Disclaimer : Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. However, I am in the works to buy it. Really? NO NOT REAAAALLLY!
Timeline : Harry's seventh year.
Warnings : Snogging, and slash. Don't like it? Don't read it!
Behind the Masks
Part Eight : Festival of Hats
The whole Hogwarts school was buzzing with the noise that Harry and Draco were together, that Draco was Calliope and everyone's favorite info of it all, they were shagging in the Gryffindor quarters while everyone slept around them.
"You don't know that for sure." Hermione corrected a 5th year who rolled her eyes and kept talking.
Ron gave her a disgusted look. "We heard him admit it."
"To having Malfoy get into his bed, he didn't say that they…you know." Hermione blushed and looked at her toast nervously.
"Of course they did, I checked." Ron snapped.
"You checked!" Hermione shouted.
"I did a spell reversal on Harry's bed when I was in the dorms, there was silencing spell on his bed. Who would he put a silencing charm on his bed!" Ron accused and Hermione turned pink and stuffed the bread into her mouth.
Harry and Draco showed up at the door dressed and holding hands. Everyone pecked over their shoulders as they looked nervously at each other for a moment then moved apart.
"Hello, Draco, wouldn't you rather be sitting with your boy toy?" Zambini sneered.
"Move, Zambini, who I snog with it none of your damn business."
Blaise moved over but sneered anyway and continued to eat.
Harry moved down to the table and Hermione nervously moved over as he sat down. Ron quickly started a conversation with Seamus who was looking nervous as well. He didn't want to think about what Malfoy and Harry were doing, not one bit did he wanted THAT image in his head.
Harry said nothing through breakfast and nothing when his friends got out without saying anything to him and left. Hermione gave him a gently pat on the arm however and a longing expression.
"Give them time." She whispered before slowly getting up herself and fallowing.
However when Harry pushed his plate away sighing he let someone slide down next to him and he blinked as he looked at Ginny.
"Hi." She said softly.
"Hi." Harry blinked.
"Are you the same Harry I've always known?"
Harry blinked. "Yes."
"Do you care about Malfoy?"
"Merlin, yes." Harry whispered.
"Does being with him make you very happy?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, Ginny."
The youngest Weasley and perhaps the most wonderful patted his hand and nodded. "I'm happy for you then Harry, if I know anyone who deserves to be happy it's you."
Harry hugged her. He didn't know why, it was just she seemed so wonderful, like a sister, a mother, a best friend. He was SO grateful for her.
"Better watch out Malfoy, a Weasel is moving in on your boy toy." A Slytherin laughed making everyone else laugh but Malfoy only grinned.
"He couldn't replace me if he tried." And got up glancing over at Harry who put his arm around his adopted little sister and moved out the door with Draco.
Once they walked down the halls Ginny gave Draco a reluctant smile and said hello. "How are you today?"
"I've been better." He replied and pulled her arm off Harry and pulled him around his own arm.
Ginny giggled. "sorry."
"Quite alright but if you touch my-Harry again I'll have to hex you though." And he winked at the Weasley and Ginny giggled suddenly understanding why Malfoy had bewitched Harry.
(Hidden Malfoy Estate)
It was only noon by the time the owl arrived from Jamison Zambini that he'd received a note from his son Blaise. It appears that Harry and his son were "an item". Lucius scowled. He should have known the little brat couldn't just take his potions like a good little Malfoy and suffer like the rest of them.
No, Draco had to bond completely with his mate and now he'd suffer even worse when Potter died. Stupid boy.
His young heir had even be so bold as to put a binding spell on his Slytherin bedroom so Lucius could not 'visit' anymore. Lucius growled. Insolent boy.
The plan wasn't suppose to happen for another week. Draco would have come home again under the pretences of being kidnapped. Harry would be take and killed, Draco would cry a bit and then everything would be fine and dandy. Potter-dead, Voldemort-ruled, chaos-around the World. All in a days work.
Lucius sat at his large desk pulling out the Hogwarts calendar Draco had given him earlier that year. It stated when the Hogsmead weekends were and other such student activities Lucius kept incase he need to find Draco for any reason and he wasn't reachable.
The Lord of Malfoy Manor was pleased to see that Weekend held a Hogsmead weekend for "Festival of Hats". A stupid traditional Wizards Day that reached back into the 7th century. But in those days Witches and Wizards used creative hats (that later became fashion) to recognize one another in a festival. It later became a holiday in the 10th century and on that day Magic Folk (stupid folk in Malfoy's opinion) wore silly hats and held a festival in Magic communities and towns.
No doubt Draco and his little boyfriend would attend Hogsmead's Festival of Hats.
Lucius agreed to make an appearance. But he couldn't go as himself since he was on the run and he wasn't that stupid or arrogant to assume he could strut about where he wanted to with nothing but his family name for protection.
Opening an old, large, brown leather book he thumbed through it till he reached the potion he sought.
The ingredients would be hard to find but if he started now it should be ready in time for the Festival.
(Hogwarts – Later that Day)
The rest of the day went by slowly. His friends wouldn't even look at him through the morning and Ginny sat with him at dinner asking him about how he found out about Malfoy.
"Um, he wrote me a letter saying if I wanted my heart broken come to the Astronomy tower. If not enjoy Calli's memory for it was a good one. I was stupid so I went." Harry snickered nudging her slightly.
"Were you upset when you found out?" She asked as others pretended not to listen, she was asking this on purpose.
"Yes." He replied truthfully. "But I asked him if he was Calli or Malfoy. And then I asked him to chose." Harry replied thoughtfully taking a bite of his dinner.
"What did he chose?" A curious 5th year demanded double blinking and Harry snickered.
"He chose me." Harry grinned.
Ginny smiled and gave a girly sigh. " It's rather romantic if you ask me."
"No one did." Ron murmured under his breath.
"A misunderstood bad boy falls for the heroic golden boy. How wouldn't love a story like that?" Ginny eyed her brother grinning.
"Misunderstood?" Ron chocked on his bread and glarred at Ginny. "He's a bloody bully!"
"He only acts that way because he 1.) dislikes you because I choose you over him and 2) because his father brainwashed him from the time he was born into thinking muggleborns are scum! You'd think that way too if you were taught that from the moment you were born. Look at yours and Hermione's different opinions on House Elves, there still human but most wizards think they're beneath them."
Ron chocked on air not knowing what to say. He got out, "What do you mean you choose me over him?"
"First day at school." Harry told him. "Malfoy offered me his hand in friendship but I chose you. He hated you from then on out and me for that matter because I'd denied him."
"And who said that!"
"He did." Harry said quietly.
"Well he bloody well has you brainwashed!" Ron slammed his half eaten dinner roll.
"Maybe." A grin appeared on Harry's face. "Do you want me to be happy?"
"What!" Ron demanded.
"Happy? After I've lost so many people I love do you want me to be happy?"
"That's not fair, Harry." Ron whispered suddenly pink.
"No, it's not fair, it's not fair my parents died for me, it's not fair Sirius did, it's not fair I was raised by a family of prats who hated me. It's not fair that the one time I honestly completely fall in love it's with my school rival who my friends and I hate!"
"You don't hate him." Hermione frowned looking over towards the Slytherin table.
"Oh, yes I do." Harry nodded rolling his eyes. "It's a whole love-hate thing. His snobbishness is cute to me, I can't explain it okay?"
They blinked at him and Ron murmured, "Cute?"
"Listen, if you want me to be miserable and leave someone I love I'll do it."
They all turned and looked at him and Ron's jaw dropped. "what?"
"I love him and he's my lifemate but I'll stay away if it means your friendship." Harry told him slowly.
"You'd…you'd do that? Even thought you…you love him?" Ron chocked out.
"Yes. You're my family. You're my brother, Hermione you're my little sister, you ARE my family. I couldn't be without you guys any more then I could be without Calli."
"But you would, for us?" Ron stated as though he'd gone mad.
"I don't think I'll have too," Harry replied truthfully.
"WHY?" Ron asked flatly. "Are you so sure we'll accept him?"
"Accept him? No. Accept my feelings for him? Maybe. I know you guys." He slowly took a breath. "I know your hearts, your good people, and if you care for me as half as much as I care about you, you'll...give me a chance to show you just how happy I am after all that's happens to me. He…he makes me want to fight."
He saw realization in their eyes. Yes, there it was. They understood how he felt. Since Sirius death Harry didn't want to fight the War anymore he didn't tell anyone but his best friends but he'd felt like he had given up. Draco, for whatever reason made him want to fight again, to save them, save them for Draco, whatever the reason may be.
The were silent for a moment and Ron slowly asked. "I don't have to like him do I?"
Harry grinned and slowly nodded no. "Of course not."
"Good, because I don't."
"I know, Ron."
"Make him stop calling me Weasel."
"Okay, Ron." Harry grinned.
"And tell him to stop ragging on Hermione and calling her…you know."
"Actually." Hermione cleared her throat. "He only calls me mudblood as a kind of…err, nickname…almost a joke. He says it playfully now. We've…" She glanced at Harry looking nervous. "…become friends…kind of."
"HERMIONE!" Ron shouted but she giggled.
"He really is an okay guy once you get to know him." Her eyes shifted a moment. "Something…something about his smile… and his eyes…" Her expression revealed a far off look as though remembering an old dear memory.
"I think Hermione's lost it." Ron whispered.
Harry nodded and then smiled as he hugged Ginny tight to his side. "See, already this is a good start! Draco leaves you all alone and I'm REALLY happy."
Ron looked up. "Harry, one more thing."
"Anything."
"DON'T YOU EVER SHAG HIM IN OUR ROOM AGAIN!" Ron turned bright red and Harry's jaw dropped.
"I haven't…we've never…I'm a…RON! I didn't shag Malfoy, EVER."
"SEE RONALD." Hermione gave him a knowing glance and turned to Harry. "I tried to tell him you wouldn't do that but he refused to believe me."
Harry grinned happily. "It's okay it did look bad, but I didn't get a chance to explain."
"So he just snuck into see you?" Ron asked.
Harry flushed. "Well…kind of."
"So he TRIED did he? Good boy Harry! Turn him down, make him frustrated." Ron nodded enjoying that idea as he drank his pumpkin juice.
"I'm not a saint but I didn't shag him." Harry flushed.
"What DID you do?" Ginny asked grinning.
A picture of Malfoy's naked body tight up against his own made Harry flush red. "That's not your business, Ginny. But I promise he wont make any late night stops." He told Ron who looked disgusted.
"Good, and get your cloak back from him I don't trust him with that, he'd probably stand in the Gryffindor bathroom and watch people shower or something."
"No, only Harry shower." Ginny snickered as Harry shoved her a bit.
"I already have it back and it's locked away."
"Oh, good." Ron said with a nod.
The rest of the week went quick. Malfoy's henchmen managed to scare the Slytherins into realizing Malfoy was like the Slytherin prince they all knew and loved but could snog anyone he wanted. The rest of the school chose to believe Malfoy was a changed man and they were surprised when they would be hexed down the hall by one of his two bulldogs. It was just that Harry found it kind of cute, like a puppy that looked up adorably while it peed on the living room rug.
Ron and the others were pleased to see that Malfoy and Harry kept their distance when other people were around and no one really ever "saw" them together except for the casual hand brushing in the hall and a few people ran into Crabbe and Goyle as they guarded a broom closet which had Malfoy kissing Harry in it.
Or even more so when Draco grabbed Harry in the hall snogged him for a moment then walked away like it never happened. Everyone's favorite seemed to be the above combined. Malfoy grabbed Harry in a deserted hall and pushed him up against the wall while his bodyguards took care of the view. It was like being some kind of high ranking officials love toy. Harry thought it was great.
Saturday morning the Great Hall was filled with students talking excitedly. Hats lined the tables while some students were already wearing theirs.
Ginny wore a foe-fur Russian looking hot pink muff while Dean wore a Soccer cap, Neville a pageboy hat and Seamus a Scottish battle helmet. BesideHermione lay a foot tall soft pink princess hat including long white lace at the tip next to her plate she would wear once they arrived at the Festival. Ron had a Englishman's top hat he'd tucked at his feet for later while Harry had a forest green Robin Hood hat tucked into his back pocket, long feather and all.
Dumbledore wore his largest most colorful wizard's hat which was saying quite a lot for him. McGonnagall as well. The students wondered if perhaps the teachers were going to the festival as well.
"Move." A voice ordered Ron while he ate his breakfast.
The youngest male Weasley looked up and scowled at Draco but moved none the less so he could sit beside Harry.
They kissed softly making Ron to leave gagging noises.
"Didn't Professor Snape warn you two with detention?" Hermione asked bemused.
"Yes, but detention can be fun." They shared a knowing look that the others didn't even want to ask about.
Ron was murmuring under his breath. Something about no one finding a body if it were in several pieces.
Draco turned and looked at Ron. "I wouldn't let your mind wonder, Weasley. It's too little to be let out alone."
Hermione tried to pretend she hadn't just snorted her orange juice. It didn't work.
Ron was pink in the face as he glared at Draco. "Harry says he wants us to be friends. So the main point is…do you want me to accept you as you are or do you want me to actually like you?"
Draco eyes narrowed murmured something that sounded like "weasel" under his breath before he turned to Harry. "I see you have your hat, you're not going to spend all day with them are you?"
"Them? AS in my friends? I was thinking about it." Harry replied looking humorously at Draco while he buttered his toast.
Draco frowned. "I'll find you around 1:00 O'clock and we'll have some…" He grinned finally. "Alone time." Winking Draco stood up. "I'll see you then."
Ron shivered once Malfoy was gone. "The propaganda in his voice is enough to make me sick."
Harry only grinned.
(2:00pm – Hogsmead Festival)
The streets were filled with happy voices accompanied with rather fun and large hats. Booths filled with candies, warm food, butter rum, souvenirs and anything else you can imagine with happy venders sucking in their next victim.
Game booths much like the ones at muggle fairs scooped around the village and into the nearby field where an archery game area had been conjured for games. A dueling ramp was to the side with small wooden bleachers for people to watch the adult wizards and witches dueling for show in their unique hats.
It was a bit chilly but the air made everything seem a bit more fresh and exciting to the children and adults who attended. If anyone got to cold they'd huddle inside a store until they got a hot steamy cup of butterrum and returned to the streets to play.
The crowds were growing so thick Hermione had lost track of her friends when stopping to admire a book about Festival of the Hats. When she'd looked up to see where they had gone Hermione realized they had been separated. Ron got distracted easily with shiny things so Hermione was surprised she'd kept up with the group as long as she had anyway.
So in her jeans, toasty winter cloak and tall princess hat Hermione went in search of someone she would recognize.
Juggling a bag of books she'd bought in her right arm she turned the corner looked both ways and then turned quickly to go down the next street. Hermione ran direct center into someone's hard chest sending her books with a loud clatter to the ground.
Two strong arms encircled her as she started to tumble to the ground. Lifted safely and securely back onto her feet as her limbs seemed to be tingling with anticipation. Those arms felt SO familiar.
"Excuse me!" Hermione got out and then looked up.
The boy scowled at her. He was already 6'2 even though he was seventeen, or looked that way. His hair was tucked back into a top hat of dull black but a silver strand of hair ran down the side of his temple escaping from the hat. His eyes were of the bluest sky Hermione had ever seen while his mouth was full and softly pink nearly feminine as he had a very strong but slender face. Men shouldn't have such beautiful black lashes either. It was a sin to be that good looking but be so… what was the world for it? Oh, yes…manly.
The boy said nothing to her as he looked down at her evenly as if thinking very quickly behind his calm expression. "You are forgiven." His voice was regal but young and Hermione smiled.
"You remind me of someone…but…" She shock her head. "I guess it can't be."
The corner of his mouth twitched as if pleasantly surprised at her bafflement.
"You don't go to Hogwarts though…I'd have seen you." Hermione said in a rather suspicious voice.
"I go to Durmstrung." He replied coolly.
"Oh, just in for the Festival?"
He grinned baring firm perfect white teeth. "I came to visit a family member."
"Oh, well, I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger." She lifted out her hand.
He looked down at it and then slowly reached out and shock her hand though it wasn't that personal for he wore black leather gloves.
"Oh." She seemed to notice that her books were on the ground for she quickly scooped down to pick them up nervously. Hermione wasn't used to specking with strangers, especially extremely handsome strangers. He made her nervous.
He leaned down to help her and their hands brushed gently and she blushed and looked up two books already balancing on her knee.
Their eyes firmly met and locked as time stood still.
Fawn eyes met ice that seemed to melt within seconds. Hermione's checks reddened even as their souls recognized each other. She didn't understand. She'd never felt the life-pull before.
Lucius under the disguise of an age potion looked into her fawn brown eyes and whispered,
"Helena……?"
Ugg…it was so hard getting them to run into each other especially because Lucius has to go after Harry and Draco too. Lucius is in hiding so I couldn't have him just stroll into Hogwarts or anything. I hope you all like the Festival.
Merry Hats Day!
Keyvs