THE SEVEN SINS
CHAPTER 8: GLUTTONY: GULA
He who distingruishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise -Henry David Thoreau.
Harry woke up gradually, the sunlight from the window warming him, waking him from his slumber. Throwing an arm up to cover his eyes, grumbling, he spent a few minutes in retrospect of the feeling of Draco's body lying beside his…then sat up smiling.
Although they hadn't found anything remotely close to a cure yet, everyone had been working together. The Slytherins, after seeing one of their own taken, had co-operated with the Gryffindor Trio. This had been especially due to Draco who had openly walked up to Harry's seat a day before, at breakfast. He had simply asked, loudly, what time would Harry be free for study?
Harry had replied calmly –although inside he was feeling inexplicably happy for no reason –that even though he wasn't free for the first two periods, he had a free study afterwards, and how about they meet at his common room?
Draco had then answered that yes, he did have a free then, and yes he did think it would be best if they meet at his common room –he had astronomy straight after and Gryffindor was a little closer to the Tower than Slytherin –which of course was in the dungeons.
They had agreed, politely and then Draco had returned to his respective table, and Harry had continued eating. The two houses had gaped at them.
Not only that, but Harry and Draco had been seeing a lot more of each other than before, both realizing that, apart from Divination –which Draco had dropped unceremoniously one year before –and Arithmancy, they were in every single other class together. Consequently both had assisted each other with their homework –Draco being slightly weaker to Defense of the Dark Arts, having learnt the opposite side of the deal, and Harry being definitely weaker in potions, as he never really dared to ask questions in class.
The school had gradually gotten slightly more used to seeing the two together –although there were still plenty that were not a little disturbed by the picture, and the implications that arose with it. Following the example of one that was one of the most prestigious of their group, the Slytherins had started sitting with others in neighboring houses –although there were still few that sat with the Hufflepuffs, it was still a high achievement to house unity.
So naturally of course, the two boys were later found –after the first two periods, as Harry had said –in the Gryffindor common room. For although many Gryffindors were still quite wary of the Slytherin, their trademark bravery had compelled many of them to accept –and even make friends with –the blonde. This was of course especially so due to the Trio's sphere of influence, which was still incredibly large in the entire school, and their house.
"I can't find anything!" said Harry exasperatedly, going over to the sofa and flopping his body next to the blonde. Draco looked up from the Dark History book he'd been reading, which he too was having trouble to read –mostly due to the illegible spidery writing that peppered the page as much as the grimy dust that lay on top did. "Me neither," he said, sighing. He looked to the raven headed boy next to him. "Let's take a break," he suggested, and Harry nodded. They both needed one anyway.
Harry laid his head back a little, raven strands dripping onto his cheeks like inky brush strokes, caressing his face. He closed his brilliant green eyes, and absently Draco looked on as his breathing evened out, taking note of Harry's dark eye bags.
"You need to sleep," he said, concerned, brushing his hand over the dark, blue-black skin. "You're starting to look like a panda," he said, chuckling, although his forehead was still furrowed in slight worry.
Harry opened his eyes a little, peeping out from under his eyelids. He gave off a yawn, sitting up a little. "Wha–" he said, puzzled, as a pale hand pushed his head gently. He resisted a little, but Draco as insistent, and soon he found himself resting on Draco's soft –yet firm– shoulder.
"Mmm…" The black haired Gryffindor blinked a few times, each time getting slower, until finally his eyes slipped shut, and his breathing slowed. Draco watched him, then stroked Harry's black, black hair, rifting through it, gently untangling, watching as wayward tresses dusted his companion's cheeks.
They sat there for an hour, he playing with the Gryffindor's hair. He hadn't even noticed that Harry had awoken until clear grass green eyes had stared back at him, a hint of a smile at pinkish lips.
"Hey," Draco said, his hand ceasing it's work and descending to his side.
"Hey yourself," said Harry, giving off a small laugh that sent a queer tremor through them both. They smiled. Then Harry shifted, murmuring a quick tempus. Draco looked on, reading the time. He was used to Harry throwing a little wand-less magic everywhere. Quite used to it in fact. He hadn't been when he had seen it at first, but Harry had explained to him that it had been quite natural to him since coming to Hogwarts. In fact, Harry had only stopped throwing little pieces of wand-less magic around when he'd heard that it wasn't actually common in the wizarding world.
Before, Draco would have been jealous. Now he was only touched that Harry had casually did it in front of him –especially since it would have definitely been something to tell the Dark Lord. It showed that Harry trusted him, and he was glad of that.
"Six o'clock." Draco turned towards Harry. "I need to go," he said, clearly reluctant. "I need to get a few things done before going down to dinner."
Harry nodded. "I'll go with you," he said, saying it casually. They both knew that it was a tentative offer though, but Draco quickly eased the tension in Harry's shoulders by nodding, a large grin already on his face.
"Sure." An answering grin, and both started to clear up the various parchments and books spread out all over the room –everyone else seemed to have free study period elsewhere in the week, and the common room had been empty when they'd first arrived.
A few minutes later saw the two boys walk towards the Slytherin common room, brainstorming ideas, throwing them back and forth, outlining flaws. Harry had been discussing the varied colors of the victims' eyes –the range had covered so far, blue for Professor Binns, green for Dean, purple for Ginny and even yellow for Pansy. Truly Draco hadn't thought of it before, but he questioned whether they'd actually see the change before or after the victim was 'infected'.
The banter lasted until they turned a corner and Draco had abruptly stopped.
"Mrs. Norris," Draco said, shocked, watching the cat continue gobbling down the confectionary in front of it.
They watched in ultimate horror as the black cat chewed on as guar quill, her tummy protruding upwards like a small mountain. An eye looked at them lazily as she did so, the color not anything like her normal green, but a bright fiery orange.
"Oh my gosh," Draco said slowly, breaking the silence. Harry noticed that he still had that rather shocked look on his face –the same one he knew was on his own. He'd forgotten that it was Tuesday.
He watched, frozen, as the blonde reached towards the grown cat.
"Hssstt!" Mrs. Norris swept a paw towards him, claws extended. Draco shrank away quickly. The black cat tried to turn over, eyes narrowed in fury, but only managed to lie on her stomach, legs flailing in mid air.
Draco backed away, shaking his head with bewildered fear and they turned, running away. "They've all gone insane," said the blonde, shaking his head frantically from side to side.
Harry nodded, still panting a little as they stopped right outside the Slytherin common room. The stood there, waiting until their breathing slowed.
Harry looked up. "We've got to solve this thing soon."
Draco only nodded.
A/N: Sorry this was late. There is no excuse for this; I should have updated on Thursday; which was the day that I could finally connect to However, recently I have joined a thing called nanowrimo, short for national novel writing month: you write a 50, 000 word novel in one month: this month, November. I have to write 1667 words every day and frankly I'll be really, really happy when it's over. That was my excuse. I am not going to beg for forgiveness because I too know that that wasn't reasonable, but I am updating now.
Responses to Reviewers: The best part I believe is the lie: Love the name, but as you can see, this is not over, especially considering the fact that I haven't gone through the entire thing. And if that was an ending I denounce my writing. Effective immediately.
Emeralddragon: I don't want them romanticizing that way so soon. I don't like random guys to start kissing me just because I've talked to them for a while. Draco should be ten times more picky than I am, so I'm building this gradually. You will see making out. Trust me.
JadeLilyMalfoy: I just wanted to know because the number of reviews were about the same until the last chapter, so I was just wondering. Here's the next one! The next, next one will be next, next Monday.
Megalicious Moony: The reading minds thing is a big thing for me; I love analyzing people's behaviors, it's a pet thing of mine. One of the things I'd imagine the 'love of my life' would be like, is that he would be able to communicate to me without words. Many of my friends can do that with me, and I think a higher level of that would be with whoever is my lover. That's naturally of course, if I ever find them, but I hope I do!
Aseret Kitsune: Hope you keep loving it!
Evil Farie Queen: I know that nobody went bonkers in this chapter. This is because if someone went nuts in each chapter I'd have no chapters to put in the mushy stuff, and the plot would have to be squeezed into one paragraph. Which I do not want to do! I want this to be as best as it can be, if not for me and my sanity (I check this thing many times, despite the weird spelling mistakes, please believe me) then for you guys.
Clayscarface: I don't know if I've said this before to another author/authoress. It's because I'm writing two stories right now, and one's not HP (as most of the people who have added me to their author alerts should know!). I can't write long chapters because I CAN but it won't be good quality as I tend to drag my chapters to the required length instead of just increasing the content. That's because I know relatively how it begins, and how it ends, but only vaguely what happens in the middle. But thank you for the compliments; for the record, I've only gone out with one guy, and yes, I agree with you –although he was a jerk, I liked lying on him too!
California smells funny: I find it funny that you put that; since this is practically the only chapter I REALLY dedicated to plot thickening. There's more coming up though!
Hirel Moon: What kind of fics are you reading! I can provide you with good slash fics: I recently wrote a list of my favorite HP fics that are absolutely gorgeous. If anyone wants a copy, TELL ME NOW!
