The Social Riot Machines – Chapter 18 – We Stood Together on The Road

Hey guys, apologies for my long absence, but I haven't been feeling too hot :( I'm going to try and make updates more frequent in the new year :) I'm aiming for once a week but I will give myself more time if I feel like the quality of the writing is compromised :)

Squick warning: Genderqueer character ahead!

My original genderqueer character makes an appearance in this chapter, no flames please.

Also attempting chapter titles :)

The very thought of the Christmas holidays was enough to send many unpleasant shivers down Harry's spine. He hadn't experienced Christmas with the Dursleys since he was ten, and he was dreading it. Granted, they hadn't been particularly awful during the summer holidays, but Christmas might be different, and it was almost guaranteed that Aunt Marge would also be staying, and if that was the case, he would face endless amounts of torment about his abnormal hair -his relationship with Jake might also be ridiculed, but he wasn't sure if his family would reveal that fact. They had been fairly accepting when they had inadvertently discovered the truth in August. One of the problems he had to contemplate, was Draco. While the Dursleys had agreed that he could stay with them, he didn't think Draco would appreciate Marge's particular brand of abuse, and he didn't know if he wanted to subject the blond to it at all. The problem was that he couldn't ask any of the other members to look after him, Jake's parents didn't allow friends to stay around for more than one night on principle, Matt had family visiting from France, Paul from America, and Alex had his sister, brother in law and nieces visiting. Only Ezra's family didn't have relatives to accommodate, but Harry felt as if the Asian family might be a little too much for the pure-blood raised vocalist at that moment in time.

"You're sure you don't mind?" A distinctly male voice asked from somewhere around the corner, the insecurity in his words was as clear as a bell. Instantly, the normal pre-Potions chatter and tormenting ceased. From the looks of confusion, it was clear that no one else recognised the voice, Harry was glad he wasn't alone in that respect.

"It's fine, I promise." Snape's tone held more reassurance than Harry and many of the Gryffindors had ever heard. "Well, being beaten to an inch of your life for being yourself is most definitely not okay."

The choked and broken sob that emanated from the mystery man made Harry's stomach turn unpleasantly.

"Tobi..."

After several minutes of murmured comforting remarks -well, that was what it sounded like to Harry anyway- solemn silence blanketed the pair around the corner. He knew that nearly everyone wanted to investigate, but at the same time really didn't, in case they witnessed something intimate and personal.

"Shit, Erik, can I borrow your jacket, I've got to teach, I'm late already!"

"Why? It doesn't matter that you're wearing a vest," Erik questioned apparently confused.

A number of Gryffindors snorted derisively, as if the answer to why Snape shouldn't wear a vest was extremely obvious.

"Take pride, there's nothing wrong with your arms," Erik stated with an air of finality. "What would you tell me if I was wearing trousers?"

Many of the others listening couldn't hold back their laughter, the conversation was just so bizarre that they couldn't hold it in any longer.

"They're listening to everything we say and blowing it way out of context," Snape observed wryly. "You've been known to wear trousers when the inclination takes you."

Crack

"What the holy fuck was that for?" Snape exclaimed indignantly.

"YOU! You're being obtuse! The answer is no anyway. You can't have my jacket," Erik snapped.

The sight of the man as he finally strode around the corner was not what Harry was expecting. Erik had long, blood-red locks, pale androgynous features, and long, slender legs that were almost bare. Harry couldn't say that he'd been expecting what was probably Snape's lover to be a cross-dresser, but the ease with which he walked with those killer heels made it seem like the man was born to do it. An odd thought.

It took another few minutes for Snape himself to make an appearance, and that might've been something to do with the livid red mark across his right cheek. It seemed like the sound the class had heard earlier was Erik slapping Snape. Now that was an amusing image. He could also see why Snape had apparently wanted the jacket. Both of his arms were covered in colourful tattoos, but there was no sign of a Dark Mark, like many were expecting.

Snape, as it turned out, was a lot less intimidating when he was wearing Muggle clothes.

In a daring and unusual moment of bravery, Harry dragged Draco to his and Jake's normal workstation, so that he could interrogate the blond, seeing as it was fairly obvious he was clued into the identity of the intriguing Erik. As the clatter of knives filled the classroom, Harry turned to the other boy, and looked at him expectantly, as if that alone was going to work. He knew he shouldn't have been too disappointed when it didn't procure any results.

"So who is he then?" Harry finally asked, unable to contain himself any longer.

"Sev's girlfriend," Draco replied calmly, without looking up from the text he was reading.

"Pardon?"

"Erik is Snape's girlfriend," Draco responded again, a little frustration colouring his voice. It was a free period of sorts, they were expected to re-brew anything from the last few weeks that hadn't been up to standard, not that sub-par brewing was ever an issue for Draco, so he got to sit quietly and take notes for his homework.

"What?"

Draco slammed his book down on the tabletop, glaring as he did.

"God you're thick sometimes!" He yelled. "ERIK IS FUCKING SNAPE. CAN I MAKE IT ANY CLEARER?"

The silence in the class was so sharp that Harry was sure he could hear Snape's heartbeat from where he was sat at his desk. The entire population of the room were staring at either Draco or Snape, most were preparing to dive under their desks in case their Professor exploded or something.

"So eloquently put, Mr Malfoy. Twenty points from Slytherin and a detention tonight. Potter, I'll see you after dinner too," he said with a positively venomous scowl.

It would have been so astronomically impressive if Draco had managed to retain his ordinary serene mask or disparaging haughtiness, that Harry might've snogged him right there and then, but thankfully he didn't or Draco would've been even less impressed with Harry than he already was. Unsurprisingly, he turned scarlet, and glared down at his desk for the remainder of the lesson, his crimson fringe obscuring his facial expression from Harry. Harry dearly wanted to apologise for being an idiot, but felt like he was in for a very severe tongue lashing if he even began to say anything about his own stupidity.

Logically, Harry knew he had very little to fear as he made his way to Snape's office later that day. Draco had remained rather quiet and shell-shocked, so Jake had said he'd try and get him talking before his detention, but Harry had no choice to leave them be, and not observe Jake's awesome powers of persuasion. The door to the man's office opened before Harry had a chance to knock, and he was barely aware of what was going on as he was ushered through a secret passage and into Snape's personal quarters.

"No need to worry," he offered calmly, as he pointed to the sofa, the part of it that wasn't occupied by his sleeping boyfriend. "I just want to know what you're planning for Christmas, since Draco's going to be... look if he needs anything, I can pay for it."

Harry stared, he couldn't help it, this was definitely not the Snape he was used to, this was the Snape that showed concern for him earlier in the year when he was outed.

"He's probably going to need a guitar, that'll help with his song writing. Um, other than that, I think we can provide the rest. The guitar doesn't need to be spectacular." Harry couldn't really think of anything else, but it seemed like Snape was sceptical.

"What about hair dye, or even having it cut?"

"We cut our hair ourselves, and we've usually got enough dye to do Draco's -he only needs a little bit, since his hair is short at the moment. Actually, I lied, he could do with some Muggle clothes too."

Snape nodded, as if he had been expecting that answer all along, but didn't seem angry, or to feel anything in particular for that matter.

"I'm surprised you're dyeing it and not using metamorphmagic," Erik said suddenly from beside him.

Okay, Harry didn't just have a heart attack. Nope.

"Well, considering it's a pretty rare ability..." Harry trailed off at the look he was getting, it made him feel incredibly dumb for some strange and unknown reason.

"Nah, anyone can do it, promise."

"How?" Harry asked, hoping the redhead was correct, and wasn't just tormenting him.

"It's like apparating," he offered, but didn't elaborate. "I suggest taking a pair of scissors to your hair, making it look fucking ridiculous, and then you'll be so desperate for it to be normal again, you'll be able to tap into the metamorphmagic," he explained cheerfully.

"If I manage, can I style my hair like yours?" Harry asked, his eyes flickering to the shaven patch of the man's head.

Erik snorted, and Harry had no idea what was so funny.

"Sure, go for it," Erik muttered darkly.

"Can I try it while I'm here, since you seem to know what you're doing?"

Erik winked as his hair changed, starting at the roots, a bright violet creeping down the strands of his hair, followed shortly by the original red.

"Sure."

Harry settled back on the sofa, and tried to think of what it would feel like for his hair to grow at such an accelerated rate. He wondered if he would even feel it. It wasn't easy, and he felt pretty silly for not being able to do it, since he could feel both Snape and Erik staring at him, as if they assumed he'd be able to do it on the first try, if it was even possible. To him, it took an extraordinarily long amount of time for him to do it, but in reality it was probably only half an hour or so, and that was probably because he'd accidentally done metamorphmagic in the past several times. It almost felt as if someone were pulling on his hair, in a not entirely unpleasant manner. He sighed, since when was he as masochistic as Draco? The length of his hair was unfamiliar, the weight of it unsettling him slightly. Who'd have thought that hair was actually heavy when it was long. It now reached his waist and had a lose curl, which inspired Harry to no end, in his opinion it could look like water, or fire or even magic if he wanted to, he practically buzzed at the excitement of telling Jake about a potential solution to part of their financial issues.

With a barely contained feeling of elation, he picked up his bag and dashed out of the room, pointedly ignoring the fact the Professor and his partner were doing something that probably shouldn't have been done in the company of a student -or else he'd have to stop on the way somewhere, and he really didn't want to do that seeing as he'd probably forget the reason he was so happy in the first place- and all but dashed up to the seventh floor.

Ultimately, he couldn't help the pang of jealousy he felt at the sight of Jake and Draco cuddled up together, both of them looking exceptionally content. Well, it wasn't like the situation could be helped or anything.

"Don't you have a detention to go to?" Harry asked curiously.

He'd barely finished the question when Draco shot up and sprinted out of the door.

"I'm so glad we managed to finish what we were doing," Jake laughed as Harry shut the door. "Never mind that though, what's this?" He asked, as he ran a hand through Harry's thick black hair.

"My hair, obviously." His attempt at being a smart-arse earned him a swot. "Metamorphmagic, and I like it, do you?"

Harry could only assume the answer was positive as he was dragged into Jake's bedroom, a very willing victim indeed.

Enjoy :)