Simple Chapter 7
Harry woke and reached for the warmth that should be beside him. It was not there. Although he expected Severus' abscence it did soften the tug in his stomach that caused him wish he could just burrow under the blankets.
Unable to take the overwhelming aroma of Severus, he padded softly in the bathroom and took a shower. He sang in a flat voice parts of muggle songs he could remember, wishing he knew more music as the hot water stung his skin and in a ticklish and numbing way.
When he felt more settled, Harry dried and dressed and threw himself onto the couch. He observed the contents of the small room and relished in it's perfectness until it hit him. The perfection was offensive.
Yesterday's dishes sat neatly on the drainer and books were neatly lined in rows on the shelves. All the paper was removed from the dresser and the spare quills from the mantel.
Harry sighed, all the clues that anyone real existed in this place were gone so he shuffled about untidying everything in his wake and put it back in it's rightful place.
His ears pricked up when he heard the whistle of the kettle and he hurried to the kitchen. Carefully he studied the contents of Severus' cupboards, locating the teabags and milk but having difficulty finding the sugar. When he found it, hiding unusually behind the plates, Harry lined them up, a mug in front and the kettle behind.
He added the teabag first, then the water, letting it seep for a while before he tilted just a tad of milk in. Then he sprinkled three heaped teaspoons into the mug and stirred.
Smiling, he took the mug and placed it where it belonged. On the coaster, on the coffee table, directly in front of Severus' chair.
Deciding distraction would be the best way to hurry along the day, Harry surrounded himself with books and homework. Studying in a way which would have made Hermione proud, casting his potions essay to the side and never looking at the comments made by his absent professor.
Though the walk up the stairs had began to increase his anxiety, it still left the wave of panic that washed over Draco unexpected. A builiding, and unwanted, feeling of vulverability began to burgeon in his chest and he could not stop tapping an uneven rhythm on the stone floor with his foot.
He tried to shake the rush of weakness but vulverability was an unheard of feeling to Draco Malfoy and it made him nervous. Of course this was ailen to him, ever since he was a child he had had an unhealthy authority over the people around him. They feared his father and feared him. The Malfoy cruelty was meant to run through all their veins, every male in the family.
"Mr Malfoy?" said Dumbledore, sitting in front of Draco. His eyes were laden with a harsh sorrow and Draco thought to question it. He decided not to, opting to keep the riddles and things he had to worry about to a minimum.
"Yes?"
"Now you understand why you are here? This is a very big commitment you are making to me and the rest of the Wizarding World. I do not want you to enter into this with an unsure impression of what you are sacrificing. You have a choice..."
"I know. But I think this is the best option for me. I need to help. I need to end this before I become part of it..."
"I understand."
"You don't...Not really. You are perceptive but in this kind of situation it's not enough..."
"I know more than you think Mr Malfoy. Now, people are your family, I worry you might not be able to...betray them in such a way."
"They betray me every day with their actions. I think we both know I am no more valuable to my father than a sperm bank...Keep the Malfoy family going and keep the vermin out..."
Dumbledore nodded and Draco was surprised he did not say anything about his behaviour. He guessed the old man was just being sympatheic.
"And you know when you will be initiated?" Dumbledore asked after a while, his hand clasping his chin as he leant over the desk.
"Friday."
"Okay. Now we move to the business side. I hate to do this but this is not about me, I hope you understand Mr Malfoy."
"Of course," Draco nodded.
All throughout the ritual Draco could feel his thoughts fly away to somewhere secret. Somewhere warm and safe. Somewhere he wished to be, so he could forget about this. Just for an hour.
Albus could sense the boy's distraction and worried. Severus was so different to Mr Malfoy. He knew he was capable but he wondered about everyone else. Nothing in this castle went unnoticed and he wondered if Draco would make the right sacrifices...
"Oh and one more thing Mr Malfoy!"
"Yeah?"
"Would you be able to help me with one more of Severus' responsibilities?"
"Yeah sure, what?"
"Harry, he needs a competent duelling partner and I am not what he needs."
Draco nodded, hoping his face didn't betray him. He did not understand what made him situable as a practise dummy for Potter but the feeling kind of excited him. Finally, a worthy opponent.
Considering in two nights time, he would be standing in front of Lord Voldemort pledging allegiance to him and his insane ideas, Draco did feel ridiculous chewing on his nails and bouncing on both feet, waiting the arival of a very precious Griffyndor. Of course very few people were scared of Neville Longbottom, in fact no one was except maybe Draco.
It wasn't fear in the normal sense. More of an anxiety, the constant unsettlement.
Their relationship was odd and unexpected and silly and wonderful and beautiful. All at the same time.
But most importantly it was volatile.
Sometimes he fretted that Neville was overly affectionate. He would not take this news well.
Draco had been given permission to share his secret with very few people. Not even all of the Order would know but...Neville had to. It was not a thought but a need.
He jumped, his body surged with electricity as two warm arms wrapped around his waist. His breath caught in his throat and his heart rocketed.
"Man, who ever knew Draco Malfoy would be so excited to see me!" Neville giggled, leaning back.
"Nev...Let me sort something," Draco said, spelling a protective, inpenetrative bubble around their huddled figures.
"Where did you learn to do that?!"
"Longbottom!"
"What? Awwh c'mon. You dragged me outta bed at this time for something, I'm not gonna be able to sleep after this. I can bet you that, so at least let me have a little fun? Hm?"
"I know, I'm sorry. I just...need to tell you something very important Neville. Very important."
"See if this is a joke..."
"Nev..."
"Sorry..."
"Look, you need to listen very carefully. Very carefully..."
"Okay..."
"See the thing is...Snape has left. He needed to, he was found out and now...they need someone to replace him."
"Gone? Replace him as a potions professor? I know you are good Dray but don't you need to qualify before you can be a teacher...then again...maybe not. They did let Lockhart in..."
"Nev!"
"Sorry..."
"No...as a spy. For the Dark Lord...Well for the Order...I need to spy on him and report back...So that we have an advantage..."
Neville coughed loudly and laughed hollowily. "Haha...ha. I thought you said...Man that is funny Dray...You are such a bastard sometimes..."
Neville trailed off, his eyes widening when they caught Draco's dark and sorry eyes. He thought that in that second they looked like the sky, before a storm which frightened him.
"Fuck Dray...You're not kidding..."
"No..."
"Well, you march to Dumbledore now! Say you can't do it! You will die! You cannot die! Please...Dray...don't die."
"Neville, I'm not even on the battlefield. How about we wait for that until you beg me to live huh?"
"But...this is suicide..."
"Snape's alive..."
"He would be here if he was safe, they are after him. They are going to kill him like they will kill you. Or maybe worse. Maybe you will end up like my parents...I refuse to look into your cold, dead eyes and say I love you...I am not going to do it to you too!"
"Then don't. I'll be fine. Honestly. Then when this is all over, it can be me and you. Forever...I promise you."
Neville said nothing, words tried to escape but they got trapped in his throat.
Draco wrapped his arms around his neck, nuzzling his nose into the soft and fragant skin of his love. He could still smell the soap from the shower he had had two hours ago and the warm, conforting scent of his pillow.
All he did when the shaking began was pull the shivering body closer to his, knowing nothing he could say would fix this.
Wow, another wordy one. Sorry about that. I think it's the best way to express some things. I have to admit my favourite Harry Potter pairing is SS/HP but I do not mind a bit of Draco and Neville. Think it's sweet, it could work right?
Anyways, fastest update ever. Think it's a bit longer.
Enjoy! =]