Rating: M to be on the safe side, will be bad language and knowing me a lot of slashy goodness
Warning: this will most definitely be slash, but will hopefully also contain humour, or at least my version of humour. Anyway, if you don't like serious lovin' between two guys then this is not for you. May also contain het, not sure exactly where this is going yet :-/
Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me, I just use them to do stuff my original characters won't let me do. Neither do I own the X Factor, thank god as it's really starting to suck now, not that it was that fab to begin with…
Summary: Due to being housebound at night with my amazing wee son I have been watching the X Factor, and also X Factor USA. This fic stems from imagining my fave characters in that situation and a lot of sleepless nights due to my sons incessant teething. So yeah, I decided Dumbledore having a crazy moment and bring the Hex Factor (clever innit?) to Hogwarts.
A/N - I am so, so, so sorry for leaving it this long without an update. I was ill for about a week and then my son was ill for about two weeks, went off his food and everything. Was really worried for a while. Didn't do too much for my writing I can tell you that. Anyway, he's back to normal apart from normal teething stuff and the fact he had jabs today, 3 to be exact poor lil bugger. Apparently reactions to this one is delayed so if he does react it'll be Xmas Eve pretty much, lovely. There will hopefully be another chapter before Xmas, although I am scheduled to work the next three nights and night time is the only time I can really write. So hopefully God willing it will be done. Sorry about the chapter being so short too, I will definitely make it up to you guys somehow! Love to all and just in case a Merry Christmas!
Harry gritted his teeth as once more a gang of giggling girls passed by his table, and he wished once more that he had never sung in the stupid competition. Of course he had known in the back of his mind that it would only encourage this type of stupid hormonal behaviour, indeed it had been one of the things that had stopped him from entering at first. And yes, fair enough he had enjoyed himself at the time, but now he was simply annoyed at the fact that he couldn't go anywhere without eyelashes being batted in his direction accompanied by girlish tittering and squealing. He had thought that the library would be a safe haven due to the tyrannical reign of Madam Pince, however she had also seemed to have fallen under his spell, ha ha, and didn't seem inclined to jump to his rescue.
If things weren't bad enough, Draco bloody Malfoy seemed to sense his annoyance and appear constantly wherever he went. At this moment in time he was sat two tables away in deep conversation with Blaise and Pansy, however he did seem to spare some time now and then to smirk over at Harry whenever a gaggle of girls swept past trying to catch his eye. The last time this had happened Harry had merely rolled his eyes at his nemesis and concentrated on not breaking his quill in half.
A small ginger blur suddenly swept through the doors of the library and settled down with a small thump in the seat next to him. He set down his quill and gave a final glare to the milling fan girls before turning to face his visitor.
"Ginny, I will give you all the gold in my fault if you will only turn back time and tell me not to enter that stupid competition", he muttered, one eye twitching fiercely. Ginny laughed at him, she actually had the cheek to laugh at him!
"Oh Harry, most guys in your position would give their right ball to be in your position, what is wrong with you?"
Harry glared at her, "Okay, for a start don't laugh at me, I'm deadly serious, and secondly there is nothing wrong with me", he glanced furtively around and lowered his voice, "I just might be a little bit gay", he whispered.
"Sqquuuuueeeeeeaaaaallllll", replied Ginny in a high pitch, forcing Harry to quickly slam a hand across her mouth and mouth an apology in the crusty librarians direction. He didn't fail to notice the nearby Slytherins sit up and take note either, Draco looking as if he wished he was an animagus just so he could listen into the conversation.
"Ginny!" he reprimanded in a harsh tone, "What the hell?"
Ginny blushed slightly and looked apologetic, "Sorry Harry, but that's sooooo cute! Who do you have an eye on then?" she whispered back. Harry's gaze involuntarily flicked to Draco and he internally cursed as Ginny glanced in the same direction.
"No freaking way Harry, that's just too yummy to be true", she grinned, a maniacal calculating glint in her eye. Harry groaned and let his head fall forward onto the desk with a loud thunk. His day could not possibly get any worse.
For the next two days, Harry had to sit through various scenarios Ginny cooked up in her evil little mind in which Harry professed his love and apparently went off to have delicious smutty man sex in whatever nearby room was available at the time. Worryingly some of these fantasies of Ginny's crept into his subconscious and he woke up with a strong desire to break into the Slytherin common room and have his wicked way with the wicked blond therein. It was only on the Friday that Harry remembered the whole singing competition thing, and as his fellow students began to get more and more excited throughout the day, he could only feel himself grow more apprehensive over what may occur that evening.
Having to sit through dinner with Ginny muttering smutty things into his ear on one side, Draco sneaking weird confusing looks at him on the other side of the hall and damn Dumbledore doing his weird eye twinkling thing at the Head table made Harry wish more and more that there was still a mad, obsessed evil wizard out to get him. At least he would no for certain who his enemy was. As dinner came to a close and the dishes disappeared, Harry rolled his eyes as he saw Dumbledore rise to his feet and clear his throat. This probably wouldn't be good.
"Girls and boys, it is my great pleasure to tell you about the next part of the competition, The Hex Factor", he glanced around the room cheerily until the whispers and murmurings had died down. "This next round is known as…" he consulted a piece of parchment in his hand, "…ah yes, Bootcamp!"
Harry heard Hermione snigger beside him and he turned in askance. Hermione merely smiled at him and patted his hand gently before turning her attention back to Dumbledore. Harry sighed inwardly as he did the same.
"Now", the old wizard continued, "This means that all the contestants who made it through the auditions will be required to spend the weekend completing certain tasks in order to pass through to the main shows. There will be a live show both tomorrow night and Sunday night, judged by our lovely panel. On Sunday nights show the contestants through to live shows will be announced."
As Ginny squealed with excitement, Harry groaned and buried his head in his arms, barely noticing the comforting pat on his arm as Dumbledore continued, "The tasks will include a group performance and another solo performance, but not to worry, separate dorm rooms are being provided so you can rehearse when needed without worrying about intruding on the rest of the school. Furthermore there will be allocated study times to ensure your homework is completed for next week", Harry rolled his eyes, "So, will all the contestants who made it through to the next round please stay seated while the rest of you return to your Houses, thank you."
Harry stared at the table top in annoyance as his friends patted him on the back and wished him luck as they departed. Ginny however was grinning from ear to ear, practically bouncing in her seat with excitement. As the last of the students left, none other than Severus Snape stood and addressed the remaining few.
"Now I expect this to be done in an orderly fashion, with no arguments and no questions", he drawled, "When I call your name, proceed to the relevant group. The groups are as follows…" Harry barely paid attention until Ginny elbowed him and motioned towards a small group to the left of the Head table.
Shuffling his way forward he barely looked at the people gathered until he heard a snarky voice muttering. Not believing his bad luck he slowly turned to meet the steely grey eyes of his recent obsession. Draco sodding Malfoy.
"Oh great", he muttered rolling his eyes once more. Draco seemed to take offence at this and proceeded to accidentally kick him in the shin. Unfortunately the next person to join their group was the fiery little red head, his nuisance of a friend, Ginny.
She took one look at their annoyed faces and smirked, "Come now boys, you were getting on so well before this competition was announced, why don't you just kiss and make up?" she asked putting a hand on both their shoulders and pushing them gently towards each other. Draco immediately shrugged off her hand, Harry having the urge to do the same.
"Can it Red, I'm not having him win one over on me again", Draco snarled.
Harry smirked, "Face it Draco, when it comes to me and you I will always win", he turned to Ginny, "Stop it Gin, we will always be rivals when there is something to win, you can't change that!"
Ginny folded her arms in a stern manner, "Well tough shit guys, we are a group for the moment, and we need to work together so we get through. So no more sniping at each other. So help me if you make me lose I will have both your heads, do you understand me?"
Harry and Draco looked at each other and gulped, "So", said Harry in an overly bright voice as he extended a hand, "Friends again?" Draco sighed heavily and took the proffered hand, "Fine, whatever", he grumbled.
Ginny tutted and moved her hands to her hips, "I believe I said kiss and make up", she hissed. The boys turned to each other and paled in horror, well aware that the rest of the groups were making there way to the new dorms and the rest of their group were staring wide eyed at them, some smirking.
Swallowing hard, Harry swiftly leant in and pecked Draco on the turned to Draco and raised an eyebrow expectantly. Draco quickly followed suit and blushing furiously bent to kiss Harry on the cheek as quickly as he dared. Seemingly satisfied Ginny spun and began marching out of the hall, the rest of their group smiling as they followed her, leaving two embarrassed boys in their wake. Harry indicated to Draco to go first, and after briefly touching his cheek where he still felt soft lips touching, he followed with a small smile and a noticeable spring in his step.
Please, please R&R, I really wasn't sure about this chapter but I knew I had to get something out before people started to think I'd either died or abandoned it. I will never abandon this fic, but there may be gaps between updating, having a one year old takes up way more of more of my time than you'd think.