Six

Just Friends

Snow was swirling against the icy windows once more; Christmas was approaching fast. Hagrid had already single handily delivered the usual twelve Christmas trees for the great hall; garlands of holly and tinsel had been twisted around the banisters of the stairs; everlasting candles glowed from inside the helmets of suits of armour and great bunches of mistletoe had been hung at intervals along the corridors.

Dullcy and Ginny didn't walk their usual path to transfiguration; they had scouted the halls for mistletoe free routes, because they were among the few who got harassed between classes. Ginny giggled as they passed Cormac McLaggen who stood seductively below a cluster of mistletoe. They both shrieked with laughter as they rounded the corner and leant on the brick wall for support, but inconspicuously fell through it.

"Ahhh" screamed Ginny as she came face to face with the menacing face of Draco Malfoy, his face changed from the socked surprised look to an evil disapproving smirk.

"What are you doing here you blood traitor" He sneered, "run along to snog your boyfriend" Dullcy bit her lip.

"Shove off Malfoy" said Ginny firmly, and she grabbed Dullcy's arm and pulled her along the corridor. Dullcy sneaked one last peek behind her to see Malfoy mouth the words "Sorry" Dullcy winked and then she saw Malfoy make a gesture like spanking an imaginary figure, she giggled then turned away, feeling excited.

Ginny went on about Malfoy all the way to transfiguration, when finally they were rounded on for being late to class by McGonagall and were both grounded a detention at 7 O'clock that night with Mr. Filtch.

Dullcy headed back to the Gryffindor common , she had just finished detention with Filtch – (cleaning a room peeves has destroyed earlier) she smelt strongly of bleach and was still sweating, Ginny had left to meet up with Dean, so Dullcy was alone again. After making down 2 levels she started to decelerate her pace. She had just passed the stretch of wall where the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls to do ballet when the clip on her skirt broke and...

"Ouch" she was getting dragged into a broom cupboard. "What the- What are you doing" she said noticing the figure was Malfoy; he moved closer putting a finger to her lip. "I didn't know there was broom cupboard here, what are you doing?" she said in protest "I need to get back, I can't be late again, people are expecting me" she said laughing at what he was doing, trying to get her to loosen her grip on her skirt.

"Screw 'em" he said "now let go" he said kissing her neck.

"I can't the clip broke" she said, but Malfoy didn't seem to think that was a problem, he kissed her fiercely, and finally she let go of her skirt and It dropped to the ground their bodies in close embrace. Dullcy drew a deep breath…

"Oi"

Dean and Ginny broke apart and looked round

"What" said Ginny?

"I don't want to find my own sister snogging people in public"

"This was a deserted corridor until you came along" said Ginny

If Ginny's here, Harry thought. Where's Dullcy? Knowing about their joint detention, he didn't see her arrive in the common room, knowing she was getting out at this time, he convinced Ron to come for a walk with him – not telling him why.

"I don't want people thinking my sister's a-"

"A what!" yelled Ginny, as Dean headed back to the common room.

"He doesn't mean anything Ginny" said Harry wanting to end the fight and get back to the common room and find Dullcy, he was intrigued to know where she got to. "ENOUGH" Harry finally yelled and him and Ron started the journey back to their Dormitory. Ron was still going on in a senseless rage, Harry was to consumed in his own thoughts to worry about Ron's, all Harry could remember was him asking 'do you think Hermione really did snog Krum?' Harry didn't care 'what… Oh –er' he had replied, the honest answer was 'yes' but Harry was only worried about who Dullcy was snogging.

"Dilligrout" he said darkly to the fat lady as they climbed in through the portrait hole.

"Hold it" called a voice, Harry spun around, Dullcy came running up from behind, she looked quite flushed and her usual impeccable hair was messy. "Ah thanks Harry" she said climbing in, as Harry held it open for her.

"Hard detention" said Harry, and Dullcy quickly combed her hair

"Oh yes, you know Filtch" started Dullcy, and from behind Harry noticed her skirt was askew "Has to punish everyone else because he's a squib" she finished; Harry had a sick feeling in his stomach, like... like Dullcy was seeing someone else.

"Is that aftershave" said Harry, smelling the air - not giving a shit, how rude he was

"Ah" started Dullcy, her voice suddenly getting higher "No! It's probably just bleach, Filtch made me clean an entire room peeves had destroyed – without magic! You know how those cleaning products smell" she finished looking hopefully at Harry "Anyway, I better go, and have a shower you know. I wouldn't want to smell like this all night" and she hurried off.

Harry lay awake for a long time, neither him nor Ron had spoken, they had silently gone to bed, each absorbed in his own thoughts. Harry tried to convince himself his feelings for Dullcy were just a phase.

It was natural he felt protective of her – they were friends. It was normal he wanted to find this guy, whoever he was and rip him limb by limb for kissing her, he shuddered, for touching her; he had no control over these feelings.

Ron gave a huge snore.

She's just a friend, Harry told himself firmly, just friends.

Authors notes: originally Harry wasn't going to fall for Dullcy, but I decided what the heck, it makes it more interesting