A/N - Sorry for past and (most likely) future ooc-ness. .

Disclaimer- I don't own these characters. Don't sue or else you'll taste my fist.

Aconitum

Chapter 7




Draco paced back and forth in his room.

Three days ago he had been making out with Harry. Three days ago an argument had broken out between Ron and him; followed by a short anger ridden argument with Harry. Harry blamed it entirely on Draco.

Both Gryffindors blaming the Slytherin for what had happened and for once they were wrong. At the time it had just been the kissing they were blaming on each other. They didn't realize what would come of it; who would reap the consequences of one's actions and who they would both end up with a permanent distaste for the other.

Three Days Previous.

(a little bit after Ron's initial appearance)

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING DRACO?!"

Ron was screaming the same things over and over again as if expecting a different answer and was now standing in front of Harry with his arms stretched out wide in an attempt to protect him.

"You know Ron, repeating things over and over again and expecting a different result is known as the act of insanity; something which I'm starting to believe you are."

"I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU WERE-" he broke off and finished with a disgusted face.

"What? Kissing Harry?" Ron's face -if possible- had gotten even more repulsive. "If you really want to know it was Harry's doing; he started it. And before you start yelling again, let it be known that I am standing, what? Not even three feet away from you? There's no need to yell."

"That's disgusting. A guy kissing another guy. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S MY BEST FRIEND AND...AND... YOU!"

"What did I say about yelling, Ronnie? And yes I quite agree that it's disgusting kissing another guy."

"You hypocritical bastard. You were just kissing Harry."

"Yes yes." He dismissed it by waving his hand "Well wouldn't you if there were only teachers like Sprout and McGonagall to look at?"

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The fight had continued on for some time between Draco and Ron. It ended finally when Ron left the room shaking his finger threateningly at Draco saying "You'll pay Draco...oh you'll fucking pay."

Little did he know that what he was about to do would affect Harry as well. But he didn't care - Rom felt as though Harry had betrayed him and in that way he wanted to get revenge on him in the worst and quickest way possible. Ron no longer considered Harry a best friend or a friend at all. An acquaintance is all he was and nothing more.

After Ron had left the room, Draco turned around to face Harry. He was having a hard time figuring out if his face was red with embarrassment or with exasperation.

A fight broke out where Harry tried to blame Draco for the event that took place. It was a small fight where words were said that would not take effect until later that evening.

Draco sighed and fell backwards onto his bed. His body ached all over just remembering the incident. And when he remembered the row between Harry and himself he couldn't help but feel a slight pang of anxiousness in his heart.

He turned over onto his stomach and pulled a pillow closer to put his head on. He closed his eyes and held back non-existent tears. He still couldn't believe what Ron had done - how he hadn't given a shit about his best friend's well being as long as he had gotten revenge on him.

Of course it hadn't been long before the entire community knew about their brief encounter; the owls came in the next day with newspapers and magazines with the top story of 'The Boy Who Lived and Lucius Malfoy's son being gay (real pictures on page 18!)' as well as bearing letters of angry parents saying that they didn't want their children being taught by these alleged homosexuals lest it rub off on them.

After an hour of reading his hate-mail, of which everything consisted of the same thing, same empty threats he brought this up to Dumbledore and it was then that he found out just what Ron's intention had been...

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"I'm sorry Draco." Dumbledore had said in his calm but weary voice "But it's out of my hands."

"What are you talking about?! You're the headmaster of Hogwarts! Isn't there at least something you can do to not see it through?! Or or at the very least lessen it?"

"Draco, Draco, Draco. You of all people know that it is not my decision that counts, but the school boards judgment that actually means something; and unfortunately that's what the people seem to like."

"Can't you make it so that only one of us goes through this? Don't penalize us both for an action only one did."

"Draco, it's not that big a deal; 6 months is all their asking for." Dumbledore looked as though he had said his last words on this subject as his eyes had regained their far away look in them again.

"ALBUS!" Draco still felt a little strange calling his former headmaster by his first name "Who are they going to get to replace us during those 6 months, huh?"

"I have contacts that would be more than happy to take the job offering."

"March! I can't believe that: MARCH! Can't you just make it until December or January?"

"I'm sorry Draco" He said more firmly "There is nothing I can do about this. You'll just have to deal with your suspension."

"And you don't think that they're over-reacting...not even in the slightest?"

"I never said that they were and I never said that they weren't. However, I do believe that they are over-reacting but unfortunately Mr.Malfoy I have no control over what the Ministry plans to do."

"How do you expect that Harry and I get jobs then? No one is going to hire us after all this hype."

Dumbledore had just stared at him over the top of his glasses before Malfoy got what he hadn't said.

"No...no fucking way Dumbledore."

"Here's an application form."

"Dumbledore...no."

"Make sure you give one to Harry and make sure you two are both ready to leave at the end of the week. I wish you both luck."

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His stomach turned over at the very thought of what he was to do for the next 6 months; it wasn't that he minded so much, it was the fact that he knew that no one else would hire him...even for part time. He couldn't believe it. He took the pamphlet off his night table and flipped through it and decided that maybe this wouldn't be too bad of an experience. Hey, it was only for 6 months and he wouldn't be completely alone; Harry had agreed to follow through just so long as Draco did. This made the knot in his stomach loosen just a little as he wouldn't be alone. He threw the pamphlet back onto his table and blew out the candle that resided next to him. Tomorrow would be his and Harry's last day teaching.

Their last day was not as bad as they expected; as usual, hardly anyone showed up, except for four girls in Ravenclaw who seemed to like the idea of the two kissing.

After what seemed like forever, the end of the day came. They would be leaving with the promise of their return in early March.

They hadn't bothered to show up for their last feast; they both knew it would be pointless to sit there while murmurs and lies circle around them and be caught in an inescapable trap of stares every which way they turned.

They were in their rooms, alone, packing silently thinking about what they were to do. Harry - who moved out of the Dursley's house as soon as he was legal, offered Draco to share his flat as Narcissa would never allow Draco to live with him after all this media bullshit. Draco accepted, but told Harry that when he found another place that he would move in there. Harry - though disappointed at Draco's decision, agreed it was for the best if they found separate places to live for the duration of their suspension.

After Draco was finished packing, flopped down onto his bed and closed his eyes. It was at this point that Draco's mind kept going back and re-living the kiss; it was pure bliss. How he wished he had locked that door.

He sat straight up and heard a knocking at his door.

"Draco? The carriage is waiting out front. It's time to go." Harry said softly through the door.

"Ye-yea...I'll be down in a minute; just got to pack a few more things."

"Okay, just be quick about it." and with that he heard Harry's footsteps echoing lightly away from his door until all he heard was the tension in his room.

He wouldn't be able to last 6 months alone with Harry in a flat in London...he just couldn't.

"Hm...maybe Tom has a room that I could rent for a few months." He mused to himself as he grabbed his suitcase, took one last look around and headed out the door.