First off, I'm seriously annoyed that this Author crap at the beginning
doesn't stay spaced the way it's supposed to.
Title: Salamander Scales Chapter 6: Truce!
Author: Yama Strife
Rating: PG-13 for swearing and.well, that's it, but I may as well up the
rating in preparation for later chapters.
Disclaimer: My name isn't J.K. Rowling, therefore, they aren't mine
Summary: A truce and an awkward friendship begins between our protagonists.
Notes: Your comments are so kind. Thank you so much ::smiles:: Draco is very OOC, but we need that or they'd never be friends (stubborn Draco). This is Slash. Eventual Harry/Draco. Don't like? Don't read. Flames are welcome, gives me a chance to laugh at your stupidity. You have been warned. There is some pretty blatant pre-slash in this chapter and Harry's in a towel. Fun for all ages. Enjoy!
Salamander Scales, Part 6 ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Dumbledore thought it would be best if he stayed in the room with Harry and Draco for a few minutes. He was worried for Draco's well being after the explosion that was The-Boy-Who-Was-Angry's temper.
As much as Dumbledore loved his soap operas, he didn't think that Hogwarts was suited as such. (Though the school did a good job imitating them at times). He didn't want a murder taking place, in any case, and he knew that if blood were to soak into the hardwood floors, it would be almost impossible to remove. Even with his magical skills. (Not that he knew first hand or anything.). Instead he conjured up a tea tray and urged Harry and Draco to sit. Both with a hefty dose of Bota Brand calming powder. (There was enough to calm a stampede of elephants in Harry's cup).
After they drank the tea down with some hot buttered biscuits, Harry was indeed, calmed down. Dumbledore, seeing his job was done for the moment, stood up to leave the room. He had work of his own that needed to be done, and he figured it was now safe enough to leave the boys to their own devices.
Both Harry and Malfoy, feeling slightly cooled off -Draco no more fearing for his life- were siting quietly in front of the fire, in an only slightly uncomfortable silence.
Harry ran a fingernail across the arm of his chair, watching the colour change slightly as the fibres shifted, from a grey-black, to a deeper, dull shade of black. As he ran his finger back across, to flatten it again, he discovered it went back to its original colour, much like any other furniture of this plush material. But it was fair to say Harry hadn't experienced a wide variety of coverings in his short life. His couch at Privet Drive was yellowish plaid, and very itchy, and the chairs in the common room were so old, it was hard to tell if there was even a cover on them at all anymore.
He was writing his name, almost mindlessly, caught up in thoughts he wasn't even aware he was thinking when Draco spoke to him.
"What do you propose we do now, Scar-head? Now that we know why I'm confined to this God-forsaken place." He raised his chin haughtily as he said this, as if in challenge.
Harry didn't look up. He continued to focus on the "H-A-R" he was writing on the couch, and he was intent on finishing it. Apparently his calming draught was working-maybe a little too well. "I refuse to talk to you until you're at least civil. It's the very least you owe me." He looked at Malfoy for just a moment before going back to his mindless creation on the arm of the couch.
Draco smirked disdainfully at this, and he said, obviously amused to some degree, "Talk nicely to you Potter? And upset the cosmic balance we've all become used to? Not likely. I'm afraid Malfoys don't speak nicely to Potters, or anyone beneath them, for that matter. His expression changed to one of superiority, and slight disgust at the idea of being nice. "I don't owe you anything, Mop-boy. Do get over yourself." Harry sighed and shook his head. He was not looking forward to two weeks, or possibly more, of this. He couldn't stand it, but he was just too tired to retaliate. "You'll never change, will you? It's a pity."
Draco simply shrugged and shot Harry his patented snobby Malfoy smirk. "Why mess with perfection, I daresay."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"I'm being serious Malfoy. If we're going to be stuck in this room-" he waved his arm around, possibly so that Draco knew exactly which room he was talking about, "-for two weeks, at least, don't you at least think you could try to be courteous?"
He looked Malfoy right in his pale eyes and saw, once again; those impenetrable walls build up.
Draco turned away from the gaze, feeling rather uncomfortable with Harry's eyes boring into his own. He could usually out-stare anyone, but there was something about Saint Potter that unnerved him. "That sounds so one sided Potter. I should be civilized? I'm a perfect gentleman, at least to the people who matter." He shot Harry a contemptuous glare. "You on the other hand, running about the school, shouting savagely, having little adventures." He looked at Harry's robe. "And dressing like some sort of Neanderthal." He made a little sound of disgust in the back of his throat.
Harry threw up his hands in defeat. Malfoy was a hopeless cause. "This is exactly what I was talking about!" He shouted. "At least I'm willing to try!"
Draco gave him a look that made him retract his previous statement. "Don't get me wrong. I don't want to be your friend, I just want a temporary truce," Harry made clear.
Draco said something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Who wouldn't want to be my friend, I ask you." He looked up, and with a sneer firmly in place, he said, "Why should I?"
Harry grinned wickedly, a sight rarely seen. "To save your own arse from getting kicked. It's the least you deserve for what you did."
Draco snorted at the utter foolishness of this announcement. Image, Potter thinking he could beat up Draco Malfoy. He crossed his arms and sitting up as tall as he could, he looked down at Harry in the most intimidating way he could muster.
But.on the other hand, Malfoys were always looking for a challenge, and he thought that being buddy-buddy with the scar head could have its advantages. Draco's cunning mind started working in overdrive, but he was brought out of his thoughts by Harry.
"So, what do you say? Temporary truce?" He reached his hand across the gap between them so Draco could shake.
Malfoy shrugged, trying to look nonchalant about the whole thing. "Why not? Though, don't expect me to touch you again, after this handshake. I don't know where you've been after all." He smirked and reluctantly took Harry's hand.
They shook and the blond boy said, "And my first act as a 'member' of this truce will be to inform you to shower as soon as possible. I'm sure it's safe to use the bathroom now."
Harry snatched his hand away from Draco's and glared. "This is going to take some work," he said, as he headed out toward the Prefect's bathroom. (Harry had discovered this new door earlier that morning, and had seen that it led directly to the prefect's bathroom, conveniently enough.
"I couldn't agree more," said Draco, as Harry made his way out of the room. ``````````````````````````````````````
While Harry was out in the shower, Draco had moved back to his bed. He was lying about, reprimanding himself for his quick decision. What good could possibly come from Draco befriending Potter when there wasn't anything or anyone around. It was just the two of them in a room; he couldn't use Potter for anything here. What good could Harry do for him in a room for two weeks? Besides things like gossip and whatnot. But Draco considered himself above such nonsense anyway.
He sighed and moved from his stomach to his back. He was hungry, and lying on his stomach was just giving him cramps. Draco damned himself for not thinking this through more thoroughly. He folded his arms behind his head and bent his knees toward his chest. He couldn't think of one single advantage to this stupid truce now. Potter used to be a slight source of amusement. He was never as quick as his fair-haired counterpart, and Draco had lost that. Now he had to be - he shuddered- nice to Harry Potter.
A sudden knock at the door shook Draco from his thoughts and he sat up. Who in the world could that have been? He sat up and padded toward the door to open it, fearing it could be Dumbledore, back for more. He paused and realized that Dumbledore could just walk in, as he had set the password.
"Drrraaaaakey." A girl's voice came from behind the door, carrying a tone that could be labeled as 'insufferably whiney'.
Draco stopped dead in his tracks, as though a step further could make him susceptible to some serious harm -understandably, it probably could- and the voice came yet again; if possible, sounding more coddling and annoyingly babyish that the last time. "Drakey dear, open up. It's Pansy!"
Draco looked around the room in desperation, hoping for anything to give him inspiration to get rid of the pug-faced blight on his life. How could a person not realize how annoying they were? If it were anyone, he'd just tell them to get lost and be done with it. This was a special case. The Parkinsons were good friends of the Malfoys, and if his Father got word Draco had been rude to Pansy, there would be hell to pay.
"Erm- hold on Parkinson. I'll be there in a moment." He gulped; he was, for once, at a loss for what to do.
Then Harry walked back in. In a towel, no less. Draco was temporarily stunned, to see Harry walk in still soaking wet. Water droplets were forming at the tips of his hair, which had curled slightly from the humidity of the shower. His body was lightly muscled, and he retained the slight build that made him such a successful seeker. Draco was witnessing what no less than one million screaming girls (and in some case, boys) would kill to see.
Pansy's screeching interrupted Draco's train of thought once again. "Are you okay, Drakey? Are you hurt? Did that filthy Potter do something to you?"
A thought hit him suddenly. It would scar him severely for life, but it might just rid him of Pansy for a week or so. It had to be done.
He ran across the room and yanked open the door as fast as one could yank a 200 pound door, and was greeted by a girl with a visage resembling a flat- faced pug latching onto his arm.
"Ooh, Drakey I'm glad you're okay. I've missed you and-"
She stopped suddenly when she noticed Harry in the towel looking confused and blushing slightly, now that everyone's attention was focused on him. Pansy glowered, and looked from Harry to Draco and said, the sugar gone from her voice, "What's going on Draco?"
Draco thought it was obvious that Harry had just gotten out of the shower, but Pansy wasn't known for her brains. But, instead of saying this, he frowned slightly, (being an accomplished thespian) and said, "Pansy, you'd better let go of my arm, I've got something important to tell you." He tried his best to look thoroughly upset when she detached herself reluctantly. "Stay here a moment." Draco walked back across the room and grabbed Harry's hand. He hissed, "Help me by just staying quiet," in Harry's ear and dragged Harry back over to Pansy. Draco almost smiled as he thought that he'd have to get someone to surgically remove Pansy's chin from the floor. The sight of Draco leading Harry around by the hand would shock anyone, he figured.
When they reached her, he didn't let go either. "You see Pansy, and don't tell anyone this, but I trust you completely." He gave her his most winning smile, and saw her practically swoon. He tapped the side of his nose with his free hand. "I'm sure you've heard rumors about Potter here being sick, eh?"
Pansy nodded.
"Well, you see, none of them are exactly true. Dumbledore is making up those stories to save Potter's skin here."
Pansy scowled.
"Potter really ingested a love potion, and the object of his affection is, as you may have guessed, me." He leaned over to whisper, "that's why you had to let go of me, he gets really jealous."
Harry heard this and blushed slightly. His eyes widened almost comically after being told that Draco was the object of his affection, but he stayed quiet. He desperately wanted to get out of there and put on some clothes, he thought his towel was slipping, but Draco held his hand fast.
"And you see Pansy, when Harry here gets jealous, he gets violent. You know how Potter is," he continued. "And so I don't want to put your health in danger."
"So why do you have to stay here Draco?" Pansy asked quietly, not wanting to enrage a possibly insane Potter.
"Well," Draco waved a dismissive hand. "You know how Dumbledore is. He didn't want his Golden-boy to have to live without his darling dear; Me. So I'm stuck here."
"Why can't you just leave?" she asked in a low voice.
Draco pulled his face into an angry expression. "They said I'd be expelled if I didn't. Dumbledore is such a menace, he ought to be kicked out."
Harry made a sound of protest, but Draco quickly covered. He patted Harry's hand, and said in a falsely intimidated voice, "It's okay, she'll leave soon Harry, don't get angry."
Harry glowered and Pansy looked terrified. Draco leaned over to whisper again. "So for your own health Pansy, I'd recommend staying away from here for a little while. And please, keep this a secret, and go along with whatever Dumbledore is saying. If they found out I'd told you the truth, they might expel me." He let out a huge sigh, as though this could be a fate worse than death.
Pansy made to pat him on the shoulder, or hug him, but seeing Harry standing right there, and not wanting to get savagely beaten, she nodded weakly instead. "Of course I won't tell Drakey, you have my word." She whispered in an undertone, "Poor Drakey, leave it to a disgusting Half- blood to pull something like that."
Draco gave her that knee-weakening smile again, and she turned on her heel and stalked off.
When she got out of sight Malfoy laughed out loud. A real laugh, Harry had never heard it before. It was rich and friendly sounding, and he was surprised Draco could sound like anything close to friendly. "Oh, the stupid girl actual fell for that. You're a lifesaver Potter. Even though you didn't do anything."
Harry-still red- said, "That's nice, now can I have my hand back before I lose my towel?"
But before his request was granted, Ron and Hermione appeared at the door, having the same idea as Pansy and wanting to visit their friend. Though in this case, it was Harry. But nothing could prepare them for what they saw.
Harry, dripping wet and in a towel, blushing madly and holding hands with a happy looking, laughing Malfoy.
Ron said nothing. He stood there, spluttering and looking for words that wouldn't come, Hermione's tongue, on the other hand worked fine.
"What's going on?"
Malfoy dropped Harry's hand as though it were on fire, and the both of them snapped their heads to see the two standing there, shock and possibly disgust, in Ron's case, written on their faces.
"Er- it's not what it looks like 'Mione," Harry supplied weakly, his face darkening three shades.
Hermione crossed her arms and awaited an explanation.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH CLIFFHANGER! I'm so sorry you guys, but that's all I have time to write. Next chapter in another week or two! (Sorry about the extreme OOC-ness in Draco. He was too nice I think).
Review Responses:
Brenna8: first off, you're so awesome, you've reviewed like, every chapter so far. That's so great ::gives you a cookie:: ya the flicking was silly, but I had to add it, it made me giggle.
onlyHAUNTED: ::giant hugs:: you are so KYUTE!! I giggle every time I read that. I'm glad you're having fun reading, cause I'm having fun writing! I agree, school is seriously bogus. ::Kicks the school system::
PadfootsNoxed: I'm glad you like! I'm whipping these out as fast as I can. Sorry about the cliffhanger!
Shelli: I'm glad you think they're in character. I think they slip sometimes, but I do the best I can. Dumbledore is so fun to write, always going off on a tangent, and being so old-man cute. lol
Emeline: Teehee. I'm glad you think it's GREAT!! ^^ and I will continue, I wouldn't just stop writing the fic to torture you. That'd be mean! Heehee
ddz008: I'm glad you like the arguments. I see Draco as really sarcastic and witty, which will make conversations pretty funny. I hope you think it's feasible, the way I made them become friends :D
Fire Stone: lol the head flicking thing was really funny in my head. I hope you didn't think it was too corny. I'm sorry, I know the slash is taking forever, but I want it to be a believable story, and so I have to build up their relationship gradually. There will be lots of slash in the future, promise! (and Draco may run away to get things out of Harry he wants.he's devious he is.)
lemonaddict: I'm glad you liked it! That's a huge compliment coming from you, since I am one of your biggest fans! ^^
Assassin: I'm glad you liked the idea. I hope it wasn't too out of character! Bye!
melinda: heehee, I like your enthusiasm. I'm getting them out as fast as I can. I just don't want to write them too quickly and substitute quality for speed. Hope you don't mind ^^
wizardingwitch: haha ::gives you a cookie too:: I'm glad you not only like it, but you "love" it?? Heehee I hope you can wait another week or two for the next installment.
More reviews are always appreciated. ::points to the review button::
Notes: Your comments are so kind. Thank you so much ::smiles:: Draco is very OOC, but we need that or they'd never be friends (stubborn Draco). This is Slash. Eventual Harry/Draco. Don't like? Don't read. Flames are welcome, gives me a chance to laugh at your stupidity. You have been warned. There is some pretty blatant pre-slash in this chapter and Harry's in a towel. Fun for all ages. Enjoy!
Salamander Scales, Part 6 ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Dumbledore thought it would be best if he stayed in the room with Harry and Draco for a few minutes. He was worried for Draco's well being after the explosion that was The-Boy-Who-Was-Angry's temper.
As much as Dumbledore loved his soap operas, he didn't think that Hogwarts was suited as such. (Though the school did a good job imitating them at times). He didn't want a murder taking place, in any case, and he knew that if blood were to soak into the hardwood floors, it would be almost impossible to remove. Even with his magical skills. (Not that he knew first hand or anything.). Instead he conjured up a tea tray and urged Harry and Draco to sit. Both with a hefty dose of Bota Brand calming powder. (There was enough to calm a stampede of elephants in Harry's cup).
After they drank the tea down with some hot buttered biscuits, Harry was indeed, calmed down. Dumbledore, seeing his job was done for the moment, stood up to leave the room. He had work of his own that needed to be done, and he figured it was now safe enough to leave the boys to their own devices.
Both Harry and Malfoy, feeling slightly cooled off -Draco no more fearing for his life- were siting quietly in front of the fire, in an only slightly uncomfortable silence.
Harry ran a fingernail across the arm of his chair, watching the colour change slightly as the fibres shifted, from a grey-black, to a deeper, dull shade of black. As he ran his finger back across, to flatten it again, he discovered it went back to its original colour, much like any other furniture of this plush material. But it was fair to say Harry hadn't experienced a wide variety of coverings in his short life. His couch at Privet Drive was yellowish plaid, and very itchy, and the chairs in the common room were so old, it was hard to tell if there was even a cover on them at all anymore.
He was writing his name, almost mindlessly, caught up in thoughts he wasn't even aware he was thinking when Draco spoke to him.
"What do you propose we do now, Scar-head? Now that we know why I'm confined to this God-forsaken place." He raised his chin haughtily as he said this, as if in challenge.
Harry didn't look up. He continued to focus on the "H-A-R" he was writing on the couch, and he was intent on finishing it. Apparently his calming draught was working-maybe a little too well. "I refuse to talk to you until you're at least civil. It's the very least you owe me." He looked at Malfoy for just a moment before going back to his mindless creation on the arm of the couch.
Draco smirked disdainfully at this, and he said, obviously amused to some degree, "Talk nicely to you Potter? And upset the cosmic balance we've all become used to? Not likely. I'm afraid Malfoys don't speak nicely to Potters, or anyone beneath them, for that matter. His expression changed to one of superiority, and slight disgust at the idea of being nice. "I don't owe you anything, Mop-boy. Do get over yourself." Harry sighed and shook his head. He was not looking forward to two weeks, or possibly more, of this. He couldn't stand it, but he was just too tired to retaliate. "You'll never change, will you? It's a pity."
Draco simply shrugged and shot Harry his patented snobby Malfoy smirk. "Why mess with perfection, I daresay."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"I'm being serious Malfoy. If we're going to be stuck in this room-" he waved his arm around, possibly so that Draco knew exactly which room he was talking about, "-for two weeks, at least, don't you at least think you could try to be courteous?"
He looked Malfoy right in his pale eyes and saw, once again; those impenetrable walls build up.
Draco turned away from the gaze, feeling rather uncomfortable with Harry's eyes boring into his own. He could usually out-stare anyone, but there was something about Saint Potter that unnerved him. "That sounds so one sided Potter. I should be civilized? I'm a perfect gentleman, at least to the people who matter." He shot Harry a contemptuous glare. "You on the other hand, running about the school, shouting savagely, having little adventures." He looked at Harry's robe. "And dressing like some sort of Neanderthal." He made a little sound of disgust in the back of his throat.
Harry threw up his hands in defeat. Malfoy was a hopeless cause. "This is exactly what I was talking about!" He shouted. "At least I'm willing to try!"
Draco gave him a look that made him retract his previous statement. "Don't get me wrong. I don't want to be your friend, I just want a temporary truce," Harry made clear.
Draco said something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Who wouldn't want to be my friend, I ask you." He looked up, and with a sneer firmly in place, he said, "Why should I?"
Harry grinned wickedly, a sight rarely seen. "To save your own arse from getting kicked. It's the least you deserve for what you did."
Draco snorted at the utter foolishness of this announcement. Image, Potter thinking he could beat up Draco Malfoy. He crossed his arms and sitting up as tall as he could, he looked down at Harry in the most intimidating way he could muster.
But.on the other hand, Malfoys were always looking for a challenge, and he thought that being buddy-buddy with the scar head could have its advantages. Draco's cunning mind started working in overdrive, but he was brought out of his thoughts by Harry.
"So, what do you say? Temporary truce?" He reached his hand across the gap between them so Draco could shake.
Malfoy shrugged, trying to look nonchalant about the whole thing. "Why not? Though, don't expect me to touch you again, after this handshake. I don't know where you've been after all." He smirked and reluctantly took Harry's hand.
They shook and the blond boy said, "And my first act as a 'member' of this truce will be to inform you to shower as soon as possible. I'm sure it's safe to use the bathroom now."
Harry snatched his hand away from Draco's and glared. "This is going to take some work," he said, as he headed out toward the Prefect's bathroom. (Harry had discovered this new door earlier that morning, and had seen that it led directly to the prefect's bathroom, conveniently enough.
"I couldn't agree more," said Draco, as Harry made his way out of the room. ``````````````````````````````````````
While Harry was out in the shower, Draco had moved back to his bed. He was lying about, reprimanding himself for his quick decision. What good could possibly come from Draco befriending Potter when there wasn't anything or anyone around. It was just the two of them in a room; he couldn't use Potter for anything here. What good could Harry do for him in a room for two weeks? Besides things like gossip and whatnot. But Draco considered himself above such nonsense anyway.
He sighed and moved from his stomach to his back. He was hungry, and lying on his stomach was just giving him cramps. Draco damned himself for not thinking this through more thoroughly. He folded his arms behind his head and bent his knees toward his chest. He couldn't think of one single advantage to this stupid truce now. Potter used to be a slight source of amusement. He was never as quick as his fair-haired counterpart, and Draco had lost that. Now he had to be - he shuddered- nice to Harry Potter.
A sudden knock at the door shook Draco from his thoughts and he sat up. Who in the world could that have been? He sat up and padded toward the door to open it, fearing it could be Dumbledore, back for more. He paused and realized that Dumbledore could just walk in, as he had set the password.
"Drrraaaaakey." A girl's voice came from behind the door, carrying a tone that could be labeled as 'insufferably whiney'.
Draco stopped dead in his tracks, as though a step further could make him susceptible to some serious harm -understandably, it probably could- and the voice came yet again; if possible, sounding more coddling and annoyingly babyish that the last time. "Drakey dear, open up. It's Pansy!"
Draco looked around the room in desperation, hoping for anything to give him inspiration to get rid of the pug-faced blight on his life. How could a person not realize how annoying they were? If it were anyone, he'd just tell them to get lost and be done with it. This was a special case. The Parkinsons were good friends of the Malfoys, and if his Father got word Draco had been rude to Pansy, there would be hell to pay.
"Erm- hold on Parkinson. I'll be there in a moment." He gulped; he was, for once, at a loss for what to do.
Then Harry walked back in. In a towel, no less. Draco was temporarily stunned, to see Harry walk in still soaking wet. Water droplets were forming at the tips of his hair, which had curled slightly from the humidity of the shower. His body was lightly muscled, and he retained the slight build that made him such a successful seeker. Draco was witnessing what no less than one million screaming girls (and in some case, boys) would kill to see.
Pansy's screeching interrupted Draco's train of thought once again. "Are you okay, Drakey? Are you hurt? Did that filthy Potter do something to you?"
A thought hit him suddenly. It would scar him severely for life, but it might just rid him of Pansy for a week or so. It had to be done.
He ran across the room and yanked open the door as fast as one could yank a 200 pound door, and was greeted by a girl with a visage resembling a flat- faced pug latching onto his arm.
"Ooh, Drakey I'm glad you're okay. I've missed you and-"
She stopped suddenly when she noticed Harry in the towel looking confused and blushing slightly, now that everyone's attention was focused on him. Pansy glowered, and looked from Harry to Draco and said, the sugar gone from her voice, "What's going on Draco?"
Draco thought it was obvious that Harry had just gotten out of the shower, but Pansy wasn't known for her brains. But, instead of saying this, he frowned slightly, (being an accomplished thespian) and said, "Pansy, you'd better let go of my arm, I've got something important to tell you." He tried his best to look thoroughly upset when she detached herself reluctantly. "Stay here a moment." Draco walked back across the room and grabbed Harry's hand. He hissed, "Help me by just staying quiet," in Harry's ear and dragged Harry back over to Pansy. Draco almost smiled as he thought that he'd have to get someone to surgically remove Pansy's chin from the floor. The sight of Draco leading Harry around by the hand would shock anyone, he figured.
When they reached her, he didn't let go either. "You see Pansy, and don't tell anyone this, but I trust you completely." He gave her his most winning smile, and saw her practically swoon. He tapped the side of his nose with his free hand. "I'm sure you've heard rumors about Potter here being sick, eh?"
Pansy nodded.
"Well, you see, none of them are exactly true. Dumbledore is making up those stories to save Potter's skin here."
Pansy scowled.
"Potter really ingested a love potion, and the object of his affection is, as you may have guessed, me." He leaned over to whisper, "that's why you had to let go of me, he gets really jealous."
Harry heard this and blushed slightly. His eyes widened almost comically after being told that Draco was the object of his affection, but he stayed quiet. He desperately wanted to get out of there and put on some clothes, he thought his towel was slipping, but Draco held his hand fast.
"And you see Pansy, when Harry here gets jealous, he gets violent. You know how Potter is," he continued. "And so I don't want to put your health in danger."
"So why do you have to stay here Draco?" Pansy asked quietly, not wanting to enrage a possibly insane Potter.
"Well," Draco waved a dismissive hand. "You know how Dumbledore is. He didn't want his Golden-boy to have to live without his darling dear; Me. So I'm stuck here."
"Why can't you just leave?" she asked in a low voice.
Draco pulled his face into an angry expression. "They said I'd be expelled if I didn't. Dumbledore is such a menace, he ought to be kicked out."
Harry made a sound of protest, but Draco quickly covered. He patted Harry's hand, and said in a falsely intimidated voice, "It's okay, she'll leave soon Harry, don't get angry."
Harry glowered and Pansy looked terrified. Draco leaned over to whisper again. "So for your own health Pansy, I'd recommend staying away from here for a little while. And please, keep this a secret, and go along with whatever Dumbledore is saying. If they found out I'd told you the truth, they might expel me." He let out a huge sigh, as though this could be a fate worse than death.
Pansy made to pat him on the shoulder, or hug him, but seeing Harry standing right there, and not wanting to get savagely beaten, she nodded weakly instead. "Of course I won't tell Drakey, you have my word." She whispered in an undertone, "Poor Drakey, leave it to a disgusting Half- blood to pull something like that."
Draco gave her that knee-weakening smile again, and she turned on her heel and stalked off.
When she got out of sight Malfoy laughed out loud. A real laugh, Harry had never heard it before. It was rich and friendly sounding, and he was surprised Draco could sound like anything close to friendly. "Oh, the stupid girl actual fell for that. You're a lifesaver Potter. Even though you didn't do anything."
Harry-still red- said, "That's nice, now can I have my hand back before I lose my towel?"
But before his request was granted, Ron and Hermione appeared at the door, having the same idea as Pansy and wanting to visit their friend. Though in this case, it was Harry. But nothing could prepare them for what they saw.
Harry, dripping wet and in a towel, blushing madly and holding hands with a happy looking, laughing Malfoy.
Ron said nothing. He stood there, spluttering and looking for words that wouldn't come, Hermione's tongue, on the other hand worked fine.
"What's going on?"
Malfoy dropped Harry's hand as though it were on fire, and the both of them snapped their heads to see the two standing there, shock and possibly disgust, in Ron's case, written on their faces.
"Er- it's not what it looks like 'Mione," Harry supplied weakly, his face darkening three shades.
Hermione crossed her arms and awaited an explanation.
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AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH CLIFFHANGER! I'm so sorry you guys, but that's all I have time to write. Next chapter in another week or two! (Sorry about the extreme OOC-ness in Draco. He was too nice I think).
Review Responses:
Brenna8: first off, you're so awesome, you've reviewed like, every chapter so far. That's so great ::gives you a cookie:: ya the flicking was silly, but I had to add it, it made me giggle.
onlyHAUNTED: ::giant hugs:: you are so KYUTE!! I giggle every time I read that. I'm glad you're having fun reading, cause I'm having fun writing! I agree, school is seriously bogus. ::Kicks the school system::
PadfootsNoxed: I'm glad you like! I'm whipping these out as fast as I can. Sorry about the cliffhanger!
Shelli: I'm glad you think they're in character. I think they slip sometimes, but I do the best I can. Dumbledore is so fun to write, always going off on a tangent, and being so old-man cute. lol
Emeline: Teehee. I'm glad you think it's GREAT!! ^^ and I will continue, I wouldn't just stop writing the fic to torture you. That'd be mean! Heehee
ddz008: I'm glad you like the arguments. I see Draco as really sarcastic and witty, which will make conversations pretty funny. I hope you think it's feasible, the way I made them become friends :D
Fire Stone: lol the head flicking thing was really funny in my head. I hope you didn't think it was too corny. I'm sorry, I know the slash is taking forever, but I want it to be a believable story, and so I have to build up their relationship gradually. There will be lots of slash in the future, promise! (and Draco may run away to get things out of Harry he wants.he's devious he is.)
lemonaddict: I'm glad you liked it! That's a huge compliment coming from you, since I am one of your biggest fans! ^^
Assassin: I'm glad you liked the idea. I hope it wasn't too out of character! Bye!
melinda: heehee, I like your enthusiasm. I'm getting them out as fast as I can. I just don't want to write them too quickly and substitute quality for speed. Hope you don't mind ^^
wizardingwitch: haha ::gives you a cookie too:: I'm glad you not only like it, but you "love" it?? Heehee I hope you can wait another week or two for the next installment.
More reviews are always appreciated. ::points to the review button::