Ways of the Friendship Potion

By: Ashie

Chapter Seven: Misunderstandings and Hollow Endings

Harry was requested to visit Dumbledore later that day. They discussed what had happened with Ron, although Dumbledore refused to say whether Ron was lying or not. He said that it was up to Harry to find out. Dumbledore told Harry that he was impressed at Harry's magical abilities, but advised him to only use wandless magic if necessary. Harry insisted that he had used his magic on accident, but Dumbledore just smiled at him.

Harry and Draco's relationship had blossomed to something no one had ever predicted. The two were virtually inseparable. They walked down the hall together, hand-in-hand. They'd sit together in the classes they shared. They'd fall asleep talking to each other through the mirrors late at night. A few times they had fallen asleep in empty classrooms, where they'd go be together.

If the school's occupants had been shocked to see the two rivals become friends, it was nothing compared to their surprise at them becoming lovers. Almost every girl, and a good amount of boys, was disappointed at the two most attractive boys in Hogwarts no longer being on the market. But after their initial disappointment faded, they began to obsess over the couple as if they were a muggle soap opera.

Harry and Ron had not talked since the argument in the hall, but Harry wasn't lonely with Draco, Hermione, and even Blaise's company. Blaise still fawned over Harry, her attraction to him all but unobvious. Draco just glared at her every time she began flirting with Harry, but she paid no attention. It wasn't until Draco pulled her aside and threatened her did she stop flirting with Harry, even though it lasted only a few days.

The happy couple walked with Hermione and Blaise to Potion's class on January 21st. Neither set of best friends knew that it was exactly two months after they had taken the Gregory's Unctuous Unction. They didn't know that their true feeling for each other would resurface in less than an hour's time.

Harry and Draco took their usual seats at the front of the class, with Hermione and Blaise right behind them. Ron was at the back of the room, all too aware of what was going to be happening that class hour. The bell sounded and Snape stood from his desk.

"Today's class will be a continuation of a potion some of you took exactly two months ago." Snape said, his face pulled into a deep grimace and his black eyes sweeping over some of the students. Harry and Draco casted each other looks of confusion. It took Harry a few moments to come to the conclusion of what potion Snape was talking about. He realized that Ron had possibly been telling the truth. Harry paled and hurriedly grabbed Draco's hand from under the table. Draco looked over at Harry, sending worried glances at Harry's sudden distress.

Harry leaned into Draco and whispered, "Promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what potion we took, that you'll remember all of our good times, okay? Promise that you'll remember how much I care for you, and that the potion meant nothing." Harry squeezed Draco's hand.

"Harry, I don't understand."

"Just promise." Harry felt dangerously close to tears. Draco slightly lowered his head, and kissed the back of Harry's hand.

"I promise." Draco gave him a reassuring smile and replaced his attention on Snape, still clutching Harry's hand.

"While only those who didn't take the potion are aware of its existence, those that did will soon be aware of it. I paired the class with a member of the opposite house, and they brewed the potion together. Those that didn't make the potion correctly were given two months of detentions, and were told not to tell those that had taken the potion what had gone on. Those that took the potion are-" Snape said each set of partners, and Harry wasn't surprised when he heard his and Draco's name called out.

Upon hearing their names, Draco turned to Harry, seeming to have finally caught onto something.

"Ron told you about the potion, didn't he? And that's why you two have been arguing?" Draco shot a look at Ron, who was staring at his lap, his ears red. Harry nodded.

"Yes, he told me."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Draco seemed upset and dropped Harry's hand. Harry's eyes pleaded for forgiveness.

"Please don't be mad at me. You'll understand why I didn't tell you soon enough."

Snape cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, and the whispers died down instantly.

"The potion many of you brewed is called the Gregory's Unctuous Unction. I will not tell you it's effects, those that took it will reclaim their memories of it soon enough."

"Now, if I called your name, please bring your things and come with me." Harry and Draco picked up their bags, and walked to the front of the room, followed by Hermione, Blaise, and about a third of the class.

Snape led them out of the room, and down the hall. He stopped in front of an empty classroom. He pulled out his wand and muttered, "Alohamora." The door unlocked and opened.

They all walked into the center of the room, which was empty except for some desks stacked against the wall to their left. Snape conjured enough chairs to seat them all.

"Your memories will come back to you in roughly ten minutes, depending on the order of who took the potion first. I believe the first group was you two," he pointed to two girls that had been paired up. "Now, under no circumstances are you to share with the rest of the partners what the potion did. I do not want anyone to know until your memories resurface. Understood?" Snape glared around at the group. Upon hearing no objections, he walked to the door.

Just as he was about to leave, he turned and said, "After your memories are returned, you are free to spend the rest of the day as you wish. The Headmaster has excused you from classes." Snape walked out and closed the door behind him.

Draco turned to Harry and grabbed hold of his hand. He led Harry over to a pair of chairs, and they moved them into a corner, followed by Hermione and Blaise.

The four teens sat in a circle, a bit nervous about what was happening. Harry was most definitely the worst of them all, he was very pale and seemed to be shaking.

"Harry, tell us what the potion did." Draco said quietly, and though it wasn't a question, his voice was slightly pleading. Harry just closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I can't."

"Is it really bad, Harry?" Hermione asked, fidgeting with the hem of her robe. Harry sighed.

"I'm not sure."

"You do know what it is, don't you?"

"Yes, but I don't have my memories. I just know what it did. I have no memories of before its effects." Harry frowned. "It's hard to explain. You'll find out soon enough." Harry ran a shaking hand through his hair.

Draco slightly pulled Harry to him, making a gesture for him to sit on his lap. Harry stood from his chair and sat on Draco, straddling him. Harry leaned his head on Draco's shoulder, and they wrapped their arms around each other's backs. Draco pulled Harry as close to him as possible, trying to calm Harry down.

The room eventually became silent, until two gasps echoed at the same time. The girls that had taken the potion first were sitting across from each other, their eyes misted over and shock written on their faces. After another minute or so, they both seemed to come to their senses.

One of the girls, the Slytherin, glared at the Gryffindor, and hastily walked out of the room. The girl called to her friend, but the Slytherin didn't even glance back. The Gryffindor girl put her head in her hands.

The rest of the room was full of whispers, and what had happened confirmed Harry's fears.

Ron had been telling the truth.

Harry pulled Draco's face into a long and passionate kiss. Draco seemed stunned of Harry's sudden desire at first, but then willingly deepened the kiss. Harry's tongue squirmed frantically in Draco's mouth, almost in desperation. Draco was keen to Harry's need and did the same. Their hands were in each other's hair, and roaming under their robes and over their shirts, trying to feel each other as much as possible. The two were at it for a good few minutes, only slightly aware that more pairs of students' memories were coming back to them.

The eventually pulled their faces apart, both of their lips slightly swollen and red. Draco grinned at Harry.

"What was that for?"

"For what's about to happen, incase things don't go the way I hope."

Suddenly they became aware of Hermione and Blaise's surprised gasps. They both stared at each other in a slightly calculating looks. After a few minutes Blaise stood.

"Hermione, I'm sorry but I-"

"It's okay, Blaise." Hermione gave her a small smile. "I know."

Blaise looked down at Hermione, nodded once, and walked out of the room. Hermione watched her leave sadly, tears swimming in her brown eyes.

"Hermione, I'm sorry." Harry whispered to her. Hermione nodded, and seemed startled at Harry and Draco's closeness, as if noticing their position for the first time.

"So am I, Harry." Hermione stood up from her chair, and walked over to them both. She cast Draco a slightly worried glance. "Stay strong, okay Harry?" She bent down and hugged the both of them. "And you," she said, pointing to Draco. "Better not hurt him. I know some nice hexes of my own." With that, she left the room.

Harry placed his head back on Draco's shoulder, breathing in Draco's scent, not knowing if he'd ever be this close to him ever again. Harry sat back up, and stood into Draco's face, memorizing every feature.

"Harry…" Draco whispered uncertainly. Harry just placed a finger on his lips.

Then, Harry's memories came flooding back to him. Every memory he had of Draco returned to him, obstructing every other thought. It lasted for a few minutes, and then suddenly it ended. He was left staring into the dark gray eyes of his rival.

Draco had a look of complete horror on his pale, pointed face. His eyes quickly searched Harry's, and then came to rest on his lap. He weakly shoved Harry off him, arms shaking. Harry stood up hurriedly, ashamed of his position and Draco's lap.

Suddenly, as though a light switch had been flicked on in Draco's head, his horror was instantly replaced with fury. His eyes narrowed to slits, and glared at Harry with malice.

"You…you…bastard," Draco hissed, his hands balling into fists. "You knew, this entire time…what we were. What we had been forced to become!"

"Draco," Harry started, knowing this was going worse than he had imagined.

"Don't call me that, Potter."

Harry swallowed at the use of his surname. "Look, our friendship is true, Draco. The potion just started it for us."

"No," Draco growled. "It was all a lie. You were lying to me the entire time. Making a fool out of me! Making me think that I liked you, actually liked you. That I enjoyed being in your company, when you knew that we hated each other!"

"No, Draco, no!" Harry said hurriedly. "I don't hate you! You are so important to me, don't be this way."

"Well, you know what, Potter?" Draco asked, standing up from his chair. "I still hate you, even more than before." Draco shook his head angrily. "I don't even know who I am anymore, because of you. You messed my entire being up; I was perfect. Perfect! You changed me to fit your needs. You changed who I was, who I am. I will never forgive you for that." Draco turned and walked out of the door.

After a few stunned moments, Harry ran after him.

"Draco!" Harry called down the hall, but the Slytherin just kept walking. Harry ran in front of him and stopped him in his tracks.

"Draco, I love you." Harry said, his eyes full of tears and body wracked with sobs that were trying to surface. Draco looked at Harry, seemingly disgusted. Then, he slapped Harry across the face.

"Don't you ever, ever say that to me again. I don't want to hear your voice for the rest of my life." Draco cast a hard look at Harry and stalked off.

Tears fell from Harry's emerald eyes, and he sunk to his knees in the middle of the hall, all feelings gone from his mind. He was empty inside.

A.N. All of those who hate me raise their hands. :Raises her own hand into the air.: Yep I'm evil, it's official. I hated writing this chapter…it's too depressing…. And by the way, I have chapter eight written, I'm just making a few touch-ups and adding a scene or two. So, the faster I get at least ten reviews, the faster the next chapter comes out. Thanks!