Hi!!! How has everybody been?? I am SO sorry for taking so long to get this chapter out!!! I had no idea it would take this long! Blame horrible writer's block for 6 months, than depression and school for the rest. btw, this chapter is dedicated to my muse and sis, Holly, without whom "MFML10" would never have happened. THANK YOU to all my loyal readers who had faith in me these long months, and yelled at me to "please please update!" (more at the end) So, without further complications, I give you the long awaited:
My Fire, My Love: Part Ten
She was a tall woman, Sally Parkinson, tall and beautiful. She and her daughter sat silently on a couch in the Malfoy's study that Saturday morning. It was obvious that Sally subtly disapproved of her daughter in every way; Pansy clearly looked more like her father. The mother outshone the daughter in every way, manners, posture, intelligence, beauty. The woman cleared her throat, her face set into a mask of concern.
Behind her, looking out the window at the impressive vista that was his, Lucius Malfoy stood. He turned and spoke after some moments, his tone plainly saying he had better things to do.
"Ms. Parkinson, I understand you've been temporarily expelled from Hogwarts?"
Pansy nodded, opening her mouth to tell her story, but her mother pressed her arm and spoke instead.
"Mr. Malfoy, it was a misunderstanding. Surely you know that my sweet daughter-" and here Pansy cringed, as if slapped- "is simply not capable of any violence, especially towards a classmate."
Lucius nodded. "Of course. In one week's time, I shall attend to this matter... a small conference, perhaps, with the people involved?"
"That would be most satisfactory. I appreciate you seeing us this morning."
Lucius tightened his mouth into what might be considered a smile, and Mrs. Parkinson began to rise.
"Wait!" Pansy cried, causing both adults to look at her sharply. She ignored her mother's icy glare, and spoke to Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy, do you know who your son is dating?"
Lucius frowned. "I was under the impression that it was you."
She shook her head, smirking. "Nope. He's seeing someone else."
"How nice." Lucius said boredly.
"He's seeing a guy!"
Lucius waved a hand dismissively. "It is really none of my concern whom Draco chooses to date."
Pansy smiled smugly. "It's Harry Potter."
**************
"Ron." Harry spoke, the color draining from his face.
"Harry." soft, almost an accusation. Harry swallowed heavily. He was at a loss. "I don't understand, Harry, I'm... I thought I was your best friend."
"You are Ron! I just-"
Ron's features were a map of betrayal and *hurt*. "Couldn't tell me? Why not? Because I'd reject you? Harry. Don't be stupid. I could never..." he stopped. Draco, sensing Harry's distress, had unconsciously reached out and grasped Harry's hand with his own. Ron's eyes fixed on their conjoined hands and he didn't say anything, couldn't, because all this time he'd been focused on Harry, on their friendship and betrayal, and he almost hadn't noticed another person on the bed with his friend, almost had forgotten that it was *Malfoy* Harry had been shagging these past months. And now it was thrown into high relief for him, suddenly, BAM!- there it was. And... Ron was having a hard time coping.
Harry gave Draco a small smile, then became aware of Ron's unwavering scrutiny.
Hermione, being Hermione, rescued them from the growing uncomfortable silence. She tapped Ron's gaping jaw and hissed, "Stop Ron, that's not polite." Draco was staring concernedly at Harry but when he realized what Ron was staring at he stiffened and removed his hand.
"Got something you want to say, Weasley?" he said coolly.
Ron was pulled out of his inner turmoil by Malfoy's typical Ice Prince Sneer. He bristled and Hermione, sensing the fight, tried to slow it down.
"Maybe we should start at the beginning-"
But Ron would not be daunted, he had already begun. "You." he sputtered, glaring daggers at the Slytherin at Harry's side. "Yeah. I've got a whole lot to say to you."
Draco, incorrigible as he was, tilted his head slightly as if the whole thing were above him. Which, of course, only incited Ron more.
"You snot-nosed little wretch!" he shouted, his face as flaming red as his hair. Hermione braced herself—though Ron often would get upset, rarely would you see the true Weasley-I'm-going-to-kill-you-about-to-explode-Angry!Ron. "How *dare* you take that aristocratic attitude, you slimy toad! Here we are, just found out Harry's been keeping a secret from us for... how long?"
"Three months." Harry quietly supplemented. Ron faltered.
"-for... Blimey, Harry! Three months?" he asked incredulously. Harry nodded, not looking his friend in the eye. "For three months he's had a secret from us, and Harry's *never* kept something from us *ever* and what's more, *you're* the bloody secret, and you don't have the common decency to- to be ashamed of your behavior-- to explain yourself?!" he gasped furiously.
Draco's eyes had turned a steely gray and he narrowed them at Ron. "Listen, Weasley, of *course* Harry didn't tell you about us, look at how you're reacting. And I am neither ashamed to be with Harry nor ashamed of keeping our relationship hidden."
Just as quick, Ron shot back, "I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about past behavior! You *terrorized* all of us, but most especially Harry! How can you try to get him expelled one year and the next have the nerve to say you actually *care* for him? Come on!" He finished, and Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded in agreement.
"Ron, please, he's not heartless. He did save me life, remember." Harry added quietly.
"Oh sure, he saved you now, but when Daddy comes you'll be dead quicker than you can say 'Avada Kedavra'." Harry inwardly flinched. That was a little too close to home for Draco, and the Slytherin finally lost his calm demeanor.
"Don't assume to know everything about it, Weasley," he countered hotly, "I don't care whether or not you believe this, but I would rather kill myself than let my father get his hands on Harry." he finished, dignified helplessness radiating from him.
Ron and Hermione exchanged dubious glances- and in their minds the same thought was running- Malfoy sounded awfully sincere about Harry, like he honestly, truly cared for their friend. Hermione nodded, and she and Ron turned back to the caught lovers. The redhead looked at them, at Harry's hopeful smile, and Malfoy's intensity, and he stepped forward and caught Malfoy by the collar of his robes. Malfoy let out a startled breath and Harry started forward in alarm, but Ron was speaking fast and quietly in the Slytherin's ear.
"If you ever, ever, *ever* hurt Harry, I will hunt you down and I will make sure that you *never* see the light of day again. Do you understand me?" he snarled, shaking his captive aggressively.
"Ron, stop!" Harry exclaimed, but Hermione didn't say anything, just stood back and watched with proud brown eyes. Ron was speaking for the both of them. She personally would gladly wring Malfoy's treacherous ferret neck if he tried anything with Harry.
Draco licked his lips; it was a bit nerve-wracking to have an angry Weasley yelling at you while surreptitiously trying to choke you. "I understand. Completely." He and Ron locked gazes and for a few seconds there was silence. Then Ron slowly pulled away and Hermione reached for him and took his hand. He blinked and tried to smile at Harry.
The Boy-Who-Lived smiled back uncertainly. "Okay?"
"Mmm." Ron muttered noncommittally. "I keep expecting someone to yell, 'just joking!' or to wake up or something. You're not just messing with me, are you? Some elaborate trick to make me look the fool?"
"Too late for that, Weasley," Draco mumbled, but not malevolently.
Harry rolled his eyes. "It's not a trick." and then Draco pulled him into a kiss, the gentlest of kisses, and Ron just stared.
"I have a question," Hermione spoke up finally. "I just, well, *how*? How did this happen?"
Harry smiled mysteriously. "We'll save that for another day." Don't want to overload them with too much shocking information, he thought.
"Okay then." Ron said a few moments later. "What now?"
Harry grimaced. "Now we tell you about a very unfortunate turn of events. You see, it all started with Pansy..."
**************
Later that day, Draco was doing Arithmancy problems, having left Harry in the Infirmary with his friends so they could catch up, when someone knocked on his door.
"Come in," he said, without looking up from his homework. The door opened and a voice spoke his name,
"Draco." Startled, the blonde turned around to see his Potions Master standing in the doorway.
"Can I help you, Professor?" he asked, his brow creasing in puzzlement at this unexpected visitor.
"I'm here to collect you; the Headmaster would like a word with you."
"He would?" Draco asked, trying not to stammer. "About what?"
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will tell you." Snape said pointedly, and so Draco got up and followed the taller man to the office of Dumbledore The wizard was sitting at his desk, shuffling through a few parchments, his half-moon spectacles nearly falling off his nose. He glanced up when they entered, and deftly caught his glasses as they lost the battle to gravity and slipped off his nose completely.
"Mr. Malfoy, welcome, sit down please?" he invited, and Draco took a seat farthest from the desk and glanced curiously around. Snape hovered over his student, all cloudy wrath and brooding darkness. "Severus, thank you for bringing him, now would you please leave us?" Dumbledore asked politely, and Snape started.
"Albus, I think that as the boy's head of house I should be present at such a time-"
"Not this time, Severus." The Headmaster said gently, but firmly. The tall man stood there for a moment, staring in disbelief at the wizard, then sniffed and strode out, muttering disagreeably under his breath.
Draco swallowed heavily. This had to be about one thing only- his father's visit to Hogwarts at the end of the week.
Dumbledore smiled at him reassuringly. "Now Draco, as you know, your father will be coming to Hogwarts on Friday for a conference discussing Ms. Parkinson's current status and further punishment. Your father has requested that the parties involved- that would be Harry and Pansy- myself, Professor Snape, and also, you."
Draco blanched. "Why does he want me there?" he asked. "I really didn't have much to do with it all."
"Well, you *did* report Ms. Parkinson's crime to us." he pointed out. "But, I fear there is another, more questionable motive that your father has commanded your presence."
Draco gritted his teeth. "He found out, then." he stated calmly, though he was not feeling calm. "Pansy must've told him."
Dumbledore nodded. "I believe this to be the truth. Now, Harry is quite safe at Hogwarts, but he is a very... persistent boy and I believe if you were threatened he would-"
"Try to save me." Draco finished. "Yeah, he would." and he smiled a little.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Draco, your father has been waiting for an opportunity like this. I'm not suggesting anything, but please be cautious. The father, like the son, is a very intelligent person."
Draco nodded hesitantly. He knew that *something* had to be done to put off his father, but somehow, he realized with a sinking feeling, he doubted his relationship with Harry would survive.
Dumbledore observed the Slytherin with sad blue eyes. Draco was obviously very deep in thought and he barely mumbled 'thank you' when the Headmaster guided him to the door. Draco walked down the corridor, thinking very hard about everything, unaware of the wizard's scrutiny. He didn't even see Professor Snape as he passed him, and the man detached himself from the shadows and walked back to his dungeon rooms very fast. He, too, had some thinking to do.
**************
Severus Snape paced in his dim classroom, pausing once in a while to check on a bubbling cauldron. His movements were all automatic as he brain slowly turned over facts, examining, wondering, bringing more possibilities to light. But finally he came to the truth, the one conclusion that fit everything. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter were lovers...
**************
The week flew by quickly and soon it was Thursday night. Harry was meeting Draco in their little secret room, finally. The Gryffindor had barely seen Draco all week and he had the distinct feeling that his lover was avoiding him. When Harry saw him was never less affectionate, but Draco seemed worried, and with good reason of course. But Harry couldn't shake his uneasy feeling, and so it was with some trepidation that he crept into the room.
A small fire was lit and Draco was lying on his stomach on the old couch, staring off into space. He obviously hadn't seen the door open, and Harry crept closer, hidden by his Invisibility Cloak. He was going to scare Draco but decided, as the silver-haired boy heaved a despondent sigh, that tonight was not the night. He slipped the Invisibility Cloak off, appearing in front of Draco, causing him to jerk up.
"Sorry," Harry said apologetically. Draco nodded and scooted over, and Harry sat down and curled up next to him, depositing a kiss on his forehead. To his surprise, Draco *clung* to him, pressing his face into Harry's chest and holding onto him like the world was about to end. The panicky feeling in Harry's stomach increased and he rubbed Draco's back soothingly and whispered, "Draco, love, what's wrong?"
Suddenly Draco's mouth was on his, hot and vaguely desperate and Harry kissed back with all he had, hoping, like the Sleeping Beauty, it would somehow heal whatever was tormenting his love. It was long and thorough and the truth was Draco was getting his last taste of Harry and Harry began to suspect that was the case and he pulled away finally, gasping. Draco seemed to gather all his strength about him like a cloak, and he rose and paced the room while Harry watched with suspicious green eyes.
"The conference is tomorrow," he said.
"I know. I'm ready for it." Harry replied.
"I'm going to be there."
"I figured you would be. Don't worry, Dumbledore will be there, everything will be fine."
"I don't think so, Harry."
Harry took off his glasses and rubbed at his head. "Why not?" he asked, trying to ignore the growing fear. Draco's pacing was becoming increasingly agitated.
"I'm probably going to be leaving for a while, Harry. I have a feeling Father is going to need me at home."
"Draco-"
"He knows, Harry." the Slytherin said abruptly, whirling round to face him. "Pansy told him, he *knows*."
Harry gulped. "Are you positive?"
"Dumbledore all but said it."
"Oh God..."
"Listen, I've been thinking about this for a week and, well, Harry, it's just not going to work."
Silence.
Draco continued, not looking at the stunned expression on Harry's face. "We knew it probably wouldn't last this long, anyway."
"No. No you are not doing this. You *said* you wouldn't do this!"
"I have no other choice, Harry!"
"Is this about being gay, the inheritance?- because-"
"Of course it's not about that! Why don't you understand?" he said in despair. "My father doesn't give a flying fuck what sex I prefer but Harry, it's *you*! The fact is," he said, calming himself down. "I'm a Malfoy and you're Harry Potter. It was doomed from the beginning."
"I'm not going to let you do this." Harry said, rising from the couch. "I won't."
Draco drew close to the Gryffindor, picked up his hand and kissed it. "Yes, you will." he said softly, looking directly into Harry's eyes. "You'll do it because I love you and my father will try to use that to get you and I can not let that happen." and he turned away, but not before witnessing the tears that filled Harry's eyes.
He wavered for a moment when Harry whispered his name, "Draco, please..." But then he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and left the room.
TBC
...i bet you hate me, hell, I hate me.. Next chapter will be The Conference, and then one chapter after that, I think. Quick little note, I noticed this and smacked myself over the head... In part 2 Fred and George say they know about Percy and Neville, but in part 9 they don't. so please ignore the discrepancy and pretend F&G never knew, k?
Thank you to:
VenusPrincess (^___^), angelstar, Wendy-moondacer, dragonsong, Angelchick, Daniella, Evil Windstar, MiniMe, Morien Alexander (look for L/P in "FTaT" ^_~), wow, dark vampire (glad you enjoyed!), divisaderorose, Night Spirit, Yaoi Fan on a Sugar High (Gerbils? Sugar mwahaha!), Silver Lightning (Gotta love Percy/Nev), Cat Samwise (Ron is priceless, ne?), Klee (*wails* we gotta talk more! I miiiisss you!), Row, Yenagi-sen, pixy dust, Opal 09 (I have saved you from your cruel fate!), whitebearwrites, androgeny, Moonbyrd (look for other relationships in "Finding Trouble and Truth" which will be completed after MFML), chrisseee667, MistWalker, Sakura-no-Tamashi, Myrtle-Pyrtle, SailorChibi, Rachel Radcliffe (whoa! you reviewed 3 times! Here you go, don't go crazy), Trephinia Cealyn, phoenixtears2460, Dragonlet, Green Eyes, Wyvern's Elucidated Brethren (sorry I took so very long!!! _ kisses!), The Dead of the Dawn of Leo, Aurora, Shante, Belle Malfoy, Blue Moon, Val Mora (haha, a mpreg? I don't think I could quite pull that off), Egyptian Mistress Isis, and chibi-Tenshi
Once again, I am very sorry about the long wait. It won't happen again. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please don't kill me! Review!
~RainShadow