Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me (sobs hysterically)
Timeline: October, in Harry's seventh year.
Warnings: Slash. Don't like it? Don't read it!
Behind the Masks
Part Two: The Secret Muse
When Harry finally made it back to the common room the first thing he saw Hermione, Ron and Sean with two others were sitting in front of the fire drinking warm butterbeer and laughing. They were all still wearing their costumes and when Hermione saw Harry enter she jumped up and screamed. "YOU'RE THE BOY!"
"I BLOODY KNOW!" Harry shouted, automatically thinking she meant something else.
"You were the guy that was dancing with the beautiful girl in blu-ooo!" Hermione sang smiling from the butterbeer.
"I KNOW." Harry whimpered and collapsed onto the couch. "I'm in love with her but she bloody-well hates me now."
"Why? What happened, mate?" Ron asked sitting towards the edge of his chair.
"I don't know? I've never felt like this before, she was so amazing…. and it's not just that she's beautiful…. it was like I felt like…." Harry started searching for the right word. "...amazing when I was with her. I mean bloody brilliant, you know?" He asked to no one in particular. "I told her I wanted to keep seeing her and we…we kissed and I thought she felt the same way but when I offered to walk her to her dorms I realized we could take off our masks so, I took mine off."
"What happened?" Neville asked looking a bit mystified.
"She…she completely freaked out and started chocking on my name, kept screaming "POTTER?"!"
They all frowned, none more then Hermione who then asked what happened next.
"She kept yelling my name and then finally screamed. "YOU'RE THE BLOODY BOY WHO LIVED." Like I needed reminding. And went running from the room!" Harry screamed muffled by the maroon pillow he held to his face.
"Oh, Harry I'm sorry she must have been really scared about the war." Hermione said gently.
Harry moaned. "I know! When we were talking for hours and…and… she told me she was scared of a lot of things at the moment, school, her family and the war and…I just thought…I should have realized she'd be terrified I'm…I AM THE WAR FOR MERLIN'S SAKE."
Hermione patted his hand.
Sean chewed on his lower lip then smiled before he broke the silence. "Well, Neville snogged Ginny Weasley."
"SEANNNNNNNNN!" Neville cried as Ron jumped to his feet.
"WHATTTTTTTTTTT?" Ron and Sean said in unison. Sean repiling and Ron on the verge of attack.
"It was an accident I didn't know it was Ginny!" Neville said trying to escape. Harry tried to enjoy Ron attempt to kill Neville but it was nearly impossible all he could see was Calli's cool gray/blue eyes.
On Monday everyone was talking about the ball and the most popular topic was Harry and his muse. If anyone said anything he'd automatically ask if they knew anything about her. He couldn't talk to her if he didn't know what house she was in.
At the end of the week everyone was still asking everyone about the muse. Everyone wanted to know who she was and more importantly who was the woman that had stolen the heart of the famous boy-who-lived.
When he woke up on Saturday morning Hedwig was staring at him intently holding a sage green parchment out towards him. He wouldn't have grabbed his bird by the throat and grabbed the letter if he hadn't seen that written on it were the words,
Ares / A.K.A Harry PotterGryffindor Rooms
7th year
Hedwig jumped back startled as he tore open the letter and read what was inside.
Dearest Ares,
I must first apologize for my rude and most awful behavior when you showed me your face that night. It was a terrible reaction and never what I planned at all and when you have already been through so much. I just got very scared and nervous, that's all, it had nothing to do with you. It's my entire fault; I'm such a bloody coward about it all. I wanted to let you know what happened so you'd never have to wonder what happened. I can't be with you, my house and family would never allow it. Words can't describe how much this hurts so I can't write anymore.
Thank you for the most wonderful night of my life I will treasure your kisses till the day I die.
With all the love in my heart, your muse
CalliopeHarry's fingers brushed the tears off the parchment as he wondered if they were hers or his. He closed his burning green eyes and as if an answer another hot salty tear touched his lips the ones that would never again touch Calli's.
When Ron and Hermione saw Harry again he was pulling his feet behind him, head hung down and clutching a letter in his hands.
He gave it to them without another word as he felt another beat of his empty heart. Hermione passed it to Ron as she gripped Harry's pale trembling hands.
"Oh, Merlin, now I know I have a heart, as it's bloody well breaking." He whispered turning his ashamed face away.
"Oh, Harry." Hermione whispered.
Ron was speechless as he gave the letter back to Harry who stuffed it into his jeans pocket. He rubbed his neck and shook off the friendly sympathetic pat on his back from Neville.
"I'm not hungry I think I'm going to go for a walk." He stood up without as much as a bite.
"We'll go with you!" Hermione jumped up quickly to her feet but Harry lifted a hand to stop her.
"No, thanks 'Mione. I'll just catch you later on ok?" He left the room leaving everyone whispering and his friends concern looking at each other.
Two Weeks Later...
Harry slowly but surly approached the counter of his Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Nimphodora Tonks. She was a good teacher despite the stupid Slytherin snickering about her pink hair and nose ring. She was fair most of all and Harry appreciated that very much.
"Harry, thank you for staying after, have a seat." Professor Tonks smiled encouragingly at Harry as he sat down at the chair beside her slightly messy desk.
She sat in her own wooden chair and looked at him with sisterly eyes. "How are you doing, Harry?"
"I'm fine." He replied evenly.
"Well, I'm sorry to say Harry your grades aren't. The past three weeks they've been…well .rotten actually." She smirked gently rubbing the back of her neck that had her bubblegum pink hair pressed flat against.
"Sorry, Professor…" Harry started
"I know what you've been through, actually I can only imagine, and with all the things schools brought as well, I'm more then sure it's…distracting." She gave him a sympathetic look even though he wasn't looking at her.
"But Harry your going to be going out for your Auror Training in August, you need at least 8 NEWTS to be considered and they prefer 10. That's very hard." She added. "I had to retake two because I hadn't gotten O's." Gently she pulled out a book. "I don't want to have to give you another bad grade Harry; you're already down to half marks this week. If you read this and give me a report I'll give you exceeding grades on your last test which should significantly raise your grade."
Harry flushed. "That's so nice of you, Professor."
"You're welcome Harry. I'm doing this because someday, and I know it will be one of these days; you'll use this information to save someone's life. Now, go on with you, head off."
Harry grabbed the book along with his other DADA book and headed towards the common room to start his reading.
"What's that Harry?" Hermione asked as he sat down across from her at the table.
Harry grumbled something as he laid his head down. Then added "I want to sleep."
"Stop it, Harry. It's just depression making you want to sleep. Here." Hermione pulled a chocolate frog out of her bag and gave it to Harry. "This will help."
Harry really didn't want it but took it anyway and started to eat while explaining the book assignment.
"That's SO nice of her, Harry. She's right you will use this to save someone's life someday." Hermione told him seriously looking at the book and giving him an encouraging smile.
Harry, determined to help his DADA grades improve finished all his homework before retiring to a chair on the opposite wall of the common room. He was on the second chapter when Hedwig came flying in with a bright red colored letter. Harry froze along with everyone else in the room as Hedwig dropped it into his lap as Harry mindlessly stroked her head holding the letter in shock.
"Who would be sending me a howler?" Harry asked looking up at his friends.
"I don't know Harry but you might as well open it." Hermione flinched as Harry started to open it then it burst from his hands into mid air in front of him to form screaming lips. The voice made Harry's knees weak as it shouted at him furiously.
"Harry Potter! I solemnly swear if I ever find out you're failing Defense against the Dark Arts again. I will personally come beat you to death! You are to important to the War to be mopping around and not doing your work. Your going to save the wizarding world one day and I'll be damned if I'm going to be the reason you don't. Do you hear me! I'll come do You-Know-Who the favor and beat you to death in your sleep! So ship up and shape up POTTER!"
Harry was chocking out things not able to form real words as the red howler stuck the ribbon tongue out at him and ripped itself up.
Harry looked panicked at his friends who were also choking on words as they looked at him with dropped jaws and wide eyes.
"Well…" Ron got out as Harry tried to breath. "She…um, seems nice." He flinched as Hermione kicked him under the table.
Harry got to Chapter nine that night which meant he was 1/3 through the book he planned on finishing and getting in early that week. Professor Tonks had been so nice and Harry wanted to make sure she understood how grateful Harry was. He managed to get to bed at midnight still thinking about the howler. Calli cared about him. She really did, she thought about him, cared that he was doing badly at school, apparently enough to kill him, BUT she wanted to be there. For the time being that was enough for him.
A few days later...
As the Gryffindors and Slytherins pilled into the DADA classroom on Thursday morning shuffling their feet tired and full from breakfast Professor Tonks greeted them with a little too enthusiastic a greeting.
"Good morning!" She sung out happily. "Now today…" Tonks stopped and looked at Harry who had his hand half in the air his elbow rested on the desk. "Yes, Harry did you have a question?"
"Um, I have that, report for you." He held up the extremely well done report that even Hermione had dubbed "Harry's best work yet".
Professor Tonks looked extremely pleased as she took it and skimmed it as she walked to the front of the room. "Excellent Harry, very good. I look forward to reading all of it." She gave him a huge smile and turned to finish her lecture leaving Harry grinning.
Across the room someone leaned their head into their book with their robes pushed up beside them grinning widely. Howlers really did work well. They thought.
Friday
They were coming up from Potions just having received their second term notice grades; Hermione was congratulating Harry on his improvement that week.
"I'm so glad you decided to concentrate on your studies, Harry." Hermione told him pleased.
"Thanks." He flushed.
"I'm glad you've decided to forget about, Calliope."
"I haven't forgotten about her!" Harry shouted startling everyone in the hallway. "I just…refocused a little more." He told her more calmly. "If we have to suffer because of the War I'm going to try to end it as soon as possible."
"Harry it doesn't work like that…" Hermione stressed as they walked.
"Don't worry, once Harry knows who she is I'm sure he'll convince her to stay beside him." Ron slapped his friend on the back.
"Yeah, by next week we'll know, what with that great reward and all." Seamus said nodding to himself.
"What reward?" Harry asked quickly.
Ron slammed Seamus across the hall. "IDIOT!"
"What? What am I missing?" Harry demanded as he stopped walking and Hermione stared at him too.
"I kind of have a reward out for anyone who can tell me who she is. Two girls from Ravenclaw think they're getting closer and a bloke from Hufflepuff is adding up clues." He winced at his friends look.
"Ron, you can't just track her down if she doesn't want to be found." Hermione scowled at him.
"What are you using as a reward?" Harry asked confused.
Ron stammered a moment before Neville spoke up. "He wrote a letter to Fred and George saying he'd work for them all summer is they promised to give someone a big shopping trip at their store if they found out who she was."
Harry looked more then touched. "You promised them you'd work all summer? Ron…wow...that's the nicest thing…I…" Harry was almost speechless as Ron turned scarlet and Hermione threw her arms around his neck and kissed his check soundly.
"For such a stupid idea, Ron, you have the biggest heart I swear." Hermione told him sweetly as he turned the color of his hair.
"Come on, Ron." Harry gave him a push towards the stairs.
"Where are we going?"
"To call off the contest. I'm miserable without Calli but I can't send my friend to work for those two all summer." Harry told him firmly as they walked up the stairs.
"At least someone in his family has a job." A voice snickered quietly and Harry's head snapped around and instantly jerked his wand out.
"At least Ron has a heart, Malfoy, nothing you'd know anything about." Harry growled as the tall blonde sneered down at the wand pointed at him.
"That's right, Potter." Malfoy stepped closer. "So I haven't got a heart." There was a malicious desperate look in his eyes Harry didn't understand. "Why would I want one? I see what it does to you. You can't even eat since that bitch dumped you."
Malfoy ducked as Harry swung leaving his fist planted into Goyle's pudgy face instead of Malfoy's. Draco backed up as Goyle groaned down on the floor clutching his nose. "Honestly, Potter," Malfoy chuckled "….if she doesn't want you why don't you just give up it's getting pretty sad you moping around like you haven't got a life. Tsk, tsk, Potter"
Harry was bright red as he held his throbbing fist in his other hand. "SHUT IT, Malfoy."
"Give up on her and I will." He grinned knowingly at him.
"No," Harry said firmly. "Why should I?
"She doesn't want you, give up." Malfoy said matter-a-factly.
"Yes, she does. She's just scared." Harry said convincingly.
"NO, she doesn't."
"YES, she does." Harry said firmly while looking confused.
Draco turned pink for a moment as he crossed his arms. "Make you a deal, Potter, say you'll never go after her and I'll… never pick on you again. Or the Weasel…" Malfoy looked like he had to think for a second before saying…. "I'll even throw the mudblood into the deal if you agree."
Everyone gasped even Malfoy's bodyguards. Harry wasn't convinced. Something just wasn't right and there was a look of desperation in his eyes that he was trying so hard to hide and Harry managed to get out, "You know."
"What?" Draco spat.
"You know who she is. You know who Calliope is."
"Do not." He just unconvincingly because he sputtered a moment he eyes drifting away for a moment before returning.
"Yes, you do. YOU WANT HER FOR YOURSELF. If I renounce her she'll get with you, is that it?" Harry yelled backing Malfoy up against the wall.
"Not quite but close enough." Draco said unflinching.
"I won't do it." Harry said to Malfoy's face
"I know she's good at snogging and all but she's obviously not that into you." He said with a knowing smile.
Harry's checks turned red. "She would never be with you!"
"Of course she would, I'm her breed, wonderful pureblood just like her. Rich family, hmmm… just. like. her. We run in the same class Potter. You haven't got a chance." Draco grinned though his eyes showed a different emotion.
"If you're so similar why isn't she with you?" Harry asked his mind a little to clear at the moment.
"Because…" Malfoy sneered and for a long minute seemed to be caught until he told the boy, "She doesn't like to see you dragging your feet around. So, denounce her and we'll all be happy."
Harry drew back and looked at him evenly. "If Calli would be happier…seeing you…" Harry flinched a moment. "…then I'll of course let her go."
Malfoy's jaw dropped. "JUST LIKE THAT?" It sounded like an insult.
"I would give my life if it would make her happy." Harry told him in a low voice. "So if it makes her happy to see you I'll leave her alone, forever. But it's her decision, Malfoy, not yours and not mine." He turned and walked away leaving Draco stunned staring into space before he heard a small voice say.
"What if she's afraid?"
Harry turned slowly and looked at Draco still staring into space. Did he love my Muse that much? Is it possible?
"Afraid of what?" Harry spat.
"Nothing." Draco snapped out of his thoughts and spun around the corridor leaving his two bullies to stumble behind him.
"Scared of what? To choose?" Harry looked at them. "She told me she hated Slytherin blokes."
"I don't know, mate." Ron told him as Harry turned scowling towards the stairs.
"She doesn't like Slytherins." Harry said to convince himself as he fumed and walked away.
I think she kind of likes Gryffindors (wink). If this was your story wouldn't you want reviews?
Be kind rewind. hahahahaha,
kay' 2 much soda
Keyvie