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Love by Numbers	By : Alexa Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 4767 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- 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
- 6
- 7
- 8
Love
by Numbers

Chapter
7 - ...and... - part 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It
was a week and Josie was still giving him the silent treatment. What's worse,
her banter with the Ferret was becoming more and more friendly. And he could
have sworn he had seen her talking to at least one more Slytherin � Nott, was
it?

At first Harry was just mortified by how he snapped at his girlfriend � if it was still true to call her that, but as she kept ignoring him and all his attempts to apologize the anger that pushed him into the fight in the first place was returning. He realized that he may have been over-reacting, but at the same time he didn't think Josie was right to flaunt some secret admirer's gift so clearly and publicly. He was sorry that his gift wasn't as good, but it was more heartfelt, and she seemingly forgot about it and about him. She has, also, taken to sitting alone more and more often after her fall � and she was very distant at the night of the fight. Harry was wondering if a part of her got off on his jealousy, because she did many things to provoke it, and then spent her time watching how he asked for forgiveness. That kind of game he didn't want to play.

She
also knew about his mistrust of the Slytherins, and about the kind of ideals
they stood for. Yet she chose to spend more and more time with them. It was
unwise at best and suspicious at worst. His own house was on the verge of
seeing her as a traitor, and the fact that she was his girlfriend provoked
pity in some and mistrust in others. After the treatment he got in his fifth
year he really didn't want to go back to that. And the worst part � she knew
all that beforehand and didn't seem to understand why he was feeling so
uncomfortable about her new friends. She wouldn't even talk about the issue,
choosing instead to shut him out and leave. Perhaps she was re-considering her
loyalties? Her choice of friends? But how could she
not see the prejudices that permeated the other house? Did she just not care?

With
each new though along these lines Harry felt both guilty for considering such
things, and angry at her for putting him in this position. Since the
combination of guilt and anger were never a good ground for a relationship,
his communication with Josie was becoming more and more strained.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco
Malfoy was rapidly loosing his influence over his house. His recent change and
the way he fraternized with the enemy, weren't earning him any popularity
votes. The only thing that kept his housemates from open rejection was his
family's position, especially since Lucius Malfoy committed the second ever
recorded escape from Azkaban. But even that went only as far as to protect him
from open hostility and insubordination. However, his unquestionable leadership
was almost gone.

Draco
was glad that his plan to divide Josie from the Crackpot, 'no, Harry,'
were progressing well. He thought it was about enough to make his next move �
he didn't want to alienate Potter from himself any more than needed.

He
hoped that Dumbledore would soon push through his emancipation, the charade
needed to go into its next stage, and he would need to get out of the Slytherin
house before long.

With
that in mind he sent an owl to the old Headmaster requesting an audience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Come
in My Boy."

Draco
resented the way Dumbledore made "my boy" sound: as if it had capital
letters and was a sort of an ownership and identification label, making the
bearer into Dumbledore's boy forever. But he was not about to show any
discomfort at his new title, and reminding himself that he respected
Dumbledore, and looked to him for salvation, he entered and sat himself into
one of the chairs facing the headmaster's table.

"What
can I do for you My Boy?"

"I
was wandering how my emancipation was progressing, sir." He moved to
explain further: "I may have failed to keep my façade as perfectly
as I should have. And my current choice of friends was welcomed with less than
enthusiasm in my house."

"Remembering
your family I am somewhat surprised that you could not hold it perfectly� ."

"As
I said, I don't really consider them family anymore," his eye twitched, "and
my� training, if you wish, slipped because I was worried of making worse
enemies amongst the other houses � considering that my house's support is
doomed to be short lived, now."

He
leaned towards the old man trying to convey his emotion. "It is also
difficult to behave the same way once you begin to rethink everything you have
been taught from childhood. You understand, sir � I think, I analyze and come
to conclusions, some of which, for me, are world shattering, but I cannot apply
or even test my thoughts against reality, see what is right and what is not. It's
like I'm suspended in space, I don't feel like I'm living, just hiding."

"I
can see how that could be difficult My Boy. And I must praise you for thinking
through the things that you have been taught all your life. I know it is not an
easy process." The Headmaster's voice was kind and his eyed shone with
comfort. "But you must hold just a while longer. Your emancipation should
be completed by and by, and then things can begin to change for the
better."

"Do
you know when, sir?"

"From
what I can gather it could take two more months. It is difficult to do it without
your relatives noticing the action."

Two
months was unacceptable. He needed to move the plan very soon. Hogsmead weekend
was coming soon.

His
shoulders slummed so little that one less perceptive than the principle would
not have noticed it. "Sir?" His voice was a
little tired, as well. "Can it be done faster if there is no need to look
out for them?"

"It
can, but it would be more dangerous for you." The Headmaster looked a
little worried but still mostly comforting. "My Boy, you must understand
that� Lucius and Narcissa will do all in their power
to extinguish, or at the very least stall, the request. And they may also withdraw you from
the school until the proceedings are finalized one way or another."

"Not
if you grant me official sanctuary in Hogwarts, sir. I assume the people
involved know, or at least suspect, that I'm asking for the emancipation for a
reason. Otherwise, why the secrecy? I think once it's
a matter of public knowledge no one would risk trusting my� Narcissa with me. I was
taken to an initiation while in her 'care'. She didn't stop it." His voice
now held a little more emotion in it, just barely, hinting at his anguish at
the situation.

"True,
My Boy. If you are willing to take the inevitable backlash that will come with
the public knowledge, I think we can take that course of action. Are things
really that bad in your house, My Boy?"

"No, sir. I can take it, but I� accidentally made a friend 'on the
wrong side of the tracks', and I want to begin living my life � as me, and finding out who that 'me' is. If things
come out, I can begin dealing with them, but as long as they are hidden, I have
no control over the situation. I keep waiting for things to break down
unexpectedly, with no possibility of control." His hands strained against
the wood of the chair. "If I have to work through difficulties either way,
I would rather work through ones I feel are worth it." He looked at
Dumbledore with his face as empty as ever but his eyes ablaze with emotion.
"Do you understand, sir?"

"Of
course, I do, My Boy. Of course, I do." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with
approval. "I believe we can take the faster rout to your freedom. At least
you will have the opportunity to begin anew, and it seems you have the right
attitude for it."

He
stood up, and Draco followed suit.

"Very
well, My Boy, I will see about speeding things up." He put his hand on the
youth's shoulder. "Be ready for the onslaught, My Boy."

"Mmm� Sir? Do you think I can still
make it to the Hogsmead weekend?"

The
Headmaster's eyes twinkled. "I'm sure we can wait a few days to begin the
process. So, yes, you will be able to make it." The voice sombered a little, "I fear it will probably be your only
excursion for the near future, so may I suggest you enjoy it to its
fullest?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

"You're
welcome My Boy. Now, do go on."

With
that Draco left.

The
Hogsmead weekend was in four days, and he had much to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N:
I just looooove my Draco� *blushes*

To
my reviewers!

acr � She'll be gone very soon.

Dezra'
� As I said in the e-mail I sent you I can't answer unless you give me a
definition of what is "dark" for you and what is "evil".
Bit once you give � I'll be happy to answer!

Queen
mAlice � Just don't kill me for writing so much on Josie.
*hides* Please? :-)

thrnbrooke � God, it's so nice to have a
reviewer like you. You're like an energizer bunny! Do you write anything? Can I
read it? :-)

Memdrake � Josie will leave, and I hope soon, because I can't wait
either! They are, aren't they? :-) Just don't expect him to turn mushy, o.k.?

Alex � Thanks for your review. You got
me writing this story again. :-)

Steph � God! That's just such a huge compliment! Wow, you
re-read it, cool. *beaming* Thanks for so many compliments! :D !!!

Emeraldwolf � I agree. I prefer conniving Draco to any other Draco.
And he will stay conniving throughout! :D

Bryjin � Thank you! :-) I know, she reminds me of Ginny in some
story I read. Brrr, just made me want to slap her.
Sort of a variation of Mary Sue, isn't she. The perk
here is that we get to kick her Mary Sue ass out!
- 6
- 7
- 8
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Love by Numbers