"So, you want me to help you...?" Blaise asked suspiciously. He and Harry were still standing in the snow covered clearing. Draco had long since left.
"Yes," said Harry simply. Blaise's eyebrows were furrowed in concentration.
"Why?" He asked in disbelief. Why would Potter need his help?
"I need someone on the inside."
"This isn't a bank job, Potter. What the hell do you want with Draco anyway?" Blaise was determined to know everything he needed before agreeing to anything involving Harry. He could see Harry hesitating.
"It's...uh..." Harry trailed off.
"Complicated," Blaise finished his sentence and Harry looked up at him. "Come on, Potter. You won't even tell the Weasel. If you want my help, you have to tell me. I refuse to help in a scheme where I don't even know what the final product is." Harry looked fairly surprised.
"Well, Zabini, you're a lot sharper than I give you credit for."
"I am a Slytherin, you forget," Blaise said, smirking. Harry smirked back at him.
"Yes, you are," he agreed. Blaise stopped smirking and turned serious.
"What's in it for me?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Of course, I forgot, being a Slytherin means you don't do anything without recompense." Blaise nodded in acquiescence.
"That's right, Potter," Blaise told him seriously.
"Fine then, I'll help you get Seamus." Blaise raised an eyebrow in surprise at that statement.
"You are a lot more observant than I thought, Potter," Blaise said. Harry shrugged noncommittally.
"I try," Harry replied flippantly. Blaise smirked at his attitude, so reminiscent of a Slytherin.
"So what's the deal, Potter? Why are you so set on humiliating Draco?" Blaise asked, bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand. Harry sighed but knew he wasn't going to get out of it this time. Blaise wasn't Ron and would not be so easily distracted.
"It's not humiliation," Harry said and Blaise quirked an eyebrow, interested in the explanation. "I love him."
"What?" Blaise exclaimed. Of all the things he had expected, that had not been one.
"I know, crazy, huh?" Harry said darkly. Blaise was rendered speechless. Harry Potter, the Golden Boy of Gryffindor, in love with Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Prince of Darkness.
"Yeah!" Blaise finally managed to choke out. Harry sighed and stared resolutely at a patch of snow to Blaise's left. "So what's your 'plan' for, then?" Blaise asked, once he had gotten over most of his shock.
Harry fidgited in his place, still staring at the ground.
"The only way to get him is to trick him. He would never go for me otherwise." Blaise thought this over and had to agree that Potter had a point.
"You may be right, Potter. But what is he going to do when he finds out you did this to him?"
"Hopefully by then he'll have fallen too."
"Ohh, so that's what you're doing?" Blaise clarified. Potter was basically manipulating Draco into falling in love. Blaise had to admit that he had so far been successful. Draco was becoming increasingly obsessed with Potter, and not in an I-hate-him-so-much-I-want-to-kill-him kind of way.
"Yes. That is what I'm doing," Harry reaffirmed. Blaise took a moment to reflect on this revelation. He could help Potter and help Draco at the same time, or he could be spiteful and a true Slytherin. Fortunately for Harry, Blaise had always had a streak of something else in his blood.
"Alright, Potter. I'll help you, but it won't come without a price." Harry smirked slightly at Blaise's Slytherin nature.
"Good. You won't regret it," Harry told him.
"So what exactly do you want me to do?" Blaise asked. A mischeivous smile crept onto Harry's features.
"I think you'll find this fairly enjoyable..."
OoOoOoOoO
"Where did you go, Harry?" Harry was back in the common room following his conversation with Blaise, and Hermione was already berating him for his long abscence and disappearance from class. Harry had never found the faerie and had eventually just given up and told Hagrid they'd lost it.
"Malfoy scared the damn faerie, so I had to go find it," Harry said in a tone of annoyance. Hermione made a noise of understanding and sympathy.
"Did you find it?" She asked. Harry scowled darkly.
"No," he said scathingly, "Malfoy followed me in, ranting and raving as usual, and, I'm sure, scared it deeper into the forest."
"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said. Harry shrugged.
"It's okay, I guess. Hagrid wasn't mad, so..." Harry trailed away. Hermione nodded in understanding.
"Well, it's time to go to Transfiguration," Hermione said, standing up. Ron groaned from his place on the couch but, nevertheless, dragged himself upright.
Together the three walked down through the castle and came to Professor McGonagalls classroom. Upon entrance, they saw that there were large birds perched on each desk. The students took their seats, all the while watching the curious birds.
"Settle down, everyone," Professor McGonagall said, moving to the front of the class. The class immediately stilled and watched her ascension. "Today, your assignment is to transfigure these birds into guinea pigs. However, besides just changing them, you will be required to turn them blue as well." She then left the class to begin their work.
Harry and Ron gaped open mouthed at the task for several minutes until Hermione snapped them out of it.
"Come on, guys. Get to work." Harry and Ron jerked out of their disbelieving trance and began trying the spell. Hermione managed to change her bird and the color within ten minutes of class, earning her 20 house points. Harry and Ron were having no such luck. Ron's bird now had four legs but still had feathers, and it was a pinkish color. Harry was a little further on with a teal bird and no feathers.
Hermione was berating them for not paying proper attention when the door to the classroom opened and in walked Blaise. The entire class looked up from what they were doing to watch Blaise. He swaggered casually over to McGonagall and whispered in her ear. She nodded and he turned around to leave. As he walked by Harry's table, Harry could have sworn he saw a flick of his wrist.
Blaise disappeared from the room and the rest of the class went back to work. Harry also went back to trying to change his bird. He was watching Hermione out of the corner of his eye. She was moving slowly and Harry caught a glimpse of a piece of paper.
With a glance to his left, he saw Seamus watching Hermione through narrowed eyes as she unfurled the parchment. Harry turned away to hide the smirk blossoming on his face. Hermione read through the note and her eyebrows furrowed as she read further.
Hermione carefully folded up the note and slipped it quietly into her bag. Harry leaned over inconspicuously and whispered to her.
"What's that?" Hermione looked up sharply as if she'd been caught doing something wrong.
"What? Nothing. It's nothing," she said quickly. Harry gave her a questioning look, but she just smiled at him and he let it go.
The class went along fairly smoothly. By the end, Harry had at least managed to change his bird into a guinea pig; unfortunately it was a forest green instead of the specific ocean blue color. Ron's was still a bird, but it did have a blueish tint to it.
After the class ended, the trio went back to the common room. Hermione was unusually quiet, but when they reached the common room, she immediately pulled out the homework McGonagall had assigned. Ron groaned but also pulled his out.
Eventually, it was time for lunch and they made their way down to the Great Hall. On the way, Harry gave a curious look at Hermione.
"Are you okay, Hermione?" He asked. She seemed to jerk out of a reverie and looked round at Harry.
"Of course, I'm fine," she said. Harry gave her a disbelieving look, but she just smiled at him and he dropped it. He looked over at Ron who just shrugged.
Once they got to the Great Hall, Harry, Ron, and Hermione took their usual places at the Gryffindor table. They were about halfway through lunch when Harry felt a prickling on his neck. He looked up carefully to find Draco staring directly at him. His silver eyes pierced through Harry. Harry raised a questioning eyebrow, but Draco only paused then looked away.
Harry watched him for a minute before sliding his gaze down the Slytherin table to rest on Blaise. He raised an eyebrow at Blaise who inclined his head ever so slightly in acknowledgement. Harry turned his attention back to his food and no one was any the wiser.
After lunch, they were forced to attend a History of Magic lesson. Five minutes in, the class was in a lazy stupor. Professor Binns took no notice and continued to lecture as though nothing was wrong. Hermione diligently took notes throughout the period.
When the class was dismissed, they walked out, trying to contain they're yawns. Hermione didn't even reprimand them for not paying attention. She appeared distracted. Ron asked her once what was wrong, but she just waved away his question, stating that she was tired.
They spent the little time they had before dinner playing Exploding Snap and Wizards Chess. Harry lost rather spectacularly to Ron several times throughout the evening. Hermione was unusually quiet, sitting in an armchair and buried in a book.
Harry glanced over several times. She didn't appear to be reading, as her eyes weren't moving. Her eyebrows were furrowed as though she was trying to figure something out. Harry watched her intently for a few minutes while Ron deliberated on a move. After awhile, she seemed to realize she was being watched. She looked carefully over her book, saw Harry, and raised the book up higher.
Harry tried not to laugh at her actions. Ron hadn't noticed a thing. Harry turned his attention back to the game which he was still losing. Finally, he tired of losing and suggested they go down to dinner. Hermione agreed readily and jumped up from her seat. Ron was just as excited.
Together they went down to the Great Hall again. Nothing spectacular happened during the dinner. Harry noticed that Seamus was watching Hermione rather closely than was normal.
"Seamus?" Harry asked quietly. Seamus tore his eyes from Hermione's bushy hair.
"What?" He said distractedly.
"Why are you staring at Hermione?" Harry asked. He could see Seamus hesitating.
"It's nothing, just..." He trailed away, his eyes landing once again on Hermione's head.
"Just what?" Harry asked curiously. He shot a glance over to where Blaise was sitting at the Slytherin table, talking to Draco, but also inconspicuously watching Harry talk to Seamus.
"I think I saw Blai--Zabini give her a note today," Seamus quickly corrected himself.
"A note?" Harry asked. He was interested to see what Seamus thought of this.
"Yeah, I mean, I thought he was gay, why would he give Hermione a note?"
"I don't know," Harry said innocently. Seamus sighed and turned away, staring morosely at his dessert. Harry left him to it and turned back to his own food as well.
After dinner ended, they all went back to the common room. Hermione now seemed anxious. She kept glancing around her as though something was going to jump out at her. Ron and Harry watched her with dubious looks on their faces. Around 6:00 Hermione made an excuse that she was tired and went up to her dormitory.
Harry and Ron watched her go. Once she was gone, Ron turned to Harry.
"What's going on with Hermione?" He asked. Harry shrugged.
"I don't know. She's been acting odd today."
"Yeah..."
"Don't worry. I'm sure she'll be fine."
"I guess. So Harry, about the 'plan', what's next? Do I still have to pretend to be mad at you?" Ron asked.
"Yes. Pansy can't know yet, or she'd kill us." Ron nodded in agreement.
"What are you doing then?" Harry was silent for a moment, thinking over his answer.
"I'm just letting things...rest for the moment," Harry said slowly.
"Rest?" Ron asked uneasily. Harry nodded. Ron shrugged and began to gather his things. He retreated to the dormitory, leaving Harry alone in the common room. Harry stretched out on the couch, ignoring the many eyes that glued themselves to his figure as his shirt lifted slightly.
Harry lay there for awhile with his eyes closed. Eventually, he tired of just sitting there. He pulled himself off of the couch and walked toward the portrait whole. No one tried to stop him as he stepped outside. He made his way down the corridors, wandering with no particular destination in mind.
As he was walking by one of the unused classrooms on the first floor, he heard soft voices coming from inside. He stopped walking and carefully snuck up behind the door. He peeked around the edge and was met with the sight of Hermione, standing with her arms folded in front of her in a defensive posture, talking to Blaise, who looked completely at ease.
"Why did you want to meet me, Zabini?" Hermione asked him in a cautious and suspicious voice. Blaise leaned back against the wall and regarded Hermione carefully.
"You're smart, right, Granger?" He asked pointedly. Hermione looked taken aback at the bluntness of the question.
"I guess so, why?" Blaise smirked in that same preditorial kind of way he had at Harry the other day in Potions.
"Do you know what's going on with your best friend then?" Blaise asked in mock concern. Hermione's eyebrows furrowed.
"What do you mean?" She asked carefully.
"Well, if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you," Blaise said cryptically. He moved towards the door and Hermione stared after him, dumbstruck. Harry moved quickly away from the door and into a niche in the wall.
He saw Blaise exit and could have sworn Blaise nodded in his direction. Harry was surprised. He didn't think Blaise knew he was there. He was definitely more intuitive than Harry had thought. Blaise turned and vanished into the blackness of the night.
Hermione emerged from the room minutes later, shaking her head as though trying to work out what Blaise had said. Harry watched from his crevice and smiled to himself. Blaise was an excellent find, and Harry hoped he proved to be very useful.
After Hermione had disappeared up the stairs in the Entrance Hall and back toward the Tower, Harry slipped out of his hiding place. He wandered around the castle. Further up in the castle, Harry was walking along when he heard the tell-tale sounds of shuffling feet. Fearing a teacher, he immediately ducked into the nearest room.
He slid the door shut quietly, listening hard for any noise. He turned around slowly and realized he was in the staff room. The table and chairs were thrown into shadow by the moonlight coming in through the single window at the end of the room. In a chair at the end of the table sat a shrouded figure. Harry watched it curiously. The figure moved slightly to look at Harry.
"Ugh, Potter," Came the exasperated voice of one Draco Malfoy. "Can I never get a moments peace?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows and moved closer to where Draco sat.
"Hey, it's not like I followed you here or something," Harry said scathingly. Draco scoffed.
"Yeah right, Potter. I'm sure this is all part of some 'master plan'," Draco said in a mocking tone. Harry shook his head in disgust and turned to leave, but Draco's voice stilled his movements.
"Potter, 100 points for this." Harry turned on the spot to stare at Draco's audacity.
"What?" He asked disbelievingly.
"You heard me," Draco said pointedly. Harry moved back toward Draco, anger apparent.
"And what reason do you have this time for taking points, eh, Malfoy?" He asked.
"I don't need a reason, Potter," Draco replied scathingly.
"You fucker! Just because you think I'm stalking you or something you--" Harry stopped suddenly as he the footsteps again, this time right outside the door. Draco had lost his cool demeanor and was staring at the door fearfully.
"Quick!" Harry hissed and grabbed Draco and pushed him into the wardrobe at the end of the room, the same he and Ron had hidden in second year.
It was a tight fit, now that Harry was five years older and taller. With the addition of Draco, there was little space to move. They were pressed up against each other.
"Fuck, Potter! Move your--ow! Shit, Potter!" Draco tried to move and found it difficult.
"Shhh," Harry hissed, listening closely. The footsteps could be heard in the staffroom beyond. They heard the footsteps leave but then the soft mewing of Mrs. Norris drifted into the wardrobe. Harry sighed audibly.
"Looks like we're stuck here," He said dubiously. Draco glared furiously at him through the gloom.
"Fuck you, Potter!" He exclaimed.
"Shh!" Harry reprimanded him. "Do you want her to find us?"
"Maybe I do," Draco said annoyingly. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well, I don't, so shut up." Draco scowled but fell silent anyway. They stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do. Harry was about to suggest that they stun Mrs. Norris and make a run for it when he felt a not-so-subtle touch on his waist.
He tilted his head down to see what was caressing his side, but couldn't see anything in the darkness. He stopped trying to see when he felt a hot tongue on his neck. He groaned slightly but then remembered Mrs. Norris. He slid his hand down to his pocket and pulled out his wand. He felt Draco stop kissing his neck. Harry could tell he was watching the wand.
"Silencio," Harry breathed, waving his wand. Draco practically jumped him and his wand fell to the floor with a clatter. He pushed Harry up against the wall of the wardrobe, kissing him fiercely. Their tongues clashed in a hot meeting. Draco pulled on Harry's lower lip, causing him to groan and pull him closer by his belt loops.
Draco groaned as he felt Harry's hard cock rubbing against his own. He slid his hand under Harry's shirt, running it over his washboard stomach. Harry moaned into the kiss.
"Ohhh, Draco." Draco gave him one last kiss before moving to his neck. He licked and sucked greedily on Harry's neck, leaving tiny bite marks all down it. Harry was panting hard by now. He was so hard it was excruciating. Draco's tiny ministrations on his stomach with his fingers were not helping by any means.
"God, Draco, please," Harry begged. Draco kissed his way up Harry's jaw line, finally coming to Harry's mouth. He brought his own mouth down hard and demanding. Harry whimpered slightly as his mouth was assaulted by Draco's skillful tongue.
Harry gasped when he felt Draco's hand slid down his pants. Draco pulled out of the kiss and Harry was left breathless. He continued to play mercilessly with Harry's rock hard cock and Harry groaned in frustration. Draco smirked at him through the darkness.
Draco stroked Harry's cock quickly and roughly. Harry's breath caught in his throat when Draco increased his pace. He was panting hard into the crook of Draco's neck. He felt Draco shiver under his hot breath. Harry smiled and kissed Draco's neck lightly.
He heard Draco let out a slight sigh, and Harry smiled indulgently. Draco's fingers continued pulling off Harry. He was so close. He could feel himself reaching his climax.
"Dra-a-a-co," he panted. Draco kissed him one last time, a fiery hot kiss. Harry groaned loudly and was rewarded as Draco reciprocated the noise.
Harry cried out when he came moments later. He stood there, leaning on Draco since there was no where else to lean. Draco was also panting hard, having gotten off without Harry so much as touching him.
Eventually, Harry straightened up and Draco moved back, or tried to. The wardrobe was so small it was impossible to move much. Harry paused, listening hard for Mrs. Norris. He didn't hear anything, so he pushed the door open ever so slightly and peered cautiously out. No one was in sight.
He slid out of the wardrobe and Draco followed. Harry walked around the room, checking the crevices to make absolutely sure there was no cat lurking there. Once he was satisfied, he turned to find Draco standing in the middle of the room, staring at him.
"What?" Harry asked. Draco looked as though he was about to say something.
"I...nothing," he said and turned and walked out the door. As he passed Harry, Harry heard him mutter something that sounded an awful lot like, "Damn Blaise...wild goose chase...get him...fucking...Potter...Harry..." The last word was whispered so quietly Harry only barely heard it in the silent room.
Before he knew it, he was alone in the dark staffroom. He walked over to the moonlit window and stared down at the snow covered grounds.
"And so it begins."