Chapter 11 Summer
As the weeks dragged on, life returned to a semblance of normalcy. With the aid of Harry, Seamus and Draco were able to meet privately, in much the same way they had before they had come out. This made them both much happier. As the fought off the depression that had threatened to ensnare them, their eating and sleeping habits returned to normal. Harry noticed that they gained a little weight, and they both looked much healthier. All the teachers kept a closer eye on Draco. Although the bulling did not cease, it declined enough that Seamus, who was studying medical magic, was able to tend to Draco injuries without requiring the involvement of Madame Pomfrey. Despite all this, Seamus was still not entirely happy with the situation.
"Draco you should tell someone." Seamus nagged "You shouldn't be letting them do this to you. Nobody is allowed to hurt you." Seamus sighed as he rubbed ointment into the bruises on Draco's chest. It was an old argument that he felt he was never going to win.
"It would only make things worse. Besides, I'd prefer to have you rubbing that stuff over my chest than some old witch." Realising that Seamus was not amused by this attempt at humour, Draco quickly changed his line of argument "Anyway, it's almost the end of term. I'll go hope and recover, and by the time we return everyone will have forgotten about us." Seamus was worried the most by the thought that Draco had actually convinced himself that everything would be that simple.
"You have to go to Dumbledore. This has to be stopped before it gets out of hand. If you don't go, I will." Seamus threatened.
"No you won't." Draco called his bluff "You wouldn't go to him. Not if I really didn't want you to. Which I don't. Besides, it has all calmed down a lot now. I haven't had as many problems as I used to."
Seamus dropped his head. "I care about you Draco. I hate the thought of anyone hurting you. I hate seeing you like this. I hate the thought of you being in pain, and being unable to stop it."
"I'm alright, really. I am used to it now. I don't let it get to me anymore." He placed a hand under the Gryffindor's chin and forced him to look him in the eye. "You have a big heart. You care so very deeply about people and that is part of why you mean so much to me. But you don't need to worry so much about me. I will be fine." he kissed Seamus lightly on the lips for emphasis.
/I only wish I could believe that./ Seamus thought /I don't think I could cope if anything were to happen to you./ Seamus wrapped his arms around the other boy's waist and drew him close.
"Be careful." he pleaded softly in Draco's ear. "Take care of yourself. I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to you." Draco's heart ached. He was touched by Seamus' care and felt he owed it to the Irish boy to take care of himself. After a few minutes Seamus untangled himself from the Slytherin's hold.
"You had better go." He sighed. "The other's should be coming back shortly. We really have to stop meeting in my dorm." Draco kissed him on the forehead and stood.
"I'll see you later." he promised and gave Seamus a heartfelt smile before donning the invisibility cloak and leaving the room.
As the weeks passed the other Gryffindors became suspicious. They started to suspect that Seamus' long absences were because he was meting Draco again. Nobody said anything about it. They had all noticed how much happier Seamus had become, and they didn't want to ruin that for him.
The Slytherin's also developed similar suspicions. They were far less pleased with the prospect.
"Where have you been?" Blaise exploded as Draco entered the common room.
"I've been for a walk. Not that it's any of your business." Draco seemed to receive the third degree anytime he left Blaise's sight. It was beginning to irritate him.
"Liar." Blaise's fist connected with Draco's face and the blond was thrown back a step.
"What was that for?" Draco yelled. Draco resisted the urge to rub his jaw. He was not going to give Blaise that satisfaction.
"I don't like liars." Blaise stated passively.
"And I don't like psychotic bastards, but I don't go around hitting people for it!" Draco yelled again. He'd had enough. Blaise had been toeing the line for quite some time. Draco was just itching for a reason to fight.
"You have been off with that mudblood Gryffindor again." Blaise's voice was rising hysterically. "I'm not stupid. I can tell. Merlin Malfoy, you really disgust me."
"You have no proof of that. You only have assumptions. Speculation." Draco's voice had returned to a normal level. He knew if he wanted to win this argument, he would have to remain in control.
"You are a bloody liar Malfoy. Maybe we should find that filthy little mudblood and beat the truth out of him."
"Watch who you are calling a liar Zambini." Draco's voice turned deadly calm. It was as cold as ice, and cut like a blade. "Do not mess with me. You have no idea what I am capable of doing. I will not be trifled with."
The two Slytherins glared at each other until Blaise broke the eye contact. He bowed his head and moved out of Draco's path. Draco had won this round. As Draco made his way down to the dormitories the other Slytherins scattered in their hurry to get of his way. By now they had all heard about the time Draco had spent with Voldemort over the Christmas holidays and were terrified of what they thought he could do. Seamus was safe for now. There was only a week until the term finished, and then he would return home where the Gryffindor would be out of their reach.
Draco sighed. He was going to miss his boyfriend. At least if Seamus was away from Hogwarts he wouldn't have to worry about the Slytherins hunting him down.
Dumbledore sighed and leant back into his chair. He looked across his desk at the two teachers seated opposite. The three of them were convinced that Seamus and Draco were dating again despite all advice to the contrary.
"Well I think it is a good thing. They have both seemed much healthier since they have been dating. Both physically and mentally. They have even improved their efforts with their class work." There was a murmur of disagreement.
"Yes, Minerva, but is sense Severus has a different opinion?" Dumbledore looked at the Potions master questioningly.
"I feel Minerva's view is rather short sighted." Snape began "Do not misunderstand me. I am relieved the boys are back to their old selves. But what happens when Lucius finds out? He will find out. Let's not confuse ourselves about that."
Dumbledore sighed again. There didn't seem to be any desirable resolution. "I don't know what we are going to do. It would appear obvious that we can not keep the boys apart, even if only for their own good. I can see we are going to have to keep a very close eye on them during these summer holidays. We have to wait and see what happens. There is nothing we can do at the moment." Professor McGonagall nodded.
"That may not be enough." Snape argued. "If Lucius decides he no longer wants to send his son to this school there is nothing we can do to stop him. Then we will not only be failing to protect Draco as his teachers, we will also be failing as members of the Order to protect an innocent from the Dark Arts."
"But there is nothing we can do." McGonagall protested.
"There must be something we can do." Snape turned to Dumbledore.
"Minerva is right." Dumbledore stated. "There is nothing we can do just yet. I will have someone watch Seamus during the holidays to ensure his safety, but other than that it is just a waiting game. If Lucius prevents his son's return to Hogwarts next term then the Order will take steps to ensure young Master Malfoy's safety."
"I only hope that is not too late." Snape whispered.
