Salamander Scales-Chapter 7: Lies and Shopping
Author Yama Strife
Rating PG
Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter or any associated characters. Same
for Lord of the Flies.
Notes: I want to sincerely apologize for the long wait. I don't want to
make excuses, but sometimes life interferes with my ability to use my
computer. My grandma recently visited for 2 weeks, and I've just had my
appendix removed. This has hindered me somewhat. So while the story had
been written it hadn't been typed. I am sorry and I hope that the long wait
doesn't turn you off the story and you will continue to read.
The main purpose of this chapter it to establish a relation between the boys, a friendly one. To get them out in the world (literally outside) so they can become closer, a sort of dependency thing. No slash yet.smaller hints of what is to come, most likely in the next chapter.
'...' Indicates thought. "..." Indicates speech. ````````````````````````````````````````
"What's going on?". Hermione crossed her arms and awaited an explanation.
Harry couldn't think of a time when he'd been quite so embarrassed. Being chased up a tree by his Aunt Marge's dog didn't even come close to this.
Hermione stood there in front of Harry, arms still folded and looking considerably cross. Ron had slumped against the wall opposite Harry's doorway. At any other situation Harry may have found this reaction amusing, though it did not completely surprise him that Ron's body had failed him and he'd gone into total shock.
Harry shifted uncomfortably under the scrutinous gaze of Hermione. He opened his mouth to explain exactly what had happened, looking around for help from something, an excuse for why he was in this position, until he glanced toward Draco and saw the expression mounted on his face. He was looking almost expectantly at Harry, although he knew that Harry would explain, as though he was a child, trying to get out of trouble from his Mother. The expression said to Harry, 'That's right, be the perfect little Golden Boy like usual,' and Harry hated it. And under it there was maybe, disappointment? Anger? Draco noticed Harry looking at him and put on the patented Malfoy sneer and Harry was almost saddened to see it.
Harry thought about the countenance Draco had displayed and found himself with conflicting ideas. 'Why do I care what Malfoy thinks?' he asked himself. Then the thought, 'Maybe I should tell Hermione and Ron to leave.' These, and other things flew through his head violently until he stopped at a decision. Harry would never figure out why he had come to this conclusion, but he closed his mouth and shook his head.
Harry loved Hermione dearly, and he didn't like to lie, but something began to rise inside of him, almost a desire to defy his friends. To rebel against the normal rules and boundaries he set for his life. Hermione always told him what to do. She was, well, his conscience. But tonight, Harry wasn't going to listen.
Harry crossed his arms and mimicked Hermione's offensive stance. He lifted his chin, almost as though guarding something precious behind him. "Nothing is going on Hermione," Harry stated nonchalantly, waving his hand in a dismissive manner. "Draco and I were just discussing our living arrangements, no need to concern yourself."
Hermione couldn't have been more shocked had she been told she'd failed all her classes. Her arms dropped to her sides and she took a step back. She felt insulted and betrayed, but her foremost thought was, 'Draco? Did Harry just call him Draco?'
She looked down, unable to meet Harry's eyes and said quietly, "I'm sorry Harry, Ron and I were just concerned, we felt we weren't being very supportive. We weren't able to bring you supper in the hospital wing as we'd promised and we wanted to check on you and apologize." Tears began to well in Hermione's eyes. "I didn't mean to upset you." she finished, and she brushed at her face to wipe away any stray tears. Hermione had enough experience with Harry's temper in previous years and she didn't want to provoke him. But what she couldn't wrap her mind around was Harry defending Malfoy. When had this change taken place?
Hermione opened her mouth to speak again, though unsure of what to say when Ron stood up and walked past her. He stepped into the doorway and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. He seemed to have finally recovered a semblance of his voice and enter a lesser state of shock. He said, as though speaking to an ill, confused person, "Harry, Mate; are you sure you don't need to lie down or something?"
Harry's eyes softened. Ron was a wonderful friend and he didn't want to lose him again as he almost had in Fourth Year. He placed a hand over the one residing on his shoulder and said simply, "I'm fine Ron. Thanks for coming to see me, but I'm not really supposed to have visitors yet."
Harry didn't want to lie and he was sure Dumbledore wouldn't object to Ron and Hermione visiting but he just didn't want to see them right now. He couldn't explain it he just thought he was going crazy. Who wouldn't want the people they loved most around at a time like this?
Ron - even with the emotional range of a teaspoon - knew something was up, but he decided not to press. Harry had been through so much in his life that he knew what was best. Ron squeezed Harry's shoulder, nodded and said, "We'll be going now Harry, we'll drop by in a day or so to see how you're doing, okay?"
Harry could've kissed Ron. He understood Harry, even when Harry didn't understand himself. The-Boy-Who-Lived gave his best friend a grateful smile and waved a hand at Hermione, who smiled sadly in return. Ron sort of nodded in a semi-courteous manner at Malfoy (though his teeth were clenched almost dangerously) and Draco acknowledged this with a nod of his own. Harry was almost floored at this gesture and how civil Malfoy seemed. What was up with Pale-Boy lately?
"C'mon 'Mione, lets leave Harry to get dressed, he must be cold." Ron winked, Harry flushed, and in the next moment the two had departed down the hall.
Harry let out a sigh of relief and walked back into the room. He sat on the scarlet sheets and watched Draco shut the door the large wooden doors before he flopped backward on the bed to rest on his back.
The blonde boy walked over to Harry's bed and looked down at him, smirking and saying, "My Potter, aren't we anxious?" He made as though to slip out of his robes while saying, "I hardly know you Potter, but I cannot deny my adoring fans." He sighed dramatically.
Harry shot up, bright red and flustered, "What are you talking about Malfoy? Get off it!"
Draco laughed and smirked cheekily at Harry. "You are far too easy to work up Potter." Then, more seriously, while pointing at the door leading to the bathroom, "Go get dressed, you'll catch cold in a towel. Why did you wait around so long to get dressed anyway?"
Harry began with a very loud, "It's your fault Malfoy, you -"
Malfoy waved a finger and said, "never mind, get going."
Harry looked at him oddly. Was that a hint of concern in his voice? The agreement was to be civil, not to act like his friend. Not that he minded. He'd rather a friendly Malfoy, than a cold one. His mind worked around this idea as he dressed in the prefect bathroom connected to their room. Only a small twinge of pain could be felt in his chest as he dressed. He'd forgotten about the potion for awhile.
A thought struck him as he pulled on a red and gold rugby shirt. Of course! Malfoy was trying to phase him and get him in an uncomfortable phase before striking. Harry would have to keep his guard up.
As he walked through the door connecting his room to the bathroom he saw Malfoy studying him. Why was he appraising him? Was it the outfit? It was a weekend so Harry didn't have to wear his robes. He wondered why Malfoy never wore regular clothes; he was always in robes. Usually black.
"Tsk tsk," Malfoy clucked his tongue. "Did a drunken house elf dress you? Why do you wear such rags?" He looked as though the sight of Harry's garbs hurt his eyes.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Why don't you wear normal clothes Malfoy?" He countered as he sat in his plush fireside chair. Malfoy looked appalled. "Muggle clothing? Now really Potter, I could never face anyone in rags such as those." Harry thought it looked as though the very idea caused Malfoy pain. But then, adding insult to injury, "Even if I did wear Muggle clothing it would be far more fashionable than that." The pale boy walked to Harry's side and plucked at his sleeve. "Come now Potter, stripes? Honestly, everyone knows you are quite well off. Surely you can afford some fashionable clothing?"
Harry stood up and pulled his arm away from Malfoy, hands on his hips. "I haven't got taste in clothing? You wear the same thing every day!"
Draco placed a hand to his chest and pretended to swoon, similar to that of the Dementor faint from Third year. "Harry Potter noticed what I wear? Heart be still! I cannot stand it!"
Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Fine Malfoy, I'll give you some money and you can buy me some clothes that you think would be 'fashionable' ". He formed his fingers into quotation marks as he said this.
Malfoy's lip curled. "You mean, I'm to touch the Muggle clothing? You won't pick it up off the rack for me?" He sighed, "As much as I'd love to go shopping Potter, I can't leave your by yourself or you'll be in worlds of pain. Poor, poor, Potter."
Harry heard some malice behind those last words and wanted to say something but he held his tongue. 'You can always curse him later,' he thought.
Harry began to say something else, however, when Malfoy held up a hand and walked toward the bathroom. "You can ask me on a date later Potter, I'm going to have a shower." He looked over his shoulder as he said, "Got to be nice and clean to go shopping you know."
Malfoy shut the door behind him and Harry was dumbstruck. He really had to go shopping with Malfoy? What in the hell was going on? The world was completely backward now. Harry was rejecting his best friends and going on a casual outing with his worst enemy. 'Keep your guard up, keep your guard up.' It was like a mantra in Harry's head. He knew Draco was up to something, but what?
Harry went to the bedside table and pulled a small pouch out of a drawer. It had a few Galleons with larger amounts of Sickles and Knuts. He would probably need to stop at Gringotts Bank before they stopped anywhere else. Knowing Malfoy had rich, elaborate tastes, Harry was probably going to have to dish out a fortune. He sighed, a regular habit of his recently and jumped onto his bed.
He was busy looking around the room to keep himself busy when he saw the black book lying on Malfoy's bed. He was curious.what was it? He glanced toward the bathroom and could hear the water running. Draco had been in there, what, 5 minutes? He had time to take a quick peek. Harry dashed over there, quickly and quietly. He picked up the book and saw it was thick leather. Very expensive looking, but there was no title on the front, it must've worn off. He opened the cover and to his astonishment saw, 'Lord of the Flies' written on the front cover. "Lord of the Flies?" he whispered. "What is Malfoy doing with a Muggle book?"
Harry went to set the book down on the bed in the same place he had found it when a hand darted, seemingly out of nowhere, and snatched it out of his hand. Harry gasped in surprise and looked to see Draco standing behind him. "Muggle book?" Draco sneered. "As if I'd read a book created in the mind of a Muggle. I'll have you know, William Gooding was a highly respected Wizard. But an undereducated person, such as yourself, wouldn't have known that."
Harry was highly insulted. So what if he didn't know that Gooding was a Wizard? It wasn't like he constantly went about researching the lives and history of all people in existence. In fact, he felt so strongly about this that he told Malfoy just that. Malfoy rolled his eyes. What could you say to such a Neanderthal?
Harry looked curiously at the book. Hands behinds his back and bent over he looked up at Malfoy, "I've heard of it, but what is that book about?"
Malfoy gasped. "You've never read it?" He stepped back dramatically as though the shock of the idea that someone hadn't read this book was horrifying to him. Harry wasn't impressed with that.
"The book is about the corruption of the human when left to his own devices," Malfoy said importantly. "Gooding believed that Man is inherently evil, and when he hasn't got society's morals to conform to he will become what we all fear. Ruthless, cunning, monstrous." Draco said this as though he completely believed it himself. "I wouldn't recommend this book to you Potter," he smirked. "There is so much symbolism, and the metaphors are everywhere. You wouldn't be able to keep up!"
Harry was, again, insulted. So what? He could deal with some silly little metaphors. He grabbed the book from Malfoy and held it to his chest, afraid Draco would steal it back. "Let me read it Draco, I'm sure I'll be able to understand it." Malfoy cocked an eyebrow. "In fact, lets make a wager. If I can read it and understand it to your satisfaction, you have to."
Harry trailed off, he had no idea what Malfoy would have to do. But then, as he looked at Draco's deep green motif on the bed and walls, a thought struck him. "You will have to change anything green in this room to scarlet. And anything, like Quidditch, house points, whatever; you'll cheer for Gryffindor." Harry had a largely satisfied look on his face.
Harry thought his plan was ingenious, but Malfoy wasn't even phased. He just smiled and said, "Fine, and the same goes for you, if you can't read it, it's Slytherin for you." Then he smirked deviously and drawled, "You have 2 weeks to read the book, and I'm being generous."
Harry didn't like that idea so much. He wasn't stupid, by any means, but he wasn't the fastest reader he knew. He opened his mouth to object when Malfoy held up a hand and said, "Sorry, Mr. Potter, you set the bet, I set the time limit, it's only fair."
Harry laughed out loud at this and received a confused look in return. "Since when have you cared what's fair or not Malfoy?" He held his sides and laughed harder.
Malfoy did not find this amusing whatsoever. He shoved Harry, (Malfoy's usual didn't resort to violence. They depended on sharp tongues and wit to make the opponent feel small and stupid) and Harry fell back and landed on Malfoy's bed. He didn't find this so funny, however. He jumped up and wiped off his pants and shirt as though he was covered in slime. "Eww I touched your bed! I'm contaminated." He was only half teasing when he said this. He didn't know where Malfoy had been. When that though popped into his mind he screwed up his face and backed up toward his own bed, arms outstretched, as though trying to keep something horrible at bay.
Malfoy wasn't pleased with this, he was the cleanest person he knew, but he ignored it and walked to the fire. He dropped some floo powder into the flames and stuck his head in to leave a message to Dumbledore that they were going to Diagon Alley, and they'd be back in an hour or two.
That done, he nodded to Harry, said "Let's go, we'll find some place to get you something decent to wear, though you still won't be able to compete with me." Harry gave him a strange look. "Well, we all know I'm the prettiest thing around Potter. Sorry, but it's true." And he practically ran out the door, the excitement of going shopping getting to him.
Harry couldn't understand how Malfoy could be so excited about shopping of all things, but he had to go. If Malfoy went himself, well, he didn't want to think about the pain that he would have to endure. Damn that potion. So he Padded across the room, put on his shoes and headed out the door.
"What did I get myself into this time?" He said, and he shook his head images of all the things that could go wrong playing inside his head.
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Review Responses: I don't have time to do them all this time, sorry.
Assassin: I'm sorry for the long wait. I'll try my best to have the next chapter typed very soon, though I can't make any promises.
Rayne-Jelly: Thanks for the constructive criticism. I'll try to make it more interesting and have the spell play a more important part. (I just used it for an excuse to get them together though.[as if you didn't know that already -_-])
Redmeadow: hope you liked Harry telling Hermione off! I like Hermione.but Harry needs to make his own decisions, right?
Weasley Wonders: Just want to thank you for all your lovely reviews. I hope you keep reading, and I'm glad you like Draco.it's hard to keep him in character and still find a way for him and Harry to hook up.
Pegasus: I'm sorry about the cliffhanger, but I find it hard to end a chapter any other way, it isn't there to annoy people, that isn't what I'm trying to do, maybe it's an obsessive compulsive disorder?
Sweet Sorrow1: I'm glad you're liking this! It's so cool that this is the first male slash fic you've read, and you like it! I'm so very sorry for making you wait so long, and I hope you'll continue reading dispute this
Lunaris: ACK! I'm sorry for the punctuation mistakes. I'm horrible that way, and as much as I hate to say it, it probably won't improve any time soon. I hope it doesn't make the story unreadable, or take away from it's enjoyablity. I'll try harder to fix it up. And I apologize for the cliffhangers, I know they're very annoying, and I hate it when people do that to me, but I find it hard to finish a chapter any other way. If you like, you can email me, and I'll give you a rundown of the next chapter so you can rest easy. My email is yama_strife@hotmail.com
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love you. ::gives out Draco plushies::
The main purpose of this chapter it to establish a relation between the boys, a friendly one. To get them out in the world (literally outside) so they can become closer, a sort of dependency thing. No slash yet.smaller hints of what is to come, most likely in the next chapter.
'...' Indicates thought. "..." Indicates speech. ````````````````````````````````````````
"What's going on?". Hermione crossed her arms and awaited an explanation.
Harry couldn't think of a time when he'd been quite so embarrassed. Being chased up a tree by his Aunt Marge's dog didn't even come close to this.
Hermione stood there in front of Harry, arms still folded and looking considerably cross. Ron had slumped against the wall opposite Harry's doorway. At any other situation Harry may have found this reaction amusing, though it did not completely surprise him that Ron's body had failed him and he'd gone into total shock.
Harry shifted uncomfortably under the scrutinous gaze of Hermione. He opened his mouth to explain exactly what had happened, looking around for help from something, an excuse for why he was in this position, until he glanced toward Draco and saw the expression mounted on his face. He was looking almost expectantly at Harry, although he knew that Harry would explain, as though he was a child, trying to get out of trouble from his Mother. The expression said to Harry, 'That's right, be the perfect little Golden Boy like usual,' and Harry hated it. And under it there was maybe, disappointment? Anger? Draco noticed Harry looking at him and put on the patented Malfoy sneer and Harry was almost saddened to see it.
Harry thought about the countenance Draco had displayed and found himself with conflicting ideas. 'Why do I care what Malfoy thinks?' he asked himself. Then the thought, 'Maybe I should tell Hermione and Ron to leave.' These, and other things flew through his head violently until he stopped at a decision. Harry would never figure out why he had come to this conclusion, but he closed his mouth and shook his head.
Harry loved Hermione dearly, and he didn't like to lie, but something began to rise inside of him, almost a desire to defy his friends. To rebel against the normal rules and boundaries he set for his life. Hermione always told him what to do. She was, well, his conscience. But tonight, Harry wasn't going to listen.
Harry crossed his arms and mimicked Hermione's offensive stance. He lifted his chin, almost as though guarding something precious behind him. "Nothing is going on Hermione," Harry stated nonchalantly, waving his hand in a dismissive manner. "Draco and I were just discussing our living arrangements, no need to concern yourself."
Hermione couldn't have been more shocked had she been told she'd failed all her classes. Her arms dropped to her sides and she took a step back. She felt insulted and betrayed, but her foremost thought was, 'Draco? Did Harry just call him Draco?'
She looked down, unable to meet Harry's eyes and said quietly, "I'm sorry Harry, Ron and I were just concerned, we felt we weren't being very supportive. We weren't able to bring you supper in the hospital wing as we'd promised and we wanted to check on you and apologize." Tears began to well in Hermione's eyes. "I didn't mean to upset you." she finished, and she brushed at her face to wipe away any stray tears. Hermione had enough experience with Harry's temper in previous years and she didn't want to provoke him. But what she couldn't wrap her mind around was Harry defending Malfoy. When had this change taken place?
Hermione opened her mouth to speak again, though unsure of what to say when Ron stood up and walked past her. He stepped into the doorway and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. He seemed to have finally recovered a semblance of his voice and enter a lesser state of shock. He said, as though speaking to an ill, confused person, "Harry, Mate; are you sure you don't need to lie down or something?"
Harry's eyes softened. Ron was a wonderful friend and he didn't want to lose him again as he almost had in Fourth Year. He placed a hand over the one residing on his shoulder and said simply, "I'm fine Ron. Thanks for coming to see me, but I'm not really supposed to have visitors yet."
Harry didn't want to lie and he was sure Dumbledore wouldn't object to Ron and Hermione visiting but he just didn't want to see them right now. He couldn't explain it he just thought he was going crazy. Who wouldn't want the people they loved most around at a time like this?
Ron - even with the emotional range of a teaspoon - knew something was up, but he decided not to press. Harry had been through so much in his life that he knew what was best. Ron squeezed Harry's shoulder, nodded and said, "We'll be going now Harry, we'll drop by in a day or so to see how you're doing, okay?"
Harry could've kissed Ron. He understood Harry, even when Harry didn't understand himself. The-Boy-Who-Lived gave his best friend a grateful smile and waved a hand at Hermione, who smiled sadly in return. Ron sort of nodded in a semi-courteous manner at Malfoy (though his teeth were clenched almost dangerously) and Draco acknowledged this with a nod of his own. Harry was almost floored at this gesture and how civil Malfoy seemed. What was up with Pale-Boy lately?
"C'mon 'Mione, lets leave Harry to get dressed, he must be cold." Ron winked, Harry flushed, and in the next moment the two had departed down the hall.
Harry let out a sigh of relief and walked back into the room. He sat on the scarlet sheets and watched Draco shut the door the large wooden doors before he flopped backward on the bed to rest on his back.
The blonde boy walked over to Harry's bed and looked down at him, smirking and saying, "My Potter, aren't we anxious?" He made as though to slip out of his robes while saying, "I hardly know you Potter, but I cannot deny my adoring fans." He sighed dramatically.
Harry shot up, bright red and flustered, "What are you talking about Malfoy? Get off it!"
Draco laughed and smirked cheekily at Harry. "You are far too easy to work up Potter." Then, more seriously, while pointing at the door leading to the bathroom, "Go get dressed, you'll catch cold in a towel. Why did you wait around so long to get dressed anyway?"
Harry began with a very loud, "It's your fault Malfoy, you -"
Malfoy waved a finger and said, "never mind, get going."
Harry looked at him oddly. Was that a hint of concern in his voice? The agreement was to be civil, not to act like his friend. Not that he minded. He'd rather a friendly Malfoy, than a cold one. His mind worked around this idea as he dressed in the prefect bathroom connected to their room. Only a small twinge of pain could be felt in his chest as he dressed. He'd forgotten about the potion for awhile.
A thought struck him as he pulled on a red and gold rugby shirt. Of course! Malfoy was trying to phase him and get him in an uncomfortable phase before striking. Harry would have to keep his guard up.
As he walked through the door connecting his room to the bathroom he saw Malfoy studying him. Why was he appraising him? Was it the outfit? It was a weekend so Harry didn't have to wear his robes. He wondered why Malfoy never wore regular clothes; he was always in robes. Usually black.
"Tsk tsk," Malfoy clucked his tongue. "Did a drunken house elf dress you? Why do you wear such rags?" He looked as though the sight of Harry's garbs hurt his eyes.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Why don't you wear normal clothes Malfoy?" He countered as he sat in his plush fireside chair. Malfoy looked appalled. "Muggle clothing? Now really Potter, I could never face anyone in rags such as those." Harry thought it looked as though the very idea caused Malfoy pain. But then, adding insult to injury, "Even if I did wear Muggle clothing it would be far more fashionable than that." The pale boy walked to Harry's side and plucked at his sleeve. "Come now Potter, stripes? Honestly, everyone knows you are quite well off. Surely you can afford some fashionable clothing?"
Harry stood up and pulled his arm away from Malfoy, hands on his hips. "I haven't got taste in clothing? You wear the same thing every day!"
Draco placed a hand to his chest and pretended to swoon, similar to that of the Dementor faint from Third year. "Harry Potter noticed what I wear? Heart be still! I cannot stand it!"
Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Fine Malfoy, I'll give you some money and you can buy me some clothes that you think would be 'fashionable' ". He formed his fingers into quotation marks as he said this.
Malfoy's lip curled. "You mean, I'm to touch the Muggle clothing? You won't pick it up off the rack for me?" He sighed, "As much as I'd love to go shopping Potter, I can't leave your by yourself or you'll be in worlds of pain. Poor, poor, Potter."
Harry heard some malice behind those last words and wanted to say something but he held his tongue. 'You can always curse him later,' he thought.
Harry began to say something else, however, when Malfoy held up a hand and walked toward the bathroom. "You can ask me on a date later Potter, I'm going to have a shower." He looked over his shoulder as he said, "Got to be nice and clean to go shopping you know."
Malfoy shut the door behind him and Harry was dumbstruck. He really had to go shopping with Malfoy? What in the hell was going on? The world was completely backward now. Harry was rejecting his best friends and going on a casual outing with his worst enemy. 'Keep your guard up, keep your guard up.' It was like a mantra in Harry's head. He knew Draco was up to something, but what?
Harry went to the bedside table and pulled a small pouch out of a drawer. It had a few Galleons with larger amounts of Sickles and Knuts. He would probably need to stop at Gringotts Bank before they stopped anywhere else. Knowing Malfoy had rich, elaborate tastes, Harry was probably going to have to dish out a fortune. He sighed, a regular habit of his recently and jumped onto his bed.
He was busy looking around the room to keep himself busy when he saw the black book lying on Malfoy's bed. He was curious.what was it? He glanced toward the bathroom and could hear the water running. Draco had been in there, what, 5 minutes? He had time to take a quick peek. Harry dashed over there, quickly and quietly. He picked up the book and saw it was thick leather. Very expensive looking, but there was no title on the front, it must've worn off. He opened the cover and to his astonishment saw, 'Lord of the Flies' written on the front cover. "Lord of the Flies?" he whispered. "What is Malfoy doing with a Muggle book?"
Harry went to set the book down on the bed in the same place he had found it when a hand darted, seemingly out of nowhere, and snatched it out of his hand. Harry gasped in surprise and looked to see Draco standing behind him. "Muggle book?" Draco sneered. "As if I'd read a book created in the mind of a Muggle. I'll have you know, William Gooding was a highly respected Wizard. But an undereducated person, such as yourself, wouldn't have known that."
Harry was highly insulted. So what if he didn't know that Gooding was a Wizard? It wasn't like he constantly went about researching the lives and history of all people in existence. In fact, he felt so strongly about this that he told Malfoy just that. Malfoy rolled his eyes. What could you say to such a Neanderthal?
Harry looked curiously at the book. Hands behinds his back and bent over he looked up at Malfoy, "I've heard of it, but what is that book about?"
Malfoy gasped. "You've never read it?" He stepped back dramatically as though the shock of the idea that someone hadn't read this book was horrifying to him. Harry wasn't impressed with that.
"The book is about the corruption of the human when left to his own devices," Malfoy said importantly. "Gooding believed that Man is inherently evil, and when he hasn't got society's morals to conform to he will become what we all fear. Ruthless, cunning, monstrous." Draco said this as though he completely believed it himself. "I wouldn't recommend this book to you Potter," he smirked. "There is so much symbolism, and the metaphors are everywhere. You wouldn't be able to keep up!"
Harry was, again, insulted. So what? He could deal with some silly little metaphors. He grabbed the book from Malfoy and held it to his chest, afraid Draco would steal it back. "Let me read it Draco, I'm sure I'll be able to understand it." Malfoy cocked an eyebrow. "In fact, lets make a wager. If I can read it and understand it to your satisfaction, you have to."
Harry trailed off, he had no idea what Malfoy would have to do. But then, as he looked at Draco's deep green motif on the bed and walls, a thought struck him. "You will have to change anything green in this room to scarlet. And anything, like Quidditch, house points, whatever; you'll cheer for Gryffindor." Harry had a largely satisfied look on his face.
Harry thought his plan was ingenious, but Malfoy wasn't even phased. He just smiled and said, "Fine, and the same goes for you, if you can't read it, it's Slytherin for you." Then he smirked deviously and drawled, "You have 2 weeks to read the book, and I'm being generous."
Harry didn't like that idea so much. He wasn't stupid, by any means, but he wasn't the fastest reader he knew. He opened his mouth to object when Malfoy held up a hand and said, "Sorry, Mr. Potter, you set the bet, I set the time limit, it's only fair."
Harry laughed out loud at this and received a confused look in return. "Since when have you cared what's fair or not Malfoy?" He held his sides and laughed harder.
Malfoy did not find this amusing whatsoever. He shoved Harry, (Malfoy's usual didn't resort to violence. They depended on sharp tongues and wit to make the opponent feel small and stupid) and Harry fell back and landed on Malfoy's bed. He didn't find this so funny, however. He jumped up and wiped off his pants and shirt as though he was covered in slime. "Eww I touched your bed! I'm contaminated." He was only half teasing when he said this. He didn't know where Malfoy had been. When that though popped into his mind he screwed up his face and backed up toward his own bed, arms outstretched, as though trying to keep something horrible at bay.
Malfoy wasn't pleased with this, he was the cleanest person he knew, but he ignored it and walked to the fire. He dropped some floo powder into the flames and stuck his head in to leave a message to Dumbledore that they were going to Diagon Alley, and they'd be back in an hour or two.
That done, he nodded to Harry, said "Let's go, we'll find some place to get you something decent to wear, though you still won't be able to compete with me." Harry gave him a strange look. "Well, we all know I'm the prettiest thing around Potter. Sorry, but it's true." And he practically ran out the door, the excitement of going shopping getting to him.
Harry couldn't understand how Malfoy could be so excited about shopping of all things, but he had to go. If Malfoy went himself, well, he didn't want to think about the pain that he would have to endure. Damn that potion. So he Padded across the room, put on his shoes and headed out the door.
"What did I get myself into this time?" He said, and he shook his head images of all the things that could go wrong playing inside his head.
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Review Responses: I don't have time to do them all this time, sorry.
Assassin: I'm sorry for the long wait. I'll try my best to have the next chapter typed very soon, though I can't make any promises.
Rayne-Jelly: Thanks for the constructive criticism. I'll try to make it more interesting and have the spell play a more important part. (I just used it for an excuse to get them together though.[as if you didn't know that already -_-])
Redmeadow: hope you liked Harry telling Hermione off! I like Hermione.but Harry needs to make his own decisions, right?
Weasley Wonders: Just want to thank you for all your lovely reviews. I hope you keep reading, and I'm glad you like Draco.it's hard to keep him in character and still find a way for him and Harry to hook up.
Pegasus: I'm sorry about the cliffhanger, but I find it hard to end a chapter any other way, it isn't there to annoy people, that isn't what I'm trying to do, maybe it's an obsessive compulsive disorder?
Sweet Sorrow1: I'm glad you're liking this! It's so cool that this is the first male slash fic you've read, and you like it! I'm so very sorry for making you wait so long, and I hope you'll continue reading dispute this
Lunaris: ACK! I'm sorry for the punctuation mistakes. I'm horrible that way, and as much as I hate to say it, it probably won't improve any time soon. I hope it doesn't make the story unreadable, or take away from it's enjoyablity. I'll try harder to fix it up. And I apologize for the cliffhangers, I know they're very annoying, and I hate it when people do that to me, but I find it hard to finish a chapter any other way. If you like, you can email me, and I'll give you a rundown of the next chapter so you can rest easy. My email is yama_strife@hotmail.com
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love you. ::gives out Draco plushies::