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The Time of My Life

By Black Rapture

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Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, locations, and other indicia belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.

Title Origin(s): The title The Time of My Life was inspired by the song of the same title featured in the movie Dirty Dancing. The chapter title, It's All Foreplay, was inspired by a quote from the movie Evolution.

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Chapter One – It's All Foreplay

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On the morning of September 1st, Harry Potter could be found sleeping soundly on a cot in the room of his best friend, Ronald Weasley. It was a beautiful morning in Ottery St. Catchpole, one that Harry might have enjoyed more if not for the manner in which he was awoken.

A piercing shriek sounded throughout The Burrow, causing all of its inhabitants to bolt upright in their beds. Harry tripped on his blanket as he hastily got up to make a grab for his wand. He groaned as his the side his face hit the floor.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Ron complained, rubbing his eyes as he sat up in bed. That question was answered when Fred and George burst into the room, not looking as cheerful and carefree as usual.

"You have to hide us!" Fred pleaded.

"She's going to curse us something awful!" George whimpered.

"Who is?" Harry asked. At that very moment, Hermione burst into the room like a Hungarian Horntail on a rampage – which might have scared Ron and Harry a bit more if her hair hadn't been bright green.

"Um, Hermione." Ron managed while trying not to laugh, "D'you know your hair's green?"

"Yes, Ronald Weasley, I know perfectly well that my hair is green," she shouted.

"Hermione." Harry began, "Why is your hair green?"

"My hair is green, Harry, because Fred and George decided to make it such this morning." Hermione replied.

"Now, let's not do anything rash." George cautioned.

"Yes, we should all just work this out in a mature fashion." Fred agreed.

"A mature fashion? A mature fashion?" Hermione screamed, "Please explain to me how turning my hair green in the first place is mature!"

"Well, you see, we were working on a new product and…" Fred trailed off, wide-eyed stare fixed on the doorway. In it stood Molly Weasley, in a floral bathrobe, looking less than pleasant.

"Fred, George," she said in a deathly calm voice, "You will please wait for me in the kitchen." They just nodded and walked past her. Taking out her wand, Mrs. Weasley whispered a few words and Hermione's hair returned to its natural color.

"Everyone please make sure that your trunks are packed," she said before turning and exiting the room. Ron snorted.

"They're in for it," he announced gleefully. Hermione just rolled her eyes before walking back across the hall, shutting the door behind her.

--

After a quiet breakfast, mostly because Fred and George were strangely subdued, the house emptied into several cars provided by the Ministry of Magic and began the journey to King's Cross Station.

When they arrived, several members of the Order of the Phoenix were waiting to bid them farewell. Remus Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, and Nymphadora Tonks joined the Weasleys in waving goodbye to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as the Hogwarts Express sped out of sight.

"Well, we've got to be getting to the front." Hermione said apologetically, "Prefects and all that." Harry smiled.

"I'll see you at the feast," he replied as Hermione and Ron exited the compartment. Harry and Ginny sat in companionable silence until Luna Lovegood popped her head in.

"Would you like to come sit with Neville and I?" she asked. Ginny moved to get up, glancing back at Harry.

"No, you go on." Harry declined. Ginny and Luna said goodbye before disappearing back down the corridor. Harry leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, settling in for a good, long thinking session.

His peace was short-lived, as Draco Malfoy opened the compartment door to glare down at him. Harry sighed and closed his eyes again, hoping that he would just go away if he didn't acknowledge his presence.

"You really shouldn't be sitting all alone, Potter." Malfoy drawled, "Anyone could come in and damage the precious Gryffindor Golden Boy."

"And you shouldn't wander around without your bodyguards, Malfoy." Harry shot back, "Someone might come along and transfigure you back into a ferret." Malfoy's eyes narrowed.

"Did you hear about that convict, Sirius Black, being murdered over the summer?" Malfoy smirked. Harry jaw hardened.

"Did you hear about those Death Eaters getting put in Azkaban over the summer?" Harry asked, "Oh wait – one of them was your father, wasn't it?"

"You shut up about my father." Malfoy snapped.

"Did I actually hit a nerve?" Harry continued, "I'm terribly sorry that your father was such a big fan of kissing the Dark Lord's arse."

"Shut up." Malfoy shouted, drawing his wand.

"What are you gonna do, ferret?" Harry teased, "Hex the Boy-Who-Lived? I think your family has gotten enough bad publicity, don't you?"

"I'm going to kill you, Potter." Malfoy warned.

"Oh, really." Harry laughed hollowly, "And just when and how are you planning to do that?"

"Tonight." Malfoy responded, "A duel." Harry rolled his eyes.

"I could whip you six ways to Sunday. Name the place." Harry challenged.

"The Astronomy Tower – midnight." Malfoy's voice was ice.

"I'll be there." Harry promised, "You done?" Malfoy sneered at him before slamming the door to the compartment shut. Harry sat in silence for several minutes.

"What the fuck have I just gotten myself into?"

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"Checkmate." Ron announced, watching his knight beat Harry's king into pieces.

"Like we all didn't see that coming." Dean said, "It's not like anybody's ever beat you."

"True." Ron agreed, "But where would the fun be if they did?"

"No need to be full of yourself." Seamus commented from the couch. The boys laughed as Harry got up and yawned.

"I think I'm going to head on up to bed." Harry said.

"But it's barely midnight!" Ron informed him.

"Yeah, but I'm beat." Harry lied.

"See you in the morning then, mate." Ron replied.

"'Night Harry." Hermione said from her armchair.

"Goodnight." He responded before heading up to his room.

Once there, Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map before sneaking quietly down to the common room again. Everyone was so occupied that no one noticed the portrait hole opening and closing on it's own.

--

When Harry reached the Astronomy Tower, Malfoy was already there. Harry watched him for a moment before clearing his throat. He turned from the window, looking down at Harry with disgust.

"The feeling is mutual." Harry said.

"Let's just do this, Potter. I have places to be." Malfoy snarled.

"I don't know, Malfoy." Harry replied, "Why don't we do this without wands?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Malfoy snapped impatiently. Harry tossed his wand aside.

"I mean, a fist fight." Harry suggested, "I'd get greater satisfaction out of punching your ugly face than any damage magic could do." Malfoy hesitated for a moment before throwing his wand to the ground as well.

"Fine." Malfoy shrugged.

"Fine." Harry agreed, walking closer to him, fists raised. Malfoy did the same. Harry threw his fist at Malfoy's face, but he unexpectedly ducked and kicked Harry's legs out from under him. As Malfoy stood again and moved to kick Harry in the stomach, he rolled out of the way and jumped up again.

Harry punched Malfoy in the shoulder, causing him to turn and fall front-first onto the floor. As he pushed himself up, Harry delivered a kick to his back, sending him down again. Grabbing his arm and flipping him over, Harry moving to punch Malfoy in the face, but Malfoy caught his fist and planted his foot on Harry's chest, pushing him back across the room.

As Harry stood up, he couldn't help but think about how much he was enjoying this. He'd wanted to punch Draco Malfoy since the first day he met him. The adrenaline rush was amazing – Harry couldn't think of a time when he'd felt more alive than he did right now. He just wanted to break Malfoy's pale, aristocratic face.

Malfoy was having similar feelings as he got up and stalked towards Harry. Suddenly, they heard footsteps sounding in the hallway. They looked at each other and retreated to shadowed corners of the room until they died away. Emerging, the boys just looked at each other.

"This isn't over, Potter." Malfoy announced.

"Damn right it isn't." Harry agreed, "We're finishing this tomorrow."

"Here, midnight." Malfoy stated. Harry nodded as Malfoy left the Astronomy Tower.

As Harry walked back to Gryffindor Tower, he realized how out-of-breath he was from the fight. His skin was on fire and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. Harry took a few deep breaths and started walking again; attributing it all to how much Malfoy pissed him off.

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Draco descended the steps into the dungeon, wondering why he felt so unsatisfied. He supposed it was because he didn't get to beat Potter to a bloody pulp. But he would have a few nasty bruises the next day, so that would appease Draco until he got to finish the job the following night.

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