Authors Note Oo
Okayy So It Has Been Soooo Much Longer Than Last Time But ii Have A Plus Side… This Chapter Is Longer Than My Usual Ones…
Disclaimer… Please Visit Previous Chapters For The Same Little Speech!
Chapter 6 – Friends or Foes?
If you thought the atmosphere was uncomfortable for the two youths in Snape's office, that's nothing compared with the long walk from the dungeons. After their 'confessions', they made sure that they didn't make eye contact at all. Their eyes were kept facing in the direction that they were heading in. They made sure that they were at least arms length apart and whenever they were on the staircases, they kept to either side. So, let's just say that it was awkward. This was kept up until Harry decided that it was enough.
"Look, Draco…"
"Don't say anything." The last word scraping its way through Draco's teeth. "We both know that what we said were lies and I just forget about it."
"Well, you haven't got much chance of that happening for the moment since every time you look in the mirror, you're gonna get a little trigger to remind you." Harry bit back.
"Well, you're not gonna have much luck either."
"Is that the best you could come up with?"
"Potter, honestly, could you just refrain from talking to me. You're lucky that you got all of those words in when you did. If there were people around, you wouldn't even be allowed within 100 yards of me."
"Oh, speaking of people. You really think that the rest of the school is going to let this go unnoticed. If our class hasn't already told other friends, us walking into lunch with each other's hair would be a bit obvious. And judging by the way Snape reacted when he first saw us; the gossip will have already started."
"You have a good point there, Potter." Draco said, looking away from Harry, hiding the fact that he had just given a friendly compliment.
"So what are we going to do about them?" Harry asked, a little concerned.
"What do you mean we? I'm in this by myself and so are you. There is and never will be a We!"
"Well, that's where you're completely wrong. We are going through the exact same thing and, as much as it pains me to say, we need to do this together."
"? I'm in this by myself and so are you. There is and never will be a We!"
"Well, that's where you're completely wrong. We are going through the exact same thing and, as much as it pains me to say, we need to do this together."
"You can't be serious!" Draco laughed, "That would start even more gossip about us… together." He shuddered at the last, pained word.
"I'm deathly serious. We are going to receive the same comments, the same looks and the same questions. I just think we need to know that we are there. Just today. Until our hair is back to normal."
As Harry finished his little speech, the classroom doors began to open and students started to file out, each making their way to the Great Hall for lunch. As Draco noticed this, he quickly proceeded to grab Harry by the sleeve and drag him into a small alcove between corridors and held him up against the wall.
It wasn't as if he had quite so much choice as the space that they were in was barely built for two. Their bodies were touching in all of the wrong places. Both felt uncomfortable, yet content. Neither let the latter show through their facial expressions or bodily functions.
Both youths were each using a different method of reducing the strain in their underwear.
Filch in a string bikini. Was racing through Harry's Mind in partnership with Draco's McGonagall in a string bikini.
"Potter. If this is going to work, we will not converse in public, we will not tell anyone the details of what happened in Snape's office and we will not act as though we are friends."
"Agreed, now can we get out of here, it's a little stuffy and staring straight at someone with my hair is a little creepy!"
At that, Draco let Harry go and let him walk off. There were only a few students dawdling towards the Great Hall now, meaning nearly every student was already in the hall, and probably talking about the two enemies. This made Harry feel even more nervous. As he ascended the last few steps, he felt a hand on his robes, again, this time pulling him down.
"What now!?" Harry gasped, getting over the shock of being dragged to the ground.
"Everyone's in the hall, if we're going in, we might as well make an entrance. Just follow my lead, walk in and hold your head high. There will be a lot of gasping and whispering. Just ignore it all and make your way to your table. DON'T look at me and DON'T run like a girl. Got it?"
"I guess." Harry replied hesitantly.
"Let us go then, Blondie."
With that, they ascended the last few stairs, gave each other one last glance and made their way towards the doors. They could hear the chatter leaking out. As they made their way though the doors, one joint 'swoosh' could be heard as everyone turned to face the two boys. Draco began to walk off towards the Slytherin table, blocking out all voices around him. Harry tried to do the same thing but with less success. He could walk to his table fine, but he could hear everything that was said on his way.
Harry finally sat down in his seat after what seemed like the longest walk he had ever been submitted to. As his friends began talking to him, he stole a glance at Draco and to his surprise it seemed Draco had that same idea. Their eyes locked and Harry gave a little smile, and much to his shock, his smile was returned. It may have been a very quick smile but it was a smile all the same.
"So Harry, what was it like to be locked away with the greasy git and the ferret?" Ron said through a mouthful.
"What? Oh, that. Weren't too bad, honestly."
"What do you mean it weren't too bad? Has that potion made your hair blonde and you dumb?"
"Well, I mean it was horrible, but I was treated just as I would be in a lesson. Ignored yet scrutinised." Harry said straight off of the top of his head, trying to find cover for his last comment.
"Oh, yeah, I get you now." And with that Ron turned back to Dean and Seamus to carry on with their previous conversation.
Harry began collecting food onto his plate. It was piled as high as Ron's would be normally. He had decided that, with all of the embarrassment and gossip that would spread about him, he would try and eat himself into oblivion. As he lifted his fork towards his mouth, he felt breath by his ear.
"What did Snape say?" Hermione whispered.
Harry had a little glance around to check if anyone was listening. When he saw everyone else consumed in their own conversations, he turned back to Hermione.
"This has happened before! He knew that something wasn't… right."
"When did it happen before? I've never heard of anything like it. I even read up on extras about the potion."
"In 1937, two guys were in a secret relationship and were thinking about each other when they took the potion."
"Okay. So how could Snape think something was wrong? No one else knows about what you told me."
"Exactly. And how could it happen? I mean, the other case happened when both of the guys were thinking of one another. On my part, yes, I was still thinking about Draco, but why would Draco be thinking about me?" Harry said, stealing another glance at the Slytherin table.
This time, Draco was looking like he was in deep conversation with Blaise. Harry decided that he shouldn't be trying to get Draco's attention. Unknown to Harry, Hermione turned to face him and was looking at the Slytherin table through the corner of her eye and saw Draco look up and stare directly at the top of Harry's head. He was looking with admiration and not hatred. Well, this may explain things, Hermione thought to herself.
./. FBL ./.
Walking towards the Slytherin table in the state that he's in seemed like trouble. That, however, would seem like nothing compared to a whole lunch with Blaise and succumbing to the interrogation that had been looming over his head since the moment the potion had touched his lips. It wasn't like he could choose somewhere else to sit; sure, he had many friends, but to him, if they didn't know why they were a friend, they were a fan. Blaise is his only real friend.
As he walked through the door, he could feel the nervousness radiating off of Harry. What was once chatter, had now turned to gossip. Draco was revelling in it. He loved knowing that people were talking about him.
He flicked the fringe of his temporarily black hair out of his eyes and made his way to the Slytherin table. Anyone who was watching close enough would have sworn that he was on a catwalk.
Draco took his seat at the left of his friend only to look upon an apparent damsel in distress. As soon as Blaise looked up and saw Draco settled, his expression changed. He was no longer troubled, he was happy, almost showing signs of glee.
"Draco! Thank Merlin you're here. You have no idea how much I've needed you. Greengrass here has been asking me to give her make-up tips… Again! Three things: 1) I don't know anything about make-up. 2) Just because I'm gay, doesn't mean I will. And 3) with a mug like that, a sea monster in foundation has a better chance of getting a date!"
Draco just stared directly at his friend, open-mouthed in shock. Even after 16 years of friendship and a year of Blaise being gay, he still wasn't used to the babbling rages. Listening to it, you probably wouldn't be able to tell if any breaths were taken.
"Blaise, you're monologuing again. Remember what your mother said: Breaths in-between and deep breaths after."
"You're right," He breathed. "But sometimes I just wish more people would actually come out. It's not easy being the only known queen of Hogwarts. I have made out with at least thirty guys from fifth year and up. Yet I get all of the girls asking for my help and my opinion." Draco nodded and pretended to care more than he actually did. "Draco, babe, please can you tell some people about you!?"
"Are you mental!" Draco snapped.
"Well, that has been asked before, but no. And I think it would be good for you."
"And how would it be good?"
"Well, it would get Parkinson off of your back, knowing once and for all that nothing will happen. And you know my reputation, imagine all the guys you could get. I know a few who already want you and have done for a…ges."
Blaise drifted off as he noticed Draco's attention skim away from him and onto a certain potioned blonde head at the Gryffindor table.
"It does, however, seem that you don't care about that. You only have eyes for a certain lion." Blaise said directly into Draco's ear.
"Will you keep your voice down please?"
"Please what?"
Draco huffed "Please… Babe."
"Very well. But it's true."
"Yeah, it is. But nothing will ever happen. In Snape's office, he said that the thing has happened to us because he was thinking about what it would be like to be my friend. That's all."
"And you seriously believe that?"
"Well, yeah. Why else?"
"Do you not think that he reciprocates what you're feeling?"
"Are you living in the real world or my fantasy world? All he ever does, all we ever do is insult each other."
"I know, but haven't you seen his face afterward? He looks at you with eyes that say something that isn't 'I hate your guts, I want to hex that smirk off your face', it's more 'I want to rip your clothes off and…'"
"Okay, you have been in my fantasy world. Like he would ever feel that."
"Isn't this any kind of evidence?" Blaise said, tugging on Draco's black hair.
"Well, I guess…"
"No. The answer you're looking for is yes. I may act kind of dumb, but I know my shit. The only way this could've happened would be if you were both thinking about the same thing."
"Yeah."
"And you weren't thinking about Potter in the friendly way, were you?"
"No."
"So how did you not come to this conclusion ages ago?"
"It's just… He's not gay."
"Ah, yes, that would be the one downfall of my study. He likes girls. She's with the Granger girl, isn't he?"
"I don't know, but it still stops him feeling the same, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. I mean he'd have a queue of guys at his dorm door if he were gay. Hell, I'd be the one to start it! I'd do anything to get into his underwear."
"You say that about everyone you see, Blaise."
"Well then, Potter is no exception."
"True. Now can we leave this conversation at a high point, you've given me no time to eat my lunch."
"Okay, babe, anything for you."
They began to eat their food in silence, Draco quite content with how it was all going. Blaise, however, was showing signs of discomfort. He was fidgeting immensely. This was he did whenever he was itching to say something. Not being able to hold on any longer, Blaise leaned over to whisper into Draco's ear.
"I wonder what kind of underwear he wears."
Without even thinking, Draco answered; "He looks like a boxer man to me."
"Oh, I agree!"
Both Slytherins looked up and begun analysing Harry.
"Yes, definitely boxers," Blaise continued, "From what I've seen in my little peeks, he looks like he's been given quite a big gift form his father."
"You've been looking??"
"When am I not?"
"Touché. I understand what you mean though. You don't exactly want it all cooped up in tighty whities, do you?"
"Oh! I am so glad you've come out to me!" Blaise whispered as he clutched Draco's head to his chest and began stroking his hair."
"I'd have to say that I am and I'm not. You're a bad influence on me! I would've never spoken about someone's underwear out loud before."
"Hah! But isn't it great to be able to?"
"Kind of… I guess."
Blaise scrunched up his face in consideration, "I can live with that."
With that, they got back to the lunch that lay before them, considerably colder than before.
./. FBL ./.
Their Herbology lesson didn't fair too well for the two youths. The entire hour for them was spent receiving insults. In the beginning they were from the rival houses. Harry received things like "Ever thought of dying your hair permanently, Potter?" or "It shows off your scar better". Whilst Draco received "Malfoy, I've never seen your skin so pale" or "Are you the new Slytherin Goth, eh, Malfoy?"
Harry and Draco got more and more agitated with the comments that they were receiving and, through their suppressed feelings, began to develop sympathy for each other. As time progressed, the sympathy turned into comments. Comments that were defending each other. Neither knowing whether it was intentional or not (especially Draco, who had a little problem with speaking without thinking about what he was saying). This caused a mass confusion. Harry and Draco wondered why they were doing it themselves, why the other was doing the same, and everyone wondered what was happening and why. Soon enough, the students had forgotten about the rival boy and began challenging the boy from their own house.
By the end of the lesson, Draco and Harry felt segregated from the class. The other houses, of course, didn't want them, but now they weren't the favourites in their own houses (save for Blaise and Hermione who had actually guessed what was going on). They left the lesson ahead of everyone else and ran to the only place they thought the other would never go – The library.
Both having common rooms at different ends of the castle, they each ventured in a different direction. Through different entrances, up different staircases and along different corridors but somehow, as they neared the library, both looking at the floor, ended up face to face outside the library doors.
They just stood there staring at the others (well, their own) eyes with confusion looming over their heads. Why does Potter need to come to the library? Doesn't Granger do his homework? Draco thought, whilst Harry thought, Shouldn't Draco be in the dungeons forcing some poor kid to do his homework?
They stayed there until Draco finally snapped back to reality and realised just who he was staring at.
"Potter" Draco said, with a little nod.
"Malfoy" Harry replied out of common courtesy, as Draco turned and strode into the library and turned left to find a table.
Harry followed the Slytherin in but turned right so he wasn't too near, thus forming any new speculation.
The library was relatively empty at this time of day as students preferred to rest before dinner. Only a few first years strolled in and out, collecting and returning books and didn't even notice the reversed wizards at either end of the room. Going unnoticed is a good thing for them at this moment, as the boys kept stealing glances at each other, thankfully whilst the other was looking away.
Every time their eyes met the top of the other's head, comments and questions took over their mind.
I prefer him blonde.
He makes a great blonde.
Why did I make up that story?
Why did he make up that story?
He stuck up for me… In front of everyone!
He stuck up for me in class, maybe Blaise is right!
Maybe I should thank him.
After reading the same sentence in his book 20 times, he finally plucked up a little of his Gryffindor courage and began to walk across the room towards the table that Draco was sitting at. After making it half way, a group of giggling fifth year Hufflepuffs traipsed into the library, caught sight of Harry, huddled together, giggled some more and scuttled over to crowd the new blonde.
"Harry, you look so good with blonde hair!" One said.
"Yeah, Harry, it really brings out those new eyes!" Another cut in.
Draco shook his head in disgust. He isn't the only one in the room. And blonde only brings out my eyes.
"Harry, do you have a girlfriend?" A third giggled, latching herself onto Harry's arm.
"Erm, I'm flattered, but, erm, I have to get some books to do my homework." Harry said whilst trying to detach himself from the girl with the iron grasp.
Once free, Harry practically ran into a row of shelves. After hearing the girls' shoes clack out of the doors, he exhaled deeply and turned to go back to his table, giving up on the idea of talking to Draco after that little spectacle that was made. Just as he reached the end of the aisle, his thoughts were interrupted by the voice of a certain blonde-gone-black haired Slytherin.
"Not your type, eh, Potter?"
Turning around, he saw the young man leaning against the bookshelves and, as usual, smirking.
"I guess you could say that."
"Aw, has Potter had enough of his fame and attention?" Draco crooned, sporting a mock pout on his face.
"I don't ask for it. I try to hide from them all, it obviously doesn't work."
"I bet you love it really. The girls falling at your feet, practically opening their legs for you."
"That's really not my thing."
"I bet it's not," Draco laughed as he turned to leave.
"Oh, Malfoy," Harry said, suddenly almost face-to-face with Draco. When did he get so close? Draco thought. "About what happened in Herbology…"
"Forget about it, I didn't even know what I was saying."
"I wanted to say thank you."
"You what?" Draco said, slightly stunned.
"You didn't have to do it and yet you did. Thanks, Malfoy." Harry smiled.
"Oh. Well, it was my pleasure. And the same to you, Potter." Draco said, his look of confusion turning into a happier smirk (also known as a Malfoy smile).
And after this, they began to chat. Yes, chat, in a civilised way. They spoke about their subjects, teachers and, of course, Quidditch. They spoke until they realised it was time for dinner. They had actually enjoyed themselves and arranged to meet later in the Room Of Requirement so they could talk a little more.
With their meeting settled, they parted ways, to turn up at dinner from different directions, happier that they had both been this morning.
Maybe we could become friends. They both thought.
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