Smells Like Teen Spirit
A/N: WOW! That was quick! Thanks for all the reviews guys, glad you all like the story so far! , I dedicate this one to you, for your two reviews! :D
Monday. It had been four days since Draco and Harry had shared their kiss and neither of them had said anything about it, not to each other, and not to their friends. Harry was confused. If Draco wanted to go slow and get to know each other first, then why did he kiss him? And why, if he did feel the same (though Harry was unsure on that point) did he run away? Harry was confused. And he couldn't talk to Draco because the boy kept either avoiding him, or travelling around in groups, making talking to him impossible. When Harry went to bed, Draco was either asleep or not there, and when he woke up, it was just the same.
Draco on the other hand was having an internal battle again. Why had he kissed Harry? Did he really love the boy or was he just playing with him? Did Harry really love Draco? Or was he just using him, before bringing his world down again? Draco didn't know. But what he was certain about was that if Harry did love him like he said he did, he was stupid to. Draco was a marked Death Eater for goodness sake. Yes, Harry said it didn't matter to him, but if they did get together, the whole Wizarding community would turn their backs on him. Was Harry really ready for all that? Draco would not inflict that on him and he would not allow them to become a couple. But if that was the case, then why had he kissed the Gryffindor? He was brought out of his musings by a sharp nudge in the ribs and the skin on the back of his hand being pinched.
"Ow! Tor! What was that for?"
"We've been trying to talk to you for the past five minutes, and all you've been doing is staring off into space, completely ignoring us and your breakfast. You've even been ignoring your coffee, and that's not something you usually do. What's wrong Dray?" Astoria asked.
"Nothing, Just got a lot on my mind is all."
"Well you know you can talk to us any time you like, right guys?" The rest of their friends nodded. "See Draco, you're not alone."
"Thanks Astoria, I appreciate it, but this is something I've got to deal with alone. So, what were we talking about?"
"We were talking about DADA. We've got it first. Have you ever cast a patronus before Draco?" Blaise enquired.
"No. Death Eaters can't cast patronuses."
"Yes, but Voldemort's dead now, so I bet you could if you tried." Pansy added, as she sat down at the table. "Morning guys."
Blaise turned to her, arms folded, putting on his best insulted glare. "And where have you been?"
"I've been with Hermione in the library. We were discussing you and Ron, what you like, what you don't like, so it will be easier to work with you this year. Why, is that such a crime?"
"You were discussing us?"
"Well yeah. The best way to discover how a boy works is to ask his girlfriend, I've told you that before. I'll ask again, is that such crime?"
"Yes, seeing as how I waited half an hour for you only to be told by Ron and Harry that you had already left with Hermione."
"So if you knew I was with Hermione, why did you ask me where I was when I sat down? Honestly Zabini, stop getting your knickers in a twist," she sighed, rolling her eyes and taking a sip of her drink, "I'll make it up to you."
"Oh yeah, and how you gonna do that then Parkinson?"
To this she smirked, before leaning towards him and whispering in his ear. A smile began to appear on Blaise's face as she spoke, and when she pulled away, he was full out grinning.
"Really?" he asked with interest.
Pansy gave him her best seductive smile and winked, "Really babe," she replied huskily.
"Eurgh, can you two please stop smut flirting? Some of us are trying to eat here."
"Just because you're not getting any Bulstrode."
"Fuck off Parkinson..."
"Pack it in, all of you! Can't we just have a nice quiet breakfast in peace? Thank you." Immediately after Draco spoke there was silence, not just from his friends, but from half of the Slytherin table. Good to know he still had that much control over his house, even if he had to live elsewhere to them.
"Sorry Draco." Pansy tried, but Draco cut her off.
"You know what, I'll see you lot in DADA." And with that, he left, leaving his friends struck dumb by his behaviour.
xxxDHDHxxx
"Right, everyone, today we are going to be practicing our Patronuses, and we will keep practicing until you all manage to get a corporeal form. You may take your robes off also, if you wish to do so. Off you go." Professor Elliott addressed the congregation before starting to walk the classroom, encouraging and helping people when they needed it. There was a rustling as people obeyed, removing robes, before a shout was heard.
"You have got to be joking! It's bad enough the fact that you got let off from Azkaban, and that you've been allowed into the school, but showing off the Mark, that's taking it a bit too far don't you think, Death Eater?"
Draco turned to find Justin Finch-Fletchley red in the face, fists clenched, fuming. The reason for his anger was that Draco had decided to wear a short-sleeved t-shirt that showed off his Mark. He responded calmly.
"I don't think it's any of your concern."
"It is my concern, Death Eater scum, because I attend here. I, unlike you, am trying to get an education, and not plotting to kill our Headmistress."
Before Draco could respond this time, Harry strode forward.
"HEY! That was uncalled for! He had no choice with that, you know he didn't!"
"Harry, stop, its ok…" Draco tried, but Justin interrupted, turning on the Gryffindor.
"And you, you're just as bad as he is! The Harry I know would have not have stopped his arse from going to prison, and certainly would not have rescued him from the fire. What are you, under some sort of Imperius or potion? Either would be expected of him." The last word was spat venomously.
"First of all, Justin, I am not under any spell or potion. Second, nobody deserves to die, apart from Voldemort, no matter who they are. Third, Draco didn't ask to be made a Death Eater, he was forced to take it with a threat on his life. What if it was you, if Voldemort had threatened yours and your parents' lives, would you have taken the Mark?
"That's the coward's way. As for me, I would have rather died then do it."
That was all it took. Harry lunged for him, but Draco and Ron grabbed him and held him back before he could get anywhere near him. Unfortunately for Justin, Harry broke free, but he was thrown off his feet by a shield separating the two.
"Problem gentlemen?" Professor Elliott asked, a stern tone to her normally friendly voice. She didn't even wait for an answer before she spoke again. "In fact, don't answer that, I already know what happened, I've heard it all. Bit difficult not to. Mr Potter, we do not respond to comments like that with violence, no matter what the comments are. Ten points from Gryffindor, no arguments! And as for you, Mr Finch-Fletchley, your comments were not only uncalled for, but mean, derogatory, and spiteful. Fifty points from Hufflepuff for your insolent behaviour. You need to learn that we all have scars and marks to bear, but that does not change who we are. Draco's Mark is just the same as Harry's scar or my scar across my back from none other than Fenir Greyback himself. They were all taken in bravery. The only coward here is you Mr Finch-Fletchley. Not Draco. You. Now I suggest you go to the Headmistresses office, and explain what you have done. She can deal with you, because with the mood I'm in with you right now, I would probably end up doing something I'll regret. Move, now." He left reluctantly but quickly, unwilling to argue. "The rest of you, carry on. Susan, pair up with Anthony and Padma. Draco." She beckoned him over, away from everyone else, and Harry followed. "I suppose you can come as well Harry. Now, Draco, don't let what prats like him say, affect you, alright? I believe in you, everybody else in here believes in you. Just live how you want to live and ignore what is said about you. Always remember that I will stick up for you though."
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. Off to work, the both of you."
xxxDHDHxxx
That evening found the eighth years relaxing in their common room. Professor Elliott had told them all to practice, but right now, they just couldn't be arsed. The only decent attempts in the lesson were a couple of non-corporeal and the corporeal that Harry, Ron, Hermione and Seamus could already cast. Right now, Hermione was curled up with a book, Ron was challenging Seamus to a chess game with Neville and Dean refereeing, Susan and Hannah were fretting over their Charms homework, Padma, Pavarti, Lavender, Astoria and Pansy were gossiping (it seemed that Pansy and the rest of the Slytherins, once you got to know them, were not that bad), Justin and Anthony were playing Exploding Snap, and Harry was relaxing on the sofa, listening to his music through his Portable CD player. Draco was nowhere to be seen, but there was a soft hum coming from upstairs, so it was safe to say he was up there.
Harry looked up to see Hermione concentrating on her book, focussing so hard, a little frown had appeared on her face.
"What you reading 'Mione?" he asked.
"What? Oh I'm reading Frankenstein."
"Frank and what?"
"Frankenstein Ronald, Frankenstein. It's a muggle story about an inventor who creates this robot, who unfortunately goes rogue and starts killing the members of the village."
"An inventor who creates a what?" Ron asked, still confused.
"Oh honestly, never mind, just get back to your game. But yes, Harry, I'm reading one of Shelley's greatest. What about you, what you listening to?"
"Oh I'm listening to…"
"Harry!"
Harry rolled his eyes and turned to the one who had just shouted his name. "What do you want Draco?"
"You. Me. DADA practice. Now." Draco marched over to him and stood over him, arms folded.
"Are you serious? I'm too tired."
"Tough, come on." Draco grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the common room and down the tower, the Gryffindor protesting all the while. When the finally reached the Entrance Hall, Draco stopped and released Harry.
"Right. You've pulled me away from my friends to practice and then you've just stopped. Where do you suppose we practice?"
"I don't know." Draco shrugged.
"You don't know?" Harry asked incredulously. "Well that's just great, that's just fucking great! Asking me to practice when you don't even know where! Are you mad?!"
"Don't have a go at me, we need to practice."
"Why?! Why are you so adamant to practice?"
"Because we need to…"
"No we don't! We've only just started the fucking course! Why are you so adam-?"
"Because I need to learn this! I need to learn how to defend myself. Just because you and your friends have forgiven me and made friends, doesn't mean other people are so willing to. Look at Finch-Fletchley earlier! I have to learn to defend myself because there are some people who still hate me and want me dead. We're not all like you Saint Potter!" he took a deep breath, "We're not all like you." He closed his eyes and leant against the wall away from Harry.
Harry looked at him. He looked so broken. The Slytherin he knew would not vent his feeling and emotions like this. He would keep them bottled up inside of him. But then again, Malfoy was a different person to Draco. Draco would explode when his emotions were too much. Draco would ask for help when he needed it. Harry was determined to help the broken boy, to help Draco. He walked up to him and slowly pulled his arms away from his face, only to see tears glistening on his face.
"Draco," Harry spoke softly, "why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me you were getting bullied and attacked like this?"
"What would you have done Harry if I had? What could you have done?"
"I could have spoken to McGonagall. I could have stood up for you."
Draco laughed sadly, a small smile playing on his lips. "Wouldn't have made any difference. Won't make any difference. They'll still get me when you're not around. I need to learn to defend myself."
"Ok. Come on. I know an empty classroom on the seventh floor that is far enough away from everything else for us not to be discovered." He stepped away and, started to head for the seventh floor, only to stop and turn around when he realised Draco wasn't following. He held out his hand in a silent invitation, and after a moments deliberation, Draco took it. They walked slowly to the seventh floor, savouring the fact that they were hand in hand in the school corridors, neither of them speaking. They had just reached the floor when they heard a voice behind them.
"Quick, it's Filch. Run!" they ran as fast as they could, entering a door at the end of the corridor. Harry shut it behind them before turning to face the room. He gasped when he realised what room it was. The Room of Requirement. It was exactly the same as when he had run the DA in there. He was instantly hit by memories of the War. The Fiendfyre. He saw Draco standing in the centre of the room, with his back facing Harry. The latter gradually approached him, before stopping close behind. He knew not to invade his personal space, knew not to speak, but to offer his support just by being close. Draco, he could see, was once again crying. He wasn't stopping them though; he was letting them fall freely.
"I remember what happened here. I remember the Fiendfyre. And every time I remember it, I remember Vincent. I miss him. My friend. Just because I treated him like a piece of shit, doesn't mean I thought of him like that. That was just pressure from our parents. When I saw you come back for me, you were this shining light in the darkness, and I knew then, I just knew, that it wasn't just your hero complex winning out again, you actually wanted to save me, and for that, I'll always be in your debt." He turned to find Harry shaking his head.
"No you won't. You saved our lives by not identifying us in Malfoy Manor, and we saved your life. We're quits. Now are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Let's not work today. We'll start tomorrow, back here, at seven? Yeah. You teach me how to do a Patronus, and I'll teach you Occlumency before we start the course, how's that sound?" Harry nodded his head. "We can get to know each other better as well. A question for a question, that kind of thing?"
"Ok. Not every night though, I need to do Quidditch practice, other homework, and be sociable with my friends."
"Of course. I forgot you were still on the Quidditch team."
"You should join back up. See if you can actually beat me for once…"
"Fuck off Potter. Just for that, I will join up, just to prove you wrong, show you that I can beat you. But yeah, whenever we can practice, and the questions. Deal?" he extended a hand.
"Deal." Harry shook it.
A/N2: I'm not too happy with the second half of the story, after Draco drags Harry out of the common room. Things seem to go too fast. Oh well. Next chapter will be better, I promise!
You know what to do! ;)
xxxxx