So sorry for the long, long delay. This chapter had been extremely hard to write for some reason.
Hopefully it's worth the wait.
IIIII
Chapter 24
Last Gig, Loyalty Percentage and The Game
"This is a bad idea" whispered Blaine but followed after his friend anyways. Kurt's eyes were sharp; he had a determined face on and he had never seen him this… on the crazy side of things to put it politely. He wondered if this was how New Directions worked; the gossip he had exchanged with Kurt suddenly seemed a lot more real and less farfetched.
"We are just following him" said Kurt peeking around the corner.
"Do you even listen to yourself?" asked Blaine with a worried look. "Besides, if you remember correctly you are the worst spy in…" Kurt swirled around leveling him with a glare, his mouth promptly snapped shut. Scary.
"We haven't been able to talk to him and I'm done playing nice" Kurt said, his eyes sparkling in anger. Blaine discretely took a cautious step back.
Kurt moved back to his position, seeing Harry calmly exit in his car despite the fact that curfew was already in place.
"Do you think he bribes them?" Blaine asked quietly. He wasn't very comfortable with this idea, but there was no way he would let Kurt go on without him, he owed him that much.
"No, security cameras over there and there" he pointed out. "Even if he bribed them, I doubt they would mess with the system on his behalf."
"…why does this whole thing suddenly seem so seedy?" asked Blaine but was promptly ignored.
"We are going to have to use the entrance on…" as Kurt proceeded to explain a plan that Blaine would have never imagine putting together, mostly because of the illegal aspects of it, a dreadful feeling settled in his stomach.
"How are we even going to follow Harry when we need to do all of that first?" he asked as Kurt used a pin and worked on the lock. Kurt suddenly became uncomfortable and Blaine's eyes narrowed. "What did you do?" he asked urgently.
"I might have paid a taxi driver to follow him and let me know where he ends up… look, the important thing is to focus on the goal of this plan" said Kurt with a small triumphant noise when there was a click on the door.
"Don't you think we are going a bit too far on this?" asked Blaine resigned to go regardless.
Kurt snorted. "Please, if Harry was in our position he would already know where we were heading before we even made plans to go there… or be tracking our phones, or the GPS in our cars, or who knows what. If he finds out, he'll be amused. After all, if you could find my spying attempts endearing, he would definitely find my criminal ways adorable."
"How about the stalking tendencies?"
"Blaine! Focus please."
"Are all those things you tried but couldn't manage to do?" asked Blaine once they were in Kurt's car, which was conveniently parked outside, waiting for the call. He didn't bother to mention to Kurt that Harry would have found it adorable when they were dating, but right now he would probably not appreciate it as much.
"It wasn't only my ideas…" mumbled Kurt.
"Oh my God, please tell me we are not following Rachel's advice" Blaine begged.
"Mercedes was there too" justified Kurt. "Santana and Brittany too…"
"Didn't Rachel send somebody to a crack house? And Mercedes filled a teacher's vintage car with tots? And Santana the…"
"Shut up" mumbled Kurt with a light blush. "It made a lot of sense when we were planning it."
IIIII
Harry carefully measured the distance before taking the shot, the white ball missing by a large marge and Jules laughed.
"You suck at this game Potter" he said sipping his beer and laughing again at Harry's frustrated face.
"Smart ass, just tell me what I did wrong" he said using the cue to lightly smack his back.
"Well, for starters… everything" said Jules and grabbed his cue. "Your posture is all wrong man, and I am not going to grab your hips, so just look at me."
Harry leered crudely with a wolfish grin.
"Not at my ass you jerk!" Jules snapped kicking towards his direction, Harry laughed jumping away.
"Hey, I know for a fact Lisa would be all up for…"
"Do not go there Potter" said Jules pointing his finger at him.
"Your face" Harry said with a breathless laugh. "Oh, that was priceless."
"Me and my girlfriend are not going to let you into our bed" he said with a pointed look.
"Aw, but you two are so cute!" he said smirking.
"Ok Harry, stop making him uncomfortable. If you carry on, I am bringing up the reason you're being flirty and go second year Psychology student on your ass" said a female voice joining them.
"Please, we all know why, it's called healing process" said Harry with a shrug. "And you need a special kind of requirements you do not meet to get near my ass."
"It's called being a slut" she reprimanded. "Also, I have no interest in your ass and don't think we are ok with being your backup friends."
"You are not my backup friends" said Harry with an easy going smile. "I promise you're the cool ones, I bought my back up friends so they agree with everything I say."
"You only come out with us when you are single" said Jules.
"It's because of how open minded and easy going you are" said Harry with a wink. "And the beer…"
"Which you are paying for!" said Jules raising his drink.
"Naturally" said Harry taking position.
"Damn, you do have a nice ass" said Lisa. Harry looked over his shoulder and winked as he made the shot.
Jules looked at him unimpressed. "You are supposed to use the white ball to hit the others, not the others to hit the white ball."
"Whatever dude, I'm just learning to look aloof and mysterious from afar… and pretty, I'm always looking for ways to increase my attractiveness" said Harry shrugging and making Lisa almost choke on her beer. Jules leaned towards his girlfriend, giving a long suffering sigh. She cooed at him, kissing him lightly.
Harry ignored them, turning to the pool table and making a proper shot that the couple missed entirely.
IIIII
"Well… it doesn't seem like he's with either of them" said Blaine finally, the knot in his stomach lessening somewhat. They had both watched anxiously as Harry laughed and flirted with the guy by the pool table, but it was now clear it had been a friendly kind of flirting… like he used to do with Blaine sometimes.
Kurt nodded, playing with his drink absently. Puck had procured them fake ID's with a mixture of a proud grin and worried eyes. He had anticipated Harry wasn't sneaking out to places where minors were allowed in. They had ordered to avoid being kicked out, but neither had touched their drinks.
"I think we should go" he finally said.
Blaine smiled sympathetically, a little on the sad side, but nodded. He knew Kurt missed Harry terribly, he did too, but his friend was having a harder time accepting things. For his part, it was a case that Harry had never been his to begin with. It still hurt, he lost a friend and the possibility of what could have been. However Kurt had lost a tangible thing, something real he had depended on and it ate him inside to see him hurting.
He had put on a mask and he carried it around the school, head high and unwilling to let others see how much he was hurting, but with every increasing attempt of talking to Harry that was blocked by people his mask cracked a little. Blaine couldn't help but bitterly see the irony. Kurt had always complained about him and the act he put in Dalton and now that the roles were reversed he could see how off putting it was.
He figured the hurt he was feeling was crushed by the guilt, because that's how he felt. Crushed under massive amounts of guilt; Kurt had been happy. He had been with somebody he loved and who made him feel secure in himself. He knew how difficult it had been for him to start over after transferring to Dalton…
He was so deep in thought that when he stood up he didn't realize he walked into somebody's path, making them spill the two drinks he was carrying over both of them.
"God dammit!" snapped the man.
Blaine froze for a second at the anger directed his way, but promptly snapped to action.
"I'm so sorry!" he said grabbing napkins and offering them to the man. "I'll pay you back for those, I..."
"Stupid kid" said the man angrily wiping beer from himself and muttering more insults under his breath. Blaine blushed mortified, withdrawing slightly.
"He said he was sorry and offered to pay for the beer" said Kurt in an annoyed tone. "There's no need to insult him."
The man took in Kurt for the first time and his sneer doubled. He opened his mouth to say something and they all jumped startled by a loud sound.
"Problem?" asked Harry standing tall, hand still on the pool cue he had loudly smacked against the counter.
"Not yours" the man said glaring at Kurt and Blaine. He made to step forwards towards them in an attempt to intimidate them, but the British boy grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back rudely.
"Here's 10 bucks, it more than covers the drink and the 5 dollar shirt" said Harry with a mocking grin slipping them in the man's jacket.
The man's nostrils flared. "Listen you little shit..."
"John!" said a new voice. "What the hell is going on?"
Harry took in the stranger, who measured him up in response.
"Friend of yours?" asked Harry. The man shrugged.
"Friends of yours?" he said in response with a tilt of his head in Kurt and Blaine's direction. Harry made a noise that could be interpreted either way. "Keep yours on a tighter leash."
"Same advice" said Harry unfazed.
John glared. "Fags" he said with disgust as he was dragged away by his friend.
"Hey John!" Harry called and when the man turned away he punched him. John staggered backwards and fell to the floor with a pained groan. Harry grinned cheerily at him. "Oh, do pardon me, but my knee jerk reaction when somebody is being a fucking twat is to punch them in the face."
"Fuck you" growled the man trying to stand up.
"I have standards" said Harry, he turned giving Kurt and Blaine a look and tilting his head towards a door. His blank face sparked with anger for a second and they complied, very aware most people were paying attention to them.
Knowing the bouncers were on their way, Harry smiled charmingly at the bartender. He started to walk towards where Kurt and Blaine had gone to, raising an arm over his head and making a circular motion with his finger he cockily ordered.
"Round of beers for everybody, on me" he said and the people in the bar cheered. "Don't worry, I tip well" he said with a wink towards the bartender who unable to kick him out now rolled her eyes with a huff.
He opened the door and exited, on the other side there were some tables with closed umbrellas, a part of the bar he knew was very popular during the summer but was empty save for a woman searching her pockets and of course, Kurt and Blaine.
"Got a light?" she demanded with a cigarette dangling from her fingers.
He nodded and pulled the cheap lighter from his pocket; with a fluid movement he held the flame steady for her. By the time he was reaching the two of them, his own cigarette was on his lips.
Kurt scrunched his nose in distaste. "You smoke now?"
"It matches my jacket" said Harry sarcastically. He easily lifted himself over the small brick wall surrounding them, sitting there comfortably despite the chilly air. He lit his cigarette and ignored the petty feeling of pleasure he got from Kurt and Blaine's reproving faces.
He pulled a handkerchief and threw it at Blaine.
"So…" he said with a long drag. "Want me to pretend you just happened to sneak out of Dalton and landed here?"
"It'd be rather pointless wouldn't it?" asked Kurt crossing his arms.
"The whole thing seems pointless to me" shrugged Harry. He studied them for a few seconds and sighed, smoke coming out of his mouth. "What do you want Kurt? We talked already."
"I want to fix things" said Kurt with a vulnerable look.
Harry's eyes softened slightly. "Do you even understand what that means? Just because we 'fix things' and I talk to you again doesn't mean we get back together, it doesn't change the status of our break up, it doesn't change anything… and right now, it'd be an empty gesture, at least from my side."
Kurt sighed. "I just… I…"
"Look, I get it, it's hard to let go, but you'll figure it out… but to do that, you need to stop being afraid of depending on yourself again" said Harry waving at one of his friends to let them know not to interrupt. "This is not you Kurt… you need to let go before this break up drags you down… before I drag you down."
Kurt's phone rang and he jumped startled, he pulled it out and made a face.
"Dad" he said with a tight voice. He wanted to finish talking with Harry but he had the feeling the conversation was done. "Yeah… about to go to bed…" he said moving away from the other two and awkwardly trying to end his daily phone call with his father.
"You're being… pretty civil" said Blaine vaguely gesturing at him.
"I did the emotional wounded boyfriend exit act already" shrugged Harry.
"So what are you doing now?" asked Blaine playing with the handkerchief that was now soaked in beer.
"Last gig as gay mentor" Harry said humorlessly.
"It's funny" said Blaine sadly. "You would have been the person I would have talked to about… all this… and I'm about to lose you too. I don't… I don't know how to deal with any of this and I need you to be the voice of reason but…"
"I hate being the voice of reason" said Harry throwing smoke upwards and watching it drift away. Blaine shifted awkwardly. "I don't know what to tell you Blaine" Harry said honestly. "My experience is limited to being cheated on, not helping to do the cheating... I'm an expert on this part by now."
Blaine winced. "I'm…"
"Sorry, yeah, yeah" shrugged Harry. "It's a broken record I've heard before… just…" he tried to regain the peacefulness he had been feeling so far, but the apology had sparked some visceral reaction in him. He passed a hand over his hair messing it up. Kurt was slipping his phone back into his jacket and he really needed to get out before they dragged him down again. Because they needed to let go of each other before one of them drowned.
"The thing about break ups, the only thing you really need to know, is that you should never let the break up break you" he smirked at them cockily and showed them the remaining of his cigarette. "Exhibit A" he said before taking the final drag and putting it out against the brick wall. He jumped and started to walk away.
"Harry" called Kurt with a wince.
"Oh don't worry" he said walking backwards. "I've been a mess for a long time, way before you came along. I just kind of forgot how much till we broke up" he stood there with his hands in his pocket and grinned in a self-deprecating manner. "I think I let our relationship take over my life too much. As far as my personal life goes, and not counting my friends, it was the only good thing I really had and I'm honestly not saying this to make you feel guilty… but because I get that you are desperately trying to understand what the hell is going on."
"This isn't you" said Kurt crossing his arms.
"How would you know?" asked Harry and shrugged. "You haven't known me that long. You're 16, I'm 17 and we haven't dated each other that long, we'll both move on and…"
"Don't you fucking dare!" snapped Kurt angrily. "You get to be angry and hurt and disappointed, I give you that. Hell, you deserve that, but you don't get to dismiss our relationship in my face because of what happened. You were still my first boyfriend, my first kiss and I love you and I cheated on you, but it doesn't negate our relationship, it just makes me a moron… it was… it…" Kurt seemed at loss of words and Harry took pity on him.
"I know you don't feel kissing Blaine was a mistake, you don't have to justify it to me. You don't have to tell me it meant nothing, because I know you would be lying and I would lose a lot of respect for you if that was the case" he said simply. Kurt's surprised look made him almost smile, instead he leveled them with a blank look. "You love Blaine, and regardless of all that's happening, I know you wouldn't regret kissing somebody you love. You regret the circumstances and timing, not the act."
Blaine's eyes were full of sadness and gratitude, but he lowered them, unable to meet Harry's. As always the British boy could read him inside out. He knew Blaine wouldn't be able to bear hearing his kiss with Kurt was a mistake or meant nothing. That would kill him inside. He fidgeted for a moment, trying to raise enough courage to ask the question on the tip of his tongue.
"No, I don't regret kissing you either Blaine" said Harry as softly as he could. "I do regret doing so at a very inappropriate time and that it gave you both the wrong impression."
"So what now?" asked Kurt. "Are we going to keep waiting until you even out the score or what?"
"I'm not asking you to wait for me to come to an epiphany, I'm not telling you to do anything. I was clear that what you do doesn't concern me anymore" said Harry and leaned forwards slightly, raising his voice to emphasis the point. "We broke up. There is no us, no me telling you anything. You do whatever you want Kurt, you owe me nothing and I hope you understand, really understand, that this applies both ways."
"That's it then" said Kurt desperately seeking some reassurance from Harry, something to hold on to.
"What do you want me to tell you Kurt?" asked Harry dispassionately. "Seriously? What do you want me to tell you? That I still love you? Because I do, that I have feelings for Blaine? Because I do. That seeing you is physically, soul-crushingly painful? Because it is" he stared at both of them tiredly. He was exhausted and was ready to leave. "That I don't have the answers? Because, brace yourselves it was hard for me to accept too, I don't. I don't have the solution to this problem."
Harry took a deep breath. "Can you see it from my point of view just for one second? I am in love with both of you, but I can't stand to think about you because I hate you so bloody much."
"Do you hate us more than you love us?" asked Blaine staring at him with a brokenly.
"You think I would still be here if I did?" asked Harry with a raised eyebrow. "I run. I've done it before and it's easy. I run and start from scratch and I'm good at it. I have enough money and grades to get into any preppy school in here or Europe and I'm conniving enough to bring my friends with me, even trick them if I have to … it'd be easy for me to disappear. Easier than staying… but I'm here… and I don't want to hate you, but it hurts to love you… and I care enough about you not to try to be with you like this. It would be unfair to all of us."
"And you don't know if you'll ever stop" whispered Blaine.
"I guess I'm sticking around till one side wins" said Harry and turned, making his way to the exit, but not before calling over his shoulder. "Ron will open up the back door for you two so you don't have to lock pick it; remind him to put the alarm back on."
IIIII
Kurt and Blaine sat in the car in silence the whole way back; once the car was parked they stayed inside staring at Dalton awkwardly.
"Blaine" said Kurt softly. "Can you promise me something?" Blaine carefully turned to look at him. "Regardless of how things end with Harry, if the three of us get together or… or if we don't… can you promise me we'll still be friends? That things won't change between us? I don't know if we lost Harry… but I do know that I don't want to lose you. Not over this."
"You're my best friend Kurt" said Blaine resisting the urge to grab his hand. "You will always be my best friend and I… I can't lose you. You mean too much to me…"
Kurt nodded once, satisfied. "Do you ever wonder what would have happened if I hadn't met Harry?"
"I used to" admitted Blaine. "Now… now it's just strange to think like that."
"You… you understand why I can't be with you if I'm not with Harry don't you?" asked Kurt bringing a subject they both have shied away from.
"I do" said Blaine firmly. "Do you?"
"Unfortunately" said Kurt yanking his keys back and feeling guilty immediately afterwards. He promised himself to give his car a tune up as an apology.
Ron was there to open the door to them with a condescending expression. "He asked me to tell you he won't help you sneak out again" he punched a code and there was a small beeping noise. He snorted at their flabbergasted faces. "Did you really think it's that easy to sneak out of here? There's an alarm and security cameras literally everywhere they can legally justify."
Kurt shifted awkwardly. "I picked the lock."
"Yes, because a private boarding school that has sons from prominent figures all over the country residing here is easily overcome by a hairpin" he said drily.
"You are always sneaking around" pointed out Blaine.
"Yeah, because Harry's on our side and is 50% British, 50% undiluted evil" said Ron walking besides them. "It's a good balance, makes him too polite to take over the world" he added with a shrug. "Look guys, I hope whatever you managed to get out of him today was enough to wake you up. You need to give him space and I really mean it. We are trying our best to put him back together, but being around you won't help. So please, can you stop trying to force him to accept you back? It won't work and you will all get more hurt in the end."
Kurt half-heartedly glared at him. "I will ok? I don't want to but… I get it."
"Good" said Ron. "And by the way, seriously? You paid a cab driver to follow Harry? That's such a rookie move Hummel. Harry's weekly fund for bribes is bigger than your annual budget for clothes. Never send people after him unless they are 100% loyal to you."
"Are you giving us advice on how to stalk him better?" asked Blaine confused.
Ron rolled his eyes. "I agree with Harry 90% of the time."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"When he comes up with really stupid ideas, I'm behind him most of the time; he doesn't even need to ask. However 3% of the time, Hermione will talk sense into me or, around 2% of the time, I will realize on my own he is trying to do something I really don't want to get involved with… and then there's the 5% of the time I have to go against him for his own good."
Kurt and Blaine stared at him processing those words, and Ron shrugged.
"Then you got Hermione, who is 60% always with Harry, 20% against because he's being stupid and 20% against for his own good" carried on Ron. "The twins are 50% with Harry, 50% wild cards… Luna who is, and always will be 100% with Harry, and I do mean 100%. If I were you, I'd be scared, but anyways. Regardless of how often we agree with him, his plans and his decisions, we are all 100% irrevocably, unquestionably, loyal to him, and I realize now that you guys probably don't understand why we have practically shunned you out…"
"The thought has crossed my mind" said Kurt acidly. "But I understand you are his friends."
"No Kurt, we are his family" corrected Ron. "Hermione, Luna and I are the only people he honestly can say he trusts and that's because we have never turned our backs on him... and Fred and George… well, they have a lot to make up to him. You didn't meet him when he had just moved here. You don't understand what he's been through, but we do and we need to stick by him and do our best to stop him from self-destructing and closing completely to everybody, because he can and will do it if we let him… and right now, our main concern is keeping him here, because he's at flight risk."
Kurt sighed. "Now you're just exaggerating to…"
"No Kurt" said Ron with a serious face. "As long as he has something to fight for, he'll stick around no matter what, but when he's hurt and feels vulnerable, he leaves. It's his thing, it's why he came to Dalton, is why he accepted going to Hogwarts, is why he took so long to come back after what you did… and you have no freaking idea how hard it was for us to keep him here after the Ginny fiasco… I'm just asking, please, give him space because if he feels trapped he's going to hightail it out of here faster than you can understand."
They stared at him with blank expressions, trying to process everything.
"It's late, I need my sleep and I just reached my quota of deep moments this week" said Ron rubbing his eyes. "But for the record, I just want to make you perfectly aware how unprepared you are to play against Harry. You don't even understand the rules of the game…"
IIIII
"So… they were cute" said Lisa. Harry made a noise of agreement while watching Jules play. "Which one were you dating?"
"Does it matter?" asked Harry with a tired sigh.
"I guess not, one of them was looking at you like a kicked puppy and the other was mewing for attention like a starving kitten, so not much of a difference" she said peeling the label off her bottle.
"Cats are a lot more demanding" said Jules helpfully.
"I think you are both high" snapped Harry, his lips twitched into a smile.
"What?"
"Nothing" said Harry. "Is it wrong I find my ex and the guy he cheated with more attractive for their failed criminal ways?"
Lisa snorted. "You practically jumped like your ass was on fire to help them."
"Knight Complex" said Harry simply. "Suffered it for years, hard to live with it, but the real problem is lack of awareness."
His friends rolled their eyes in response.
IIIII
Blaine stared at the ceiling, trying and failing to fall asleep. He could hear Kurt moving in the lower bunk restlessly, but didn't say anything, knowing his friend wouldn't want him to. He turned on his side and cast a longing look to the bigger bed.
He lied to Kurt. Reviewing the words in his head, technically he hadn't. Kurt was his best friend, and he would always be if he had any say on the matter… and yes, he couldn't lose him because he meant the world to Blaine. But… would things change between them if Harry never forgave them? Yes. Definitely yes.
He wouldn't be able to look at Kurt without feeling responsible. It was part of the reason he couldn't say no. He owed Kurt too much now, but he was having a hard time already just spending time with him.
Thankfully he was good at putting on a show. Better than Kurt.
IIIII
Eyes turned as she passed them by, some even tripping over themselves. Her hips swayed from one side to the other temptingly, her dress moving with her in a surreal manner. Her eyes were hidden by her big shades and her hair was perfectly straightened. High heels only served to bring attention to her toned legs. She looked completely composed and everything about her screamed money and perfection. She might as well had been airbrushed and pulled out of a magazine.
"That has to be the hottest chick I have ever seen" whispered somebody, and everybody that heard him agreed to the statement. She had a mobile next to her ear and after a second, she turned sharply, her hair and dress willowing after her as she entered one of the study rooms. A vague melody could be heard from the inside.
"…sudden chill. Cruella, Cruella De Vil… the curl of her lips, the ice in her stare, all innocent children had better…"
"Potter" she said, her accent curling around her tongue and making more than one boy uncomfortable in the process. She snapped her phone shut and the ringtone stopped. "I zee you kept that silly music"
"If it isn't Cruella de Vil in person!" said Harry smirking; he slowly raised his eyes from his book and reassumed his lecture a second later. "Kidnapping Dalmatian's doesn't keep you busy enough?"
"Charmant" she said coldly.
"I try" said Harry, still ignoring her.
"Offer your seat to the lady" she ordered.
"As soon as one comes along" said Harry unconcerned.
In the back of his mind, he realized everybody was listening in on their conversation and this was bound to become gossip in a matter of minutes. Fleur noticed the same thing and they exchanged a look, full of mischief and understanding. The banter they had going so far was typical of them, but now that they had the attention of everybody in the room, Harry knew that Fleur wouldn't be able to resist herself.
"So mean" she said grabbing onto the chair's arm rest so that her body leaned forwards, her face inches apart from Harry's. Her lips were now moving towards his ears, where she giggled coyly.
Harry raised an eyebrow. Just because she wanted to grab people's attention, it didn't mean he had to go with it. He pressed two of his fingers against her forehead and pushed her back.
"This" he said motioning with his other hand to the space between them. "It's what I call personal space. We British are quite protective of that space… unless we are in the tube."
"You keep that space with all pretty girls?" she asked with a giggle.
"Only the soulless ones trying to suck the life out of me" Harry said returning to his book, much to her annoyance. "If that's the reason you came by the way, I have to say somebody called dibs on my soul already."
"Pity" she said and grabbed him by the tie. "Come with me to ze party…"
She gave him a strong yank and Harry's eyes narrowed in annoyance. Before Fleur could realize what was happening, he had grabbed the scissors from the table next to him and cut his tie. She stared at the pieces in her hand and then at Harry.
"Was that necessary?"
Harry stood up, taking the remaining of his ties away. "Fleur, this might come as a surprise to you, but I am not one of your lapdogs. I'll be the first to admit that you are hot, but you are also controlling, high maintenance, crazy and frankly, just not worth the hassle. So, thanks for the invite, and I am sure anybody else here would more than jump at the chance to accompany you, but I got better things to do."
He coolly marched away, leaving Fleur and a room full of astonished boys behind. Fleur's eyes narrowed and she went after him, trembling with fury.
"Potter!" she yelled towards his retreating back. He raised an arm and waved, but didn't turn back. "Do not walk away from moi!" she yelled and hurried after him. She followed him all the way to the gym, where he and Tom had decided to meet to spar against each other.
"I think you are being ridiculous" said Harry placing his bag in the bench.
"I did not ask opinions" she replied, now that they were alone, able to have a normal conversation.
"Bill is a good man" said Harry. "You like him, and I think you are great together. You are being a coward, and stupid too for that matter, in letting things end this way."
"He is not of old family" said Fleur staring at the wall.
"Bullshit" said Harry crossing his arms. "I thought you were better than that Fleur, who fucking cares if he comes from an old family or not?"
"Father does" she said quietly. "I do not wish to be disowned."
"Fine, be miserable for the rest of your life. Cuddle your bank statements, what do I care?" Harry said huffing irritated.
"I need your help" she pleaded. "Father knows I was seeing someone, and I told…"
"No" said Harry his eyes widening. "You told him it was me!"
She winced. "He does not speak English! You only need to nod and smile and I'll talk!"
Harry's eyes narrowed, before slowly a smirk appeared on his face.
IIIII
"So you are really going with her?" asked Ron surprised. Harry looked down at his formal clothes and then at his friend, raising an eyebrow.
"No, I just really like to wear tuxedos in my spare time" he said sarcastically. "I told her I would go, only if she pretended to break up with me and never, ever involve me in one of her schemes" muttered Harry.
"And…" insisted Ron.
"And she agreed to be part of three schemes of my choice" smirked Harry. "Hey, it's always useful to have a drop dead gorgeous girl at hand. Hermione had so much potential, but that pesky morality of hers keeps getting in the way."
"If it wasn't for her I'm pretty sure you would have lost any connection to your morals by now."
"It would have been beautiful" sighed Harry wistfully.
IIIII
"Luna?" asked Harry surprised to see her at the entrance of Dalton; she was flawlessly dressed as always in a strangely charming dress. It had been tastefully decorated on one side, with what he assumed were peacock feathers and her shoes had received a similar treatment.
"It is imperative I go to this dinner" she said simply, staring at him with a blank look.
Harry's lips twitched. "Ok then, far be it for me to get in your way. Shall we?" he asked extending his arm.
"We shall" she said looping hers around his.
"So, how's Sophie in bed?" asked Harry opening the door for her.
"Dexterous" she replied serenely. Harry hummed in vague acknowledgment. "How about you? Have any of the floozies you picked showed you a new trick?"
"Nothing I didn't know, but I got to try a position I always wanted to do" said Harry.
"Do tell" she said with an interested face.
"You do it against a wall, and her leg had to go…"
"Oh my God!" they turned to see George and Fred gaping at them.
"I'm outraged!" hissed one of them.
"How come you have excluded us…"
"Of these conversations for so long?"
"Luna is my wing-woman; I'm her wing-man. It's a special bond, and no offense to you both…" started to say Harry shrugging and the twins puffed in preparation to be offended.
"You're kind of prudes" said Luna when Harry hesitated. They gaped at her. "In a perverted scale, Hermione and Ron would be around here" said Luna putting her hand in the air, palm extended and around her neck. She glanced at Harry who nodded in confirmation. She moved her hand lower.
"Angelina and Katie would be below that definitely at roughly the same level" agreed Harry. Luna raised her hand, but didn't reach where Ron and Hermione had been classified. "That'd be Fred, and George slightly higher" carried on Harry. Luna then raised her hand around her eyes. "That'd be our lovely wayward angel here" said Harry kissing Luna's temple and she smiled at him, before raised herself in her tiptoes and extending her arm as far as it would go.
"And here is where our lord of depravity, decadency and deviancy watches over us and tries to further corrupt us with his evil ways" she said sending a flirty look at Harry who winked at her.
"What the fuck?" asked Fred mouth gaping. "George and Ron are above me?"
"Ron and Hermione are above me?" said George dumbfounded.
"If you have to ask, clearly you don't know Hermione like we do" said Luna with an innocent look.
"But Ron?" pressed George further.
"Forget Ron, why am I lower than him!?" said Fred shoving his brother slightly away.
"He almost got a tattoo on his butt once... and he keeps trying every time he drinks Margaritas, I actually had to bribe every tattoo parlor in the state to forbid his entrance" said Harry dismissively. "Ok, we are out of time, but let me give this parting shot. Have any of you gotten to first base with a guy?" asked Harry. They frowned at him. "Because Ron dearest has..."
Harry and Luna turned around, mouthing a count down until they heard
"WHAT!?" yelled at the same time.
"You almost got a freaking tattoo!?"
"That's what you're focusing on!?"
Luna and Harry fist bumped as they walked to his car.
IIIII
"Oooh, I see" said Harry smirking as he watched Sophie walk by with a tray of food. "Coming to check your girlfriend in uniform, totally approve."
"She looks hot with a tie" said Luna dreamily.
"Permission to check out your girlfriend" Harry said politely not looking her way.
"I give you 5 seconds and I recommend her ass" said Luna after a second.
"I can hear you!" said Sophie walking towards them. "And please, my boobs are way better than my ass."
"Give me 3 more seconds and I'll be the tie breaker" said Harry to Luna.
"You got 2" she replied.
Harry quickly ranked his eyes up and down Sophie. "Definitely her ass…"
"What? You guys suck at this. Fuck, forget about that, Harry you're in deep shit" she mumbled while putting a fake smile and slowly directing them to their table. "They told me to sit you at the main table, with the fancy guests. One of them is a major asswipe, but worse than that, your… table is just this way" she said cheerily when they passed another waiter. She pointed with her eyes and Harry froze when he saw the seating arrangements.
"Fuck my life" he muttered. "Professor!" he said with fake enthusiasm.
"Harry" said the man smirking at him. "I was just chatting with the lovely Ms. Delacour about your relationship. How horrid of you to keep us in the dark…"
Fleur looked pained. Luna took a seat without prompting. The Dean of Dalton seemed confused, but smiled none the less. "Isn't it wonderful Mr. Potter? Professor Grindelwald decided to alter his plans to join us today after finding out you would be here."
"Oh, that fills me with such joy Professor" he said subtly glaring at the man who smirked over his wine glass. "Especially when you were here not that long ago, one would think a man of your repute would have better and more important things to do than grace us with his presence."
"Oh, pish posh Harry! You know I am delighted to see a former Hogwarts student thriving in a different environment" he said and they smiled with fake politeness at each other.
"'Arry, dear" said Fleur daintily resting her hand over his arm and subtly digging her nails.
"Fleur" he smiled and took the hand, pressing a kiss to the back of her palm. "As always, you look radiant" he lowered his voice. "I hate you…"
Fleur faked a giggle and gave him a warning look, before turning to her father who had been watching them with cold eyes. Harry made use of his very poor French to introduce himself, but allowed Fleur to take over the 'translation'. He was sure she was embellishing everything he said.
He spared a second from his boyfriend act to glare at Luna. He knew, she knew, he knew, but it was ok. She was perfectly aware that despite his very real annoyance at her meddling, he could appreciate a plan well executed. After all, he had been the one to teach her all the tricks of the art. He would take his own revenge later on.
"So" said Luna turning to the person next to her. "How is the cheating life treating you both?" she whispered with a sweet smile. She grabbed her glass of water to hide the moment it turned into a vicious smirk. Sure, getting Sophie in that tight uniform of hers was pretty amazing, but having a front row seat for this once on a lifetime show? That was priceless.
Kurt and Blaine ignored her, more focused on the fact Harry was the supposed perfect 'boyfriend' the girl in front of them had been gushing about since they arrived.
IIIII
On the other end of the table, Gellert Grindelwald studied all the players at the table and calculated how to best use them for his goals. He vaguely recognized the two uniformed students. They were staring at Harry with something close to shock. He had two theories about it, either they knew the boy Harry's real relationship was with or… he would hold on to the second theory until he had some more solid evidence.
He dismissed the Dalton dean, his wife and the members of the board immediately; the man was a simpleton whose goal of the night was to get more funding for his school and relied far too much on his policies as a selling point. They were pawns at the best and were meant to be sacrificed at his convenience.
The blond girl, a friend of Harry's seemed entirely too amused by the whole situation and willing to just let it play out in front of her, he dismissed her too. She wouldn't be of any help to him. She belonged to the other player in the table and his only hope was to get her out of the game.
Monsieur Delacour and his daughter were an interesting factor he hadn't anticipated. There was something going on there he would figure out later. At the moment he knew he couldn't count on her, for she was clearly depending on Harry for something. However her father, if pushed in the right direction could help.
He almost smiled with fondness and allowed himself a second to reminisce.
"Alright Harry, this is your first formal dinner. Repeat the rules to me" he ordered while his pupil carefully did his tie.
"First step is to do strategic planning…"
"How do you do that?" he asked.
"Calculate the value of people and be ready to discard them should they be of no use to me" he started with a confident air. "Be aware of the paths the useful players can open and close for me. Carefully select the topics, do not openly undermine anybody, because I don't have the reputation or necessary dirt on them to survive an attack. Take advantage of those who would underestimate me because of my age…"
He carried on until he had recited every instruction, rule and tactic perfectly.
"And most importantly?" he asked one last time, keeping the gleaming pride of his eyes in check.
Harry slowly and cheekily smirked at him. "Never show my full hand."
"Good, very good… in theory. Let's see you in practice" he said and hummed. "I think your goal for tonight is to get an invitation to the Greengrass ball next week. I suspect it shall be an almost impossible, but we shall see…"
He could see Harry's calculating eyes roaming around the table, preparing himself and trying to spot any weaknesses before they appeared. They were evenly matched at the moment. Harry had a better position for once, because while he couldn't know where his mentor was trying to direct them to, he had a better insight on all the players.
He and Harry exchanged looks, both mentally prepared for the game ahead. He felt a small thrill of anticipation. Harry had been a formidable opponent in the past, his inexperience causing him to make mistakes, but his ruthlessness more than covered for them. He reminded himself of his goal and nodded to the teenager, a nod he discretely returned.
The game had officially started.
He grinned, his wild card was here.
"Ah, the last of our guests has finally arrived, sit next to Harry my boy" he said borrowing a page from Dumbledore's book and smiling at him with grandfatherly affection. "Harry, I do believe you already are familiar with Mr. Riddle here" he turned to the rest of the table. "Tom is going to be attending Hogwarts next year; he shall be taking some of my classes as a matter of fact!"
"Indeed I will. I can't wait for graduation" said Tom charmingly. He and Harry looked at each other and the tension in the room spiked.
"You will love it there Tom, I have very fond memories of Hogwarts and the professors there" intervened Harry and while Tom introduced himself to the board, he gave Luna a look.
She nodded slowly. Clearly staying back and enjoying the show was no longer an option. She almost clapped her hands in excitement, but refrained herself. Her first real life chess game was about to begin. The rook in front of her evaluated everybody in the table, and turned to her, acknowledging his fellow player and she smiled in return, accepting the challenge.
"In real life chess, like in the normal game each player has a value" said Harry to a perfectly still Luna. "Pawns 1, knights 3, bishops also 3, rooks 5, the queen 9 and of course the King, which in this case is the player controlling the game… I'll tell you more about general strategy in a second, but I'll explain mine" she leaned forwards completely absorbed. Harry grinned with a mischievous look. "Always hide a queen among the rooks..."
They had no idea who they were playing against. Crushing them would be nothing but a delightful addition to her night. She didn't let her eyes stray to Sophie; it wouldn't do to make them realize the board extended beyond the table.
IIIII
Things are going to get intense and interesting next chapter… I'll try to update asap!
My mom spent a month here visiting and I honestly had no time to do anything, because when I wasn't at uni she wanted to go do tourism crap and spend quality time together, and I love her, but I moved across the ocean for a reason. Either way, she left and I finally had the time to sit down and get this ready for you.
All the best and again, sorry!
I will update the Purple Book this weekend as an apology.
SweetCaroline91
PS: I will try to reply to some reviews, but if I don't I'm honestly sorry for that too.