Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to HP. It all belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros., and any other entities involved.
In the morning, Draco woke up before Harry. He stared at the black-haired beauty, the way his messy hair looked like he had been just shagged, the adorable way his mouth formed a smile, his tanned and smooth, chiseled chest. He leaned toward Harry and kissed him on his forehead. Last night the sparks had flown, and it had felt like finally coming home for him. Harry was all he could ask for and yet, even in the midst of their intimacy, he wondered what it would be like to make love to Ginny.
He couldn't keep her mischievous face from his mind, the way she had supported him before. Draco felt it was somewhat wrong to picture this while with Harry, but he seemingly could not stop himself.
Harry felt the kiss on his forehead and woke up from the most comfortable sleep he had had in his life, missing the warmth of his partner. At first he smiled when seeing Draco, but then he remembered the night, what they had done, and reality came crashing down on him.
While the strength of his feelings for Ginny were not what they had been, still he had technically cheated on her. Moreover, even if he was attracted to Draco and genuinely fond of the boy, he had been told that the Wizarding World would despise him if they found out his sexual orientation. He would undoubtedly lose the support of his friends in Hogwarts and the Wizarding world at large. Voldemort would gain strength from this. He was in a quandary, with his feelings pushing one way and his duty the opposite way.
Being a Gryffindor, he naturally heeded his duty. It pained him to do so, but he would have to let Draco down gently, and forget that the past night had ever happened. Draco might be angry, heck, he would be furious, but it was the only way to proceed. He needed to fulfill his duty as the savior, and besides, he would be putting Draco in jeopardy if they had a relationship.
He conveniently forgot that Draco was quite capable of defending himself, as he had proved while rescuing the Tonks.
He faced Draco and uttered the hardest words he'd ever spoken: "Draco, we need to talk."
"I really enjoyed last night, but I think it would be better if we just went our separate ways." "If Voldemort ever found out, you would be in great danger."
"Furthermore, the Wizarding world needs me. I have to concentrate entirely on killing Voldemort. Maybe, when the war ends, we could be together then."
Draco was astonished; he looked flabbergasted at Harry and tried to process what he had just said. After mind-blowing sex, Harry seemingly wanted to pretend it hadn't happened and just go on the way they had been. Apparently he thought that being with Draco was a major error, and offered flimsy excuses for treading the safe path.
Ever the Gryffindor; under the guise of doing good they would blatantly ignore the truth and hide behind their idea of duty.
Draco quickly got incensed. He countered, "So you think I can just be your fuck toy. Do you honestly believe that being with you would jeopardize me? Bloody hell, Potter, I was instrumental in grabbing his two top lieutenants. Need I remind you that I orchestrated our flight from the Dark Lord's lair?"
Harry replied, "It is the truth, Draco. I won't have another person die because of me! Also, if you forget it, Ginny is my girlfriend and I cheated on her! I can't hurt her like this."
Draco answered fuming, "But you can hurt me like you are doing right now perfectly fine, Potter. Obviously Ginny is far more important than me in your eyes." "Well, it's good to know that, even if it hurts like hell."
Harry replied, "It's not like that Draco. I'm sorry I came here last night. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but we can't be together, not now while the war still rages on. I need everyone's support. I hate doing this to you, but it is for the best."
Harry stooped to gather his pajamas and put them on. He stood to go to the door when Draco roughly grabbed his shoulders.
Draco stated, "If you go through that door, Potter, we're through. I won't be your plaything. I'm not your one night stand, even if you seem to think so. If you go, there will be consequences, and they will not be pleasant for you."
Harry answered, "You're threatening me, Draco?"
"I'm just telling the truth."
"I'm sorry, Draco, but I must go." Harry went to the door, opened it, and just as he was about to go out, Draco grabbed him roughly, turned him around, und sucker punched him.
"This is for treating me as your slut, Potty." Then Draco kicked his behind and closed the door.
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Meanwhile, Hermione was finishing her daily report letter to Albus. She'd been writing detailed accounts of their stay in the Manor, and what had transpired.
Dumbledore had impressed upon her the need to keep abreast of events concerning Harry. He'd stated that was one of the reasons she had been given the position of the Head Girl, conveniently forgetting to mention that she was the only viable candidate for the position due to her outstanding academic performance.
Hermione was quite smart and cunning, even to the point of following Draco when he went to the Hogwarts library to research. She'd been stealthy enough to notice which books he had perused. This led her to an interesting discovery, namely a very useful potion, called Suggestion.
She had also observed Draco surreptitiously stealing potion components during classes with Snape. She had done a little stealing of her own, and had managed to brew the potion herself.
Then it was a matter of opportunity to use the potion on Harry. After a strenuous Quidditch practice, she had invited Harry to the kitchens for a snack. While Dobby conveniently distracted Harry with his elfish hero worship, she had slipped the contents of a vial into a cup of tea.
Afterwards it was a matter of subtly suggesting to Harry that Ginny was a very beautiful, sexy girl, and that he should pursue a relationship with her.
Later, she had smugly looked on as Harry invited Ginny to a Hogsmeade weekend, and they came back holding hands and kissing.
It was part of her plan to push Harry into great and neat things, even if he didn't want to, and then ride his coattails as his best female friend and have a brilliant future.
Being part of Dumbledore's team would also ensure her success in the Wizarding World, even if she was a humble Muggleborn, as Malfoy had always snidely suggested.
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Harry nervously went to breakfast in the dining hall. He was a bit sore from Draco's punch and kick, and he dreaded to see what Draco's actions would be. Still he was sure he was doing the right thing.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed that Draco was not there. Maybe it would be alright after all and Draco would forgive him.
After eating, Ginny went to him and asked if they could go on a stroll around the gardens.
They walked a long way from the Manor, and then Ginny spoke: "You might be interested to know, Harry, that last night I could not sleep, so I went for a walk. I saw you get into Draco's room. I stayed a while, and you didn't come out."
Harry nervously replied, "Well, you se, Ginny. I went to see Draco, and then things happened."
"What things, Harry?"
"Well, we made out and then…"
"And then what, Harry?"
"Then he blew me and I reciprocated. I'm sorry Ginny, but rest assured that…"
"Hold on a minute, Harry. You had sex with Draco behind my back. I suspected as much. You know what this means, right?"
"What, Ginny?"
"It means we're through. For a while I have felt that a certain spark was lacking between us. At first I thought it was only me, but I've watched your exchanges with Draco and how you both react to each other. It's plainly obvious that there is a strong attraction between you, maybe more." "That's Ok, Harry. It's time to let you go and see what happens."
"I have also started being attracted to someone else. I wish you happiness with Draco, you both deserve it. Draco has been the only one to see you for who you are, Harry, the obnoxious Gryffindor Golden Boy, who is also plain Harry. Everyone else either idolizes or demonizes you. I'm sorry to say I was one of the worst worshippers."
Harry gaped, he was astonished. He did not expect this. He had wanted to come back to Ginny, explain about his indiscretion and be forgiven, carrying on their relationship.
"Do you really want this, Ginny? Can't we go back to the way we used to be?"
"I'm afraid not, Harry. If you felt enough for Draco to cheat with him, then you ought to pursue that avenue. I can only advise you not to cross him, because he has a mean streak a mile wide. Also if things don't work out between you, I might be willing to give it a try to be with him."
Harry was dumbfounded. Did Ginny want to go out with Draco?
"What do you mean Ginny? You can't be serious!"
"Sure I am serious, Harry. Draco is extremely good looking; he has wit, charisma and resiliency. During the past two weeks I have seen a side of him that is strong, chivalrous and warm. After all, he was the one that rescued me when I was kidnapped."
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Deep in the Ministry holding cells, locked behind anonymous doors, Bellatrix Lestrange plotted bloody revenge on whoever had impersonated her and left her immobilized, to be discovered by the bloody Aurors. She mentally reviewed the most painful way for the Tonks to die, watching as pretty Nymphomaniac got tortured.
The door opened and the prison guard came in, bearing a tray with measly food. He deposited the tray on the floor, stood up, and glared at Bellatrix.
"Well, aren't you going to say something, Lestrange?"
"I wish I was free so I could kick your ass, moron!" Shouted Bellatrix.
She started ranting about her miserable conditions, and what the Dark Lord would do to them all. In the middle of the rant, she looked up at the guard and watched fascinated as his features started to change into those of Walden McNair.
"Walden, thank Merlin you are here! What happened?"
McNair haughtily replied, "You managed to get knocked out by none other than your nephew. He took your place using a Polyjuice Potion; he, Potter and your niece went to headquarters."
"Posing as you, he intimated that he could torture Potter by kissing him." "My Lord agreed and he did just that, pretending to be you. Meanwhile Tonks nabbed Pettigrew and disappeared."
"The Dark Lord sensed something was wrong. He put the brat under Cruciatus, but then Potter retaliated, and they took a portkey out. I must admit it was quite an impressive plan, indeed."
Bellatrix was fuming. How dare McNair praise that hellish brat? She walked up to him and slapped him.
McNair blanched, and looking furious, whipped his wand out from under the guard's uniform. He pointed the wand at Bellatrix and shouted, 'Crucio.'
He eagerly looked on as Bellatrix writhed on the floor. After a minute, he lifted the curse and said, "Watch what you do to me, bitch! I am not our Lord and I will not indulge you. My Lord has sent me to see if you can still help him with his plans."
Bellatrix, with a clouded mind due to the intense Cruciatus pain, replied: "How can I help him with the Horcruxes? He is the only one who knows where the three pieces are."
"Concerning his plans to attack Malfoy Manor, he has almost carried them out and they only wait for his signal, which should be very soon. My Lord is brilliant! He ordered Moody to cast Imperio in members of what the cursed Muggles call their Army. The Malfoy brat will be killed by the very Muggles he purports to love so much! I wish I could see his face when he is attacked in a manner he won't expect."
"Walden, you have to get me out of here!!"
A smug McNair replied, "I'll try to get you out of here, Bellatrix. But I'll need time to find someone to impersonate you, so we can get out of here unscathed."
"Until then, you'll have to stay here." McNair took a small vial from under the uniform and drank it. Instantly his features changed to those of the guard.
He went to the door, opened it and went out. While his back was turned to Bellatrix, she could not see the gleeful smirk that graced the guard's rather stodgy features.
Once out, the guard rode the lift to the upper level. He got out and left the Ministry. He walked to the nearest alley and prepared to apparate. Just before he left, his features transformed into someone else, someone Bellatrix would hate.
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At dinner that night, Draco met them at the dining hall and made small talk with all of them. He acted civilly towards Harry, asking him if he was alright. After barely listening to his reply, he got in an engaged Quidditch conversation with Ron and the twins.
Harry would ask him something, and Draco would reply politely with barely concealed boredom. Then he would go on talking with Ginny and Hermione. He was treating Harry like a friend, albeit a distant one.
Harry had not expected this. He believed either Draco would fight with him or snub him, not treat him so neutrally. It hurt Harry; it smarted to know that he was no longer the complete focus of Draco's attention.
Throughout their years together and apart he had always managed to be the center of Draco's attention, either Draco would hex him or lately, stare warmly at him. To be so cavalierly neglected was awful. He got a glimpse of how much he had hurt Draco with his apparent rejection.
As they were eating desserts, Draco said to Harry: "By the way Harry, you have 24 hours to leave the Manor." He flicked his wand and continued, "Later than that, and the wards will automatically expel you."
Hermione was thunderstruck and asked, "But why, Draco? Why do you want Harry to leave now?"
Draco replied, "I'm not at liberty to say, right Harry? Or do you want to enlighten them as to the reasons why?"
Harry numbly shook his head.
"It's Ok, Draco; I will gather my things and will leave in the afternoon tomorrow."
Ginny intently listened to their exchange and mused, "So it seems that Harry has also mucked up this relationship. I expected as much. He is so naïve, and Draco is right, he does think that the world revolves around him. I think he is shortly going to find out that this is not true at all."
Narcissa gasped and declared, "I'm disappointed in you, Draco, that is no way for a Malfoy host to behave."
Draco leveled an angry stare at his mother and retorted, "This is my Manor now, Mother, and I will do as I please. Funny that you so eagerly try to help Harry, but when Lucius treated me badly you did nothing at all. Where were your precious Malfoy manners then?"
"If this does not meet your expectations of me, then by all means, feel free to leave my home."
Narcissa blanched and said, "I knew things were too good to be true. I will be leaving with Harry then." "If you would you be so kind as to excuse me, I have things to pack."
She graciously stood up and walked to the French doors. Ginny was able to see a faint smirk gracing her beautiful face, and she wondered, "Narcissa does seem to be terribly upset, but then, why was she smirking and trying to hide it?"
Tbc
AN: I was delayed because I foolishly installed Internet Explorer 7 in my computer, and then it pulled a Neville Longbottom, destroyed the installation and I had to install from scratch.
Merry Christmas and Happy 2007!