Hiya! I'm really sorry I didn't update last week but, once again, I was in a hurry, and I definitely did not want to update because I didn't want the same thing to happen as with chapter thirteen. I realize that the previous chapter was not, by any means, my best work yet. I was hurried and frantic; I wanted to read the HP book (which, by the way, did not satiate me at all. I mean, I had practically already read half the book on but I also wanted to update for you guys, so…yeah. It didn't come out very well and I don't think that's for to you guys. So anyway, I'm taking my time on this chapter so that I can make it about the same length as my usual chapters. :-P

BTW: Since this is AU and it's Mr., Ms., and Mrs. Instead of 'Professor', I've decided to simply assume the Professor McGonagall is not married since it hasn't been hinted at otherwise in the books.

So anyway, yeah! Moving on to the story!

Chapter 14

Insinuations

Harry's shock remained, lingering through the rest of the morning. His first five classes went by in a blur. He realized now how ignorant he had been on Friday night, letting his emotions get the best of him and not taking the necessary precautions to have been unnoticed; how ignorant both he and Draco had been.

What am I going to do? He thought to himself, worried. His sixth period class was spent berating himself angrily, the shock having been forgotten. Now, he was upset and annoyed with himself as well as Draco. How could they have been so stupid? How could they have been so –

"Potter, if you do not wish to pay attention in my class, the door is to your right," Ms. McGonagall cut in irately. She had already called is attention twice before and by now most students would have been given a detention. Harry appreciated her tolerance and made sure to pay attention for the fifteen minutes left in the class period.

The bell finally rang and Harry hurried to pack his backpack and leave. Ms. McGonagall had other plans, however.

"Mr. Potter, would you come here, please," she said from her desk. With an inward sigh, Harry swung his backpack over his shoulder, stood up straight, and walked over to the older woman's desk.

"Yes, Ms. McGonagall?" Harry asked, forcing himself to put on a small smile.

"I noticed that you were not, shall we say, 'all there' in my class today."

"I'm sorry, I really am. I'll make sure not to let it happen again. I-"

"Mr. Potter," she cut in. "Had it been any other day, I would have readily given you a detention for being so rude as to daydream during my class."

"Yes, I-"

But again, the elderly woman cut him off. "However, I don't think that today was any ordinary day." Harry froze. "You seemed very… worried. Is something wrong?"

Harry looked down. Yes, of course there was something wrong, but it wasn't as though he was going to tell her. Yes, Ms. McGonagall was a nice person at heart, but she was also the strictest teacher he had ever known. Mr. Snape was simply mean, but Ms. McGonagall was strict. She followed every rule in the school handbook as though it was the bible. If Harry told her about his dating Draco…ha! He didn't even want to think about it. The idea was simply ludicrous. She would be the first one to go to Principle Dumbledore, or worse, the police.

Honestly, Harry couldn't even tell Ron or Hermione. As if he would actually tell Ms. McGonagall. He did wish there were someone in whom he could confide; someone who he could just pour his emotions out to; Ron or Hermione…but he couldn't tell them, and he new this. If Draco didn't think it wise, which was most definitely the case, then Harry was sure that he shouldn't tell anyone- not even one of his best friends.

"Mr. Potter?" Ms. McGonagall asked after several moments of silence had passed. The young brunette shook his head to clear his mind and put on the best smile he could muster up.

"Don't worry. It's nothing, really. Just… erm… girl problems."

The female teacher stood, mouth hanging slightly open before she regained her composure and exclaimed, "Is that all? You looked as though the world were about to come to an end! Honestly, I thought that surely it would be some more serious, but no! Teenagers, these days…" she continued muttering to herself before she realized that Harry was still waiting for her to dismiss him and so she muttered a quick, "You may leave, Potter."

Harry turned around and began his journey out of the classroom, when he heard a quietly murmured, "Next time I'll be sure to give him a double detention…" Harry merely rolled his eyes and continued down the hall, making a turn soon after, and walking down the steps toward the cafeteria. He was just glad to finally be done with his classes for a little while.

At lunch, he would be able to just relax and not think about anything at all.

Think again, he thought to himself, as he held back the urge to let out a terrible groan. Ginny was sitting right between Hermione and Ron so that it would be impossible for Harry to avoid her. Letting out a dreadful sigh, he bought his lunch and made his way to the table in which his newly-made enemy sat.

Sitting across from Ron, Ginny, and Hermione, he set down his tray and quietly began to eat. He was afraid to speak, thinking that anything he said could, at any moment, fire Ginny up and urge her to let out what would be a horrible outburst.

Hermione finally noticed Harry's silent demeanor and asked, "What's wrong, Harry?"

His head snapped up, having been taken by surprise, and he asked, "Who? Me?"

"Yes, you; who else would I be talking to? You're the only one here saying nothing at all. Are you alright?"

"Er…" he glanced over at Ginny, as if hoping to get the okay by her, afraid of angering her in any way, but the red-headed teen was pointedly ignoring him. He hated being so scared of Ginny, but she now had a huge power over him, and there was nothing he could do about it. "No, I'm fine, Hermione. I guess I'm just a bit tired; I didn't get too much sleep last night," which wasn't exactly a total lie, seeing as to how he had spent most of the night replaying and fantasizing about his night with Draco.

"How come?" Ron asked, studying Harry's features.

"Oh, well, um…"

"You know what I think is really disgusting?" Ginny said aloud, interrupting Harry's struggle to find a reply.

"What?" Ron asked, curious about Ginny's sudden, out of the blue comment.

"Have you ever seen one of those movies, where the teacher is dating his student? I mean, what kind of psycho would you have to be to get a kick out of something disgusting like that?"

Harry tensed up and quickly cast his eyes down, suddenly studying his food as though the secret of life were hiding somewhere within the pre-cooked cafeteria lunch. Ron made a face, grimacing slightly, and Hermione wrinkled up her nose just a bit, disapprovingly. Fred and George, however, who sat side by side on Harry's right began to cackle evilly.

"Actually," began Fred.

"That doesn't sound too bad." George cut in, and from there, the two took turns cutting in and continuing each other's sentences.

"I mean, just imagine it."

"A young student, falling in love with her teacher,"

"And the teacher reciprocating those feelings,"

"But of course, none of them can openly show their true feelings,"

"Because modern-day society would look down upon it, harshly,"

"So they date in secret,"

"And then they have hot, raunchy sex!" Fred exclaimed.

"Yeah! They do it in the closet,"

"And in empty classrooms,"

"And in the locker rooms,"

"And with a whip!"

"And-"

"Ugh! That is disgusting!" Ginny exclaimed, horrified.

"That's gross," Ron said, looking disgusted.

Hermione simply rolled her eyes while shaking her head, muttering, "Boys."

"Well, Harry doesn't think it's so disgusting, do you?" Fred asked, wrapping and arm across the brunette's shoulders. Harry tried let out a nervous chuckle.

"Yeah, you're on our side, are you, buddy?" George added.

"Umm…I don't know…I guess." He could feel his face burning up. Why did the twins have to put him on the spotlight like this? Worse yet, why did Ginny have to bring the subject up in the first place?

The rest of the lunch period went by with Fred and George making up more perverted scenarios, making each worse than the one before, with added detail enough to make Ron turn a suck shade of green and to make Hermione excuse herself, reasoning that she should try and get a head start on next week's homework.

DHDHDH

During the beginning eighth period, Harry noticed that Draco was behaving very tentatively around Harry. He hesitantly asked Harry a question on the book, saying Harry's name cautiously.

"And what do you think about this… Harry?"

The blond collected Friday night's homework and took Harry's paper carefully, looking him in the eyes, questioningly. The young teen was confused at first, but suddenly, it dawned on him. Draco was afraid that Harry had changed his mind about things all over again and regretted Friday night's actions.

So, with the hope of sweeping Draco's worries away, Harry caught the blonde's eyes and gave him a reassuring, and wide grin. Immediately, the older man gave returned Harry's grin with a small smile of his own, so as not to make things so obvious, but for the rest of the class period, a change in Draco's demeanor was apparent.

The class ended with Draco announcing that there would be no homework for the day, which was rewarded with whoops of glee from several of the students. Harry would have been just as happy except for the problem with Ginny. Draco seemed so happy now, and the emerald-eyed boy did not want to upset him and bring down his joy, but he had to.

He "accidentally" dropped his backpack while it was open, spilling out all his contents. He swooped down to begin repacking his things while Ron and Hermione walked over to him to wait. "It's alright, you guys. Go on, I don't want you to be late."

Hermione was happy to oblige and Ron just gave him an odd look before agreeing and following Hermione out the door. Once he was sure the room had been cleared of all students, Harry got up, his backpack forgotten, close the door gently, and walked over to Draco.

"How's my favorite guy doing, today?" Draco asked, and he pulled Harry in for a kiss before the youth could reply. Harry let himself enjoy the kiss, knowing that Draco wouldn't be as "lovey dovey" after he told the blonde of the news on Ginny.

He bit onto Draco's lower lip gently, tugging him back in for another kiss, which he was more than happy to comply with. Harry's fingers ached to reach up, under Draco's shirt and feel his silky skin once again, but he realized there was a limited amount of time before the next class came in, and grudgingly pulled himself away.

"What is it?" Draco asked, noticing Harry's worried look.

"I…Ginny knows." He had meant to be a little more subtly than that, but the words had simply stumbled out before he could properly think.

"What?" Draco asked, genuinely confused, before realization struck. "…no."

"Yes," Harry corrected, nodding mournfully. "She saw us after you followed me out of the gym."

"Shit."

Harry watched anxiously as Draco leaned against his desk. During the many times Harry had been with Draco, he had hardly ever heard him curse, unless jokingly, and even then, it was very rare. The young brunette swallowed nervously before joining Draco, leaning against the desk. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know." Draco answered, truthfully.

Harry's eyes widened slightly. "What do you mean, you don't know?" For some reason, he'd always thought that Draco had all the answers, but as Harry had begun to realize before, Draco was only human. He let out a quiet sigh.

"I mean, 'I don't know.' God, what did she say?"

"She was really angry about it; disgusted by it, actually. She said that if we didn't break it off soon, she would tell."

Draco turned to Harry questioningly, his questions asking what his voice dared not inquire aloud. Harry let out a small smile and gave Draco a chaste kiss. "Draco, trust me, I don't want to end this. I want to figure out a way to make this work." Harry enjoyed reassuring the blond, seeing a whole new side to Draco; a vulnerability he had never known existed.

Draco's features brightened and his confidence was reassured as he spoke. "Alright, well, I guess you'll just have to tell her that we did break up. I mean, it's no big deal. Then, from there, we'll just have to be a lot more careful. No more slip-ups. We've got to be more aware of our actions and in control of our emotions."

Harry nodded in agreement. He had just one nagging question.

"Draco, I know you probably wouldn't want me to, and it's probably stupid, but I just wish I could tell someone, you know? To have someone to talk to about all this, like Hermione or Ron. I mean, it's not fair. When Ron was dating Lavender, he talked about her nonstop, proud and showing her off, but I can't talk about you to anyone."

Draco gave him a look of sincere sympathy. "I know it must be hard, but I really don't think it would be a good idea to tell anyone; even if it's your best friend."

Harry nodded. Of course, he had known this would be Draco's answer, but he had still hoped. If Draco had believed the idea was acceptable, then Harry would have, too, but the fact was that telling anyone could get them both into serious trouble.

There was still another minute before the next class was due to come in, and Harry figured he could simply get Draco to write him a note for his next class, so he stayed there by Draco's side, resting his head on the blonde's shoulder.

"So how did it go with your parents?"

Harry muffled a groan in Draco's neck. "You don't want to know."

"Oh, but I do."

Harry let out a small chuckle and began his telling of Friday night's events. "I got home and they were waiting for me, and my mom was completely furious. Then my dad followed me up to my room and told me he'd known what I'd been up to. Naturally, I totally freaked out, but then he told me the most ridiculous thing!"

"What? He doesn't know about us, does he?"

"Not by a long shot. He thinks I went out and had sex with some girl." Draco stifled his laugh and allowed Harry to continue. "Then he went into this whole deal, telling me all about safe sex and warning me to use condoms and all that. And then, after all that, he said that it was really alright for me to have sex, but just not to let my mom know!"

"You have got to be kidding me?"

"I'm not!" The two fell into a fit of laughter before the bell for the beginning of next period finally rang and Harry straightened up and walked over to the door. "Oh wait," he said. "Draco, write me a note for my next class, please."

"Sure." He wrote out a note, as the students from the next class began to file in. Harry quickly took the note and slipped out of the class inconspicuously, escaping the attention of the other students.

DHDHDH

As the final class bell rang, Draco dismissed his class and set about packing his briefcase and tidying up his desk. He hated coming to school in the mornings to e messy desk; it made him feel frustrated and overworked before the day even began.

He closed his briefcase just as the last student, a girl with two brown ponytails bobbing perkily at the top of her head, and began to take his own leave of the classroom. Just as he reached the door, however, a tall, dark figure made its presence at the blonde's door.

"Hello, Severus," Draco greeted, putting on a stiff smile. The beady-eyed, older teacher never settled well with Draco. He found the man to be overbearing and, well, for a lack of better words, mean. Being a fellow colleague, however, he had to suck it up and behave friendly toward the other man.

"You disgust me," He began by way of greeting.

Oh, Severus, you're too kind. Such a lovely sole, you are. Truly. Draco thought to himself, sarcastically. Instead, he simply said, "I beg your pardon?"

"Don't think I'm completely oblivious to your actions. The others may be, but I am not. I am not stupid; I see right through your fake little front."

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop playing the innocent young man."

"I'm sorry, but if you intend to have me follow along with you, you're going to have to be just a little more specific than that."

Snape's eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze burned into Draco's eyes menacingly, but the blonde remained calm and nonchalant. Finally, the older man decided to test a different approach.

"It is curious, you see, when certain events happen, one after the other. Mr. Potter," Draco had to hold back a flinch as his beloved brunette was brought into the subject, "is a very…average young man. He is like any other teen: he plays basketball, just barely gets by, passing all his grades, and he enjoys hanging out with his friends. But during these past few years in which I have known him, he has never, not once, developed an especially close relationship with any teacher."

He paused for dramatic effect, looking Draco in the eyes before continuing.

"Yet, you come into this school, a mere substitute, and he is all over you like white on rice. Everywhere I turn, I see the two of you together."

"What are you getting at, Severus? I'm a friendly teacher, and I make sure that all my students can feel comfortable around me. If you are simply just a tad bit jealous of my ability to-"

"Jealous! Ha! That will be the day. No, my point is that it is very curious just how close you and that Potter boy are, specifically. I've seen you together during mornings before class begins, between classes, after school… and every time, you tell me that it is for extra credit, questions about his grades, or questions about homework assignments. Yet, his grades, from what I can tell, are nearly perfect."

"That's because he comes for so much help as you have so clearly just proved."

Snape scowled angrily, but continued, refusing to give up his argument. "Most curious, however, is the fact the both you and Mr. Potter left the dance on Friday night at nearly exactly the same time. I saw him leave, and then I saw you follow him soon after."

"What's your point?"

"You both left through the same exit at about the same time. Did you not see him?"

"Yes, I saw him, and I said a quick hello. We talked for a bit and then I went home, as my shift was over."

"Are you sure?" Snape persisted.

"Yes." Draco answered, trying to hold back his anger, though the fire in his eyes was quickly blowing his cover of indifference.

"Really? Because I don't think that's what happened at all. I think something a bit more happened; something that is, perhaps, forbidden."

"Are you trying to insinuate something?" Draco asked, stiffly.

"I am insinuating nothing; I am simply making observations. But you would do well to remember the rules of this school; the laws of this government. There are consequences for every action made, and many of them happen to be disastrous."

Draco said nothing, but kept a steady gaze. After a few moments of silence, Snape made just one more comment before leaving the classroom. "Be warned; I will be keeping a close eye on you, Draco."

Draco glared and muttered to the brunette's retreating back, "You do that."

AN:

Alright, well, this is not as long as chapter twelve, but it is as long as chapter eleven. So that means it's definitely longer than the last chapter! I hope you guys liked it. I don't think this chapter actually really has all that much drama, but it sort of brought out the fact that there are serious problems waiting for Harry and Draco. And trust me, the full effects haven't hit him yet, but Harry will soon realize just how complicated things can really get. Before this, it has been little problems, like being too nervous to say "I love you," and being embarrassed as Draco watched him during the game, but as you well know, the whole adult dating minor thing is illegal, and so bigger problems are bound to come in sooner or later. So throughout the rest of the chapters, I'm going to try to make this more serious, which is a little hard for me since I like more happy, easy going, even sometimes funny things to take place during my stories. So we'll see how things go. Please review! It makes me very, very happy! Pretty please… this time with a naked Draco and Harry on top?

xoxo Spideria xoxo