Chapter Sixteen:
Can You Keep A Secret?
A/N: Read, Review, Enjoy!! Chapters from here on in will be rather random in length; meaning some will be short, others long, others medium length. Just letting you know in case you cared! =D Thanks SO Much to all my reviewers!!
.Lover - Thank you so much for your reviews...and your help!! ^_^ I'm glad you enjoy this as much as I do writing it...also just to let you know a lot of the time I don't speak in conjunction if it's in relation to Draco because he hardly EVER speaks in conjunctions! Just because he's stuck up like that ;) hehe...
Kendra James - thanks for the reviews, and what can I say I have no life! Hah, hence all the rapid updates within two days! Aren't my weekends exciting??
allieb23 - Your reviews make me HAPPIER than you recieving an update in your inbox...I bet twenty Galleons on it!! And don't we all need to find a guy like Draco? I think we do! xD
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RebeccaMarieCullen - I'm so happy you like the songs I pick for the chapters...sometimes it is the most difficult task of *writing* the chapter!!! Urgh, I get so frustrated when nothings fits!!! lol! Keep on enjoying!
Obsesive Reader - All in due time, my friend, all in due time. . .
thrnbrooke - You are indeed my most frequent reviewer on basically all of my fanfics and I can't explain how happy I get now when I see you've reviewed...again! Wooot! ^_^ I'm happy you enjoy this fic, keep on reading/enjoying! I so owe you like a bajilllllion shout-outs
ruth hammond - I'm glad you still found my story enjoyable despite not having read the initial chapters, or skipping some in the middle (whatever your tactic). However, I do implore you read all chapters because somethings in future chapters refer to events in quite early chapters. But I'm real glad you enjoy it anyway3, lots of love!
To All Other Reviewers: Thank you all SO much! I love you guys so much, you make my life liveable! I'm going to try and continue doing shout-outs from now on, and considering I have about ten-ten+ chapters left to write, that'll be a lot of shout-outs! Please read, review, and enjoy!! xoxo
Can You Keep A Secret? - The Cab
It's true that I'm a silver shadow
And you are always on my mind
You need to get over here; we'll disappear.
Your secret's safe, and no one has to know
I'm your getaway, and a little bit more than you can take
I can make everything feel so damn good.
I could've sworn we disappeared tonight,
Come on and dance with me.
And don't you know I just appeared tonight?
You want to dance with me all night.
Nobody there will ever see us,
Don't talk, don't walk; it's just the two of us.
*
Harry awoke with a large smile on his face, as he had ever since that fateful Saturday night. It was now Friday, and oddly enough he was looking forward to Double Advanced Potions with the Slytherin's' after breakfast. "Ron, wakey, wakey!" Harry chirped, shoving his redheaded friend awake.
"Wha-Harry?! Mate, you right about terrified me!" Ron snapped, jumping up out of his bed bare in his boxers. Harry grinned cheekily at him.
"Now you know how it feels," he sniffed and walked over to the bathroom to once again attemp at taming his hair. Somehow, every time he combed it the messier it got. Harry found this amusing in the early morning hours, whereas Ron who grumbled in to brush his teeth found it a little more than unnerving.
When the Golden Trio were dressed and prepared, they started off for the Great Hall tiredly, except for Harry who was whistling. Hermione gently nudged her boyfriend beore grabbing ahold of his hand, entwining their fingers. "Uh, yeah...Harry mate, I've got a question for you," he began awkwardly, he was stumbling on his own words but Happy Harry hadn't seemed to notice.
"Shoot, I'm all ears, Ron,"
"It's just that lately..well, I don't mean to...how do I...we both think...urgh..."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "What's up with you Harry? One minute you're all depressed and somber, and the next your flying through the roof with giddiness! Honestly, if I didn't know better I'd say you were a schizo!" she gushed out.
Harry's happy grin faltered, but only for a second before they stepped into the Great Hall and he led the way to their table. He didn't immediately answer their question, but once the three settled down he looked this way and that to make sure that nobodies prying ears could hear him as he turned to his friends with a serious, dour smile.
"Listen, guys, I don't expect you to understand. A lot of things have happened that I haven't been being honest about, there's just a lot of stuff...left in the dark," Harry whispered, his friends listening intently.
"Like what?"
"You know you can tell us anything, Harry," Hermione added sweetly.
"I know 'Mione, I know. It's just that this is...heavy...I was never comfortable with it myself and to tell you the truth, I'm still not," Harry shrugged and sighed deeply, he felt the memories beginning to push at his mental barriers. The dreadful nights where Vernon and Dudley would make visits to his bedroom, the force, the absolute terror, the pain, the self hatred, the...
...And then Draco Malfoy walked into the Great Hall. He allowed himself a quick glance at the Gryffindor Table and his eyes locked with Harry, the brunette relaxed immediately and couldn't help himself as a smile slowly appeared. Hermione caught this gesture.
"Harry, does this have something to do with Malfoy?"
"What? No, of course not! Why would you say that?" he reacted quickly, a little too quickly as a blush crept up his face.
"Herm, don't bring up that tosser right now. This is important," Ron chided lightly, patting his girlfriend on the knee who glowered at him but otherwise remained silent as they both turned their attention back to Harry who was gathering his wits.
'I'm so not ready to tell them everything at once...I'm pretty sure they'd implode...'
"Is it about what happened during the Final Battle?" Ron asked curiously, trying to make sense of his best friend's mood swings and the general secrecy.
"Not at all. I told you guys everything I remembered. The rest, is truly lost to me," Harry's face scrunched up, and it's true that it was. His memory had been modified by somebody unknown to him, and it was the Order's guess that some rogue Death Eater did it after Harry accomplished the task of murdering Voldemort. Everybody's guess was on Lucius Malfoy, but Harry knew better now.
"Well, what could it be?" Hermione gently surged, keeping her thoughts about the certain Slytherin in the back of her head for a later discussion. It was obvious Harry was struggling with something much bigger, that was easy to tell from the beginning of the term and the general emptiness of his letters over the summer.
"I-don't think I can tell you, yet," Harry whispered, hanging his head as he felt remorseful for his friends.
"What? Mate, c'mon!!" Ron cried, leaning forward.
"No, I can't. Not now...you wouldn't understand..." he murmured.
"Wouldn't understand? Harry, what is there not to get?! We've been there with you through it all, we've seen everything you have...what else could there possibly be? Why do you always have to keep everything from us, we're your friends, remember?" Ron was becoming more agitated by the minute, he had enough of this attitude.
"What wouldn't you understand?" Harry growled under his voice, he lifted his head now and here was a murderous rage in his eyes. "There's plenty you wouldn't understand, Weasley!" he snapped, standing up abruptly from the Gryffindor Table as the small amount of people that were in the Great Hall stared in their direction.
"Well then tell us!" Ron yelled back, standing up as well. By this time Harry's energy had been gathering around him, a wave of rage mixed with self-hatred egged on his core and even though Ron felt it threatning him, his ignorance disallowed him from backing down.
"You wouldn't fucking get it and you never will!" Harry screamed now, and with that he grabbed his bag and took off at a run from the Great Hall absoutely fuming. He didn't even notice somebody quickly jumping up to follow him on his path. But Hermione, observant Witch she was, did.
Harry could be found, pacing down towards the dungeons where he elected to stay until class began. He was muttering angrily beneath his breath, walking back-and-forth, attempting to calm himself.
"Who do they think they are? Think they can just understand all my problems...boy do they ever underestimate me! Well fuck them, they can just go and bugger off now can't they...fucking Ron, gods Hermione's gotta learn how to keep her dog on a leash, I tell you that much,"
"I must say I certainly agree with your last statement. A leash is most definitely what that dog requires," Draco's drawl sounded from behind Harry, who jumped and turned towards him with a sad smile. Draco was currently leaning suavely against the wall, his hands in his pockets and his right foot crossed over his left ankle.
"Since when were you so beautiful?" Harry found himself blurting out before he could stop his own words, he blushed heavily and looked towards the floor.
Draco was chuckling, pushing a strand of platinum hair away from one of his eyes. "Oh, I was always beautiful, Potter. It just so happens that I had to figure out a way to catch your attention so you would notice," he was grinning sexily when Harry chanced a look at him again, he decided it was a bad idea to EVER look at Draco Malfoy unless he felt the need to be embarassed.
"So, are you going to explain to me what just happened there?" Draco cocked his head backwards, in the general direction of the Great Hall.
"Just Ron and Hermione, thinking they know what's best for me...trying to get in my business, like always. They can't just accept me being happy, and when I finally admit that YES something is up, was up...whatever...they jump down my throat like a couple of hyena's in heat!" Harry scowled, he had returned to his earlier pacing despite his audience which now watched him with slight amusement.
"I am going to regret saying this," Draco began and sucked in a deep breath, "Harry, they do not mean you any harm. You know that. I know that, and so do they. Spending two weeks with them...yes, I do not see how you have yet to be put into St Mungo's under the Criminally Insane Ward, but still...they mean their best. They just want to help you, you need not get so, upset with them. Although, I would have most likely done the same, just like any other rational human being," he explained as gently as he could.
Harry stopped his pacing and turned to Draco with an open mouth. "Did you...Draco Malfoy...just stand up for the 'Weasel' and the 'Mudblood'?!" Harry whispered, appalled and completely confused as he had put his hands up to make quotation marks around his friends nicknames.
Draco chuckled that low, sexy, giggle that almost made Harry melt on the spot and he once again forced himself to look away from the blonde. "I did, and I standby it as well. They are your friends, truly. Next time just try to explain it to them rationally why you cannot tell them what they wish to know, I know eventually they will comprehend. Despite Weasley's lack of intelluct," Draco muttered as an after thought.
"Urgh, I know you're right I just..."
"Sh, sh, love," Draco interupted, not wanting to hear Harry belittle himself for his behaviour which he knew that was coming next. He stepped forward off of the wall and towards Harry, and the brunette fell thankfully into his open arms. Draco hugged him tightly, stroking the back of his head as he bent to whisper in his ear. "Just remember that everything will be alright and that I love you, okay?"
"Are you sure about that?" Harry murmured darkly back into the blonde's chest, his arms had wrapped themselves around Draco's waist by now.
"Harry, I love you and I promise everything will be okay. Have you ever known me to have broken a promise before?" Draco asked seriously, but his voice was still soft and soothing in Harry's ear as he shook his head.
They both stood like that, embracing one another dangerously in the empty corridor until a gasp brought them shockingly to life.
*
Soon we're heading to a place where I'll prove
I'm all you want and more
You need to let it unfold just like you're told.
Your secret's safe, and no one has to know
I'm your getaway, and a little bit more than you can take
I can make everything feel so good.
*
Remus Lupin loved mornings. He was a morning person, always had been. Of course it was most likely due to the cause that on certain full moon evenings, he was transformed into a wild beast. However, it was not that time of month so Remus was rather joyous.
Despite his worries of a sixteen year-old boy that he considered to be his son, he still whistled and smiled cheerily as he prepared himself for another day of lessons. Many terrible things had happened in the past, but they were now finished with, over and gone forever. So Remus buried his depression and in turn, made sure everyday of his life was worth others sacrifices. He had seen his three bestest friends since he was eleven all die as apart of a war brought on by two raving lunatics, in his opinion. He admired Dumbledore, but he still considered the man to be stark raving mad.
Ever since being called to the Hospital Wing a couple of weeks ago by Madame Pomfrey with concerns to Harry, Remus had been watching the boy like a hawk. Not that he hadn't been already. He had seen him change drastically over the past couple of years. First he was shy, nervous and scared. Then he had become strong, couragous, and open. Then depressed, cold and withdrawn. All of this personality changes certainly were not healthy for a person.
But underneath it all, Harry Potter was still Harry James Potter and Remus loved him till death to them part. As a son, of course. In terms of relationships, his love went to a certain black-haired Slytherin who still lie asleep within his bed. Yes, Remus bed.
How could Remus not be happy? The love of his life and himself had just copulated once again last night, and then fell asleep in each others arms. Oh, he loved his job. He loved his secret partner. He loved his unrelated but generally considered family.
He went back into his rooms and shook none other than Severus Snape awake, sitting on the edge of the bed where the covers were amess. "Love, wake up," Remus whispered. Unlike himself, Severus was most definitely not a morning person. Remus had his guesses that it was all those years Severus spent in Hogwarts dungeons that had turned him nearly nocturnal.
"Urgh, what do you want Lupin?" Severus groaned, only turning on his other side refusing to get up.
Remus grinned down at his boyfriend, he stroked his naked back gently. "Breakfast time, you always chide your students for being late and you yourself are going to be late?"
"You know it only takes me five minutes to get ready. I am not a girl, unlike yourself," Severus snapped icily, but Remus continued grinning on.
"Well, good thing breakfast is in five minutes. Just the perfect amount of time!" Remus chimed and bent down to plant a soft kiss on the back of Severus' neck before heading for the door.
"I'll see you down there," he called back and left the grumbling Potions Master to his own morning ritual.
Oh yes, Remus was indeed the cheery man as he felt like whistling and skipping down to breakfast from the Professor's living quarters. He greeted all of the students with a smile and wave as he strutted up to the Head Table and sat down at his usual spot; between Minerva and Severus' empty chair.
"Morning Minerva,"
"Good morning to yourself, Remus. You are just the man I wanted to see," she said in her usual, strained tone.
"Ah, what of?"
"It is in concerns of Harry Potter," she began, grabbing Remus' full attention as his undying grin fell and he turned towards her. "Now, now, no need to get all worried. All I am saying is that the boys attitude of late has been bringing general concern to all of his housemates. I just wished to inform," and with that Minerva turned towards her meal which she had already begun.
Remus sighed, that much was to be expected. And it was about twenty minutes later that Harry Potter himself, drew the attention of the crowd once again with his yelling match with his best friend. Remus watched from the sidelines, perplexed as none of the Professor's moved to stop this. They could see his magical energy react, and they could also see him easily push it down. This intriuged Professor Dumbledore quite dearly.
As Harry bolted from the room, Remus felt the need to run after him so he did just that. He weaved in and out of the students and stopped some First Years who looked terrified as they walked into the Great Hall. "Did you see where Mr Potter went off to?" he asked urgently.
"It looked like he was going to the dungeons, sir," responded one of them. With a curt nod, Remus took off just where he had been told.
And then he came across the most curious of scenes.
Now the dungeons never had good lighting, things could always be misconstrued in that area. What Remus saw was Draco Malfoy standing in front of Harry Potter. In the past six years, Remus has never known the two of them to act civil to one another so he did what he thought was best, mistakably of course.
"Expelliarmus!" he shouted, echoing in the dungeons as he pointed his frayed wand at the befuddled boys. Draco's wand came easily towards him, but Harry's had been in his pocket and his pocket had been in the general vacinity of Draco's groin.
Suddenly, the blonde Slytherin youth fell to the ground clutching his bits and cringing as Harry's wand fell into Remus' hand. What the Professor of Dark Arts then saw, truly confused him.
Harry fell to his knees beside Draco and reached out, gently touching his arm. "Are you alright?" he whispered, ignoring Remus' presence.
"Urgh...Lupin," Draco growled, slowly and with Harry's assistance raising back up to his feet as he tenderly rubbed his groin. "I think that is assault by a Professor," he grumbled, but didn't seem much more upset than that.
Harry was standing beside Draco, looking over the blonde with concern as his hand still hadn't left his arm. Remus' eyes were wide, but he doubt the boys could see it in the poor lighting. "If you woudln't mind, I'd like an explanation," he demanded.
"What is there to explain...Professor?" Draco drawled coldly, and then he bravely snaked his arm around Harry's waist.
Harry hadn't been expecting this and jumped slightly, but he didn't move away from the gesture as he blushed and lowered his head in front of Remus. "Get off of Harry!" Remus growled protectively, taking a threatning step forward.
"Remus...it's okay...I don't mind if...Draco, touches me," Harry whispered slowly, attempting to find the right words and quickly realizing that there were no right words in this situation.
"You-wait, what?!" Remus snapped, and if the boys hadn't seen his surprise yet, they had definitely seen it now as his jaw most certainly dropped to the floor.
"Now, Professor. I do not believe that this skeptical attitude is appropriate in any situation," Draco said airily, Harry found himself melting at the voice but held himself together for Remus; although he did indeed have to wrap his arm around Draco's back for support, and this seemed to send the old man in for another loop-de-loop in his mind.
"What in Merlin's name...Harry, have I lost my mind?!" Remus growled, turning towards the small brunette.
"No, what you see is really real," he muttered, completely embarassed and petrified at the same time.
"Yeah, I know that! The issue here is I have no bleeding idea what it is I am seeing!"
"Why do you not describe it to us?" Draco countered smartly, smirking as he did so.
"I see Malfoy junior holding onto...why are you letting that touch you?!" Remus' head was reeling, oh he definitely was being driven dangerously to the edge.
Harry stepped out of Draco's grasp, much to the blonde's utter dislike, and he walked up to Remus and looked up at him with sad, big round emerald eyes. 'Ah, just like Lily...' Remus sighed, feeling himself breaking down at the very look he was recieving.
"I think we oughta talk," Harry stated.
"I think we oughta, but Professor Snape would not appreciate it if you were late for classes. Come to me after the fact," Remus said, finally gathering his wits and sounding like the intelligent man he was again.
"I am coming to," Draco said firmly, they both turned to him in protest as he held up his hands slowly and looked at Harry gently. "Harry, you might need me there. Please, just let me be there for you," he whispered.
Remus was amazed when Harry turned back to him blushing and...smiling! "He comes to," he merely said, all Remus could do was stare between the two boys with a dazed expression. "Can we have our wands back?" Harry asked, Remus held them both out, his jaw still dropped and no words coming out of it.
"Hm. I cannot say I am a fan of the look, Professor," Draco snidely remarked.
Remus' mouth snapped shut and he glared at Malfoy Jr. "Get to class," he muttered.
"Gladly," Draco smiled bedazzingly and led the way as Harry quickly followed down the dungeons with a swish of his robes. Harry looked desperately back but as he did so, Remus was already gone.
"I hope Snape does not hand it too you too badly today," Draco whispered before entering the classroom.
"Thanks. I hope he doesn't either," Harry muttered as he took his seat near the back of the class, watching as Draco took his near the front.
*
Your secret's safe, and no one has to know
(I could've sworn we disappeared tonight)
I'm your getaway, and a little bit more than you can take
(Come on and dance with me, baby)
I can make everything feel so damn good
(And don't you know I just appeared tonight?)
(You want to dance with me all night)
Your secret's safe, and no one has to know I'm your
(Nobody there will ever see us)
(Don't talk, don't walk; it's just the two of us)
I can't make everything feel so damn good
(Dance with me, baby)
Good, good, feel so damn good, good.