The school had quite a split reaction to Kaytlyn's death. The girls acted fake-sad and hugged each other for about a minute. The (straight) boys, however, were positively destroyed. It was like their puppies were all simultaneously run over, except the puppy was Kaytlyn, and she was eaten. A few days afterward the squid spit out one of her arms; Goyle was seen breaking down in tears in Charms and had to be escorted to a quiet room to calm down.
Harry, however startled at Kaytlyn's tragic death, immediately went into business-mode. Everyone knew the Squid didn't attack people unless they were fed specifically to it. If Voldemort had somehow got hold of someone in Hogwarts and used them to feed the American exchange student to the giant squid, what was going to happen next? More deaths of innocent people? Harry knew he couldn't stand for it. He had to do something. What, he didn't know, but it was his responsibility as a death-curse-survivor.
Draco, on the other hand, seemed completely unperturbed that some ditzy American probably muggle-born chick had died. He was thinking constantly about Harry and Voldemort. He sat in the Slytherin common room with Blaise and Pansy. Crabbe and Goyle were crying together about Kaytlyn, and Draco didn't really hang out with them anyways. Even though Blaise is as minor of a character as Sally Anne Perks (who? Draco hears you asking, which is exactly his point), Draco knew he had to have a friend that's not Crabbe or Goyle because they are lumps of stupid; since Blaise is in Slytherin, he is convenient. And for some reason, even though fic writers can write Draco as an amazingly fluffy "I love you don't leave me look I'm crying tear" character ("Which makes me absolutely sick," said Draco. "Malfoys don't cry. Sit down bitch."), they can't write Crabbe and Goyle as capable of intelligent conversation (they aren't, but that's beside the point). So Blaise it is.
Moving on, Draco was so absorbed in memories of great sex that he didn't notice Blaise staring at him intently. In fact, he didn't even notice Pansy, who was practically crawling on top of him and rubbing his thigh in what she thought was a seductive manner. Draco only noticed when she started licking his neck. Blaise lowered his eyes, looking disgusted. Draco jumped.
"What the hell, Pansy?"
"What, Drakey-poo? Do you mind?" Pansy cooed, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
"Of course I mind, you cum guzzling gutter slut! Get off me!"
"But Draco, we could have soooo much fun in your Gigantic Private Bedroom!"
Blaise, who was across from the two, only saw them talking quietly to each other and immediately started sulking. No one ever paid him attention. Draco didn't want him. Pansy didn't want him. Not that he wanted Pansy to want him. But Pansy wanted everyone, so why didn't she want him? Poor, deluded Blaise. He was still hoping that Draco would come to his senses and realize they were meant for each other after all.
"I said no, Pansy. If you go any further, I will consider this rape."
"But Drakey-"
"HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME DRAKEY!" Draco roared. At this, the entire common room fell silent and stared, looking bemused. Blaise felt his heart rate increase. While he was pondering this phenomenon, Draco continued, "Get the fuck off me. Blaise, come with me."
Blaise immediately followed Draco out of the common room and down the hall to his Gigantic Private Bedroom. His heart was beating fast, his palms were sweaty, and he had butterflies in his stomach. Draco didn't want Pansy. Was it possible that Draco wanted...him?
"Blaise, I need to tell you something," Draco said, looking a bit nervous. Blaise was all but freaking out. This was it. He knew it. He knew Draco was going to say-
"I'm sort of...I mean...promise me you won't tell anyone?"
Blaise nodded. If Draco wanted to keep their love a secret, that was fine.
"I'm dating Harry Potter." Blaise's eyes bugged out and he immediately began having spasms.
"You guys, Voldemort has somehow infiltrated Hogwarts again, I'm telling you. Now, you KNOW that the Giant Squid doesn't eat people unless they are specifically fed to him-" Hermione gave a little squeak and looked around nervously- "and so it has to be Voldemort. No one else could be that callous, that cruel, that endlessly terrible, to just kill a person like that, I don't know who else it would be-" Hermione jumped up and said something about finishing an essay, looking crazy and near tears. Harry and Ron shrugged, and Harry continued speaking- "So we have to do something. It's my seventh year, Ron. If I'm going to have a Final Battle with Voldemort, it's going to be this year. It absolutely cannot happen after I leave school. Understood?" Ron nodded. "Since Dumbledore obviously isn't going to do anything, that leaves it up to us...again. And speaking of Dumbledore, he just told me I can do wandless magic, even though JKR has said it's not possible! Isn't that cool?"
Ron sat for a minute. "Isn't that, like, really rare?"
Harry nodded eagerly. "Oh yes, not even Dumbledore can do it. So, I guess I'm like, really powerful. Isn't that cool?"
"Yeah, that's really cool."
"But I wasn't supposed to tell anyone, so don't tell okay?"
"Okay. And now, Harry, I have something to ask you."
"Do go on."
"What have you been up to lately? You're always quiet and secretive, sneaking off and stuff, and you never have a good excuse, but I just let it slide because I'm like that."
Harry shifted uncomfortably. "Nothing's going on, Ron."
"Harry, if you're seeing a girl, you can tell me who. I won't even make fun if you if it's like, Eloise Midgen, or something. What house is she in? Come on, fess up."
"I'm not seeing a girl, I swear," said Harry, looking slightly bemused. "Nothing's going on."
"Oh, okay. Just thought I'd ask! So, what do you want to do about You Know Who?"
"Blaise!" Malfoy snapped, slapping his face. "I don't have time for this! Wake the shit up!"
"Dr...Draco?" Blaise stuttered, sitting up, looking into the face of his angel, his beauty, his one true love. "What happened?"
"I told you I was dating Potter and you-" Blaise promptly went into spasms again. Draco promptly slapped his face again. Blaise's eyes slowly went back into focus. He saw Draco, looking slightly bemused.
"Stop freaking out, Blaise. On second thought, don't. I rather enjoy slapping you." Draco rolled his eyes and smirked. "ANYWAYS, what I was trying to say is that I. Am. Dating. Potter. Get over it quick, because I need some advice."
"Advice?" Blaise sputtered. He knew he must be in shock. First he finds out Draco, his glorious Draco, is dating HARRY POTTER, of all fucking people, and now wants his ADVICE????
"I am über confused. First off, Harry is prude and I want to have sex but he doesn't. Secondly, my father will slit my throat magically and leave me on the doorstep to die if he finds out. Thirdly, the Dark Lord will use me to get to Harry, and then kill me if he finds out. Basically, I think I love Harry and I can't leave him. So the last two are inevitable. But how do I get Harry to have sex with me?"
"Sex?" Blaise sputtered.
"Yes, sex," said Draco, still with a bemused look on his face. "When two people love each other very very much-"
"Oh, shut up. How am I supposed to know how to get Potter to shag you?"
Draco pouted. "What makes you think he'd be shagging me?"
"You're an obvious sub, Draco."
"ARE YOU KIDDING? DO I LOOK-"
"Yes."
"ARE YOU-"
"Yes."
"YOU MUST BE MAKING THIS-"
"No."
"Okay. You're probably right. I'm probably a bottom. But I'll never find out unless Potter gets over his prudishness."
"I don't think I can help you, Draco."
Draco sulked. "I didn't really think you would, anyways." The boys spent the rest of the night chatting in front of the fire in Draco's Gigantic Private Bedroom.
After Harry's long chat with Ron about Voldemort and such, Ron had begun doing homework, and Harry had taken to sitting in front of the fire, thinking. He knew Draco wanted to have sex. And it wasn't like he, Harry, didn't want to. He just didn't know if he should make that big of a commitment. He loved Draco, that he knew; but if they expressed their love physically, he had such a huge chance of getting even more hurt than he could be. And Harry didn't like to be hurt. He had had enough hardship in his life, and he'd be the first one to tell you. Harry decided that even though he didn't want to have sex yet, he did want to go see Draco at that moment and tell him how much he loved him. So he said something random to Ron, who just nodded and smiled, and left the common room, seeking Draco's Gigantic Private Bedroom.
The door opened for him again; he wondered what Draco had done so that it always did that and found himself rather pleased that it responded to him like that. He found himself rather displeased when he saw what, or rather, who, was inside.
Blaise and Draco were sitting on a couch in front of the fire, talking very quietly and intimately. Blaise had his hand draped casually over the back and was just lightly brushing his fingers against Draco's shoulder. Neither had seemed to notice that he had entered. Harry saw red.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!?!" he exploded. Blaise and Draco jumped apart.
"Harry! What are you doing here?"
"I just came to see you – I wanted to – I –" Harry seemed past coherence, just like the author gets late at night which, coincidentally, it is right now.
"This isn't anything – Blaise and I are just friends – we were talking, that's all –"
"OH, YEAH, RIGHT! TRY TO PASS THIS OFF AS NOTHING! JUST BECAUSE I WON'T SHAG YOU YOU GO AND GET SOMEONE ELSE! YOU'RE PATHETIC! I HATE YOU!" Harry cried and ran out of the room.
Draco sat with his mouth open. Finally, he said, "Why does everyone think I'm a bottom?"
Harry ran from the room, blinded by tears. He had never felt so hurt, so utterly betrayed, in his entire life. Not even when he found out that Wormtail had betrayed the whereabouts of his parents to moldie Voldie, causing his parents' death. Draco, the one he loved, the one he trusted, had been the one to hurt him so badly. He didn't know what to do. How could Draco do this to him??? Okay, he hadn't actually been doing anything sexual, but who's to say he wouldn't have, or hadn't already? Harry couldn't take chances like that. Hurt as he was, he was now as glad as ever that he had saved himself. Draco wasn't worth it. Fresh tears coursed their way down Harry's cheeks. He needed to find Hermione, was what he needed. He set out for the library.
Sure enough, there she was, at a table just outside the Restricted Section, reading a book entitled "Criminal Justice: Are You Doomed for Azkaban?" but Harry paid this no attention and flung himself down on the table, positively wailing. Luckily, no one was in there except Hermione, who quickly stowed the book away in her bag.
"Harry, what's wrong?!"
"Draco...and B-B-Blaise," Harry managed to get out before dissolving into tears again. Hermione had never seen Harry cry in the canon, and since this fic is practically canon, she knew it must be serious.
"Were they – doing something?" she asked cautiously.
"They were just all CLOSE and INTIMATE and I KNOW Draco wanted to do something!"
"But he didn't?"
"No, but that's not the point!" Harry roared.
"Right, of course it's not," said Hermione in her soothing, condescending tone. "Harry, I think you should go back and make up with Malfoy."
"WHAT?" Harry screamed, outraged. "HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST SUCH A-"
"I think it's important to get all the facts straight. Hear his side of the story. Maybe he and Blaise weren't doing anything."
"I hardly think that's-"
"Go."
"Okay." And Harry went. Hermione glanced around nervously and took her book back out. That had been a close call.
Harry made his way quickly back to Draco's room. The door opened for him again and he was pleased to find Draco was alone this time, still sitting on the couch, the glow of the fire reflecting off his features. Harry thought he looked positively beautiful.
"Harry," Draco whispered. Harry was surprised to see a tear slipping down his cheek. Harry quickly went over and sat next to Draco on the couch. Neither spoke for a moment.
"I thought I had lost you forever."
"You can't – Draco, it really hurt me to see you with Zabini like that."
Draco nodded. "I know. It won't happen again, Harry. Nothing happened, but I was just upset because you're in danger with Voldemort and I missed you."
"I'm always in danger with Voldemort. I'm the Boy Who Lived."
"I know, but I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you, do you understand me? Promise me that you won't go looking for trouble," Draco said urgently. Harry saw the true concern and love in his eyes and all but melted into a pile of slippery goo on the floor, seriously endangering anyone who would walk by.
"Draco, I won't. I just want to be here with you."
"That's all I want too, Harry." The boys kissed passionately, heatedly, both expressing the love they felt physically. Flickering light from the fire danced upon their lovely faces as their Draco's long, slender fingers entangled themselves in Harry's unruly raven locks. Harry's rough hands slid down Draco's smooth arms and came to rest on his Quidditch-muscled back. Harry sighed in happiness. He had never felt so utterly complete. They broke apart and just sat with their arms around each other for a moment, foreheads touching. Then Harry spoke up.
"Draco, I want to tell you something."
"Mmm?" Draco said lazily, twirling a lock of Harry's hair around his finger and brushing his other fingers across the top of Harry's spine. Harry shivered.
"I can do wandless magic. Dumbledore just told me that with the proper training, I could become even more powerful than him."
"Harry, that's brilliant! I've never known anyone that could do wandless magic," Draco replied. Well, except Voldemort. But he wasn't about to say that out loud. Harry nodded, grinning and looking excited.
"I have to do extra lessons with Snape, because Dumbledore said he has experience working with people like me. I asked who, but he said it wasn't important. It should be great, though. Even though I'm with Snape."
"Sev's not a bad person," Draco said.
"Sev?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Oh yeah. He's my godfather, so I call him Sev when we aren't in the classroom."
Harry almost spit. "Your godfather?"
"What, are you surprised or something?"
"Well, yes! Aren't your parents like 5 years older than him? How do they know each other?"
"Well, they're all Death Eaters, aren't they?" Draco said casually. Harry's mouth dropped open.
"How can you just say it like that?! Like it's no big deal that they pledged their lives to an evil, sick bastard?" he hissed. Draco looked bemused.
"Well that was my plan of action before I met you, wasn't it? So I don't think it's all that different. It's how I've grown up."
Harry melted a little. "I'm the reason you aren't going to be a Death Eater anymore?"
Draco nodded. "What else would the reason be?"
"That you realized Voldemort was an evil, sick bastard and shouldn't listen to him?"
Draco almost laughed. "Everyone knows that, but there are more things at hand. Family obligation. That kind of thing."
"But your father's an evil, sick bastard too! How do you stand it?"
Draco looked angry, now. "He's still my father, Harry, and I really don't want to hear you say that about him. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here."
"But Draco, he almost killed me."
Draco paused. "Yes, but you almost killed him, too. You got him into Azkaban."
"And he got right out. Besides, he's the evil one, not me."
"Don't you get it? You might see him like that, but he's my father. My dad. The guy who used to read me bedtime stories and take me out flying. I love him."
"And what about me?" Harry asked angrily. This wasn't going how he'd wanted.
Draco sighed. "I love you, too. But he's my family, Harry. My blood."
"Sorry, Draco, but I don't know if I can handle you still being under his influence. Are you still considering taking the Mark?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "No, Harry."
"Does your father know that?"
"Are you crazy? If he knew that he would kill me. He cannot know."
"He's going to find out. What happens when you turn 17?"
Draco pinched the bridge of his nose. "I really don't want to have this conversation, Harry. Can we just get on with it and have the make-up sex?"
"You want to have sex now?"
"I always want to have sex. And besides, the author wants us to."
"Oh. Okay then." Harry and Draco proceeded to (edited) and (edited). Then they said their I Love Yous and went to sleep in Draco's Gigantic Private Bed, getting good REM sleep to be fully rested for the next day.
A/N: bemused (v.): To be bewildered; confused. It's amused you're looking for, people. Not bemused. This is possibly my second biggest grammar pet peeve, ever. I think I've maybe seen bemused used correctly once in a fic. Please, take it from me. It does not mean amused. They are not synonyms. Please. No more. Speaking of grammar, did you know that this: ?! has a name? It's called an interrobang. I learned that from Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody by Michael Gerber, which is genius work that all should read. You can get it at Barnes and Noble or out of your local library. Coincidentally, it's also where I got my penname from. Moving on...
Sorry for my slow updating-ness. My computer broke, which was almost the end of me, and I feared all my writing would get deleted, but it didn't, and I have it back, so here's chapter 5, hoorah! I tried to upload it yesterday but it wouldn't let me. Chapter 6 is coming along veerryyy slowly. I've no clue when I'll update next, sad to say...I'll try to make it soon.
Erm, this is a long A/N. Next time, look for detention with Professor Snape, ghost!Kaytlyn, Harry becoming uber powerful, uber fast, and much more!
Thanks so much for the reviews!
Faye407: LOL No I'm not 10. I'm 17. And yes, sausage ::wicked grin:: There will be more funny penis-names coming in future chapters, if you can ever get to them (and if I can ever write them, I'm such a slacker) :D Thanks for reviewing!!
Daniels Dark Angel: Whee, I'm glad! Hope you enjoyed this one, and thanks for reviewing!
FlamencoPenguin: Hehe, thanks! So glad you're enjoying it! (Ron is a bit slow, isn't he? :D)
sexAy-iranian23: Glad you're enjoying! Sorry this took so long, but I hope you liked it.
Edited??: Oh, I did let loose the first time. Then I got kicked off. So I restrained myself a bit the second time. I got kicked off again. I really held back the third time and I was SURE I wouldn't get kicked off. I DID. Therefore, this time, everything is edited, and if you want to read the real, lovely, smutty NC-17 version, there is a link in my profile, that leads to lots of other smut as well.
Alora: Thanks! So glad you're liking it! Sorry this took so long...
Pisces-twins (Aqua): Thank you so much! Your review made me grin like a fool. Don't worry, I adore H/D fics like no other. I mock because I love :D I hope you didn't wake anyone up, hehe. Yeah, the edits suck, but I do what I have to do. Hermione's sneaky, isn't she? We'll see what she's up to...Thanks so much, again, I hope you liked this chapter!
U no bitch: Thank you for that thoughtful and intriguing piece of constructive criticism. I will keep in mind what you've said, and hope you review again in the future.
Twodollartrick: Yes, nine, and I've got 4 partially done :D Oh, if only money weren't an object, I'd write all the time...Don't worry, I don't take reviews like that one seriously, I find them rather funny, actually. Well thanks for saying hello, I swear TONIGHT I'm going to sit down and figure out where Addiction is going, and I'll talk to you later!