." he answered coolly, though he shot Blaise a small, grateful look. Blaise was the closest thing (besides Harry) to a friend that he had in this god-forsaken school. And yet behind his icy exterior, Draco was trying not to panic... things could go very badly from here. He went to sleep that night and was haunted by dismal visions of the future, visions he hoped would never come to pass.
**************
The next morning, Severus Snape entered the Infirmary, a scowl displayed on his oily features. It deepened when he saw the reason for his presence. Potter was fast asleep on one of the Infirmary beds, one arm hanging haphazardly off the bed. Snape sighed irritatedly and set the Potion down next to his student. He reached over to shake the boy awake, and paused. Gently, he lifted the sleeping Gryffindor's wrist and studied the mark on it. A love bite. Snape's lips curled in disgust as he saw another one on the boy's neck.
Harry sleepily opened his eyes, thinking it was Draco who was holding his hand. His eyes widened when he saw the dim, blurry figure of his Potions Master. His gaze followed that of the Professor's.... and then he blushed crimson and jerked his hand under the safety of the covers.
"Honestly, Potter." Snape sneered. Harry opened his mouth, about to give a heated reply, when who entered but one, Draco Malfoy. He stopped when he saw Snape. Harry nearly hid his face. This was getting worse by the second.
"Draco." Snape said smoothly, his entire demeanor changed. "What are you doing here?" he asked, politely curious.
The blonde licked his lips nervously. "I-" Just then, Harry was struck by sudden brilliance. He interrupted his enemy/mate quickly.
"He's just here to give me the Potions notes he borrowed yesterday, Professor." Snape swiveled and glared at the black-haired teen. Harry tried to hide his grin. Snape couldn't punish Harry without punishing Draco, and he knew it.
"Very well, then." he said stiffly. "Draco, if you ever need extra help, all you need do is ask." He swept past the Slytherin, and then stopped in the doorway. Harry was exhaling in relief when the Potions Master remarked, without turning around, "Where are the notes, then?" and left. Harry stared after him, then smacked his forehead.
"Stupid stupid *duh* you didn't have any *notes*!" Draco smiled a little. It was so good to see Harry moving and talking again! He climbed onto the bed and sat across from Harry. The Gryffindor picked up the goblet, and swallowed the medicine inside. He made a face. "Sometimes I wonder how I pass that class at *all*." he said mournfully.
"Stop worrying, Harry. All he has are suspicions right now." Harry smiled up at Draco and hugged him tightly. He scooted closer and set the slightly lighter boy in his lap and wrapped his arms around the narrow waist. Harry's hands went about the Slytherin's neck, and for a few silent moments they simply stared at each other. Harry leaned forward and whispered into his ear,
"Say it again?" Draco turned his head in puzzlement.
"Say what again?"
"You know..." Harry rocked a little in his lap. "It."
"Oh." Draco smiled again, and in the back of his mind he thought Bloody out of character, all this smiling, but to Harry he said, "I love you."
Harry's lips nearly swallowed up the words, he kissed Draco with tender eagerness and Draco nearly melted with the sheer *sweetness* of Harry, it was on his tongue and in his hands and he was breathing it in all around him. Harry slid even closer to him.
But their little snog session we haven't had a proper kiss for two days! was interrupted by the *clump* of heavy shoes, followed by a surprised grunt. Harry and Draco jerked back simultaneously; Harry fell back against his pillows and Draco sprawling across the bed. They stared in identical horror at the person who had entered the room.
Finally Harry recovered his voice. "Hullo, Hagrid." he said weakly. Hagrid gaped at the two of them, surprise evident on his rugged features. He was clutching a tin of his homemade biscuits, which he deposited gently on the bedside table. He sniffed, shifted, then the ghost of a smile flickered across his face.
"Well, Harry, I was goin' ter say get well soon, but it seems you're feeling fine." he raised his eyebrows meaningfully. Then he turned and started to leave. "Sorry fer the interruption." The discovered lovers were still frozen. Harry, shock written on his features, called after him,
"Hagrid!" The giant-man turned around. "You're not, erm..." he trailed off and gestured at Draco. Hagrid looked dubiously at the blonde boy on the bed.
"Well, Harry, the little bugger's given us some trouble," and Draco bristled, "but if you see some good in Malfoy well then, you've the most good in you of anyone I know." And then he turned and left.
Harry lay back, amazed. Draco sat up, muttering, "Little bugger, eh? I'll show *him* little bugger..." He turned to Harry.
"Hagrid has... quite a bit of faith in me." he said shakily.
"Silly." said Draco, leaning in for another kiss. "Everyone does."
**************
Earlier that morning, one o'clock to be precise, Hermione Granger crept silently out of her sheets. She was about to open the door, and then a sudden sound made her turn around. She looked at Lavendar's bed; the drapes were slightly open. Grinning to herself at her sudden nosiness in others' business, she walked over to the bed and looked in.
Parvati and Lavendar were asleep. Parvati was curled half in and half out of the covers. Hermione smiled indulgently. The two must have fallen asleep talking.
While occasionally the girls got on her nerves, the fact remained that they *were* her dormmates. Hermione reached down and tucked Parvati into the blankets. The girl immediately nestled up against Lavendar, who mumbled incoherently and slung an arm around the other. Rolling her eyes, and yet, wondering... Hermione left and snuck out of the room, down the stairs, and into the common room.
A couch and some chairs had been arrayed around a small coffee table, in front of a small, cheery blaze. Many people were already seated and were conversing in hushed tones. Hermione took a seat on the sofa next to Ron, who automatically put his arm around her. She leaned in next to him, giggling softly at the shocked expressions the Weasley twins were currently giving her.
"Since when did you two-"
"Get together?" they asked. Ron blushed slightly
"Um..."
"A few days ago." said Hermione lightly, "But that's not what we're here to talk about, right?"
"Aye." said Seamus, joining in the conversation. He sat cross-legged on the couch next to Ron. "We're here to talk about Harry."
"And Malfoy." Dean chimed in from his position curled up in an armchair. Ron's face darkened at the mention of Malfoy. Hermione shot him a warning glance.
"Recently," she began, "Ron and I noticed that Harry was slipping away more and more without us, and that he hadn't mentioned liking anyone for the past four months. And then there's the fact that he asked Ron," and here she blushed, "to- to stay over with me the night Malfoy was there."
"Supposedly involved in a..." Ron couldn't bring himself to say it, "*thing* with Dean and Seamus." he curled his lip in distaste.
"That actually didn't happen," said Dean softly. Under his breath Seamus added "Unfortunately," but no one heard him but Dean, who just grinned.
"And what about when Malfoy burst in here and carried Harry off?" Fred asked.
Seamus made a small noise. "I can explain a lot." he offered, "But you may not like it." The twins leaned forward expectantly. "Erm... that night Malfoy was here, we heard him and Harry... you know. And then after that Harry took me with him to the dungeons and..." and now *Seamus* blushed. "The next morning was when Draco came in and took Harry to the Infirmary.
Ron's eyes almost popped out of his head. "You mean to say that they're-?"
"Very much so." said Seamus. Ron's mouth worked soundlessly for a few moments.
"I knew it!" said Hermione triumphantly. "I knew he and Malfoy were-" and then she shut up as Dean and the twins all threw pillows at her.
"Shhh!" they hissed.
"Sorry," the girl said, much quieter.
Ron turned to her. "You *knew*?!" he whispered incredulously.
"Well, I had a hunch." she confessed.
"We knew he was seeing someone, a guy." piped in George.
Ron sighed exasperatedly. "So everyone knew but me?"
"Knew what?" asked a small voice from the darkness. As one, the group turned and stared at the figure standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Neville Longbottom stepped timidly into the firelight. "I woke up... and everybody was gone..." Neville said shyly.
"Pull up a chair, Neville." Fred invited warmly. Neville smiled, and joined them. Ron studied the round-faced boy. Neville seemed different lately, more confidant.
"Everyone knew what?" he repeated.
"Oh." said Seamus. "Harry and Draco Malfoy are going at it like bunnies, have been for a while." he said carelessly. Neville's eyes widened.
"*You* didn't know, right Neville?" asked Ron. The round-faced boy shook his head. "Good." Ron groaned and rubbed his face. "I can't believe Harry and *Malfoy* are... I mean, how did *that* happen?" Hermione rolled her eyes and the twins just looked bemused.
"Malfoy seems to really care about Harry, though." Dean added thoughtfully. Ron nodded.
"He did come tearing up here when he found out Harry was sick." he admitted. "Much as I despise the little snot..."
"When Ron and I visit him tomorrow... I mean today, we'll talk to him about Malfoy." said Hermione.
George nodded. "Good." he said. "Well, this has been enchanting, but I'm going to bed so-"
Neville interrupted him quietly. "Um... while we're on the topic of interesting revelations, well..." he visibly braced himself. "Ron, Fred, George," the Weasleys looked at him curiously. "I'm... um... I've been dating your brother. Percy." he said, blushing.
Dead silence.
"P-Percy?" Ron stuttered. Neville nodded. Fred and George *stared* at him, and Seamus began to laugh uncontrollably.
"When...how-?" Ron tried. Neville studied his hands.
"When he graduated, we promised to write, and all through 4th year I did. And then he started taking Tuesday afternoons off, and we'd go do things. On Sundays, too. The Weasleys were looking at him like he had burst into flames. "He didn't want to tell you, so I thought I would..." Neville trailed off miserably. George cleared his throat.
"Like I said, I'll be off to bed now." he said, obviously still in shock. Fred followed him, casting strange glances back at Percy's boytoy.
"They'll be all right, Neville, just let it sink in and they'll be fine by tomorrow. I think it's the fact that Percy's got someone and *they* don't that's putting them... a bit off balance, not you." Dean said kindly. Neville gave the tiniest of nods.
"Ron? Are you all right?" Hermione asked him. Ron turned to her, his eyes rather glassy. "Ron!" The redhead jerked. She nudged him in Neville's direction.
"Uh... whatever makes you happy, Neville." Then suddenly, it seemed to catch up with him. "Ergh!" he cried. "So, okay, you like guys Neville, but *Percy*?! Did it have to be *Percy*?!"
Neville frowned deeply. "Percy is wonderful, Ron; he's caring and generous and kind and... and very dear to me!" he said fiercely, protectively.
Ron looked even more stunned at this exclamation. He held up his hands in defeat. "I give up, I give up! So now *all* of my dormmates are gay. Great. I mean, I can deal with you two," he said gesturing at Seamus and Dean, "but my *best friend*? And *Neville*?!"
"Honestly, you make such a big deal out of it, Ron." Seamus spoke up. "After all, it's not as if we'd be interested in *you*." Dean winced and thought inwardly, Ouch. Ron glared at the Irish boy. Then he sighed.
"Fine. I'm going to bed, too. Night, Hermione." he said, giving her a brief kiss on the lips and stomping upstairs.
Hermione winked at the three remaining teens. "He'll sulk for a while, but don't worry. Good night." she said, and climbed the opposite stair out of sight.
Neville turned to the other boys. "So Harry's dating Malfoy, eh? I'd like a piece of *that*."
Dean nearly purred. "Wouldn't we all."
Seamus twitched. "He scares the shit out of me." Dean laughed.
"That's right, I forgot about your little experience. Malfoy is apparently *quite* devoted to Harry," he told Neville, a twinkle in his eye.
Neville looked at them. "What about you two?" he asked, and watched Seamus and Dean grow very uncomfortable indeed... (A/N: TBC in "Finding Trouble and Truth". Eventually. ^__^)
**************
Back in the Infirmary....
Albus Dumbledore made sure to make a lot of noise before he opened the door to the Infirmary and walked in. He old eyes were greeted with two frantically blushing teenage boys. Dumbledore smiled softly.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, I thought you might be in here." Draco looked guiltily at Harry. He mouthed a silent "Sorry". "Yes, Draco was very distraught when you were sick, Harry. I don't think he was quite as... *discreet* as he wished to be." and his eyes twinkled merrily. "I came to thank you, your accusation against Ms. Parkinson proved to be true." He sighed heavily, all mirth gone. "She has been sent home and will return in a week's time, with her parents and a newly reinstated school governor..." he raised his eyebrows meaningfully at Draco, who gave a gasp of horror.
Harry looked at him, trying not to panic. "What?" he asked.
"My father." said Draco weakly. "My father's coming to Hogwarts..." Harry groaned. Dumbledore himself didn't look too happy.
"I have pressing things to attend to, I'm afraid. Keep drinking your medicine Harry, you'll be fine in no time." and Dumbledore left the Infirmary. Draco was paler than he had ever been before.
"This is bad, Harry. Very bad." and he was trying very hard to keep from trembling. Harry silently agreed. Could things get any worse?
Then, the door opened again, and Ron and Hermione walked in.
TBC
I'm being evil again ^__^
This is so freaking long! It took me *forever* to write! Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter, I had fun writing it, however lengthy it got... *sigh*. Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers, too, and I apologise for getting this out so late!
Thanks to: Kyohaku Celestiale Vespertina (hope you didn't wait too long!), Pythia, gwen (yes poor Seamus :( and Snape is getting a little suspicious!), lynn, Dark Vampire (sorry to keep you waiting for so long!), androgeny (oh yes... the monkey girl... ^_~), Jay, Juliana Black (lemme out! *bangs on bars* I wrote the next chapter, see?!), Silver Tiger, Ro, Soulsister, Cat Samwise (thanks! likewise! ^_^), Belle Malfoy, Lady Aquila, Klee (^____^), black no. 1 (hopefully Pansy will pay, you never know with that *bleep*!), Tanya (thanks!), Evil Windstar, Prophetress of Hearts, VenusPrincess (haha, thanks, I emailed ya! ^__^), Mariemaia, Silver Serpent of Slytherin, MiniMe (it is *such* a cool cd!! *beams* I hope you like where this is goin, hell I'm not sure *I* even know!), Padfoot Lover, Anra, ~*~ MetallicPink Sakura ~*~, Lirra, Moonbyrd (you're welcome! ^__^), Silver Lightning (here's MORE! lol), and LadyGatoman (I HATE Pansy too). Sorry if I forgot anyone! ^__^
P.S. If you haven't already, give "Sleeping With the Enemy" a try? Please? And I finished "Temptation in the Form of a Finnigan", too! Yay! I can't wait to get started on "FTaT" because I wanna do Seamus/Dean and Neville/Percy and Lavendar/Parvati and whatever the hell else my demented brain thinks up! Please Review!
~RainShadow