Chapter 15 Hogsmeade

Harry awoke early on a Saturday, which also happened to fall on the first weekend of the term when students were allowed to visit Hogsmeade. He yawned sleepily, watching the rays of light spilling on his pillow gently edging closer to him the longer her lay there. He yawned again and stretched out in his crimson-and-gold bedsheets, feeling a new push of exuberance when he remembered his plans with his friends that day. He had many thing to look forward to today; visiting Honeydukes and Zonko's then heading to the Three Broomsticks for a mug of Butterbeer with his mates. He also hoped to quietly slip away to the Shrieking Shack at some point. He didn't quite understand it but somehow he felt the need to visit the place where so much occurred, so much was lost, every time he visited Hogsmeade. He headed to the bathroom, only to find to his dismay, Zacharias Smith was in there hogging it yet again. Lousy prat, always primping.

Harry sighed, emptily staring at Draco's vacant bed. He didn't think he'd seen Draco actually in it once during the morning since they'd been rooming together. He barely saw Draco at all, it felt to him like if he didn't actually see Draco go to bed at night no one would ever know he roomed here. Where was he all the time? Harry wondered before he could stop himself. But then the sounds of the bathroom door finally opening drew Harry's attention away from the Draco thoughts that seemed to plague him these days.


He was pleased that some of summer's warmth still hung in the air, turning the biting winds into a gentle warm breeze. The sun hung low in the clear sky. Harry, Ron, Hermoine and Neville walked along the the streets of Hogmeade, the crisp fall air softly weaving through them, the tittering of happy students heard in every shop. It was the perfect day for goofing off with friends or snogging your lover in some semi-forgotten corner. They'd already visited most of the places they'd intended to and Ron and Hermoine were headed to Madam Malkins for some date time. Harry looked over and saw that Neville was deeply engaged in conversation with Seamus and Dean. Deciding this would be the perfect time to slip off to the shrieking shack, he spoke.

"Hey Nev, I'm going to head back to uh-" Harry racked his brain, "Honeydukes. There was something I wanted to get there I've only just now remembered." He smiled at himself for his quick lie, but it faded when he heard a female voice pipe up.

"I'll come with you Harry," Luna said dreamily with a small smile on her face. "There were some chocolates I wanted to pick up there for father."

"Great, we'll be off then," Harry said with a forced smile, "See you back at the Castle, Neville, Seamus, Dean."

"Thinking of a gift for someone special?" Luna inquired innocently as they headed toward Honeydukes.

"No." Harry snapped, making him feel immediately guilty. "I don't know why everyone there's someone I like I mean," he continued in a softer voice, "There is no one."

"Perhaps they see something you haven't noticed yet." She mused serenely, oblivious to his flash of temper.

Harry was dumbfounded. Who would they possibly think he was crushing on? He'd barely looked at a girl since he'd been back at Hogwarts, let alone thought of one. There just wasn't any girls that caught his interest. Sure, many of the girls that tried to flirt with the famous Boy-Who-Lived were very pretty, and many of them very nice too, there was just no spark. He wasn't sure he even cared too much about getting a girlfriend. So why did he get all flustered every time someone brought up the subject?

Besides, a small voice in Harry's head reminded him, I've been too worried about Malfoy to think about girls.

"Well you had better head on over to the Shrieking Shack I should think, before it gets dark." Luna said winking, pulling him from his increasingly disturbing thoughts and leaving him a bit stunned. How had she know about his plan to visit the Shrieking Shack? But he just smiled and shook his head as he waved goodbye to her. That Luna, so much more perceptive than people realize.

Something about that last thought made Harry stop for a second but then he caught sight of a figure he recognized taking a shortcut behind the library. It was Professor Albatross, and feeling his ingrained habits kicking in, Harry decided to follow the shady git. Abandoning his path to the Shrieking shack and heading the other direction towards the Hogs Head pub, Harry traced after the man, pulling his Cloak of Invisibility over him as he went. He'd originally brought it in case he was having a hard time getting away from his friends to visit the shack. He didn't know why, but his visit was something he definitely wanted to do alone, and he feared his friends may want to tag along for moral support or some nonsense. It hadn't been a problem to get away, but he was thanking Merlin now that he'd made sure to bring the cloak.

He waited at the door until the professor was inside, then darted in with the next customer. It was fairly crowded today, but not so much that Harry greatly risked someone accidentally bumping into him and blowing his cover. He looked around the room, spotting the dark haired man sitting in a dim-lit corner booth talking in hushed tones with another man. He carefully crept closer to get a better look, being sure not to come close to any of the other bar goers as he did so. Harry was awestruck for a moment, watching the two of them talking. His companion was no less gifted in the looks department than the professor, with matching ivory skin and unearthly beauty. Unlike the professor, however, this man had piercing blue eyes, the color of the open sea, and soft chestnut locks cropped only about an inch or two from his scalp. They spoke quickly, their devilish grins glinting as they conspired. Harry dared to move a bit closer, hoping to catch a little more of what they were saying.

"...delivered next Tuesday, contact the family when..."The voices faded out as new customers came in, jollily greeting the other patrons. Harry strained to hear more. "...a good time later, after I've talked to my contact. Be well, my brother." The professor firmly grabbing the unknown man by the wrist and giving it an affectionate shake as the brunette rose to leave. Harry's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Who was that? What business did they have? What was being deliver? To whose family? Harry burned with curiosity and uncertainty. One the one hand, something in his gut told him that this guy was trouble, but then on the other more rational hand, the guy hadn't really done anything that suspicious and maybe Hermoine was right to scold him for distrusting the Potion Master. Harry was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even notice that during the mens' exchange Draco had slipped in and was quietly watching the professor from across the pub.

"You are far too pretty to be a waitress, don't you think?" The professor was now engaged in conversation with the tiny brunette server that had immediately come to see if the stunning man needed anything else now that his companion was gone.

She giggled and leaned in as he cooed at her, motioning for her to come closer. "You really think? I always said I was destined for something great." She flirted back, waggling an eyebrow at him.

"Well if you are ever interested in achieving some erm," he said silkily raising his own eyebrow as he continued, "Great Things, let me know." He slid a small slip of paper to her with the money for the bill.

Pervert. Harry thought with disgust, leaving the bar to return to his earlier quest.


Whores. Draco thought bitterly, having also seen the little display between his professor-and-lover and the bimbo bar girl.

He sat there sulking in his chair, suddenly wishing he hadn't come today. Though he could honestly admit to himself at this point that it was definitely just about the sex, he couldn't help feeling jealous at the attention the lascivious man freely gave to just about anyone. But, as the man came over to where Draco sat, he found he didn't care anymore because his lover was turning those gorgeous, molten-gold eyes on him, burning him completely down to his very core, leaving nothing but numb embers of passion.

"Adrian." Draco whispered, using the professor's first name as the man reached him. In this moment he didn't care who the man flirted with or shagged, as long he could still savor these heated rendezvous.

"Where to?" Draco asked hazily as Adrian slid his arm around the petite blonde's waist to draw him up to him. "Not here," Draco mumbled, quickly disengaging himself from the embrace. "What if someone sees?" He glanced around suspiciously, relaxing when he recognized no one.

"I think I may know of a place nearby." Adrian said coyly as he lead his young charge away for the dingy pub.


A/N: This scene TBC so get ready for a really steamy chapter next time. ;) ;)