Chapter 6
When the twins returned to their compartment, they've told Ron and Hermione what happened at Compartment C, both boys agreeing to keep out their conversation with Blaise for now. They will tell Ron and Hermione about that later… for now Harry was worried about both McLaggen's stares and Draco Malfoy. He only told Ron and Hermione about McLaggen's staring.
"That's just creepy mate," Ron said. "You think he fancies you?"
"Maybe… I don't know," Harry said. "If he does… I don't know how to feel about that. Do you, James?"
James frowned and crossed his arms. "I don't know… I don't know much about McLaggen. Do any of you guys?" he asked looking at Ron and Hermione, who both shook their heads. "Well… Harry looks like we're just going to have to ask around."
Harry nodded, "Yeah… looks like it."
They changed into their robes and the train station slowed to a stop as it came closer to Hogsmeade Station. Harry and James stuck close together as the normal chaos of students exiting the train occurred. The four managed to find a carriage all to themselves. Harry looked out the window to see Blaise and Malfoy entering a carriage with Crabbe and Goyle. He frowned as he remembered Blaise's confession about Malfoy. "Harry? What you thinking of?" Ron asked, breaking his thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh nothing," Harry blushed. He looked out the window one last time before turning to Ron. "Do you think people change?" he asked. "Like if a person was a real prat, do you think it's possible for him to turn into an actual human being?"
"Well, anything's possible Harry," Hermione said. "I mean, we surely aren't the same people as when we were eleven. I mean, look at James and Ron for physical proof," she added with a small blush. "So I think it is possible for a guy to change from… a prick… into a decent person. Why? Who are you talking about?"
"No one… just a guy I heard about," Harry said vaguely. James looked at Harry, a puzzling look in his eyes. "Harry…"
"I told him… if he wants to talk with me he can," Harry whispered. "But I won't wait forever."
James nodded and looked at Ron. "So, any ideas on where you'll be taking Creevey for your date?" he said, wanting to change the subject.
Ron blushed and bit his lip. "I don't know maybe somewhere where we can talk… get to know each other… make sure I'm not making a mistake," he said muttering the last part.
James and Harry laughed while Hermione frowned. "You better not be playing on his emotions, Ron," she warned.
"I'm not! I'm not don't worry," Ron said casually. He leaned back, his muscles flexing. Harry blushed and bit his lip as the need to touch the muscles came and went. He shuffled in his seat so he was closer to James, their arms touching. He felt a little be calmer at the contact. His lips curled upward in a smile and he rested his head on James's shoulder. "So James," Ron said. "Any idea on when the Quidditch Tryouts will be?"
"Haven't thought of it yet," James said. "I think I want to learn more about McLaggen first to be honest. If he's after my brother, I want to make sure he's a guy who'll make Harry feel safe."
"Seems good," Ron nodded. He looked at Harry and gave him a confident smile, "Want me to rough him up a bit if it comes to it?"
"Ron!"
"What? It's a joke, Hermione," Ron said, flinching under Hermione's narrow glare. Hermione looked unconvinced but she stopped glaring.
"I don't think I'll need you to do that Ron," Harry said. "That's why I got James here for."
"Exactly," James smirked. He looked outside the carriage. "Finally can see the castle," he said.
"Good, I'm starving," Ron said. "Hope the sorting goes fast so we can eat."
"Honestly Ron," Hermione sighed shaking her head slightly. "It's as if you only think with your stomach."
The carriages rolled to a stop in front of the gates of Hogwarts. Harry looked out the window to see Filch, the caretaker of Hogwarts, standing outside the gates holding Sensory Sensors, poking and prodding the students as they've walked through the gates and onto Hogwarts grounds. Filch like to poke students he particularly didn't like extra hard with the Sensory Sensors, which only went off once as he prodded Goyle, who had a shrunken head which Filch confiscated. When it was James and Harry's turn Filch poked them both hard in the ribs with the Sensors before allowing them to continue up the path to the castle. Harry was still rubbing his body as they went into the Entrance Hall, followed the crowd through it, and into the Great Hall. Harry looked up at the staff table and grinned at Hagrid, who waved at him and James. Harry was surprised to see the Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, sitting on Hagrid's side' she rarely left her tower room, and he had never seen her at the start-of-term feast before. She looked as odd as ever, glittering with beads and trailing shawls, her eyes magnified to enormous size by her spectacles. Having always considered her a bit of a fraud, Harry had been shocked to discover at the end of the previous term that it had been she who had made the prediction that caused Lord Voldemort to kill Harry and James' parents and attack the twins themselves. The knowledge had made him even less eager to find himself in her company, but thankfully, this year he and James would be dropping Divination. Her great beaconlike eyes swiveled in his direction; he hastily looked away toward the Slytherin table where Zabini and Malfoy were already sitting down. An odd feeling bubbled in his stomach as he thought of Malfoy.
There was a general loudness of chatter as the last of the returning students sat down to their seats. Dumbledore stood up, raised his hands, and a silence fell. The doors opened and Professor McGonagall walked into the Great Hall shepherding the new students between the four tables and towards the Sorting Hat. Harry briefly wondered how his life would have changed if he allowed the hat to place him in the house the Hat wanted him to be. Would the rumors be better or worse? Would Krum have stayed with him in fourth year? The two would have had more opportunities to talk during meals, so maybe. But more importantly, would he and James have the relationship they did now?
The last question scared Harry the most. He didn't want to think about any other relationship with James than the one he currently had. His older brother was his rock, his constant source of love and strength. Anywhere James is, that is where Harry's home will be found. Their relationship is perfect, needed… just the two of them against the world.
Harry watched as the Sorting Hat sang its song, and the long progress of the First years being sorted began. Harry only half-paid attention, his mind elsewhere. He cheered with the Gryffindors when a student was sorted into them, but he mostly kept quiet, his eyes staring out towards the Slytherin Table. If he had to be honest with himself, he is more Slytherin than Gryffindor sometimes. The spells he cast… his Parseltongue… he never felt guilty or even bad using them. He even wanted to learn more but… but would that cause him to become a Dark Wizard?
"Harry? Anything the matter? The Sorting's over," James's voice snapped Harry out of his thoughts. He looked around to see food in front of them, Ron already eating.
"Ohh, oops," Harry said.
"What were you doing Harry?" James asked softly.
"Nothing, just thinking about stuff. Nothing for you to worry about James," Harry said. James frowned but he kept quiet. He left Harry to his thoughts as the two ate their dinner. Harry couldn't help but get an odd feeling as he ate, as if somebody was staring at him constantly. Looking around, his first thought was to look at Slytherin Table, but nobody there was even looking their way: Malfoy was talking to Blaise about something as Crabbe and Goyle flanked them like silent statues. He looked around the staff table, but nobody was staring at him from there. Finally he decided to look down his own Gryffindor Table to see Cormac McLaggen giving him looks every now and then. McLaggen's cheeks turned rosy when Harry saw him and the older Gryffindor quickly turned away.
Dumbledore got to his feet at the staff table. The talk and laughter echoing around the Hall died away almost instantly. "The very best evenings to you!" he said, smiling broadly, his arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room.
"What happened to his hand?" Hermione gasped.
She was not the only one who had noticed, Dumbledore's right hand was as blackened and dead-looking as it had been on the night he had come to fetch Harry and James from the Dursleys. Whispers swept the room; Dumbledore, interpreting them correctly, merely smiled and shook his purple-and-gold sleeve over his injury.
"Nothing to worry about," he said airily. "Now… to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you…"
"His hand was like that when he came to get us," James whispered to Hermione. "We thought he'd have cured it by now, though …or Madam Pomfrey would've done."
"It looks as if it died," Hermione said, with a nauseated expression. "But there are some injuries you can't cure … old curses …and there are poisons without antidotes. …"
"…and Mr. Filch has asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items brought at the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
"Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise.
"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn" –Slughorn stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight, his big waistcoated belly casting the table below into shadow—"is a former colleague of mine who had agreed to resume his old post of Potions master."
"Potions?"
"Potions?"
The word echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they head right.
"Professor Snape, meanwhile," Dumbledore said, raising his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, "will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"No!" Harry and James said, so loudly that many heads turned in their direction. They didn't care; they were both staring up at the staff table, incensed. How could Snape be given the Defense Against the Dark Arts job after all this time?
Snape, who was sitting on Dumbledore's right, did not stand up at the mention of his name ; he merely raised a hand in lazy acknowledgement of the applause from the Slytherin table, yet Harry was sure he could detect a look of triumph on the features he loathed so much.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. It seemed the entire hall erupted in a buzz of conversation at the news that Snape had finally achieved his heart's desire. Seemingly oblivious to the sensational nature of the news he had just imparted, Dumbledore said nothing more about staff appointments, but waited a few seconds to ensure that the silence was absolute before continuing.
"Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however, irksome you might find them. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety."
Dumbledore's blue eyes wept over the students before he smiled once more. "But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say good night. Pip pip!"
James turned to Harry and grabbed his arm as the usual deafening scraping noise of benches moving back and hundreds of students beginning to file out of the Great Hall toward their dormitories filled the air. "You! Are not leaving my sight," James said loudly, his grip tightening.
"And neither are you," Harry said, pulling his arm out of James's hand so he could grab it with his. Holding hands, they've joined the crowd of Gryffindors to Gryffindor Tower. The twins sat down in a sofa in the corner, waiting for Ron and Hermione to finished giving the tour to the First years.
McLaggen walked up to them and this was the first time Harry had a good look at the boy. He was large, a nice filled frame with bulging arm muscles and a rather tight and semi-transparent shirt under his robes which he opened that showed a perfect set of abs. "Hello Harry," the wire-haired youth smiled.
"Uh, hi… Cormac," Harry said, his eyes shifting to James. Cormac McLaggen seemed to ignore James entirely as he focused on Harry.
"Since we're both members of Ol' Sluggy's club, I think we should know each other a little more," McLaggen smiled. "I would love to learn more about you."
"Like what?" Harry asked, his eyes fixated on Cormac's shirt. James watched, his eyes narrowing.
"Well… I just want to know more about you generally," McLaggen said. "You know: favorite things, things you hate… that kind of stuff."
"What? Does reading the Prophet not give you enough?" James snapped.
"Who asked you?" McLaggen said quickly, his face turning red. "I'm talking with your brother, not you."
"No, you're talking to my twin and younger brother," James said. "Anything you want to say to Harry here, you can say to me."
They held a glaring contest, Harry fidgeting awkwardly between them. McLaggen broke first and leaned down to Harry, whispering in his ear. "Why don't we meet later Harry? Privately? I'll show you more shirts like these since you like them so much… I'll model for you, and maybe you'll model for me." Harry's face turned red with blush as his breath hitched, his mind going to himself and McLaggen wearing transparent shirts. McLaggen nipped Harry's earlobe and smirked as he pulled away. "I'll see you later Harry," he said. "James." He nodded stiffly.
McLaggen walked away closing his robes as he did so. "What did he say to you?" James demanded.
Harry's cheeks still burned. "He… he wanted us to meet later… so he could model more of those shirts for me … and I model them for him too."
"And? Are you?" James asked, an eyebrow raised.
"I don't know…" Harry said. "I think I should give Malfoy at least a shot right?"
"Only if you want to Harry," James said.
"But we gave Blaise a second chance," Harry said.
"He's different," James said.
Harry frowned and sighed. Looking around he saw Ron was talking with Colin Creevey and Hermione was nowhere to be found. "We should go to bed," He said.
"Alright," James said they stood up and began walking. "There you two are," Hermione's voice said. "Listen, I need to ask you two something." They turned to see a worried Hermione.
"What's the matter?" James asked.
"Ron and I ran into Hagrid on the way here," Hermione said. "He started talking to us about the lesson he planned for us tomorrow and… are you guys…" she couldn't finish her question.
The twins shook their heads.
"Neither are Ron and I," Hermione sighed, biting her lip warily. "I don't want to think what Hagrid will say when—I mean he isn't a bad teacher, and it isn't a bad subject but—oh he's going to be so devastated!"
"He is but… we can explain it to him," James said. "I'm sure he'll won't be too disappointed."
"I guess but still he honestly couldn't expect us to continue taking the subject," Hermione said. The boys agreed and said their good-nights to Hermione.
They walked into their dormitory to see the others already sleeping in their beds. The Potter's beds were next to each other, as always, with a small walkway and two night stands in between. Harry walked to his trunk, pulled out his journal, and sat on his bed as he worked to inscribe today's events. James proceeded to take off his clothes, standing only in his boxers, and turned to Harry as his little brother returned the journal to his trunk and pulled out his pajamas. "Mine or yours tonight?" James asked.
"Mine," Harry said, "I'm already here."
"Lazy Potter," James chuckled. He closed the curtains around his own bed and turned to climb into Harry's. He watched as Harry took his clothes off and dressed into his pajamas before climbing into the bed after James. They took off their glasses and placed it on Harry's nightstand. James wrapped an arm over Harry's shoulder, his brother's back to him, and yawned as he said, "Good night Harry."
"Night James."
.
The next morning found Harry, James, Ron, and Hermione waiting in the Great Hall for their schedule. The ceiling of the Great Hall was serenely blue and streaked with frail, wispy clouds, just like the square of sky visible through the high mullioned windows. The four avoided Hagrid's eye and returned his cheery wave only halfheartedly when he left the staff table. Harry knew perfectly well that nobody in their year would want to continue Care of Magical Creatures.
Professor McGonagall descended from the staff table and started to distribute the class schedules. A more complex process than usual this year, as she needed first to confirm that everybody had achieved the necessary O.W.L. grades to continue with their chosen N.E.W.T.s.
Hermione was immediately cleared to continue Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions, and shot off to a first-period Ancient Runes class without further ado.
"So, Potter, Potter…" Professor McGonagall said, consulting her notes as she turned to Harry and James. "Harry: Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration … all fine. I must say I was very pleased with your Transfiguration grade, Potter, very pleased. Now why haven't you applied to continue Potions? I thought it was your ambition to become a Healer?"
"It was, but you told me I had to get an 'Outstanding' in my O.W.L., Professor."
"And so you did when Professor Snape was teaching the subject. Professor Slughorn, however, is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T. students with 'Exceeds Expectations' at O.W.L. Do you wish to proceed with Potions?"
"Yes," Harry said, "but I didn't buy the books or any ingredients or anything—"
"I'm sure Professor Slughorn will be able to lend you some," Professor McGonagall said. "Very well, Potter, here is your schedule. Now, James Potter… same as your brother I see, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration, and Potions. All very fine. Your score on Transfiguration could have been higher, Potter, but still very acceptable. Here is your schedule. Oh, by the way—twenty hopefuls have already put down their names for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I shall pass the list to you in due course and you can fix up trials at your leisure."
A few minutes later, Ron was cleared to do the same subjects as the twins, and the three left the table together.
"Look," Ron said delightedly, glazing at his schedule, "we've got a free period now …and a free period after break …and after lunch …excellent!"
They returned to the common room and into the boy's dormitory where James took out the magical weights. "So Ron, what did you and Creevey talk about?" he asked as he changed out of his normal robes and into some clothes he wouldn't mind sweating in. Ron changed as well and took the weights James gave him.
"Normal stuff really," he shrugged. "Likes, dislikes, that sort of stuff. We're going to meet again today after class."
James gave a low whistle, "Two dates in two days? My, you must really like this kid?"
"He's cute," Ron shrugged. "Nice butt as well," he smirked. Harry sighed and just lounged on the bed as the two began their workouts. It was always nice watching his brother and Ron sweat; their muscles bulging as they've lifted the weights, their shirts rising every now and then when the two reached up revealing their delicious bodies.
An hour passed too quickly for Harry, and the two sweaty muscular boys went into the showers. When Ron came back with just a towel around his waist, he looked at Harry. "Why don't you do this as well?" he asked.
"I'd rather watch," Harry blushed.
"Harry likes being small and thin," James said as he walked in. He passed Ron and kissed Harry on his cheek. "Right Harry?"
"Yeah, I do," Harry blushed. "Besides… I don't think I'll look as good as James with muscles." James smirked and kissed Harry's cheek again. "Boy knows what's right," he said.
Ron looked down at Harry. "Wait a minute… didn't you guys say that I'm basically your brother?" he asked. Harry and James looked at each other for a moment before nodding. "Then Harry, where is my kiss?" he asked, crossing his arms across his chest.
"I—what?" Harry said, shocked.
Ron stared down at Harry. "Where's my kiss? Kiss my cheek Harry," he said. Harry felt his cheeks blush as he stood up, walked to Ron, and kissed his cheek. Ron's arms uncrossed and he hugged Harry, kissing his cheek as Harry pulled away. He smirked at him and said, "I think I'll like being your brother Harry."
"Well, if you're really our brother now, there are some rules you need to follow," Harry said as he slipped out of Ron's arms and quickly retreated to James.
"Like what?"
"One: You can only kiss Harry on the cheeks and forehead," James said, "and even then only when Harry allows you to. Two: you need to look after our little brother, specifically from guys who'll take advantage of him. And three: What Harry says goes. No question."
"Alright," Ron agreed immediately.
"Great," Harry smirked. "Then can we stop talking to this and get to class? I don't even want to think about what Snape would do if we're late."
They left for the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom four floors below. Hermione was already queuing outside, carrying an armful of heavy books and looking put-upon.
"We got so much homework for Runes," she said anxiously, when the trio of boys joined her. "A fifteen-inch essay, two translations, and I've got to read these by Wednesday!"
"What a shame," James yawned.
The classroom door opened and Snape stepped into the corridor, his shallow face framed as ever by two curtains of greasy black hair. Silence fell over the queue immediately.
"Inside," he said.
Harry looked around as they entered. Snape had imposed his personality upon the room already; it was gloomier than usual, as curtains had been drawn over the windows, and was lit by candlelight. New pictures adorned the walls, many of them showing people who appeared to be in pain, sporting grisly injuries or strangely contorted body parts. Nobody spoke as they settled down, looking around at the shadowy, gruesome pictures. Snape started to speak and Harry looked around to see who else was in this class. It was mainly people who were part of the D.A. last year, but he was surprised to see that Blaise was in this class, sitting with Malfoy.
"...Your defenses," Snape said loudly, getting Harry's attention, "must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures"-he indicated a few of them as he swept past—"give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse"—he waved a hand towards a witch who was clearly shrieking in agony—"feel the Dementor's Kiss"—a wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed, slumped against a wall—"or provoke the aggression of the Inferius"—a bloody mass upon the ground. "Now you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. Those who progress to use magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some"—his gaze lingered maliciously upon Harry and James at once—"lack.
"You will now divide," Snape went on, "into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on."
Harry and James paired up immediately. A reasonable number of cheating started to happen; many people were merely whispering the incantation instead of saying it aloud. Typically, ten minutes into the lesson Hermione managed to repel Neville's muttered Jelly-Legs Jinx without uttering a single word, a feat that would surely have earned her twenty points for Gryffindor from any reasonable teacher, but which Snape ignored.
"No, I think it is time to split the Chosen Ones up," Snape sneered when he reached Harry and James. "Draco! Work with Potter," Snape said turning his back to the twins.
Malfoy stopped working with his partner, Blaise, and walked over to Harry as James moved to Blaise. "Harry."
"Malfoy," Harry said with contempt. He knew that Malfoy was Dee, but it was up to the prat to begin that talk. Until then, it's business as usual. Besides, Harry thought to himself, he doesn't nearly have any or enough muscles.
They aimed their wands at each other and for the rest of class traded blows; Harry trying out the most dangerous "legal" jinxes he knows as Malfoy sent him only childish spells. Near the end of the lesson Harry was able to block Malfoy's jinx without saying a word and immediately sent him a stunner in complete silence. Snape dismissed them without a word and Harry was surprised at himself and James for keeping their tempers during the lesson. As they packed up Malfoy walked over to them. "Harry, I want to talk," he said.
"Not now Malfoy," Harry said stuffing his textbook into his bag, his head turning to see Ron and Hermione watching with an odd expression on their faces.
"No, now," Malfoy said. "Listen Blaise told me to talk—"
"Talk to me when you want to talk to me, not when Ze tells you to," Harry said roughly. He shouldered his bag and returned to his brother, Ron, and Hermione and the four exited the classroom. Harry heard footsteps behind them and Malfoy's voice yelling, "Weasley!"
The four stopped and turned to see Malfoy standing in front of them looking extremely uncomfortable as he shuffled from foot to foot. "Weasley," he repeated as if hating himself for even asking, "Can I… talk with you… for a moment… please?"
Ron looked confused, he looked between James and Harry. "What's going on?" he asked aloud.
"I just want to talk," Malfoy said through gritted teeth. "Can you please… talk with me?"
"We'll wait here if you want Ron," Hermione said, eyeing Malfoy suspiciously.
"Okay," Ron said. He looked highly suspicious as he took a couple of steps towards Malfoy. "What do you want Malfoy?"
"I want to speak with you privately…" Malfoy said, his eyes shifting to Harry. "Please?"
Ron turned to Harry, James, and Hermione. Hermione and James looked worried but Harry nodded. "We'll see you in the common room Ron," he said. His eyes flashed to Malfoy in a warning manner before turning to leave. James and Hermione followed.
Alone Ron turned to Malfoy. "What do you want?"
"I want you to train me," Malfoy said, looking serious. "I wouldn't go to you if I had anyone else. Can't ask anyone in Slytherin, they'll hold it over my head; and James Potter is out of the question because he'll tell Harry. So I want you to train me… so that I can grow muscles."
Ron raised an eyebrow. He definitely wasn't expecting this. "You want me… to be your trainer?" he repeated.
"Yes, don't make me ask again," Malfoy said. A smirk grew on Ron's face and he crossed his arms. "Why?"
"Why does it matter why, will you do it or not?" Malfoy demanded.
"No, I need to know. Why Malfoy?"
Malfoy stared at him for a moment before saying, "Harry. I like Harry and Harry needs somebody with muscles. So please, will you do it?" he asked irritated.
The smirk on Ron's face grew. "If that's the case I'll do it, but on some conditions."
"What are they?" Malfoy said hesitantly.
"First, when we're training you're going to calling me either 'Master Ron' or 'Master.' Second, you'll do everything I say whenever I tell you. Third, you will stop being a prat. Period. No more being rude to us and you'll have to apologize to each of us directly for everything you have done. And lastly… you're going to have to wear a special training outfit… in Gryffindor colors," Ron listed.
"I am not calling you Master nor am I ever going to wear those ridiculous colors," Draco argued.
"Then I guess you'll just have to try your luck with someone else," Ron shrugged. "And while you're struggling, Harry will find somebody else and you'll never have a chance."
Draco gave an irritated and frustrated growl. Ron could see him practically mash his teeth together as he considered his options. He had to admit, he loved holding power over Malfoy, it was just enough revenge for the redhead for everything the blond prat has done to him. He waited a couple of minutes before saying, "Well Malfoy, do we have a deal?"
Ron offered his hand which Malfoy stared at. "Fine, deal," Malfoy spat grabbing Ron's hand. "But you don't tell anybody about this."
"Call me Master first," Ron smirked.
Draco glared at him. "You won't tell anybody about this, Master," he forced out. It was good enough for Ron who shook their held hands.
"Alright Malfoy. After dinner we'll meet in the Room of Requirement at eight o'clock. Don't worry, I'll bring your new clothes. Pretty sure there's something… small enough for you."
"Watch it Weasley, you don't know how big things can come from small packages," Malfoy smirked. "I'll see you at eight."
Malfoy immediately dropped Ron's hand and turned to leave. Ron just snickered to himself as he watched the blonde Slytherin leave. "Oh, this is going to be fun, so much fun," he chuckled to himself before walking to return to Harry.
A/N: A nice set up chapter.
David-El: Long time no see my friend! Why Cormac? Well… because I like him… physically… like Harry lol.
Izrehu: Thank you very much. I'm glad that you're greatly enjoying my story
Leopardblack: Yeah Ron/Colin is going to be the light and fluffy… kinky C romance that'll have little to no problems lol. Draco and Harry is going to need a lot of work and umm… that method of removing the mark is sick, twisted and horrible. No, no,no,no,no. Just no.
Jokul Frosti: I'm sure Zack does them naked. Especially for Cloud. And of course, Krum is going to show up again. It's me!
Mary Beth: Thanks!
Himekitsune24: Draco is going to do more than break a sweat for Harry. And yeah in this one the twins will be "Grey" meaning that they and their future maybe boyfriends don't want to deal with the war. How they'll get out of it, well I'm not telling.
Ninjasnowflake: Maybe there is such a thing as a review that's too long. … Anyway, let's see I'm going to keep this to the point. Harry's use of the spell is a way to show their aloofness to the Ministry's restriction on the Dark Arts. They don't care about these laws and use the spells they find usefully frequently when the situation calls for. (All of this was going to be explained in story at a later date but might as well say it explicitly for you here and now).
AnnaMerteuil: Yeah a Ron/Colin. Why not? I never heard of the coupling, and didn't feel like making all of the boys in Harry's dormitory gay lol. So instead all of them but Neville are gay lol. As for Hermione… she'll be coupled, don't worry, everyone's being hit by the lovebug lol
Littlesprout: Such a nice way to ask a person out. If only that would happen to me lol.
.3: My talking of how much the twincest will be is just a precautionary. Just so they know that James and Harry will not even going close to all the way, as that honor is the Weasley twins' lol. And yeah, everything about the Slug Club is creepy. Except for Blaise.
Pnulls: Thank you very much and funny enough dialogue is easy for me. Surprising for an introvert. And I'm tired of the evil twin stuff, to me it's more fun if they're on the same side.