Chapter 6 : First Day
Severus was awakened by a loud ringing of the siren he placed upon Slytherin dormitory. It would notify him if anyone entered the dormitory after curfew. He knew that his Slytherins rarely wander around the castle after curfew, unlike students of other houses. After all, it was unsafe for Slytherins to walk alone in corridors, let alone at midnight.
Hastily casting a 'tempus', he was informed that it was currently 2am. More than a little worried, he jumped out of his bed and transfigured his pajamas into robes with a swift flick of his wand. Barely a minute later, he was walking past the door and silently into the Slytherin dormitory, wand held tightly for faster reaction.
He almost jumped when he saw a fully-dressed figure lying on the couch. He was about to cast a curse on the figure, supposingly a trespasser when he recognised the blonde hair. Why was Draco sleeping on the couch? The Slytherins have their own single rooms, and privacy was usually their priority, even between housemates. Something must have happened to his godson!
Slightly panicking, he inched closer towards the sleeping boy. He barely restrained the urge to gasp in surprise at the peaceful face of his godson. Although there were fresh tear tracks staining Draco's face, his lips were slightly upturned, as if dreaming about something good.
However, Severus knew that Draco had been pestered by nightmares for the past months, so the scene before him was definitely a change for the better. He had a few questions, but he would ask his godson another day. Now, Draco needed all the sleep he could get.
Not wanting to disturb Draco, Severus tiptoed away. He was glad that Draco had finally found a way to release his tension. He only prayed that it wasn't something related to self-harm.
Draco was running away from Harry and towards the cliff, so Harry chased him. He almost caught up to the blonde. He stretched his fingers. Oh yes, his fingers grasp on the smooth silky robes of the running boy. He closed the gap and…bang, he fell to his knees. Damn rock! He tripped.
"Draco! I'll help you! You can never run away from your problems! Come back, please. Trust me." Draco hesitated and his steps staggered. Harry was lying awkwardly on the ground when Draco turned around. Harry saw him take a small step forward as if wanting to help, but backed away again immediately.
"No one can help me, Harry. You can't help me." That was the last words Harry heard from the blonde, who went sprinting towards the cliff and jumped. Harry saw him fall in slow motion. "NO!" Tears poured down his cheeks.
Something was probing at Harry's thigh again and again. It was very disturbing. Harry swatted it away, but it came back relentlessly. Now, a mosquito-like buzzing is filling his ears. He tried valiantly to ignore it. He needed to find Draco. Maybe he would survive. Maybe…
"Harry! Wake up! HARRY!" Ron had been shaking Harry exaggeratedly for the past minute but Harry had not acknowledged him. "HARRY!" He was about to slap his friend when the said friend's eyes snapped open. "Ron?" Harry asked groggily.
"Yes, mate. It's already 8 o'clock. I'm starving. Breakfast?" Ron replied. He was a little bit frustrated that it took so long to wake Harry, and also slightly worried because he knew Harry wasn't back before curfew. He planned to wait for his black-haired friend, but fell asleep some time around 11pm.
Shaking his head to clear images of his nightmares, Harry hastily got out of bed to brush his teeth and take a shower. He was ready in five minutes and joined Ron to the Great Hall. He ate absent-mindedly when thinking about ways he could help Draco. He couldn't let the blonde end his life as his dream suggested. No. Never.
"Ron, Hermione, I want to tell you something about Draco. I need your help."
Draco stirred when he heard shuffling footsteps from behind him. His private room should have a lock, no one was supposed to get so close to him! Immediately, he sat up, then almost fell down to the floor. Huh? Wasn't his bed a king-sized bed? He could turn around in any way he liked without being removed from the bed!
Opening his eyes in shock, he was met with a portrait of Nigellus Black, which was supposed to be in the common room. And that was exactly where he was. Why…What? Why was he sleeping in the common room. Impo…
Then…
Ohh…Harry.
Realization dawned on Draco. Everything that happened in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom came back into Draco's memory. Of course, he had to spill his heart to his six-year enemy.
But Harry didn't mock him, right? Not that he remembered, at least. And although he was reluctant to admit it, last night was the best sleep Draco had for months. In fact, it was the first night it wasn't plagued by nightmares ever since his parents were captured.
"Good morning, Draco." Pansy's greeting snapped Draco out of his train of thoughts. Plastering a smile that was warm but superior at the same time, he replied, "morning, Pansy."
"Why are you sleeping on the couch?" Pansy asked, a little cautiously. After all, she would not like to anger their Slytherin prince so early in the morning. Every Slytherin knew that it was not a wise move as Draco wasn't exactly pleasant when barely awake.
Draco's mind flew to think of a cover up story. He wasn't sure of his fellow friends' true allegiance yet, so it would not do to let them know about his less-than-aggressive encounter with Harry. Luckily, being Draco, he was trained to lie without batting an eyelid since young.
"I was busy with you-know-what last night till very late. Of course, I slept in my room, but I dozed off just now." Draco perfected the lie by making a face of disgust at the idea of sleeping in the common room for the night.
Pansy bought the lie immediately."Oh! How's the 'thing' going on?" she asked. Draco's close 'friends', that includes, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini knew vaguely about the project given to Draco by Voldemort, although they didn't know the reason behind. Draco couldn't bring himself to tell them about his parents, partially because he was afraid that they might turn against him if they knew, but more because of the humiliation it would bring. Draco couldn't bear the Malfoy name being stained, he knew it.
"Progressing" was Draco's one-word reply, but Pansy didn't push him. He had always been reluctant to talk about this project. Pansy guessed that he might not want to burden them with the guilt for not being able to help him if he failed. Draco encouraged the speculation, so that he would be free to plan anything on his own.
However, he knew deep down that there would be a time when he needed to question their loyalty. If possible, he wished to gain as many allies for the Light. But he was also very reluctant to face the betrayal of his friends. "You are the one who betrayed them, Draco." A voice in his head reminded him.
Eager to get away from the bitter thought, Draco asked, "let's go for breakfast. Aren't Vincent, Goyle and Blaise ready yet?" "Here, my prince!" Blaise yelled back. Bickering, the five students made their way to the Great Hall, with Draco in the middle.
Draco knew it would be hard to keep his new-found friendship with Harry, or so he wished, a secret. Still, he didn't expect it to be in danger of being found out so fast. Well, Harry was to be blamed this time. He was absolutely being stupid.
When the Golden trio stepped foot into the Great Hall for breakfast, Draco and his gang were already there. In fact, they were almost about to leave. Slytherin never stayed late at the table because it would be dangerous to do so when all the teachers, especially Severus, left.
The three friends sat down at their usual place at Gryffindor table. Ron immediately snatched some food and filed it onto his plate. "As if anyone would dare to take his food away from him," Blaise commented snidely from beside Draco. Draco had to nod his agreement.
Then, he continued observing Harry without appearing to do so, another skill he perfected at a young age. He saw Hermione lean closer to Harry and spoke a few words into his ears. Harry nodded and proceeded to scoop some food for himself. That was when Harry first caught sight of Draco.
Suddenly smiling, Harry waved delightly at the direction of the Slytherin table before his eyes turned round in shock. Realizing what he had done, he snapped his hands to his side before staring back at his plate. He acted as if anyone could have missed such a 'small' act.
"Draco, Potter seemed to be waving in our direction just now? I must be having too little sleep…That's why I'm hallucinating." Blaise asked softly before denying his own words. "But…I saw it too," Pansy stated incredulously. "So did I", "Yeah, me too" was added by Vincent and Gregory. Draco groaned inwardly. Another cover-up needed, fast.
"I don't know what he's thinking, let's go and ask, yes?" Draco stood up, a sarcastic grin on his face. Pansy, Blaise, Vincent and Gregory quickly got up and followed their leader, who was walking steadily to Gryffindor's table.
"Hey, Potter. Wishing to charm me, the Slytherin Prince?" Draco asked mockingly. Inside, he prayed to heaven that Harry understood it was a necessary measure, not that he didn't appreciate the support Harry gave him yesterday.
"I…of course not! I…thought I saw Ginny behind Slytherin's table just now," Harry stated defiantly, the typical Gryffindor way. And also typically Gryffindor that the lie had no logic at all. Draco sighed mentally. He would not point out the flaw in the lie, but it's impossible that his friends didn't notice it.
"Oh, our dear Potter is so desperate to fuck her crush…But will she-Weasley agree? Maybe not? Oh, pity Potter." Draco's friends snickered and they all turned to leave, only a dumbfounded Harry left behind.
Harry mentally slapped himself when his hand waved at Draco involuntarily. Of course, this wasn't the right moment to reveal their friendship. Draco even reminded him about that yesterday. Awkward and panicked, he immediately snapped his hand to the side. Anyhow, the damage was done.
He saw dozens of pairs of eyes turn towards him, and time froze. Then, he saw Draco walk towards him in slow motion. "Draco could get us out of this mess," he tried desperately to convince himself.
When Draco left, Harry was relieved but somehow he felt slightly pissed. Draco had no need to create rumours about his sexual lust towards Ginny. Harry was worried that Ginny would be angry.
"Harry, you okay?" Ron asked from beside him. "I'm fine, it's me being the idiot, Draco is only trying to save my ass." Although Harry's rational mind knew it, he found it hard to believe it completely. Maybe Draco did not want to befriend him because Harry had no use for him. Since when did he wish for Draco's acceptance?
Confused, trailed behind Ron and Hermione to the dungeons for their Potions lesson.
Soon, it was time for lunch. Harry met Ginny at the door and joined her into the hall. He slipped beside her as he would usually do, but Ginny didn't acknowledge his presence. Perhaps she really was angry. Damn Draco…
Before he had time to delve into that, a note appeared beside him. Opening it, he revealed a note from Draco.
Harry, we need to talk. We can't risk this incident happening again. After lunch, Quidditch locker room? Draco.
Glancing up, Harry saw Draco winked minutely at him before standing up and leaving the hall. Goofing up his food, Harry made his way to the locker room.
A/N : Sorry for the short chapter and the cliffhanger. This is a transition chapter, so yeah, I couldn't make it longer. Partly because I'm kind of busy last week. Sorry again. Thanks for everyone's support.
Next chapter...Dumbledore
