A/N: Hi there! Well, here the next chapter is, and it finally (!) has a bit of slash, I'm happy to say! God, I thought I'd never get there! It was a bit of a struggle, and I'm not sure if I like how I wrote it, but I'll let you guys decide what you think about it. Anyways, I'd like to thank all of my reviewers: DestinyEntwinements, Haunt of twilight, Shania Maxwell, mis-HD, nickainai, badluck-ngprod, GaiasChosen, Shakespeares Whore, NinjaoftheDarkness, Elektra107, Beth5572, angelkat2502, new moongirl, Lady-Friselle, and a special thanks to Treck for the idea on bringing the slash about. Thank you guys for all your lovely reviews, and I hope you like this chapter as well! Here you are - enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own. Any of it.
Warnings: This IS slash, people! And now that I've finally got it going, I suggest if you have a problem with gay couples, you press the little back button on the top left of your computer screen.
Chapter 8: New friends and old
"And how do you propose that? And how do we know that this isn't just some ploy to get us to trust you so you can betray us to old Voldy?"
"We understand that you don't trust us, but we are sincere about our proposal. We want a truce, and your actions this evening at the Feast only helped to further our resolve. Did you not read about Draco renouncing the Dark Lord?" Pansy asked.
Ginny sent the other two a glance, before speaking to them with her mind.
'What do you guys think? They sound like they mean it, and it is what we wanted, isn't it?'
'Yeah, you're right. We do need them and the other members of their House if we're ever going to pull this off. I say we trust them. What do you think, Harry?'
Harry sighed and glanced at the Slytherins before answering.
'I agree. We do need them, and they did take a chance by coming to us first. But we don't tell them everything yet, agreed?'
'Agreed.'
'Agreed.'
"Fine, then. We accept your offer of a truce. Are you willing to help in the fight against old Voldy, as well?"
"We are willing to fight him, yes. Do you have a plan on how to defeat him?"
"Yes, but…it would require some serious persuasions and maybe a little miracle to actually come in to play. Had you not come to see us tonight, we would have come to you. You're a big part of the plan." Hermione said.
"How so?" Blaise asked her while trying to read her expression to no avail.
"We want you to try and convince the others in your House to join us. Not Dumbledork – us. If we want to hurt Voldemort the most, we have to hit him where it's the most painful." Harry answered.
'You know, maybe this could work out after all. So, Harry. When are you planning on asking him out?'
Harry froze in shock at the unexpected question and then blushed a deep crimson.
'Godric! How can you ask me that!'
'Come now, Harry. You are showing too much, did I not teach you better?' Salazar's cool voice asked him.
Harry quickly schooled his features and slipped his mask onagain, before apologizing to Salazar for showing such lack of control.
Meanwhile, the entire room (well, the other five people in it, anyway) was looking at him as if he'd gone completely bonkers.
'What just happened? Merlin, he's even more hot when he blushes! Wait – did I just think that? Bad Draco! Bad! Stay focused! Oh, he put his mask on again, he's gotten better at that…' Draco snapped out of his thoughts when Hermione cleared her throat.
"Well? Will you do it?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sure, let you know how it went tomorrow after dinner?"
"Sounds good. So, we'll see you guys tomorrow, then?"
"Yeah, good night."
"Night."
The Slytherins stood up and left. As soon as the door closed behind them, Harry turned to the others.
"Do you think it'll work? Do you think we can convince them to follow the entire plan?"
"I hope so, Harry. I really hope so."
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As Draco, Blaise and Pansy made their way down to the dungeons they discussed their meeting with the Gryffindors.
"What do you think happened when Potter reacted the way he did? He looked like he had the shock of his life, and then he blushed like mad before going back to showing absolutely nothing."
"I don't know, Pans. But it was a bit weird. Do you think they've actually got a plan?"
"Really, Blaise. Of course they do. You don't think that they would actually stand up to Dumbledore like that if the didn't, do you? Serpentum." As Draco spoke the password, the door to the Slytherin common room opened soundlessly.
They quickly stepped inside and made their way up to Draco's private room, where they proceeded in putting locking and silencing spells on the door.
The room was medium sized with dark green walls. The four-poster bed and the two bedside tables were made of the same dark cherry wood as the two large wardrobes. The bed was covered in a green and silver bed-spread and silver pillows.
Two leather chairs stood in front of the fireplace and next to a desk and wooden chair. The door to Draco's bathroom stood open to show black marble and silver faucets.
Draco sat down in one of the big chairs and waited for the girls to take their seats in the other one.
"So, they want us to get the help of the other Slytherins? I wonder what they're up to? You know, they never did tell us what their plan was."
"Yes, how do you suggest that we go about asking them? Should we just sit them down in the common room and tell them Potter's plan? But we don't know the plan. So, any ideas?"
"That might actually work, you know. If we sit them down and tell them that Potter's got a plan to defeat You-Know-Who and that he wants our help with it. I mean, you did see their reaction when the new Golden Trio stood up to the old man, didn't you? And there are a lot of people that don't want to follow You-Know-Who, but don't have a choice in the matter. This could be their way out. And I guess we'll have to inform Sev as well."
"Do you really think that's a good idea, Draco? He is a DE, you know."
"I know he is, Pansy. But I also know that he's not…loyal only to the Dark Lord."
"What do you mean? You mean, he's a spy?"
"Yes. He told me this summer after I renounced You-Know-Who. Apparently he's been a spy for 18 years or so now."
"Wow, I mean, you never could have guessed, could you? He just always seemed so…I don't know."
"I know. Now, let's go to bed. After all, classes do start tomorrow morning. Good night, girls."
"Good night, Dray. See you in the morning."
The two girls left and Draco quickly changed into his black silk pajamas before climbing in to bed and putting out the lights with a whispered Nox.
He quickly fell asleep, only to dream about a black-haired, green-eyed stranger.
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As they left the Room of Requirement, Harry, Hermione and Ginny were in their own little worlds. They were all thinking about the meeting and how this was going to change their lives once again.
'There's gonna be Hell to pay, you know.'
'We know, Harry. Did you see Ron's face? It's a good thing we didn't tell him anything if this is how he's going to react. And to think that he thought that we were sleeping together? I mean – hello, gay girl here!'
"You're GAY!"
"Yeah, I am Ginny. Is…that going to be a problem for you?" Hermione sounded nervous. Ginny looked at the floor and blushed slightly. She couldn't believe her luck. The girl she was in love with liked girls too!
"Oh, no. It's not a problem for me. If it was, then I'd be a hypocrite."
At this both Harry and Hermione stopped dead in their tracks to stare at her. It was Harry who recovered first, having already guessed something like that from all the glances Ginny kept shooting at Hermione.
"You mean you're gay? Have you told anyone else?"
"Just Fred and George. They were cool about it, and said that they didn't care so long as I was happy."
They started walking again, and fell back to their silence while they thought this new development over. Suddenly Harry got a sly smile on his lips, and his eyes were shining with mirth.
"What's so funny, Harry?"
"Oh, nothing, Mione. Just had an idea."
"What about?"
"Oh, never mind, it's nothing important. Lion pride."
They stepped in to the common room only to come face to face with a very pissed off Ronald Weasely.
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"Go away. You don't belong here, you traitors!"
"What are you talking about, Ron?" Harry sighed.
"You know perfectly well what I mean! You've betrayed the Light side! You've probably become Death Eaters as well!"
The common room had started filling up with the other 7th years, and they all gasped at Ron's accusations.
"Have you completely lost the plot, Ron? Why on earth would we join someone who's been trying to kill us for at least 7 years now? You've said some crazy things today, but that just takes the price. Just because we're not going to follow Dumbledore's lead anymore, doesn't mean that we've gone evil. I hope the rest of you can understand that at least. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to bed. I suggest you do the same."
With this Harry, Hermione and Ginny walked up the stairs and in to their separate dormitories. Harry had his own room and Hermione and Ginny shared a room. They had requested this during the summer, and Dumbledore had agreed to it.
Harry and the girls rooms looked a lot alike, they both had scarlet walls, four-poster beds made out of oak with red and gold bed-spreads, desks and chairs of oak, large wardrobes and a fireplace.
All three of them quickly fell asleep, feeling exhausted from today.
They all dreamed of things to come.
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When Harry woke up the next morning, he had a feeling of dread. Something bad was going to happen today.
'Guys? Are you awake? I think something bad might be happening.'
'What do you mean, Harry? Have you had one of your visions again?' Harry heard the note of worry in Hermione's voice.
'No, I don't think so, but something really bad is going to be happening in 3…2…1'
When he finished that thought, both his and the girls' doors burst open.
"Ron, what the Hell are you doing here?" Harry asked angrily while silently asking the girls if they were ok.
'We're ok, but the rest of the girls just burst into our room. Are you ok?'
'Yeah, Ron and some of the others just did the same to me. Be careful.'
"We've come to kick you out of our House you traitor. We don't want your sort here!"
"My sort? And just what sort is that, Ron? The sort that actually thinks for themselves instead of just mindlessly following orders that will eventually get them killed? Or is it another sort you're talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about, you Death Eater!"
"Honestly, Ron. Are you still going on about that? Let's tell all the others what this is really about, shall we?"
"What are you on about, Potter?"
"Simply this, Seamus, Ron here is jealous. He thinks I'm sleeping with Mione – which I'm not by the way – and he's jealous because she's hot now and won't go out with him. Isn't that so, Ron? You just couldn't stand the fact that she's not interested in you, and that she spent the last month of summer with me."
The others stared at Ron as he blushed a furious crimson.
"Is that true, Ron? You put us up to this just because Hermione wouldn't go out with you? Merlin, you're a pathetic sod. Harry, we're sorry about this, and we'll go tell the girls as well. As for you, you'd better watch yourself in the future, 'cause we're not gonna listen to your lies anymore."
After nodding to Harry the other boys left to go tell the girls that had invaded Hermione and Ginny's room, just what was going on. Leaving a very pissed off Harry Potter to deal with his ex best friend.
"Get out, Ron. I want to get dressed, and I'm not going to with you still in here."
"Why should I?"
Instead of answering, Harry mumbled a spell under his breath that sent Ron flying out of the room, courtesy to wandless magic. When the door slammed shut he quickly put new, stronger locking spells on it that would only open for his, Mione and Ginny's magical signatures.
'Are you ok over there?'
'Yeah, we're fine. They finally left after Seamus told them the things that happened over on your end. You sure you're ok?'
'Yeah, Ginny, I'm good. I'm gonna hop in the shower and get dressed. Meet you in the common room in half an hour?'
'Sure thing. See you in a bit.'
Harry quickly made his way in to the privet bathroom that he'd asked Hogwarts to put next to his room. As Heir to the four founders he could 'talk' to the castle, and she liked him, so she had done as he asked. He'd asked her to do the same thing for the girls, and she had complied with that wish as well.
He showered quickly and used a drying spell instead of a towel to save time. After brushing his hair he pulled on some clothes. Blue silk boxers, the tight blue cotton shirt that he had on when he talked to Hermione, and the black jeans he had on yesterday.
As he laced up his purple-metallic dr. Martens and pulled his trousers downover them, he thought about his decision to forego the school uniform.
Deciding that he might as well wear something from it, he pulled on his black school robe with the Gryffindor badge on it.
"Hmm…I should really change that."
With a wave of his hand, the badge changed into the Hogwarts one with all four Houses on it. Glancing at the watch on his wrist, he saw that it was time to meet the girls to head down for breakfast.
He made his way down, ignoring people's stares at his lack of uniform, and silently waved the girls over.
They walked down to the Great Hall together without talking and made their way over to the Gryffindor table. When they sat down and started eating, their entire House came up to them to apologize about earlier. The trio accepted and the others went to take their seats.
At this point Dumbledore stood up and ushered everybody to silence before speaking.
"The Head of each House will shortly hand out your schedules. Please note that there is a new class for 6th and 7th years. The professors in this class are Luke Winterbourne and Mariah Goodspeed. The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is Daphne Greenwood. Enjoy your breakfast, and don't be late for classes." Dumbledore sat down as everybody groaned at his last statement. The four different Heads got up from the high table and started handing out the schedules.
When Harry and the girls got theirs, they quickly compared them.
Harry's schedule was this:
Monday
Double Transfiguration with Ravenclaw
Herbology with Hufflepuff
Divination
Lunch
Double Potions with Slytherin
DADA with Slytherin
Charms with Slytherin
Tuesday
Potions with Slytherin
Transfiguration with Ravenclaw
Double Divination
Lunch
Double DADA with Slytherin
Animagus/Advanced Magic
Charms with Slytherin
Wednesday
Charms with Slytherin
Double Potions with Slytherin
Animagus/Advanced Magic
Lunch
Transfiguration with Ravenclaw
Double DADA with Slytherin
Herbology with Hufflepuff
Thursday
Double Animagus/Advanced Magic
Double DADA with Slytherin
Lunch
Double Transfiguration with Ravenclaw
Divination
Charms with Slytherin
Friday
Charms with Slytherin
Double DADA with Slytherin
Lunch
Double Animagus/Advanced Magic
Double Divination
Hermione's schedule was almost the same, except that she had Arithmacy when Harry had Divination. He had decided to continue with the subject now that he had discovered his Seeing abilitys.
Ginny had a completely different schedule seeing as she was a year younger than the other two. She did however have the class Animagus/Advanced Magic with Harry and Hermione.
"Well, that sure was a lot of classes with the Slytherins this year. Wonder why? And talk about pointless studies, I could probably teach all of the classes. But I wonder what they're going to teach us in this new class of ours?"
"I don't know, maybe they figured that it would end the House rivalry if they just stuck us in as many classes together as possible. And I know you could, Harry. But look at it this way, you'll be able to get an O in every NEWT this year and still spend most of your time focusing on our plan."
"Too bad I'm a year younger than you guys, we only have one class together."
'Yeah, but at least we'll be able to speak like this when we're in class.'
'Yeah, you're right. Well, we'd better get to class, it's about to start.'
"See you later, Ginny. Come on Harry, let's go."
As Harry and Hermione made their way towards their first class, they ran in to the Slytherins going to History of Magic.
"Malfoy, Zabini, Parkinson."
"Potter. Granger."
They each nodded as they passed each other, but kept their faces impassive.
'So, Harry…When you gonna ask him?'
'What? Ask who what?'
'Harry! You know what I mean! When are you gonna ask Malfoy if you can ravish him?'
"Hermione! Don't say stuff like that!" Harry yelled while blushing like mad.
He noticed that the Slytherins had turned around and were staring at them. He grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her away from there while she was laughing her arse off.
"You…you should've seen…seen your face, Harry!"
"It's not funny, Mione!" Harry hissed at her.
"Yeah, it is. I still really can't believe it! I mean, whoever decided that you two should be together must have some serious humour, or else they're just demented."
"I know. And I hate the idea, I just…I know I have to, ok? I just don't want to yet. Now, let's go in the classroom, and keep our mouths shut, shall we?"
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When Draco, Blaise and Pansy were on their way to the extremely boring class of History of Magic, they came across Potter and Granger.
They greeted each other and continued on their way when they suddenly heard Potter shouting.
"Hermione! Don't say stuff like that!"
They turned around and saw that Potter was blushing like mad, while Granger seemed to be laughing her arse off.
"Wonder what could have brought on such a reaction? What do you think, Draco?"
"I don't know, Pansy, but I'd sure like to."
"You know, he looks really good now, doesn't he, Draco?" Blaise said with her most innocent voice.
"Who?"
"Don't try and act all innocent with me, Draco Malfoy! You know exactly who I mean – mr Golden Gryffindor himself!"
"What are you on about? Anyway, aren't you supposed to be the gay one?"
"Oh, come off it, Draco! You're as gay as I am, and I know that you find Golden Boy attractive. Especially now that he's changed so much."
"Fine. You know what? You can think what you want to, I'm not saying a thing more."
'But you know you like him. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, you know.'
Draco felt like blushing at his own thoughts, but being a Malfoy of course meant that you didn't let things like that slip.
'You know that this has been going on for years, don't you? This isn't just something that's happened now. You've been attracted to him ever since you first met in Madam Malkin's seven years ago.'
'I know. But that doesn't mean anything will come of it. Now, shut up and let me concentrate.'
Draco stopped his little inner dialogue and tried to focus on class, but it was so mind-numbingly boring! Why on earth had he chosen this class? He would even have preferred Care of Magical Creatures before this!
As professor Binns droned on, Draco's thoughts wandered back to a certain black-haired Gryffindor.
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'Harry?'
Harry continued reading the Divination text that was laying on the desk in front of him, completely ignoring Hermione's voice.
'Harry? I know you can hear me, so answer.'
He just kept ignoring her. It was quite annoying, actually.
'Harry James Potter! Answer me this instant!'
'Yes, mother?'
'Harry! Don't do that, I thought something might have happened to you. And I'm not your mother.'
'Are you sure? 'Cause sometimes you act like it. And, no, I'm not asking Malfoy out.'
'Why do you think that was what I was going to ask?'
'Because it's what you've been asking me every five minutes all morning!'
'Well? Best to get it over with, don't you think? Grab the bull by the horns, and all that?'
'Stop it. I don't even like him. Now, will you let me pay attention, please? I'll see you at lunch in 20 minutes, you can pester me then.'
'Fine, see you soon.'
Harry heaved a sigh of relief. 20 whole minutes of no questions concerning Draco Malfoy.
"Oh, dear. Mr Potter, are you paying attention to me? Answer the question on page 210, please." Harry snapped back to attention at professor Trelawny's voice.
"Huh? Oh, the prophecy was made by Rowena Ravenclaw and is about the thousand year long peace that will follow the fall of the Dark…Lord. Oh, shit, I shouldn't have said that."
'Good one, Harry. Why not just tell everyone that Rowena told you that herself – and then they'll really think you're normal!'
"Well, yes, that's correct mr Potter. Tell me, how did you come to that conclusion? And 10 points to Gryffindor."
"Well, the thing is…I had tutors during the summer, and we pretty much covered everything. So, that's how."
'Smooth, Harry. Real smooth, they'll never suspect a thing. Yeah right.'
"Oh? Well, they must've been good tutors, maybe I know them, what were their names?"
"Ehr…I'm not allowed to say. Can we just drop it, please?"
"Alright. Everyone read pages 214-232 and write two feet of parchment on the prophecies that you find there."
Harry heaved a sigh when class was finally over, that could have ended badly. It didn't go particularly well, but it could have been worse. No one else was supposed to find out where he'd been, plus there's the fact that his tutors were supposed to have died a thousand years ago.
"Hi Harry!"
"Hi, Colin. How are you?"
"Fine thanks! Is it true that you've joined You-Know-Who?"
"What! No! Who told you that?"
"Ron's going around telling everybody. Hey, Harry – where are you going?"
"I'm going to kill him."
Harry picked up his pace as he made his way to the Great Hall to get a hold of ex best friend. He slammed the doors open and stalked in, making everyone turn to stare at him. The enchanted ceiling started shooting lightning bolts to match Harry's temper.
"Ron! Where the Hell are you, you miserable little sod!"
'He's hiding underneath the table. Harry, what's going on? You're starting to glow green.'
"That bloody bastard's been going around saying that I've joined Voldemort. I'm going to kill him. Slowly."
At Harry's words the entire Hall gasped and Ron tried to make a run for it. He shot out from underneath the table and scampered towards the doors, trying to get around Harry.
Harry stopped himby raising his right hand and putting him under a full body-bind. As he walked over to where Ron had fallen, he slowly raised his arm, making Ron's body float up in the air.
He stopped just centimetres from Ron's face, and he could see the terror starting to show in his eyes. Harry gave him a sinister smirk before speaking with a really scary voice.
"Now, Ronnikins, why don't you tell all these nice people just why you insist on spreading these rumours about me? Oh, wait – you can't speak, my bad."
"Mr Potter! Unhand mr Weasley this instant!"
"Stay out of this, professor McGonagall, he needs to tell everybody why he did it."
"I'm sure he'll explain as soon as you let him down. How are you doing it by the way?"
"Surely you've heard of wandless magic, professor? And if I let him down, he'll do exactly what his pet did 4 years ago. Run."
"Mr Potter. As amusing as this is to watch, some of us are trying to eat here. Take this little spat outside, or I'll be forced to take points." At the cool voice behind him, Harry turned around with a smirk on his face.
"Snape. Good to see you, would you mind having a word later?"
"That's professor Snape to you, Potter. And come see me before class, if it's so important. Now, are you going to let mr Weasley go so we can get back to lunch, or are you going to persist in this?"
Harry smirked again, before snapping his fingers. Ron dropped to the floor and scrambled to get to his feet.
"Fine. I was getting bored, anyway. We can finish this later, Ron. And stop telling lies about me, will you?"
"I'll get you for this Potter. Cru…"
"Expelliarmus!"
Harry turned around with a shocked expression on his face, only to see Draco Malfoy standing over Ron with his wand raised.
"Are you ok, Potter? He didn't hit you with the spell, did he?"
"I'm fine, Malfoy. Thanks for that, I don't really fancy being hit with the Cruciatus again. Hurt like Hell the last time."
"Last time, mr Potter?" Harry turned back to face Snape.
"Yeah, old Voldy's used it on me a couple a times now, didn't you know?"
"No, I didn't."
"Anyways, thanks again Malfoy. Would someone care to take care of Weasley here? He should be expelled for trying to use an Unforgivable on another student, shouldn't he?"
At Harry's words, the rest of the teaching staff rushed forward to grab hold of Ron, before taking him away. Harry sighed and shook his head.
"Wow. I really didn't think he'd take his jealousy this far. Just goes to show you don't know people as well as you think you do, doesn't it? I think I'll skip lunch, I've lost my appetite. I'll see you later, professor Snape."
Harry turned around and walked out the doors of the Great Hall, so lost in thought, that he didn't even notice that someone had followed him.
So, he got quite a surprise when he was pushed in to an empty classroom by Draco Malfoy.
"What are you playing at, Malfoy?"
"How can you just act so casually about almost getting cursed! You could've been hurt, and then where would we be?"
"Calm down, will you? Gosh, Malfoy, I didn't know you cared."
Malfoy growled lightly before grabbing hold of the front of his robes and slamming him in to the wall.
"What are you, an idiot?"
And then Harry got his second shock in the last half hour when Malfoy slammed his lips down on his own.
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'Oh, My God! Is Malfoy really kissing me! Hmm, this is actually quite nice.'
Harry started moving his own lips against Malfoy's and put his hands around his waist. He could feel a tongue running lightly against his lower lip, and he opened his mouth a bit to let Malfoy in. He tasted of vanilla and mint.
Enjoying himself, Harry deepened the kiss and put one of his hands behind Malfoy's head to pull him closer. He groaned deep in his throat as Malfoy kissed him with a fervour he had never experienced before.
Suddenly, a shriek was heard behind them and the boys jumped apart, both panting hard from lack of oxygen.
Standing in the doorway were a pair of grinning Gryffindors and two gaping Slytherins.
"Finally, Harry! I never thought you'd get on with it!"
A/N 2: Well, there you have it! Was it really terrible? I tried to at least get a start at the whole romance thing...And I know Harry has almost all of his classes with the Slytherins, but there is a point to that - I promise! Anyway, review and tell me what you think!
Until next time/LoveGD