Title: Tis The Season
Author: GrapeSmshr
Rated: PG13, just in case
Coupling: HP/SS slashy goodness
Disclaimer: Potter and Snape belong to JKR, but Harry and Sev belong to my heart...
Posted on: August 22, 2007
A/N: Hmm, these long absences seem to be a theme amongst all my HP fics… But look, I'm back yet again! Ok, so it's almost 2 years later. And ok, so it's no longer the winter holiday. Who cares! I found inspiration once again! Besides, Having Christmas in August is more unique than having it in December, yes? ;) Anyway, read on and enjoy!
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Chapter 5: Plotting
Harry sat on his bed, angrily drawing patterns on the fabric beside him. He had practically handed a written confession to the man regarding his feelings, and he was rewarded with virtually a slap in the face. He just really didn't know what else he could do to get the stubborn man to accept that they had some kind of connection between them. But he wasn't about to give up. He may be deterred at the moment by Snape's negativity, but Harry's persistence was not wavering.
Sighing resignedly, he opened his trunk and rummaged around until he came across a small object. He turned it over and over in his hand, eyeing it shrewdly and with more than a little affection.
He had informed the students earlier of the following day's activities, which was a gift exchange. The twist was that all of the gifts had to be either made by hand or by magic, which meant no trying to sneak off to Hogsmeade. After dinner that evening, everyone would exchange gifts with their friends.
No trouble came in making Ron's and Hermione's gifts, nor with the rest of his friends. However, the object in his hand had been in production for months, not for the intended person at the beginning. But the more Harry had worked on it, the more he realized who exactly he was customizing it for. He only hoped that it would be appreciated.
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"Ugh. I wish I was better at Charms," Ron complained to Harry the next morning. He had fire-called his mum earlier to learn the charm for knitting after he had gotten the idea to make Hermione a new scarf and cap. She had been saying before how she needed a new set. Ron swung the idea past Harry, who told him that the gift would gain him brownie points in the thoughtfulness department. "You and I both know how often you listen to her," Harry had said. "She'll be thrilled you were paying attention to at least one conversation." That was all the encouragement Ron had needed.
"Why can't I get this to work?" Ron snorted in irritation at the animated knitting needles, which were, instead of actually knitting, tying the wool into hopeless knots.
"You just need to move your wrist up more fluidly," Harry offered. He aimed his wand at the suspended needles and recited the spell with a graceful wand movement. The needles promptly began working away correctly. He waved his wand again, and the knotted mess vanished. "See the difference?"
"Yeah. Let me try again." With a look of immense concentration, Ron mimicked Harry's movement and cried out triumphantly when the needles began knitting away. "Hey, thanks mate." He sat down across from Harry. "So what are you giving Hermione?"
"The same thing I'm giving you."
"Hmm." After a moment Ron asked, "What are you getting me, then?"
"Nice try, mate," Harry laughed. He had expected the question. All day yesterday Harry watched as his peers frantically brainstormed and attempted to charm gifts for their friends. There had been some hilarious attempts, such as Luna making sock puppets that shrieked and tried to strangle each other. There had also been some disastrous attempts, such as Seamus trying to replicate a laughing gas potion manufactured by the Weasley twins and practically blowing up the Gryffindor common room. Luckily, Hermione had been around to stop the impending explosion.
Harry was thankful that he had inherited his mother's proficiency in Charms; otherwise he would be struggling so much with his Christmas activity. At least, with one particular gift. The other gifts he had made the Muggle way.
"So what do you say, mate?"
Ron's voice startled Harry out of his thoughts. "Sorry?"
"I asked if you wanted to get in some laps around the pitch before lunch," Ron repeated slowly, giving Harry a weird look.
Harry chuckled sheepishly. "Sure. I could use some fresh air. Oh, but first I need to run to the library."
"No worries, mate. I don't trust these needles on their own. Better watch them so they don't screw up."
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Harry walked slowly toward the library, checking around corners to make sure he didn't run into Snape. He knew he should have brought the Marauders Map.
Exhaling noisily, he wondered exactly what had gone wrong in his hesitant friendship with Snape. As far as he knew, he hadn't done anything to anger the man. But obviously something had happened on Snape's end to cause him to revert back to his snarling self around Harry. Hopefully by that evening it would all be figured out.
Completely immersed in his thoughts, Harry didn't notice another presence until he was being pulled bodily into the shadows of the otherwise empty corridor. Startled, he raised his wand to hex the other person but realized with dismay that he had left it back in the dorm.
"Potter."
Harry recognized that voice… "Malfoy?" he exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"Looking for you, actually."
Well, that was certainly unexpected and difficult to believe. The blonde had yet to relinquish his grip on Harry's arm. He almost didn't want to ask, but he had always been too curious for his own good. "And why were you looking for me?"
Draco took a step closer so that he was practically leaning against Harry. "I think you know." When Harry only shot him a confused frown, he sighed and said impatiently, "About yesterday afternoon…"
"What about it?" Harry thought a moment. Oh. Oh. "Look, I tried to dodge that Missile, so if you're here to hex me, then—"
"Potter, relax," Draco interrupted. "Hexing you is the farthest thing from my mind."
"Wait, what?"
"Oh, honestly, Potter, you're so daft!" Draco leaned in even closer. "I knew it was just a matter of time."
"Until what?" Harry was growing nervous from the look on Malfoy's face. Plus he was way too close to Harry's liking. He figured if he absolutely had to, he could pull his magic enough to perform a wandless binding spell and then run like mad. But what he heard next shocked him into immobility.
"It was only a matter of time before you and I snogged." He grinned smugly at Harry. "After all, I'm completely irresistible. With your looks and my status, we would be a powerful couple. The most powerful ever."
Harry waited for Malfoy to start laughing. To smirk. To hex him. To do or say anything. But the blonde was just staring at him expectantly, and Harry realized with horror that Malfoy liked him. He liked him. All those times they had gotten into a row, Malfoy probably interpreted it as flirting. The thought made Harry want to vomit.
But then he thought about all the times that Malfoy had ridiculed him, hexed him, gotten him into trouble. And the Slytherin part of his brain started formulating a plan. "Wow, you're right," Harry agreed. "You and I fit perfectly together." He mentally applauded himself for making that statement with a straight face.
"Good. So we're in agreement." Draco closed in for a kiss, but Harry ducked out of the embrace.
"Tell you what," Harry said to the pouting blonde. "I have a plan to announce to the world that we are a force to be reckoned with. Look for Hedwig to deliver something to you at the festivities tonight."
"Something good, I trust?" When Harry nodded, Draco smirked in satisfaction. "Great. Until then…" He grabbed Harry and kissed him, short and fierce. Then he strolled off down the corridor as if he had no cares in the world.
Harry watched after him in shock. When Draco turned the corner, he screwed up his face. Forget the library. He had to go scrub his lips raw.
Little did he know that someone had been witness to the entire exchange…
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Anyone wanna take a guess as to who that someone is? Cookies to everyone who is right. Hell, cookies to everyone who reads this! (I just baked some cookies) There are at least 2 chapters left, possibly 3. Hopefully it won't take too long for the next one to be posted. However, I make no promises as I start school next week and am looking for a new job on top of my old one. So… I'll be quite busy. But I'll do what I can to get this one finished, and then I can work on Misnomer, and then I can finally start writing the new one that has been floating around in my head the last couple of weeks.
Anyway, thanks for reading! Please review if you have time. If not, well… I can't say much because I've become notoriously bad about reviewing. But it really does make me smile. I love you guys! Ok, until next chapter then. Peace out!