-- A/N: Für my lovely readers who insisted that Draco should forget Hermione immediately: Gosh, awfully sorry but it won't happen so quickly. Forgetting your first love takes time. It's not like he's still trying to court her, and being bonded doesn't mean Draco could change what he feels easily (Thanks Romie for sharing my opinion). H/D romance is on the way but will always be sprinkled with that upsetting one-sided D/Hr. You'll probably be bored, but… -sigh- just don't be sick because of it. I haven't even started the angst yet.
-- Für Bel Ellen and anyone else interested: Did I make 'too mellow' reactions towards the 'murder attempt'? Well, I believed that Hermione was too shocked, Ginny was also too shocked and would prefer to blame Draco, while Draco was rather intimidated by Harry apart from feeling guilty himself. Therefore I didn't make them react too harsh straight away (besides I had intended to bring it out again in this chapter. None of them is going to forget that incident so easily). Plus, I've replaced your pet peeve 'got' in previous chapter.
-- Für Romie and anyone else interested: Draco in my interpretation is quite protective of his own body apart from his conservative upbringing as a Malfoy. He wouldn't kiss with anyone unless he really likes them, so since Cho and Hermione both do not reciprocate his feelings... Harry might be his first in everything, but not easily. See, I love torturing Harry.
-- Für Anonymous asking "Do you think it's normal being a homosexual?": Is this classic question serious or for amusement? (Why me? T.T) Who cares, I answer it anyway. Yes, I think it's normal.
-- Please notify me if this story is in fact getting boring, so I can do something 'bout it. Thanks!
Phase 5
On Sunday, Draco started his morning by arranging his new chamber and opening his birthday presents, which had been neglected because of the amazing discovery of his soul-binding with Harry Potter. Talking of Harry, this morning Draco again received an early morning post. Hedwig had delivered him a pretty rose with transparent red petals, which made it look like glass. He put the rose artistically on his bed beside the pillows. However, when Harry came to his room, he quickly moved the rose to the bedside table before Harry saw its previous location.
Harry stayed in Draco's room for a while but they spent the rest of the day together in Harry's room. They were now sitting in front of the fireplace, chatting amicably. Draco was telling Harry about things he received on his birthday.
"Among your presents, I like that lullaby-singing cicada the most. In fact, that's the most beautiful present I got this year. But you gave me the ugliest present too: a hideous Cerberus plush toy. And it bites. Is that really from you?"
-cough- "Yes. That takes after a real giant three-headed dog which is Hagrid's pet. I saw it once in my first year when I… you know."
Draco looked very interested. After he had become close to Hermione, Draco knew a lot of things about Harry's adventures in his previous years, but not every detail. He listened intently to the complete tale of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Harry told him the Cerberus' name was Fluffy. Draco laughed and promptly named the toy after it.
"What gave you the idea to include Fluffy in my presents? Is it to match my personality?"
"You've never seen the real Fluffy, now I could give you a chance to know how it looks like. Consider it a memento of my adventure so you can feel as if you were involved in it. This toy is an exact miniature of Fluffy that I can remember. I'm sorry, did it hurt you? You really hate it?"
"Who said I hate it? It's ugly, honestly. But it's unique, not the usual pretty junk like most presents people ever gave me. I can always use it as a reminder of you."
Draco's gentle insult went unnoticed by Harry, who would never identify himself with an ugly three-headed dog. Harry smiled happily, "Thanks."
"So you made Fluffy yourself, didn't you?" Harry nodded, and Draco asked more, "Did you use wandless magic to conjure it?" He was just teasing, but Harry's reply surprised him.
"Yes, I did. It was easier because I could synchronize the transfiguration process more freely with the image in my mind. Do you know I have mastered wandless magic since the end of last summer holiday?"
Draco nearly spluttered, having never expected Harry to have become this incredible. Previously he believed Harry couldn't really perform spell without his wand apart from the automatic defence wall, just because Harry used wand during DA meeting. It had never occurred to him that when Harry defeated Snape last summer, it was done wandless.
Harry explained proudly that he had had intensive training with Dumbledore and other Order members since his sixth year, but didn't want to attract attention by displaying his real power in front of everybody. Draco was flabbergasted as well as envious because of how far Harry had surpassed him.
"… and then Hermione and Ron took turns to be my practice partner before they reckoned I was good enough to spar with Remus, Snape, and the Aurors. In the end, I practise with Dumbledore and it lasts till now." Harry had noticed that Draco shifted a bit when he mentioned Hermione's name, but he just continued talking. "There are some spells which were actually created to be used without wand. Hermione helped me a lot with her research and…"
"Potter." Harry was jolted a little at that. Not only that Draco called him by his surname, but it was also delivered in a chilly tone. The Slytherin was looking at the fireplace. Draco slowly lifted his eyes to meet Harry's. His tone when he uttered the next words was not cold anymore; instead it sounded distressed, like a plea.
"Don't touch her."
Harry parted his lips, then he sighed and shook his head. "I won't. Yesterday… that was my big mistake." Harry put his hand lightly over Draco's and looked imploringly to his fiancé. "I'll never hurt her. She's my best friend too." Draco gazed at the hand over his, and nodded. He got up slowly from the armchair and moved to lie on the chaise longue. Harry observed his every movement silently.
After a few moments of silence, Draco asked, "Do you think you're strong enough now to defeat Voldemort?"
"I'm not sure if I can defeat him. He keeps acquiring more power, and I suppose he has also got stronger after our last encounter. I guess I can still stand up to him at least."
"Oh." He said after a while, "My mother has asked Dumbledore to bring the testament on Monday in front of Wizengamot. She is going to bring my engagement case with Pansy to the wizard court. Wizengamot will annul all the legal bindings after they see the testament."
"I can't imagine how a man could manage to live with a loathsome woman like Pansy. Although I must admit she's a real stunner," Harry commented. Draco replied with a delicate snort.
Harry looked at his beloved. Draco was lolling on the chaise longue, his eyes closed. Harry stood up and walked soundlessly towards Draco. He bent down, put his arms on either side of Draco's head, and leaned closer. Their faces were just a few inches apart when Draco's eyes snapped open and in a flash he snaked from below Harry's arm to escape from his seat. He scampered away from his fiancé, eyes widening and slightly breathless. When he realized what he had done, Draco felt embarrassed. For once he thought Harry was going to kiss him, and his instinct told him to flee. Harry was pretty shocked himself with Draco's reaction, it seemed as if the other boy thought that Harry was going to kill him.
"Draco, I'm s…"
"Don't do that again, please," Draco interrupted. He looked down at the cream-coloured carpet beneath his feet, and saw Harry approaching him from another pair of walking feet. When the feet stopped in front of him, Draco looked up. Harry placed a hand on his shoulder, and he almost winced from the contact.
"I won't. But why are you so scared of me?"
"I'm not scared of you. I was just surprised. I was almost dozing off when I felt your presence, and your face suddenly came into my view."
"I couldn't help it. You looked so serene and… captivating while you were sleeping. I just had to kiss you."
"Charming. Where is the former Potter who was always too shy to make a pass at me?"
"He's gone for good and all the moment I found out we'd been bound forever."
"I can still hex you, you know."
"Do you really dislike me, Draco? It's just because of me, or because of someone else?"
Harry's voice was timid and miserable, so Draco refrained from hexing him for real. "We have had long history as enemies, Harry. I'm still not comfortable with you. Besides, I'm not used to having physical contact like this. With anyone outside my family."
Harry understood Draco's predicament, he also didn't mean to be aggressive. But he had realized that whatever he ever said about being patient and all were nothing but mere words. He was already frustrated after pining for Draco during these many months, and now even with his dream finally coming true, he still couldn't touch Draco properly. It made him restless. He was ashamed with his hormones. He was also ashamed that he couldn't restrain himself even after he saw how uncomfortable Draco was with him. To be precise, Harry became more feverish by seeing his fair fiancé blush and act like a chaste virgin all the time. This shy, prudish Draco was so much unlike the normal Ice Prince Draco he had been accustomed to. This other face of Draco lit the fire inside his body like nothing else ever did before.
"Sorry, love. Forget what I said. Please understand my impatience; I've loved you for long."
"This is just the third day since our engagement. You can't expect me to suddenly turn into a minx. I've told you I'm not easy."
"And I'm working hard here. I don't want to scare you, but I will be lying if I say I can wait forever."
Draco frowned, his hand itching to reach for his wand. "So what are you going to do?"
"I want you, and I'll make you want me too. I can't stop touching you, but I'll make it step by step." Harry backed away until he stood two metres in front of Draco. He expanded his arms and said kindly, "Come here, Draco."
It took Draco more than one minute to comply, but Harry patiently waited for him. He stepped forward hesitantly and when he was close enough, Harry reached for his hands and linked their fingers together.
"This way comfortable?"
Draco nodded. So Harry stepped forward until only half a foot separated them, all the way keeping eye contact with Draco. Their linked hands had been raised between their chests. "Now?"
Again, Draco nodded although his cheeks had started changing colour. Harry released their joined hands and wound his arms round Draco's waist, pulling them flush against each other. Draco couldn't look Harry in the eye any longer, but Harry's soft plea of "Look at me, please" made him lift his face again.
The green eyes were too disturbing, while the lips were too alarming. So Draco's eyes rested upon a harmless yet the most intriguing part of Harry's face – the lightning scar. This was the proof of existence of The Boy-Who-Lived, the symbol of love's conquest over evil. Draco slowly brought up his left hand and brushed Harry's black fringe which covered the scar. He traced the lightning scar tenderly, and Harry closed his eyes to savour the feeling of Draco's finger on that sensitive part of his body.
When Draco lowered his hand, Harry opened his eyes and offered a breathtaking smile to his fair beloved. In return Draco gave him a shy smile before he wriggled away from Harry. He was feeling nervous and self-conscious, and for a second he believed that he belonged to Hufflepuff.
Draco restored his Slytherin grace and said to Harry, "That's all for today." Harry laughed, and Draco scowled at him. Yet, he knew he wasn't angry at Harry. Much as it always hurt with his heart beating wildly and his face burning whenever he was too close to Harry, Draco admitted it was always nice to have someone touching him lovingly, even if this someone was an ex big enemy. He might become used to touching Harry quicker than he expected.
--
Then Monday finally arrived. Harry came to fetch Draco so they could go together to the Great Hall for breakfast. Some boys they encountered grinned at Harry, and a sixth year Gryffindor felt it necessary to slap the Head Boy hard on his back shoulder while congratulating him for something unexplained. Harry massaged his throbbing shoulder, looking incredulously at Draco who just shrugged.
On the Great Hall, Hermione seemed to be in a particular excited mood. She returned Draco's scarf before latching on to his arm, chattering animatedly about her success in brewing draught to make skin as hard as stone. Having the girl of his dream and his fiancé in the same room and at the same time, Draco was both thrilled and terrified. Yet Harry just walked past them to his seat and started eating in normal way. As usual he sat facing Slytherin table, and Draco sat with his back facing Gryffindor table. Draco turned around to take a glimpse at his fiancé from Slytherin table, and felt soothed when Harry looked up at the same time and glanced back at him with a warm smile.
Later Harry, Draco, and Blaise were walking together from the Great Hall to dungeon classroom for Double Advanced Potions. Harry tried to make conversation with Blaise, and found out that the Slytherin was not harbouring antipathy against him.
"What makes you so easy to accept Draco's engagement with me? I thought you rather disliked me."
"Huh? Dislike you?" Blaise chuckled. "You must've misinterpreted my heated gaze to you all this time. Why, Potter, should a hedonistic Slytherin like me dislike the greatest pleasure to the eye like you? You, the tantalizing forbidden fruit on earth. The appetizing Hogwarts Sex God..."
Beside the bemused Hogwarts Sex God, Draco whispered, "Don't mind my perverted friend. I've just discovered it recently that he's actually demented."
Blaise continued, "If not for the comforting fact that after this, girls are gonna be available again for us ordinary boys, I won't easily accept your engagement with Draco. Simply because I'd be too jealous! One other reason to accept it: I derive great personal gratification from the picture of you and our cold-but-hot-at-the-same-time Malfoy together. The possibilities of it… Oh, and we can…"
Harry nodded and quickly switched topic. Draco had been walking away faster, cruelly leaving him alone to deal with Blaise until they reached the dungeon, so Harry must bear the torture for five more minutes since the only other topic which could entertain Blaise enough to lay off his hedonism talk was Potions.
Harry and Blaise were the last ones who entered Potions classroom. The Gryffindor immediately searched for his fiancé, and for his immense irritation found him in front of teacher's table, talking with Snape in what Harry thought was an intimate way. Snape stopped mid-sentence in his conversation with Draco when he was suddenly assaulted by a fierce glare from his most-hated student who was standing behind his most-prized pupil.
This time Draco didn't miss the glaring duel between Harry and Snape, but he had no idea what to do. He had just started feeling comfortable again with Snape, and Snape in reality wasn't acting amorously towards him. Draco wanted to side with his godfather, but at the same time didn't want to risk Snape's misinterpretation. He also feared that Harry would actually do something terrible to Snape, worse than what he did to Hermione. He tugged secretly at Harry's sleeve to separate him from the Professor, but Harry didn't budge. It was Snape's "20 points from Gryffindor for insolence, Potter" and the Potions Master turning his back on Harry which ended the soundless battle. Harry followed Draco to their seat.
"Get a grip, Potter," Draco hissed under his breath, "What the hell were you trying to achieve by challenging Snape?"
"I'm sorry," Harry said quietly, his eyes lowered. Draco sensed his remorse and shame, and instantly his heart melted. The blond grazed the back of Harry's hand below the table, and when Harry looked up at him, he smiled. Harry smiled back, but his eyes were still a little sad.
Then Snape started pairing his students for today's work. "Potter and Weasley. Granger and Malfoy."
Draco's eyes widened, and he hastily whispered his objection, "Excuse me, sir. I believe I would be better assigned with Potter instead of Granger. I mean, it's not fair pairing two of your best students together. And I'm on bad terms lately with Weasley." Draco felt so unlike himself, talking about fairness and lying such a stupid lie. But this was urgent, judging from the lightning on Harry's eyes beside him. Snape was about to pair him with someone else but Potter, so Draco lowered his dignity by fixing his patented lovely beseeching kitten face. He hadn't done that again since age six. Luckily it still worked.
"Potter and Malfoy," Snape said grudgingly.
The moment Snape announced it they heard Lavender and Parvati sigh audibly. Harry and Draco ignored them with uneasy feeling and started working on the potion of the day. From another side of the classroom, Hermione frowned at them.
Harry suddenly asked nonchalantly, "Why didn't you want to work with Ron?"
'And leaving Hermione with you? I don't think so.' Draco answered in equal nonchalance, "I know it's easier to enslave you than Weasel. And your work is much better too." Harry smiled. They concentrated on their potion for the rest of the class.
--
That day passed uneventful. The two engaged boys reunited in Harry's room after DA meeting. Put the venomous verbal sparring between Ginny and Draco aside, the meeting went as usual. However Draco was aggrieved and also depressed because of Ginny's words that he was the cause of Harry's dangerous action towards Hermione on that Quidditch practice. Yes, it was because of him, but Draco hated to be reminded of it by a girl who in reality didn't know exactly why Harry had become that jealous. Harry himself didn't hear Ginny saying that, and Draco hid that from Harry of course. He didn't need Harry's assistance in handling a mink and her bite.
On the other hand, Harry had sensed Draco's mood – Draco constantly snapped to him, but to avoid another fight he didn't pry too much. He just smiled understandingly in enduring the nasty treatment from his fiancé, and Draco was eventually affected by his tolerant approach. The Slytherin boy loosened up after an hour in Harry's chamber, but he still refused to tell Harry what Ginny had said to him.
Harry reported that in his Double Herbology class with Hufflepuff, he received another mysterious congratulation, and when he asked what that was for, he received a reply: "For your brilliant conquest of course." Draco frowned, but his comment was cut by an arrival of a majestic eagle owl, property of the Malfoys.
Draco took the letter from the owl, which looked down haughtily at Hedwig before it flew away. He read the letter briefly, and his face brightened. Harry could guess what the letter was about.
"It's officially off, now," Draco grinned to Harry, "My engagement with Pansy."
Harry hugged him tightly. "Good. That stupid engagement with Pansy had better never happened. I'll never let anyone else touch you. You're mine only." Draco couldn't help blushing at the possessiveness. He normally wouldn't like people who dared claim him as theirs. He hated dominance when it was imposed on himself. But it didn't feel that way with Harry. He didn't know whether Harry said that for the sake of love as opposed to selfishness; it was difficult to differentiate them. But one thing for sure, he knew it meant that he was priceless for Harry. He felt precious.
Harry pulled back a little and kissed Draco's nose. But Harry didn't just peck him there. The lips lingered on the tip of his nose quite long. Draco closed his eyes and tried futilely to calm his breath and heart. 'It's just on the nose! What if he kissed you on the lips?!' After Harry's lips left his nose, he lifted his eyes to gaze at his fiancé. Harry was really beautiful without even trying. It was apparent that he didn't primp, but that was just how he achieved such a sheer sexiness. Draco felt his breath caught in a hitch and something stir inside his stomach.
'Damn, that Zabini smarty-pants is right this time. Harry really can make anyone reconsider their sexual preference.'
Harry swept his thumb on Draco's nose, wiping the wetness there after his kiss. He whispered in husky voice, "Can I kiss you now?"
Even though Draco had reconsidered his sexual preference, Harry's request still felt like an indecent proposal for him. Draco was torn whether he should slap Harry and then hex him, or slap him and then run away. Instead he chose to act stupid and replied, "You've just kissed me."
"On your lips, baby. Can I?"
"Erm," Draco bit his bottom lip. Harry recognized his gesture of nervousness and smiled considerately. "It's okay. Don't be afraid of me, Draco." He pressed their foreheads together. Catching Draco's eyes, Harry said, "I love you."
Harry's breath smelled like peppermint. Draco started to believe that his fiancé was in fact, the closest thing to perfection. Just within three days, Harry had gradually changed Draco's opinion about him. Yes, he could say it now that he was physically attracted to Harry. Gee, who wasn't? But still, Draco didn't feel right. A boy like Harry in love with a boy like him, it felt strange to him. Not because of the boy part anymore, but purely because it was between him and Harry – two opposites in almost everything. People said opposite attracts, yet for Draco it only raised doubt for how long they could stand each other. All the same, the fact remained: Harry loved him, since he sensed the profound sincerity when Harry uttered the words. This was what drove him suddenly crazy with anguish and despair. He didn't want to, didn't expect it, that when Harry said love to him, another face flashed in his mind. It wasn't Harry's.
--
The next day, it had been established that Harry would fetch Draco every morning. Draco noticed that Harry's tie was crooked and straightened it while they were standing outside on the corridor. They heard a gasp and turned their heads to see a first or second year Gryffindor girl blushing at them. The girl stammered, "I… I'm sorry… Didn't… didn't mean to disturb…" Then she ran away.
"What happened to people these days?" Harry questioned. Draco only arched his eyebrow, but inside his mind he had formed a theory for this. They arrived at the Great Hall after coming across several other students who either sighed dreamily or beamed at them. Draco felt like strangling someone. It seemed that his suspicion was proven.
Draco sat with his back facing the other tables as usual. But he could catch some whispers from his behind, which contained the mention of his name and Harry's. He turned to Blaise beside him and asked casually, "What are those dunderheads behind my back talking about?"
Blaise sliced his toast while answered, "Haven't you heard? It's the rumour of course. It's been all over the school."
"I have lost my interest in following gossips since last year. Just tell me about the rumour."
"Potter has finally captured Malfoy's heart."
"That's the other way around. Stupid rumour." Draco didn't need to ask, but he wanted to confirm his suspicion. "But what ignited it?"
Blaise explained calmly after swallowing his omelette. "It's all started with Potter's song on your birthday party. By Monday many students had already known Potter sang a love song for you. People easily assume that Potter's song is about you, with everything silver and all. And since it has been widely spread he wrote the song himself, everyone thinks Potter has a thing for you. Which is entirely true, I may add. Then they said Potter brought you to his Quidditch practice, and you two spent the weekend together. Now you and Potter are like glued and thus, the rumour."
"Who?" Draco asked through gritted teeth. His friend didn't need further explanation for his question. Who from the people attended the party had circulated Harry's love song till the whole school knew.
"Who else? This is what we got when we had Mandy Brocklehurst in the party," Blaise sipped his pumpkin juice.
Draco stabbed his fork violently into his bacon. "I'll kill her."
"Uh, Draco," Blaise nudged his friend. "First you must get through your ex-fiancée. She's coming here." He didn't have to add '…and ready to kill' because that homicidal aura from Pansy could be detected from 50 feet away. Crabbe and Goyle followed behind her.
Pansy stopped behind Draco. He turned around in his chair and was confronted by his ex-fiancée's fierce look. Her hateful glare seemed sharp enough to slice the toast on Draco's plate, but Draco wasn't affected. "Malfoy," she hissed.
"What do you want, Parkinson?"
"I want you die, Malfoy. How dare you, pathetic little traitor, humiliate the Parkinson family. What kind of excuse was that, you've been engaged to someone else? That wretched testament your mother brought yesterday in front of the court, it was forged wasn't it?"
'Great mouth you have, my lovely little flower. Please inform Rita Skeeter too would you, that I've been engaged.' "Maybe it was, so what? The Wizengamot believed it. Don't complain to me."
"I will not allow this scandal! You can't cancel our engagement just like that! Your father had promised my parents!"
"My father knows nothing, pardon him," Draco didn't lose his coolness this time. "Hmm, I'm curious, what makes you this hysterical anyway? I thought you despised me. Oh, of course. You're desperate. Why my dear Pansy, I know I'm desirable, but I never suspected you of all people have been this anxious to get into my pants."
Pansy reached a mug of milk nearest to her and splashed its content to Draco's face. Many students gasped in surprise or held their breath in anticipation. From across the room, Harry stood up abruptly. But Draco shot him an intense glare which commanded: 'Back out. I'll take care of this myself.' Harry reluctantly sat down again, but his eyes didn't budge from the Slytherin table.
The Slytherin Queen looked down haughtily at her milk-drenched ex-fiancé, and Draco was reminded of his eagle owl. "I pity the ill-fated person engaged to you. Be thankful it hadn't been blistering liquid in this mug. Otherwise not even a mad House-Elf would ever want to get into your filthy pants. My dear Draco."
Draco calmly cleaned his face with a napkin amidst the sudden languor descending on that place. The whole Great Hall had become silent ever since Pansy hurled the milk to Draco.
"It's too early for a milk bath. I usually only take it at night," Draco muttered. He placed the napkin down and stood up to face Pansy. His tone when he spoke was freezing despite the casual words. "Well, Parkinson. If I'd known you're having premenstrual tension, I wouldn't have uttered that little joke. An advice, may I? Next time count to ten under your breath before you make a spectacular outburst like that. I'm pretty sure by now everyone in this Hall has been convinced that you, in fact, desire me."
"Only those who are mentally retarded will think so."
"Whatever. I'm glad if you don't want me; I'd hate wasting my time to repel your amorous advances. This way I have saved my children from repulsive personality disorder."
Pansy's eyes flared and the next second her wand was whipped out and the tip was digging to Draco's left chest. But at the same time, five other wands were drawn and Slytherin table burst into chaos. Draco had pressed his wand under Pansy's chin, while Crabbe and Goyle both pointed theirs towards the back of Draco's head. Beside the ex-Slytherin Prince, Blaise Zabini was pointing his wand at Pansy. And what surprised everyone was that Theodore Nott had also brought out his wand and now had it aimed at Pansy's right temple.
From the Gryffindor table, The Golden Trio had stood up the moment Pansy drew her wand. Some teachers who were present at the time hurried to stop the fight. Harry motioned at the teachers to let him deal with it. The teachers remained in the back, providing chance for the Head Boy to handle this situation.
Harry approached the six Slytherin in feud. He stopped next to Draco. "Prefect is supposed to be a good example for other students. I assume neither of you two listened to my speech during our meeting on the train."
"Piss off, Potter. This isn't your business," Draco muttered, his eyes were still fixed at Pansy in front of him.
"Yes, it is. Seventy points from Slytherin. I take fifteen from Malfoy and fifteen from Parkinson because you are Prefects, ten from each of the others, for wielding your wands to threaten fellow students. Now put all your wands down."
Nobody moved. Harry repeated his command, this time leaking out small portion of his magic power. "Put your wands down."
Crabbe and Goyle trembled only at the authoritative voice and put their wands down hastily. Draco felt a breeze blow his hair and realized with a slight fear how powerful Harry really was. Blaise and Nott looked hesitant and frightened too. Harry had never demonstrated his power openly in public before. When Blaise and Nott eventually lowered their wands, Draco and Pansy were still aiming at each other. Harry gently lowered Draco's hand while talking to Pansy, "Parkinson, you heard me. If you don't put down that thing right now, I'll take more points from you." Draco grumbled, "Enjoy draining points from Slytherin, Potter?" Harry smiled and pulled Draco away from his opponent.
However Pansy didn't budge. Suddenly a softly muttered "Laurus" was heard followed by a greenish yellow flash from her wand. If Harry hadn't pulled Draco back, the curse would've hit him straight away. But fortunately that wasn't the case. Harry stepped between the tip of the wand and his fiancé; his defence wall emerged and reflected back the curse. With a shriek, Pansy was thrown back until she slammed the Ravenclaw table. The impact was very hard that the heavy table was pushed back. Students screamed as foods and stuff fell off the table, and the teachers rushed to Pansy, who was lying down unconsciously. People gasped when they saw branches and leaves rapidly sprouting from her body. She was turning into a laurel.
Harry and Draco were watching the whole scene with widened eyes like any other students there. They both shifted closer to each other; without being aware of it, they had been holding hands. Draco gripped Harry's hand tighter in apprehension and whispered, "Laurus Spell is a high level Dark Magic. If it is used with the right amount of power, you can turn anything into a laurel plant permanently, stripping any magic from the victim. Gods, Harry. Lucky she didn't have enough power to breach your defence. This is still very dangerous, and I believe Pansy is now in critical condition."
Harry looked at Draco's concerned face and squeezed back his hand to comfort him. Draco was right. The teachers failed to reverse the spell, and they brought Pansy out to hospital wing. Students were still standing with disbelief marring their expression. They started whispering to each other about the previous incident. Not only that Parkinson had cast something very likely a Dark Magic, but Potter had blocked and reflected back her curse – wandless.
Draco turned to his friend when Blaise said, "I was surprised that Nott defended you earlier, Draco. But I don't get it; he looked worried and panicked at Pansy's condition. He even escorted her with the teachers to hospital wing."
"You know how a boy loves a girl, Blaise. Pretending to hate but deep down inside wanting to shag senseless."
Harry looked at him with arched eyebrows. "Here I thought it was very noble of Nott to risk himself for an ungrateful brat like you."
"I believe the last noble man standing is you, Potter. Congratulation for your heroic salvage of an ungrateful brat. Your automatic defence is really handy." He added in a whisper, "Otherwise it would be me who must accompany you to infirmary. Please release my hand, thank you."
Harry immediately obeyed. Blaise watched the two boys with a crooked amused smile. However, he wasn't the only one who was interested with the interaction between Harry and Draco.
--
Later after lunch break, Harry visited Draco's room. Blaise was already there, discussing something suspiciously like potion's ingredients to take over the world. Slytherin.
"I visited Pansy at hospital wing. She's much better now that the spell has been completely reversed. It took Dumbledore himself to do it," Harry told them.
"Didn't Dumbledore say anything about that? It was Dark Magic she cast."
"I don't know what her punishment would be. But I have an impression Dumbledore was feeling quite compassionate on her."
Draco snorted. "For that mad girl, yes, compassionate indeed. She should've known what she tried to do could make her expelled. What made her so reckless?"
"You provoked her," Harry reminded him.
"She started it first!"
"Pansy is always impossible." Blaise turned to Harry, "And I can say the same about you, Potter. Was that your notorious wandless defence? Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, that only makes it even more unbelievable! It was far more impressive than what Draco had told me!"
"You know when you heard it from Draco, he wouldn't make it sound impressive at all," Harry smiled to his scowling fiancé sitting beside him.
Blaise continued, "And before that, what in the name of Salazar did you do to make us lower our wands? I suddenly felt an oppressive air trying to crush my whole body, especially my wand arm."
"That's Harry's body-crusher wandless magic. When he cast it in full power you will be blasted 100 metres backwards, and by the time you finally land you'll have had every single bone shattered," Draco explained heedlessly for Blaise, who frowned in awe as well as doubt towards his friend. Harry smiled in amusement, because without realizing it Draco was almost accurate in describing the magic. So when Blaise turned to him asking for confirmation, Harry just nodded.
"Splendid... Draco, if you were not my best friend, I would've plotted hundred ways to steal Potter from you. You got a Sex God as well as a Guardian Angel as a fiancé!"
"As if you could defeat me. Plotting is my field, mon ami. But let's drop it, okay? I'm more worried since people have discovered about my engagement."
"But they have no idea with whom you're engaged. I think people believe that you are engaged to a girl. It's supposed to make them dismiss the thought of you and Potter together. That rumour will die down, although replaced by the news of your betrothal."
"I only wish that rumour would die down as you said," Draco muttered, "because if my speculation is right, it will just grow even wilder."
--
He was right. Still in the same day, the rumours had become more unrestrained and closer to the truth.
"So that's not true. Malfoy is engaged to another girl."
"We only know he's engaged. We don't know if it is with a girl or a boy."
"You have a point. I really believe he has something with Harry Potter. Potter shielded him with his own body!"
"You know what? Maybe he has a fiancée, but he secretly shags Potter!"
"No, that's not what I mean. It's Potter to whom Malfoy is engaged! Look at how they were holding hands this morning."
"What? Malfoy and Potter?"
"Hmm, it's possible nonetheless. I say it will make sense of everything. They have just started being close after Malfoy's 17th birthday. Very likely it was the time their engagement was finally revealed."
"Oh, damn. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are two of the most eligible bachelors in Hogwarts. Both are taken! And at the same time!"
"Potter is the most eligible bachelor in the whole Britain! Merlin, Malfoy is sooo lucky…"
"Grr, I wish I were Malfoy."
"You should wish you gossiping bunch didn't stay here tattling false tale on our Head Boy and a Prefect."
The gossiping bunch turned to face the Head Girl who had her hands on her hips. "Five points from each of you for improper social behaviour. Now get back to your common room and study for tomorrow." The girls scurried away.
"Looks like you've got a new task as etiquette police, Herm." Hermione turned around to face the smiling Head Boy.
"Looks like you are in trouble, Harry. This is the second time I must disperse a group of people talking about you and Draco in a corridor. Who knows what people are discussing now in their Common Rooms?"
"They are just gossiping. Sooner or later everything will subside. Draco and I have talked about this; we won't display too much proximity in public."
"I think it's too late. Rumour like this is like raging wildfire, spread very fast and very difficult to suppress."
"Come on, Herm, it won't be that bad. Even the real wildfire could be extinguished when we treat it with the right method." Hermione looked sceptical, but nodded in agreement. However, deep down Harry wasn't as convinced as he sounded.
--
For two days, Draco and Harry didn't hear anymore juicy gossips about their relationship. But just as the old saying: calm before the storm, these quiet days didn't last long and only served as prelude to the real storm. On fine Friday morning…
"Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy! Aren't they the couple of the century?"
Draco halted at his way back from the dungeon. From behind a pillar he listened to some girls chattering wildly.
"When they're married, that would be a grandeur! The Boy-Who-Lived with the heir of the richest family in Britain. Oh, will I be invited?"
"I'm dying to see them together as a couple. They are like a god and an archangel. Their first night would be… ooh, it makes me delirious…"
"Merlin bless me. Just imagining those two kissing makes me giddy!"
"I wonder who will be on top? I mean, it should be Potter, but is Malfoy going to let somebody top him?"
The Slytherin in question by then had been walking away from there in a hurry, mortified and frightened that his relationship with Harry had been exposed.
"Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy! Aren't they the couple of the century?"
Draco whipped his head to the source of that exclamation. Seamus, Dean, and the Creevey brothers were holding the Daily Prophet and cackling. Draco approached them with large strides and snarled, "Since when you imbeciles start listening to girls' gossips?"
"We don't listen to girls' gossips. Why should we?" Seamus replied, grinning from ear to ear.
"You don't? Then explain what you've just shouted to the world before!" At that the Gryffindor boys laughed again.
"I still can't believe it! It's too hilarious!"
"They've really run out of articles! But I admit this is creative!"
"The couple of the century indeed!"
Draco narrowed his eyes. Dean grinned and shoved the Daily Prophet to him. "It's in the headline, mate."
"What??" Draco widened his eyes and quickly scanned the newspaper. Indeed, it was the main headline, written in atrocious big letters which could make a blind man's eyes sting. Below the heading, an edited picture of Draco and Harry together in a Ball was placed. The first paragraph of the article informed that Draco Malfoy had cancelled his arranged marriage with Pansy Parkinson because he had already been engaged even before he was born to Harry Potter. It was arranged through an old testament which had just been re-discovered. Without further reading Draco crumpled the newspaper and tossed it carelessly. He rushed to Dumbledore's office, the other boys' laugh ringing behind him.
--
Within the next five minutes he had been standing in front of the stone Gargoyle. The entrance was mercifully opened for him since Draco didn't know the current password. This was an emergency.
Inside the office, there wasn't just the Headmaster who had been waiting for him. "Mother!" He rushed towards Narcissa, who was standing beside Harry.
"Have you read the article in Daily Prophet, Harry?" Draco turned to his fiancé. Harry nodded and said, "I came late for breakfast this morning, and the entire Great Hall was talking about it."
"I missed my copy this morning, but your friends have thoughtfully read aloud the headline for me. They thought it was fabricated. They don't believe that you could be engaged with me."
"It's good they don't. I hope people would only think of it as made-up news."
"This isn't a Rita Skeeter's article. It's in the Daily Prophet!"
"But you said my friends don't believe it."
"Your friends don't believe it because if I were in their shoes, I wouldn't believe it either. But that's definitely not the case for other people outside Hogwarts. Forget that, there are many people in Hogwarts already who believe it!"
Dumbledore informed, "I have contacted the Daily Prophet to verify their article. It seems that they obtained the information from a bona fide source and thus they can prove the authenticity of this article."
"Of course there must be a source spilling this information, and some ingenious story maker must have believed them. My question is: who the hell is the source?"
Narcissa answered despondently, "It was your father."
Draco gaped. "Father?! How come…?"
His mother's eyes shimmered with tears. "That was my fault, Draco. Lucius came home two days ago and inquired about the abrogation of your engagement. I refused to reveal whom you've been engaged to, by telling him I had no idea as the testament was in Dumbledore's hand. He seemed to believe me, saying he would find it out by himself. But later he put Veritaserum in my drink and cast Imperius Curse on me so I was forced to answer his questions with the truth." She sniffed. "… I told him everything… even about the bond…"
Draco embraced his mother to soothe her. He whispered, "It's all right, Mother. It wasn't your fault; you could never fight off Imperius combined with the effect of Veritaserum. I'm sorry Father is such a manipulative prick. He should have never done that to you, his own wife."
"Are you sure it was Lucius who gave this information to the newspaper, Mrs Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Yes, because he told me so the next morning. He said he had sold Harry Potter's betrothal news so the whole Wizarding World could rejoice."
Harry wondered, "But the news doesn't mention anything about the bond. What is Lucius's intention actually?"
"My husband said he wanted to make you and Draco regret this, Harry. I've tried to make him come to his sense that you two couldn't control what had happened. It all has been determined by the testament. But he didn't want to listen…"
"Father must've hated me very much and now he tries to make my life miserable," Draco said bitterly. Now it was Narcissa's turn to comfort her son.
Harry frowned. "I don't think so…"
Dumbledore watched Harry closely and said wisely, "What do you think about it, Harry?"
"What I can see from this situation is that Mr Malfoy is trying to protect his family."
Draco stared at him. "By announcing to the world that his son is engaged to the Boy-Who-Lived?"
"Yes. But he hides the most important matter of the whole thing: the existence of soul bond between you and me. Why does the article say the engagement was made 20 years ago, instead of 14 which is the truth? 20 years ago my grandparents were still alive, and people could assume it was with them the late Mrs Malfoy made the promise to unite the two families. Therefore it would avoid people's suspicion at how I could be engaged to Draco after my parents died."
Harry watched the others' expressions before continuing, "Lucius must've never expected a soul bond had bound Draco and his enemy, and he couldn't risk his Master knowing it too. The Parkinson family is within Voldemort's inner circle. Voldemort sooner or later would hear about the annulment of Draco's engagement with Pansy, and Lucius was worried that he would somehow discover to whom Draco has been engaged now. If that happens, his family will face great danger, especially with the existence of the bond. He doesn't want Voldemort to know about the bond. He doesn't want you to die, Draco."
Draco chewed his lips before he quietly said, "So you mean Father has anticipated if Voldemort would try to find out further about the truth of our engagement either from Father himself or from his connection with you. If Father has announced it openly, Voldemort probably won't bother to dig up this matter. Is that so?"
"I can't be sure, but I have a suspicion that is the reason behind his action. If you're only known as my normal fiancé, Voldemort will think you are valuable to be kept instead of being hunted."
"He could just tell Voldemort privately. There's no need to publicize it."
Dumbledore smiled and answered, "Oh, I believe that's necessary to make it public, Draco. Why hide it from public when Voldemort already knew? As long as the bond is concealed, it doesn't matter. Mr Malfoy most likely had told his Master first before he gave the news to The Daily Prophet, and he convinced Voldemort that he would make you and Harry on edge with this surprise. Behind that reason, he actually tried to help you. Mr Malfoy should have known about your inseparable case, and he announced the engagement so that people wouldn't ask again about the sudden closeness of you and Harry."
Looking anxious, Narcissa uttered her opinion, "Lucius doesn't want to tell us about his plan. He must have thought we wouldn't let him, and he wanted us to react normally so The Dark Lord wouldn't be suspicious."
"Before Father explains his reason by himself, those are just our hypotheses."
"Yes, of course we wouldn't let our guard down. Not even Wizengamot know about Amora Aevus bond, so this secret is just shared between us and your father. We could only hope Voldemort wouldn't think of pestering Lucius. Right now, I'm sure that Harry is skilled enough to ward off Voldemort from his mind." Dumbledore looked at Harry, who nodded confidently.
"Now what should we do?" Draco looked at people around him. "I mean, people would confront us about this. Should we say no comment, or deny this news, or confirm it hoping nothing would go wrong?"
"I suppose no comment should be how Draco and Harry shall respond to questions. That is the most reasonable reaction and people might also have expected the same thing from you. To deny it is almost ineffectual, and to confirm it is probably only needed when the pressure has been too much."
"It might be the only solution, Headmaster," Narcissa replied tiredly. "No comment. Great. So much after being discreet about the whole thing for a week…," her son muttered.
--
In the late afternoon afterwards, Harry and Draco were walking side by side after a Double Care of Magical Creatures. They didn't have this join class before, but it was a single adjustment for their timetables in order to facilitate the boys saving their separation time limit. Draco was currently in a dire mood.
First, Harry's friends still laughed at him when Harry wasn't with him. It appeared that they had realized the news wasn't a joke, but the fact of two former enemies being engaged before they were born was even funnier. But that was nothing compared to some students who expressed openly that they pitied Harry with his grim fate. Harry almost hit them but Draco managed to pull him away. As the result, those students pitied Harry even more because Malfoy controlled him, imposing on their engaged state. As the day went on, it became clear to Draco what many students presumed: Harry had been forced to be kind to Malfoy because of this engagement, not because he had a thing for the Slytherin boy.
Then in the Care of Magical Creatures, Draco had refused to stay near Harry during the class and soon realized his mistake. With the feared wandless-expert Head Boy stood remotely with other Gryffindor, while he was surrounded by Slytherin, Draco had submitted himself to 2-hour-torture. His house mates kept making fun of him, and Pansy especially taunted him with every single derogatory phrase she knew. Blaise had dropped this class since sixth year, and none of the rest of Slytherin here was on friendly terms with him. They utilized words only which weren't spoken too loud either, therefore unless Draco complained nobody could rescue him.
Actually Harry kept watching him during this class; however, it was the reason Draco maintained an impassive façade as if nothing happened. Despite seething, he exerted all his will-power to ignore every insult attacking his ears, because otherwise Harry would do something rash and Draco would lose face completely. Since using his wand might only trouble him, Draco really longed for Fluffy that time. After the class was over, Harry had asked him again whether he was harassed, but Draco didn't admit it. He hated being treated like a china doll. Well, he loved being treated like a china doll – he was spoiled all his life, but with Harry it only made him feel worthless. He didn't like depending on Harry to stay his ground, since it would only strengthen the assumption that Harry was better than him.
"Oh, look! The couple of the century. Harry Potter and his pretty blond slag."
Harry whipped his head to the source of that exclamation while Draco just slowly turned around, having recognized his own house mates from the remark. They saw 3 sixth year Slytherin standing a few feet away behind them. Those Slytherin simpered.
"Engaged before they were born. In other words, they really were born for each other."
"Now you believe me, don't you? Malfoy always talked non-stop about Potty, Potty, and Potty. That was just the odd way of how he satisfied his sexual frustration with Potter so far away in Gryffindor Tower, while nobody else was low enough to help him. How sad..."
"Does Malfoy's skill meet your Sex God standard, Potter? Looks can be deceiving, right?"
Harry was about to turn back and give them a good thrashing but Draco grabbed his arm and dragged him away, leaving the sniggering students. After they were quite far away, Draco released his grip on Harry and kept walking. In turn, Harry captured his wrist and stopped him. They were standing on an empty corridor now.
"Why did you hold me back from giving them their lesson? You're going to let them deride you?"
"Forget it, Potter. You were just going to take pleasure in docking Slytherin's points, which I have collected with effort."
Harry gaped. "Am I that obvious?? I was trying to defend your honour, you twit!"
"Defend my honour? That's my own job, Potty. Who do you think you are?"
"I'm your fiancé, but it's my own conscience to always stand up for you whenever somebody tries to hurt you."
"Oh, you mean like when you knocked me out on the train home in fourth year? Or when you turned me into a giant slug? Oh, excuse me, that was your friends' doing. Or when you and Weasley tried to kill me after Quidditch match?"
'Why suddenly bring out the past?' "I never started all those fights, Draco."
"I kill you."
Harry sighed heavily and gave Draco a pleading look. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to blame you. Okay, I admit those were my faults too. And I'm sorry it was always you who got hurt in the end." He reached to touch Draco's face, but the blond slapped his hand harshly and turned around to leave. Harry went after him and tried to placate him.
"Please, Draco. Those are in the past. Just forget them; they are nothing but childish brawls. We should just concentrate on the present and our future together. Maybe we hated each other once, but it's all over now. I love you, you know that."
"Only that senseless charm believes you. You know what? You only tried to defend your own honour before, because when people scorn your fiancé, they indirectly scorn you too."
"It's not about me! Merlin, what the hell are you thinking, Draco? I love you, okay? I love you and I will always protect you from anything."
Draco stopped walking, whipped his head, and grimaced at Harry, "Quit talking about love. That means nothing in a life or death situation, like ours now. Not even the greatest love on earth could save us if Voldemort decided to strike today."
"I'm still alive because of my mother's love."
"But your mother died! See, if love only could defeat the most powerful Dark Wizard of all time, right now Voldemort would be oozing to death instead of being at the peak of his power! I'm sick of your lousy nonsense!"
"You think everything I said is nonsense?"
"Exactly. You're living in an illusive paradise, Potter. Snap out of it! After all your fantastic adventures, you're supposed to know it better than anyone else: it was not the love that brought you back from hell!"
"Let me tell you s…" Harry's reply was interrupted by a drawl from behind them, "School corridor is never a good place for lovers' quarrel. People may need to pass here."
"Professor," Draco greeted uneasily. Snape nodded at him, completely ignoring Harry. "You haven't visited my office for a while, Draco. The potion ingredients you asked me last week have arrived. When will you come to take them?" Snape's tone was too sugary for Harry's liking.
"I'm sorry, sir. I've been busy these days. Thank you for keeping the ingredients, I'll come to your office as soon as possible. I want to start brewing that draught before the weather changes."
"Flame Draught is quite easy to be made. I have brewed some, you may use it..."
"Flame Draught? Is it a potion to ignite passion? You sure need it more than Draco, Professor."
Snape sneered contemptuously at Harry, "Potter, I'm aware that you have a brain the size of pea. Flame Draught is a potion to keep your body warm even in the coldest surroundings."
"Well, it's not my fault that this potion's name is double entendre."
Snape ignored him again and said to Draco, "Your last class for today is over. If you have time right now, come to my office with me."
Draco agreed and turned to Harry, but Harry was closing his eyes, earning him suspicious look from the other two men. He opened his eyes and muttered, "Accio Flame Draught." Five seconds later a vial labelled with the said potion arrived in his hand. Draco watched disbelievingly at the wandless summoning process. "You… you knew its location?"
"I didn't, but I can do remote viewing and I've just sought its location in Snape's office."
"Return that vial to me right now, Potter!"
Harry turned to Snape. "Yes, Professor. I just want to show Draco my remote viewing ability. No need to froth at the mouth." He carelessly threw the vial high to the air, but the vial exploded up there.
"Potter!!" Both Draco and Snape yelled simultaneously. The crimson liquid of Flame Draught turned into fire when still in the air, and the fire shot down in a controlled direction towards the bottom hem of Snape's robe. The Potions Professor swiftly put out the fire before it burnt a good deal of his robe.
Harry still had the grace to look surprised, "Oh, it's inflammable. I should've guessed." Unblinking, Draco stared open-mouthed at him.
Snape roared, "100 POINTS from Gryffindor!! DETENTION for two months!!"
Harry yawned. "How cliché, Professor. If you need help to clean that greasy office of yours, just say so."
"I'm going to kill you, impudent brat!"
"You wish."
Draco alternated glancing in panic at Harry and Snape. Snape had pulled his wand, but Harry just stood unmoving with tranquil yet deadly eyes. The blond Slytherin stepped between the other two men, facing his godfather with imploring face. "Professor, please hold yourself. Dumbledore might come here and you could be in trouble. That broken grandfather clock always sides with Potter."
Snape replied coldly, "You think I can't handle this bastard, do you? Or you just don't want your… precious fiancé to be hurt?"
"Wrong. I hope you'd kill him someday. But now if he dies, I will meet the same ugly fate."
Snape's eyes softened at his godson. He glared at Harry before returning to Draco. "I end this scrap with you here, Potter. Draco, why don't we go now?"
Draco was about to nod when Harry said from behind him, "I won't allow Draco to go alone with you, Professor. I am responsible for his well-being, and we have to spend our time together in private."
Snape glowered dangerously at the Head Boy, and Draco hastily told the Potions Master that he really had some business to be finished with Harry and his mother right now. Snape took 20 more points from Gryffindor for insolence and left the two boys behind his billowing burnt robe. The Professor's face was red and contorted with fury.
Draco watched Snape walk away till he disappeared round a corner. He turned to face Harry and tongue-lashing was ready to come out his mouth, "Are you insane…" A louder voice cut him in.
"What have you done with Snape, Harry?"
"Hey, Ginny," Harry greeted her. She was about to speak but Harry stopped her. "I'll talk to you later. Draco and I…"
"No, let's talk now. But just you and I."
"Just you and he? Hah! In your dream, Weasel Troll."
"Shut your trap, Ferret Boy. This is my personal business with Harry. You can go to hell for what I care."
Draco hissed at her, "Listen, you abominable Bogey Mistress. You have no personal business with Harry if I decide to say so. I let you talk to him now only because I feel pity for people around you if you suddenly go berserk after we deprive you too long of your precious Potter. Don't expect another mercy next time."
He sneered at her and treaded away arrogantly, suddenly feeling too much with Ginny's presence, suddenly needing to be alone and away from Harry. "You're the reason he was trying to kill her!"
Ginny gestured at his back, "Look at him! What an attitude."
"Yeah, forgive him. He's rather moody today."
She looked at Harry. "He's moody every day. The only time he isn't is when he's insulting people."
"What do you want, Ginny?"
"You know what. Your engagement with Malfoy is a crazy thing!"
Harry inspected his fingernails, both his face and tone bored. "Unbelievable, yes. Crazy, mm… not really."
"No, you're right. It's you who is crazy. How could Dumbledore do nothing about it?"
"I wonder why…"
"Malfoy or his parents could use this engagement to lure you into the Dark Lord's trap."
"Yes, I've expected as much."
Ginny continued calmly, "And I know about the bond."
Harry stiffened, but he forced an expressionless mask, "Bond? What bond?"
"The bond of Amora Aevus, Love for a Lifetime."
Harry stared at Ginny. After checking briefly that no one else was nearby, he responded tensely, "How did you find out?"
Ginny's eyes became hard. She spoke harshly, "So it's true then? On Saturday night I saw Hermione reading a book in restricted section after you almost killed her in the Quidditch practice. She muttered to herself about you. I looked at the same book and took my speculation from what I read there. This couldn't be a normal engagement." Harry widened his eyes, feeling like a fool that Ginny had tricked him into admission.
"Yes, it's true. So what?"
"So what? You're doomed, Harry. If he dies, you're going to die too!"
Harry threw his arms to the air. "Oh Merlin, save me! Yes, I know it. That's what a soul bond is for! Can you people stop saying the same thing again and again? I'm going to kill somebody if I ever hear that phrase again!"
"Harry! I'm worried about you!"
Harry put down his flailing arms and straightened up immediately, fisting his hands. "Don't bother. There are too many people worried about me already. If anyone cares to look from objective point of view, it's Draco who is doomed! He's going to face greater danger because Voldemort and his goons are after me! They will also target him if they find out about the bond, because they just need to kill him and then I'll automatically die too. It's him you people should be worried about! I'm happy with this condition, but he's probably not. He doesn't even love me!"
Ginny had tears welling up in her eyes. "You admit it. He doesn't love you."
"You knew that already! One more time I tell you, I will still love him whatever may come."
Ginny shook her head. "But what about other people? Malfoy makes you lose your mind, Harry! You're like… a madcap, nutty, pathetically jealous man! You cause danger to anyone whom you think is too close to Malfoy! Like what I think you just did to Snape. And Hermione... She forgave you only because she loves you so much, but I really can't believe it! You almost harmed your own best friend!!"
"I…"
"There's no reason to justify your crazy acrobatics with your broomstick against her! If it were Ron who sat beside him that time, would you've done the same? If I kissed Malfoy, are you going to kill me for real?"
"Yes." Ignoring the expression on her face saying 'You really are crazy!', Harry went on, "I won't let anyone else touch him in order to hurt him, like I believe you will. No matter who it is, if he or she intends to hurt Draco, I'm going to finish that person. Including you."
Ginny stared. Then she lowered her eyes and whispered forlornly, "Your love is a dangerous thing, Harry. You might one day bring down all the people in Wizarding World because of that." She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked directly at Harry. "You care only for him. Have you forgotten about us, your friends and family?"
"I've never forgotten anyone, especially my friends and family. I still care about all of you."
"But you care about him more."
"See? You understand."
"No, I don't. What do you see from him, Harry? What makes you fall so deeply in love with him?"
Harry eyed her intently. "Draco asked me the same things before. He doesn't believe my answer, so why should I tell you? You won't believe it either."
"Actually it doesn't matter." She averted her eyes from him and added, "I read this bond is unbreakable. There's nothing we can do to separate you from him even when you don't love him anymore."
"Shut it, Ginny! I was wrong; you don't know anything. I will never let anyone separate me from Draco. Not even if this bond was suddenly broken. I'll prove it to you. I'll prove it to him, and to all people. I'll never stop loving him and I don't need any bond to keep Draco with me!" With that, Harry turned around and walked away to the direction Draco had left before.
--
Draco walked without destination after he left Harry, his mind filled with many things. Harry was a jealous person. Not only jealous, but he was powerful like hell. Draco was pretty confident that Harry would never hurt him, but he was worried about people like Snape and Hermione. He also believed that he was a heartless bastard himself because after all of these, in place of feeling hatred or disgust towards Harry, he felt flattered that someone would be so jealous, so… protective about him. He couldn't help still feeling precious.
After he ended up in the lawn leading towards the forest, Draco suddenly realized that it might be better to go to Snape's office than walk aimlessly like now. Harry wouldn't know if he finally visited his godfather alone. But just as he turned around, Draco suddenly stood face to face with some DA members. There were 4 of them: Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ernie Macmillan, Susan Bones, and Hannah Abbott. The pompous Slytherin Prince snorted. Hufflepuff were below his dignity.
"What?" Draco drawled.
"We wanted to see by our own eyes the couple of the century, but without Harry it's just an attention-seeking slimy git," Ernie said carelessly.
"What??" Draco spat.
"Ernie! Malfoy, we came to congratulate you. You're such a lucky sod, aren't you?" Hannah didn't sound like congratulating for Draco.
"I don't need congratulation! If you feel like complimenting someone for his fortune, go to Potter instead of me!" 'Wait! I should've said no comment! But… argh!'
"You really don't know how to be grateful. Being engaged to Harry is what you must thank your lucky star for the most," Susan reprimanded. Draco opened his mouth but the girls cut him off.
"Yes, poor Harry. It must have shocked him very much, suddenly engaged to a Malfoy. I hope he's all right."
"It's a shame, really. Harry is such a nice boy and…"
"QUIET you… moose!! You think I'm happy with this engagement?? I was forced to! I can't do anything to cancel it! And believe me, I want to cancel it!"
Nobody believed him. Draco itched to draw his wand and turned all these useless people into ivy. That way, they couldn't talk anymore or look at him with contemptuous eyes. Suddenly from behind him a familiar voice spoke up.
"What was that, Ferret? You want to cancel your engagement? Harry would die straight away from the heart break you're going to cause."
Susan snorted. "You put it the wrong way around, Ron."
"Yeah. Malfoy might die instantly, but Harry more likely would dance around Quidditch pitch naked, celebrating the break up," Justin added. Ernie laughed. The girls giggled. Draco almost frothed.
"Don't tweet when you don't know what you're singing about."
Everyone else looked at the red-head in surprise. Ron fixed the Hufflepuff a piercing look. "Mr A. B. Ferret here is more valuable for Harry than the world's greatest treasure is. Stop acting like some childish prat, will you? I know you're just jealous of Draco because you want Harry for yourselves, or on the contrary you actually want Draco for yourselves. Which one is right for each of you?"
Those Hufflepuff shot dirty glare at Ron, but it didn't affect the Gryffindor. They murmured unintelligibly among themselves, and eventually walked away. Ron was quite respected in DA. Draco sighed and turned to the red head.
"Thanks, Weasel. Although I'd appreciate it if you stuffed that Ferret thing for yourself."
"No problem, Ferret. I enjoy spreading my love for you to other people. By the way, aren't you so much softer these days? Normally those Hufflepuff wouldn't survive your wrath. Harry has influenced you that much, huh?"
"I'm trying to act mature. It won't bring me anywhere if I still go around hexing anything in sight. Besides, those badgers aren't worth my wrath."
He sat down on the grass before continuing, "Now that I've told you I want to act mature, I can no longer blame those idiots for caring too much for Harry." Sighing, he added bitterly, "It's always Harry that people are worried about. Everyone loves Harry, everyone wants the best for him, everyone's dying to have a piece of him. It's not my wish to be engaged to him, but now people consider I'm supposed to thank all the gods above for this greatest blessing, which for Harry is a curse since I'm too low to deserve him." Draco looked up at Ron who was still standing. "You and Hermione are the only people who think Harry is the lucky one. And Tonks too."
Draco felt like pouring his heart out, even in front of Ron. He didn't realize it, but he had grown to trust the red-head that much.
"We know exactly how Harry feels for you." Ron plopped down beside him. "As much as I hate to admit it, Ferret, I share your feeling about Harry. I've been repeatedly feeling this jealousy inside my mind. Harry is a Wonder Boy, blessed with fame and luck within his numerous escapades. He has power, marked as an equal by You-Know-Who himself. Everything he does always outshines me. And now, he has the looks which make others either love him or envy him. Oh, I hate to say this because he's my best friend and because it means I finally have something in common with you." Draco wanted to laugh at that. Ron had no idea they had shared another thing in common namely love interest.
Ron continued, "But I love him. Maybe one day I was angry at him, hated him, but then he would always find his way back to my heart. That's Harry Potter for me. I'll die for him. I may sound like a sap, but I know Hermione also thinks this way."
"He's been your friend since the beginning. It's easy for you to always forgive and forget."
"We have had our rows too, which took many days before we reconciled. Of course, you and I are different, in situation and in personality. But I'm sure you understand this is not Harry's fault. It's never his choice – all the fame and his fate as The Boy-Who-Lived. He always wishes he was born as normal boy, grew up as normal boy, not burdened with this saviour duty."
"Still, it hurts when people compare you with him and notice the obvious that you are not worth even his rags."
"Human is envious being. Harry is totally, madly in love with you, Draco. If there were love which could move a mountain, I believe that would be his feeling for you. It's him who hurts the most whenever anyone despises you."
Draco was silent for a while before he replied quietly, "I know."
"Don't forget that Mione and I love you too."
"Ah, I always know you've been harbouring a big crush on me since we first met." Draco put a hand on the shoulder of a wide-eyed Ron and sighed in an exaggerated way. "Ron, honey, please don't take me as another reason to be jealous of Harry."
Ron laughed and ruffled his well-groomed platinum tresses. Flattening his hair, Draco wondered if Ron and he had more things in common (they were related after all) than Harry and him, and a rich voice he had been used to these recent days came from behind them.
"Been talking about me, haven't you guys?" Draco and Ron turned around to see Harry approaching them. Ron got up and brushed his trousers.
"Here your Prince Charming has arrived, Draco. I'd better return you back to him before he beheads me for harbouring a crush on you. See you two later."
Draco stared at Ron's retreating back and gushed, "I love Ron." Harry raised an eyebrow from beside him.
"You're joking, right?"
"Do I look like a joker, Potter?"
Harry grinned broadly and hugged him, "Quit being a prat, mon chéri. I'm a more jealous person than you are."
Draco was basking in the warmth of Harry's body and his pleasant smell; his spirit had been much lighter since the conversation with Ron. He responded quietly, his forehead pressed on Harry's shoulder, "Are you?"
Harry tightened his hold. "I'm really sorry, Draco. I've been acting horrible lately. I swear, I've tried to repress this jealousy, but every time I saw you close to someone else, I felt angry and scared because… because I simply don't like it." Draco frowned but Harry didn't see it. The taller boy went on, "I know that's ridiculous, but I can't help it. When Snape acted as if he were your fiancé, I couldn't hold back anymore. We scared you, didn't we?"
The Slytherin in his embrace looked up at him. "Yes, you almost floored me, you know? Since when you've been keeping this homicidal tendency? But actually I talked about myself. I'm not only jealous of people who touch you, but I'm also jealous of you. Stupid, golden-hearted Gryffindor whom everybody loves. Not to mention very beautiful."
"You think I'm beautiful?"
Draco knocked on Harry's temple. "Hellooo? That's not the point, okay?"
"I'm not surprised you're jealous of me," Harry said, earning him a glare from Draco. He added, "I mean, I have a suspicion that you still think of me as a rival rather than a friend."
Draco twiddled the front robe of Harry and said, "Old habits die hard, Harry."
"But one day you're going to let it go, right? You can't get anything by being envious."
"Hmm. Maybe. I'll try," Draco fixed his eyes on Harry's, "But only if you promise this silly jealousy, possessiveness, or whatever it is that you keep exhibiting is going to stop. At once."
Harry grinned. "Yes, sir."
"Don't forget I'm still angry with you."
"No, you're not."
Draco extricated himself from Harry's arms and walked away. Harry followed him closely from behind, and they walked in silence for a few moments. There was no one else around them in this open space. Without turning his head, Draco said in soft voice, "Don't you think this soul bonding is ridiculous, Harry? It gives us no advantage, unlike a bonding marriage. What's the point of that distance limit? And then… we're prohibited from… making love with outside party, but I suppose we could still snog other people, as long as it's not below the belt. We still can't trust each other like this. The spell is very complex and draining almost all your energy, yet in the end nobody could benefit from it. In my point of view, Amora Aevus is just a too powerful device to force two people into arranged marriage."
"You forget the soul mates part."
"Do you really believe we're soul mates? No, I rephrase that. Do you believe in soul mates? What's the exact definition of soul mates? Or true love? How much bigger it is compared to love – just love?"
Harry took larger strides to walk past Draco and stopped to face him before answering slowly but in determined tone, which compelled Draco to listen to each word he said.
"I believe in my own feelings. I don't know about soul mates, but I believe I was born for you. Even if you were born for someone else, I still live my life only to make you happy. I can't say into which category my feelings for you can be classified, because now that you have asked me about true love and love, I realize I'm not sure if there is love which isn't true. But I know that nothing could ever end this feeling I have for you. There's nothing I will ever love more than you."
"Easy for you to say. I…"
"You said before that after my fantastic adventures I would've known that love couldn't save me from hell. You're wrong, Draco. After being thrown into hell and successfully creeping my way back, I am positive that it's love which gives you the greatest strength. I'll tell you the details later, but in every life or death situation I faced, I was always helped out by love."
"Stop saying that L word over and over again, will y…"
"Do you know about the prophecy?"
Draco raised an eyebrow, so Harry explained, "There's a prophecy about me and Voldemort, saying that neither can live while the other survives. In the end, one of us must die, and it will be him."
"Yes, of course you m…"
"I will kill Voldemort," Harry said. "I don't care how, but I'll kill him and I will survive. I won't die, not because of him nor anyone else. Even if in this way I'm going to sacrifice other people, I will live, only so you will live too. I won't let you die."
A pair of normally steely eyes right now looked more like melting ice. "What if I want to die myself? What if I want you to die?"
"I will convince you to change your thought. I want you to live, Draco. To live and to be happy. Even if you're not my soul mate, for me you're always my greatest, my only eternal love."
Draco sighed. "What's the relation between all of these sentimental exchanges and my original question?"
"You're afraid one day you'll get hurt because of me, aren't you? You're afraid that my love might fade away and then I would regret what I've done for it later. I know what some people said to you, that you got more than you deserved. Don't listen to them. Don't let their words ruin your confidence."
The usually proud Slytherin placed a hand over his mouth and turned his face to the left. He suddenly felt vulnerable, with this other person who knew him so much standing in front of him. Harry forced Draco to look at him again before he continued, "This is my real feeling, Draco, and I've tried to describe it with every word I know. What else must I say? I've dreamt about you and me, and now it became reality. After this, I will never want to sleep again. I will strive to keep awake so this feeling will be alive and getting stronger forever. If I could choose, forever is not long enough. Amora Aevus is probably useless for you, but I'll make sure there would be no regrets."
They were silent after that, emerald and silver kept connected to each other, trying to convince, trying to believe. After what seemed like eternity, Draco stepped closer to Harry. In a soft voice he said, "It's so easy to be said, but I'll see it myself if you can carry out your words for real. Only one thing is certain: our bond will bind us forever. Do you know this bond makes me able to empathize with your emotional state? And it seems vice-versa. I know you were serious about what you've just said. Probably this is what you really feel about me, and probably this perfect feeling would last. But when there's love, there's also pain. You never know what would happen to you in the end because of this feeling."
"I see that you don't think you'll be able to love me as much as I love you. Remember, I've promised you I'll make you fall for me, and I will accomplish it as soon as possible. This is another promise." As he spoke, Harry slowly trailed a finger over the high cheekbone down to Draco's chin, his touch and his eyes so full of love and tenderness. He lowered his hand and said, "I don't know where I would end up ultimately with this feeling. There might be pain, I've anticipated it. But even being crashed to the hell would be still like living in Eden for me. This is why, Draco, I want to make you feel the same about me."
Again, silence fell between them. Draco raised his left hand and swept Harry's fringe from his forehead, and then his five fingers pressed lightly over the lightning scar and Harry's temple. Harry closed his eyes, Draco's fingers were cold and at the same time they made him burn. Next moment, Harry felt a touch of satin lips laid on his cheek which sent electricity and flame all over his body despite the fact that the kiss was almost intangible and lasted only for half a second.
He opened his eyes and saw Draco passing beside him. "See you tonight, Harry," the blond said without turning his head. His voice was like carried by the wind to Harry's ears. Harry watched his fiancé walking away and he didn't follow. He didn't see it, yet he was certain that Draco was crying. Harry felt a single drop of tear also fall from the corner of his eye. A tear of joy and relief. Draco had believed him.
TBC