Disclaimer. See in Part One.

Hidden Bridges
Ryoko Porter

Part Two

'They love him, gentlemen, and they respect him, not only for himself, but for his character, for his integrity and judgment and iron will; but they love him most for the enemies he has made'
Edward S. Bragg

Harry had never been confused in his life. The first day of classes had just ended, and he hadn't been overly stressed. But maybe that was because he had all of his non-Slytherin classed today? Still, that should not mean that he would be left alone. It had never been that way before.

It was between his Herbology and History of Magic classes that he first saw Malfoy. Harry and his three friends had been traveling through the maze that is Hogwarts to the next class. Hermione and Luna were discussing the supposed new findings of an ancient magic that was practiced in secret, which the Quibbler had just published. While Ron and himself laughed about their summer together. Then, there was Draco.

Draco Malfoy had grown taller over the summer, and was now the same height as Harry. They had given him hell last year for being so short. His hair was longer, down to past his shoulders a bit. Though he didn't pull it back like his father had, opting to simply let it fall about poetically. He was the Yin of Harry's Yang, or was it the Yang of Harry's Yin? Who was the dark while light shown upon the other? However, Draco had not been looking for them to cause trouble. He was leaning against a wall, conversing with another Slytherin about something or other. Harry was sure that he would miss their passing until Ron let out a growl. But to that Draco just shifted his silver eyes in their direction, focusing tightly into Harry's own eyes. The contact remained unbroken as Draco nodded his head in what seemed as respect, and Harry responded in kind. Then, just as secretly as it had started, the contact was broke as Draco returned his full attention to the girl before him.

'Harry, are you alright mate?' Ron suddenly asked him. They had at sometime stopped, and now his friends were staring him down. Nervously he looked at his two oldest friends, knowing that they were the ones to worry about. But he didn't let them see his worry, which would only make things worse. So arrogantly smirking at them, he made to brush it off.

'He looks good,' Luna chirped from behind his friends. She was smiling all knowingly and ignoring the shocked looks from her friends.



'Do you remember when we were young? When…' Harry started to say as he lay against his lover's chest, with a euphoric feeling of being both safe and loved.

'We are still young, love. You shouldn't forget that so easily,' his lover berated him softly. It was true though; they were barely out of Hogwarts. But life had dealt both of them a difficult hand, which took cunning and courage to play with.

Harry turned to look at his love, though in the dark he couldn't see his face. 'I meant when we were still in school. I hated you so much,' Harry grinned at Draco.

'Well, they say that there is only a very thin line between love and hate,' Draco responded with a smile. Though neither could see the other clearly, they knew what the other was doing. 'So what has made you think of those years, love?'

'I don't know,' Harry huffed as he turned to lie back into his place on Draco's chest. Ready to sleep after the vigorous lovemaking that had finished only moments before. He drifted into the realm of dreams so quickly that he barely felt the kiss upon his head and phrase of devotion from his love.

'I love you too Draco.'



Draco awoke to the sickly morning light that shown through the small windows of the dungeon. His mind still a bit hazy, he thought quickly over his dream. Why had he dreamed in Potter's point of view? Why had he had that kind of dream with Potter in the first place? But with no answers to those questions, he simply decided to forget it. With all dreams he opted to forget, for nothing good had ever come from dreams.

Getting out of bed, Draco made his way to the seventh year bathrooms. Readying to take his morning shower. He always hated the mornings, but not for lack of sleep. He could wake with the first light of day and feel rested from the two hours of sleep he may have had. He didn't enjoy sleep, yet even worse was right after he awoke. Without his control, he would subconsciously think of dreams or his life, giving him no real insight about whatever answers he may have come up with. It was like that quiet buzz that was there whenever he was thinking, though he couldn't hear the dialogue in his head. Like a secret his brain was keeping from him.

In the shower he allowed himself to relax a bit. It was early enough that he would be out before anyone awoke. He was always tense, keeping his guards up and ready. He knew that he couldn't trust anyone with his secrets. Never to tell his friends, family, or teachers that he was not in support of either the Dark or Light. That he hated politics, though he knew everything about them, due to father. And that as long as he could live comfortably, mostly left alone, that he could be content. None would ever know these things about him. He did not even trust himself, with the spells that were out there. It was the secrets that made him who he was known to be.



Deep in the dungeons of Hogwarts, a class of seventeen seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins were waiting for DADA to begin. It was the optional advanced class and much the student body felt no need in taking it. No Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws signed up, and Draco was one of three Slytherins to sign up before Snape demanded that at least five more join.

Draco couldn't help but look over at the Golden Trio. Granger and the Weasel were arguing over something or other, as Potter seemed to be lost in his mind. Harry's eyes were half open as he leaned back on his chair, resting a foot on the table. He looked rebellious and sexy, and Draco thought that he looked much better now that his glasses were gone.

Then, drawing everyone's attention from whatever they were doing, the door to the teacher's suite opened violently. Julian Grey stepped out, and with lit cigarette in mouth, he moved down to the front of the class. Draco watched as the new teacher looked about the room, seeing what he had. Then with a shake of his head, Julian turned to the students.

'Damn, not even an ashtray,' Grey muttered to himself. 'I will give fifty points to the first person to transfigure me an ash tray and give it to me!' Draco couldn't help but smirk at that. Then from corner of his eye, he saw a glass tray pass him in the air, which Grey took and let hang in the air with his own magic. 'Thank you Pansy, fifty points.' And as Draco turned to her, he saw the flush that was slowly fading from her face.

'Now as Dumbledore so annoyingly announced it, I am Julian Grey. You may call me whatever you like, because giving me respect will not insure that I will have respect for you. Is that clear?' Julian rolled through as he paid more attention to his cigarette. Though with his pause, he knew there to be a hand up. 'Yes Hermione?'

'Sir, you are a teacher whether you like it or not, and you shouldn't be smoking while teaching a class. I don't want to die of cancer,' Hermione spoke brazenly.

Julian just smiled at her behavior as he transfigured a large soft-leather chair to sit in. Sitting he faced the direction of the class, with his ashtray floating beside him. He looked regal, and with the dark shadows of the dungeon, he looked evil. 'My dear girl, there are two types of smokers in the world. The first is a person who starts for reasons that more superficial. Because it looks cool, or their friends are all smoking. And these are the people who are able to quite in the end, because they are addicted, yet do not enjoy it.' He paused to take a hit. 'The others are people who start because they feel like it, a craving out of the blue. They are not so much addicted, but it becomes an enjoyed habit. And unlike the first group, they do not care about their health and choose not to quite.'

It was clear to everyone that the second group was the one this man was a part of. Obvious with the aura of death about him.

End Part 2.

AN. PLEASE REVIEW! Ok the thinking thing, this is the way I think. I just thought it would be interesting to make Draco think like that. And second, the smoking comment. I'm a smoker, and that's just what I've observed. I'm part of the second group; I grew up in an area with peer pressure against it.
Ryoko Porter