THE SEVEN SINS
CHAPTER 7: ENVY: INVIDIA II
In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death. Anne Frank.
"Draco!" Harry ran down the stairway, intent upon catching up to the blonde Slytherin he'd spotted from such a distance. The two had been meeting regularly, researching books together to see if they couldn't find something on the awkward peculiarity that had affected their classmates and friends. Hermione had took herself into the library with Ron, and Harry didn't want to destroy their 'alone time'.
Draco turned, only a little surprised. "Harry." He smiled. The two seekers were better friends now, and approximately two days ago, Harry had demanded the other to call him by his first name stating very clearly:
If we're going to work together to make our friends go back to their nice, normal selves, we might as well call each other normally now.
Draco had smiled and shaken hands on that.
He hadn't missed Harry's whisper afterwards either. It hadn't been hard, when the black-haired Savior had hugged him impulsively, saying quietly "I'm sorry it's six years too late."
Draco had hugged him back, then walked off with his back to Harry, saying quietly also, "It's not too late at all."
Now they only grinned in greeting, quickly saying the time of the meeting and then hurrying off to their lessons. But both knew subconsciously that neither of them would forget that little episode easily.
A few hours of time found them feverishly opening books and scanning with their eyes, writing any information that seemed fitting down on scraps of paper. Sometimes groaning, o throwing down quills and other objects frustratedly. At those times they would rest, one going to the other and dragging the other down to lie beside them. Looking at each other and breathing. Just breathing…
The first time they had done that had coincidentally been Draco's first time in the Gryffindor common room. Harry hadn't said anything, but the quill that had been thrown across the room had definitely expressed his exasperation. Draco, in turn, hadn't said anything either, simply walking across the carpet and taking Harry's head out of his hands, and, cupping it until he met Draco's gaze, laid it on the floor with his own.
Until the flurry had died out of his eyes and the fever had gone from his cheeks. Harry and thanked him, and Draco had brushed it away.
The favor was quickly returned when Draco had ripped his parchment in half silently.
Now, they laid on the floor, exhausted, Harry's hair spread out on the Gryffindor carpet, lying starfish style, Draco's head resting on his stomach. Suddenly, chimes could be heard as outside, the Gryffindor clock struck twelve. They listened, counting the chimes, Draco feeling the vibrations travel down Harry's abdomen and tickle his hair.
The chimes ended, and the two seekers lay a little longer in silence.
"You should go." Harry spoke softly, as if afraid to ruin the peace of the common room. Draco noticed that he made no effort to move.
"Yes, I should." Draco said. He didn't move.
It was a little while before Harry started getting up, when they shivered at the night air. They were warmer together, after all.
They slipped under the now-familiar Invisibility cloak, draping it over their shoulders. They moved together, accustomed to the other's movements after years of watching, and a few days of awkward brushings.
They bumped into no teachers, although Harry held Draco close at the appearance of a certain Mrs. Norris, his breath brushing Draco's ear, and Draco hugging him back just that little bit closer than necessary.
They moved silently on, both missing the warmth, and soon arrived at the crossroads leading to the Slytherin tower. Harry started moving down the said doorway.
"No, not yet."
Harry waited. He knew there had to be a reason. He hadn't spent all these years planning and plotting against Draco Malfoy to learn absolutely nothing about him.
"There's something I have to do," he explained.
Harry nodded.
A few minutes later, Harry waited outside, as Draco walked three times outside the Room of Requirement. He watched as the gray eyed Slytherin looked at him and gave him a little smile before going in.
Then he settled against the wall for a long wait.
-
Draco walked silently into the darkened room, walking softly so as not to wake it's occupants. He smiled a tad at the Gryffindor red-head leaning uncomfortably against the leg of Dean Thomas' bed. Speaking quietly, he conjured up a blanket.
"Clojietis Formus."
He'd just watched the floating blanket settle over the sleeping boy's form, before a hand clapped over his shoulder.
"Who's there?" Draco jumped at the harsh whisper, then turned around. He found himself staring into Blaise Zabini's face.
"Blaise? Is that you? Why are you here? How did you get in?" Draco demanded, whispering.
Blaise, recovering from the shock, replied vehemently. "Why didn't you tell me about her?"
Draco crossed his arms. "I couldn't! Nobody was supposed to know!"
Blaise hissed. "Now, listen Draco, you –"
A small whimper echoed into the air. Blaise turned quickly; racing to what Draco knew was Pansy's bed. He whispered quietly into it.
"Pansy? Don't worry, everything is alright, now you just—"
Draco watched open-mouthed, as one of his fellow Slytherins cooed into one of the cots. He watched, wide-eyed, as one of his best friends since childhood walked back from his other best friend's bed.
Blaise scowled, amber eyes lighting up with a fire that Draco had never seen. He noticed that Blaise had moved to a watchful position outside Pansy's cot, standing in front of it protectively.
"What?" His voice was demanding, possessive. "You're not the only one who can go near here, Draco."
Draco opened his mouth, then shut it. His eyes were still wide, still in shock. Then he calmed down. He watched the little touches, the little gestures. He watched, not a little surprised, as Blaise took a glance at Pansy, his face soft and loving.
"I know."
Blaise looked up, surprise covering his face, before a look of understanding and gratitude was sent to the Malfoy heir.
"You didn't have the right to keep this from me." Blaise spoke in a warning voice. Draco nodded, showing that he knew, and he had comprehended.
They shared a mutual nod, then Blaise went back to his previous post, guarding over Pansy. Draco closed the door behind him quietly.
"Well?" Harry looked at him expectantly, the moonlight shining down on his face, highlighting his hair and making his eyes glow. Draco watched the shards of light play on his face, creating new shadows, bringing new features to light. He noticed that Harry's eyes were the colour of grass at the time of dawn.
He smiled.
"She'll be fine," he whispered. "Shall we?" he questioned, gesturing carelessly with his hands down one of the corridors. Harry dipped his head a little in agreement, and they walked away.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews, people, I appreciate them! Was there something wrong with the previous chapter though? There seemed to be many less reviews this time round. Or is it just that you guys are busy? At any rate, thanks for reading guys!
Replies to Reviews: California Smells Funny: Yes, I like Seamus/Dean, although I also like Seamus/Blaise... believe it or not, this was my favorite chapter so far!
Snape Smells: He does? Never knew Snape smelled…is it floral or nutty? Or maybe mint? I'm writing more, I'm writing more!
Evil Farie Queen: Yes, Dean is the uke in the relationship, so Seamus can take care of him. There's going to be a lot of people sleeping in the Room of Requirement…lots of pairings!
Megalicious Moony: If there's one review that definitely always makes me smile, it's yours! Yes, I often turn into mush with HPDM…
Scarlet-muave: Scarlet is one of my favorite colors…though I have plenty! Thanks for the praise…I hope I deserve it!
JadeLilyMalfoy: I am glad that it's unique! I hate it when I see two stories that are exactly the same…
