Smells Like Teen Spirit
A/N: This one is for all the guest reviewers of my story. As I can't reply to you because you have no log in, I reply to you now. Thank you! :)
The party was at least an hour in by the time Harry and Draco eventually made their way to the Great Hall. Draco got the effect that he wanted, as many heads turned their way when they got to the doorway, followed by more stares as they made their way over to their friends. The looks on their faces were enough
"Who are you and what the hell have you done with my best friend?" Pansy asked, aghast.
"What exactly do you mean, my dear Pansy?" Draco replied, exuding fake innocence.
"Don't play dumb with me Draco Black. Your signature blond hair has gone, you have a fake beard and worm on your face, and you appear to look a hell of a lot older, and a hell of a lot more handsome, than normal."
"It's called costume dear. At least I've come as the respectable founder of our house, and not as some sort of stupid muggle creature that doesn't exist."
"I'll think you'll find, dear, that the devil and his mistress are not stupid. To those who practice religion, the devil is the most feared creature in all the land. However, the muggles have decided to take quite a different approach to it…" she trailed off, spreading her arms wide and indicating hers and Blaise's costumes.
Draco looked them both up and down. Blaise wore a red shirt, -open wide- and black tailored trousers. He had horns that looked like they were literally sprouting from his head. A tail hung from the small of his back, and a red fork in his hand. He'd also transfigured his eyes red. Pansy also wore red, but she was more revealing. She wore a short red skirt, black fishnet tights, red thigh high boots, and a red strappy camisole. She wore her hair loose, and has also grown it so it cascaded in loose curls down her back. Like her boyfriend, Pansy had horns and a tail, rather than a fork, she held a whip. Her eyes were red, as was her make-up and her nails. Altogether, the two looked enticing, yet, well, devilish.
"Yes, I can see." Draco drawled in his best Severus impression.
"Oh Draco lighten up! It's a party for fuck's sakes! I think you both looked really good Pansy." Harry added.
"Thank you Harry. See Draco, at least someone appreciates the effort we've put in." Draco didn't reply, he just simply stuck his tongue out at the girl before turning to Hermione ad Ron.
"Let me guess, this is what all the secrecy was about, hey Ron?"
The boy in question nodded proudly. "Yep. We have had express permission from both the Bloody Baron and from the Grey Lady to dress up as the lovers who never got what they wanted. What do you think?"
"I personally think you look absolutely wonderful young man! And you my dear, you look just like dear Helena when she was alive. Good choice Mr. Weasley. Now onto the hunt!" Said ghost proudly stated as he floated past.
"Thanks mate!" Ron mock saluted to the Baron and turned back to his friends, "So yeah, we are the ghosts of Slytherin and Ravenclaw."
Harry nodded, "Nice one. And you were worried about what he'd choose…" Harry pointedly said to Hermione.
"Yes, well, this is Ron we're talking about. I had every right to be worried at what monstrosity he picked out. But it seems I had no need. He's done me proud." She placed a kiss on his cheek, to which he promptly blushed.
"Oh please, I do not want to be seeing lovey-dovey couples all night. I have enough of Pans and Blaise and Millie and Greg without you starting as well." Astoria pitched in. she was dressed up as a vampire; it looked she'd even transfigured her teeth into fangs.
"You're only jealous Tor."
"I suggest you keep quiet Zabini, otherwise I will be sinking these fangs into your neck and ripping out your heart, is that understood?" she threatened jokingly.
He was about to retort, but suddenly the music died down as Professor McGonagall called attention. "If I could have everyone's attention please? Thank you. Now, I know that this is a party, and I know that you are all here to enjoy yourselves, but if I could just ask you to listen to me for a few minutes? While you enjoy yourselves tonight, whilst you frolic and party, I want you to remember those who we have lost. Some of our students and teachers are not here tonight because they died trying to save us all, whether that be a few months ago, or I the years passed. Colin Creevey, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Severus Snape, Fred Weasley, Cedric Diggory, and Albus Dumbledore to name but a few." At the mention of Dumbledore, Harry felt rather than saw him stiffen. "Most, if not all of you here tonight have lost someone you know in the war, and they should not, and shall not be forgotten. I think, a minutes' silence is needed." She fell silent, as did the whole of Hogwarts. The students, the staff, the creatures, the house-elves, the ghosts, even Peeves, fell silent, all in some sort of way remembering the fallen, all silently paying their respects. After a minute, McGonagall spoke again. "Thank you. However, it is not just those we have recently lost that we must remember. Out of you all, there is one man who is grieving the most, one man who knows the true meaning of loss better than anyone. Harry, your stage is set." She moved aside as the Gryffindor made his way to the stage, much to the confused looks of his friends and expectant looks of his peers.
"Thank you Professor McGonagall. Your right, we should not just remember the people we have lost in the past couple of years. We should remember those who died trying to save us in the first Wizarding war. Many Aurors lost their lives. However Professor, if I may correct you? It is not just me who is grieving tonight. Neville is also grieving. You see, a prophecy was made, a prophecy that stated that a boy, born as the seventh month dies, born to parents who had thrice defied the Dark Lord, would defeat him with 'powers he knows not'. That prophecy did not apply to just me, it also applied to Neville. His birthday is two days before mine, and his parents were part of the Order alongside mine. But Voldemort took it upon himself to name me as that boy, as his 'equal', and decided to kill me. However, just to be sure it wasn't Neville, he gave his most loyal servant a task. I would not tell you this if I did not have permission from Neville first. On that night, the night my parents were murdered, Alice and Frank Longbottom were tortured into insanity at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange. In a way, on that night, Neville lost his parents too. So yes, please remember those we have lost, remember those we lost years ago, but do not think that it is just me who grieves tonight. Neville does too, so when you think of the fallen, think of them, and when you think of the families left behind, think of him. Thank you." Harry finished his speech and hopped off the stage, making his way back to his friends as Professor McGonagall once again took to the stage.
"Thank you Harry for that. And please, like harry said, do not forget the dead who died in your name, no matter how long ago. But also, do not forget the living who still mourns. Now, this is a party, and I expect happy, joyful faces. Now party!" She moved out of the spotlight, restarting the music as people laughed. Harry turned to the boy he had been speaking of.
"I hope I did you justice mate."
"You did perfect Harry. I don't think I would have been able to do that in front of everyone. Remember how much it took for me to just tell you? Thanks."
"Don't mention it Neville." He turned to his friends, all of whom had questioning looks. But before any of them could speak, he answered their most obvious question. "I went to McGonagall the other day and asked her if I could say something tonight so that nobody would forget. Once I had her permission, I went and found Neville. I knew that he was planning on telling people this year about his parents if ever they asked, so I asked him if he wanted me to get everyone to remember them and pay their respects all at once, rather than him having to retell the story and revisit the memories many times. He said yes."
"Why? Why would you do that Harry? Why would you tell everyone like that and not tell only a select few?"
"Because Draco, it was easier this way. In the morning, I'm going to the prophet and I'm going to tell them the fall story. All that I told you all just, all that happened in the past eighteen months, the lot. Then, Kingsley and I are going to lean heavily on the Prophet to make sure it is printed word for word. I would rather it be done this way, with everything I've said printed, rather than the reporters getting a scrap of information and making up some sort of bullshit story about me again."
"Are you sure Harry?"
"Yes Hermione, I'm sure. Like I said, I would rather it be done this way than through rumours and lies."
"Need anyone to come with you?"
"Thanks for the offer Draco, but no, I don't I need to do this alone. But for now, forget that. This is a party is it not? I'm sure Seamus has managed to sneak in some sort of alcoholic beverage again, so let's dance, drink, get pissed and have a god time, yes?"
"Hell yeah!" Ron agreed, dragging Hermione off to the punch. Harry laughed. This was what he needed. He needed to have fun and just forget. He mourned for his family and friends all day, he'd seen them earlier on, now was the time to put them to rest and just have fun.
xxxDHDHxxx
It was nearing midnight when Draco decided he needed some air. The party was fun, of course it was, but after a couple of hours, and a feeling of drunkenness starting to descend from the spiked punch, it all became a bit much. Stepping out into the grounds, Draco made for his favourite spot: a bench at the edge of the forest overlooking the Lake and the castle. But there was someone already there. Draco felt himself get angry and the thought of someone stealing his spot, until he saw the moonlight glint off of the gold stitching around the hem of the person's robes and he knew instantly that it was Harry. Smiling, he went and sat next to the boy.
"When did you sneak out?"
"About half an hour ago."
"How?"
"I snuck my Invisibility Cloak into my costume and shuck out that way."
"I see. Getting a bit too much for you too, huh?"
"Just a bit. Besides, I need to start heading back to the dorm anyway. If I'm doing this interview tomorrow, I need my sleep." He stood up and turned towards Draco. "You coming?" The other boy just nodded, and they slowly made their way to their dorm.
Once inside, Harry immediately started stripping down whilst Draco went into the bathroom to change, and to remove all his charms. He walked back into the main room in just his underwear and made his way over to his bed. Whilst slipping on his bed slacks, he felt eyes on him. Turning, his suspicions were confirmed. Harry was staring at him.
"Like what you see?"
"I wasn't looking at that. I was just staring at your scars." He stepped closer, and Draco felt himself start to get embarrassed, but he remained firm. Harry stopped about a foot away and raised his arm slightly in an unasked question. Draco just nodded. Harry reached out and lightly traced the scars on his chest. "Did I do this to you?" he whispered.
"Yes." Draco breathed.
"And the ones on your back?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I swear I didn't know what that spell did. Not once did I think it would be so malicious. The book I got it from had been helping me all year in potions, and the couple of other spells that were written in there were harmless. I honestly didn't think I would do that to you."
"Yes well, Severus had many enemies, mainly your father and his friends. He had to protect himself in some sort of way. Coincidence that you happened to pick up his book and use the spell that he invented after a particularly bad beating from your father."
Harry looked up in surprise. "You know about the book? You know it was Snape's?"
"Of course I know." Draco stepped away and lay down in bed, Harry doing the same. They extinguished the lights and faced each other in the dark. "Severus told me about it after he healed me. When I came to in the Hospital wing, he was pacing in front of me, waiting for me to wake. He asked me if I was ok and I asked him what the spell was you used. He told me and I asked him how you knew such a spell. That was when he told me about the book."
"Oh. Did he tell you anything else?"
"Yeah. I asked him how he managed to invent such a spell, and he told me about the bullying that he had received at the hand of you father and my second cousin. He also told me that night that, no matter how much he tries to find in Lily in you, he still ends up coming back to James. He told me that he didn't want to hate you, didn't want to paint you with the same brush as James, but the resemblance between you was too much for him to see you as your own person. I tried to make him see that you were not like your father, that you were…not so much a better person, more of a more sensible person, than you father. When I was trying to convince him, it dawned on me that, in fact, I didn't hate you. That I in fact felt something akin to love for you. That moment was when I fell in love."
Harry's breath hitched. "So if you feel like that then…"
"No Harry. No." Draco interrupted. "I know what you're getting at and the answer is still no. What I said a month ago still stands. We are going to be firm friends before any of this starts."
"Bullshit!" Harry responded angrily. "Fuck do you want to wait until we're firm friends. The looks, the touches, the way your breath hitched and how you subconsciously leaned into me when I wrapped my arms around you the last time we did the Patronus practice. You want this as much as I do, and you don't want to wait either. I could tell on that night. Yes, you had your mask up, and yes you tried didn't react. But don't forget, you just taught me how to do Occlumency, and in that moment, your defences slipped. I felt how hard it was for you not to react. So don't give me that bullshit story that you want to wait until we're friends. I understand the motives behind wanting to wait, of course I do, but they're stupid. So tell me Draco, what is it that is making you stop yourself for giving in and taking something you clearly want?"
Draco was stunned at Harry's outburst. The scary thing was that the other boy was right. It had taken all of Draco's strength the other night to not react, and he knew that harry felt it, he felt the other boy in his head. What was stopping him? Fear. "I'm scared Harry. Scared at what the Wizarding community would say when we did get together. And before you say you're not, I am. You're the Golden Boy; they won't say anything to you about it. But they will me. They'll say all sorts of horrible things, and they'll do all sorts of unspeakable things. Especially if the reaction of Justin a couple of weeks ago after showing my mark is anything to go by. And before you say it, no I don't want your protection, and I don't want you to say anything to anyone about it. I just need time to get used to the idea of the reactions we're going to get. As soon as I feel ready to face them, then I'll think about it. But please, Harry, stop dropping hints and just let me do this in my own time."
"Draco, I never thought you felt like that. But as for what you said about the press and the public verbally, or even physically attacking you, then you're wrong. In case you haven't noticed, when it came out that we were friends, everybody was really supportive of the both of us, not just me. People have changed and perceptions have changed, Kingsley has made sure of that. Yes, there are still going to be some prejudice people who are stuck in their ways and going to say something, but it won't be anything bad. I get it. People who used to fawn over me before are now turning their backs on me and shouting things at me in the street because I'm gay. They stuff like 'You're ill Potter, go and get admitted into St. Mungo's'. Or they'll say something like 'Stay away from me! I don't want to catch your disease'. The worst one I've received is 'You're worse than the Death Eaters! You're worse than even He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! At least he wasn't contagious!'. It used to affect me, but after a couple of weeks, it just started to wash over me. I just thought, you know what, there's nothing wrong with me, with who I like. It's them who are wrong, not me. Honestly Draco, you'll become pretty immune to it after a while. But if it's time you need, I'm willing to give you that. For now, I'll just be content with being your friend. Goodnight Draco." With that, he rolled over and fell asleep, leaving Draco alone in the dark to think.
Harry was right. Yes, there would be prejudice, there would always be prejudice. But Draco was above that. He got rid of all ideas of prejudice himself, so surely he could rise above some old-fashioned homophobia? Of course he could. He was a Malfoy, if not by name, then by blood. It was in his nature to rise above any bad thing said against him. He could put up with the idiocy of some people, couldn't he? In all honesty, Draco knew he was lying to himself. Of course he couldn't. He couldn't just let snide comments not affect him. Hell, he couldn't even ignore anything Harry said when they were younger, so how was he going to let comments like that wash over him? Harry had grown up all his life having comments chucked at him left right and centre from his relatives, so had become immune to it pretty quickly, but Draco had grown up never having stuff like that said to him. He never coped well with criticism from teachers, so things like that would really affect him. He just needed time. Time to accept the fact that words were going to become a daily occurrence. He was glad that Harry had given him that. Draco knew the other boy was disappointed in him, but he couldn't help it. He hated hurting Harry like this, but he just needed to come to terms with everything that would happen when they did get together. Thank God Harry realised this.
A/N 2: Last chapter before Christmas. We will be having the article in the paper next, along with a couple more DADA lessons, and then we will have the Yule Ball, which I'm sure you're all excited about! :D But anyway, to those who celebrate Christmas, enjoy it. To those who don't, have a happy Tuesday. If I don't update again before 2013, then Happy New Year too! Mwah!
xxxxx