"Have you been working on the egg?" Harry asked quickly, all his words coming out in a rushed jumble.
Draco pursed his lips and stared back at him evenly, not moving his hands from where he held them outstretched.
"Look, you're going to need to touch me. Stop trying to change the subject and come here."
Harry cast a desperate glance around the Room of Requirement before giving up. Shoulders slumping, he stepped forward, gingerly placing one hand in Draco's, and allowing the other to hover in the air somewhere in the vicinity of his partner's hip.
Draco rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything, merely reaching back and forcing Harry's hand into contact with his body. Harry's face felt like it was on fire.
"So show me what Hermione taught you." Draco said, pointing his wand at an old gramophone, causing music to fill the room.
"Back two steps, and then-" Harry gabbled
"Showme." Draco said, rolling his eyes again.
Harry closed his mouth with a snap. Right.
It wasn't so bad, dancing with Draco. After ten agonising minutes, Harry managed to calm down a bit and they were soon plodding along the dance floor nicely. He achieved this mainly by refusing to look Draco in the face, and it helped that Draco kept up a steady yet somewhat one sided conversation as they moved.
"-and the dratted thing only wails, not matter what I do. Longbottom reckons I'll have to endure the Cruciatus, the little twerp. Finnigan mentioned Banshees, but I can't quite picture-"
Harry settled into a nice shuffling movement as he lead Draco around in small circles, letting his voice fade into the background as he thought to himself about the upcoming Christmas Holidays.
It wasn't long now, until the dreaded week he'd be spending at the manor. And there wasn't much left to look forward to after that also, what with the upcoming Yule Ball. Or Yule Balls. For Narcissa had been sending Harry frequent updates on her plans for the Malfoy Yule Ball, and it was beginning to look horribly likely that it was going to be moved forward to the week before Christmas, just in time for Harry to attend before he went back to school. This meant that not only did he have to attempt to become at least a little acquainted with the Dark Magic he was supposed to know, should Lucius think to test him, but also that he should be a passably good dancer.
"Potter, are you even listening?"
Harry jumped. It had been so long since Draco had last called him that, that he stared bemusedly at him for a moment, before he realised he was still dancing, and with this realisation, he tripped over his own feet slightly, ripped his hands from Draco's and stumbled to a halt.
"So graceful." Draco said sarcastically, wiping his now free hands on his robes. Harry cringed, realising how sweaty his hands had been getting. "Well in any case, you seem to be able to remember the steps. But you really could do with learning to dance."
Harry sighed. "You not going to have me doing dips and fancy twirls, are you?"
"In time, yes, or you'll stick out like a sore thumb at my - yourfamily's ball, if not the school ball. But for now, you need to put some feeling into this."
Harry sighed. "I really don't think I'm going to be able to do this."
Draco looked irritated, and grabbed Harry's hands and pulled him into place. "Well you have to. Now just pretend I'm someone you actually want to impress, and stop moving like an inferi. Imagine for a moment you candance. In fact -" abruptly, he rearranged Harry's hands "you're the girl. I'm going to lead. All you have to do is try to move smoothly and gracefully, even if you don't know what you're doing."
Harry nodded doubtfully.
"Pretend you're Pansy or something. You know what she'll be like. Leaning into every movement, trying to seduce you. You must be able to picture her dancing with you - or someone you fancy."
"Okay?"
Harry nodded, blushing furiously.
"One - two - three…"
They started off moving just as stiffly as before while Harry got used to being led. Then Draco's hand on his back became more insistent, pressing at certain moments, and Harry tried to comply, eventually shutting his eyes and literally trying to pretend he was Pansy.
"Just don't laugh at me." He muttered, knowing his face was bright red, then he allowed himself to move a little more freely,
"That was a bit better." Draco said encouragingly as the music faded away, and Harry let out a relieved sigh.
"Don't think that that will pass at one of mother's parties though." he added sharply, and Harry's shoulders slumped.
...ooo000ooo...
"You want me to what?" Snape's eyes were glittering dangerously, and Harry was already backing away in the direction of the door.
"Oh come on Sev, it's not like you didn't know what I've been up to!" Draco wheedled, and Harry shuddered. He hoped he would never see that smarmy expression on his own face again.
"Expecting me to teach Harry PotterDark Magic is quite different from me minding my own business concerning what Lucius Malfoy does in his own home!"
"Draco, let's go. I knew this was a bad idea." Harry muttered, but was promptly ignored.
"Sev-"
"No."
"Sev, you wouldn't be teaching him, only supervising us! I know there's no way you'd trust Harry not to make some kind of ridiculous mistake and end up cursing his ears of permanently or something-"
"Hey!" Harry protested
"And besides," Draco's voice was suddenly hurt "you're my godfather. If you knew I was being taught Dark Magic, you had more right than most to intervene!"
"I would have," Snape said dryly "If you had shown the slightest sign of being less that delighted to be learning such things when you deigned to contact me during the summer...oh yes," he raised an eyebrow sardonically "you didn'tfeel the need to send me an owl at all, did you?"
Draco didn't even pause to look abashed.
"At the very least you could let us practise in your rooms. If Dumbledore finds out-"
"So although I don't have to teach him illegal spells, I can at the very least implicate myself enough to ensure myself a cell in Azkaban?"
There was a silence in the dungeon as all three wizards seemed to realise the gravity of what the boys were planning to do.
"Sev," Draco said at last, his voice soft "you know we have to do this. Dumbledore won't even consider it, I know it. Instead, if he finds out how important Harry learning this is, he'll try to stop Harry from going to the Manor, and then everyone will know something is wrong. Even if Harry goes and doesn't bother learning these spells," he waved a piece of parchment at Snape "father will have reason for suspicion, and if he starts looking, I know he'll find out the truth. And..." he paused, looking uncertain "well, if Harry's supposed to be a part of killing the Dark Lord...shouldn't he at least know how to fight like the enemy?"
"I'm not going to sink to their level!" Harry said, indignant, and a little offended.
"At the very least," Draco carried on talking as if Harry hadn't interrupted "you have to consider how anyone could possibly protect themselves from Dark curses when one doesn't know what they are, or how they work."
Professor Snape closed his eyes, leaning heavily on his desk.
"Lily would have a heart attack if she knew."
Harry frowned. "What -?"
"Too late." Draco interrupted "Remember, I'mHarry Potter." He smirked "I'm already nicely corrupted. Just think of it as returning things to rights. After all, what sort of Malfoy would Harry be if he can't do a decent bone burning curse?"
...ooo000ooo...
"This time," Draco said, tugging Harry into the centre of the room "I'm going to cast a cheering charm on you. You need to be more relaxed when you're dancing. And for Merlin's sake, try to be sensual."
Harry froze, and Draco's eyes narrowed. "Stop blushing Potter, I'm not going to molest you!"
"I didn't think-!"
"Well then stop trying to prove whatever it is you're trying to prove. I think you're very manly, if that puts your mind at ease," Draco snapped "now stop being an idiot."
The music started, and Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes, as once again Draco pulled him embarrassingly close.
I'm with Pansy.
It was the best thing Harry could have pictured: Pansy's face. He didn't care what Pansy thought of him, and he felt reasonably comfortable with the idea of her body up against his because he'd already experienced it, and more to the point, it didn't affect him in …certain ways.
Draco wasn't talking, and the music wasn't so old fashioned and jarring as last time, or the times before that. Harry finally felt himself relaxing and slipping into the flow of the music.
They'd been meeting up every night now, trying to teach Harry how to dance like a pureblood, to the point where Harry was muttering one - two - threein his sleep. He now knew two dances, one a standard waltz, and the other a more elaborate version, and along with his nightly lessons with Draco, he practised for an hour before bed in an empty classroom near the Slytherin dungeon.
After a surprisingly short time, the music faded away, and Draco let go of him. Harry stepped gratefully away and took a seat on a chair that the room of requirement had thoughtfully conjured up.
"You're not bad." Draco said, turning to turn off the gramophone. "But it's not going to cut it at the family ball."
Harry huffed "We've been practising every night, I can't get any better!" Not to mention that Draco's words ignited a knot of resentment inside him. Whatever Draco said, Harry thought that he had been doing extraordinarily well. He almost never made a mistake when he danced, and besides that he thought that although he would never be a world class dancer, he'd been putting just more swaying and twisting into his moves than any straight man would deem appropriate, and yet it stillwasn't good enough.
Draco scowled. "You don't understand." he began to pace "At the Yule Ball, you could probably escape with dancing once or twice. You could even pretend you're drunk, and that would excuse your awful dancing-"
Harry felt anger flare up inside him.
"And don't look at me like that!" Draco turned on him "You can't even begin to understand! Everyone, everyoneat the Malfoy ball will be spinning and twirling around the dance floor faster than you've ever managed, and there won't be a toe out of place!"
"I could pretend to be ill - or drunk -"
"If you care about being a Malfoy even the tiniest bit," Draco snarled "you'll do no such thing! Mother and Father will never forgive you if you embarrass them! Your dance partner is French aristocracy for Merlin's sake, and Mother wants her to be your betrothed!"
"You seem to be forgetting that I'm not you," Harry snapped "I won't be betrothed to anyone I don't want to!"
"It doesn't matter what you want!" Draco's voice rose shrilly, and it hung in the air for an embarrassing moment after which Draco looked down at the ground, cheeks red.
"Sorry." he said finally
Harry forced himself to calm down. "It's fine." he said shortly
"It's just-"
"I know." Harry said quietly "If I'm a Malfoy I'm going to have to get used to my life being planned out for me."
"At least until the Dark Lord is dead." Draco agreed, looking up at him with a wry smile "Then, all you'll have to worry about is getting disowned. And," he added "if you're nice to me, I might donate a small fraction of the Potter family fortune to your pitiful cause if that happens."
"You're too kind, Potter." Harry said, not quite able to achieve the dry tone he'd hoped for.
"No problem." Draco said, his mouth twitching.
...ooo000ooo...
"You do realise," Snape said coldly "that casting any one of these spells whilst in Hogwarts would warrant instant expulsion?"
Harry swallowed.
"That said," the professor raised an eyebrow "these could be worse. Much worse." he cast a questioning glance at Draco "They should be. Care to elucidate me on why that is?"
Draco answered without meeting Snape's eyes. "I wasn't very good at the…worse kinds of spells. Father wanted me to get a grounding in the basics."
"Really." Snape got to his feet "Lack of skill, or lack of stomach, I wonder?"
Draco's cheeks were tinged with pink.
"Come Potter," Snape gestured to the centre of the room which had been cleared of desks "I take it you've practised the theory?" He waved his wand and a nearby cauldron turned into a rabbit.
Harry nodded jerkily.
"Then…start from the top of Draco's list, I think."
Harry moved so that he was opposite the rabbit, and raised his shaking wand. He aimed, and then closed his eyes.
"Excorio!"
Harry's eyes flew open at the startled yelp and flurry of movement. His eyes flitted around the room, until they rested on the rabbit, who was happily gnawing at a chair leg. However, Draco looked ruffled and upset, and Snape furious.
"Look at what you're doing, Potter!" Snape hissed from the edge of the room "Aside from what Lucius would do to you if he saw you cringing from hurting a fluffy animal, you nearly flayed Draco alive!"
"S-sorry." Harry mumbled, turning back to the task at hand.
"The animal's life is in your hands," Snape's voice was low and melodic. "Do it the honour of acknowledging its sacrifice."
Harry's wand was shaking. "Excorio!" he whispered.
There was a wet sort of splattering sound.
"Evanesco!" Snape intoned emotionlessly, then flicked his wand.
Another rabbit appeared in its place.
"Next spell."
Harry locked eyes with Draco for one moment in which he was offered a sympathetic wince before he made himself turn back to the task at hand.
"Decollo!"
…ooo000ooo…
The road that lead to Harry's doom was rocky and pitted, and if he let his attention wander for too long, or allowed himself to sink into the sullen reverie he had been in since breakfast, he would suddenly stumble and be jerked back into reality like an unsuspecting grindylow caught on a fishing line.
The day had started off in a foul manner, with Harry waking from a turbulent night of tossing and turning, feeling as if he may well have spent the night running laps of the quidditch pitch rather than in a warm, soft bed.
He'd left Slytherin to find Draco pacing outside the portrait hole, seemingly having thrown all pretence to the wind in his nervousness. It must have been sheer luck that he hadn't been cursed by any passing Slytherins wondering why a Gryffindor was hanging around outside their common room. Harry had expected to be subjected to a litany of Things a Malfoy Does Not Do, just as he had endured the previous night (which had probably contributed to his sleepless night of worry), but instead Draco had given him a terse nod, before biting his lip and accompanying him to the Great Hall for breakfast. Thankfully only two Ravenclaws crossed their path on the way there and they were too involved in their own conversation to give the odd pair a second glance.
Draco had been in a bad mood for the past day, and Harry was thankful that he didn't seem in the mood for talking, but at the same time he couldn't help feeling resentful at the hopeless glances Draco kept favouring him with. He wasn't thatbad an actor, his dancing was passable at worst, even by pureblood standards, and while he might not have masteredthe list of curses precisely, he could certainly perform all of them after three tries at worst and he had even controlled his winces at the results.
Breakfast had been an even worse affair. His house members had noticed his dark mood and left him out of their conversations. Harry would have been thankful but it only meant that he was able to notice exactly how many times Ron glared at him from across the room, and it put him quite off his food.
And now here he was, making his way down to the carriages with Theodore Nott at his side, the only other Slytherin in his group of friends who was also returning home. Once they had boarded the Hogwarts express, Harry would enjoy yet another long stretch of hours in which there would be nothing better to do than to sleep, and he was sure he would have just as much success in that as he had last night. Draco had said he would make the journey to London with him and just stay on the train until it returned to Hogwarts, but he had not made it past Professor McGonagall who had pulled him up as he'd neared the school gates and expressly forbade him to continue without permission from the headmaster or the Dursleys - she of course did not know about the body-swap. Harry couldn't believe neither of them had thought that of course Harry Potter would be missed leaving the school unexpectedly. But then both of them had been preoccupied with Harry's upcoming task.
"Not looking forward to seeing the parents?" Theo offered as a hopeful conversation starter.
"You have no idea." Harry growled, picking up his pace and leaving him behind.
…ooo000ooo…
"How did you get here?" were Harry's first words when Draco appeared in the carriage door opening.
"Ran up to the school for the invisibility cloak." Draco said briskly, closing the door behind him, and falling into the seat opposite him.
"You cut it pretty fine." commented Harry, as the train shuddered into motion.
"Honeydukes tunnel." Draco said, reaching into his pocket and flashing a corner of old, worn parchment at him, one which Harry would recognise anywhere.
Harry grinned "Finally found an excuse to use it, have you?"
Draco gave a half-hearted smile and then sunk further into the padded seat.
Harry watched him for a while, smile fading. "You know, it might turn out okay."
Draco turned to the window "And if it's not? Chances are, you'll be ignored the whole time, but…"
"You don't think so?" Harry finished, hope fading fast.
Draco gave a grim smile, not moving his eyes from the rolling countryside.
The first hour of the journey passed in silence, but the arrival of the food trolley seemed to wake Draco from his miserable stupor, and he got to his feet to purchase a pie and a bottle of pumpkin juice.
"What are you so upset about?" Harry ventured, now that his companion was showing signs of life.
Draco chewed and swallowed, lowering his piece of pie. He took his time, and finally answered. "I suppose I've never really had to worry too much about…" he tailed off, but then began again, his voice sounding more forced "…about people knowing about me. What my life's like, I mean." he clarified. "I was - brought up to keep our family's secrets…" Draco looked as if he had to force out every word. Harry knew how Draco hated to sound like an emotional Hufflepuff. "It's a hard thing to let go of. Although," he bit his lip "that's not it either." He looked up, meeting Harry's eyes "I haven't got great parents. They're not good people. " his jaw twitched, and he looked at the floor "Well, I suppose mother's not bad, but father…"
"You're embarrassed." Harry concluded.
"Ashamed." Draco corrected, looking away. "And worried." he added.
"About little old me?" Harry tried to inject some light-heartedness into the conversation, and it worked.
"About little old you." Draco smiled a little, sitting up. "Your dancing will never fool the witches."
Harry laughed. "How were Ron and Hermione, before we left?" he changed the subject, and Draco looked relieved "Ron looked pretty pissed at breakfast…"
Draco scowled. "Granger is practically ignoring me now that she's found out I'm not the real deal. And Weasley…" his expression turned nasty "what a pathetic excuse of a wizard." his voice drifted into mumbling insults, including the expression muggle-loving -and Harry frowned at the inclusion of terms which he hadn't heard from Draco since they first started talking this year.
Harry supposed the wiser course would have been to steer the conversation onto the topic of quidditch or something different, but instead he started eating the chocolate frogs he'd bought from the trolley and decided to let Draco stew in silence while he inspected his new chocolate frog cards and went over dance steps and curses in his head.
It was the wrong thing to do.
Harry grew tenser and tenser as they neared London and anticipated whatever Mr and Mrs Malfoy were likely to inflict on him, and Draco punctuated the silence by outbursts about Ron, who had clearly offended him deeply by his turn-about in affection. This show of jealousy put Harry in an even worse mood.
Finally Harry gritted his teeth and spoke up. "If you make one more crack about the Weasleys Draco, I swear-"
"Oh can it Potter, I'm entitled to my own opinion." Draco snapped.
"Keep it to your bloody self then." Harry muttered under his breath, and Draco pretended not to hear him. They fell into nervous silence again. Harry kept thinking about Draco's words and felt a growing irritation and anger, no doubt spurred by his nerves looking for something else to focus on.
"You know," he burst out suddenly "it wouldn't hurt for you to try and see things from Ron's family's point of view for once! Put yourself in their shoes! You're so - vindictive all the time, but I bet you've never even thought about what it must be like to have no money!"
Suddenly it was if things had reverted back to first year and they were bickering as if the past four months had not even happened.
Draco gave him a cold stare. "I don't see him doing that for me."
Harry spluttered "Why should he! He doesn't make fun of you for having money!"
"He would if it made any sense to do such a thing." came the petulant reply
"You're just being ridiculous. It was youthat started this feud with him, remember? On the train in first year?"
"Well this is now, that was then. Besides, I have been making an effort with your filthy friends. Remember, I've been living with them for the past few months!"
Filthy? Harry was incensed
"Only because you had to, to keep your cover! If you could just show them that it wasn't all an act-"
"You know Potter, that's the worst thing." Draco shot back, looking flushed and upset "It really wasn't an act, towards the end. They were actually growing on me - but as soon as they found out I wasn't the Great and Noble Potter whose farts unicorns and sunshine, I was cast aside like a dead house elf."
Draco turned away from Harry to face the window, looking murderous.
"Draco..." Harry said softly then sighed "How are they supposed to have known you weren't constantly thinking horrid thoughts about them? I'll speak to them for you when I get ba-"
"Don't bother Potter." snarled Draco, and Harry felt irritation at the brush off
"Stop calling me that, will you-"
"You know what? Why don't you just stop talking. And whilst you're at it, maybe it wouldn't hurt if you took a moment to think of things from my point of view. Yes, I started things in first year, but if you stupid Gryffindors ever took a moment to think why-"
"The world doesn't revolve around you Draco," Harry said angrily, "We had better things to do than analyse your petty temper tantrums!"
"The Weasleys live in a shack like house elves in a shed!" Draco snapped "Why would you think I'd ever have had reasons to think of them as anything other than tramps or muggles, by some miracle allowed to go to school with real people!"
"You are impossible, Malfoy." Harry spat, getting to his feet "I'm going to sit somewhere else before I say something I regret."
"Fine. Go kiss up to Granger and Weasley, see if I care." Draco said "Lucky for you they're on the train. Heading back to the Weasel Hole, I hear!"
"You know what, I willgo talk to them."
"You'll understand when you see the manor." Draco said mutinously. "Just you compare it to their hovel then, you'll see."
Harry shook his head in disgust and exited the carriage.
…ooo000ooo…
Harry didn't bother finding Ron and Hermione. He didn't want to sit in hostile silence yet again with only different companions. He found an empty carriage and spent the remaining hours watching the countryside pass by.
When the train reached London however, Harry got to his feet and cast an uncertain glance towards the nearest door and back down the train where he knew Draco was sitting alone. The train was slowing now, and Harry finally made his decision and marched back down the narrow corridor.
Draco was standing by a door, staring listlessly outside as the platform appeared through the glass. He noticed Harry, but his expression remained blank as he looked at him and then back to the platform.
"I'll be seeing you in a week." Harry said as the doors opened.
Draco didn't reply, but stepped out of the train and Harry followed him, confused. Wasn't Draco going back to Hogwarts?
They were standing at the furthest end of the platform, mostly hidden from the rest of the people by a jutting part of the station building, which left the last door of the last train compartment with a section of platform only four feet wide to embark on.
"Well. Bye then, I suppose." Harry said, and for a moment they stood in silence, watching the somewhat sparse crowd get off the Hogwarts Express, Draco looking torn between sulking and replying, and Harry unwilling to leave the safety of the alcove to the awaiting arms of his 'family'.
Finally, Draco spoke, his voice strained "I would tell you to get out there before I hug you…"
Harry turned in surprise.
"but you Gryffindors thrive on that sort of sentimental rot."
Draco stood there for a few long seconds looking awkward, cheeks growing flushed until Harry realised like the idiot he was that this was supposed to be an apology of sorts and that a response was required. Two courses of actions opened up before him, one which would cement their newly recovered hostility from the episode on the train, and one which wandered into emotional regions he wasn't quite at ease with just yet, especially after their earlier quarrel.
Harry drew himself up and affected a perfect Malfoy sneer and chose something in between.
"I think you'll find I'm more Slytherin that you expect." he said coldly, and turned away. He didn't quite manage to quash the traitorous smirk that was trying to escape as he took the first step into the crowd of waiting families, and he hadn't missed the fleeting expression of hurt and disappointment on Draco's face, but he couldn't cave in yet.
He took another two quick steps before stopping and twirling on the spot and running back to where Draco was beginning to re-board the train already, his expression shuttered. He looked up sharply at the sound of Harry's expensive shoes scuffing the platform, and his face showed first alarm then suspicion as he took on the wide smile on the approaching face.
"What-?!" his voice cut off as Harry jumped him, arms wrapping around his shoulders tightly.
"Still a Gryffindor at heart though!" Harry muttered into Draco's read and gold scarf, sniggering and Draco's shoulders relaxed, but he was already trying to shove Harry off him.
"Very funny!" Draco snapped, but Harry could feel the vibrations of a silent laugh beginning in the chest that was pressed against his, and his own smile only grew wider, though he allowed himself to be pushed away, and reluctantly let go.
Draco was red faced and giving Harry a glare that was nowhere near the potency it had the potential of reaching, and Harry focussed on his lips, which were quirking into a smirk that Draco was clearly trying to repress before it turned into a laugh.
Harry, suddenly feeling filled with warmth and light, wondered if perhaps now was the time for acting without thinking, and was on the brink of some rash action when Draco's eyes settled on something behind Harry and his expression sobered up somewhat.
"Way to put on a show, Malfoy." Draco said, pursing his lips in a manner that Harry knew was hiding amusement.
Harry turned around.
Ron, Hermione and Neville Longbottom were standing just inside the train door, looking utterly gob smacked.
Excorio - I flay
Decollo - I behead, decapitate
A/N - I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter; it's mostly made up of joining moments…I'm beginning to focus more on what's still to come, but I've got to get through so many minor details first! Still, please review…and while you're at it, read SwimDraconian's fic Circular Reasoning, I read it recently and thought it was incredible but forgot to give it a shout in the last chapter update. If you're looking for more Drarry, please take a look at my other WIP Improbable Vs Impossible, which I'm looking for reader input for.
Please Review! It makes me happy