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Feasting on Rabbits	By : midnightpanther Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Fenrir Views: 23434 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own or have any claim on Harry Potter. This fanfiction is solely fanbased and is in no way being used to make money.

Chapter List
- 1
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Feasting
on Rabbits

Blood Pudding:
part two

�Extreme emotional
distress, Harry!� Hermione glared for the third
time while saying the same thing for the
third time. Harry was � finally � sitting in the Hospital Wing and Madam
Pomfrey had run down to the Potions room to see if Snape
had the Bruise-Away potion in stock (that wasn�t the actual name but it was
what Harry was calling it). �In front of Ginny.�

�Yes, I know,
Hermione. She did manage to get over being hurt long enough to wish me a
painful demise.� Harry said irritably. �If Pince hadn�t of been there she would have pulled her wand
on me! And anyway, it�s Malfoy�s fault! He had
to goad her.�

�Yes, and that is worrisome.� Hermione�s
brow furrowed in concentration, the way it did when she was trying to figure
out something that had so far eluded her.

Harry blinked. �It is?� Because Harry
thought Malfoy being an all-around prat was rather normal.

�Well, yes,� Hermione continued. �Malfoy�s recent stalking has had me troubled.�

Harry sat in silence a moment, trying to
take this information in. He hadn�t known Malfoy had
been following anyone. Who knew what sinister plot the bloke had in mind? �We
should definitely do something. I don�t want to see Ginny get hurt. ...Uh, any
more than she already is, that is, because of me, and I mean, I didn�t mean...�

�Ginny?� Hermione blinked. �Harry, he�s
stalking you.�

What? Thought Harry, he hadn�t even been aware. He tried not to show his
shock but by Hermione�s disbelieving face he guessed he failed.

�Honestly Harry. You have to stop this. You
don�t pay attention to the people around you! Ginny has been flirting with you
like crazy, and you can�t even be bothered to notice. The whole House was wondering when you two were going to start dating,
now it seems you were just stringing her along � And of course I know you
weren�t, but that�s what I�m saying! And Malfoy�s
been following you all week. I�d just call him on it if I were you, see if he
wants anything and if he persists to follow you after you hear him out then get
McGonagall involved. Because it�s kinda creepy,
Harry. It is. He stalks you with his eyes.� Hermione made a face.

�Oh, Granger,� Madam Pomfrey said as she
came back into the room with a couple vials. �Classes are about to start and
Mr. Potter here is hardly going to need you to hold his hand so I suggest you
get moving.�

Harry and Hermione shared a look but
Hermione got off the bed and picked up her book bag. �I�ll see you in Potions.�

Ugh. Harry had almost managed to forget the double Potions this
afternoon. He nodded and waved her away.

�Alright, Potter. Hold still while I fix
your eye, though I am quite tempted to leave you with it as punishment for
fighting in school, and save your breath,� she said before Harry even had a
chance to open his mouth, �I know it wasn�t caused by the bookcase.� The medi-witch told Harry to close his eye and hold still, a
second later he noticed a distinct lack of facial aching.

�How�s that arm? Better? Stiff?� Harry
shook his head then nodded. �Alright, let me just...� She felt along Harry�s
bone very gently but Harry had to put extreme effort not to voice the pain.
Something that sounded precariously close to that spell Lockhart had performed
on Harry�s arm years ago made Harry�s blood freeze � until his arm suddenly
felt much better. Harry let out a sigh of relief without knowing he�d been
holding his breath in.

��Unfortunately not many students get such
extreme bruising that it needs to be seen to by me. In fact,� she seemed to
perk up, clearly pleased with what she was about to say, �the potion in my
cupboard has been unused for such a length of time it has passed the expiry
date, and since the ailment isn�t life-threatening, and there�d been no
instances in years, I actually have yet to re-stock it. Professor Snape hasn�t had to brew one in a while and agreed to have
his class make the potion, the best one coming to me, of course. And if I heard
Miss Granger right, that means you have a chance to brew your own Potion. Isn�t
that exciting!?� Harry had a feeling Pomfrey had told
Snape exactly
who the Potion was for. And that was
why the greasy professor was leaving the brewing to the students.

What if no one got it right?

�Shouldn�t I stay in the Hospital Wing?�
Harry asked. Every time he moved a limb his bruised muscles strained rather
painfully. Anything strenuous would be out of his ability.

�Oh, but this is such an amazing thing to
do. To brew the very potion that
you will be using. Just think, you can see every ingredient that you�re
about to digest!� Harry shuddered. �Besides, your partner will do most of the
work, I�m sure you can manage stirring.� Harry could, but the lifting of his
arm would hurt. This was an incredibly crappy day.

�Now, off with you! Your class has started
and I can do no more for you until you return with the potion.�

�

Despite the fact that Snape
knew Harry had been in the Hospital
Wing he still deducted ten points from Gryffindor for his being tardy. With
said foresight the class had been paired off. Except for Goyle. The bulk of a student sat impatiently banging
his arm on Harry�s desk for amusement (which with Harry�s muscles aching as
they did made Harry wince with each thump). As Harry approached his own desk he
couldn�t help but note Goyle was anything but
pleased.

Harry looked for his friends, but they were
paired up with other students and Harry couldn�t tell if that was by choice or
because Snape paired them that way. Either was
optional. Either could have Goyle as Harry�s Potions
partner. On one hand, Snape would deliberately pair
Harry disadvantageously but also, on the other � who would choose the slow
burley Slytherin as a partner willingly?

�What do you think you are doing Potter, my
classroom isn�t a play for your amusement, stop watching the students and start
the assignment. With less time than anyone else here you�d think you�d attempt to brew this potion quickly.�
There was an edge to Snape�s voice and Harry suddenly
had the sinking feeling he�d be consuming his potion regardless of how bad it
was brewed. He glanced at Goyle who had spent all his
free time banging on his desk with only vague discoloration on his skin for the
effort. Anyone else would have likely had the ingredients prepared by now.

�Well,� the brute said, �get the
ingredients.� Not that Harry even knew what they were. Or even the name of the
potion. Goyle hadn�t opened his text book.

�Why don�t you.� Harry shot back, annoyed
that his �partner� hadn�t done that much himself. Goyle
cracked his knuckles and arched a brow. Picking
up habits from Malfoy are you, thought Harry, think it makes you more intimidating...
well, you�d be right. Harry stood again, feeling ridiculous after just
sitting down, but he couldn�t go anywhere because he didn�t know what he needed
to get.

He reached for Goyle�s
Potion book since it was already out � closed, but out � planning to browse
through until he found the one that fixed internal bruising but Goyle pulled the book away and used it as a pillow. �Get
going, Potter.�

Like I can without knowing the ingredients. �What am I getting?� But Goyle closed his eyes in feigned sleep. �Hey!� Harry was
actually getting mad.

�Potter!� Bellowed Snape from
across the room. �Stop disrupting my class. Two more points, and if you
don�t start soon I�ll deduct more.�

Harry glared at Goyle.
The Slytherins were clearly a low breed. �If I fail,
you fail.� Harry said in a low voice as soon as Snape
had turned his attention. Goyle yawned.

Harry pulled his own text from his bag and
started flipping through the pages. He�d gone through fifty before he realized
how huge of a tome text books were. He stared at the book, looking and feeling
lost.

�Oh for the, Potter, seriously, it�s the
Hematoma Potion.� Malfoy said as he passed, then
continued mumbling, �...just wants to make Greg fail, I swear.� It was all
Harry could do not to splutter in indignation.

Okay. So Harry had lost what... forty five
minutes? He could still pass. Maybe. He didn�t know if
he should curse his luck for having Double
Potions, or praise it. He quickly found the page (thank you glossary, even if
it only listed the potion names) and scanned the ingredients.� Fresh nettle, moonseeds, valerian, knotgrass,
peppermint and... Harry blanched, rat spleen (freshly removed). He looked up
and sure enough a dead rat sat on everyone�s table, cut open and... Harry
looked at Ron whose green complexion stood out stunningly when paired with his
red hair.

Harry wanted to be vindictive because his
day had really sucked and Ron punched him in the face first thing in the
morning, and had ignored him and had been
a prat! If Ron had been decent to him then
Harry�s day would only have been half as bad. Instead, Harry swallowed his
anger. He had never been in love before but he knew people became irrational
with their emotions. Ron had had a crummy morning before Harry had even gotten
out of bed (though it was Ron who had woke him and started off Harry�s own
crummy day) but the fact remained: Ron was having a bad day, and he had had it
first.

Harry refused
to take it personally. So Ron didn�t want to lean on Harry as Harry rather
needed to lean on him. That was just fine.
His was a �love issue� and Harry had no experience. That was just fine too. And Harry had (no matter how inadvertent) hurt
Ginny so all things considered Harry thought being punched in the face settled
that debt.

So. Despite still being ignored Harry greeted Ron on his way to the
supply closet and retrieved the ingredients.��

�And what do you think you�re doing.� Goyle asked as Harry sat down with the ingredients between
them. Before Harry could reply he cracked his knuckles. �Get a choppin�.�

Yep, Harry thought sarcastically as he dug around his own potion kit to
pull out a scalpel and begin his class work. I�ll be done in no time, Pomfrey. Thanks.

�

��And
where do you think you are going?� Snape asked Harry
as he began packing up his kit despite only recently setting his potion to
simmer, about three fifths done with no thanks to Goyle.

�Um.� Harry didn�t know why Snape wanted to
know. �To my dormitory before supper?�

�No.� Snape
corrected. �You will stay here until that potion is complete.�

�But...�

Snape gave Harry a withering look then raised a hand and started counting
fingers. One.
�You were late to your own potion brewing.� Two. �You dallied at the start of
class despite that fact.� Three.
�Ignoring that this lesson disrupted my
schedule for the term because of you�, Snape put up
another finger at this point to make four, �I see no reason why you shouldn�t complete your own potion.�

�And Goyle?� Harry countered, his mood souring as the last of the Gryffindors and Slytherins exited
the classroom leaving him alone with Snape. No Ron to
make this bearable.

�He won�t get participation marks.�

Whatever that meant.

�Can I at least take the best potion now?�
Harry asked because his muscles ached all over and, truthfully, Harry had been
glad to stop when the class ended, failing mark or no. He regretted asking at
the superior smirk on the Potion Master�s face.

�Miss Granger�s potion has already been
delivered to Madam Pomfrey. You�ll have to make do with your own, so I suggest
you do well. What was it Madam Pomfrey said? Something about the wonders of
being able to brew your own potion�?�

�

��stir counter clockwise. Drop thirteen
stinging hairs from a nettle leaf and wait until potion turns moss green, then
add a shaved nettle leaf and stir until it bubbles.� Harry picked up the small
piece of paper that had the carefully separated thirteen hairs and tilted it into
the potion. Two hairs stuck so Harry blew them off, one landed in the potion,
the other in the flame.

�Dammit!�

Ignoring the briefly purple flames Harry
scoured his desk until he found a short hair and added it to the potion. He
checked the book again, found his spot and re-read. �Moss green�
moss green�.� Harry stared into the cauldron � blue. Maybe
a murky blue, but certainly blue. He checked for footnotes concerning
the wait time but the section had none. Harry read ahead: �Okay, blah, blah,
bubbles�� He checked on the potion again, still blue, �then add
the grounded knotgrass. Wait a minute� grounded� then that means�� it needed to
be dry grass. Dry. �Argh!�

�Shouldn�t they specify that somewhere!�
Harry had prepared everything except cut out the rat spleen (the less exposed
to air, the better) but had somehow forgotten to prepare the knotgrass, he had
got it in his head that he�d just have to tie the grass in the Eriu knot, which they had been doing with knotgrass the
last two potions. But this wasn�t part of
the schedule, so of course it doesn�t follow the curriculum pattern.

Harry�s knotgrass was fresh; bendy� the
potion obviously required something brittle. And Snape
had likely realized and kept Harry longer just to torture him. Grabbing his
wand from the table Harry made his way to the supply cupboard. He�d show Snape, the potion was almost done and he suffered to make it. He would not just
give up.

But three spells later and Harry had no
clue how to access the supplies from the protectively locked cupboard. There
had to be some way, a trick perhaps? that Harry could
get it open. A soft popping noise, like boiling bubbles, brought Harry�s
attention back to his potion. It was most definitely blue now � with yellow
bubbles popping.

Not knowing what else to do Harry peered
from the classroom, hoping fate would be kind enough to send someone
conveniently to help him, but he only saw a student, and a Slytherin
at that. This wasn�t fate, this was chance being lazy.

�Hey Daphne,� Harry greeted after a second�s
deliberation. �You wouldn�t by chance happen to know how to get into Snape�s supply cupboard, would you?� At least if it was a Slytherin they might actually know. He smiled in what he
hoped was a pleasing manner; she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

�Daphne? Got tired of calling me Greengrass did
you? Thought to butter me up by being polite? And no tact.
�Open Snape�s supply cupboard�? For
you?� She ducked under Harry�s
arm to see what he was doing, the potion clearly boiling away. �Ah, right. That was why Harry avoided
conversing with Greengrass, like Malfoy
she was a pureblood and had a tendency to make any interaction exhausting.

�I�ll call you Daphne from now on?� Harry
offered.

�Ugh. Creepy.� She backed up a couple
steps, as if Harry had tried to molest her.

�Um� I�ll��

�Lose to Slytherin
in the next Quidditch match?� She supplied sweetly.

�Uh. No.�

�Give me five galleons� She smiled Harry�s
pleasing smile back at him and held out her hand as if she actually expected
him to pay.

�I don�t have that kind of money lying
around.� Harry said honestly.

�So what then?�

�What else do you want, an autograph?!�
Harry snapped, and realized that was the wrong thing to say when Greengrass scoffed and turned to go. Harry grabbed her arm,
pausing her. �Wait.�

She looked at him as if as if a bug had
crawled up her arm, and was still there. Then she blinked and a smiled
blossomed across her face. The show of emotion made her look lovely.

�You know what, Harry, I changed my mind. I like your first idea. But it can�t be
just me, like I said that would be creepy. Soooo. The
other Slytherins too.� The smile never faded
from her face and she appeared generally pleased but also appeared as if she
had an ulterior motive.

�You gotta be
kidding me.� Harry said, not able to keep what he thought of that from his voice.

�Nope. I�ve never liked your attitude; you call your Housemates by their
first name, and mine by their last � as if we were all suspect.�

��But I actually know my housemates.� Harry
excused instead of saying: �But you are
all suspect.�

Greengrass pulled her arm out from Harry�s grasp. �You asked my help despite
never having so much as a conversation with me and for something I could very
well get suspended for.� She gave Harry an elevator stare. �Are there even any Slytherins you are
on first name basis with?�

Harry�s potion was popping distinctly now. �None that I want to be friends with.�

�Well, consider this a step towards that
inter-House unity that gets spoken about a lot without any actual effort.�

�Are you saying��
Harry asked feeling scandalized, �that Gryffindor
is the stuck-up House? Not Slytherin?�

pop pop pop

�I�m saying that you are the Great Harry Potter and your generally poor attitude
towards my House reflects horribly on our social standing.�

�But, you guys � �
are horrible. Harry stopped himself
from saying it just as Greengrass�s eyes narrowed
again.

�And you say my House is full of bigots.� Slytherin is!

pop pop pop

�Okay, sure, whatever. I�ll make an effort
to call Slytherins by their first names. Just� I need this potion to be successful.�

Greengrass smiled. �So, we are in agreement. I�ll help you and you�ll call Slytherins by their first name?�

�Yes. Okay. Now open the cupboard. Please.�

�Oh. I can�t.�

�But� you� then our deal is void.�

�Hardly. I said I�d help you and I will. One sec.� She disappeared around
the corner and emerged shortly after with Malfoy
walking three steps behind, looking as haughty as ever and giving Harry the
distinct impression that the boy really was a snake, slithering everywhere�

�Ta da!�

�Malfoy?!�

�No.� Greengrass
corrected and gave him a look. �Who better than to ask then Draco himself. Face it, he�s the
most likely to know and by bringing the answer directly to you I�ve done as
much as I can. I�ve fulfilled my half of the bargain so��

�Forget it.�

pop pop pop�

�Daphne insists you are giving out favours
to those who can help you.� Malfoy looked down at
Harry even though they were roughly the same height; it was an uncanny ability
that Harry vastly disliked.

�I am not!�

pop pop pop pop

��Suit yourself.� Malfoy
said with a shrug. �If you don�t want my help�� He turned with his hand on Greengrass�s� back, leading her away.

POP POP�� POP�� POP�� POP

�FINE!� It wasn�t Harry�s grade that made him desperate, or even his need
to show Snape up, it was that Harry felt absolutely
wretched and if he didn�t brew the potion� then what? �Malfoy!�

�It�s Draco.� Corrected Greengrass with a smile that didn�t hide her enjoyment of
the situation.

�Um, yeah, sure. What� what was it that you� wanted?� Harry asked, obviously
uncomfortable, but Malfoy seemed delighted.

�Draco.� Greengrass
repeated.

�What.was.it.you.wanted,Draco.�
Harry said through gritted teeth, a hundred percent positive the Slytherin sneak would ask the impossible or the
unreasonable.

�You have a book I want to read. I merely
wish to borrow it.�

�That�s it?� Harry was stunned. That seemed
too simple. Harry basically owned textbooks, unless Malfoy
had lost or misplaced one of his own Harry was sure he�d own nothing that would
interest the aristocratic boy. �I suppose you want me to fetch it now? While my potion over-brews?� It was the only thing Harry
could think of to justify the request.

�Hmm.� Was all Malfoy replied as he side-stepped
Harry and entered the Potions room, shoving Harry back inside and closing the
door on Greengrass. �That�s hardly a fair trade, is it.� He fanned the smoke over the potion and peered inside.
�Good Lord, Potter! If this potion was any deeper a shade of moss green it would
be swamp.� He glanced at the forgotten potion ingredients on the desk. �And
that knotgrass is far too springy. If you cared so much about this potion that
you�d be willing to haggle with Slytherins� why
sabotage it in the first place?�

�I didn�t!�

�Then you�re telling me that you�re merely
an idiot?�

�I�m not that either.�

Malfoy�s expression seemed to say it had to be one or the other and that
he�d already decided which Harry was. �Look, can you help me or not?�

He looked at the potion again then reached
into his bag and pulled out a vile of powder that looked suspiciously like
dried knotgrass. �So it�s a deal?� said the snake to the hare.

Harry nodded and Malfoy
dumped the contents into the potion. It immediately calmed the bubbling and
Harry let out a breath he didn�t know he was holding.

�Don�t relax yet, Potter. Those moonseeds
aren�t going to add themselves every twelve and a half seconds. Speaking of
which�� Malfoy made a pointed look and Harry jumped
up, grabbed the prepared seeds off the table and chucked one in.

�One� Two� Three�� Malfoy
began counting aloud, seeming pleasantly pleased at making Harry follow his
rhythm. For most of the potion brewing Malfoy kept
silent unless to gloatingly tell Harry he was doing it wrong, despite not even
having a textbook out (which was beyond irksome, because, really, he couldn�t
have studied in advance). It was not an easy thing, being watched by the
arrogant Slytherin and tolerating his remarks.

�Look! Thanks for the help, Mafoy� � Harry said after a short while, his voice
betraying how low his tolerance was for Malfoy after
having to actually concede he�d been feeding Harry the right information, by
finding the spot, again and again, in the textbook. This was the fourth time he
had made a helpful, if not dismissive, comment to Harry.

�You mean �Draco�.� That paused
Harry for a second.

��No, I do mean � �

�You�re welcome.� He said, and Harry was
positive the other boy was only being polite to throw Harry off. �Anyway, it�s
getting late. And since you were about to � kindly I�m sure � tell me to bugger
off, I shall take my leave.� With that he hopped off the desk he was observing
from and left. Harry let out a breath.

The potion was almost done, and with Malfoy gone Harry felt more assured at cutting out the rat
spleen. It was just as Harry had finished filling a vial with his finished
project that Malfoy slithered back into the room.

Munching on a sandwich.

Harry�s stomach made a funny little gurgle
at the smell of meat and onions. How long had it been since he�d eaten? He�d practically
skipped lunch and had only picked at breakfast; judging by Malfoy�s
smile, as he put the last of the morsel into his mouth, Harry had missed dinner
too.

�All done?!� Malfoy greeted, clapping his hands
together and looking quite like a greedy merchant.

�Urr. Yeah?� Harry replied, baffled that Malfoy had returned. And without extra food.
The git.

�Good. I�d like to borrow that book now. Because
I trust you, Potter, I do� just not enough to keep your word.�

�What? You can�t seriously expect me to be the liar between us.�

�Certainly not,� he sniffed, �but as I�ve
already fulfilled my half of the deal��

Harry fake-smiled at the Slytherin, ��There�s nothing to hold me to mine? Is that
it? Grow up, Malfoy.�

�Draco.
Or have you forgotten your previous agreement already.�

The smile dropped from Harry�s face. �Give
me a minute, I gotta pack up.� Harry turned his back
on the boy and filled another vial that he corked and slid into his bag� he
wasn�t taking the potion with Malfoy watching, Heaven
forbid if it wasn�t brewed correctly. But if it was...
Harry filled a few extra vials before properly disposing the rest of the potion
and washing his cauldron and utensils for later use.

�Okay, ready.� Harry declared after leaving
a labeled vial on Snape�s desk. He left the room
without pause, leaving Malfoy to scramble after him.
�But I want you to at least wait in the hallway away from our door when I go to
fetch the book.� And say the password.

Malfoy gave him a mock gasp of insult before snidely agreeing he would
have made Harry do the same. The sentiment that Harry shared so much as a
similar thought with Malfoy made Harry queasy� it
could have been Harry�s empty stomach, but of the two Harry voted that it was Malfoy who made him feel ill.

�What book was it?� Harry asked, not
remembering if the Slytherin had mentioned. He�d just
have to share Hermione�s or Ron�s text until Malfoy
found a replacement for his. �And since we never set a timeline I�m telling you
now I want it back by this time next week.� There, that was more than fair.

But Malfoy didn�t
looked discouraged, instead he looked like he was about to steal someone�s
Christmas present from right under their tree � while that person was watching.
�The Bitten and The
Brooding: A Detailed Manual on the Lycanthrope Lifestyle.�

Harry froze.

That was a book Remus had lent him just before
summer had ended. Remus had bragged that he found a copy in a pawn store where
the seller hadn�t known the book had been recalled (and banned for that
matter). His were-wolf guardian had spent two galleons on the frivolous buy and
considered the money well spent, and Harry knew how tight Remus�s pockets were.
So Harry couldn�t give the book to Malfoy.

�Well?� Malfoy
sneered after Harry hadn�t moved for a full minute.

�How, how did you��

�Please. I saw you with it. A few times. If you don�t want people to know what you�re
reading you should try not to do so in public.�

When?
�Harry
thought, realizing now that he had blundered at some point. Because of Remus�s
excitement over the book Harry had taken an interest and couldn�t resist the lycantrope when he insisted Harry borrow it. In truth,
Harry had only taken a passing interest and had had a hard time reading through
the first chapter (he was actually still stuck only a few pages in). But he�d
taken the book with him sometimes, and tried to advance a paragraph or two when
he had the time and interest.

�That book isn�t mine. I said I�d lend you
one of my books��

Malfoy�s glared. �Actually,
you said you�d lend me a book you had.�

Harry glared back. �Well, I can�t lend you
that one.�

�For the week, Potter.� He ground out.

�No.�

Both boys stared at each other, clearly at
an impasse. They remained that way for a minute, silently loathing the other
until Malfoy spoke, �It seems I was right about you.�
Harry swallowed thickly, not enjoying that Malfoy
thought he had Harry�s character pegged. �You only do things to suit yourself.
Say what you will when the situation calls for your favour and then take it
back when it doesn�t.�

�So do you!� Harry glowered. Not willing to
part with the book and not willing to concede Malfoy
could be right about him.

Malfoy arched a brow. �Yes.� He smirked. �But I�m a Slytherin.�

It was like a cold bucket of water had been
dumped over Harry�s head; the unspoken insult to Harry�s character soaking his
clothes. �You just as good as told me that you have no moral obligation to
return the book as agreed� that as soon as you get what you want you�ll damn
your own word.� Harry countered.

�Sod off, Potter!� He shoved Harry against
the wall. �You and your stupid ethnic code that applies to everyone but me.
Why? because I follow different rules than you? I duck
whilst you block so I�m a coward for having the forethought to get out of the
freaking way!?� Malfoy�s face was but inches from
Harry�s, his eyes narrowed in anger, and then he let Harry go and stepped away.

Ow. Harry thought. Ow! His potion was left unconsumed in his bag, thanks to Malfoy, and Harry�s muscles
still ached raw, after being left untreated as he prepared the potion by himself. If
Harry had felt any optimism he would have been grateful he was left with only bruising,
considering the accidents he experienced throughout the day. Harry wasn�t feeling
the least optimistic. He was downright exhausted and wanted nothing more than
to lie in his bed until the day blew itself over. Without him.

�Look, I want to keep my end of the
bargain, I do, but neither of us trust each other and
that isn�t going to change.� Harry said as he brushed passed the other boy, not
that Harry expected to actually make it to the Fat Lady in peace. Malfoy said something but didn�t pursue anything further so
Harry ignored him and entered the dorm. He flopped unto his bed and groaned.
That had hurt. A second later Harry consumed his potion and soon his muscles
relaxed as it took effect. The best part of the entire day was right in this
instant.

And then Harry remembered he had detention
with Sprout.

Something within Harry told him he should
skip it. Even if she docked points or gave him double detention later� well
then, at least it would be later. But with his luck today� Harry didn�t dare
tempt whatever wanted to make his life miserable. So he sat up and debated
leaving his nice safe dorm room one last time. After all, what was the worst
that could happen if he stayed?

Ron entered. �Oh.� He said, before making a
point of ignoring Harry.

Again.

�Ron.� Harry sighed, and then decided he
didn�t have the energy to go another round with his friend. He just wanted them
to make up. But it wasn�t Harry Ron was mad about.

Harry grabbed his bag and was about to exit
when he saw Remus�s book forgotten on his nightstand. It was true he had made a
deal with Malfoy, and perhaps it was his own fault
for not clarifying the details until after the fact. Slytherins. Harry should have
been more wary, but he was distracted and just didn�t have it in him. Still, he
had made an agreement and Ron and Hermione would make him go through with it�
well they would, until they learned it was Malfoy.

Not being able to come to a decision Harry
packed the book in his bag then turned to leave, but he caught sight of Ron who
had collapsed onto his bed, head buried into his arms. He looked like what
Harry felt.

�Hey. Ron?� Harry asked, concerned. �Still
didn�t patch things with Hermione?� At this Ron groaned and somehow buried
himself deeper into his arms. �Maybe�� Harry started, remembering Hermione�s
attitude towards Ron in the library. �Maybe you should back off a bit. Give her
some space.�

�What do you know,� Ron said and then
lifted his head. �Look at your relationship with Ginny. Take advice from you? You?�

��I
really hadn�t known Ginny liked me.� Harry offered as an apology, hoping that
if that was why Ron had lashed out at him then he could close the
misunderstanding.

�Well. You should have.� Ron replied
testily, still upset about it and his romance problems. �So don�t give me
advice. You don�t even know when you have a girlfriend.�

That seemed completely unfair. It wasn�t
that Harry had assumed too little, it was that Ginny had assumed too much.
�Thanks Ron.� Harry said bitterly and left, the door slamming shut behind him.

�

�Late again Potter!� Sprout said rather loudly. �Eight more points from Gryffindor.
Honestly.�

Harry didn�t try to make up an excuse.
Better to just let the day fail. �Sorry,� Harry mumbled, though if Ron hadn�t
have come Harry likely wouldn�t have shown at all.

�Yes, well. Let�s get on with it.� Sprout
led them to the furthest greenhouse and behind it at that. �It seems someone
has �accidently� broken a pane of glass in this greenhouse.� She paused to give
a disapproving look. ��and didn�t report it.�

Harry shuffled his feet, not understanding
what this had to do with his detention. �You want me to fix the glass?� �Harry was dubious.

�Oh good Heavens, no!� Sprout declared. �Already done so. But the
glass wasn�t the only damage. Did you bring your wand?�

Stupid question. �In my back pocket.�

�Well, take it out. You are going to do
some weeding.�

�Weeding?� Harry was doubtful. This sounded
too easy� he was even allowed to use his wand instead of bending.

�Yes. Some insects got in, spread the
pollen of the puffapod and gurdyroot.
Now just look at the mess on the lawn.�

�Looks fine to me.� Harry assured her.

�Come on then.� She led Harry to the first
weed. It looked like dandelion leaves without the sprout. Hardly something to
be concerned about, but then this was supposed to be detention. Sprout was
likely making him do this for the pure tediousness of the task.�

�Now. Pay attention.� She pointed the toe of her shoe out and pushed down
the weed, quickly stepping back as root like vines started to grow and twist
towards her rapidly.

�Nomota!� She said with a flourish, and in an instant the plant receded into
itself, appearing to disappear altogether. �There, see. Easy.
You will walk the area around the greenhouses, particularly south of this one,�
she said pointing to the furthest one, �as the glass was broken facing the
forest, and � �

�Wait.� Harry interrupted, �the Forbidden
Forest?�

�Well, yes. I�ve never known you to be
scared of the forest.� She blinked, hesitated. �Besides, you won�t be going
in.�

�But, what about the rumour
about werewolves?� Harry asked, feeling like he
was tempting fate.

�I didn�t know you gave rumours credit,
Harry Potter� but let me assure you, we�ve searched the forest daily and
haven�t come across any. There�s no need to fret about it.�

Why didn�t that make Harry feel better?

�Okay then?�
Repeat after me� Nomota.�

�

�Fuzzing Kneazel balls!� Harry�s
fingernails were full of dirt, his fingers desperately trying to find something
sturdier than grass to latch onto. His wand, dropped out of reach, could be of
no use when Harry hadn�t managed to step away from the roots fast enough.

The root had started with his ankle but had
slithered around his leg as it pulled, and was now twisting itself around
Harry�s midriff. Or, more accurately it was squeezing him against his�

�Kinky.�

Harry looked up in time to see Malfoy point his wand at the main weed and say, �Incendio,� before
the very real fear of burning made Harry squirm as if he was a buttery octopus.
The plant had instantly died and the root had gone limp.

�Oh, don�t mind me Potter, scream louder.� Malfoy drawled, not offering a hand to help Harry up.

�Why didn�t you use Nomota if you
were going to help me?!� Harry wasn�t pleased at
nearly being set on fire.

�Nom-what? Please. Don�t insult me, I don�t do,� Malfoy
raked Harry with his eyes, �yard work.�

�I think I actually hate you more right
now.�� Harry said honestly, pushing
himself to his feet and retrieving his wand, as Malfoy,
despite being close by it, hadn�t bothered to pick it up. Something Harry was
both glad and insulted by.

�That aside, I would really like to read
that book and since you think so little of me I have brought my family ring as
collateral.� That grabbed Harry�s attention. �And I�ve saved your ass twice.�
He paused. �Today. So I really think I�ve done enough
to warrant the loan of a book.�

�Will you help me with this?� Harry asked,
considering.

Malfoy laughed, and then when he saw that Harry had been serious replied
with, �Uh� no.�

�Why not?!�

�Well, it�s not my detention, is it? And we aren�t friends.� Harry couldn�t help
but miss Ron in that moment.

Malfoy held out an expensive looking ring, �Here. As
collateral.� When Harry hesitated he grabbed Harry�s hand and placed the
ring inside. �Now the book.�

It was probably the sheer desire on Malfoy�s part that made Harry so suspicious. Did the book
hold some sort of evil secret? Was Malfoy hoping to
garner a weakness about werewolves? �But why
do you want it?� Harry squinted at him suspiciously.

�Why else does one read a book?�

�Uhh�
because we are told to.�

�Good God, Potter! No. To
learn.�

�And you want to learn about werewolves?�
Harry was dubious. Malfoy hated anything that was
half blood.

�I am learning to expand my horizon.� He
sniffed.

�But� werewolves?�

�Yes, Potter.� He snapped, irritated. �There
are few books that paint a decent picture of them. You somehow happen to have
one that does. Unless you want me to read the dribble in my own library and garner my opinions from
there?�

The ring was cool in Harry�s hand. Making a
quick decision Harry rummaged around his bag and pulled out the book. �One
week, Malfoy. And no longer, unless
you want a real werewolf banging at
your door.�

The blonde�s eyes widened a second before
he took the book and with a slight nod, turned on his heels and began to walk
away. But then he paused. �Just one thing.� He said,
rotating only enough so that Harry could see half his face. �Though I don�t
know for sure, I am certain there are werewolves in the forest. And the sun has
started to set.�

�Really?� Harry said. �You don�t know, but you�re certain.�

�I�d hurry if I was you.� He walked away at
that, raising his hand as if to wave farewell� with his fingers. The moment was
absolutely lost when Malfoy stepped on a DandeLion. The yellow weed let out a ravenous roar that
dissipated all the elegance from Malfoy. He shrieked,
hopping into the air in a startled jump and landing with a thud; the DandeLion attempting to bite him on the ass.

If Gringott�s had
offered Harry every coin from within their vaults Harry would not have been
able to stop the laugh that bubbled out of him like a fountain. The DandeLion had managed the feat, and Malfoy
was quickly striding away, defensively rubbing his ass.

Perhaps the day wasn�t as bad as Harry had
thought.

�

The sun had slowely
made its descent as Harry worked and now it was coasting behind the trees. Harry
knew he had just five more weeds to go and then he would have eliminated all of
them. Professor Sprout had warned him that if he didn�t get them all she would
send Harry back out when the field had repopulated again. So
five. Harry could look for five weeds in the dark.

There had been three kinds of weeds that
Harry had to watch out for. One, was the taproot and
the weed Harry found most annoying and which was the most populated. He had to
tap his foot on the weed to startle the core awake, thus allowing him to
exterminate it with the spell and thus having the taproot activate its
defenses: its roots.�

The second was the DandeLion.
The least threatening of all three, surprising as it actually had a jaw, but then,
it always roared first and that usually
made the person who was standing on it jump away. Harry was rather fond of that
one, thanks to Malfoy, Harry smiled whenever he
thought of it and was a little sad to see them go.

The last one, which Harry came across only
a handful of times all evening, was a weed called ruderal
snow. This one was the most tricky but like the other
two it activated if it was stepped on. The worst thing was it looked like the taproot except the
leaves visible weren�t jagged, that wouldn�t have been a problem except that it
was bad to step on this one as white dust would burst into the air and he had
been warned had a number of side-effects, from the temporary removal of sight,
to the inability to move ones limbs. As such, Sprout had checked up on him an
hour ago but had assured him she thought him more than adequate to handle
weeds.

With the light available being minimal the
Hogwarts grounds began to seem sinister, especially the howling of the wind
through the trees. Not that Harry had left the area by the forest for last but
that the grounds were eerily quiet and the forest was not. Harry, however, was
a Gryffindor and didn�t easily allow himself to be affected by fear, so he held
up his wand and peered at the ground until he came across another taproot. He
stepped on it, jumped back, and yelled �Nomota!� the thing retracted into itself and died.

Four more to go. As Harry edged vaguely closer to the forest in his search he
remembered Malfoy�s warning but disregarded it.
Sprout had said the rumours were just that, and even if they weren�t it wasn�t
like Greyback himself would be the one lurking in the
trees. If there was a werewolf he was
probably an unlucky cast away of wizarding society.
Besides, it wasn�t a full moon. Malfoy was just
trying to scare him.

What had seemed an acceptable distance from
the forest in broad daylight now made Harry hesitate, but he was a Gryffindor
and the forest had never held the same amount of fear for him as it did others,
so he shrugged off his unease and scanned the ground. He was just about to step
on the taproot when he realised it was a ruderal snow
so he cast orchideous
which forced the weed to bloom into the puffapod, which
Harry had been instructed to leave on the lawn for Sprout to harvest.

Harry walked back and forth trying to find
the last three, he was sure he�d seen these last few clustered around each
other. But where? He was on his third circuit of the
general area when he thought he heard actual rustling coming from the forest.

�Hello?� Harry asked, wand pointed in case
it wasn�t a centaur but a wild beast. �Is there anyone in there?� But of course
Harry didn�t get a reply. After the forest remained silent for a few minutes
Harry went back to searching the ground. Again, he heard rustling, like someone
had hit a branch and then another, Harry paused. He was imagining it. Malfoy had just said what he did to make Harry paranoid.
Though oddly, as he thought that, he thought of Malfoy�s
nape and Harry didn�t know why. Maybe because he had been thinking of the moon
and Malfoy�s flesh was so pale?

�He�s just messing with you�� Harry
whispered to install some confidence in himself. �He�s
a prat.� Saying that made Harry feel tons better. It
really did.

The next weed Harry found was another ruderal snow which was the first time he came across two in
a row. He was just about to incant a spell when a queer feeling came over him,
on instinct he whipped around, brandishing his wand that was already lighted at
the tip from lumos.

Nothing.

He peered carefully but everything was
still except the wind. Harry shook his head. Just two more weeds
after this and the day could finally end. Harry looked back down and let out a
frustrated sigh from losing the ruderal snow, he
scanned the ground until he spotted it again and cast orchideous but nothing happened
so he bent and examined the leaves, careful not to disturb it, and realised it
was a taproot. He had been sure�

Nothing to be done about
it. Harry tapped his toe and the roots shot out
to bind him, Harry danced backwards and incanted nomota at the same time a lionous roar vibrated beneath his shoe; he jumped,
startled.

At once the DandeLion
tried to bite at his ankle so Harry took another step back, distracted as he
tried to gauge if he�d taken care of the taproot; he had. Just as Harry raised
his wand to cast nomota
(a spell Harry would be incredibly grateful to never have to pronounce ever
again) he bumped into something solid behind him.

Large and solid, his shoulder blades
corrected as the back of his head banged off that something as if it were a
wall.

�Has no one ever told you to fear the
night?� A rasping bark of a voice said quite clearly.

Before Harry had time to react he found
himself sailing over the DandeLion and unto the
grass. As he pushed himself up he felt something under him shift and stir and move. Like a snake it slithered around
Harry to reach up to the sky, Harry�s gaze followed the shoot and watched as
white snow umbrella�d from the sprout. The world
began to spin.

Oh
no. Harry could taste something dry on his tongue,
like powder. He tried to get up but his limbs didn�t obey him, instead his body
felt like dead weight, a thousand tons of impossible, even his head was too
heavy for his neck. �

�Who?� Harry asked as he peered at the four burly men leaning over him,
watching as they merged in and out of each other. Something smelled like dirt
and Harry wasn�t sure if it was the man or the earth as his cheek was suddenly
cold from the grass he was laying on.

�Who?� Harry breathed again, feeling like the world was spinning too fast
to keep his eyes open.

There was silence and shallow breathing,
Harry began to lose the sense of reality but he heard the raspy words even as
he drifted from consciousness.

�Your new misfortune.��

Harry had concluded the man was right in
front of him, that maybe he picked Harry up and that was why the world had spun
so haphazardly. The one thing Harry did know was the man�s breath reminded
Harry of rotting corpses.
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Feasting on Rabbits