Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Gone	By : Nightshade Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 1886 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
CHAPTER 8C: Emotional Confrontations cont'd...
There were quite a few things in Pansy Parkinson's life that she knew with absolute certainty. First, she fully admitted to being a bit shallow with her appearance. She was far from being a strikingly beautiful girl, but she was hardly unattractive, and she took great pains to stay that way. Second, she knew that while she was a Slytherin at heart, she had no desire to follow in her parents footsteps and kiss Voldemort's serpentine ass. I mean —EW! Third, she was rapidly becoming jealous of Harry Potter. There was something odd going on with him and Draco--even if they, and everyone else, were too blind to see it. And fourth, she would do almost anything for Draco Malfoy because she loved him.
Even though she knew he didn't love her back.
It wasn't as if she had ever deluded herself into thinking he had loved her. She knew he cared about her, but it wasn't in the heart thumping, sweaty palms, I'll-die-for-you-someday-because-you're-my-everything type of way. But she never really let it bother her before now. True they were polygamous--which was really Draco's desire--but she knew their other intimacies didn't mean anything. Their only rule was that they couldn't fuck anyone in their own House. Something Draco had said once about it being too close to home.
Pansy readily agreed, and as far as she knew, Draco had kept up his end of the bargain. She on the other hand—well, it was only that one time, and that was in the past. She had been drunk, mad at Draco, and she'd made a horrible mistake. End of story.
Draco never needed to know about that night. Ever.
She flipped her dark hair over her shoulder and strode purposefully down the darkened corridor towards her boyfriend's room. She was determined to question him about why he was being so melancholy lately. Most importantly, she wanted to know what was up with the wanton display he and Harry had put on in Potions.
Yes, she had noticed that.
She knocked on his door twice, then after hearing a muffled grunt, ventured to open it slightly. "Draco? You in here?"
The boy in question was lounging back on his bed; back propped up against the intricately carved headboard. He looked much paler than usual, she noticed with some worry as she shut the door behind her. "I've been looking for you all day. Are you all right?"
He sighed wearily. "Why wouldn't I be all right?"
"You tell me."
"Come here." Draco murmured softly; patting the green and silver trim bedspread. "Come sit by me, love."
Pansy settled down beside her unusually quiet lover and ran a gentle hand through his shaggy, blonde hair. "What's the matter--and don't tell me "nothing', Draco--I know you too well. You've been upset about something for a while now. Ever since school started in fact."
Draco scowled. "Pansy--"
"Does this have something to do with the Dark Mark that is now on your arm? Or does it have something to do with Potter?"
"Potter? What the fuck does he have to do with my bad mood?!"
"Oh! So you do admit you've been in a bad mood?"
Draco grew defensive. "For crying out loud, Pansy. Where is all this rubbish coming from? So, I've been a little cranky since school started. That has nothing to do with Potter!"
"So maybe it's about your Mark then. Why did you get one? I thought you told me that you didn't want to be a Death Eater."
He gave her an angry glare. "Oh and I suppose that I should have just told my tyrant of a father that, and all would have been just peachy, right? Goddammit, Pansy, would you think before you open your bloody mouth!" Draco jumped up from the bed and stalked over to his desk chair and threw himself in it. "My father said that I was to be initiated over the summer and I was. There was nothing I could do about it. But, I still don't plan to bow down to that scaly bastard he worships. I am Draco Malfoy and I don't bow down to anyone."
Pansy waited patiently before trying again. "What's really going on, love? Besides you getting the Mark against your will, that is."
"Nothing is going on, Pansy. Leave it alone."
"No, I'm sorry I can't do that."
"Why the fuck not?!" He yelled; angry despite his better judgment. He knew his girlfriend was only trying to help.
"Because it's hurting you, whatever it is. And I want to help you!"
Suddenly Draco was kneeling on the ground before her and holding one of her hands. "See, love, that's where you're wrong. You don't want to help with this okay? You want to stay as far away from this as possible." At her look of alarm, he sighed. "Look, all I can tell you is that I was ordered to do something this year. And if I don't, a lot of bad is going to befall me. So yeah, I'm a little moody, but it's safer for you not to know all the details. Trust me on this."
"This is about Potter isn't it?"
"Why are you going on and on about Potter all of a sudden?"
"Maybe because I saw you two and what you were doing in Snape's classroom!"
Draco froze momentarily. It honestly hadn't occurred to him that anyone else would have noticed them. But then again, at the time, he hadn't really cared if Lucius himself would have witnessed what he and Potter were doing. All he knew was that it had felt good to be on top of his enemy like that. Grinding against Potter's obvious hardness and feeling the tremors of pleasure shooting up and down his own body. He shivered at the memory, but was brought back to the present by his angry girlfriend.
"You two were practically going at it on the fucking floor, Draco! I mean, what was that? Because the last time I checked, you and Harry Potter hated each other. Now, all of a sudden, you want to fuck him?"
"Who said I want to fuck him?"
"Draco—" she began warningly and he groaned.
"Okay! Okay! Maybe the orders I've gotten sort of involve Potter."
Pansy scoffed. "Do these orders include you shagging him in the middle of your Potions class? Because if so, I'd like to see what the hell kind of orders these are!"
Draco stood up and ran a pale hand through his hair. "Pansy, there is nothing going on between me and Potter."
"You didn't answer my question. I asked you if you want to fuck him!"
"Oh for Merlin's sake--fine! Yes, I'd love to fuck him! He's hot, Pansy. Is that what you want to hear? It's not like I actually like the guy or anything, but who wouldn't want a piece of The Boy Who Lived? Besides, it's inside our rules right? I wouldn't be breaking our little pact."
Pansy stared at him in shock. It was one thing to accuse him of wanting Harry. It was another thing entirely for Draco to actually admit it. "So—are you?"
"Am I what?"
"Are you going to shag him?"
He snorted delicately. "That's not part of the plan, love. But, if need be, I might have to do him in order to get what I want."
Pansy thought that was a load of bull, but she didn't comment on that. Instead, she sighed. "Back to the plan again. Are you sure you don't want to tell me what's going on? Are the orders from Voldemort?"
"From both him and my father actually." And here Draco's face twisted into an ugly scowl. "Dear old daddy won't see it coming."
"See what coming?"
His gaze sharpened upon her suddenly and he grabbed her arm and propelled her towards the door. "No, you already know too much. Just fucking stay out of it, Pansy! Trust me on this one."
"Fine! I"˜ll stay out of it for now." She stopped abruptly. "Aren't you coming to dinner?"
"Can't, I'm on punishment." Quickly he explained the restrictions Dumbledore had given him. Pansy almost whined in frustration.
"No fair. Who am I supposed to talk to at meals now?"
"Your good buddy, Millicent, maybe?" Draco's eyes twinkled at the look of horror on her face.
"Okay, how about I just grab something and come back here to keep you company?"
The smile died abruptly on Draco's face. "Sorry, love. I can't tonight. I have things to do before my detention. I can't have any distractions."
"So I'm a distraction now?"
He groaned, opened the door and kissed her gently on the lips. "That was supposed to be a compliment."
"Well, at least tell me what is so important that you can't even be bothered to eat with me." Pansy knew she was whining, but she couldn't help feeling like Draco was being horribly distant all of a sudden.
The blond studied her closely and finally nodded. "I'm trying to figure out what happened to Blaise."
To his shock, all the color suddenly drained out of Pansy's face. He reached out a hand to steady her in case she fainted. Before he could touch her, however, she shrank back.
"What's the matter, Pansy?"
"Nothing." She stammered, looking distressed. "I just don't see why everything has to always come back to Blaise. I mean, he's gone right? We should just let it go."
"Let it go?" Draco asked in disbelief. "Uh, Pansy, you do realize that if there's a chance to save him, Dumbledore and the rest of the faculty--let alone the Ministry--will take it. I mean, Zabini was a good guy.
"Why can't you just leave it alone?!" She shouted at him suddenly. "Why can't you all just leave it alone?" Then she bolted out the door.
Draco stood there baffled. "Well, fuck me. What the hell was that all about?"
***************************
Minerva McGonagall hurried into the busy Great Hall during dinner, her emerald robes swirling around her. She made a beeline for Dumbledore and sat down at her place at the Head table. "Headmaster, I believe we may have a problem."
Albus turned to his colleague and smiled. "What sort of problem is that, Professor?"
"This storm, sir. It worries me greatly. It is getting steadily worse, yet there is something almost unnatural about it. I don't quite know how to explain it."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "We need to double check the wards around the school. We can't take any chances with our students' safety."
"Professor Sprout and I already performed a quick test, sir. The wards are there—they just aren't as strong as they were."
He shot her a look of alarm. "The wards have been weakened?!"
Minerva glanced around her nervously. "Please, Albus, keep your voice down. We don't want to alarm the students. Sprout and I believe this storm is of a magical rather than a natural occurrence. It is the only explanation of why the wards would be affected."
"I don't like this. This storm pops up out of nowhere and suddenly the school isn't as safe as it used to be? No, something isn't right. We shall have to alert the students now."
Minerva nodded her agreement. "Do you think this has anything to do with the Zabini boy? Dumbledore had filled in the rest of the faculty at an emergency meeting an hour earlier, and as a result, everyone was on edge. "Or perhaps Voldemort?"
Dumbledore frowned. "Perhaps. We shall alert the students now, then I will gather the rest of the faculty and we shall reinforce the protection wards around the school. We must take all precautions."
"What about Potter and Malfoy's detentions? Weren't they supposed to serve part of the punishment outside with Hagrid looking for ingredients?"
"I will send one of the elves with instructions for them to serve their whole detention inside tonight. Right now, I want every student within these walls." With that said, Dumbledore pushed back his chair and clapped his hands together. "Everyone, if I can have your attention please?"
It took a good five minutes or so for everyone to stop talking and turn their attention towards the Headmaster. In a calm voice, he explained the situation to the students and faculty. Ending his impromptu speech with a mild 'there's no reason to panic', he was not surprised when the children did just the opposite.
"Wait a minute! So You-Know-Who is going to attack the school tonight?!"
"Oh my God, what are we going to do?"
"We are so gonna die."
"I absolutely can not die a virgin."
"How are we going to fight Voldemort and win?
"Shut up! Don't say that name out loud."
"Does this mean we still have those tests on Friday?"
"You're a virgin?!"
"Quiet!" Dumbledore's voice boomed across the expanse of the dining hall. A silence so thick it could suffocate a person immediately followed. Everyone was afraid to move, let alone breathe. Dumbledore lowered his voice a notch before continuing. "I repeat, there is no reason to panic. You are all safe inside of these walls."
"But sir," A Ravenclaw stood up, distressed. "You just announced that we might be expecting some kind of attack from You-Know-Who. How can you expect us to relax?"
Lavender stood up from the Gryffindor table next. "And is it true, sir, about Blaise Zabini? Was he really murdered by the Dark Lord?" Pavarti gasped and tried to get her friend to sit down. Hermione just rolled her eyes at her roommates.
The Headmaster became very grim. "I am sure all of you by now have heard about the disappearance of young Mr. Zabini. We, meaning the faculty and I, have reason to believe that he was captured by the Dark Lord's followers. We had hoped otherwise, but since his disappearance, the Ministry has not been able to find any lead whatsoever. At this point, we have to expect the worse. So, if any of you should encounter Mr. Zabini on or outside school grounds, execute extreme caution and come find a teacher immediately."
"So, Zabini's the enemy, sir?"
Dumbledore looked uncomfortable. "Like I said, we hope not, but we cannot take any risks. If you see him, find a teacher as soon as possible."
There was immediate chaos after that as everyone started talking at once. The faculty tried to calm the students down, but everyone was too wired to sit still. In the midst of all the chaos, Dumbledore noticed that Pansy Parkinson was the only student being unusually quiet.
*********************
Harry trudged towards the dungeon after dinner with a look of utter dejection upon his face. He was in no mood to see Malfoy after the unwanted epiphany he'd had that afternoon.
*I can't believe it.* Harry thought miserably as he shuffled along; head down. *I can't believe that I actually find my rival...hot.*
At the moment, if someone had asked him point blank if he was attracted to members of the same sex, Harry would have denied their suspicions immediately. For while he may have accepted the fact that he sort of found Malfoy appealing, he still couldn't--or wouldn't--accept the truth about himself.
"Mr. Potter," came a cold voice from in front of him. Harry looked up to see Professor Snape glaring at him from the entrance to the Potions class. "If you could grace us with your presence sometime tonight..."
The Boy Who Lived winced and hurried forward to accept his fate. He still hadn't prepared himself to see Malfoy so soon after his mortifying fantasy, and as his green eyes locked with the gray of the other boy's, a fierce blush inflamed his face.
Draco raised one perfect eyebrow at Potter's reaction. *Interesting.*
Snape stalked towards the front of the recently repaired room and scowled at the teens. "I'm not going to tell you two that your behavior in my class was utterly disgraceful, for I'm sure you've heard that already."
Draco remained impassive, but Harry immediately swiveled in his chair to look at the door in trepidation. Any minute Voldemort was going to infiltrate the school and kill them all. That had to be the reason why Snape had just passed up and opportunity to bitch at them.
"Potter, I trust that with all the trouble that you are already in, you'd be smart enough not to tempt fate and pay attention when I'm talking to you!"
Harry jumped and mumbled a soft apology.
"Now," Snape continued, still eyeing Harry as if he was some distasteful thing. "The two of you have already been informed of what your detentions entail. You are to organize my storage room over the course of the next ten days and you will accompany Hagrid every night to restock ingredients for me. However, due to circumstances that have recently occurred, you will serve your entire detention inside the school until further notice. Hagrid will be along in a couple of hours to collect you. I gather that you two received Dumbledore's message?"
Both boys solemnly nodded.
"Good. Then I don't have to waste time explaining. One last thing--you are not to use magic. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir." the teens muttered.
"All right. I have things to do. If you need me, I will be in my chambers. You will work diligently until Hagrid comes to get you. Now move!"
Draco and Harry immediately set to work. They entered the huge storage room, took one look around at all the clutter, and groaned.
"There is no way we are going to get this done in ten days." Harry grumbled.
"Maybe. Maybe not." Draco said ambiguously. "We better get started then. Why don't you take one side and I'll start on the other? That way we'll work our way to the middle."
"Whatever." Harry muttered. He just wanted to get as far away from Malfoy as possible. And why was he being so nice anyway? Deciding that confronting the issue would just make him have to talk to Malfoy longer, Harry kept his mouth shut and prayed for the night to be over soon.
For the next couple of hours the boys worked in relative silence. Harry for the most part was comfortable enough--if you didn't count the fact that he was in such close quarters with his admittedly sexy rival. Everything went smoothly until Harry stood up on a footstool to reach a dusty box on the top shelf. As he eased the box off the shelf, he lost his balance and toppled backwards.
Right on top of his Slytherin classmate.
"Ow, bloody hell! Dammit, Potter, watch what you're doing!"
"Well it's not like I did it on purpose." Harry huffed indignantly; trying to disentangle himself from the other boy. "If you weren't skulking around underneath me--"
"Skulking? I was not skulking. And believe me, Potter, if I was underneath you, you'd know it." Draco retorted; gray eyes flashing.
"Then what were you doing on my side of the room?" The dark haired boy demanded.
"I was actually coming over to see if you needed a hand." Draco snapped, momentarily forgetting his plan to befriend Potter. "You were straining to reach the box and I just thought you could use some help!"
Dead silence for a moment and then:
"You wanted...to help me?" The Gryffindor pushed up slightly off the other boy in mild disbelief.
Draco sighed and tried counting to ten, but he couldn't hide his annoyance. *This befriending thing is getting to be ridiculous* "Yes, Potter. I was trying to help."
Harry knew his mouth was gaping open, but he couldn't help it. "Okay...who are you, and what have you done with Draco Malfoy?"
"Oh for crying out loud, Potter!" Draco huffed and glared at the dark haired teen lying on top of him. "Stop acting like the idea is so appalling."
"How can you say that?" Harry said incredulously. "We're enemies. We-we hate each other!"
The blond smirked. "You can't hate me that much, Potter." A feral glint came into his mercury eyes.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you haven't gotten off of me yet."
Harry, who blessedly up until that point had not noticed this fact, and had been wriggling around trying to get comfortable, immediately stilled. A deep crimson flush stole across his cheeks. "Oh Merlin." He scrambled off of the Slytherin and started stuttering. "I-I am so sorry. I don't know what I w-was thinking."
"I have a pretty good idea actually. "Draco stretched his body lazily and gazed at Harry with hooded eyes framed with long lashes. "And don't move on my account, Potter. I was rather enjoying it."
"Oh. My. God." Harry muttered; horrified. He scooted back even further.
"I mean, I'm sort of surprised you even swing that way to tell you the truth." Draco gave his rival a skeptical look. "You Gryffindors are so straight laced and boring it's a wonder you lot even know what sex is."
"That is hardly your business and I most certainly do not swing that way!"
"I beg to differ, Potter. Are you forgetting what got us this detention in the first place? I wasn't writhing around on the ground by myself you know. And it is my business when you get a hard on while lying on top of me."
Harry gasped.
Draco raised a challenging eyebrow as if daring The Boy Who Was Currently Dying of Embarrassment to contradict him.
"I didn't mean--"
"Honestly, Potter. If you want me that bad all you have to do is ask." Draco paused to run his eyes up and down Harry's form and settling on the noticeable bulge between his legs. "I'd fuck you if you asked me nicely, but I'd prefer it if you begged."
Harry gaped at the blond in horror, but was saved from having to reply by a booming voice from the doorway.
"All righ' there, 'Arry? Yeh look a bi' pale."
"Hagrid!" Harry jumped up and ran a shaking hand through his wild hair.
"Are yeh all righ'?" Hagrid cast a suspicious look at the other boy now standing beside the trembling Gryffindor. Hagrid didn't trust Draco as far as he could throw him--which was probably pretty far--but still.
"Um...I'm fine, Hagrid. Just tired." Harry muttered and stepped away from Draco. "Let's just get this night over with." He practically raced out of the room as if Voldemort himself was chasing after him.
The giant scowled at Draco. "Wha' did yeh do to 'im, Malfoy?"
Draco just smirked. "Nothing he didn't want."
*********************
Dumbledore waited patiently for all of the teaching staff to assemble inside of his office. When all were present, he clasped his hands together and addressed McGonagall.
"Did your group strengthen the east side of the school like I instructed?"
Minerva nodded gravely. "Yes, Albus. It was a bit difficult though. Whoever weakened the wards in the first place must be very powerful indeed."
"Voldemort!" Professor Sprout squeaked out; a grim expression on her usually cheerful face. "It's him, mark my words."
"Perhaps," Dumbledore replied thoughtfully. "We have to take every precaution now to ensure the safety of the children. Severus? Did your team complete the west side?"
Snape merely nodded.
"Good. And I reinforced the wards around the grounds and anywhere that you all might have missed--including extra wards in a certain Gryffindor boys' 7th year dorm."
Everyone gasped. "Do you think the Dark Lord has come for Harry Potter, sir?" Sibyll Trelawney asked excitedly. Several dirty glances sent her way effectively shut her up.
"Well, it certainly seems so. However I feel that there is something else trying to get in this time." He exchanged a pointed look with the silent Potions Master. "Or someone."
All of professors nodded. He didn't need to explain who it was he was talking about.
"Um, sir?" Professor Flitwick began nervously from his perch on a nearby stool. "Um, I hate to bring this up, but what if something already got in? I mean, I know we performed spells to detect if something did, but still."
Dumbledore looked even more grave. "We can only hope that didn't happen. All right, I think it's time we retire for the night. I am sure you all have papers to grade and whatnot. We'll resume this conversation tomorrow. I trust that everyone knows what to do if they see anything...unusual?"
There was a murmur of agreement and one by one the faculty left the Headmaster's office.
***********************
"I'm just saying that maybe Albus is not telling us everything. Maybe the situation is worse than he's letting on!" Flitwick exclaimed once the professors had reached the hall again.
McGonagall rolled her eyes at the theatrics of her fellow colleague. "And what purpose would that serve for him not to tell us everything? For us to keep things under control, we all have to be on top of everything. We have to be on our guard. Albus knows that, Flitwick. He wouldn't purposely jeopardize our safety or the children's."
Trelawney was practically bubbling with excitement. "I predict that Harry Potter is going to face up against the Dark Lord once again--and it will prove fatal this time!"
"Rubbish!" McGonagall snapped; not bothering to hide her annoyance towards the Divinations Proor. or. "According to you, Sibyll, Potter is always in danger and on the verge of death. When are you going to admit that you're nothing but a phony?"
Trelawney immediately closed her mouth and averted her eyes to the floor. "I do see things you know." She whispered; stung.
"Well, if you do, we haven't seen proof of it." Snape drawled. "Anyway, if you all will excuse me, I don't intend to stand around here all night long. Good night." He strode off down the hall, his midnight robes billowing around him.
One by one they all muttered 'good night' and took their leave. As Sibyll made the long, lonely trek to her quarters, she felt like crying. She knew she wasn't well liked and people thought her a phony, but she really did see things sometimes--just not when she needed it most, like during class.
As she walked, she suddenly and inexplicably felt cold. Her body shivered in the frigid air and she glanced around the deserted hall in puzzlement. *What the hell?* She took a few more uncertain steps before she froze.
The vision came without warning, and it was so intense that it almost sent her to her knees.
a woman...screaming...struggling...a long dimly lit hall...more screaming...large eyes wide with horror...
Her eyes snapped open in terror. It was her. She was the woman she saw in her vision. She was being attacked by...something that she couldn't quite see...
She was going to die.
Soon.
She knew this with complete certainty.
*RUN!* Her mind screamed at her. *Get to Dumbledore!* She could feel it behind her then. Death was near. She hadn't even taken two steps forward, before she was yanked onto a dark side hallway by something with cruel, red eyes.
Those eyes were the last things she saw before she squeezed her own shut and let out a bloodcurdling scream.
*************************
Meanwhile, Hagrid was leading Harry and Draco through the corridors towards the kitchens. Upon learning that his charges were to serve their detention inside, he had picked a bunch of Terces Weed for them to clean. Terces Weed was an unpleasant thing to handle. First you had to strip the weeds of their outer skin--which was completely covered in thorns--and then you had to cut them into strips to boil. On top of that, the smell while the weeds were boiling was atrocious. All in all the finished product was--strangely enough--a sweet tasting medicinal draught that helped reduce fever. Hagrid was in the middle of explaining the other properties and uses of Terces Weed, when he was interrupted by a loud noise.
"Crikey!" The Gameskeeper exclaimed. "Wha' the hell was tha'?"
Draco leaned against the wall, a bored expression on his face. "Well, this is purely a guess on my part, mind you, but it sounded suspiciously like a scream."
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Both Hagrid and Harry snapped.
"What do you think it could be?" Harry murmured, looking around wildly.
"A scream." Draco responded dryly. "Pay attention, Potter."
Harry glared at his classmate. "If you say one more word, Malfoy. I swear I'm going to hurt you!"
Draco smirked devilishly and waggled his eyebrows. "Promise?"
"And stop flirting with me!"
"But you seem to enjoy it so much!" Draco mock pouted. "Relax, Potter, I'm not going to jump your bones. Who knows what I'd catch?"
"Stop it!" Hagrid bellowed and stood for a moment in silence, listening. "I don' hear anything else. Which direction di' i' come from?"
"That way." Harry said anxiously, pointing down the hall. "It came from behind us."
"Which is why," Draco spoke up. "We should be going in the opposite direction."
Harry shot the Slytherin a venomous look, but Hagrid surprisingly agreed with him.
"Malfoy is righ', 'Arry. Yeh two head to the kitchens an' start stripping the weeds. Keep yer wands out an' ready. I'm going to find Dumbledore." With that said, he unceremoniously shoved the heavy basket of weeds at Harry.
"Wait!" Harry exclaimed as the giant rushed off. "Is it really wise to leave us all alone?"
But Hagrid was already out of earshot.
"Well, that made absolutely no sense." Draco drawled.
Harry looked dejected. He really didn't think the scream was anything to worry about. Not really. What he did find troublesome was the fact that he was now left alone with Malfoy once again. Great. Just great.
"Fuck."
"You want to?" Draco asked innocently.
Harry glared at him.
"What? You totally left yourself open for that one!"
"Sod off, Malfoy." Harry spat furiously and stormed away.
Draco gave a sinister smile and strode after him. As he fell into step with the Gryffindor, he noticed Harry tense up.
"You know, you don't have to keep acting like a frightened rabbit every time I get close to you, Potter."
"Fuck. Off."
"Temper, temper." Draco drawled. *God, it is much harder being nice than I thought.* "For a noble Gryffindor you sure have a lot of hostility built up inside." *There. I complimented him--sort of.*
"For a Slytherin you sure act like an arse!" Harry snarled, then pretended to stop and think. "Oh wait--"
Draco frowned slightly. He had just managed to give the stubborn git a compliment, and it fell on deaf ears. He had called him noble hadn't he? Damn it all to hell! What the fuck was he doing wrong? *All right. New strategy.*
"Okay, look. I'm calling a truce." Draco held up his hands as if to show he was backing off.
"For tonight or for the duration of our punishment?" Harry said suspiciously.
"For the past six years."
There was silence as Harry fixed his rival with a skeptical look. *What the hell is he up to?* "You have got to be joking. What makes you think that calling a simple truce is going to make up for the past six years of hell you put me and my friends through?"
By then, they had reached the kitchens and they set to work stripping and cutting the weeds.
"I didn't say I was going to make up for anything." Draco said amiably. "I said 'call a truce' if I remember correctly. That is a completely different matter altogether."
"No."
"No?"
"Did I stutter, Malfoy?" Harry hacked at a particularly stubborn weed.
Draco fought the urge to strangle his rival. "Give me one good reason why you won't."
"Because. I. Don't. Trust. You." Harry said slowly as if speaking to a particularly dimwitted individual. "That's why. Plus, why would I give the person who had Blaise Zabini murdered, just so he could get the fucking Prefect's position, a chance? Do I look stupid to you?"
Draco grit his teeth in frustration. *Don't answer that, Malfoy.* "I did no such thing, Potter! And who said Zabini was murdered? As far as I know, they've just been declaring him missing."
"Everyone in school is saying it, Malfoy." Harry said icily. "And we all think you did it."
************************
"Dumbledore, sir! Please open the door!" Hagrid cried while banging on the door to the Headmaster's chambers. He had run straight there to alert the old wizard to the possible disturbance in the school, only to realize he had forgotten the password to his mentor's office. Eventually, after tearing out a few of his hairs, he remembered that ice mice was the current password and thundered up the steps. Now he was presently beating down the door.
"Hagrid, what is it? What's wrong?" Dumbledore asked when he finally pulled open the door.
"There migh' be trouble, sir. The boys and I 'eard a scream. 'Orrible thing i' was too. Made me shiver."
The Headmaster was already moving out the door. "Where did you hear the scream approximately?"
"Sounded like i' came from the third floor corridor, bu' i' was kind of faint, sir, so i' migh' 'ave been further away. I'm no' sure."
"That's all right, Hagrid. But," And here Dumbledore stopped and looked about. "Where are the boys?"
"Um, I sor' of told them to go on to the kitchens. I wasn't thinking, sir." The giant looked ashamed.
The Headmaster looked grave. "That was not very wise indeed, Hagrid, but what's done is done. We better go make sure they're all right before we go investigate."
The two men hurried off.
*************************
Draco and Harry sat glaring at each other across the table, both of them idly fingering their knives.
"I did not do anything to Zabini!"
"Sure you didn't, Malfoy."
"I didn't! Just because I got the position instead doesn't mean a bloody goddamn thing, so you just shut your mouth, Potter!"
"Now who's being hostile?"
Draco opened his mouth to retort and abruptly shut it again. He started furiously slicing the weed in front of him in an effort not to cry. Crying was a weakness and he hated weakness of any kind. But, to his growing horror, the angry tears welled up in his gray eyes anyway. Damn Potter! He refused to cry in front of him. He would rather die. So what if the whole school thought he was a murderer? So what if they whispered behind his back? He was a fucking Malfoy. He was strong dammit and he would fucking show them what he was made of. He would fucking show them all. He was so hurt and angry, that he wasn't paying attention to where the blade of the knife was cutting, and he sliced his finger. Blood immediately welled up and started dripping onto the table.
"Fuck!" He jumped up in a panic and knocked over his chair in the process. He moved towards a sink with the intention of running cool water on the wound. He didn't get far when Potter suddenly appeared by his side.
"Here," He said gently. "Let me see."
"No!" Draco snapped. "I can take care of it myself. I don't want or need your help, Potter."
Harry immediately lost his temper. "I was just trying to help! Why do you have to be such a bastard all the damn time?"
Draco couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I was attempting to be nice earlier when I asked you for a truce, Potter, but then you called me a killer--or have you already forgotten? Because I sure as hell haven't!"
Harry looked into the other boy's eyes and was surprised to see that he truly looked hurt, but was unsuccessfully trying to hide it. *So he does have feelings after all.* Harry mused. *But is he telling the truth? Maybe he really didn't have anything to do with Blaise's disappearance.* "Look...I'm sorry. Can we just put this aside for the moment so I can help you with your cut? You're bleeding all over the floor, Malfoy."
"Fine." Draco sighed as Harry reached for his injured hand. "Bloody noble Gryffindors."
Harry couldn't help but flash a small smile. "Was that a compliment, Malfoy? Don't tell me you're going soft."
*Now he takes it as a compliment when I was being sarcastic.* Draco thought irritably. *Stupid Potter.* "Ow! Watch what you're doing!"
"Oh stop being such a baby. You're a Malfoy after all, right? So act like one."
Draco scowled and grit his teeth, but he had to admit that Potter was being pretty gentle with his wound. The raven haired boy had manly hands, yet they were soft and smooth and felt heavenly against his skin.
*God his hands are so soft.* Harry thought uncomfortably. *What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I thinking all these crazy things?* He shook his head as if to clear it and smiled again. "It's not too bad. It looked a lot worse than it really was. Now hold still." Harry pulled out his wand and cast a simple healing charm that Hermione had taught him. The cut closed up but still left an angry red gash in the meaty part of Draco's finger. "I'm afraid that is the best I can do. It'll hold closed until morning. Then you can go and have Madame Pomfrey fix it."
Draco examined his finger and felt a momentary pang of guilt at what he was supposed to do to Potter. But then he strengthened his resolve. Better Potter than him. "Thank you."
Harry didn't bother hiding his surprise. *Malfoy actually thanked me. This has got to be the weirdest night ever.* He was so shocked that he could only manage a nod.
The boys sat back down at the table and got back to work. After a few minutes of working in silence, both Draco and Harry reached out for the same weed at the same time--causing their fingers to brush together. Harry gasped softly at the unexpected sensation and jerked his hand away. He avoided looking at Draco despite the fact that he knew the Slytherin was staring thoughtfully at him.
"Give me a chance to change your mind." Draco said suddenly, throwing Harry completely off guard. In the next second, however, he recovered.
"You won't."
*Merlin, he can be an arse!* Draco thought wryly. *But then again, so can I.* "One chance, Potter. Come on, what do you have to lose?"
"I don't know...my dignity. My pride. My soul" Harry growled. "Shall I continue?"
Draco smirked. "You can be such a melodramatic git. Come on, one chance. You helped me tonight, so you can't hate me that much."
Harry sighed. "Do what you want, Malfoy." He stared at the blond with a sudden fire in his jade eyes. "You still won't change my mind."
"We'll see, Potter. We'll see. Now give me that weed. You're cutting it all wrong."
"And what makes you an expert? Wait, don't tell me. You're a Malfoy."
"Of course."
The two boys looked at each other and burst out laughing. They were still laughing uncontrollably when Dumbledore and Hagrid rushed in a few minutes later.
***********************
Pansy woke up later that night with a start. She listened for a moment in the pitch darkness of her dorm, trying to figure out what it was that interrupted her slumber. It wasn't the loud snores of her roommate, Millicent Bulstrode. They had been sharing a dorm for the past six years and Pansy had long since gotten used to the noise. No, it was something else.
The storm was still raging outside, and although they had no windows in the dungeons to see out of, she could still make out the faint sounds of thunder and . Pa. Pansy lay on her back for a few minutes still trying to pinpoint why she had jerked awake. She was about to give up and snuggle back down in the covers when she heard it.
A low giggle.
In the darkness.
Right. Beside. Her. Fucking. Bed.
A scream rose inside of her, but ended up getting stuck in her throat. Instinctively, she grabbed for her wand on her night table, scrambled into an upright position and muttered, "Lumos!" all in one continuous move. Whoever it was, was going to get themselves hexed into next week.
When the light from her wand illuminated her unwanted visitor, she thought she would die of heart failure.
Blaise Zabini was sitting on a chair beside her bed, a mad little grin fixed upon his face.
"Oh my God..." Pansy began--her face going pale.
"Hello, love." Blaise giggled again. "Miss me?"
TBC.......
Like it, hate it, want me to write faster? Drop me a line at bratwaite@msn.com
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