A/N: Yay update. Would like to say that I hate geometry more then I did five minutes ago. Would also like to thank reviewers and also say that from now on I will have a sort of structure to the updates, there should be one at least once a week, usually on Monday. Because let's face it, Mondays suck, and though it's not much if you like the story reading it will make Mondays suck a little bit less.
So it's like football.
Except not as cool.
But you get the idea.
And now to the story:
Three weeks.
It had been three weeks since Draco Malfoy came to Hogwarts Academy, and in those three weeks he had spoken with nobody, and nobody had spoken with him. Rumors concerning the teen spread like wildfire, he was the notorious serial killers, he ate people, he was dating an American supermodel… there was nothing that hadn't already been said.
And despite this, or perhaps because of it, Harry couldn't keep his eyes from wondering towards Draco. After class, he'd watch through thin lenses as Draco walked off. Harry knew it was a bit…well creepy, but he couldn't help it. There was something familiar about the blonde, an almost tangible connection between them that Harry couldn't remember.
Harry stormed out of the schoolhouse, flustered and irritated. Chemistry had been worse then usual that day, Snape picked on him to no end and distressingly enough, Harry was upset that he hadn't seen Malfoy in the class.
The teen walked quickly through the cool September air towards the cathedral, hoping to relax in peace among the pews. Harry crossed his arms over his chest, shivering slightly. It was colder then usual this year. The cathedral looming over him got larger and larger until Harry stood at the large wooden doors. Tenitavely the teen opened on and peeked inside.
It was like looking inside a dream. The sunlight filtered through the tall stained glass windows in shades of orange and blue and green. The tall gothic pillars were protective and made him feel safe. The long red carpet leading to the pulpit was a lush shining path laying before his feet.
Harry took a step inside and quietly closed the door. He walked slowly towards the stained glass, savoring the peace and quiet.
Suddenly he noticed a shape.
A man with a pair of cool grey eyes that glistening in the mid-morning light- Malfoy.
Inadvertently Harry took a step back towards the door. "I-I'm sorry to interrupt, I-uh…didn't think anyone would be here."
"You aren't interrupting," Malfoy said coldly, turning away from Harry to stare at the stained glass. They were the only words Harry had heard Malfoy speak since their first day.
The flustered teen tugged lightly at the hairs at the nape of his neck, glancing at the ground. "I'll go then…unless-"
"Stay or go, I don't care."
Harry quietly walked towards the front of the church and sat in a wooden pew closest to the pulpit. Draco stood a few feet in front of it, looking up at the magnificent windows.
"I didn't think you'd be here." Harry said finally and was answered by silence. Laughing nervously he said, "I couldn't help but notice you never come to mass-"
"Why is it any of your business what I do?" Draco said angrily.
"It's not!" Harry answered quickly, "I just-um-I don't know. I'm sorry."
They were silent for a few minutes, Harry sneaking reverent glances at Malfoy's hair, which seemed to reflect all the shades of light shining through the colored glass. It's so…bright, Harry thought absent mindedly, I just wish I could touch it…For an instant Harry imagined how Malfoy's hair would feel running through his fingers. And then he shook his head violently, banishing the disgusting images from his mind.
"Do you believe in God?"
Harry's eyes jolted back to Draco's back. "What?"
"Do you believe in God?" The blonde repeated.
"Of course, more then anything," Harry said automatically.
Malfoy snickered, "Do you now?"
"God is higher then all of us, he's watching over us. It's because of him we all lead happy lives." The teen responded quietly. He could see the tension pooling between Draco's shoulders and noticed the fine tremble running down his neck.
"You're such an idiot," Draco snarled. "So you think this is a happy life!"
Harry stubbornly crossed his arms over his chest and said, "God gives every human the same gifts and the same opportunities, therefore we all have the ability to be happy."
And then Draco started to laugh, the cruel, bitter sound ringing through the empty cathedral. "You're still the idealist aren't you… still trying to make the world a better place with those big eyes of yours."
The blonde glanced over his shoulder, his eyes blank and unreadable, but a smile twisted his lips. Then he frowned, "Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?" Harry asked sharply, eyes widening further.
"Stop it!"
"I'm not doing anything!"
"Stop looking at me like that!" Draco snarled, turning finally to face Harry. For a moment their eyes met and then the blonde howled, "Just stop it!"
He turned and stormed towards the door.
"Draco!" Harry yelled after him. The teen pushed himself off the pew and trotted after Malfoy out of the church and onto the grassy lawn. "Draco, stop!" Harry shouted. For a moment the dark haired teen stood still, wondering why in god's name he was chasing a stranger around. He was just some creep, Harry had no reason to get involved. It didn't matter, Draco didn't matter.
But he did matter.
Harry ran again and this time he grabbed Draco's arm. "Draco!"
The blonde jerked away from Harry and the smaller teen fell onto the grass. "Let go!"
"How do you know me!" Harry growled. "Tell me or I won't let go!"
Draco's eyes widened just slightly, "You don't remember."
"Should I!"
"Yeah."
The sky above them started to darken from blue into a dark shade of charcoal and fine drizzle streamed from the heavens. Draco stood there, starring down at Harry and finally he said, "That was how I recognized you, because of your eyes. They haven't changed a bit. They're still shining and pure, looking up at me and begging me to do the right thing…like you're some kinda angel."
Suddenly Draco dropped to his knees in front of Harry and smeared one hand in the mud. The sky turned black and thunder rumbled around them. Draco took his muddy hand and almost tenderly caressed Harry's cheek, smearing the mud onto his pale skin, defiling it.
"Well you're not."
Draco got to his feet and looked down at Harry once more, "You're just as filthy as the rest of us." And then he turned and walked off without looking back.
Harry sat there for a moment, wondering if that actually just happened. He rubbed the mud off his face with his sleeve and looked down at it. "I'm all dirty," Harry acknowledged quietly. The rain got heavier and slowly the teen got to his feet and managed to stumble back to the school house where he waited out the storm.
What Harry didn't realize was that someone was watching the entire encounter. A dark figure stood in the bell tower and when the two boys left the grass lawn, the figure turned and disappeared into the cathedral.
XoXoXo
September turned quietly into October and a week has passed since the incident on the cathedral lawn, and Harry couldn't keep the scene from replaying itself in his mind.
"You're just as filthy as the rest of us."
What was he talking about?
Harry was almost obsessed with finding out where he knew Draco Malfoy from and finding out what he'd done to earn the teens contempt. He'd been young when his aunt and uncle adopted him from the orphanage…young enough that life before that day seemed to be a blur.
"Answer please, Mr. Potter."
Snape's voice cut through Harry's day dreams. The teen glanced up and without thinking blurted, "Uh…eighteen?"
"Wrong as usual Mr. Potter, the answer is two."
Snape said something else, but Harry wasn't paying attention, he looked out the window and tried to think back to the orphanage. It was a small building located deep in the country by the moors. Harry hadn't really had any friends there, although, there was one boy he used to play with. They would spend the cool afternoons wondering around on the moors, exploring with enthusiasm and excitement.
But that boy hadn't looked a thing like Draco, Harry remembered perfectly. That boy had mousy blonde hair and a quick, bright smile. That boy's name was Tom or Bill, something common and unremarkable. The only similarity between Draco and that boy were their eyes.
"Hey, Harry didcha hear?" Ron asked, elbowing his friend in the ribs.
"Huh-what?"
"We're going to Hogsmade on Friday!" The red head laughed, "This is gonna be so cool!"
"Oh…right, really cool." Harry said thoughtfully; they'd never been allowed to go to Hogsmade before, visiting the nearby town was a privilege reserved for only the 6th year and above students. He was mildly excited about it, but he was still more interested in Draco.
Harry glanced over his shoulder and saw Draco sitting in the back of the classroom, starring out the window. Shaking his head Harry grinned back at Ron. There was no way he'd ever met Draco Malfoy before.
XoXoXo
Friday came far to slowly and all day during classes the students were unfocused, thinking only about their coming trip to Hogsmade. At the end of the school day they raced to their dorms, changed into street clothes, and met with their teachers at the fountain to discuss the rules of Hogsmade.
"Now students, as your class advisor, I am your chaperon and I make the rules regarding the Hogsmade privilege," said Snape, glaring at the students. "Rule one, no student may go to Hogsmade alone, they must be in a group of at least four and must have my permission. Rule two, once in Hogsmade you will stay in the town, no leaving the central shops and especially no exploring the graveyard, no matter how tempting it is."
Everyone had heard the rumors about the haunted graveyard and the church that sat at the edge of Hogsmade. Although most students talked about going up there one Halloween, no one ever had ever made it up to the church.
They said witches were buried in that graveyard.
Harry shivered, witches scared him to no end. The whole idea of witchcraft and sorcery was not only a sin, but it was frightening to think that some power other then God could effect the natural world.
"Hey Harry, ya know what we should do on Halloween? We should so go up to the church!" Ron suggested.
"Ron, please!" Hermione sighed, "Every year someone tries, no one ever gets there!"
"Well this year we will!" Ron insisted, "Seamus? Dean?"
"I'm game."
"There'd better be hot ghost chicks."
"See Hermione," Ron said snidely to the brunette, "I have a loyal crew, and Saint Harry will come to and pray for our safety."
Harry chuckled along with his friends, but not without a tiny shiver. He really hoped Ron abandoned that silly idea. Mostly because he was damned scared of that graveyard.
The students began to move in a large amorphous clump, following Professor Snape to Hogsmade. Once they left the campus it was a twenty minute walk down a winding dirt path to Hogsmade because they weren't allowed to take the train.
When they finally reached Hogsmade the students branched off, exploring and ready to spend the entire night enjoying their new freedom.
Harry couldn't help but notice he couldn't see Draco anywhere.
A/N: ...And that's all she wrote, folks! Next chapter will actually involve action as a secret, conspiracy inside Hogwarts itself begins to unfold. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.
And review please to tell me whatcha think about the chapter, suggestions plot wise and other stuff- wise is welcome.