Harry stormed down to the dungeons, his surroundings a blur as he needlessly pushed past a few indignant bodies, his footsteps rattling down the dark, empty corridors until he reached the gloomy silence of the dungeons.
"Shitty little -" Harry muttered as he neared the more familiar corridors close to Slytherin "fucking manipulative old bastard -"
He came to an abrupt halt in front of the common room entrance and stared at the blank stretch of wall. What was he going to do in there? He wanted to be alone, but then again he didn't. He just wanted something to keep his mind off things, but he couldn't take explaining any of this - as if I could, he snorted.
After a further long moment of indecision, he straightened himself, said "Medusa" and entered the room.
"Draco!" came the immediate hail from the corner where all the best seats were, closest to the fire.
He gave them all a tight nod, then continued on his way up to his room.
"Wait!" he heard Pansy's voice, and he paused as she ran after him
"Pansy, not now." he said, casting her a tired glance.
"But Drakey!" she pouted, tugging at his arm "Don't you want to spend time with us? It doesn't have to be boring if you don't want it to!" she gave him a leer, and Harry shuddered.
"Not now." he snapped, pushing her off.
"C'mon Drake," Blaise called over, giving him an easy smile "we're going to play some drinking games. Got ourselves half a bottle of Firewhisky, thanks to Nott here." he nudged the boy beside him.
Harry paused. Didn't he want to just forget?
Alcohol is exactly what I'm looking for.
"Fine." he said shortly.
Harry was getting annoyed. He couldn't be bothered with the stupid card game Theo had started, and he'd only had two passes of the bottle so far and he'd been there ten minutes already, with Pansy stretched out on his lap, strategically positioned so that he could see down her shirt. Shuddering at the sight of a pert pink nibble, he looked away.
Draco being gay is such a waste. He has this, all the time on display.
Harry picked up his cards, picked one arbitrarily and placed it on the table. The others made various disappointed or triumphant noises, each checking their own cards.
"Do I get a drink?" he asked harshly
"Naw," Theo said, "you've got me."
"And me." a seventh year spoke up.
"This game is shit." Harry spat bitterly.
"Want to do something else, Drakey baby?" Pansy simpered, tugging her shirt a little lower.
A waste. Utter waste. Harry thought again, shuddering.
"My turn." another older Slytherin said.
Suddenly a thought occurred to Harry, and he nearly choked.
"What's wrong?" Pansy said, sitting up, her breasts bulging. Harry stared at them.
Draco is gay. I'm not.
So why was he so disgusted by the extremely available girl on his lap?
"Drakie?"
Without thinking any further, Harry grabbed Pansy rather roughly and pressed his mouth onto hers.
"Mmmph!"
There was a moment of surprised resistance, but then Pansy melted against him like a dream.
Her lips were sticky with gloss which tasted like acidic plastic, but Harry ignored it and tried to figure out how this was done.
Ah.
His lips and hers were now moving in soft rhythm. In the background, he heard his friends make a comment, followed by laughter, before they all moved to the next grouping of seats.
This wasn't so bad. If only her breasts weren't pressing against him like that.
He moved his hand up to touch her hair, intending to run his fingers through it - only to stop, suddenly disgruntled by the coarse curls that were thick with hair potions.
Pansy seemed unpleased by his suddenly stiff lips, and pushed herself against him harder.
What is she trying to do? Harry thought wildly We've only just started snogging, surely he can't want to -
That thought was firmly pushed from his mind when the girl shoved her tongue into his momentarily open mouth, and he choked in surprise.
Pansy pulled back.
"What's wrong?" she said, her cheeks flushed and her lips shiny.
Harry stared back. What's wrong with me?
"Nothing." he said roughly, and pulled her face closer.
He let her push her tongue in his mouth again, and tried to imitate her, but her tongue was warm and slimy and tasted wrong. Just wrong. Kissing wasn't supposed to be like this.
She's an ugly pug face, that's all.
He tried to picture features more pleasing, and at last settled into the kiss, feeling a thrill of desire as finally, he began to tingle in the right places.
Their mouths moved faster now, and the body on top of him moved against him even more insistently. Harry opened his eyes for a moment, half-lidded in pleasure.
Dull blue met his, instead of grey.
He stilled.
She pulled away.
Harry sat numbly, mouth open slightly and saliva threatening to drip.
"Potter?" Someone said
Harry jumped, twisting around so fast he almost cracked his neck.
"What the hell is he doing in here?" someone shouted
Draco was standing, staring at Harry with Pansy on top of him, his Gryffindor scarf trailing on the floor behind him, somehow pathetic.
His hair was its usual disarray, his cheeks red.
Harry opened his mouth, but Draco was already turning and walking back through the entrance.
"Wait!" he said, but his voice was so quiet it was almost silent, and Draco didn't hear.
"What did you want with him?" Pansy's voice echoed from somewhere "What did he want?"
Harry had seen Draco's eyes. They were emerald green, and empty.
Who else? Who else had eyes like those Harry had been thinking of? They had swapped bodies now, but Harry didn't think of green eyes when he thought of Draco.
No one else had grey eyes quite like that.
No.
This was not happening. Not after everything else.
Harry could feel thoughts threatening. The memory of what he had went through less than an hour before was beginning to break through, and he couldn't deal with this on top of it.
"Draco?" Pansy said uncertainly, and Harry glared at her, even though he knew she couldn't really be mocking him by saying his name.
Pansy shrank away, but Harry pulled her back and forced his eyes onto the tops of her breasts, the nipple still visible if he leant forward slightly.
I like that, he told himself.
He tugged Pansy into a kiss again, running a hand up her top, and she gasped in surprised delight.
His hand met the impassable, hard edge of her bra, and he let his hand drop.
I'm disappointed, he told himself as he sighed with relief into Pansy's mouth.
He felt her hand on top of his, guiding it upwards.
Pansy was pushing Harry's hand into the top of her half unbuttoned shirt and he forced himself to cup the lump of flesh. Her nipple was poking into his hand.
Harry pushed her away, and half threw himself off the sofa.
"Draco?" he heard her call plaintively after him, as he jogged up the stairs.
…ooo000ooo…
Draco watched Harry.
He was ambling down the corridor with his eyes bleary and blond hair still ruffled from sleep, Draco's leather satchel slung over his shoulder lazily.
He's probably been up all night with Pansy, he thought bitterly, then cleared it from his mind. He had to apologise to Harry, and he needed to do it right.
"Harry?" Draco said tentatively as the other boy meandered closer.
His head shot up immediately, and Draco noted that Harry could, after all, pull off a proper Malfoy sneer. Undeterred, he joined Harry's side.
"Keep away from me, you vile little shit!" Harry snarled, pushing past him roughly, but Draco immediately followed on, not allowing himself to be put off.
"Look, last night, I didn't mean to sound like I -" Draco cut himself off when Harry stopped short, shoulders heaving as he took a deep breath.
"Harry?" he said, stepping forward tentatively "I know what it sounded like, but I'm on your si-"
Harry had debated keeping his dignity and walking on, but instead he found words forcing their way out before he could even think about it.
"Don't say you're on my side!" he snapped, rounding on Draco, whose eyes widened behind his spectacles. "You're exactly where you want to be! Dumbledore thinks you're important! You're famous! The only downside is you've got a little task to do, but lucky you, you've got me to do that for you!"
"I don't-"
"And what have I got? Nothing! My friends were all I've ever had, and now they hate me! I never wanted fame, but at least I was famous for doing good! Now everyone thinks I'm a snotty little Death Eater in waiting, and I - I don't even have my parents!"
Draco shook his head urgently. "Harry, we're going to swap back! Snape's coming up with a potion, and you'll get it all back again-"
"No I won't!" Harry said loudly, his face suddenly becoming pained. Draco cringed, his eye passing over a gaggle of curious Hufflepuffs passing by.
"Yes, you will!" he said urgently at he threw them a glare, causing them to scuttle away. "You'll be back to yourself," he said, lowering his voice and hoping Harry would follow by example "and Granger and Weasley aren't so bad that they would just give up on you! They just need time."
"You don't understand." Harry said, deflating even more. "I need to go to class." He began to walk again, but Draco pursued him.
"So explain it to me!" he persisted "When Snape finishes his potion, you'll have your old life back, but you won't have to defeat the Dark Lord anymore!" he was unable to prevent his voice from growing bitter "I'll be doing the hard part for you."
"Oh yeah?" Harry snorted "What do you think Dumbledore means by 'training' you?"
Draco waited, not sure how to answer.
"Come on, think about it! I don't know a thing about defeating dark wizards, and I don't know about you but the only use I can think of for me is to take hexes for you!"
"I don't think that's what he meant," Draco tried to reason, despite being chilled at the thought. He'd always thought Dumbledore was a tad manipulative, but never towards Harry. "Dumbledore has always favoured you, he'd never-"
"He always favoured Harry Potter!" Harry replied, wishing his voice wouldn't crack like that. "I'm someone else who's basically been wasting his time - I've been an imposter!"
Draco winced at the truth of his words, but couldn't bring himself to confirm them. Harry's expression was heartbreaking as it was. "Dumbledore's not like that Harry," he said unconvincingly "even I know that-"
"Oh shut up!" Harry hissed. He stopped just in the doorway of the Transfiguration classroom "I thought I could rely on you not to give me empty platitudes! You're supposed to give me your usual Slytherin attitude, not come out with things Hermione would say." he huffed irritatedly "I'd be better off talking to Pansy!"
Draco immediately felt his cheeks flaring in that awful way only Potter's cheeks could.
"You know what?" he said abruptly "You go do that. You two are certainly friendly enough these days." And with that he turned his back on Harry and went to find a seat as far away from him as he could
Harry paused for a moment in front of his usual seat between Theo and Pansy, then walked to the opposite side of the room.
"What's he doing here?" Lavender whispered
"Bugger off Malfoy!" Seamus said stiffly
"Piss off!" Ron said loudly from behind Hermione as Harry approached the empty seat beside her. Hermione looked uncomfortable.
"Can I sit here?" Harry asked nervously "I haven't been able to talk to you."
"Whose fault is that?" she said stiffly, but her eyes softened slightly. "Fine."
Harry dumped his bag under the table, ignoring Ron's warning hiss.
"Ron, I can make my own decisions," Hermione muttered "we talked about this."
Ron's face grew red, and he threw Harry a hate-filled glare before kicking his chair back and moving to the table behind to work with Dean.
"Oh Ron!" Hermione scolded "Don't be so-"
"It's fine." Harry muttered as he sat down.
"Oh it is, is it?" Hemione said cattily "Well I'm glad someone is fine about this, because Ron and I certainly aren't."
Harry glanced nervously at the Gryffindors around him who weren't even trying to hide their attempts to eavesdrop and find out what Malfoy was talking to Hermione about.
"I am really sorry Hermione, I can't ever apologise enough. It's been -"
Hermione's eyes flashed dangerously. "You deceived us! Ron and I have been telling our secrets to Draco Malfoy, all year! You didn't warn us, and you didn't trust us enough to tell us that something was wrong! After all he's done to all three of us, you've been letting us treat him like a friend, while you chum up with those Slytherin creeps! No Harry, an apology just isn't enough."
Harry cringed. "I'll do anything, Hermione, I want to make it up to both of you. I've missed you so much. I was just afraid-"
"Afraid of what? Harry, no matter what your name is, you're still the same person! How could we let you go?"
"Sirius doesn't know yet," Harry said tensely "he'll hate me."
"He will not!" Hermione said indignantly "He's from a family with a similar reputation himself!"
"Yeah well," Harry said angrily "I hoped Dumbledore wouldn't drop me like a dirty sock either, but look at how that turned out!"
Hermione looked shocked. "What?"
"He's been using me." Harry dropped his voice to a whisper as McGonagall entered the classroom. "He admitted it, all this time, he's been honing me into a weapon to defeat Voldemort. Only there's a stupid prophecy that says only Harry Potter can defeat him - and he's been training the wrong person! So now he wants me to train Draco - as if I somehow know how to kill the most powerful dark wizard since Grindlewald! I'm going to play the trusty sidekick."
Hermione stared at him, pale faced.
"If that's true - and I can't believe - hang on!" she said indignantly "Don't try to change the subject! So you suspected Dumbledore would do this, or that Sirius would be angry - what about me and Ron? We would have kept it a secret, if you asked us to!"
Harry sighed. "To be honest, I don't know. During the summer, I didn't let myself think about what was happening to me. It was terrifying when I did. Then term started and as soon as I ran into Draco, he'd already decided to keep it all a secret, and it was too easy to just agree and keep it that way. I didn't want to deal with people's reaction to it. Although, I never analysed what I did. I just went with the flow, because it was easier."
"Mr Malfoy, if you've quite finished?" McGonagall said sharply, and Harry and Hermione sprang apart guiltily. The Professor's eyes narrowed suspiciously at the sight of the two of them together.
"Sorry Professor." Harry said, slipping into his practiced drawl easily enough. Hermione shifted uncomfortably when he did it though, and Harry tried to give her a reassuring smile, but she only stared uneasily back.
"I have something to say to you all before we begin." McGonagall said, and the pupils sat up in interest.
"The Yule Ball is approaching - a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialise with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth-years and above - although you may invite a younger student if you wish -"
Lavender Brown let out a shrill giggle. Parvati Patil nudged her hard in the ribs, her face working furiously as she, too, fought not to giggle. They both looked over at Draco, who Harry could tell was struggling not to sneer. Harry did it for him, and the girls scowled when they noticed. Annoying girls. Harry thought in irritation, then flushed as Pansy very obviously blew him a kiss and gave him a lascivious look from across the room, although her eyes rested on Hermione for a bit and she frowned suspiciously.
"Dress robes will be worn," McGonagall continued "and the ball will start on 8 o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight, in the Great Hall. Now then -"
Professor McGonagall stared deliberately around the class. "The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to - er - let our hair down," she said in a disapproving voice, continuing over Lavender's giggles "but that does NOT mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if one of my students embarrasses the school in any way, and Professor Snape has asked me to tell the Slytherins in this class that this applies to him also." she stared imperiously around the class.
"Oh, and Mr Potter-" she said when her eyes landed on Draco "as the Hogwarts champion, you will be expected to lead the dance, so please ensure you find yourself a partner - quiet now!" she snapped as giggles burst out again "- and attend the dancing lessons I shall be holding for Gryffindors." Parvati squealed, and she and Lavender burst into giggles anew. Harry resisted the urge to throw his book bag at the pair of them.
"Times and venues for these optional lessons shall be arranged in due time." she added to the rest of the class "And although Professor Snape assures me that the majority of his house will not be in need of these lessons, I am holding them open to any Slytherins who may wish to attend, although Professors Sprout and Flitwick will also be holding lessons for their houses, and you may attend those instead if you prefer. Now then, today's lesson . . . "
"Great!" Harry moaned to Hermione "A bloody dance is all I need!"
"At least you won't need to find a partner!" Hermione pointed out "Although Pansy Parkinson seems eager."
Harry glanced up to see Pansy grinning at him, and bent his head hurriedly. "Oh no." he muttered "I'll have to learn to dance as well, or she'll be suspicious. I bet Malfoy can do ballroom dancing in his sleep."
"Well I wouldn't know." Hermione said briskly "But if worst comes to worst, I can show you."
"You can dance?" Harry said, surprised.
"Of course I can!" Hermione said, flushing "I might not be an expert, so I'll attend the classes, but I can do a few basic steps!"
"Sorry," Harry said, taken aback "thanks for doing this. I didn't mean to offend -"
"No, don't worry." Hermione sighed "I'm sorry. It's just - well, Ron and you have been treating me like a boy all these years, and if you treat me that way, there's no way Ron will aske me-" she tailed off, blushing. "Never mind. Anyway," she hurried on "you don't have to go with Pansy. You could ask someone else. Maybe Cho?"
This time Harry blushed. "I'd rather just not go," he muttered "it'd be less embarrassing. But if I do go, at least Pansy will be easy."
"Excuse me?" Hermione said indignantly
"I didn't mean it like that!" Harry said, flustered.
"No you didn't," Hermione agreed crossly "but you meant that you're not willing to go through any effort or embarrassment for the girl you like! What does that say about you!"
"Ugh, can we please change the subject." Harry winced
…ooo000ooo…
"There is no reverse of the original spell." Snape said coldly, as he conjured two hard-backed chairs for them in front of his desk. "But I can swap your bodies, at least temporarily. Polyjuice potion can last up to twelve hours, if brewed by an expert potions master such as I, though it would be safest to take the potion every eight hours just to be safe. However that is not sufficient. A permanent body swap is required and I believe it can be achieved by manipulating the polyjuice potion with some Dark Magic and the inclusion of some … rare ingredients."
"Illegal, you mean." Draco muttered, and Snape ignored him.
"The potion will take some time, and I will need to alter it to make sure the dark magic from the original swap does not affect it - if indeed there is any residue. But at the end, you will each be in the bodies you are accustomed to. Until then, it is imperative you do not slip up in your act."
"Right." Draco said dully.
"Yes sir." Harry muttered.
"Are there no questions?" Snape said suspiciously as he raised a greasy eyebrow at them.
"Can we just take Polyjuice potion until the new potion is ready?" Harry asked hopefully.
Snape scowled "The headmaster believes that would be a bad idea, unless it is absolutely vital. If either of you revealed yourself the act would be discovered. He believes your imitation of each other is passable…and in any case the ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion are rare and expensive, and monitored by the ministry besides."
The boys remained sullenly silent for a moment, until Draco said finally.
"How long, exactly, will the permanent potion take to brew?"
"That would depend on the potion," Snape replied "once I have invented it, I will know for sure. But based merely on the ingredients I suspect I shall use, I would say two months at the very least, and five at the most. I will need to call on the two of you frequently to test it and to examine you."
"Invented it?" Harry said, aghast "I thought you said you definitely could turn us back!"
"And so I shall." Snape said, giving him an icy glare "I've never yet failed to create what I need, even if it takes some measure of time."
Harry slumped in his chair. There was still no guarantee then, that their situation could be reversed.
"So it will definitely be me doing the Second Task?" Draco said, his voice hopeful.
"Yes, Mr Malfoy." Snape said, then smirked. "Getting cold feet?"
"Stop it, Sev." Draco sighed, and Harry started. After all his other worries, he'd forgotten Draco explaining how close he was to Snape.
"That's Professor Snape to you." Snape said sharply.
"Oh please," Draco rolled his eyes "it's still me. And Harry might as well call you Sev too. If we're both going to help you with the potion, we'll probably be spending a lot of time down here."
"I'd rather just use 'Professor'." Harry said hurriedly
"Indeed." Snape said, sending Draco a death glare "And I did not, for a moment, mean that I needed either of your help brewing this potion." his eyes lingered on Harry "Merlin forbid. I will only need to examine your magical signatures, and possibly take blood samples."
"We'll be down here anyway." Draco assured him, and Harry shot him an incredulous glance which was ignored. "I've missed our talks. And Harry's not so bad, once you get to know him."
Harry gaped. What the hell was Malfoy trying to do?
"I believe I will pass." Snape said dryly. "If there are no questions, you may take your esteemed Mr Potter with you, and leave my office."
Harry gratefully got up out of his chair.
"See you soon, Sev." Draco called, following Harry out the door.
"Wait up!" Draco hissed at Harry as he made to walk down to the Great Hall for lunch.
"What is it?" Harry said impatiently/
"We should really be talking to each other." Draco said quietly. "We're in this together, no matter what. And," he added quickly before Harry could talk over him "I know you hate me right now, but . . . It's just too hard to keep this up." he lowered his eyes to the floor. "It's been hard for me too, but I just want to help Sev make this potion and get things back to normal. Until that's done, this whole thing would be easier if I didn't have to fight you every step of the way."
Harry felt suddenly ashamed. "I don't - I don't hate you." he mumbled. "It's just . . ."
"I know," Draco said "It feels like every one is against you, and you probably think I was only trying to be on your side to use you."
"It's not even that," Harry tried to explain "I don't think you'd really use me, not now. But you don't understand!" he met Draco's eyes and tried to search him for comprehension.
"If you would just explain it to me, I might." Draco huffed
Harry took a breath. "Things are going to go back to how they were before, right?"
He paused, and Draco nodded uncertainly.
"Except I'll still know I'm Draco Malfoy really. I'll know Lily and James Potter aren't my parents. It'll all be an act, don't you see? But it'll be worse, because I'll know I'm lying this time!"
"You've got it wrong." Draco said firmly. "Look at what you've been doing, pretending to be me. Isn't that worse? Which is more of an act, pretending to be a Malfoy or a Potter? You are what your life has made you, and you've lived the life of a person called Harry. And you'll still be Harry, no matter what. If you found out your middle name was Zachary instead of James, would it make a difference? Would you have a huge identity crisis? I don't think so. I know this is so much bigger, but in the end - and I can't believe I'm saying this - but what is blood? Isn't family just people you love? Does it matter who is related to you really? If the Potters weren't dead, you still would have been brought up their son. Do you think they would have kicked you out their house when they found out the truth? I somehow doubt they were the type to be that way. The only thing that will have changed is your real name - which you won't even be using - and your heritage. And if you kick up a fuss about heritage then you're a hypocrite."
Harry stared at him, surprised. "I've never tried to think of it like that before."
Draco gave him a grim smile "We have to tell ourselves something to get through this. And it's the truth anyway." He added hastily.
…ooo000ooo…
"Left two - no this way Harry!" Hermione said irritably for the hundredth time. She and Harry were practising the waltz in the Room of Requirement.
"Sorry!" Harry blustered, and stepped 'that' way.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry!"
"If you just-" she wrenched Harry to the side and he stumbled "Oh my!"
"Oh God - I'm sorry!" Harry's face became very warm as he removed his hand from her backside.
"It's alright Harry, just concentrate, you can do this!" she said, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Harry pulled himself free of her grasp, and Hermione let her hands fall to her sides.
"This isn't working." Harry said grimly
"Maybe if I made some notes and you read over them…" Hermione trailed off hopefully.
"No." Harry said firmly. This was the third session he'd had with Hermione, and he was very aware that he was making no progress whatsoever. He couldn't keep in time with the music, and he forgot his steps too easily. Worst of all, he'd concentrate so hard on where his feet were, he ended up ignoring any new instructions Hermione gave him, and this was a big problem because if he did go to the ball with Pansy, she'd probably expect him to be able to hold a conversation - or at least not fumble his moves every time she groped him - whilst dancing.
"Maybe I should ask Draco." Harry suggested "I mean he's been dancing since he could walk."
"Oh well," Hermione said, suddenly stiff "I'm sure Draco will be a wonderful teacher."
"Don't, Hermione." Harry said tiredly "It's bad enough with Ron being like he is."
For Ron had not taken Harry's lessons with Hermione well at all. Not only was Harry a traitor in his eyes, but Harry knew Ron was having fits of jealousy over Hermione spending time with him.
"Sorry." Hermione apologised reluctantly "Maybe a different teaching style would help."
"Draco isn't that bad, you know." Harry offered tentatively "He's changed. He can actually be decent, once you get to know him."
Hermione suddenly looked angry. "Harry, he's been awful to us all for years! He's a bigoted lout, and no better than his father!"
"My father," Harry reminded her "But remember, you've been getting along with him fine all year."
"Only because he's pretending to be you!" Hermione exploded, looking furious at the reminder of Harry's treachery.
"Hermione-"
"No, look," Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose "Harry, let's not get into this. I don't want to fight."
Harry chewed his lip frustratedly. He wanted to say so much more, but he didn't want to drive Hermione away from him. She seemed to read his mind, and gave him a tight smile.
"Harry, I'm finding it hard to forgive you, let's just take things slowly."
Harry felt as though he'd been punched. She hasn't forgiven me?
"Right." he said brightly. "Well. Er. I'm going to go back to Slytherin. I have to study for the potions test still."
She gave him an artificial smile. "Yes. I could do with giving my notes a look over too."
They hovered awkwardly for a moment.
"Bye then." Hermione turned for the door.
"Bye." Harry muttered.
…ooo000ooo…
"…and Harry's taking Pansy." Draco chattered on, and Harry jumped to attention.
"What?"
"Sit still you wretched boy!" Snape hissed, and Harry shuddered.
"I was telling Sev about the ball." Draco frowned "Weren't you listening?"
"I was more concerned with that." Harry said, giving the instrument in Snape's hands a pointed glance.
"Will you give me a drop of blood or do I have to draw it myself?" Snape said impatiently
"How do you know I'm going with Pansy?" Harry asked suspiciously
"Potter!"
"Alright, alright!"
Harry took the proffered knife and made a small cut on his finger, which immediately throbbed and began gushing blood.
"My, my Potter, didn't know you were so eager to hurt yourself." Draco remarked
"A prick would have sufficed!" Snape agreed, then added spitefully "Although if you hacked your hand off I would not stop you."
Harry ignored them both and held his finger over the odd little machine in Snape's hands. It looked as if it were made out of cogs and wheels from several clocks, and it had a little chimney that was cheerfully puffing pink smoke. He'd observed it in the headmaster's office before, and was most curious to see what it did. He let a drop of blood fall into the little pewter dish at the bottom of it, and waited eagerly.
"What's supposed to happen?" He asked after a moment, as pink smoke continued to issue from the little funnel. Normally he would never be so relaxed in the potions dungeon as to ask Snape questions so freely, but he and Draco had been visiting regularly in the last week and a half and he'd gotten used to the Potions Master. Indeed, it was hard to be frightened of the man, or upset by his jibes when Draco kept jumping in with a sarcastic dig or a witty remark right back at him as if he was no more intimidating or threatening that his childhood nanny.
"Nothing, hopefully." Snape replied.
They watched the smoke for a few moments longer.
"You didn't answer me about Pansy." Harry prompted Draco.
"Who else would you go with?" Draco replied "It would be a bit odd if you didn't go with your own girlfriend…although after you sat next to Hermione in Transfiguration you had everyone wondering for a bit. I just hope your father doesn't hear about it."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Harry said indignantly.
"You seemed cosy enough some time ago. What happened?" Draco said, his voice suddenly spiteful.
Harry looked over in confusion, but Draco wasn't looking at him.
"That was - that was nothing." he finished lamely. "But yeah, I think I'm going with her anyway. There's no one else to go with."
"There appears to be no residue from Dark Magic left." Snape said suddenly, and both boys turned to see pink smoke still chugging out of the machine. "You may leave. Thank Circe."
"What? Aren't you going to test Draco?" Harry said indigantly
"Not today." Snape said
"Oh." Harry spied Draco moving towards the door. "Hey, wait up."
"What do you want?" Draco said, looking surly as Harry caught up with him in the corridor.
The classroom door banged shut behind him, and Harry jumped.
"I always forget to close it." he said, pulling a face. "What's wrong?"
Draco rearranged his face and gave a tight smile. "Nothing."
"Right." Harry said suspiciously as they made their way up to the hall. "So who are you going to the ball with?"
Draco shrugged. "I don't know. Who do you want me to go with?"
Harry stared. "What? You can go with whoever you want." suddenly he felt he understood. "Oh, I get it. You're angry because you wanted me to ask you who I should go to the ball with. It's still your reputation, I suppose, isn't it."
Draco gritted his teeth. "No Harry, that's not it. Go to the ball with whoever you damn well please. I couldn't give a fuck if you went with Weasel."
Harry kept walking, confused. He was sure he was missing something.
"Look, just ignore me." Draco said suddenly "I have a headache. Let's forget this."
Harry obliged happily.
"Actually, there is something I wanted to ask you," he said as they neared the exit from the dungeons "Hermione's been teaching me to dance, and it's not really been working out."
Draco looked curious. "She can dance?"
Harry looked away guiltily. "Sort of. Probably not as well as she thinks she can, but at least she can dance a little. Anyway, like I said it's not working, so I was wondering if you could teach me instead?"
They had now reached the entrance hall, and Harry turned to see why Draco hadn't responded, and was surprised to see he was staring at Harry as if he'd just laid an egg.
"What?" Harry said uncomfortably "You don't have to, if you don't want."
"No - I can do that. It's fine." Draco's eyes suddenly slid to the floor and his cheeks began to redden. Harry frowned. Why does he keep acting so weird?
"If it's a problem-" Harry started, but Draco's head shot back up.
"No! No, it's fine. Look, I'll just er. . . I'll just go over and get some food. See you later." and Draco departed for the Gryffindor table, leaving Harry stymied behind him.