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Disclaimer/Warning: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. This is slash - male x male relationships. It also contains femmeslash - female x female relationships. If this offends you or doesn't suit your fancy in any way, then do not read below this warning and the future chapters. The concept is quite simple, and a bad review on this particular topic will only make you look like an ass. Thanks!
This story has, in no way, shape, or form, been affected because of Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince. It was always an AU, and always will be an AU.
Author's Note: I am so happy - you have no idea how much your comments mean to me. My vacation was crap, but the day I got back, I had over sixty reviews in my inbox from all sites! Talk about a mood booster! Well, here's chapter eight, peoples. Enjoy!
Chapter Eight – The Monstrous Wrath of a Lovesick Leader
Excitedly. "He asked you for a hug!"
With calm observation. "And I don't think he was joking."
Blaise and Pansy both stopped and smiled brightly at their best friend, knowing just how much the small gesture from the Gryffindor meant to Draco. Or at least they thought they knew.
In truth, they had not a clue the depth of the happiness Draco felt then. They didn't know how he replayed the image of Harry's warm smile, or the image of the delicate blush that spread across Harry's face when Draco told him he was to be apologized to by Pansy. While they may know how he was replaying the scene of scooping the pouting Harry into his arms - into a startling gentle embrace as if holding the world's most precious cargo - they had no idea that he was replaying the sound of Harry's sharp intake of air when he was dipped, or the soft moan that slipped from those lips when he whispered into his ear. They had no idea that in that one embrace, it felt as if something clicked into place. Things were finally going his way; he didn't have to serve a madman, he had the best friends a bloke could ask for, he had amended things amongst the people he hurt the most during his early school years, his father was in love…
And he himself was in love.
With a slim chance of winning the love of his love, as opposed to the hopelessness he'd felt earlier in the day.
Draco tried to contain it; he really did. His Slytherin side began screaming in indignation while his – shudder – Hufflepuff side fought for dominance, fought for the chance to portray how he really felt about the whole situation, regardless of the Code of Slytherin and the Code of Malfoy.
His Hufflepuff side won, and as a result, it caused Pansy to gasp while openly gaping at him and Blaise to take a step back, his hazel eyes wide with something akin to awe in them.
Without the slightest hindrance, the corners of Draco's mouth had twitched upwards, growing in size until the upper line of his pearly white teeth shown in their brilliance. His silver eyes lit in a way that was indescribable, for no one had seen such passion and pure joy from the King of Slytherin, and his overall demeanor lightened, as if nothing else remotely mattered because this one event had taken place, and he had now gotten the one thing he was born for.
Draco finally did it. He had found a way to draw a reaction from his fellow Slytherins.
FLASH!
Startled out of the heart-stopping smile, Draco turned toward the flash of light to see Pansy still gaping, but apparently coherent enough to capture the once-in-a-lifetime event with her wizarding camera, pulled from Merlin-knows-where. It was so random, so unexpected that Draco blinked away the light circles dancing in front of his eyes before laughing a laugh that was as joyful as his smile. If possible, his face lit up even more with amusement and a carefree, nonchalance that had Pansy and Blaise gasping once more.
They thought angry Draco was enchanting.
This was nothing short of a heavenly vision.
FLASH!
"Will you cut that out, Pansy?" Draco scowled as he started walking down the hall once more. "You know how much I hate having my picture taken."
An added thought: "Unless I get paid for it. I am gorgeous, after all."
Pansy immediately fell against the taller boy's side and laughed loudly, reveling in having her Draco – the witty, sarcastic, generally carefree, greedy son of a bitch - back in action. Draco joined her in laughter as he slung an arm over her shoulder; the two then began to walk with a bounce in their synchronized step, gesticulating widely, smiles just as wide, atmosphere matching that of best friends.
There was one who lagged behind though, not immune to the happy atmosphere, but too immersed in his bewildered thoughts that he paid no heed to it.
When it came to the history of the Co-Kings of Slytherin and the Queen of Slytherin, most could say that the three of them knew each other right from the get-go, and had been inseparable ever since. For the most part, it was true, although a minor detail missing was that Draco and Blaise had been together first before Pansy joined in. During that time, and the time when Pansy joined and stuck with them, they had seen each other in their best times and their worst; the three had made it a point to, seeing that they had to deal with the no-emotion training from their Death Eater parents. Whether it is grinning goofily from an accomplishment/praise from their parents or crying with streams of snot dripping out of their nose from a punishment/lecture from their parents, they had shown one another.
But Blaise had never, ever, seen such a smile on Draco's face, and he had prided himself in knowing that Pansy or he himself made Draco smile the widest, act the goofiest, and be himself in the truest way.
It appears that he was wrong.
Before his eyes, Draco skipped and danced and jumped around in a cruel imitation of the scarecrow in the Muggle Wizard of Oz, shaking his head comically and making Pansy laugh harder than he ever had before. He could hear the witty remarks that seemed to be extra biting in their sarcasm, but less rough in their cruelty; he could see that smile on Draco's face once more, albeit twisting into more of an impish and mischievous smile; he could taste the bliss filling the entire hall.
Amazing.
He wasn't sure if he should feel just as happy that his best friend got to be so content or jealous of Harry that he wasn't enough to make Draco smile and act the same way.
Or envious that he had never experienced such joy.
"'Aise!"
Blaise looked to the owner of the voice, who happened to be the same as the object of his thoughts. Draco was retying his ponytail – most likely from his vigorous head shaking – with a smirk on his face. Pansy was doubled over beside him, clutching her stomach and laughing so hard no sound came out of her mouth. "I have decided," Draco stated with exaggerated haughtiness, "that we are going to Lady J's for a drink. You will come, and you will like it whether you want to or not!"
He swiveled on his heel and exited, followed closely by Pansy who 'hmphed' just as haughtily, then giggled. Blaise stood alone in the empty hall before he too made his exit. He decided to be happy for Draco.
"Sir, yessir!"
---
Lady J's was indefinitely the most popular hang out spot for the Slytherins in Knockturn Alley. Not only were the drinks, the service, and the entertainment extraordinary, the owner of the bar was the most likeable person every customer would ever meet, and if the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Gryffindors were brave enough to come down to her shop, they would easily see why.
Jaylairia Daire, or Lady J for short, was an exotic beauty in her early twenties from a quaint wizarding village in New Zealand, born there a few years after her parents moved from the United States. With a mixture of Japanese and African in her blood, wizards and witches in the area were baffled by her rich milk chocolate skin, long jet-black hair, petite yet curvaceous form, and soulful, dark slanted eyes. She was the most recognizable in this part of the wizarding world, more so than the Weasley's. But it was more that her physical appearance that made an impression on her customers.
She went to Hogwarts since first year and was an honorary Slytherin for her – what else? – unmitigated ambition. However, everything about her lacked subtlety, especially her firecracker type nature when provoked. She was the top of every class, became an Auror right after school, and has been working undercover ever since while doing the thing she loved to do most – entertain and provide places to take breaks from the everyday life.
Her work in the war last year was as vital as her boyfriend, Professor Snape's, spying; her bar was often the meeting place for several Death Eaters who wanted to trade information and get a good drink while doing it. She had captured many Death Eaters with her magic and her powers of persuasion and seduction, much to Professor Snape's dismay, and even kept tabs on where Lucius Malfoy was during his run from the bounty hunters. Every Slytherin portrayed her as the model Slytherin - a witch who didn't need to kill to get to the top.
As the Slytherin Trio walked into the bar, the entire staff, with yells and catcalls, instantly greeted them. The only one who didn't join in was Jaylairia herself, for she settled with a squeal of delight and a launch at the laughing teenagers. "Come in, come in," she greeted in that silky voice of hers. "Drinks are to be made, instruments to be played! Ladies, gentleman!"
The staff, which happened to be full of equally gorgeous men and women from around the world, cheered widely. They immediately cleared the best booth in the house. Pansy, Blaise, and Draco settled into their usual spots, but not without responded to the staff with cheers and greetings of their own, smiles wide on their faces. When they got situated, Lady J stood in front of them, pad of parchment and quill in hand. "Well, well, well, if it isn't my favorite Slytherins!"
Leaning over, she gave Blaise and Draco a kiss right on the lips and a saucy wink, which they laughed heartily at. "Still love blokes," Draco said loudly as he eyed a particular waiter donned in tight black jeans and no shirt. The waiter shook his ass before strutting to his next table.
Lady J exaggerated a fake-cry on Blaise's shoulder, shaking her shoulders and letting out pathetic sniffles. She lifted her head once to cry out, 'oh merlin!' before resting it back on his shoulder. "Ladies, we have lost another!"
All the girls in the bar moaned grievously before dissolving into fits of laughter.
"Very funny," was the dry reply.
"Of course, darlin.' What about you, Blaise?"
"Sorry, Jay," the hazel eyed boy laughed out, "still love blokes."
Having had her greeting to the boys, Lady J glared at Blaise before sauntering over to Pansy's side of the table and sitting in her lap. "Pans."
"Jay-Jay."
Jaylairia leaned down and kissed her on the lips the same way she did the boys, except Pansy moved her arm to circle Lady J's neck to trap her in the kiss and deepened it with her tongue. Lady J allowed it for a few moments before she broke it apart and rested their foreheads together. "Naughty girl," she whispered breathily. The two had a brief relationship beginning of sixth year, despite being six years her senior. "What would Severus do if he saw such behavior?"
Blaise. "Fail her in Potions?"
Pansy. "Give me a detention every day 'till graduation? Hell, not allow me to graduate?"
Draco. "Wank in the corner of the bar?"
The staff, which had been eavesdropping shamelessly, laughed appreciatively at the dirty joke while Lady J let out a disbelieving giggle in shock and surprise. "Draco!" she scolded.
He shrugged – a smirk adorning his features.
"Anyways, where is 'Mione?"
The group got silent then, Pansy looking down to the floor, and Blaise shifting uncomfortably. "She couldn't join us today," Draco answered simply. Jaylairia sighed and looked to Pansy, who was staring stubbornly at the surface of the table, then planted a kiss on the crown of her head before getting up and standing before them. She left the subject closed. "Too bad. Well, since you fine folks decided to join us today, drinks are on me. The regulars?"
The three nodded.
"Good. And I must say, Draco, you are simply radiant today."
Draco meet her gaze with a beaming smile – the one he displayed earlier – and didn't blink an eye at the fact that she knew something wonderful happened to him. She was very much like Dumbledore; an omniscient being that gave advice in complicated riddles. She even had the damnable twinkle when she knew something you did not. He wondered if she knew that he had hugged Harry.
Harry Potter, sexiest superhero to save every sorry simpleton from certain doom.
And heard that moan...
Sweet Merlin, that moan…the one that made him ready to let it all - a love confession as well as a couple of spurts of semen - loose after he had heard that motivating hybrid of a mewl and a gasp that was so delectably Harry…
"Draco!"
"What?"
The twinkle in Jaylairia's eyes increased to blinding proportions. She said, "nothing" in a tone that stated she knew, then sauntered off to fetch the drinks. Draco became lost in thoughts of Harry until he heard a soft thud beside him, signaling that Blaise had propped an elbow on the table and was supporting his head with the cradle of his hand. He looked disturbed about something, Draco noticed with a bit of surprise, and though he was almost as good as Draco when it came to hiding his emotions, Draco could still see the inner battle within him.
What's that about? he thought with curiosity. I'm going to have to talk to him.
"I'm going to the loo," Draco stated as he got up from his seat. He saw Blaise eye him curiously and turned to him. "Let's go, Blaise."
After finger-combing her long auburn hair, Pansy raised as eyebrow at the two. "And I thought only girls go to the loo together."
An evil smirk was the only response – Pansy shivered from it. "Be back in a few."
The two boys then headed to the back where Lady J directed them knowingly to a small meeting room just a few steps away from the bathroom. When Blaise began to turn into the bathroom, Draco grabbed his wrist, pulled him into the small room, and sat him down on a chair, choosing to lean against the table across from him. Blaise looked properly gobsmacked.
"Draco, what…"
"Something is wrong, Blaise. And I want to know what."
Blaise bowed his head then, bringing his bottom lip into his mouth and unconsciously chewing it. "Nothing."
"Liar."
"Draco..."
"Zabini."
Blaise looked up and sighed. Judging from the stern look on Draco's face, he wasn't going to leave this room until he told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Damnit!
"I was just thinking, is all."
"About?"
"…the way you reacted when Potter let you hug him."
Silence.
"You aren't…jealous, are you?"
Draco stared at Blaise, knowing that this was a crucial question to answer. He loved Blaise; there was no doubt about it. But there was nothing romantic about it anymore, not since last year. When he kissed Blaise, he felt nothing but lust. Blaise was easily the third most handsome bloke in the school – who wouldn't want him in the physical sense? He certainly did, even with loving Harry. But…wait?
"Or maybe…envious… is the word I should use?"
Blaise flinched.
There. I got it.
Relieved, Draco leaned across the table, planted a chaste kiss on the corner of Blaise's mouth, then brought their foreheads together. "You will get your chance, Blaise, to experience the joy I felt today. I am completely sure of it. If Weasley cannot discover what a catch you are, then he is not worth your time or heartache. Understand?"
"But Draco—"
Draco put a finger to his mouth before kissing his forehead and smiling softly. "Understand?"
Merlin, did Blaise love Draco. This was the side that no one but he and Pansy got to see, the caring, yet demanding, no-nonsense-outta-you side that uplifted his spirits and made him truly believe in what he once thought to be impossible. Taking the fact that Draco took him aside to cheer him up to heart, Blaise let out his own beaming smile and answered, "ok!"
"Alright! Sulking on me like some poor, pathetic soul…ha!"
"What did you put in this drink, Jaylairia? Tell me! Tell me, damnit!"
Draco adorned his devil incarnate smirk and grabbed Blaise once more by the wrist to drag him out the room. "Show time."
"Sorry, sweetheart," came Lady J's silky voice, "Draco's orders."
"Fuck!"
"Catella!"
"Noo!"
A high yip sounded throughout the bar as the staff erupted into bouts of riotous laughter. The sound of paws on hardwood floors came closer to the boys who had stopped in the narrow hallway, Blaise frozen in place with a horrified expression on his face and Draco leaning against the wall with a satisfied look on his face. Soon, an auburn haired puppy with huge, watering spring green eyes came into view, clawing at Draco's trouser leg and howling piteously. Draco turned to Blaise, unruffled.
"Let that be a lesson to you, Blaise. Act like a bitch, get turned into one."
---
To Be Continued…
Next chapter will be up shortly. Review!
-MercuryGoddess-