Ch. 5

Amateur Seductions

Harry met Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall for breakfast. "You okay Harry? You look a little off," Hermione frowned.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Harry asked, looking at his friend in confusion. He felt fine, brilliant actually. He had the most pleasurable night with the Incubus and he didn't wake up to a mess in his bed!

"Your eyes," Hermione frowned.

"My eyes?" Harry repeated confused. Hermione pulled up her bag and opened a pocket. After ruffling through sealed ink pots, she brought out a compact mirror and gave it to Harry. "Look…"

Harry frowned but opened the mirror, staring at his reflection. He looked the same, his face slender and beautiful in a sort of demonic way, his eyes a glittering emerald green… until. He pulled the mirror closer and gasped. In the center of his eyes, slowly seeping away so Harry couldn't see it for long, was a ruby-red color. The same red that are the Incubus's eyes. "What the?" Harry questioned as he watched the last of the red disappeared, leaving his normal green eyes.

He handed the mirror back to Hermione, who returned it to her bag and frowned, "Are you okay Harry?" she asked. "Are you sure that you're um… in control?"

"I am in control Hermione," Harry said, doing his best to not sound snippy at his friend. "I don't know why my eyes did that, maybe it's because I am an Incubus?"

"But I thought Dumbledore gave you potions to separate the two," Hermione said.

"Who knows," Harry shrugged. "But I'm sure it's nothing to worry about if the worse that happens is my eyes changing briefly in the morning."

Hermione nodded, "I guess that is true," she said, however she still looked worry as the three of them ate their breakfast. After they have eaten, they remained in their places, awaiting Professor McGonagall's descent from the staff table. The distributions of class schedules was more complicated than usual this year, for Professor McGonagall needed first to confirm that everybody had achieved the necessary O.W.L. grades to continue with their chosen N.E.W.T.s.

Hermione was immediately cleared to continue with Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions, and shot off to a first-period Ancient Runes class without further ado. Neville took a little longer to sort out; but while he and Professor McGonagall were talking, Harry's eyes drifted over towards the Slytherin Table. Snape was looking particularly foul as he handed Draco Malfoy his schedule. Blaise was staring at the Gryffindor Table, and their eyes met. Harry gave the Slytherin an awkward smile, which caused him to silently snicker before winking.

"Potter…Potter…" Professor McGonagall's voice snapped Harry out of his head. "Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration …all fine. I must say, I was pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Potter, very pleased. And you've managed to scrap an Outstanding on Potions as well. … I see no conflictions with any of your classes Mr. Potter, here is your schedule. Oh, by the way—twenty hopefuls have already put down their names for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I shall pass the list to you in due course and you can fix up trials at your leisure."

A few minutes later, Ron was cleared to do the same subjects as Harry, both surprised that Professor Slughorn was accepting students with 'Exceeds Expectations' at O.W.L. for his class, and the two left the table together.

"Look," Ron said delightfully, gazing at his schedule, "we've got a free period now …and a free period after break … and after lunch …excellent!"

"I sure hope you use those free periods smartly, Harry."

Harry and Ron turned to see Blaise Zabini walking up to them. He quickly wrapped an arm around Harry's waist and kissed his cheek. "Morning," he smiled.

"Morning," Harry blushed.

"How's your schedule looking?" Blaise asked.

"Oh, here," Harry said, handing Blaise his schedule. The Slytherin looked over it and smirked at places. "Potions…Transfiguration Defense Against the Dark Arts… my, someone's a hopeful Auror," he chuckled.

"Yeah," Harry blushed lightly, "it's what I want to do after Hogwarts."

"Interesting cub," Blaise smiled. "What about you Weasley, you want to do the same?"

"Uh yeah," Ron nodded, looking a little uneasy talking to Zabini so openly in the Great Hall. Blaise gave a great grin and said, "I bet you'll look great Weasley, especially if you were all that leather I got you." Ron blushed and he laughed.

"What about you Blaise?" Harry asked.

"Me?" Blaise hummed. "Hmm haven't given quite much thought to it, I mean technically I don't have to work at all, my family has amassed quite a fortune…"

"Ohh…" Harry frowned he looked at Ron to see that his friend was starting to get uncomfortable.

"Yeah," Blaise went on, oblivious to the change, "but I will do something, I mean not only to add to our fortune, but just to have something to do. Ministry work, something to do with Transfiguration or Potions… I'm very good at those."

"I see…" Harry said a little awkwardly. "Anyway, we'll see you around, come on Ron."

"Yeah," Ron nodded shortly, his entire body language stiff as the two turn and leave without another word, leaving Blaise Zabini looking confused. "Sorry," Ron whispered once they've stepped into the Gryffindor common room through the portrait hole.

"It's okay," Harry said. "He's rich, most of the Slytherins are, I'll talk to him about it later."

"But mate…you're rich too," Ron frowned.

Harry frowned. He knew that he had a vast fortune left to him by his parents but, it pained him to use it at times, especially when he considered the Weasleys and their small vault with only a small pile of Knuts and Sickles. He opened his mouth several times to object, but found no words, instead only sputtering out, "Yeah, well, you see, you know me and… I'm not like them—"

Luckily he was saved from his embarrassment by Katie Bell, the only remaining member of the original Gryffindor Quidditch team that Harry had joined in his first year.

"I thought you'd get that, well done," she called over, pointing at the Captain's badge on Harry's chest. "Tell me when you call trials!"

"Okay," Harry nodded, thankful for the topic change, he turned to Ron and said, "You have to come to trials, you were good last year."

Ron looked uncomfortable and began playing with a Fanged Frisbee he found laying around. It zoomed around the common room, snarling and attempting to take bites of the tapestry.

An hour later they reluctantly left the sunlit common room for the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom four floors below. Hermione was already queuing outside, carrying an armful of heavy books and looking put-upon.

"We got so much homework for Runes," she said anxiously when Harry and Ron joined her. "A fifteen-inch essay, two translations, and I've got to read these by Wednesday!"

"Shame," Ron yawned.

"You wait," she said resentfully. "I bet Snape gives us loads."

The classroom door opened as she spoke, and Snape stepped into the corridor, his sallow face framed as ever by two curtains of greasy black hair. Silence fell over the queue immediately.

"Disgusting," the Incubus whispered in Harry's mind. Harry nodded slightly in agreement.

The class was ushered inside and Harry looked around. Snape had imposed his personality upon the room already; it was gloomier than usual, as curtains have been drawn over the windows and was lit by candlelight. New pictures adorned the walls, many of them showing people who appeared in pain, sporting grisly injuries or strangely contorted body parts. Nobody spoke as they settled down, looking around at the shadowy, gruesome pictures.

Snape began speaking, but Harry did not pay much attention to him, instead he found his attention diverting elsewhere. Mainly towards Blaise and Draco, who were sitting with one other Slytherin whose name escaped Harry. He spent a couple minutes staring at the three of them (mainly Blaise) while Snape prattled on.

"Why were you annoyed with Blaise earlier?" the Incubus asked.

Because he made Ron uncomfortable, Harry answered in his mind. I'll have to talk to both him and Draco about the money issue. Especially Draco.

"Oh? Why's that?"

Well if I want to use him, then he'll have to stop being an annoying, insufferable pompous prat, Harry answered mentally. Of course, it doesn't help that he is surrounded by Death Eaters. Harry felt a pair of eyes on him and turned to see Snape's black eyes glaring into him.

"If Mr. Potter is done staring at the air," Snape drawled out, earning a couple chuckles from the few Slytherins in the room, "I may continue. …The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, nutating, indestructible."

"A hydra."

Huh?

"What that monster is called, it's a Hydra… I believe, I don't know I've never saw one before."

What have you seen?

"Whatever you have seen my pet. We share the same experiences, yet I hold my own knowledge… that I'll share if you give me a gift."

Harry blushed as he thought about what "gift" he was supposed to give the Incubus. He heard a laugh inside his head. He thought that, though he would hate to do it, it would be better to pay attention to Snape then wonder like a pure virgin what theses gifts would be. Snape was busy going over the pictures in the classroom. "…or provoke the aggression of the Inferius"—he pointed to a picture of a bloody mass upon the ground.

"Has an Inferius been seen, then?" Parvati Patil said in a high-pitched voice. "Is it definite, is he using them?"

"The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past," Snape said, "which means you would be well advised to assume he might use them again. Now…"

He set off again around the other side of the classroom toward his desk, and again, they watched him as he walked, his dark robes billowing behind him.

"…you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?"

Harry frowned in confusion, wondering what a nonverbal spell was.

"Basically any spell that you cast without saying the incantation out loud," the Incubus answered. "It's in the definition…"

Can you help with that? It sounds terribly hard.

"For a price," The Incubus hummed. "Remember Harry, we're a demon. That means we have a magic that humans cannot understand. But for now, it'll be slightly easier to perform nonverbal spells. Just pretend that you're saying them to me."

Okay.

"You will now divide," Snape went on, "into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on."

The class divided and, as with normal course, Hermione was able to successfully repel Neville's muttered Jelly-Legs Jinx without uttering a single word while the rest of the class resorted to whispering.

"Say it to me not the air!" The Incubus kept saying in Harry's ear as he kept whispering to himself.

Will you shut up? Harry scowled. He turned to focused on Ron, who was purple in the face, his lips tightly compressed to save himself from the temptation of muttering the incantation. Harry had his wand raised, waiting on tenterhooks to repeal jinx that seemed unlikely ever to come.

"Pathetic, Weasley," Snape said, after a while. "Here—let me show you—"

He turned his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively; all thought of nonverbal spells forgotten, he yelled, "Protego!"

His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk. The whole class had lookeda round and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling.

"Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter?"

"Yes," Harry said stiffly.

"Yes, sir."

"There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor." "Idiot boy!"

The words had escaped him before he knew what he was saying. Several people gasped, including Hermione. Behind Snape, however, Ron, Dean, and Seamus grinned appreciatively.

"Detention, Saturday night, my office," Snape said. "I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter … not even 'the Chosen One.'"

"What were you thinking you idiot boy? I swear if it wasn't for these binds I would throttle you! How are we supposed to get magic from Slytherin students if you keep mouthing off to their Head of House?"

Shut up, it was a slip okay?

"A slip? A slip is you letting out a curse word in front of a child. This was not a slip Harry—honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Zabini or Malfoy use this to separate us from them!"

Harry scoffed. "Harry?"

"Huh?" Harry snapped out of his thoughts to realize that both Ron and Hermione were talking to him. Class was over and they were walking to break.

"Have you heard a word we've said?" Hermione frowned.

"Yeah sorry, just preoccupied," Harry muttered. Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and stopped him short. She wheeled around to stand in front of him and stared at his face with a serious, inquisitive look on her face. "It's not the Incubus," Harry lied.

"I guess not," Hermione said, "I don't see any red in your eyes… but are you sure you're fine? Maybe you should visit Madam Pomfrey?"

"No Hermione, I'm fine," Harry said. "I'm just a little tired is all."

"Harry! Hey, Harry!"

Harry looked around; Jack Sloper, one of the Beaters on last year's Quidditch team, was hurrying toward him holding a roll of parchment.

"For you," Sloper panted. "Listen, I've heard you're the new Captain. When're you holding trials?"

"I'm not sure yet," Harry said, thinking privately that Sloper would be very lucky to get back on the team. He opened the parchment, recognizing the thin, slanting writing on it. He hurried away with Ron and Hermione as he read it.

Dear Harry,

I would like to start our private lessons this Saturday. Kindly come along to my office at 8 P.M. I hope you are enjoying your first day back at school.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

P.S. I like Acid Pops.

"Lessons already? My, you will be busy," the Incubus chuckled.

"Acid Pops? Why would he include that?" Ron frowned.

"Probably the password, but this is brilliant! Snape's not going to be pleased. …I won't be able to do his detention!"

"Still, you'll have to suffer my punishment for being a mouthy boy," the Incubus said. "Nobody likes those."

Harry didn't have time to reply as the three turned a corner to see Blaise leaning against the wall, as if he was waiting for the three of them. "Hello cub," he smiled, "Do you mind if I borrow Harry?" he asked the other two. He didn't wait for a reply as he took Harry's arm and pulled him away from Ron and Hermione. Harry didn't protest, instead looking back to give a wave goodbye as the two continued down the corridor.

"Well cub, you've certainly gave a show in class," Blaise said.

"Yes, I know, I've spoke without thinking, you don't have to tell me, the Incubus already did," Harry sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Well, now it's your boyfriend's turn," Blaise said. "Because honestly Harry how am I supposed to woo you if you're always stuck in detention?"

"I don't know, maybe if you get detention with me…"

"Harry, you naughty cub," Blaise smiled. Harry blushed and they smiled awkwardly at each other as they slowed to a stop. "You want me to be a bad boyfriend, cub?"

"I want you to be my bad Sir," Harry breathed.

"Mhmm, keep that up and I'll show you how 'bad' I can be," Blaise flirted. The two pressed against each other but did not kiss, instead their foreheads were leaning against one another as they shared a smile. "On our first Hogsmeade visit," Blaise whispered, "you and I will spend a little quality time as Sir and cub. But only if you stay out of trouble till then. Understand?"

"Yes Sir," Harry breathed.

"Good cub," Blaise smirked. "What a good demon you are…"

"If I was a good demon I would already have you in my bed."

"Who says I'm not already on the way there?"

"You still have your clothes on."

"That can be fixed." Blaise pulled Harry into the nearest classroom and the two began making out furiously. Their mouths pressed together in an inexperienced dance as they fumbled around each other's bodies. Teeth struck against teeth, tongues scrapped by each other, and Harry could feel both of them getting extremely heated. His mind moved back to last night and quickly moved down to his knees.

He reached for Blaise's pants, but the Slytherin slapped his hands away. "No!"

Harry looked up confused to see an expression he had never seen before on any Slytherin. "Not here… not now…" Blaise said hesitantly. "I uhh… too soon."

"Right, sorry," Harry muttered. He got to his feet and the two just stood there in silence. Both their faces had a light sheen of sweat that begun to build, Harry's cheeks were red with want and sweat, his eyes had a small blot of red near the iris. Both their trousers shown their obvious erections, and Harry's eyes couldn't move from Blaise's, whose tented pants was much bigger than his. The only sound in the room was their breathing as slowly, ever so slowly, both tents went down.

"Well…"

"Err…."

"I'll uhh… I'll see you in class Blaise," Harry said.

"Y-Yeah… see you in class cub," Blaise nodded. They looked at each other, confused on how to say goodbye. Both at times stepped forward for a kiss but stopped.

Not being able to take the intense pressure and awkward tension filling between them, Harry frowned and just left, mentally kicking himself as he did so. As he turned a corner he stopped for a moment and just waited, expectantly, but Blaise did not come following him. Frowning, Harry turned and continued his way back to Gryffindor Tower, his feel feeling heavier than they were ten minutes prior.

A/N: So final personal drama update. My friend? The guy in the center of it all? Who's been my close friend for years? Dumped me for a crone twice our age. Seriously. Well that's done, so stories will be moving at a steady pace.