Disclaimer - I don't own any of these characters. If I did, I'd be rich.
So kick back, grab a butterbeer and enjoy the next installment of Heaven's A Lie.
-Aconitum
Chapter 2
Draco's P.O.V.
I watched the 11 year olds look all around; curious about what Flitwick had set down, they had stood on their tip-toes and craned their neck forwards. Some muttering about it being just a dirty old hat echoed off the walls but instantly stopped when a frayed slit that served as the hat's mouth opened and began to sing:
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I shall tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're safe in hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap!
The entire room bursted with applause when the hat finished. I being one of them; I listened intently to McGonagall when she began calling out the list of names. I was waiting for one that I would recognize as an offspring of past friends. Then it hit me...of course I wouldn't hear any names I would know of. If anyone I knew had kids they would be -at the maximum- six years old. Sighing I leaned back on my chair and kicked Potter underneath the table. He slowly turned his head, forehead slightly furrowed, and looked at me. I looked back at him with an over-innocent stare until he set his attention back on the sorting. It was near the end when I heard a name that I least expected to hear:
"Weasley, Terry!" McGonagall exclaimed loudly.
For the first time in years, my mouth fell open and watched as a platinum-blonde haired, brown eyed, slim Weasley walked up to the stool and had the Sorting Hat placed upon her head. I literally sat on the edge of my seat, thinking that if her appearance was different then maybe her house would be. I noticed Potter did the same.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" screamed the Sorting Hat.
I didn't watch her get off the stool or run down to her respectful table. I just simply looked at Potter and tried to manage my usual smirk. His eyes just followed the little girl all the way to the Hufflepuff table and rested on her once she sat down. I heard him whisper "It can't be Ron's kid...it just can't be." Apparently thinking that only Ron was capable of producing offspring in that family, it was shit like this that made me question his intelligence. I kicked him again, harder than before which made him jump out of his trance and focus on Dumbledore who had just stood up and silenced the Great Hall.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast I would like to say a few words: First: I would like to welcome two new members to our staff." he turned and with his hand gestured to Draco.
"Professor Draco Malfoy, as the new Flying teacher and Quidditch Referee; "
Malfoy stood up at the mention of his name, curtly nodded his head and sat back down. Dumbledore did the same hand gesture to Harry when he introduced him as well
"And Professor Harry Potter as the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher." Harry did the same as Malfoy. "First years should keep in mind that the Dark Forest is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students should remember that as well."
Dumbledore's blue eyes rested on the female version of the Weasley twins at the Ravenclaw table before continuing.
"I remind you that no magic is to be used in between classes in the corridors, due to complaints by the caretaker, Mr.Filch.
In the second week of the term, Quidditch trials will be held. Anyone who is interested in playing for their house teams should contact Professor Malfoy.
With that said, let the feast begin!"
Harry looked around and saw the first years gasp as the food magically appeared. That always brought a smile to his face, no matter how many times it happened. He piled his plate with steak, mashed potatoes and some sausages. Draco feeling not very hungry decided on some soup and filled his goblet up with some pumpkin juice. He spooned some of his soup, brought it to his lips to the scalding hot liquid before dropping his spoon on the table and bringing his hand to his burnt lip.
"Fuck that soup's hot!" He said a little too loudly and caused half of the High Table and several students to look at him. After muttering a sorry, he drank deeply out of his goblet and heard Harry stifle a chortle and say "Smooth move Professor Dipshit". Draco was getting more and more angry at Potter, he smiled sarcastically, grabbed his hair and shoved his face into his potatoes.
"YOU SELF-IMPORTANT LITTLE BASTARD!" Harry screamed after he relished what happened and saw Draco laughing about what he just did. Angry as he was, he took Draco's bowl of hot soup and dropped the contents in his lap. The scalding liquid had an instant effect on the sensitive area of Draco Malfoy.
"YOU ARSEHOLE!" Malfoy screamed as he punched Harry right in the face.
They now had the attention of the entire Hall. Mostly kids who were in first year through sixth year were wondering what happened to cause such a fight between the teachers. Practically all of the seventh year kids (who were in first year when Harry and Draco were in seventh year) knew that Malfoy and Potter never got along therefore they never needed a reason to fight. Just the fact that the other existed during their own life-time was enough of a reason to brawl.
They were now on top of each other, rolling around underneath the table and trying to inflict pain on the other. Draco, who was tired of this, finally decided to put an end to it and kneed Harry in the crotch. Seeing the instant look of pain on his face made him satisfied for a minute until the infamous look of pain on Potter's face was on his. Harry had decided to kick him back to share the pain. Both were back on the floor and individually rolling around. Snape had enough of this and took both of them by the collar and literally dragged them to his office.
Snape was clearly pissed and pacing back and forth while giving each a menacing look.
They both felt like school boys now. Eyes were downcast and both nearly jumped when Snape's loud voice broke the comfort of their silence.
"You two...are not 17 anymore. This type of behavior is no longer tolerated as it once was. What the bloody hell is wrong with you two?! He laughs at you saying the soup is hot and that's a reason to shove his face in his dinner?"
Harry couldn't believe his ears. Snape was actually yelling at Draco.
"And you! Pouring soup in his lap! I told Dumbledore over and over again it was a bad idea to hire both of you. But no does he listen? He thinks something good will come of this. You two...no more fights. The only way I could ever get you to listen was to take points away. Now that I have lost that weapon, I now rely on the fact that maybe since your jobs are on the line that you will behave. For now I suggest you both get a good night's sleep." He shook his head and left.
A week had passed since the dinner fight and Snape had scolded them. Since then it had been a particularly dull week. Classes ran smoothly for both Draco and Harry who seemed to fall silent whenever the other was near in fear of losing their jobs. It was Wednesday that Malfoy had come into the Great Hall inordinately pissed and then forced a smile when he stopped right in front of Potter.
"Potter can I speak with you for a moment....out.side." He said through clenched teeth. It was more of a statement than a request.
Harry finished off the little bit of egg, got up and followed an exasperated Draco.
Harry's P.O.V
"No." Malfoy said quite rigidly.
I blinked "Excuse me?"
"I said no...as in I don't have any feelings for you besides hatred."
He said this as if I knew what the fuck he was talking about.
"I'm sorry I don't understand."
"You think you're funny? Placing this on my night table" he brandished a piece of parchment with red ink in my face "and then denying it the day after?"
"And what is this?" I asked snatching the parchment out of his hands and reading it quickly:
Dearest Draco,
Oh how I've longed to express my love to you. Shadowed by the sunsets dying light, I life a lover's pen to spill my adoration with crimson ink, but the words to express the depth and breadth of my lover are not in sight. I'm assaulted by pangs of the heart and soul, pining endlessly for you. I want only to push back those embattlements that shelter the words and tell you how much I want you. With midnight upon me, I try to reach into my soul, but still nothing comes from my weary pen to express how much I care about you. I could gaze longingly into your beauteous gray eyes. I could dance with you on clouds of silvery white. But still the words rush not to my pen, not a romantic word in sight. Your love is so wonderful and rare; it's bold with a mischievous grin: it's as humble as a lady's maid, and as courageous as a knight. If only I could find the words to make your day bright. The power of your firm kiss can drop me to my knees. We're a portrait of love's perfection for all feasting eyes to see. Still I'm unable to express my amorousness for you, but I'll wait with an anguished heart, in hopes that I've given you a clue. Please let me know if you might just love me too?
I looked up at a fuming Malfoy and I said the only thing that anyone would have said in that situation.
I pretended to cry.
"OH DRACO! I thought you felt the same! I spent hours on that letter! How could you say that you hate me." I forced a few tears and also held back the laughter that was building up inside me. "You don't mean it! You couldn't! All those years of teasing have to mean something!!" I fell to the ground, clutched his robes and inhaled deeply "Even your robes sm- "
"POTTER STOP IT!"
I obeyed and stifled back laughter as I looked at him straight in the eye.
"I know you wrote this letter. I just know it. And pretending that you didn't is just going to get you an ass-kicking. If I receive anymore of these, I'll inform the headmaster."
"First of all, I didn't-."
"Don't you dare say that you didn't write that." he said as he pointed to the letter that was now in my hands.
"Are you saying all this because deep down inside you want it to be from me?" I said slyly.
He didn't answer me, so I just continued to press my luck.
"You say you got it last night? And that leaves a very little time frame for you to wake up, read it and then confront people before me. I mean...you came into the Great Hall late and went directly to me! Whose to say that you didn't write the letter yourself. This could all be planned in your sick little head just to talk to lil ol' me. Draco...I feel so special now."
I turned and walked down the hallway to my classroom. Only 10 minutes remained for breakfast and I had already finished so I figured what's the point? I heard Draco say the beginning of something and then quickly walk off in the direction of the entrance.
I unlocked my door and sat down in my chair re-reading the love letter until when I closed my eyes I could see each loopy red letter. One line was bothering me however:
I want only to push back those embattlements that shelter the words and tell you how much I want you.
'Perhaps you do like him.' He thought unaware of it and then shook himself out of it.
"No...I can't like Malfoy...it's just...not right. I've been with so many girls...." he trailed off.
'Yet you can't sustain any relationship for a long amount of time.'
"Shut up!" He screeched as he held his head.
'Oh yea...you don't look too insane right now.'
Meanwhile, Draco was down in the field setting up the brooms. Like Harry...something about the past conversation was bedeviling him:
"Are you saying all this because deep down inside you want it to be from me?"
"Maybe I do want it to be from him." He absentmindedly said aloud before mentally kicking himself for even thinking about that.
'You're making this situation out to be more than it is you know. He was just teasing...get inside your skin.'
"Damn you Potter...I hate you."
'Or are you trying to convince yourself that?' quipped the little voice inside his head before dissapearing entirely.
"I don't need convincing of a mere fact." He bitterly said to himself.
He looked up just as he had finished setting up the brooms to see the first few students walking out. He sighed, vaguely wondering when he would get around to his drawings that he had been neglecting for the past week.