Chapter Ten
The cool weather enclosed around Harry and his friends; one by one they stepped off the train and onto the platform. The wind rushed passed ruffling Harry's black hair causing it to blow up and around his face. His robes swished and shuddered trying to release itself from his body. His pale features took in the lands and mountains that was being silhouetted by the moonlight, which was spinning up above. He took two steps forward to get a better look at the magical citadel that had been his home for the last four years going on five. In the distance he could see gentle yellow squares, telling him that there would soon be a full house in his home.
Ron and Hermione were standing on each side, Luna was on Hermione's side and Neville was standing next to Ron, murmuring something about his new plant. Harry was looking around for Hagrid, but he didn't see the friendly half-giant. He looked over to Hermione who seemed to be looking around as well, and then they heard an unfamiliar female voice, calling for the first years.
Harry whirled around just as hands grasped against his hips, and a body pressed in against him. Harry gave Draco a quick glance before furrowing his eyebrows, "Where's Hagrid?"
"That's what I'm wondering." said Ron, looking at the Professor Grubbly-Plank. The lady with curly grey hair and a nose longer than Snapes. Her eyes looked like that of a hawk.
She was okay, but Harry didn't like her. Simply, because she often took Hagrid's place when something bad happened.
Hermione nudged Harry and mouthed, "Giants." Unable to trust Draco, she made sure that he was looking the other way.
"Oh!" said Harry, realizing that Hagrid had yet to get back from his trip over the summer.
Draco leaned around in Harry's personal space and kiss him along the ear, and whispered; "I'll leave you too your friends. See you." With one last breath along Harry's neck, Draco disappeared, leaving the teen foggy eyed, and Ron to cringe.
"Come on, let's get a carriage." He pulled at Harry's sleeve, who had been watching the blond retreat. Boy, Harry hated to see him go, but he enjoyed watching him leave.
"Holy Mother of Merlin, was that Malfoy and was he touching you?" asked Fred , Weasley who had come up behind the trio.
Neville looked around, "Huh?" He hadn't noticed anything. "Malfoy? Harry?"
Harry smiled impishly, "Yep."
George blinked and wrapped his arm around raven-haired teen, "Harry?" said the twin cautiously.
"Yes?"
"Did you go insane while you were on the train? I swear I thought I saw Malfoy being - nice to you-"
Harry glanced at Hermione who looked amused, even Ron was stifling a smirk. "I don't know what you're talking about, Georgie." Harry playfully patted George upon the head.
Fred couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Harry- wh - please?"
Harry's smile never wavered, "Come on guys! Let's get a carriage before they're all taken up."
He walked forward, leaving two stunned Weasleys. Ron was howling about how hilarious it had been to see the two confused. "It's rare to see them like that-" He stopped, when he saw Harry staring at the empty carriage and blinking continuously.
"What is that?" whispered Harry, his green eyes locking in on the most oddest of winged creatures. He'd never seen those before.
"What's what Harry?" asked Hermione with concern. She wrapped her arm around his and leaned in, "What are you looking at?"
"I don't know, horses, they're black and sleek like reptile and their eyes- dark and - just - they're creepy."
Hermione and Ron exchanged cautious glances.
"Harry - there's nothing there." said Ron, wincing, at the glare he received from Harry.
"There is too! You can't see them?"
"See what?" asked Hermione, "It's just horseless carriages."
"No its not." said Luna in a sing-song voice, over the trio's conversation. "You only see them if you've seen death." she pointed out.
Harry lowered his head at this, and he moved forward, releasing himself from Hermione's touch and slid into the carriage. Death? Thought Harry, to himself. That would explain it. Ron, Hermione, and Luna slid into the carriage with them. Ron plopped down next to Harry a tad bit pale, while Hermione was casting firm looks at Luna, who sat next to her.
"Neville's going up with Ginny." said Hermione waving her hand.
"He's scared of me." said Luna, vaguely.
Harry knew he had to just get on with it, but that didn't escape the fact that he would now always have an every day remembrance until he finished school. Of those who died in front of his face. Hermione was watching his facial features closely, as if afraid he would explode.
"I'm okay really." he insisted, looking at them. "Thanks, Luna, for telling me what they were. I just - I had no idea."
The Ravenclaw smiled gingerly, "Not many people do." said Luna, slowly.
Harry wondered, who she had watched die, but he didn't ask. That would be rude. "At least, now I don't feel like I'm going insane."
"You'll always feel as if you're going insane, and everyone's going to believe so, when they find out that you and Malfoy are together." pointed out Ron, trying to liven Harry back up.
Harry smiled at the thought. The rumbling underneath them had been going on for the past two minutes, but Harry hadn't taken much notice, except for when he looked back at the amazing black creatures; were they horses or reptiles? Harry didn't know, a little bit of both he guessed. They were a sight of melancholy beauty, with their shiny coat and long black mane, they had a tragic sadness that lined around them, maybe it was the whole death thing, or maybe it was the reptile part of them. Whatever it was, Harry had to turn away, cause the burning sensation rushed up through his veins.
A distinct light filtered into the murmuring carriage, and they soon stopped at the courtyard of Hogwarts. They could hear other students in the background; laughing, talking, and jumping out with loud hoots and hollers of excitement. Luna jumped out first, then Hermione followed.
Ron looked at Harry, "You okay mate?"
Harry smiled, "I'm great." he said, honestly, and he was. "No need for a drama queen me tonight."
"You're going to have too much of that already if you and Malfoy decide to show yourselves off." He then smirked, "Might be amusing-" He quirked his lip and jumped out.
Harry chuckled, Ron could really brighten up anyone's day.
He stepped into the light and walked with everyone across the courtyard toward the stone steps that lead up to the massive double doors. With Ron, Hermione, and Luna, they were soon joined by Ginny and Neville. Ginny had been sitting with one of her friends, and Neville - out of fear of Luna had went with her.
Harry stood there, waiting, he could feel the stares pouring down upon him, and he so wanted to hide in the shadows, but as soon as he looked down at his feet, Draco moved elegantly behind him, he placed his hands firmly against Harry's shoulders.
Harry's head came up, he smiled bashfully, and glanced over his shoulder at Draco, who sent him a knowing smirk. The teen couldn't suppress the curiousness to look around. He saw it, the looks, the confusion, the shock. But, what was really hilarious was the fact that Pansy looked as if someone had shoved non-concentrated lemon juice down her throat. Blaise Zabini was standing close by, and his eyes would flicker over to Pansy, as if antsy for her to pass out. Theodore Nott was just looking horrified at this gesture from Draco. Crabbe and Goyle? Well, they didn't really care.
The Gryffindor's in Harry's year were just floored and the other Slytherin's were watching carefully, trying to understand if it was a joke or not. Everyone had a reaction.
"You're just eating this all up aren't you, Draco?" whispered Harry, leaning back into the blond.
"You know it Harry." Draco's hands massaged him on the shoulders. He would gather Harry's hair, brush it away, so that he could continue to rub, while people just stared, and bristled.
From what Harry was seeing; Pansy seemed to want to say something to Draco but one look from Blaise stopped all notion.
Harry winced, "You do know - you haven't even told your parents about me."
Draco shrugged. "They don't even know my favourite colour."
"It's silver. You're a silver obsessed fanatic." murmured Harry. "Anyone who knows you, knows you love silver."
Draco smiled in response, to Harry's remark. It was nice to have someone know him more intimately. Blaise knew him, yes, very well. The dark Slytherin knew his favourite colour, knew much more than most people; but there was something different about Harry knowing the intimate details that others would never learn, something extraordinary, about Harry knowing simple matters that others may know.
Ron was taking in the stares, and Hermione was putting her hand over her mouth to stop her giggles. Even if neither of them liked Draco Malfoy, it was worth being associated with him if only to see the looks on everyone's faces.
The whisper's ceased when the large wooden doors swung open and Professor McGonagall made her stiff and stern way toward them to call them inside. Draco's arms slid around Harry's neck, and the smaller teen walked in with Draco attached. People jumped out of the way, and even McGonagall looked back with a straightforward look.
The Great Hall, was decorated as splendidly as it ever did. Harry raised his head up to the ceiling that showed the night sky in all its glory. That was what Harry wanted in his future house. A breath against his ear caused him to smile again and glance at Draco.
He winked, "I'll see you." he purposely planted a kiss against the side of Harry's mouth, before uncoiling his arms, and walking away with elegance.
Hermione's arm curled around Harry and lead him to the Gryffindor table, smile on her cute face.
Ron was laughing till he was about to cry. Ron's whole idea on this, if he had to accept it, he might as well milk it for what it was worth. The looks of Fred and George, the looks of the dorm mates. It had never been more funny.
"Oh my god! You should have seen the look on Snape's face." whispered Ginny, coming up next to them. "He looked worse than Parkinson."
Ron and Harry's eyes flipped up to the faculty table, the two witnessed a sight worth catching on camera. The Head of Slytherin house, who despised Harry's every being, was glaring forcefully at Draco, who was sitting straight up and talking to Blaise, as if the connection between him and Harry had been an every day occurrence.
Hermione however, hissed and slapped them, "Look at the new teacher-"
Harry and Ron went down the rows, and stopped on the most horrifying looking lady they had ever seen. She was a squat boxed shaped woman with a face like a toad, very curly blonde hair, and her eyes were like tiny rectangles of darkness. Harry and Ron exchanged glances.
"Harry? I think I might switch sexual preferences…" said Ron, looking a bit green around the edges.
Hermione lowered her head and tried her hardest not to laugh at the expense of a future teacher; Harry stuffed his fist into his mouth, his green eyes glittering.
"Is she a defense teacher?" asked Harry, looking at the woman.
"That's the only other post open." said Hermione.
"Well, she has one hell of defense." declared Ron, "Her looks could scare the most frightening of creatures…"
"Ron!" coughed Hermione, slapping him on the arm. "That's not funny-"
"Of course it is. Look at your eyes glittering-"
Hermione was trying her hardest to glare at him but she was faltering, it wasn't her usual Hermione-know-it-all glare. It was too watered down - literally.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Grubbly-Plank came waltzing in and between the two of them were about forty young first timid first years. The usual routine went about, except this time, the hat had went out on a limb, singing about house unity. Ron hadn't' been paying attention, but Harry couldn't help but listen to the hat, and by instinct, his eyes flickered to the Umbridge to see her face straight and her eyes even more narrowed. She looked as if she wanted to take the hat and rip it to shreds.
Then it all clicked, "She's from the Ministry." whispered Harry to Ron and Hermione.
"How do you know?" asked Ron.
"Look at her!" murmured Harry through his teeth. "She's glaring at the hat as if it's some sort of disease."
"But - a Ministry official as a teacher?" asked Hermione. "She couldn't be that bad - could she?" But, she knew she was fooling herself. If she was here on Fudge's orders, then it was likely that she had part in Harry and Dumbledore's discrediting.
"I know last year, Dumbledore and Fudge had it out, and Dumbledore made the comment that Hogwart's wasn't under Ministry rules-"
"Oooh." whispered Hermione, looking wearily up at the woman. "Maybe-"
Ron shrugged, "We'll see."
Harry wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. He didn't want to judge her on first sight but his history with defense teachers wasn't exactly merry. Also, he was finding it difficult to ignore the churning in his stomach. His instincts was telling him that something was not right.
When the last student was sorted, Professor Dumbledore stood, opened his arms and began to greet the whole hall with his gentle kindness. He welcomed the students and repeated some of what the hat said about house unity. He welcomed the new Defense Teacher, as Dolores Jane Umbridge; but before he could sit back down though the woman that Harry's mind had been contemplating on cleared her throat with a wispy, 'hem, hem.'
Dumbledore simply smiled and gave her room in which to speak. After a quarter of a minute, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were staring with sheer disgust on their faces. Apparently, from her speech, she was the undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, and she was required to teach the proper non-violent ways according to the curriculum approved by the governors. Harry lost interest to the rest of the mumbo-jumbo the woman was saying and instead, looked around the hall at the faces of people.
Some weren't exactly understanding, while a few Slytherin's and even Ravenclaw's had smug looks on their faces. The Gryffindor's were divided in looks it seemed. Some seemed to agree while others thought she was a rambling wench. Harry glanced over at Draco, who had his arms crossed imperturbably, watching and listening to the woman avidly, as if assessing her for what she was worth.
When it was over, the whole room was silent, you could hear the crickets outside. Dumbledore stood, "On a more lighter note." he clapped his hands. "Dig in."
It took about thirty seconds for chatter to pick back up between the hundreds of black robed students.
"Umbridge, I've heard her name on several occasions." said Ron, as he loaded his plate down with roast beef.
Harry went for the turkey, "Yeah, well, she sounds like a babbling baboon."
Hermione did not correct him this time. She was fixing herself a more healthier plate, and was pretty quiet. She looked as if she were thinking very deeply.
"Hey, Harry!" said a female, three people down on the other side.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up, Parvati was looking at him, "What's going on with you and Malfoy?"
The raven-haired teen could not suppress the smile that crept along his features, he arched an eyebrow, "Nothing." He said in the most innocent of voices. He went back to his turkey, and licked his fingers of the brown gravy. He knew that remark would irritate just about anyone within hearing range. Especially, little gossipers like Parvati. Lavender and Seamus, however, were watching him out of the corner of their eyes, almost as if they were afraid to speak to him. The only other person who noticed this was Hermione. She looked suspiciously at them, but said nothing.
The dinner was amusing to say the least. Half the school was talking about the oddness between the Gryffindor and Slytherin enemies, and the other half was talking about Umbridge and her strange statement before the feast. Harry was helping himself to some cake, and would randomly glance up at Draco, who periodically looked over at Harry, while mainly sticking with Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, and a curly redheaded girl with a touch of freckles on her nose. If Harry guessed right, he would say, that the girl was Daphne GreeneGrass.
When the plates had cleared, Dumbledore stood to dismiss everyone. Harry and his friends were up and they headed out of the double doors and into the drafty Entrance Hall; Draco stopped in front of Harry. The people that passed stared at them, perplexed to no end.
"We haven't really made that big of a splash." said Harry. "They think we're kidding."
Draco stared around him casually, "Do they?"
"Yeah, they think it's a joke."
Draco grinned, "Joke, huh? Well, I am just going to have to show them otherwise." Before Harry could ask what Draco had in mind, the teen had already wrapped his fingers around Harry's wrist drawling him in, and with their eyes locked with only each other, the Slytherin swooped in for a spine tingling kiss. It was so intense that it was nearly air tight. Harry swam against his lips, bringing his hands up to touch Draco on the cheek.
Their kiss and relationship was on display for everyone in the Entrance Hall, who were staring open mouthed and shocked. Ron couldn't handle it and had to turn around to look the other way, his face flushing. Hermione was tilting her head to the side and giving Ginny side glances. Blaise cleared his throat as discreetly as he could, and looked over at anyone but his best friend, his eyes fell on Ginny, who was blushing and had a hand over her mouth.
Pansy looked as if she were going to collapse, while her friend was torn between the enjoyment of watching two good looking guys, or siding with her best friend.
When Draco parted, Harry licked his bottom lip, "I like that-" whispered Harry.
"Good, hopefully they know now, that no joke is being played." He raised his eyes and stared around him. Harry was much to shy, and instead kissed Draco once more, before grudgingly letting go. "Have fun."
Harry could only smile to that.
000
In confident strides Draco made his way toward the dungeons; the light of the torches splashed dark spider shadows of the Slytherins, as they hammered the flagstone floor turning down corridors and toward their awaiting portrait of a shrewd little man with a dragon red cane. Blaise was on his right, expressionless and sharp in the eyes as he always was. Crabbe and Goyle were on Draco's other side, both boys were flushed and refusing to brush against each other in fear of what might happen. The Slytherins were talking in various size voices and the walls being so hollow sounding it ricocheted making it sound as though there were more than seventy students of Slytherin. Pansy who was on the other side of Daphne and Millicent was sulking and keeping her arms crossed. She was red with embarrassment.
The sixth year Slytherin Prefect, the one Draco had sat next too in the compartment came up to Draco, "What the fuck just happened in the Entrance Hall, Draco?" asked the brown headed sixth year. He had dark eyes and was about an inch and a half shorter than Draco, while his width was more along the lines of one of the Weasley twins.
It was no secret, that there were several who really wanted to know the answer to this.
Draco cast him a him a definitive smirk, his pale eyes had a mischievous glint. "What did it look like, Adrian?" drawled the teen, arching a crafted eyebrow.
They had gotten to the large gold framed Slytherin Portrait and Pansy, being the other fifth year Prefect squeaked out the password.
"It looked as though you were sticking your tongue down the Gryffindor's throat! Not to mention calling him, Harry."
"Ah, you do assess situations so very well." Draco said in a sarcastic voice.
"Well - what IS going on?" demanded Pucey, "I thought we were told never to date a Gryffindor."
"He's a fucking golden boy to Dumbledore. He's a blood traitor!" This came from the seventh year guy named Montague. A needle thin of a guy with a dark buzzed hair cut.
Draco turned instantly, and stalked up to Montague, the two were the exact same height. "Want to repeat that, Montague?" asked Draco silkily. "I guarantee you, if you do it will be the last thing you say. I will slice your vocals to where no word can ever be spoken-"
"You wouldn't." hissed Montague, stepping up into Draco's face.
Draco gave the seventh year a cunning smile, "I wouldn't?" he asked, his wand was out and he innocently twirled it between his fingers. Montague went for his wand, but Draco simply flicked his wrist and Montague's wand went flying up into the air before landing with perfection inside of Draco's robe pocket. The older teen paled a bright shade of ghost white. "Repeat that."
"Fuck you!" snarled Montague, pushing passed Draco.
"No thanks."
"Fucking blood trai-" But before Montague could finish; Draco had flicked his wand and said another silent curse, causing Montague to stop on a dime. His eyes went wide with horror and his hands went straight to his throat. His eyes began to water. What from the room wasn't so sure, but Draco's smirk said that whatever had been done, wasn't pretty.
The whole Slytherin common room was watching in shock a few of them with malevolent delight.
Montague heaved, and he flinched visibly, hands still on his throat.
"I warned you - I so fucking warned you." Montague swallowed and he grimaced visibly. Draco took out his wand and then with his own he caused it to go whizzing across the room until it fell with a clatter against a coiling snake portrait. "Fuck with me again, Garret, I double dare you."
To say that Montague was humiliated was an understatement, with his face flaming red he stormed up the steps followed by his best friend.
"Anyone else?" asked Draco, with a smile.
Everyone backed away, Blaise chuckled lowly, as he waltzed over, "That was some fucking show, Draco."
"I had hoped so. I was trying to get it through their puny brains."
"It's none of their business." said Daphne GreeneGrass honestly. "I never saw anything bad about Harry Potter. Anyone who has half a brain can see that."
Draco inclined his head and was about to say something more, when a swish of a cloak could be heard, "Mr. Malfoy."
Draco lifted his gaze and peered into the dark swirling pools of his Head of House. "Professor." Addressed Draco, inclining his head respectfully. The black haired man scowled, "Follow me." It wasn't a request, it was a direct order.
Draco smirked and flashed his friends a look, "See you later." He knew what this was about. He moved into step next to Professor Snape, whose pale face refused to show any expression other than that of someone bitter and scathing. Draco knew better than that; Severus Snape had only ever been coming around his manor for the last - oh - fifteen years?
They did not speak, even as they filed down the darkened dungeon corridor. It was cool and drafty as it always was, but Draco was used to it. They passed the Potion's Classroom and stopped at the large oak door that lead to Snape's private office.
As soon as they entered the darkened office and the door was slammed shut; Snape growled, "What in the fuck is going on?"
"What are you talking about Severus?" asked Draco, dropping the professor bit, now that they were alone.
Snape scowled at him and lit the torches on his wall, allowing some light to filter into the room. He was practically shaken now, from what Draco could see. Was he really that angry?
"Don't play stupid with me, Draco! What the hell are you doing with Potter? Do you know, what kind of hell you are going to put your father in?"
Draco studied the man for several long moments. He was snarling and very pissed off. The light that cast over his face showed this, but - what was Snape so pissed off about? He didn't really care that much about his father. "My father, told me to choose my own path-"
"The path to death, you fucking moron! I do not know how this came about. I do not want to know. However, this has to end-" The man began pacing up and down the office.
Draco couldn't believe the intrepidity of the man, he knew the problem, but he was going to give Snape the benefit of the doubt; would Snape really be that childish?
"Bull shit!" retorted Draco, "You - you are being ridiculous! You know as well as I do, that all my father has to do is declare disownment on me, which I am sure coming from him it isn't hard to do. Besides, who gives a damn if I'm dating Harry?" Draco was standing there, feeling his body flare up, the anger seeping inside of him like it had been when Montague began spouting off.
"Harry now is it?" spat Snape. "The fucking, spoiled brat Gryffindor is Harry now?"
"That's right, he's Harry, just Harry, not spoiled and not just a Gryffindor." snapped Draco impatiently. He hated this, he hated people talking about Harry, as if they knew him. They didn't know a damn thing.
Snape snarled moving briskly, until he was inches from Draco's face, "You do know that being associated with Potter, leaves you in jeopardy of being killed? Who the fuck do you think is on the top of the Dark Lord's most wanted list?" He hissed.
Draco didn't back down; he didn't move, his eyes were hard as steel with a fire in them that could melt all metals. "You think, I do not know that? Do you think, Harry didn't tell me this nearly every single day that I showed up on Privet Drive, to check on him - to take care of him, make sure he was actually eating, because of those bastardized muggles!"
"What the fuck are you banging on about?" asked Snape, darkly.
Draco arched an eyebrow, "You don't know-" breathed Draco, "No one has ever told you-" No wonder. Snape was blinded, so blinded that he would knock into a wall when it came to who Harry actually was. Draco had to also remember, that he too, had been like that.
"Told me what?" asked Snape through gritted teeth.
"You - just like me - thought Harry enjoyed his fame. You believed that he got delight in being apart of the limelight of the wizarding world." said Draco, barely above a normal spoken level. "I bet you thought he was put up on a fucking pedestal to be admired, huh?" Draco gave him a slow shake of his head, "Well, Severus, I have news for you. Harry's family hates magic, hates wizards, and most of all, they hated Harry and every ounce of magic he has in his veins." Draco leaned against Severus' desk, and crossed his arms over his chest, and watched the man.
Snape's facial expressions flickered and faltered; Draco saw it, he was astonished.
Draco voice leveled, "I know I am in danger Severus. But now, I can't stay away from Harry. There is no fucking way I can separate myself. I'm in it for the long hall."
"Don't tell me that." sneered Snape, turning around and running a hand through his long black hair. "I don't want to fucking hear it."
Draco was trying not to let his anger take control, but it was getting difficult. He breathed in through his nose; his cheeks flushed with a bit of rouge, "Too bad Severus, you are going to hear it. I do not give a flying fuck, what you think, what my father thinks, what my family thinks, and most of all, I don't give a damn what Voldemort thinks!" Draco had been so powered up, that he had no problems with using Voldemort's name.
If Harry could use it, then he damn well could.
With his voice full of spite Severus snarled, "You will, when you have a wand at your throat and two simple words are threatening to escape his mouth."
Draco leaned up off the desk, took three steps to Severus and stopped in front of him, "I know." said Draco, in a quiet voice. "I understand that. I made my bed, Severus, and I will lay in it."
"You are not thinking rationally, Draco! Neutral, I can see-"
"Fuck, Severus!" Draco yelled, throwing his hands up with irritation. He knew that the man was grasping at strawls, but this was becoming more and more ridiculous. "Neutral? You really, really think Voldemort will allow me to remain neutral? You actually believe that incredulous shit? I wasn't in the last war - you were. How many people who played neutral were killed?" He challenged, "Hmm?"
Severus tensed up at the question, and his face still had rage, but he spoke calmly, "We can offer you-"
"Don't offer me shit!" interrupted Draco, his eyes locked with Severus, "It's all folly and you know it! You can't offer anyone protection, no one can. Everyone is at risk here." he retorted, and before Severus could get another word in Draco was speaking again. "Also don't go telling me that I'm not being Slytherin about this. I AM a fucking Slytherin, Severus; through and through but being a Slytherin does not make one above feelings and falling for someone! I fell in love with Harry Potter-"
"SHUT UP!" spluttered Snape, his breathing becoming heavy and laboured. "No you didn't! He's a mean little bastard, who deserves to be expelled and cast out of the wizarding world."
"No he does not! Would you stop it with that? You don't even know Harry. You only know a past that you allow to eat at you and haunt your miserable existence." Roared Draco.
Snape reared back, as if he had been slapped forcefully in the face. His eyes narrowing, but Draco wasn't through yet:
"Yes, my father, told me." Draco answered Severus' silent question. "He told me all about how terrible the Potters were; how big of a jack arse Potter's best friends were. Yeah, I know the damn story. I am fucking sorry that Harry's father made your life a living hell; but you know something? Harry has never met James Potter. Harry, has never laid eyes on the man in anything else but a photograph. Harry grew up with everyone against him," Draco's voice began to rise, and the anger flashed through him, coursing like thunder through his body enveloping him. He'd never felt such vindication in his entire life. "First his muggle relatives hating him, shutting him up in a cupboard as a little boy; feeding him scraps from a table like you would a goddamn dog! They gave him barely wearable rags to wear, telling him he's a fucking freak daily, because he is magical-"
Boy, he'd never used so much foul language in his life. But he wasn't through. He had to drill it into this man's obnoxiously thick skull, just how wrong he was.
The mask had slipped off Snape, during Draco's rant. "Do you know how terrible, Harry was treated? Do you know how bad he blames himself every single day for Cedric Diggory's murder? How he has to walk around, with the whole damn world against him; just like his muggle relatives. He comes here, hoping to get away from the hell, hoping to find solace with people of his kind but all he gets - is bastards like you and a bastard like me for four years. I found the real Harry; I found out just how fucking wrong I was, and I am man enough to stand up and tell you that I was stupid, childish, and wrong. I was ridiculous and I refuse to make that mistake again. I refuse to leave Harry, nothing anyone can say or do to make me change my mind…" He said these last few words in a soft leveled tone. His body was on fire, and his magic seemed to roll through his veins in waves pumping up and down, causing his cheeks to stay flush and his eyes to glisten.
The silence in the air was thick and heavily laden; both Slytherins were trying to calm themselves down.
One's mind was overloaded with new information, while the other was trying to come down from the wrathful high he had just endured. He sagged lethargically against Severus' desk. His eyes closed briefly.
"Damn you." Hissed Severus. "I'm the fucking teacher not you." The man's voice had turned calm.
Draco's lifted his head; Severus was standing there, his hands crossed over his chest and he seemed to be in deep thought.
"You do know, you're in high danger?"
"For the thousandth time, yes." said Draco, staring straight at Severus.
"Does your father know?"
"Oh, I'm sure Pansy, will be appealing to my mother. Fact is, it's my relationship, not my father's, not my mother's, and not yours. If I fuck it up in the future, it's going to be my fault not anyone elses."
"Serious about Potter?" asked Severus, gritting his teeth.
"Yes, I am."
Severus growled and began to pace back and forth, "I need a fucking drink. In fact, I need a very large overtly flammable drink before I come to terms with what I have learned tonight, for I have a feeling, I do not want to remember." He breathed heavy, and then glanced briefly at the blond. "Go back to your dorm."
Draco had nothing more to say, he pushed himself up off the desk, and strolled to the door. He placed one hand upon it and looked over his shoulder to see Severus standing there, arms out in front of him with his hands pressed against the desk firmly. His head was bowed, with his eyes glaring at the dirty black floor, he too had raw energy, a lot of ghosts centered around the Potion's Master. Draco had always known that. Draco could just see his face. He was irritated about the fact that he was just proved wrong, by no more than a fifteen-year-old.
"Good night Severus." Draco turned, and swept from the dungeons; his robes billowing fashionably behind.