Angels and Dragons, Chapter Nine: "Full Force"
Legal Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, and I probably never will, so it's a good thing I can create stories about 'em. Do not sue me for using these characters and for putting them in the situation that I have. I do own this story, so there will be no copying.
Okay, enough of that stuff. Down to business. Hello to my loyal fan base, and to all of you new people who may not know me, my name is Ryo-sama. In case you couldn't tell from the last chapter, I love making characters out-of-character, and I try to add a little bit of comedy to my stories. Well, enough of that. Onward to the next installment!
Chapter Nine: "Full Force"
It had been a month since the attack, and Draco was still showing signs that it had affected him more than he let on. Harry didn't know how to help him, except to just be there for him. Ron and Hermione were a great help, too. They all three tried their hardest to stay off the subject and cheer Draco up as best as they could. Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, and Mad-Eye all continued to drop by the school to say hi to Harry, Draco, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, Luna, Fred, and George (Fred and George weren't going to school anymore of course, but they continued to keep up with everybody and dropped by every once in awhile.)
"Hey, Potter. How've you been holding up?" asked Moody on one of his visits.
"I'm holding up, but I'm not quite sure about Draco."
"I think Malfoy'll be all right. He just needs a little time and comfort."
"Thanks."
"Cheer up, Harry. I'm sure he'll be fine. After all, he's your boyfriend and you're always there for him," said Tonks.
"Yeah, you're right. Well, I'll see you around," said Harry, hurrying toward the Tower to find Draco. Draco was in the Tower, sitting on the floor with his head in his hands.
"Draco, love, can I do anything for you?" Harry whispered. All Draco could manage was a slight shake of his head. Harry knelt beside him, but Draco turned away. Harry reached out and pulled Draco to him, not caring if Draco tried to pull away.
"Please don't push me away, love. I can't stand to see you like this. Why won't you talk to me?"
"I'm sorry, Harry. I just wanted to deal with my problems alone."
"But you're not alone, Draco. Not now, and not ever. I made a promise to you to always be with you, and I intend to keep it."
"Thank you, Harry," whispered Draco, leaning against his angel. They remained in this position for some time. Then Draco moved his head so that he was facing Harry, who was fidgeting slightly. Draco looked at him questioningly.
"My leg fell asleep," said Harry. Draco laughed. "Laugh it up, golden boy." Draco stopped laughing.
"Where'd you come up with that?"
"With what? Oh, you mean the 'golden boy' thing? I don't know," he said with a shrug.
"You're something else, Harry Potter," said Draco, shaking his head.
"Why thank you. I'll take that as a compliment."
"Hey, isn't that you owl, Harry?" asked Draco, looking over at the open window.
"Hedwig! What're you doing here?" He pulled the note off of her leg. Hedwig hooted, nipped his finger affectionately, and flew off. Harry opened the letter and read it. As he read it, a smile slowly appeared across his face.
"What is it, Harry? Who's it from?"
"Your mother."
"What?" Harry laughed and handed the letter to a very shocked Draco. Draco took it and read it, then he too smiled.
"My mother's a funny person. Only she would write to you and tell you to hurry up and ask me to marry you." (A/N: Don't ask me why I've switched to the topic of marriage so quickly. I thought it was sweet, and that's all I can say in my defense.)
"Well, at least she's honest," said Harry, shrugging his shoulders.
"How come my mother is corresponding with you anyway?" asked Draco, raising his eyebrows.
"She's just checking to see how you're doing. She wrote to me and asked me to keep her updated on how you're doing."
"Oh, okay."
"You don't mind, do you, love?"
"Not at all, my angel." Harry smiled at being called Draco's "angel."
"My silver-blue eyed vision of beauty," said Harry, hugging Draco.
"You come up with some strange nicknames for me, you know that? And I'm sorry I've been so down lately. I shouldn't have been ignoring you. Do you forgive me, angel?"
"Of course, Draco. I just want you to be happy."
"Thank you for always being there for me when I need you most. You're always being so caring, even when I ignore you. I want to make it up to you somehow. How can I?"
"You don't have..."
"I know I don't, but I want to. It seems so unfair that you always do things for me and I've never done anything for you."
"Yes you have, Draco. You love me, and that's enough. I do things for you because I can, not because I expect you to do something for me."
"Well, I appreciate it, but I want to give you something in return. I guess I'll have to think about it first before I do anything."
"You're weird, you know that?" said Harry, shaking his head. Draco just smiled. After a few minutes of silence, Draco stood up, then held his hand out to Harry. Harry smiled and took hold of Draco's hand.
"I think we'd better go, Harry. My stomach says it's time for supper."
"All right. Let's go." Harry gave Draco's hand a playful squeeze, but didn't let go. Draco smiled, and as they reached the bottom of the staircase they used to get to their rooms, Draco gently kissed Harry, causing several students to stop and stare.
"Draco, you're gonna scare all of the younger students. Stop doing things like that," scolded Harry in a hushed voice, but he still smiled.
"Aw, you're no fun Harry. Why can't I show my affection?" whined Draco, knowing that Harry might smack him on the head for whining. Harry rolled his eyes.
"You're hopeless, Draco Malfoy. But I guess you already knew that, huh?"
"Yep. I enjoy scaring the little kids, though. It's more fun," purred Draco.
"Draco," warned Harry. Draco smiled and squeezed Harry's hand. They entered the Great Hall, holding hands and smiling. A few of the students stopped talking to watch them, but most didn't seem to mind anymore.
"Hi, Harry! Hi, Draco! How are you doing?" asked Hermione as they approached where she was sitting. Ron looked up from his plate long enough to wave, and then went back to stuffing his face. Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I'm fine, Hermione. I see that your boyfriend is enjoying himself too. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but whatever," said Draco.
"I'm doing fine, Hermione. Draco seems to be returning to his normal self now. He was enjoying scaring the younger students as we were walking."
"Well, at least he's in a good mood, Harry. It looks like Lupin, Tonks, and Moody are staying at Hogwarts tonight," Hermione added, motioning to the teachers' table. Harry and Draco saw the three of them sitting between Dumbledore and McGonagall. Tonks had changed her hair to lavender, which wasn't too bad, but some of the other teachers still didn't seem to approve of her hair color. She caught sight of Harry, Draco, and Hermione looking and changed her hair to bubblegum pink, just to get them to laugh. Two of the teachers, Professors Flitwick and Sprout, fell out of their chairs, Snape sneered, and the others either smiled or pretended not to notice. Some of the students smiled, but the majority hadn't seen what had caused Flitwick and Sprout to fall out of their chairs, so they just sat in their seats looking confused. Harry, Draco, and Hermione were trying not to laugh out loud, but they were having difficulties. Lupin said something to Dumbledore, then stood up and started to walk toward Harry and Draco, who were still standing and talking with Hermione.
"Hello, Hermione. Hello, Harry, Draco. How are you?" asked Lupin, directing his question at Draco.
"I'm fine, sir."
"Good. I was wondering if, after supper, the two of you would mind staying behind. I believe that what we have to say might interest you. Also, if Hermione and the Weasleys would like to stay, they may. You might want to start eating, because if you don't, I daresay Ron will eat it all," added Lupin with a laugh. At the mention of his name, Ron looked up, prompting a round of laughter from everyone who'd heard what Lupin had said.
"Remus, would it be okay if Neville stayed behind too?" asked Hermione in a whisper.
"Of course. I think he'll find this fascinating as well," added Lupin as he walked back to the teachers' table.
"I wonder what it is that could be so fascinating," said Hermione.
"I don't know, but I guess we'd better eat, huh Harry?" said Draco, squeezing Harry's hand before walking over to the Slytherin table. Harry smiled and sat down next to Hermione.
"So, have you asked him yet, Harry?" whispered Hermione.
"No, I don't think I will until his mother is released," said Harry.
"But Harry, that won't be for another four or five months! Are you sure you want to wait that long just to ask him?" said Hermione, sounding shocked.
"I don't know yet." Hermione shook her head. Harry turned his attention toward the three guests and smiled. Even though they weren't really his family, they had become like a family ever since they got him out of the Dursleys' house last year. He had remained with the Weasleys, but he was more connected to the others in the Order. Harry wasn't sure why, but it was probably because his parents had been involved in it originally. Even though Lord Moldy Shorts was gone, his followers still existed, and a lot of them were still at large. Harry hoped that the Order could catch them so that nobody else died.
"Harry, are you all right? You seem to be out of it," said Hermione, sounding concerned. Harry looked at her and smiled.
"I'm fine, Hermione. I was just thinking."
"Okay," she said with a smile.
"Ron, if you eat anymore food, you're not going to be able to leave this table," Harry said.
"Aw, come on, mate. I'm just hungry," whined Ron. Hermione smacked him upside the head.
"Don't whine, Ron. You've had enough to eat, now let everybody else have some food," said Hermione.
"Hey Harry, why are we here?" asked Neville quietly.
"Remus said that he had something to say that might be of interest to us," said Hermione, who was still sitting next to Ron. The rest of the Weasleys, including the twins (who were still hanging around), sat on either side of them. Harry was sitting between Neville and Draco, watching the teachers, who all seemed to be hanging around, waiting to hear what was going to be said.
"Oh, okay. Why would it interest us?" asked Neville.
"I'm not sure," replied Harry. At that point, the Headmaster cleared his throat, so they quieted down to listen.
"As you know, the Order has been trying to capture the remaining Death Eaters that escaped from Azkaban. We've managed to get most of them, but the Lestranges are the last ones walking free." At this, Neville stiffened next to Harry. Harry looked around at the others, then looked at Dumbledore and stood. Dumbledore acknowledged him, so Harry spoke.
"Do we have any idea as to where they are?" asked Harry through clenched teeth.
"As a matter of fact, we do. They've been spotted, only once, in London, where they used to live," said Mad Eye.
"Are they...have they killed or tortured anybody?" whispered Hermione.
"No, not yet. We're hoping to catch them before they do. From what I've heard from Kingsley, the Ministry isn't going to do anything about them unless they start attacking, but by then it'll be too late to stop them. That's where everybody here comes in," said Lupin.
"What do you mean, Remus?" asked Draco.
"What I mean, Draco, is that all of you can help us capture them. All of you have been affected by the Lestranges, and you know what they're capable of doing. Plus, you know quite a few curses that have proved very effective. It seems crazy, but we've all discussed it," said Tonks, indicating everyone at the table, "And we think that you'll be able to help us. Do you want to?" Harry glanced at Draco and Neville, who both nodded and stood up with him. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George all stood up.
"I guess that means we'll all help," said Harry with a smile.
"Good. Let's go, then. Which teachers will agree to stay here and try to keep the school under control?" asked Dumbledore. The only teachers who did not raise their hands were McGonagall, Flitwick, and Hagrid. (A/N: Yes, he's a teacher; no I don't know why, so please do not ask. Carry on!)
"Okay, then. I know that we'll be short on teachers, and it won't be long before the Ministry hears of this, but try to keep the students from saying anything to their families. If necessary, keep them in their dorms," said Dumbledore. Harry stood up and walked over to Tonks, who had stood up and seemed to want to talk to Harry.
"Tonks, are any of the other members of the Order joining us?" he asked in a hushed tone. Tonks smiled and shook her head.
"If any of the others joined us, it would look too suspicious, and the Ministry would investigate sooner than we want them to. That's why we need you. The ministry won't know which students have left the school right away, so it's easier to do. Besides, the eight of you are the most capable and highest ranking students here," she added with a wink. Harry smiled.
"Okay then, let's get moving so as to avoid being seen by any of the students," said Dumbledore, motioning for the group to follow him as he left the Great Hall.
Okay, so what did you think? Yes, I know: it's a cliff hanger. I didn't do it on purpose in this story, but that's what happens sometimes. Please R&R! Bye for now!