Title:Game Without Tears
Disclaimer: I do not own, wish I did, but I don't. I only own my plot line. Full disclaimer, first chapter.
Author: ShaeLynn Teelle
All other information: See first chapter.
Polite constructive criticism welcome. FLAMES WILL BE FED TO THE DRAGON IN MY BED.
Chapter 22: And It Feels Like…
The rest of the week passed calmly. Harry continued to return to the Slytherins' quarters for a few hours every night, usually over dinner. In that time Harry learned things about the Slytherins that he never would have guessed when they were in classes. Draco and Daphne were mediocre chess players, using the game simply to pass the time. Gregory on the other hand was a fabulous chess player. Draco could easily beat Harry, but Gregory could beat Draco in half a dozen moves every game.
Every time Harry saw the two play he wished that Ron would be able to put aside his prejudices enough to spend an evening playing against Gregory. He was almost positive that the Slytherin would triumph, but he had no sure way of knowing.
Pansy, Harry discovered, not only shared a love of strange and rather dangerous animals with Hagrid, but also had a wealth of various mythologies stored within her head. It was a revelation that he learned completely by accident and one that surprised him to no end. Daphne had asked her who Cerberus was and she answered without even thinking about it. Then, the two had gotten into a discussion on various parts of mythology and Pansy had brought in examples from mythology of all areas of the world.
It wasn't until the end of the week that Harry learned Vincent had other talents than what he had seen or heard about already. He had come into the main room, expecting them all to be there only to find that Vincent, Draco, and Pansy were the only ones within the room. Pansy was lying upon one of the couches dozing. Draco was at the far end of the couch with Pansy's legs in his lap as he read aloud quietly from a small book.
But Harry hadn't really noticed any of this as his eyes had immediately found Vincent's form and never moved. The Slytherin had his back to the entrance of the room and was standing in the middle of the largest open area. In his hand was a three-foot scimitar with a two-handed grip, though the man was only using one hand as he swung it about his head and sides. From his size Harry would never have imagined that Slytherin could be so graceful, but Vincent never once faltered in his steps as he moved about, nor lost his balance even for a split second.
When the Slytherin was finished he acted on impulse and Harry asked if Vincent could teach him how to do what he did. The first response he got was from Draco rather than Vincent. The blonde started to laugh freely and shortly after Vincent chuckled with him as he went to the corner table and slid the scimitar back into the sheath.
"You have no idea of what you're getting yourself into if you let Vin start to teach you what he does," Draco said as his laughter ended.
"If you truly would like to learn, Harry, I will teach you, but it might be better to wait until things have calmed down. Inside a room is not really a very good place to learn. There's always too many things that could be damaged," Vincent answered with a smile.
"That was something I wanted to tell you all today. Dumbledore has said that he'll allow you out onto the grounds soon. You'll have watchers, whether or not you can see them, but you'll be able to do what you like for the most part."
Draco got an excited gleam in his eyes with his next question, "Would you like to play a short game of 'Catch the Snitch', Harry?"
The Gryffindor shook his head, "The other Order members that know where you are—there aren't many of them," Harry added quickly when Draco opened his mouth to protest. "The others have pressured Dumbledore a bit on what you can do. They didn't even want you to be able to leave these rooms, much less have free reign of the grounds. You won't be able to go near a broom or the lake. The greenhouses are off-limits as well and there will be watchers on anyone that leaves. I don't know how many or who they are, yet. When I find out, I will let you know, but I hope it's someone that will give you your privacy, or at least as much as they are allowed to give you."
Vincent nodded, "Thank you, Harry. That is as much as we can expect I suppose. At least you are willing to try to see what's beyond the surface. And we know that we have two people that will argue for our interests."
"Vincent," Harry paused, thinking over what he was about to say. "After spending so much time with the five of you, after just watching you be yourselves, I'd like to think that I can see what's under the surface. I see five of my peers that are trustworthy and don't deserve the rancor that many people meet them with. If there is ever a time when it is needed, I will fight for your freedom, not just your best interests."
The two conscious Slytherins in the room were shocked into silence long enough for Harry to have the urge to fidget after what he had said. Then, Pansy awoke and sat up on the couch, pulling her legs from Draco's lap. She looked around at the other three in confusion for a moment.
"What's going on?"
"He trusts us," Draco mumbled.
"Who?"
"Harry," Vincent answered, overcoming his shock.
He moved towards the Gryffindor and held out one hand with a determined look upon his face. Harry grinned and reached out, tightly gripping the other's hand. Pansy jumped up from the couch and moved over towards Harry, a half-smile on her face and tears in her eyes. When she reached the two, Vincent took a step back and Pansy hugged the Gryffindor. For a moment Harry was too stunned at the unexpected gesture, but quickly returned the hug when he realized what was happening.
After the hug, Pansy pulled Harry over to the couches by the fire-place where he was met by Draco as he stood. The Slytherin held out his hand and Harry had a flash-back of when Draco had last been in that position and his response to it. This time Harry had no compulsion of rejecting the other's friendship and readily grasped the outstretched hand. Then, Draco surprised Harry by pulling him into a brief hug which, again after a moment, Harry returned.
That was the scene that Daphne and Gregory walked in on as they left their room. Daphne's hair was slightly messy as though she had just been napping and Gregory's eyes were still half-closed, but they snapped open when he saw the two in their embrace.
"What's going on?" Daphne asked quietly as she came over to Vincent's side.
"Harry trusts us," the other said proudly and Daphne's face split into a wide grin.
The instant that Draco let go of Harry he was spun around and enveloped in a hug by Daphne. This one surprised him less and Harry returned it immediately. Then, when she let go of him, Daphne raised up on her toes slightly and placed a light kiss on his cheek and breathed a heartfelt 'Thank you' into his ear. Harry grinned back at her and nodded to suddenly find himself faced with Gregory who solemnly held out one hand to the Gryffindor.
Harry took it just as straight-faced before bestowing a small grin on the other man. Gregory nodded with his own smile to Harry in satisfaction. The six then took their usual places, Harry in the second armchair that seemed to be a permanent fixture within the room now.
They talked quietly of inconsequential things for several hours and Harry learned even more about the Slytherins than he had previously. With his admitted trust, the other five had opened to him completely and no longer kept anything hidden from him as they all knew how rarely he truly trusted someone. The talk was only interrupted when Dobby popped in with lunch for all six.
They all settled themselves around the table much as they had for the past few days when Harry appeared, but waited to eat until the house-elf had left. Prior to Dobby's disappearance he handed Harry a small parcel wrapped with blue paper and orange and white polka-dotted ribbon. Harry thanked his diminutive friend and hid the present in his lap. When he turned his attention back to the others, he found them all looking at him in confusion.
"Harry what day is it?" Vincent asked suddenly.
"It's July 31st. Why?"
"Because I just realized something. Happy birthday, Harry."
The other four Slytherins looked at him in surprise.
"It's your birthday? Why didn't you say something?" Daphne demanded.
Harry looked at the others in surprise, "Why would I have said anything?"
"We could have done something special if we had known," Pansy answered quietly.
"It doesn't matter," Harry said with a shrug. "I've never done anything special for my birthday before, beyond staying up until midnight anyway. I wasn't expecting anything special. The Weasleys are making a birthday dinner for later and I'll get my presents from them then. That's more than I've had on my birthday since I can remember."
"You've never had a birthday dinner or celebrated with friends before?" Gregory asked from where he sat on the other side of Daphne.
"No. My cousin always had friends over or went out to do things on his birthday after he opened an enormous pile of presents, but I never did that."
"Why not?" Draco asked, a strange look on his face.
Harry paused for a moment, but since the five were no longer hiding he decided that he would try not to either. "My relatives didn't like me very much. They certainly weren't going to waste money on getting me anything. At the Muggle school I went to, the other kids were more afraid of Dudley than anyone else there and he didn't want anyone to become friends with me, so there wasn't anyone I could share my birthdays with. It doesn't bother me anymore as I've never remembered anything different."
Suddenly Pansy stood up, her glass of pumpkin juice held in one hand, "This has officially become a birthday lunch." Then, she waited until all the other Slytherins had stood. "To Harry on his birthday," and she raised her glass to him as the other four did as well before drinking.
Harry sat in his chair, looking at the five around him in shock as they resumed their places. "Thank you all."
"Birthdays signify another year of life and sometimes of new beginnings. Now, let us eat before our food is cleared away. Blessed be."
The other five around the table repeated the phrase, Harry included, and began to pass the dishes around, with each taking their share. For Harry it was a welcome surprise and one he vowed to never forget.
Afterwards he opened Dobby's present to find a red and yellow striped sock paired with a green one with white splotches on it. He laughed at the confusion on the Slytherins faces and went into an explanation of how he had freed Dobby and the strangeness of the house-elf.
Harry stayed in the room with the Slytherins talking and laughing at various recollections of parties the others had gone to or had for their birthdays. It wasn't until Remus came looking for him that Harry realized how late it had gotten and that it was time to leave for the Weasleys'. He thanked the five sitting around the fire and left with a smile on his face.
Remus inquired after his good mood and nodded while Harry told him of what the Slytherins had done when they discovered it was his birthday. The Professor still had his misgivings about the group, but he couldn't deny that Harry was not the all-trusting person some believed him to be. And the happiness that seemed to surround him for a time when he left the suite of rooms couldn't be denied. Remus only hoped that it would not end as misplaced trust.
\/\/\/\/\/
The next day Severus entered the suite with a snarl, "Crabbe, Goyle, you have been summoned to the Headmaster's office immediately. There is an issue with your NEWT results. Now."
Without question Gregory and Vincent stood from their places on the couches. They preceded Severus out the door of the rooms. Pansy and Daphne watched after them from the table where they had been talking quietly. They glanced at Draco when the door closed.
He only shook his head, "They probably think they cheated or something on the History of Magic test. They'll be back later, don't worry."
The girls nodded and went back to their conversation for only a few moments before the door opened again. This time Harry and Remus entered the room, the former with a smile on his face. The three Slytherins looked at the two in confusion until Harry spoke.
"The Headmaster has agreed that you may go outside for a few hours if you would like to. Greg and Vin are going to be with Professor Binns and Professor McGonagall for some time yet. He said that if nothing goes wrong today that you'll be able to go out again within the week. I know it's not a lot—"
"It is a lot. It's a measure of trust that we haven't been given in a long time, even before we were discovered as spies," Daphne interrupted as she stood. "Who will be following us?"
"Remus and I will, but you won't be able to see us. Severus and several other Order members have insisted upon it."
"Thank you, Harry," Draco answered. He stood from his chair and the two girls came over to where the others stood.
"Where are we allowed to go?" Pansy asked as she linked one arm through one of Draco's.
"Nowhere near the Forbidden Forest. Professor Dumbledore suggested perhaps walking about the Quidditch pitch since it's an open area and no one else will be around there. If that's agreeable to you," Harry answered, watching the three.
"That sounds wonderful, Harry. Thank you. And thank you, Professor Lupin." Draco smiled lightly at the two.
The group of five left the rooms with Harry in the lead and Remus behind, sandwiching the three Slytherins between them. Once they reached the front doors of the castle Harry threw his invisibility cloak around his shoulders and Remus cast a silent invisibility spell upon himself. Draco glanced once at where they had been standing, but quickly turned back to the two girls. He held out an arm for each of them and the three walked at a comfortable pace down to the Quidditch pitch.
They slowly circled the inside of the field, savoring the warm sun on their faces for the first time in weeks. They didn't say much to each other, but Pansy and Daphne couldn't keep the smiles off their faces and Draco's face even showed contentment. Harry and Remus followed the three slowly, keeping a good distance away from them so they had at least some privacy.
When the three had reached the half-way point of the pitch they stopped. Looking across the field they could see the stands where the Slytherins usually sat before them. Pansy sighed and sat down on the grass, her cloak spread out beneath her and her jean clad legs sticking out in front of her. She leaned back on her hands and tipped her face up to the sun, closing her eyes. Daphne laughed at her friend, but copied the other girl, though she sat with her legs curled beneath her and her skirt covering them. Draco stayed standing, his eyes roamed about the pitch for long, silent minutes.
"I wonder what it's like to watch a game from this side of the pitch. I bet it's different."
Pansy opened her eyes and smiled as she looked up at her friend, "Dragon, does Quidditch forever sit at the back of your mind no matter what, waiting for a chance to make itself known?"
The silence afterwards was only broken by a quiet laugh. The laugh had very little sound to it, some soft chuckles occasionally, but the only other indication as to who was laughing was the shaking shoulders of Draco. Even Pansy and Daphne stared at the blonde for a moment before they began laughing as well. After a few more moments of laughter, the three quieted and Draco turned towards Pansy. He opened his mouth to answer her when movement near the forest caught his eye.
He looked up in time to see a light rushing towards him before it hit and he fell to his knees with a muffled cry, shaking and convulsing under the Cruciatus. The girls scrambled towards him as they saw the light of two more Cruciatus Curses speeding towards Draco. They intercepted the curses just before they reached Draco, throwing themselves in front of him. Immediately their tortured screams rent the air as their bodies twisted upon the ground.
The moment they had seen the curse heading for Draco, Remus and Harry jumped into action, quickly stunning the two Death Eaters at the edge of the pitch. Remus went to the two downed Death Eaters and bound them before banishing them to the holding cell Dumbledore had secured on the chance they needed it. Harry pulled off his invisibility cloak and ran to the Slytherins' side, canceling the spells on the three. Pansy and Daphne had both passed out from the curses. Draco stayed kneeling on the ground, still shaking, even with the curse stopped.
Remus joined the small group as soon as he had finished securing the Death Eaters and he was the first to note the dark stains spreading on Pansy's jeans. "Harry, we need to get them to the infirmary now!"
Harry levitated Pansy and put his arm around Draco's waist, helping him to his feet and keeping him steady as they quickly moved towards the castle. Remus was right behind them with a levitated Daphne at his side, worry on his face.
Draco said nothing as they walked, though the shaking hadn't lessened. He kept glancing at the girls, worry and sorrow heavy in his gaze. He had also noticed the stains and knew what they were likely to mean. He could only hope that there was no permanent damage to either girl. The thought that it was his fault they had been injured would not leave his mind. The curses had all been aimed at him and yet it was the girls that had been harmed worse than he was and he couldn't help but believe that if he had not been out there with them, they would have been fine.
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