- Secrets of the Forbidden Broomcloset -

Authoress Ramble: My mother and I went out for Chinese food tonight, and then went for ice cream. It was wholesome and fun, and very enjoyable, especially since today I bumped into her mini-van and busted one of her lights. .. And I worked six hours, always fun. I hope that your day was as irrationally balanced as mine.

Warnings: This story has been rated for repeated use of language and eventual sexual content (none now). Also, it is slash, though I don't feel that should influence the rating ... read as your morals and inhibitions permit.

Disclaimer: Obviously Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger et cetera, et cetera, all belong to J.K. Rowling, the rich genius authoress of the entire Harry Potter series, and also her publishers, et cetera, et cetera, though all original plot lines independent of her novels and her characters belong to me as they were derived from my own twisted mind, et cetera, et cetera, so please do not sue me as I am but a poor, lonely, slash-loving girl authoress, et cetera, et cetera.

Semi-Important Note If You're Confused: I realize that my plot is drifting along slowly, so this is a note on time: The story began on a Monday. The boys met on Wednesday night, and it is now Thursday morning. Okee doo?

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There he was, sitting in his usual place and flanked by his two friends. His hair was perfection, gelled and unmoving, glare reflecting off it in the morning light. He was eating a piece of toast slowly, chewing each tiny bite at least ten times.

And he was staring at him with narrowed silver eyes, waiting.

What're you looking at, Harry? Ron asked, turning to his friend with a clueless frown. He took a quick bite of his bacon, puzzled.

No one, Harry said quickly, then froze his tongue, cursing his mistake.

What, who? Ron replied, his head snapping up. He looked first in the direction of the Ravenclaw table - but no, his friend's gaze wasn't lingering there, on another certain raven-haired beauty. He followed Harry's eyes carefully, and then suddenly ... it clicked.

Malfoy, huh? he said gravely, nodding his approval as he took another large bite. Yeah, I'm really pissed with him too. But don't worry about him too much ... I took care of him.

Harry turned to Ron, his eyebrow raised high in disbelief, his lips parted and twisted in a disgusted mix of shock and incredulity.

You what? he spat, frowning. What'd you do?

It's a surprise, Ron nodded proudly. I did it to get back for Hermione .. she's still pretty upset about everything, you know .. it should make her feel better.

What did you do? Harry repeated tersely, his eyes darkening.

I told you, it's a surprise, you'll see soon enough! Ron replied with some cheer. It'll be funny.

Harry sighed, nodding both by habit and to silence his friend. Whatever he had done,' he was sure that Malfoy would able to handle it with a hand tied behind his back.

Malfoy ... the same stranger whose unexpected smile had warped his heart the night before. He wished for a moment, almost subconsciously, that the other boy was closer, so that he might study his lips and try to remember it, the smile, in living detail ..

His mind immediately slapped itself for thinking this. He couldn't think things like that about Malfoy, after all, Malfoy was ... another guy.

And straight ... or at the very least, very set on that path.

Not to mention he was a black-hearted future Death Eater who had probably been daydreaming of killing him in History of Magic since the day they'd met. His mortal enemy, his beautiful enemy who had smiled ... well. Smiled a smile never meant for him to see.

Wait, what the heck is Malfoy doing? Ron commented, snapping Harry back into reality. His green eyes immediately focused on the other boy, who was jerking his head furiously toward the Head table and sending him obscene hand gestures.

Harry mumbled to himself. I was hoping he'd forgotten.

Huh, what? Ron asked, frowning. I didn't catch that.

Better now than later, I guess, Harry sighed miserably, shoving away his uneaten plate of eggs while Ron stared at him, wide-eyed and confused.

What are you talking about? Ron frowned, his jaw dropping as Harry suddenly stood, his face dark and resolute. Malfoy, over at the Slytherin table, ceased in his frantic, indecent gestures and smirked mercilessly.

I'll be right back, Harry said distantly to Ron, walking away from the Gryffindor table and heading toward the Head table as slowly as possible. All the while, he shot the blonde dirty, icy glares, sneering at him when he continuing to nibble, amused, on his piece of toast.

Bloody blondes and their creativity, he thought disdainfully to himself, finally reaching the Head table. All of the teachers were staring at him with interest, especially Dumbledore, whose infamously twinkling eyes were following him intently. Harry lowered his head, his cheeks burning with both shame and anger, as he slowly to a stop in front of Snape's plate.

He raised his head regretfully, a sore frown on his face.

Good morning, Professor Snape, he spat, adverting his eyes at much as possible without actually turning away. The older man sneered, dropping his fork with a loud metallic thud.

What is it you want, Potter? he snarled, angry at having been interrupted while eating his porridge.

Harry sighed, mumbling choice curse words under his breath.

Say it before the meal is over, Snape hissed, narrowing his eyes. Harry jerked up his own eyes forcefully, shoving down his urge to strangle a certain schoolmate.

I just wanted to inform you that I think you, err, Harry mumbled, gritting his teeth together tightly, Look very .. pretty this morning.

What did you say?! Snape growled, his jaw dropping in disgust. Harry only sighed deeply, growling in the back of his throat once all the air in his lungs had passed through.

Have a nice day, Professor, he said blankly, turning and walking slowly, step by step, back to the Gryffindor table. He met Malfoy's eyes for a moment, sneering when he saw that they were flicking with devious, joyous laughter.

Oh, fuck you, he said quietly to himself, frowning deeply and feeling very much like boycotting the rest of his day. He reached his House table, sinking down into his seat and ignoring the shocked stares of his two friends.

What was that all about, Harry? Hermione asked, her brown eyes wide with concern. Harry shook his head slowly, waving a hand dismissively through the air.

he mumbled, a single word resonating in his mind.

Revenge.

Harry, you can tell us, Ron assured hesitantly, his food long forgotten.

He had to get revenge for this, sick teaching technique or not.

Occlumency lessons, he muttered, lost in his thoughts. Ron and Hermione, not sure how to argue this, nodding and continued eating, casting one another confused looks over Harry's oblivious head.

He would think of something perfect ... something the blonde couldn't ignore, or force into backfiring with a few clever words. He would think of something ...

Well. Something that Malfoy himself would have thought up.

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It was hours later, sitting in a plush armchair near the fireplace of the Gryffindor common room, that said perfect plan dawned on his mind. He was pretending to read a chapter of his Transfiguration textbook as he worked out the finer details, affirming the reasons as to why it would succeed.

Firstly, it would be something that Malfoy wouldn't be expecting.

It would be something he definitely couldn't ignore, and ..

It would be something that wouldn't give the blonde reason to cancel their Friday night rendezvous, which had been arranged for said evening as Harry still needed to test out the would-then-be fully completed adrenaline draught.

Check. Check. Check.

Wow, Harry, you look totally absorbed in that chapter, Ron commented from a chair across from his, parchment scattered across his lap. I thought it was boring as all bloody hell. Hermione must finally be having some kind of influence on you.

Harry grinned at this, not looking up.

he said in reply, Someone definitely is.

Tomorrow, he would execute his little plan. His enemy would learn that he was not the only one who thrived on being in control.

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Friday is going to be such a good day for this story. I want to write it now .. arrrgh, being patient is annoying. Well, anywoo, I'm glad that some of you had fun scolding Draco, or offering to be his grave whore (I'd opt for that one, too!). Maybe he'll do another message if I get bored with making up messages again, I dunno. Well, uhm ... please review! I only update fast because I get motivational reviews.

I just proofread this chapter, and well ... damn, it's a weird one. It's one of those odd chapters that have to exist in order to allow the following chapter (destined to be a lot better) make sense. I hope you enjoyed it, anyway ... and look forward to a good chapter next time ... heh heh, later my loves.