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Soapy Residue	By : quitedemented Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 3872 -:- 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
All disclaimers and warnings from chapter one still apply
AN: Yes I know it�s taking forever for me to finish this and I�m sorry but I won�t be getting any faster about updating. I can only update as fast as I can write this and I refuse to post a chapter I�m not happy with. No I�m not going to abandon this story, EVER!, but I do take breaks from it work on other things to keep me sane. On that note. Any of you that have yet to read my newest story �Let Him Cry� please I urge you to go read it! I believe it to be my best work so far and it has gotten wonderful reviews, but please read the author�s note before reading it because it may not be your cup of tea, nuff said.
Soapy Residue Ch. 6
Letters, Games and the spewing of tea

After learning of the cancellation of Defense Against The Dark Arts from Snape Harry decided on venturing up to wait outside the classroom for Draco and the other students who had not yet learned of their unexpected afternoon off.

It didn�t take long before people began to arrive and Harry would simply smile and tell them class had been canceled and point to the sign on the door which read.

�Class canceled do to illness.
Please review chapters 6-8 as there will be a quiz next class period.
Professors Black & Lupin�

About ten minutes before class would have started Harry spotted Draco coming down the hall flanked, not by Crabbe and Goyle, but rather the Weasley Twins who each had an arm slung over the blonde�s shoulder and were chattering loudly to him. Harry could tell the twins were beginning to get on Draco�s nerves, not that Harry could blame him. It seemed the only people that could stand the twins for extended periods of time were the twins themselves.
As the trio got closer Harry was able to pick up on the conversation.

�We added powered toad spleen but..�

�that just made them louder but we were thinking...�

�that if we added liquified frog liver...�

�we might get them to censor themselves so...�

�we don�t have another incident like Harry�s�

�But we also want to make a version....�

�that will intentionally embarrass people.�

�Without giving away anything... �

�that would ruin their lives forever, after all...�

�we don�t need lawsuits�

�So..� said the Twin together �what do you think?�

Draco visibly calmed himself before answering. �I think those are all wonderful ideas and I know my Father will appreciate being told the reason of the product�s release delay. However in regards to the ingredients I�m really not the best person to ask.�

�But you have the highest Potions grade in our year...�

�and Hermione won�t even give us her opinion.� said the Twins pitifully.

Harry snickered and Draco rolled his eyes. �Well it�s not surprising. Granger knows that if she got caught helping you two that McGonagall would give her Hell. It�s the whole �Head Girl responsibility� thing.�

�Is that why you won�t help us?�

�Because of being Head Boy?�

Draco snorted �Do you really think Professor Snape would care? As long as I don�t get caught by McGonagall or interrupt his class he doesn�t care what I do. No the reason I�m not helping you is I can�t. Your thoughts about the ingredients sound right to me but I�m not an expert no matter what my grades say. If you want definitive answers ask Professor Snape.�

The twins looked at each other then back at him. �Do you really think...�

�Snape would help us?�

�It�s worth a try. But I would promise not to release anymore pranks near him or his classroom when asking.� Draco said with a smirk.

�Right!� chorused the twins.

Draco turned back to Harry. �So what happened to you, I thought you were going to meet me outside the library after visiting Madam Pomfrey?�

�Um well something unexpected happened while I was there and I had to go get Professor Snape. Who, as you may know, had a class last period so he made me watch the class while he was in the Hospital Wing.� Harry said quickly.

Draco frowned it wasn�t like Severus to leave a student in charge. Something major had to have happened for him to abandon his class. �Is everything alright, nothing horrible happened right?� he asked worriedly.

�Oh no, nothing horrible,� Harry chuckled �just..... unexpected.� at Draco�s confused look Harry smiled �I�ll tell you later. Anyway because of this unexpected occurrence we now have our afternoon off as you can see.� Harry gestured to the sign on the door.

The twins grinned �Wicked!�

�Now we have time...�

�To work on the new way...�

�To release our bubbles.�

�Sorry guys but you�re going to have to put that on hold for a bit longer.� said Harry.

�Why?� asked Fred.

�Well not only has defense been canceled but so has fifth year potions. Plus the sixth years have a free period right now which means that the whole quidditch team plus three of our perspective replacement keepers are free right now and I plan to use this to our advantage. We can get everybody together and hold the tryouts now so we can have the evening to ourselves, well after we give Harrison his turn to tryout after dinner that is.�

�Great!� said George.

�You want us to help you round up the team then?� asked Fred.

Harry smiled �Yeah. It would be great if one of you could go find Ginny and Jackson while the other finds Sharon and Chris. I�m going to wait here for Seamus and Dean.�

�Sure thing Harry!� said Fred.

�You take the fifth years and I�ll take the sixth alright?� said George.

�Right! See ya in a bit Harry!�

With that the twins took off down the hall in search of their fellow students.

Draco watched the twins departure until they were out of sight then turned back to Harry. �So what happened to cause Severus to leave you in charge of a class?�

Harry grinned and was about to reply when he heard what was unmistakably Seamus� loud laughter from up the corridor. Not a moment later the Irishman and Dean rounded the corner and spotted Harry and Draco.

�Hey Harry, Malfoy.� Greeted Dean with a nod.

�Hi Dean, Seamus.� replied Harry.

�Thomas.� returned Draco with a nod of his own. �Finnegan.�

�Hey Harry, Malfoy. Okay now that we�ve exchanged our pleasantries why are we all still standin� in the hall?� asked Seamus with a smile.

Harry laughed and pointed to the sign again then explained his plan for the afternoon. Seamus and Dean agreed it was a smart idea and bid he and Draco goodbye so that they could go gather their quidditch gear.

After Finnegan and Thomas had rounded the corner Draco confronted Harry again. �So now will you tell me what happened this afternoon?�

Harry laughed �Okay, okay I�ll tell but let�s walk while I talk, I still need to get my stuff from the tower after all.�

�Fine by me.� smirked Draco, he wrapped an arm around Harry�s shoulders and headed in the direction the other Gryffindors had gone.

After casting a privacy spell around them so no other students, ghosts or nosy portraits would over hear, Harry began his tale.

They had just climbed the last staircase to reach Gryffindor tower when Harry dropped the bombshell about Sirius� pregnancy and Severus� impending fatherhood.

�Sweet Merlin! No wonder he left you in charge of his class. Oh I can�t wait to tell Father.� crowed Draco.

Harry frowned �Draco are you sure Professor Snape would want you telling your father. I mean I know they�re friends but if he were my friend I�d want to be the one to tell him.�

�Don�t worry about it I�ll ask Severus first. In fact I think I�ll go see if he�s still in his classroom so I can put it into the letter I�m going to send father tonight. That way I can inform him of your acceptance of my invitation, Uncle Sev�s news, Slytherin�s improved chances for winning the quidditch cup thanks to the Weasel�s temper and the normal gossip all in one fell swoop.� Draco said with a smirk.

�Don�t call Ron that.�

�Why not I think he earned it this time.�

�Maybe.� said Harry grudgingly, �Well I need to go, I�ll see you at dinner right?�

Draco smiled �Of course Love, I�ll see you then.� Draco leaned in and gave Harry a quick kiss. �Bye.�

Harry smiled �Bye.�

Draco gave a backwards wave as he disappeared down the staircase.

Harry jumped at the sound of a voice behind him.�Will you be coming in now dear?� asked the Fat Lady in amusement.

Harry blushed �Oh. Um yeah, �tie dyed tabby cats�.� Harry shook his head, this was why everyone had been against the first years picking the password. Harry ducked into the portrait hole and headed up to gather his gear.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*AN: just so you know who I�m talking about here are the OC�s; Mark Harrison 4yr, Sharon Newbrook and Chris Kennedy 5yr, Jackson(Jack) Lawrence 6yr.*
�Ok everyone here�s what we�re going to do. Each of you will take a turn guarding the goal for fifteen minutes and whoever can best guard the goal will get the first string keeper position and whoever is second best will get the reserve spot. That is, provided that Harrison doesn�t do better than one of you in which case whoever got reserve position will be replaced. Everyone go that?�

The three team hopefuls nodded. �Good. Okay we�ll go by age so Lawrence, you�re up first. Then Newbrook? You�re older than Kennedy right?�

Sharon nodded �Yeah Chris is three months younger than me.�

�Right, okay then it�s Jackson, Sharon then Chris. Alright Ginny, Seamus and Dean I want you three to each grab a quaffle.� The chasers each grabbed a ball and waited for Harry to continue.

�Okay I want you to try to get as many balls past Jack as you can but don�t throw them at the same time because that would never happen in a real game, obviously. Jack if you catch a quaffle throw it back immediately. If the ball gets past you whoever threw it is responsible for retrieving it that way we can keep the game moving. Fred and George I want the two of you to hit bludgers at him intermittently and taunt him.� The twins grinned.

�What do you want them to taunt me for?!� asked Lawrence hotly.

�Because the Slytherins are going to be taunting you along with the crowd cheering and me yelling directions. I need to see how well you can all handle distractions while playing. The Twins won�t be as loud or as nasty as the Slytherins.� Harry saw the Twins grin widely and wink �Err... well maybe. Anyway if you can�t handle them there is no way you can handle Slytherin. After your fifteen minutes are up Sharon will take your place as keeper then Chris. Once the three of you have had your chance the rest of the team and I will decide who we think would be the best choices for the positions. Oh and I�d like to point out that even if you�re the one to block the most goals today it doesn�t necessarily mean you�ll be picked as first string or even reserve keeper. Our choice will be determined by your flying abilities, your ability to follow directions, whether or not you�re a team player and your ability to concentrate under pressure. Everybody got it?�
The three would be keepers nodded. �Alright, Lawrence hit the sky and lets get these tryouts underway.�

Two hours later the team had made their decision Jackson would be first string keeper and Sharon would be reserve, unless Mark proved to be better. It had been close between Jack and Sharon as they had both saved the same amount of goals and were both excellent flyers but Jack was better at taking directions even if the twins taunting had got to him a bit near the end of his session. Chris on the other hand proved to have more enthusiasm then skill and while the enthusiasm was great Harry decided that it would be put to better use from the stands cheering.

�Great job everyone!� said Harry happily, he turned the two newest players and Chris. �You three did great and you�re all welcome to come see Mark�s tryout after dinner. Everyone else you know the drill for Mark�s tryout so meet back out here at seven sharp. Okay everybody hit the showers.�

�Aye, Aye captain!� Shouted the twins, causing the team to laugh. The team dispersed quickly all heading to the locker rooms to shower and change before heading to dinner.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry dropped down on the bench next to Draco at the Slytherin table, his hair still wet from his shower, and began filling his plate.
Draco regarded him with a raised brow. �Were the tryouts so exhausting that you haven�t the energy to greet me or am I merely less important then food?�

Harry stopped piling food on his plate and gave Draco sheepish look before kissing him on the cheek. �Sorry I�m not used to the whole boyfriend thing yet I guess.�

Draco leaned in to give him a proper kiss. He pulled back and smirked. �I suppose I can let your infraction go this time but don�t let it happen again.�

Harry blushed and nodded before digging into his food.

�How did the tryouts go by the way? And finish chewing before you reply.�

Harry glared and made a show of swallowing his food before answering. �They went well we chose the first and reserve keepers we just need to let Mark tryout after dinner and we�re set. Did you catch Professor Snape before he left his classroom this afternoon?�

Draco nodded �Yes, he gave me permission to tell Father. Oh and he mentioned that you had asked to come by his chambers this evening to see your godfather.�

�Yeah he said it would be fine, you want to come with?�

�Sure.� replied Draco then looked over Harry�s shoulder. �Can I help you?� he asked stiffly to a small girl the was standing nervously behind Harry.

The girl jumped. �Um I-I came over to tell Harry that Mark can�t tryout for the team cos he�s in the Hospital Wing.� she squeaked.

Harry turned sharply �Why is he in the Hospital Wing?�

The girl grinned slightly �His partner in Transfiguration accidently partially transfigured him into a feather duster. Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey got him to look human again but he�s still coughing up feathers and has an intense urge to clean book shelves. He�s tried to escape to the library three times already.�

The near by Slytherins burst into laughter and Harry was hard pressed not to join them. �Um...hem.. well thank you for telling me. Would you mind telling the other team members that we won�t be having another tryout and that they�re free to do what they like this evening.� The girl nodded and walked quickly from the table and back toward the Gryffindors.

Most of the table had gotten themselves under control while Harry had talked to the girl but then Crabbe turned to Goyle still snickering and said. �Feather duster.� which set the table off again and this time Harry joined them. Not long after that a similar reaction was heard from the Gryffindor table.

�P-poor Mark the whole sc-school will have heard what happened by the end of dinner!� gasped Harry.

Draco nodded while wiping a tear of mirth from his eye.
Dinner resumed with only the occasional snicker or giggle interrupting the normal conversation.

Once Draco had finished his meal he turned to Harry. �Did you want to come with me to post my and the Weasley twin�s letters?�

Harry wiped his mouth with a napkin and nodded. �Sure, I haven�t been up to visit Hedwig for awhile.� Harry grinned. �And you still need me to point out Pickle to you.�

Draco frowned �I thought it�s name was Piccalilli.�

�It is but he�s called Pickle for short.�

Draco rolled his eyes �Whatever. Are you ready to go then?�

�Yep let�s go.�

Harry and Draco we�re heading out of the Hall when the twin�s shouts stopped then.

�Oi Harry, Malfoy..�

�Wait up!�

Draco turned to them. �Weasleys. What can we do for you?�

�We were wondering..�

�If you would go with us to see Snape.�

�Why do you need us to go with you?� Asked Harry.

�We thought that if Malfoy went with us..�

�He would be more likely to listen to what we have to say.�

Draco rubbed his temples �Must you two do that?�

The twins looked at each other and grinned before turning back to the blonde �Yes!�

Draco sighed �Yes fine we�ll go with you but first I need to post our letters.� Draco pulled out two letters from his pocket. One was cream with a subtle black dragon print along the edges and sealed with dark green wax the other was the twin�s yellow and orange monstrosity.

�We�ll go with you then.� said Fred cheerfully.

Draco sighed but nodded �Very well, let�s get going then Harry and I have somewhere to be shortly.�With that four of them headed off toward the owlery.

Once they arrived Hegwig flew down immediately and perched on Harry�s shoulder, where Harry began petting her lovingly. Draco smiled at them then called Zeus and handed over his letter and told the dark regal owl to wait.

�Alright Weasley�s where�s this owl of yours?� asked Draco.

The twins grinned then called out �Oi Pickle!�

Then from high up in rafters there came a sound that could only be described as a high pitched wolf whistle.

What landed on Fred�s out stretched arm was like no owl, or any other bird for that matter, that Draco had ever seen. This... thing, while most definitely owl shaped, was bright lime green with a teal blue beak and feet and huge violet colored eyes.

�What is that!�asked Draco in a mixture of curiosity and disgust.

�That,� said Fred.

�Is Piccalilli! Also know as Pickle.� said George stroking the odd looking bird affectionately.

�Right.� said Draco shaking his head. �Alright.... Pickle here�s the letter.� Draco held out the brightly colored letter and Piccalilli snatched it from his fingers then looked at Draco expectantly.

�Okay um... Pickle, you are to follow Zeus to the Manor and my Father. Once you�ve delivered your letter wait for a reply got that?� The strange owl let out another whistle and flapped it�s wings.
Draco frowned at the bird before turning to his own owl. �Alright Zeus lead him to Father and wait to see if he has a reply to my letter, he most likely will.� Draco stroked Zeus� head once before the owl hooted and took off out the window of the tower with Piccalilli right behind him.

�That,� said Draco �was the oddest owl I have ever seen.� Hedwig hooted from Harry�s shoulder seeming to agree with Draco.

The twins grinned �Thank you Malfoy!�

Harry laughed �He�s not so bad.� Hedwig ruffled her feathers and clicked her beak.

�It seems your owl doesn�t agree with you.� said Draco with a smirk, Hedwig hooted again and flew to Draco shoulder.

Harry huffed and smiled �I see how it is, taking his side are you?� Hedwig hooted. �Well fine I guess you don�t want the treats I brought you then?� asked Harry with a raised brow. Hedwig flew back to Harry and nipped at his ear affectionately.

Draco shook his head smiling �How sad Potter. You have to bribe your own owl into siding with you.�

Harry grinned �Yeah but it worked didn�t it?�

The twins and Draco laughed.

�Well come on you lot I believe we still have a Potions Master to visit and Harry and I still have somewhere we need to be.� said Draco heading out of the tower.

Harry, after handing over the owl treats, quickly said goodbye to Hedwig before following Draco out with the twins right behind him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco lead them down to the dungeons and to Snape�s office door where he knocked sharply.

�Enter.� came the response from inside.

Draco opened the door and walked in, the three Gryffindors strolling in behind him.

Snape was seated at his desk marking a stack of parchments with a red inked quill. He looked up and regarded the odd group that had just entered his office with a raised brow.

�Good evening Mr. Malfoy, were you aware that you are being trailed by three Gyffindors, two of which are of the Weasley rarity?�

Draco turned in mock shock to stare at the twins and Harry before turning back to his head of house. �No sir, I had no idea! Thank you for pointing that out.� Draco grinned at the end of his performance and the twins and Harry snickered.

Snape just shook his head and went back to his marking but not before Harry and Draco had caught the slight upturn of his mouth.

�Was there something the four of you wanted?� Asked Snape while adding a number of red marks to the unfortunate student�s quiz in front of him.

Draco shoved the twins forward �They have something to ask you Sir.�

Severus set aside his marking and turned his attention to the twins. �Is that so Misters Weasley?� The twins nodded.

�And what, pray tell, is it that you wish to ask?�

The twins looked back at Draco who nodded for them to get on with it.

�Well Professor....� said Fred.

�We were wondering....� continued George.

�If you might be able to help us...�

�With our �Magical Musical Bubbles�?�

Snape gave them an incredulous look �You want me to help you with one of your pranks? A prank, may I remind you, that you have already released to reek havoc on this school�s population. A prank, that caused emotional duress and embarrassment to your fellow students and the staff ,including myself?�

The twins looked at each other then back at Snape �Umm...yes?�

�Out of the question.� said Snape pulling the stack of parchments back toward himself.

The twins looked crestfallen and Draco shrugged as if to say �Oh well it was worth a try.�. Harry on the other hand had an idea.

�Sir, could I speak to you privately for a moment?�

Snape looked up at Harry and gave a sharp nod �Of course Mr. Potter.�

Harry turned back to the twins and Draco �Could you guys wait in the corridor this will only take a minute?�

�Sure Love.� said Draco and the twins nodded still looking despondent.

Once alone Harry cast a silencing spell then addressed the Potion�s Master. �Sir I think you should help the twins.�

Snape set back in his chair and steepled his fingers �And why would I want to do that?�

�Because you could use it to your advantage.�

�How so?�

�Well if you agreed to help them you could make them agree not to prank you, your classroom or Sirius and Remus for the rest of the year.�

Snape made a thoughtful noise �A good point. I would be more than pleased to get through one class period with them without a prank or comedy session. And I suppose including Remus and Sirius in the no pranking stipulation would insure one less thing to worry about regarding their respective pregnancies.�

�Exactly.� said Harry with a smile.

�There is, though, one flaw in your plan.�

�What�s that?�

�Misters Weasley would undoubtedly question me as to why I would include their defense Professors along with myself in their pranking cease fire. I doubt very much that they would believe that it was simply because we are in a relationship, based solely on the fact I did nothing when Sirius was hit with one of their bubbles previously.�

�That�s why I think you should tell them about Remus� and Sirius� pregnancies.�

�Mr. Potter...�

�Harry.�

�Harry. Remus, Sirius and I wish to keep their pregnancies confidential a little while longer, if that is at all possible, and telling the Weasley twins would not help accomplish that task.�

�The twins wouldn�t say anything.� The look Snape gave him in response stated clearer than words that he didn�t believe that for a second, but Harry pressed on. �No really, the twins are really good at keeping secrets. You know I own a third of their shop right?�

�Of course, the whole world knew that after that article in the Profit came out.�

�Yes, but that was at the end of sixth year I gave the twins the money in fourth year they kept it secret for two whole years that I was their silent partner and you know how much that would have, and did, boost their business when the public found that out.�

Snape waved the statement away �Yes but the fact remains that they did tell in the end.�

Harry shook his head �No that�s where you�re wrong the twins never said a word until after that article. I was the one who let it slip while talking with Seamus and Dean in the library. Some Ravenclaw overheard and it spread like wild fire through the school and someone told the Profit . The twins can keep a secret. And they can keep this secret I�ll make them swear on it.� Harry said grinning.

�Swear on what?�

�You�ll see if you agree.�

Snape sighed �Very well Potter I�ll help the miscreants.�

Harry beamed �Thank you Sir!� Harry opened the door of the office and called Draco and the twins back in.

�Good news guys Professor Snape has agreed to help you.�

The twin�s eyes widened �Really?�

�Yep. Well as long as you agree to a few conditions.�

�Like what?� Asked Fred.

Snape stepped out from behind his desk to address them �First, you will refrain from using any type of prank, joke or gag in or near my classroom and office at anytime.� The twins nodded eagerly, it was a small price to pay. �Second, you will refrain from pranking myself and Professors Lupin and Black for the remainder of the school year.� The twins were ready to agree with the no pranking Snape they had expected as much but they quickly objected to not being able to prank the last two Marauders.

�There�s a reason for it guys and I�ll tell you but first you have to swear not to repeat what you�re about to hear.� said Harry gravely.

�Sure, no problem.� Said Fred.

�We won�t say a thing.� Said George.

Harry shook his head �Sorry guys but that won�t be good enough.� Harry reached into an inner pocket of his robe and pulled out a familiar piece of parchment, well familiar to everyone but Draco.
�Okay guys you know the drill. Shoes and socks off, left hands on the map, right hands up, eyes forward. Draco watch their feet make sure they don�t cross their legs, feet or toes. Professor keep an eye on their hands. Fred and George look at me.� Everyone did as they were told. �Alright repeat after me.... We Fred and George...�

�We Fred and George...�

�Do hear by swear...�

�Do hear by swear...�

�Not to repeat what is about to be told to us...�

�Not to repeat what is about to be told to us...�

�To anyone under any circumstances...�

�To anyone under any circumstances...�

�Until we are given express permission by Professor Snape...�

�Until we are given express permission by Professor Snape...�

�Or until the information is known by the general public..�

�Or until the information is known by the general public..�

�If we fail to keep this promise...�

�If we fail to keep this promise...�

�We do hear by give our permission...�

�We do hear by give our permission...�

�For Professor Snape to seek retribution...�

�For Professor Snape to seek retribution...�

�In anyway he sees fit...�

�In anyway he sees fit...�

�This we do swear upon the legacy of the Marauders.�

�This we do swear upon the legacy of the Marauders.�

Harry tapped the twins� hands, that were still on top of the map, with his wand and they gave a brief blue glow to seal their promise.
Snape had watched the whole preceding with a bemused smirk playing about his lips and was silently praising Harry�s quickly constructed oath.

The twins quickly slipped their socks and shoes back on. �This must be one heck of a secret...�

�For you to have gone to all that trouble Harry.� Said the Fred and George respectively.

�It is.� Said Harry, then after taking a deep breath spilled the news �Remus and Sirius are pregnant.�

The twins blinked at Harry.

�Come again?� asked George.

�Remus and Sirius are pregnant.� repeated Harry.

The twins blinked again, then looked at Draco who nodded, then looked at Snape who nodded then looked at each other before turning back to Harry who nodded smiling. The twins then turned back to Snape. �Bloody Hell Professor...�

�You don�t do things by half do you?�

Snape scowled but Harry answered �They�re not all biologically Professor Snape�s. Remus is carrying Sirius� twins and Sirius is carrying Professor Snape�s child. That�s why you can�t prank them.�

�Alright no pranking the pregger Professors, we got it.� said George.

Suddenly Fred�s face lit up �Oi! Did you say Moony�s havin� twins!?�

Harry grinned �Yep.�

�Wicked!� Chorused the twins.

�We�ll teach them all we know isn�t that right Fred?�

�Too right George!�

Snape pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered �Merlin help us all.�Everyone but Snape laughed.

�Alright now that you two have been sworn to secrecy Draco and I will leave you to talk things out with Professor Snape. Alright?�
The twins nodded still smiling and Snape gave them a dismissive wave.

Harry grabbed Draco�s hand and pulled him in the direction of Snape�s living quarters.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sirius was lounging on one of the sofas in the sitting room. One leg dangling over the back of the sofa the other bent at the knee with calendar propped against it and most of the cushions from the room piled behind him against the sofa�s arm holding him in a semi-reclined position. In one hand he held the book Poppy had given him the other was absently rubbing his still, thankfully in his opinion, flat stomach.

Remus was curled up on the other sofa reading a historically based �romance� novel, a guilty pleasure of his at which Sirius snickered and Severus rolled his eyes and wisely didn�t comment on.

�It says here that in most male pregnancies morning sickness begins to show it�s self between the end of the first month and the beginning of the third and can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to the entire span of the pregnancy and that some men don�t even experience it.� Sirius grinned �Hey d�you think since I haven�t shown any signs of morning sickness yet that I won�t have it?�

Remus looked up from his novel grudgingly �I suppose it�s possible, then again we�re only a little over two and a half months along.�

Sirius frowned �Way to burst my bubble Moony. Have you had any morning sickness yet?�

Remus sighed, marked his place and set his book aside �Not as such, I do feel a little queasy some mornings or if I smell something with a particularly strong odor.�

�Like what?�

Remus folded his hands in his lap �Well there�s coffee for one, particularly when who ever is drinking it has added a lot of sugar and cream, the sickeningly sweet smell of it makes my stomach roll. The smell of a few of the ingredients Severus works with on occasion make me ill too and I try to stay up wind of him on the days he works with them. I can�t stand the smell of vanilla now but thankfully chocolate doesn�t seem to bother me.� Remus smiled and Sirius grinned. �Um, what else? Oh! There�s Hagrid�s pipe smoke but it doesn�t make me ill it just gives me a headache now. There are a number of little things I don�t care for the smell of any more but those are the worst I�ve noticed.�

Sirius nodded and went back to his book. Remus had just cracked his open again when there was a knock at the door. Remus looked over at Sirius hoping he would answer it only to find him with his nose buried suspiciously deeply into his own book. Sighing once again Remus closed his book and went to see who was knocking.

Opening the door he was confronted with Harry�s smiling face.
�Hi Remus! We came to see how Sirius was taking his new condition.� said Harry with a grin. Remus smiled at him in welcome.

�Oh as well as can be expected, won�t you come in?� Remus stepped aside and allowed the boys to enter.
�Sirius. Harry and Draco are here.�

Sirius went to sit up quickly but, as he hadn�t quite unhooked his leg from the back of the sofa, he ended up in a pile of limbs and pillows in the floor.

Remus rushed around sofa �Sirius are you alright?! Did you hurt yourself?�

Sirius untangled his limbs and hoisted himself up with the aid of the coffee table �Only my pride Remi.� he grumbled dusting his backside off then retrieving his book and calender. Harry flicked his wand sending the pillows to their rightful places.

Sirius grinned sheepishly �Thanks kiddo. So, come down point and laugh hmm?�

Harry grinned �I could but I�d rather just say congratulations.� Harry gave Sirius a careful hug which his Godfather returned.

�Thanks Harry. So, I take it Sev told you then?� Sirius waved for Harry and Draco to sit which they did, together on the sofa Remus had abandoned. Remus joined Sirius on the other.

�Yeah, I asked when he came back from the Hospital Wing and he told me you were pregnant and he was the other father.�

Sirius huffed �Well that�s not fair at all now I have nothing to surprise you with.�

Draco snorted and Harry giggled �Well you could tell me how far along you are and when you�re due.�

Sirius perked up at that but Remus answered �He�s at the same point in his pregnancy as I am and should be due around the same time, which is near mid May.�

�Moony I wanted to tell him that!� whined Sirius.

�Oh stop pouting Sirius, you can be the one to tell him what you�re having when you find out and that is much more interesting.�

�I hadn�t even thought of the sex! When can we find that out?!� Sirius snatched up his book and began flipping through it rapidly.

�At about five months.� said Remus with a wry smile.
Sirius glared at him then looked dejected �Five months? That�s forever!� he moaned.

Harry shook his head in amusement �It�s not that long Padfoot, you�re already half way there.�

Sirius picked at a thread on the sofa arm until Remus caught him and smacked his hand. �Yeah I guess.� he said rubbing his abused hand before asking Harry about what he�d done with his afternoon after running to get Snape. Harry began telling them about the third years and Quidditch practice.

Draco quickly lost interest as he had heard it all already and let his eyes wander about the room for awhile before landing on Remus� discarded novel. Draco lifted it up and opened the inside cover to read the summary. Remus saw him begin to read it and reached for it quickly but Draco held it out of reach.

�You really wouldn�t be interested in that I�m sure, let me just put it away.� he said quickly as a blush began to suffuse his cheeks.
Harry looked at the book curiously wondering why it would make Remus blush.

Draco gave him a wry smirk �Oh on the contrary, my Mother is quite fond of these books, this author in particular.� Draco said waving the book. �I�ve read a few myself and find them to be quite entertaining and well written. Quenten Dementia is very talented. Mother never would tell me why she read the male/male books, well, that is until I read one for myself.� Draco said with a sly grin. �Have you read anything by his sister Quintessa?�

Remus� blush began to fade slightly �Um no I haven�t, I�ve only discovered Quenten�s work recently I had no idea he had a sister or that she was an author as well. Is her writing similar?�

�Oh yes, in fact if one weren�t told one would think they are the same person.�

�I�ll have to look into that once I�ve finished with this series, I still have four books to get through so they should last me through the new year.� Remarked Remus.

Draco glanced at the cover again �Oh! Is this is from the �Midsummer�s Knights� series? I�ve only read the first two myself Mother was reading it at the same time as I was and I would just read each book as she finished them. Unfortunately by the time summer had ended I hadn�t quite finished the second book and Mother was still finishing the third so she refused to let me take it and now she won�t send me them because she doesn�t want Pansy to find out she reads them and tell her Mother. She�s certain that Mrs. Parkinson will make snide comments about them at the social functions they attend, but the thing is that Pansy already knows because her Mother reads them as well and doesn�t want my Mother to find out for the same reason, it ridiculous really.� said Draco looking at the cover longingly now.

�That�s the fifth in the series, I�ve only just started it but I�m quite finished with the first four. If you like I�ll let you borrow the third and forth books but .� Remus said sternly �You mustn�t tell anyone who lent them to you. Agreed?�

Draco smiled widely and stuck out his hand �Agreed! Thank you professor. And don�t worry they won�t be leaving my room so no one will even know I have them.� Remus shook his hand and went into the bedroom to get the books from under the bed.

Harry looked at them strangely as Remus handed over the books. �Why are you two so worried about people knowing you�re reading those books, what are they about?�

Remus and Draco blushed while Sirius snickered, they had completely forgotten the dark haired men were in the room. �Um well... you see these books uh...well they�re not exactly ones you can pick up off the shelves in �Flourish and Blotts�.� Said Remus haltingly.

Harry�s brows scrunched up in confusion �What do you mean?�

Draco cleared his throat �Well love they�re Romance novels.... of a sort.�he said vaguely.

Harry was still confused �So?�

Sirius finally decided to put the profusely blushing men out of the their misery and piped up �You see Harry what our respective lovers are trying to say, or avoid saying rather, is that those novels are just on the clean side of erotica.� he said with a laugh that was just this side of a cackle.

Remus smacked him in the arm while Draco was busy trying to sink into the sofa.

Harry was blushing now as well �Oh.� he said quietly.

Remus cleared his throat before addressing Harry �They�re really not as bad as Sirius would have you believe. They�re really quite tastefully written but...well it�s just that some people look at them as being no better then a pornography magazine without the pictures and they�re nothing of the sort. They have wonderful plot lines and relative to the length of them there is really very little smut in them at all.� Remus was blushing furiously again by the time he�d finished and now Harry was as well.

�Oh. Well...um I guess that�s ah.. good then.� said Harry in embarrassment.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment before Sirius broke out in raucous laughter at the other three�s discomfort. Remus, whom was still blushing quite deeply grabbed a nearby pillow and began hitting Sirius with it in retaliation, while Draco once again tried to sink into the couch and Harry glared at his laughing Godfather. And of course that was the exact time Severus chose to return to their rooms.

Severus surveyed the room which had come to a standstill upon his entrance. Harry was staring at him with wide eyes, his face an alarming shade of red. Draco had grabbed a throw pillow and appeared to be trying to smother himself with it. Sirius was half cowering in one corner of the sofa still chuckling. And Remus was hovering over Sirius, arm raised, pillow in hand, ready to land another blow.

Severus raised a brow �Do I even want to know?� he asked dryly.

�Probably not.� came Draco�s muffled response from behind his pillow.

Severus shook his head in exasperation. He then shrugged out of his teaching robes and draped them over a chair by the door before heading into the kitchen for the tea he knew Remus would have waiting for him. After preparing himself a cup of tea Severus rejoined the others. He sat down in his chair and took a sip of tea while watching in amusement as the four men tried to regain their composure.

Remus returned the pillow to it�s place and smoothed down his shirt. Sirius managed to calm his chuckles to the occasional snicker and sat up properly on the sofa. Harry had taken a sudden interest in one of the various objects on the bookshelves and was studying it intently while his blush subsided. And Draco was smoothing his hair and tucking the books Remus had lent him next to him. Unfortunately Severus saw them and chuckled.

�Ah so that is what caused such a reaction.� Snape said staring at the books. Sirius snickered louder while the other three blushed at Severus.

�Oh shut up Sirius and you too Severus.� snipped Remus in embarrassment.

Another silence threatened to descend but this time Draco decided to intervene. �So Uncle Sev were you able to um... determine what ingredient would be best for censoring the Weasley�s bubbles?�

Severus gave a slight nod �Yes, they were not far off in their thinking powered toad spleen and liquified frog liver would, indeed, have altered the volume not censored them. As they told you the toad spleen makes them louder and had they added the frog liver it would have made them nearly silent.�

�So what did you recommend?� asked Draco.

�Minced newt intestine and a few drops of �sticks and stones serum�.�

Draco�s eye lit up in understanding �Ah I see the newt intestine will lessen the effects of the serum so instead of silencing the bubbles from saying anything hurtful at all it will make them focus on something more pleasant.�

�Correct.� said Severus taking another sip of tea.

�Sticks and Stones serum? I�ve never heard of it.� stated Harry.

Snape set aside his tea to address Harry. �You have heard the children�s rhyme �Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.� correct?� Harry nodded.

�The rhyme came about because of the serum. You see there was a young wizard that lived several hundred years ago whom was the youngest of ten brothers. And, as is the case in many families, he was teased by his older brothers almost constantly.

One day near the boy�s seventeenth birthday his brothers teased him so harshly that he simply could not take it any longer and he ran away, but he vowed to return one day and make them pay for teasing him so horribly. Five years later he returned home to his family and his brothers and he brought with him a serum he had made, he kept it hidden and swore not to use it unless his brothers began to tease him again. Well he had been home only three days before the teasing began again just as vicious as it had been when he had left.

Two nights later the young wizard snuck into the kitchen in his home and added the serum to their wine for the next day�s dinner. The following night everyone ate and drank the wine, everyone except the youngest brother. One of his older brothers noticed and asked him why he did not drink and began to taunt him for it, but as soon as the harsh words began to leave his mouth they were cut off by a piercing scream. The other brothers asked what was wrong and he replied that he didn�t know but that it felt like his bones had been breaking as if someone had been hitting him with �sticks and stones�.

The youngest began to laugh and the others realized he had, had something to do with their other brother�s pain and began to yell at him. But one by one they each collapsed in pain as the serum took effect. The youngest told them what he had done as the laid there in agony. He told them that this was their punishment for teasing him while they were growing up.

He laughed and taunted them until his brothers became enraged and held him down and forced him to drink the serum tainted wine himself so he could taunt then no longer. Then young wizard stood facing his smirking brothers and stated �The sticks and stones may break my bones but your words can no longer hurt me.�.� Severus stopped to take another sip of tea as the others sat engrossed by the story waiting for him to continue.

�Of course today�s version of the potion does not cause such a horrible result if taken. Nor does it last a person�s lifetime as the first did. It simply renders a person incapable of speaking anything hurtful for a number of hours or days, depending on the strength of the serum.�

�Wow.� said Harry, �I wouldn�t have minded having some of the original version of the potion to slip into the Dursley�s food when I was little.�

�Now Harry I don�t think you would really want to do that to your muggle relatives, even if they were verbally abusive.� said Remus reasonably.

�Wanna bet?� said Harry in a low voice that surprised Draco in it�s venomousness. Remus was about to protest again but Sirius laid a hand on his arm and shook his head. Remus only knew some of what Harry went through at the Dursley�s. He didn�t know quite how severe the verbal abuse had gotten before Harry had been allowed to say at Grimmauld Place. Sirius knew though, Harry had told him and sworn him to secrecy. Severus knew as well because of Harry�s Occlumency lessons.

Draco looked from Harry to where Sirius was restraining Remus from chastising Harry further about wishing pain upon his muggle relatives, in confusion. He knew Harry�s life hadn�t been great over the summers and before coming to Hogwarts but he couldn�t understand why Harry, his Harry, the Harry that still felt guilty over having had to kill one of the most evil beings to have ever walked the earth, would wish pain upon his family . It just didn�t fit. What could muggles have done to him to make him hate them so much?

Severus watched as his lovers had a silent battle of wills over reprimanding Harry, it lasted a few moments before Remus relented with an annoyed look that told all who cared to look that he would be demanding answers as why he was forced to conceded in his protests of Harry�s vindictiveness.

Meanwhile Harry was glaring quite fiercely at a random spot on the rug and Severus knew if he hadn�t worked so hard teaching Harry to control his innate magic over the years, he would likely have been shopping for a new rug soon. Severus glanced over to Draco who was looking back and forth between his glaring boyfriend and Sirius speculatively. Severus could read the questions behind those cool gray eyes and he knew he needed to defuse this situation before unwanted questions began to fly.

�This Friday�s quidditch match is Slytherin versus Gryffindor is it not?� asked Snape causally.

The abrupt change in topic seemed to shake everyone in the room out of whatever thoughts they had been dwelling on.

�Yes.� said Draco simply.

Severus nodded �It will be interesting to see the two of you play against each other now that the two of you are involved. I wonder, will the two of you change your teams tactics to accommodate the fact that you are no longer rivals?�

The boys bristled just as Severus knew they would. �Of course not!� they both shouted together.

�All may be fair in love and war. And I may love Harry but as far as I�m concerned quidditch is war and we�ll take on prisoners!� said Draco vehemently.

�My thoughts exactly.� said Harry.

�Of course Slytherin will demolish the Gryffindorks on Friday without the Weasel guarding the hoops.� remarked Draco with a smirk.

�Oh you wish Malfoy!� replied Harry with a grin.

� Crisis averted.� Thought Severus somewhat smugly as the conversation became completely focused on quidditch. A few minutes later when Remus had went to gather tea together for them all and Draco and Sirius were in a debate on whether or not causing a mid air collision was a good strategy for taking out the other teams chasers and if it was legal, Harry looked over to Severus and gave him a grateful smile for steering the conversation away from his life before Hogwarts. Severus gave him a nod of acknowledgment then pointed out to the two Black descendants that yes, causing a mid air collision was, in fact, a legal move in quidditch but the resulting casualties to one�s own team made them an ineffective maneuver, leaving both men partially correct but pouting.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday had set the pace and the rest of the week flew by for Harry and Draco, who had found almost no time to spend with each other due to classes, homework and quidditch practices in anticipation for the upcoming game. Before either of them knew it they were facing each other as captains on the quidditch pitch surrounded by their teams and the screaming spectators.

�Good luck Potter.� said Draco holding out his hand. Harry smiled and shook it before Draco pulled him closer by it and whispered. �You�re going to need it.� and gave Harry a quick kiss.

�Oi Malfoy stop molesting our captain!� Said Fred loudly causing Harry to blush. Draco just smirked and mounted his broom.

Madam Hooch gave her usual speech about fair play and sportsmanship that she fully expected the Slytherins to ignore before tossing the quaffle into the air and blowing the whistle to start the match.

An hour and a half in and Harry was becoming desperate trying to find the snitch. The Slytherins were up one hundred and thirty points to Gryffindors measly twenty, it was embarrassing. Harry cursed Ron once again for being such a hotheaded idiot and landing himself in the hospital wing. Jackson was not working out at all, the taunting from the stands and the Slytherin team were reeking havoc on the poor boy�s nerves and as a result he had only managed to block two goals the whole game. Harry had called a time out after fifteen minutes and replaced Jack with Sharon who had done quite well until a bludger Crabbe had sent careening toward their side had gotten past George and hit her square in the stomach knocking her off her broom and landing her in the infirmary.

Now Jack was back guarding the goal and the Slytherin chasers were wiping the pitch with him. Harry had to admit that this years chasers were good even if one of them was that tosser Nott. And Blaise was a brilliant keeper. So far he had blocked nearly every goal Gryffindor had tried to score. The two that had gotten past him were due to the Twins� expertly aimed bludgers. Unfortunately Crabbe and Goyle had caught on to the Twin�s plan of clearing the way for the chasers and were now taking turns between guarding Blaise and guarding Draco.

�Nott scores another goal for Slytherin bringing their score up to one hundred and forty! Harry better hurry and find the snitch if Gryffindor wants to win!� shouted Colin Creevey.

Harry cursed again. Where in Merlin�s name was the snitch!?

In the professor�s box Severus scowled at the announcer �Could we really find no one better than Creevey for an announcer?�

�What�s wrong with Colin?� asked Sirius hotly.

�Oh nothing.� said Snape flippantly �That is other then his blatant favoritism.� he finished with a scowl.

�Well Severus it�s quite difficult to find a student who wouldn�t play a bit of favoritism when announcing.� Said Remus reasonably.

�Well why not have one of the professors be the announcer then?� scowled Snape.

Sirius snorted �Oh yes that�s a wonderful idea Sev! After all Professors never play favorites.� Severus narrowed his eyes.

�He does have a point Severus.� said Remus. �If you really wanted to find someone unbiased you would have to pick a Professor who hadn�t attended Hogwarts.�

Albus who was sitting behind the three men, and had been listening in on their conversation, chose to put in his two knuts. �I say, Ms. Lovegood made a wonderful announcer she was quite neutral in her support and made such colorful commentary. I can�t understand why the rest of the staff wished to replace her.� Said the headmaster stroking his long beard.

Severus rolled his eyes �Indeed Headmaster I can�t imagine the reason why she was replaced either.� said Severus with a sneer. �Well, that is other then the fact that she was more likely to comment on the mating habits of the purple tufted fizzwangs or Professor Sprout�s lovely new hat then the quidditch match.� he said condescendingly.

�Ah yes, good point my boy, good point.� Said the headmaster jubilantly popping a lemon drop in his mouth and turning twinkling eyes back to the match.

Severus shuddered then scowled �Don�t call me �boy�!� he snapped before turning back to the game.

During the four men�s conversation Slytherin had managed to score two more goals bringing their score up to one hundred and sixty points.

Harry searched the skies frantically, if he could catch the snitch now Gryffindor would win but if Slytherin scored twice more it wouldn�t matter if he caught it or not they would still lose.

Just as Harry was beginning to lose hope of ever finding that elusive little ball he caught a glint of gold out of the corner of his eye. The snitch was hovering in front of the Hufflepuff stand on the other side of the pitch and a quick look at Draco showed he hadn�t seen it yet. Target in sight Harry took off after it at break neck speed.

Colin saw Harry take off and shouted into the microphone �Harry Potter has spotted the Snitch!� not five seconds later and he was back on �Malfoy is now in pursuit of the snitch as well! This is going to be close ladies and gentlemen!�

Sirius was on his feet as soon a Colin had said Harry�s name. �GO HARRY!� he yelled jumping up and down. Severus and Remus both tried to get him to calm down to no avail. Harry had the snitch in his sights and he was closing in fast nothing short of a sticking charm could have kept him in his seat.

Harry sped after the little fluttering ball at top speed as Draco started to close in on him. The snitch shot to the left and then down and the two seekers hastened to follow it.

The snitch was right in front of him all Harry had to do was get a few feet closer and he could grab it, but Draco was right on his tail if the snitch dived the wrong way it would be all over. Harry leaned forward to give himself just a bit more speed.

�GO HARRY! COME ON YOU�VE GOT IT JUST A LITTLE FURTHER!� Sirius was hanging half way over the railing of the professor�s box yelling, and if it weren�t for the death grip Severus and Remus had on his robes he likely would have fallen over. Not that the dark haired defense professor noticed.

Harry reached his hand out, he was so close he could feel the beat of the snitch�s wings on the tips of his fingers. Harry stretched his arm as far as he could while keeping his broom straight, he could see Draco�s hand reaching out next to him. �Come on just a bit more!� thought Harry desperately.

�Potter nearly has it! But Malfoy is closing in fast! This is it people whoever catches it will win the game, but what�s this!? Nott has just scored for Slytherin bringing their score up to one hundred and seventy! And.....He�s done it! Harry Potter has caught the snitch! Game over, we have a tie! I repeat Harry Potter has caught the snitch but we have a tie! The scores are one hundred and seventy to one hundred and seventy! Gryffindor and Slytherin have tied� Cried Colin.
There was a deafening roar rose from the stands. Some of it was from cheering, some was from shouts of disbelief.

�That�s right ladies and gentlemen we have a tie for the first time in... how long did you say Hermione?.... For the first time in one hundred and sixty four years!� shouted Colin excitedly. �Now I�m sure you�re all with me when I ask...What do we do now?� Laughter came from the stands as Madam Hooch blew the whistle and called the teams to the center of the pitch.

After casting a sonorus Hooch began to speak. �First I�d like to congratulate the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams on what was one of the finest games of quidditch it has been my pleasure to witness.� the crowd cheered in agreement. �Now as is written in the rules it is up to the captains of the tied teams to decide on whether or not the wish to hold a rematch to be played no longer then one week from today! Or to leave the scores as they are and let the better team be decided by who wins the quidditch cup at the end of the year!�*

The crowd watched as Harry and Draco huddled their heads together in conversation. No one could hear what was being said but after few moments of hand gestures from Draco and some nervous shuffling from Harry they both nodded and turned to Madam Hooch. Draco told her their decision and she relaid it to the anxiously awaiting crowd.

�Ladies and gentlemen the captains have decided not to hold a rematch!� A wave of disappointed muttering went through the crowd some sections louder than others. The Slytherins muttered darkly but quietly. The Hufflepuffs pouted briefly before talking about their favorite parts of the game. The Ravenclaws frowned and complained on losing precious study time over a game that, essentially, wouldn�t matter. And the Gryffindors ..... well they were just lucky that they were being so loud that none of their professors could hear the individual things they were saying.

�WHAT?! They�re not going to have a rematch!� shouted Sirius shooting to his feet once again. He had sat down rather abruptly when the tie had been announced, much to his lovers� relief. �But Gryffindor could have demolished them if they replaced Jack with Sharon!�

�Black would you sit down before you fall over the railing! My heart can not take much more of this!� snarled Severus.

Sirius looked back. Severus was indeed holding one hand to his chest while the other had a firm grip on the back of Sirius� robes. Sirius sat down immediately. �Sorry Sev I didn�t mean to scare you.� said Sirius quietly.

Severus pursed his lips �You should be apologizing to Remus as well!� said Snape sharply. Sirius did as he was told, Remus nodded his acceptance and Sirius turned back to Severus.

�Are you aware that had Remus and I not had hold of you, you would have likely fallen head first into the stands?� growled Severus. Sirius looked sheepish and shook his head. �I can not believe your behavior today, one would think you were four not on the verge of forty! You are very lucky to not have injured yourself not to mention what all that flailing about you were doing could have done to you in your condition.�

Sirius paled, he had forgotten about that. �I-I didn�t think about that.�

�No I�m sure you didn�t!� snapped Snape. �Now if you�re quite done acting like a fool, I believe we should head to the Hospital Wing.�

Sirius bristled. �Hey I know I shouldn�t have been acting the way I did but I think I know when I�ve over taxed myself! There�s no need to have Poppy poke and prod at me, I�m fine!�

Severus scowled �We aren�t going for you! I�m in need of a calming potion and a migraine relief potion. I have already gone through my personal stock of them this year thanks to the unrelenting incompetence of the latest batch of first years. And I dare say Poppy will have a thing or two to say regarding my current blood pressure.� remark Severus dryly.

Sirius blinked but quickly got up to follow the glowering man. Remus sighed and began to follow his lovers, silently wondering if he was still allowed calming potions as well because he could certainly use one.

As the stands began to empty Harry and Draco headed toward the locker rooms.

�Hey! You two can�t just walk off like nothing�s happened!� exclaimed Blaise.

�Yeah!� shouted Seamus. �Why didn�t you call for a rematch?� The rest of the members of the two teams murmured similar questions.

Harry and Draco stopped and turned to their teams. Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry, silently asking if he wanted him to explain their reasoning, Harry nodded for him to go ahead.

�Well, Harry and I discussed it and we felt a rematch would be a waste of time.� said Draco.

�How do you figure that?� asked Goyle.

�Well think about it, whenever Gryffindor plays another team who always ends up catching the snitch?� asked Draco.

�Potter.� answered the Slytherin team together, causing Harry to blush.

�And who would have won had the Weasel been guarding the hoops?�

�Gryffindor.� replied the Slytherins crossly. The Gryffindors smiled smugly.

�And what do you think would happen if we had a rematch and Newbrook replaced that clown.� asked Draco pointing to a sulking Jackson.

�We would probably lose.� Said Crabbe.

�Exactly.� said Draco.

�Well that explains Malfoy�s reasoning but it still doesn�t explain why you agreed with him Harry?� asked Ginny crossly.

Harry shuffled his feet �Well to be honest I thought it would make the rest of the season more interesting.� the two teams looked at him strangely so he continued.

�Well think about it, which houses have held the cup for the last seven years? Slytherin or Gryffindor, right? It always comes down to our teams facing off and whoever wins always gets the cup because, as cruel as it is to say this, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff really don�t stand a chance against either of us.� Everyone nodded, it was a well known fact around the school that whoever won the Gryffindor/Slytherin match would take the cup and the best the other teams could hope for was second place.

�And which years had the best quidditch seasons? The ones when our teams play each other last, right?� The teams murmured their agreement. �And why was that? Because we were leading up to it, because we always play our hardest against each other. And if we played again in a week and one of us won what�s the point of the rest of the season? But this way, without the rematch, we have a reason to play our hardest every game because we�ll still basically be playing against each other all season. We�ll have to play our hardest every game because every point will count.� The teams looked thoughtful.

�You know, Potter has a point there.� said Goyle.

�Yeah, it�ll be a lot more interesting playing the Birdbrains and Hufflepoofs knowing that while beating them were also beating the Gryffindors.� replied Crabbe.

Blaise grinned �Well I knew you had to have a brain in that head somewhere if Professor Snape kept you in his class I guess this proves it. Good thinking Potter.�

Harry just laughed and shook his head, he was really beginning to like some of these Slytherins. �Come on everybody let�s hit the showers. I don�t know about the rest of you but I�m ready to head to dinner, I�m starved.�

Seamus snorted �I don�t see how you can eat as much as you do and still stay that skinny mate.� Harry shrugged.

�It�s simple Finnegan, magic needs fuel. The more magic a being possesses the more fuel it requires to keep it going. Harry is small but he possesses a great deal of magic so he requires a great deal of fuel. It�s basic magical theory.� stated Draco.

�Blimey Malfoy you sound like �Mione.� laughed Seamus.

�Oi Finnegan no need to be insulting.� snickered Blaise.

Draco made a face at being compared to Granger while Blaise and Seamus bantered back in forth about the similarities between Draco and Hermione, though there were relatively few, with the occasional input from the twins and Dean. Draco just shook his head at them and turned to look at Harry. However Harry was no longer paying any mind to the group, he was staring thoughtfully into the stands.

�What�s wrong Love?� Asked Draco.

Harry turned back to him with a frown on his face. �Nothing....I-it�s just.... I haven�t talked to Hermione...well, at all really since we got together.� Harry stopped just outside the locker rooms and looked back at the stands. �I was just wondering what she thought of us, of me, now.�

Seamus overheard Harry and spoke up �She�s fine with you datin� Malfoy mate. You know �Mione, it takes a lot to ruffle her feathers.�

�Then why hasn�t she talked to me since I started dating Draco?�

�Why haven�t you talked to her?� countered Dean.

Harry opened his mouth to reply then shut it blinking �I-I guess I�ve just been preoccupied. I�ve never had a boyfriend before, or a girlfriend for that matter, not that I ever wanted a girlfriend.� Harry wrinkled his nose at the idea of a girlfriend.

Seamus laughed �Yeah well, she�s just givin� you your space mate. She know�s this is all new to you she was trying to let you enjoy yourself for awhile.� Seamus frowned �Then of course Ron had to open his fat gob and say all that shite about you. Now I think she thinks you don�t want to speak with her because of him.�

The Gryffindors scowled at the mention of Ron, they were all still irritated with him, but Ginny spoke up.

�Actually I spoke with her and she hasn�t been speaking to you because she�s been spending all her time trying to get Ron to pull his head out of his arse and apologize to you.�

Draco sneered �Well then, it could be months before you talk to her again because I don�t think the Weasel could have shoved his head up there any further if he tried.� Harry sighed sadly and grabbed Draco�s hand.

Blaise�s interest had been peaked �What exactly did Weasley say?� all the school had heard about Weasley and Potter was that they had, had a fight over Draco and that Weasley was now in the Hospital Wing because of it.

Harry lowered his head �I don�t want to talk about it.� he said quietly then turned to Draco �I don�t feel very hungry anymore can we just go back to your room please?�

Draco looked down at Harry, taking in is sullen posture and nodded �Sure love, we can shower there too come on.� Draco wrapped an arm around Harry�s shoulders and Harry turned his face toward Draco�s chest and allowed Draco to steer him toward the castle.

Blaise, Seamus and Ginny were the only one�s still outside the locker rooms as Harry and Draco walked off.

Blaise turned to the Gryffindors �That bad huh?�

�Yeah.� said Seamus shaking his head and walking into the locker rooms. Blaise glanced at the two boys� retreating backs one last time before following the Irishman. Ginny watched as Malfoy lead Harry off and silently vowed to �have a word� with her dear brother in the near future. And maybe she would invite the Twins along too.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry and Draco made it back to Draco�s room without mishap. Once there Draco lead Harry to the bathroom where he helped Harry out of his quidditch gear before removing his own and turning on the shower. He and Harry had never shared a shower before and it was an enjoyable, if somewhat somber, experience for them both. Draco gently and lovingly cleaned Harry from head to toe with a soft soapy flannel. Once finished Harry reciprocated by proceeding to give Draco the same treatment. Draco then went about gently washing Harry�s hair, going so far as to condition it for him, much to Harry�s amusement. Harry told him it was a waste of time but Draco just smiled and told him to let it set for a few minutes while Draco washed his own hair. He wouldn�t condition it tonight though because too much conditioning tended to make his hair go limp and no one liked limp hair.

After giving Harry�s hair one last rinse he and Draco left the shower and proceeded to help each other dry off. Once they were dry Draco lead Harry back out into the main room and to the bed. Draco laid him down, and starting at his forehead, began kissing Harry all over his body. Harry just lay there content to let Draco do what ever he liked with him.

Sometime later, after Harry had been turned into a puddle of need and pleasure thanks to Draco�s menstruations, Harry came to the conclusion that he didn�t care what Ron thought anymore. If Ron couldn�t be happy for him about finding someone who made him feel this good and this loved, well then, Ron wasn�t really Harry�s friend after all.

�Are you ready Love?� Breathed Draco into his ear making Harry shiver in anticipation.

�Yes.� Harry sighed then arched his neck in pleasure as Draco gently eased himself into Harry�s body. As Draco began moving slowing in and out of him Harry thought to himself that this was worth losing a friend over, that this feeling, this felling of closeness and love, was worth losing just about anything for. And that thought scared him and thrilled him at the same time but he wouldn�t dwell on it right now.

Harry closed his eyes and emptied his mind focusing on nothing but Draco. The smell of him, the sound of his breathing, then feel of him thrusting into Harry�s body. Harry opened his eyes and was confronted with pair of warm blue gray eyes watching him intently.

Draco stroked his face with one hand �I thought I�d lost you there for a minute.� he said softly.

Harry tilted his face up and kissed Draco softly �Never.� Harry whispered against his lips. Draco pressed his lips back to Harry�s and increased his pace. It wasn�t long before they were both gasping and moaning out their pleasure into each others mouths.

An hour later Draco set up in his bed looking down at Harry�s sleeping face. His hair was mussed worse than normal and his lips were slightly swollen and parted just a bit, his cheeks still held a slight flush leftover from their lovemaking. Looking at him Draco had a sudden urge that he could not ignore. He leaned over and retrieved his sketch pad from the drawer of his bedside table and used his wand to summon a pack of charcoal pencils from his desk. Pad and pencil in hand Draco began draw a picture he had dreamt about for years now but never thought he would have the opportunity to actually draw.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Saturday passed in a haze for Harry and Draco who had only ventured out of Draco�s room, and bed, once for dinner the whole day. They had only went to dinner because Dobby had been too busy to fetch them dinner from the kitchens, much to the little elf�s distress.

Sunday morning was spent much like Saturday had been, in bed. After lunch though Harry stated that he needed to finish a couple of essays for Monday and therefore needed to get out of bed, much to Draco�s displeasure. Draco, however, agreed to release Harry from his bed on one condition, that they do their homework outside.

�But it�s cold out there.� Complained Harry, the temperature had started to drop on Friday night and by Saturday night it was down right chilly, Harry doubted it was much warmer today.

�Harry Love have you forgotten that we�re wizards? That�s what warming charms are for.� said Draco with a smirk.

�Oh yeah.� said Harry with a grin �Sure let�s go outside then.�
The two young men gathered their things and made their way out of the castle and onto the grounds.

After Draco transfigured a handkerchief into a blanket they settled under a large tree and pulled out their respective essays and quills from their bags and began work. Harry started on his essay for his Medical Magic�s class and Draco pulled out his unfinished essay for Charms and went about finishing it.

An hour later Draco had finished his Charms essay double checked it for errors and then rewrote it on a new roll of parchment. Harry had finished his essay for Poppy and had moved onto his potions paper.

After sitting quietly staring out over the grounds for a few minutes Draco got bored and dug into his bag and pulled out his sketch pad. Then after looking around to make sure no one was nearby Draco flipped to his latest sketch of Harry, the one he�d started Friday night. Draco pulled out his charcoal pencils and began to add the details to his picture and in no time at all he became engrossed in what he was doing.

Harry was staring between his textbook and a potions text he�d gotten from the library with furrowed brows. Both books were open to the same potion but Harry found that there was one key ingredient that the two books differed on. The African Violets. While his textbook called for a half of a teaspoon of finely minced African Violet leaves , the library book called for a half of a teaspoon of finely minced African Violet greens . Which was right?

�Draco can you help me with this? Our textbook says that the Soothing Serum calls for African Violet leaves but this book I got from the library says to use African Violet greens. Usually when a potion asks for greens it means steams and leaves. So which is it?� Harry looked up when he didn�t receive an answer.

Draco was sitting with his back against the tree, he�s knees drawn up with his sketch pad resting on them and a look of complete concentration on his face while his hand work furiously over the paper. Harry nearly laughed at the sight of him though because, the ever immaculate Draco Malfoy, was covered from fingertip to mid forearm with charcoal. Not only that but he had a bit on his nose as well.

Harry smiled to himself and decided, that since Draco was so engrossed, that he might as well sneak a peek at what he was drawing. Harry crawled quietly over to Draco�s side. He took one look at the picture Draco was filling in the background for and gasped right in the blonde�s ear.

Draco gave a startled cry dropped his pencil and hugged the pad close. Draco�s head whipped around and when he saw only Harry�s wide eyes he gave a sigh of relief before blushing.

�Uh..d-did you want something Love?� Draco asked hesitantly.
Harry just blinked, then turned his eyes to the pad Draco was still clutching against his chest. Draco followed his line of sight to the pad and reluctantly pulled it away form his chest to allow Harry to look at it again.

Harry�s eyes widened further as he got a better look at the picture. It was of him, just like all the other pictures in Draco�s sketch pad, but this one was different. While others had shown obvious signs of Draco�s affection for him, this one practically screamed love and adoration. Harry in the picture was sleeping peacefully amongst a sea of black silk that Harry recognized as Draco�s bed. His hair was wild and fanned out against the pillows and the two shades of black nearly melted together. His face was relaxed in sleep, thick dark lashes resting against pale cheeks and his mouth, with kiss swollen lips, slightly parted. His left hand rested laxly up near his face while his right was draped on his stomach just above his navel. Below his navel a thin trail of hair disappeared under a well placed sheet, much to Harry�s relief. The background of black sheets faded of into nothing before reaching the edge of the page. It was in one word simply �breathtaking�, but what had caused him to gasp and what was currently causing him to blush was that, even before Harry had had his eyes fixed and without his glasses, it would have been obvious what activity he had been participating in before this had been drawn. It was also obvious that Draco had been working on this before today because a great deal of work had gone into it.

Draco watched Harry�s face as he studied the picture he�d drawn. He hoped Harry liked it because it was now Draco�s favorite. Draco started to become anxious as Harry continued to stare at the picture without speaking, in fact Harry hadn�t moved or blinked since Draco had uncovered the pad, the only sign of emotion he had shown was a slight blush tinting his cheeks. Just when Draco began to think he would snap if Harry didn�t say something soon, Harry turn to him and said one word.

�When?� was the softly uttered question.

Draco swallowed, he knew what Harry meant. �Friday night after you fell asleep. I worked on it until about two in the morning before I couldn�t hold my eyes open any longer.�

Harry nodded looking back at the picture. That made since, Draco had been tired on Saturday morning when he awoke. Not that that had kept him from pouncing on Harry as he�d tried to leave the bed and shagging him into submission when he�d protested not being allowed up.

Draco fidgeted slightly before finally becoming impatient and blurting out �Do you like it?� Draco snapped his eyes shut thunked his head back against the tree. Gods he sounded like such a Hufflepuff.
Harry fought the urge to snicker at Draco�s behavior. He gently pulled the pad from Draco�s grasp and closed it before setting it to the side and taking it�s place in Draco�s lap.

Draco�s eyes flew open when he felt Harry sit in his lap. Harry smiled at him and cupped his face with his hands before leaning in to give Draco of soft kiss on the lips.

Harry pulled back so his lips were barely resting against Draco �I love it.� he said quietly.

Draco�s face broke out in a huge smile before hugging Harry close and kissing his fiercely. Harry moaned when he felt Draco�s tongue slip into his mouth. Harry�s hands slid into Draco�s soft hair as Draco�s hands drifted up and down his back before resting on Harry�s arse and pulling him closer. Both boys groaned as their groins rubbed together. Draco pulled his mouth away from Harry�s and attached it to the green eyed boy�s neck instead causing Harry to moan loudly and rock against the boy below him.

�Gods I love you.� growled Draco before latching back onto Harry�s neck where a sizeable love bite was forming. Harry�s only answer was a strangle cry and a tightening of his hands in Draco�s hair as he urged him to stay where his was. Both boys were breathing hard and moaning as the rocked against each other striving towards completion.

Just as Harry thought that a cleaning charm would be needed in the near future and two low whistles came from near by causing the two boys to jump and startling a surprised cry from Harry.

Blaise and Seamus broke out in loud laughter as they watched Harry flush deep red and Draco smooth down his hair trying to look as though nothing had happen. Which would have been convincing had it not been for the crimson face Gryffindor still in his lap.

�Sorry mate but we couldn�t help ourselves.� snickered Seamus.

Blaise smirked �So he�s got brains, looks and an exhibitionist streak. No wonder he caught your eye.�

Harry glared through his blush �I�ve also get a nasty habit of cursing people who annoy me with things even Madam Pomfrey can�t cure. You want to see that too?� asked Harry menacingly.

Blaise gulped and shook his head and Draco smirked. �Another eye catching trait of his, the ability to strike fear into the hearts of my enemies.� Blaise put on a mock hurt face and Draco rolled his eyes �And some of my friends who should mind their own business.�
Seamus snickered and Harry laughed as Blaise pouted.

�What are the two of you doing out here anyway?� Asked Harry.

�And together?� asked Draco.

�I was out here trying to find Harry.� said Seamus.

�And I was out here because I�m hiding from Filch.� replied Blaise.

�Okay that answers the first question but why are you together and where�s Dean?� asked Harry.

�Why does everyone ask me that when Dean�s not with me I�m not his keeper!� asked Seamus indignantly.

Harry chuckled �Well it�s just odd seeing you alone, it�s like seeing Fred without George.�

�Or Crabbe without Goyle.� said Draco.

�Or Draco without Potter.� snickered Blaise.

Harry and Draco looked at each other and just smiled.

� Anyway Dean�s with Ginny, they�re datin� again.� said Seamus.

�I thought he was he was dating a Hufflepuff.� said Draco.

�That was two weeks ago they split up because Dean caught her with some Ravenclaw, a fifth year I think.� said Harry before turning back to the other boys �So, again, why are the two of you together?�

Blaise leered �Because we�ve been having a secret torrid affair for months but now since you and Draco are dating we finally thought our relationship would be excepted and we�ve come out of hiding. Isn�t that right Finnegan?�

Seamus dropped to one knee and took Blaise�s hand �That�s right my love and now that our friends know I want the world to know! Will you marry me?� said the Irishman dramatically.

�Oh Yes Darling! Yes I would love to be your husband!� Blaise mock swooned. Harry broke out in laughter and Draco shook his head in amusement.

Blaise and Seamus grinned. �Actually I ran into Finnegan on my way out of the castle and he told me he was looking for Potter and since I had nothing better to do I thought I�d help him look.� said Blaise with a shrug.

�Ah I see. So why were you looking for me Seamus?�

�I just wanted to let you know that Ginny and the twins had a little �talk� with Ron last night.� said the sandy haired boy with a grin.

�Uh oh.� remarked Harry nervously.

�Uh oh�s right. Apparently thanks to the twins he�s gonna be in the infirmary a few days longer than Pomfrey thought.� Harry grimaced. �But on the bright side he�s much more pleasing to look at now with all those bright colors and the flowers and all.� Finished Seamus with a toothy grin.

�Um what flowers?� asked Harry hesitantly.

�Oh the ones coming out of his ears.� said Seamus offhandedly causing the Slytherins to burst out laughing. Harry just covered his face with his hands and thought �Poor Ron.�

�I�ll show you the pictures when you come back to the tower tonight.�

�They took pictures!?� asked Harry aghast.

��Corse they took pictures! How else were they gonna be able to make a �Prat of The Year� plaque for him?� Said Seamus in mock seriousness.

�Oh Merlin poor Ron.� said Harry out loud this time.

�Poor Ron? Love have you forgotten what Weasley said to get him landed in the hospital wing in the first place?� asked Draco annoyed.

�No I haven�t but he�s been my friend for seven years I can�t just stop caring about him just because he said something hurtful.� replied Harry quietly looking down at his hands in his lap and consequently in Draco�s lap. Draco frowned but he didn�t protest.

Seamus cleared his throat to regain their attention then continued. �Anyway like I said they went there to have a talk with him but Ginny did most the talking, or rather the yelling. And she said that you should be expecting an apology from him in a week or so and if not the twins threatened to do worse to him than they did.�

Harry frowned �I don�t want an apology from him if it�s been forced our threatened out of him. I want a sincere apology or none at all, you can tell the twins that and Hermione too so she can pass it onto Ron.�

Seamus sighed �Sure thing mate I�ll tell them.�

They were all quiet for a moment before Blaise spoke up and asked. �Oi Draco what�s on your nose?� causing everyone to look at Draco.

�What?� asked Draco.

�On your nose. You�ve got something black on it.� repeated Blaise.

�It�s on your shirt too Malfoy.� piped in Seamus.

�And all up you arms.� snickered Blaise.

Draco looked down at his shirt �Shit!� He pulled out his wand and quickly cleaned his shirt off then went to wipe his nose which only succeeded in smearing more charcoal onto it and causing Blaise and Seamus to laugh.

Harry caught Draco�s hand before he made it any worse �No no you�re making it worse all get it.� Harry wiped off the smudge with the edge of his outer robe before sitting back with a grin. �There, all better. Now hold out your hands.� Draco did as he was told holding out his hands to Harry who muttered a quick cleansing and sterilizing spell Poppy had taught him for using before a medical procedure. He figured it would work just as well for removing charcoal.

Draco looked at his hands which were now clean, though somewhat clinical smelling, and smiled. �Thanks Love.�

�No problem.� said Harry before snuggling back closer to Draco again.

�Comfortable Potter?� asked Blaise with a smirk.

Harry smiled angelically �Why yes, yes I am.�

Draco smirked at Blaise then a thought occurred to him. �Blaise didn�t you say you were out here hiding from Filch?�

Everyone turned to look at the Italian who rubbed the back of his neck and gave them a sly smile. �Uh yeah I did didn�t I.�

�Why? What did you do?� asked Draco suspiciously.

�Well remember when the Weasley Twins� bubble outed my secret �Herbology project�?� everyone nodded. �Well Dumbledore asked me to bring my stash to his office after Professor Snape fainted. Hey we never found out why that happened! You know I heard Professor Black fainted too, why do you think they both passed out?�

Harry and Draco looked at each other before Draco said �Everyone will be told when the time is right but now is not that time so keep talking buster.�

Blaise scowled but knew Draco wouldn�t talk if he didn�t want to so there was no point in pushing. �Fine, anyway like I said Dumbledore wanted me to bring my stash to him but I didn�t want Nott to find my hiding place so I told him that I couldn�t bring it until everyone fell asleep. He agreed and gave me a pass but when I went to take it to him that night I ran into Professor Snape and gave it to him instead. Well I didn�t want a perfectly good pass to go to waste so I asked Professor Snape if I could use it still and he didn�t care so I decided to go visit some of my little Hufflepuff �friends�.� Blaise waggled his eyebrows and Draco just rolled his eyes, Seamus one the other hand looked interested. �Well I snagged one of my favorites and we went to that old classroom on the forth floor to have a bit of fun. We enjoyed ourselves for a good hour or so before he complained that he needed to get back before his house mates worried. Unfortunately after being the gentleman that I am and walking him back to his common room Filch caught me out. He had the nerve to grab me and pin me against a wall telling me he�d have me cleaning bathrooms for a month for being out so late after curfew.� Blaise said disgustedly. �Well I shoved my pass in his ugly face and told him I had Dumbledore�s permission to be out after curfew. He sputtered and grumbled something about good for nothing brats before shoving the pass back at me and knocking off balance and I fell. Then he just walked off didn�t say sorry or offer me a hand up or anything. Not only that but when I got to my feet I noticed the fall had scuffed my favorite shoes! You know the ones Draco.�

Draco nodded �Yeah but that still doesn�t explain why your hiding from Filch.�

�I�m getting to that! Anyway after I saw my shoes I was pissed, naturally, so I decided to get a bit of revenge on old Filchy and charmed all the suits of armor.�

Seamus gasped �That was you! I thought the twins did it! That was bloody brilliant!� exclaimed Seamus in awe.

�What? What was brilliant?� asked Harry.

Blaise grinned �I charmed all the suits of armor so that every time Filch goes to clean one it will slap his face and accuse him of trying to molest it.�

Harry�s mouth dropped open before he began laughing loudly and Draco was laughing so hard he had tears running down his face. Harry buried his face against Draco�s neck still laughing as Seamus turned to Blaise.

�You know I�m not the only one that thinks the twins did it and I�m sure Filch will be going after them soon. I don�t think they�ll mind taking the fall for it but I think you should at least tell them it was you and how you did it I�m sure they�ll want to know.�

Blaise nodded �I guess your right fairs fair after all.�He then turned to Harry and Draco. �Well I�ll leave you lovebirds alone. She you at dinner.� with that Blaise started to head back to the castle.

�I�ll see you in the tower tonight alright mate? See ya, bye to you too Malfoy.� Said Seamus with a wave before running after Blaise. �So Zabini tell me more about this secret torrid affair we were having.� he said with a grin. Blaise laughed �Sure Finnegan it started like this....�

Harry giggled �I think they might just like each other.�

�Gods, I can only imagine what those two will be like if they get together.� said Draco shaking his head, Harry just grinned. �So,� Said Draco with a leer � where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?� He trailed his hand down to Harry�s arse and squeezed.

Harry laughed and pushed away from Draco. �Sorry Draco but no more of that right now I really need to finish my paper.� Draco began to sulk. Harry laughed and kissed him on the nose �If you help me with it then I�m sure I could have it done before dinner with enough time left over for us to have some fun back in your room.� said Harry suggestively.

Draco perked up immediately �Right, let me see that.� he said snatching the paper from Harry, causing the other boy to laugh at his enthusiasm.

A half an hour later and Harry was putting the finishing touches on his paper while Draco tapped his fingers against his leg in agitation waiting for Harry to get done. Draco was just beginning to entertain the idea of simply snatching to paper out of Harry�s hands and snogging the life out of him when Zeus landed next to him, letter in beak. Harry glanced up briefly to see Draco take the letter before returning to his work.

Draco opened the letter a smile forming on his lips when he recognized his father�s tight elegant script. Harry had just finished tapping his paper with his wand to dry the ink when he was startled by a sharp laugh from Draco.

�What is it?� asked Harry.

Draco sniggered �I was just reading Father�s reaction to the twins� owl. You�ve got to read this.� Harry put his paper away before crawling over next to Draco so he could read the letter him self. A few sentences in and Harry was laughing himself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lucius Malfoy was a man of strict routine on weekday mornings and this morning was no exception to his routine. He awoke precisely at seven and, being carful not to wake his lovely wife, he headed to his vast bathroom to take care of his morning absolutions, take a leisurely shower, dry his hair and brush his teeth. Then he entered his closet, that was only about two thirds the size of his wife�s but could still be passed off as a men�s clothing store, and got dressed for the day. After dressing he returned to the bathroom, where Narcissa was up and having a shower of her own, and pulled back his hair with black velvet tie that matched his robes.

Bathing and grooming taken care of he then headed to the informal dining room to read the morning paper and have his first cup of tea while waiting for Narcissa to join him. Half way through the business section and his second cup of tea Narcissa joined him looking resplendent, as always, in pale lavender robes.

Lucius rose and pulled out her seat. �Good morning my dearest. Did you sleep well?� he asked.

�Oh yes darling.� replied Narcissa and excepted the kiss Lucius leaned down to bestow upon her.

Lucius seated himself again and called for the elves to serve breakfast. He set aside his paper as breakfast was served, he found it to be incredibly rude to read at the table when you had a dining companion. Though he never voiced his opinion about this to Severus when they dined together because Lucius honestly believed the man could not eat breakfast without a paper in front of his face. Lucius and Narcissa spoke of nonsensical things as they ate like the weather, the new robes Narcissa had bought, the rudeness of a clerk Lucius had met in a small shop he would never enter again and what they should get Draco for Christmas.

After breakfast Lucius placed another kiss upon Narcissa cheek before heading off to his study to take care of his morning post. Once Lucius was seated at his desk with his third cup of tea for the day, he began to peruse his post. There were the usual things from his attorneys and financial advisors, as well as a letter from the head of one of the many businesses he owned and a invitation to a charity ball from some society or another. Lucius spent the next hour signing papers and writing short but polite replies to those that required a response. He was just signing his name at the bottom of a letter politely declining the invitation to the charity ball, but still promising to donate to whatever their cause was if they would simply contact one of his accountants, when Zeus entered through a specially designed window* and landed softly on the corner of his desk.

Lucius smiled at the site of his son�s owl. �Ah hello Zeus. You bring news from Draco I take it.� The owl hooted softly and dropped the letter in front of his master�s father. Lucius was just about to open Draco�s letter when the oddest creature he had ever seen flew into his study and landed directly in front of him and atop the letter Lucius had dropped upon seeing the creature. �What in Merlin�s name are you meant to be?� asked Lucius aghast. Pickle let out a high pitched wolf whistle and dropped his own letter before flying to a nearby perch where Zeus had already taken up residence. Zeus clicked his beak at the odd owl and scooted further away from him.

Lucius silently praised his son�s owl for it�s good taste before regarding the letter that had been dropped on top of Draco�s.
�What an eye soar.� remarked Lucius with a curled lip. Picking up the bright yellow letter delicately, Lucius flipped it over and saw the seal indicating that it was from the Weasley Twins. �Ah, well that would explain the coloring of the letter and the... owl .� Said Lucius eyeing said owl skeptically, Pickle merely cocked his head at the look and let out another wolf whistle. Lucius shook his head and decided to address the twins letter first.

Lucius broke the seal and began to read. After finishing the letter all Lucius could do was shake his head in amusement. It had been line after line of nonsensical ramblings which Lucius was able to decipher into meaning that his placed order would be delayed do to continued development and packaging issues and that he would be informed the minute that the product was finished. Well more or less.
Lucius pinned a quick letter thanking the twins for informing him of the delay and for keeping him posted. Then setting aside the letter to the twins to be sent out that evening, the owls need to rest after all, he picked up his son�s letter once again.

Lucius had only gotten through that first few lines of the rather long letter when Narcissa joined him in the study.

�Darling have you seen the novel I was reading last night? I could have sworn I left it on my dressing table but it�s not there.�

Lucius looked up �I�m afraid I haven�t dearest, are you sure you left it on your dressing table?�

�I�m almost certain I did.� said Narcissa before she turned and noticed Piccalilli for the first time. �OH! What in the world is that!� asked Narcissa started. Pickle ruffled his feathers in annoyance, he was getting quite tired of people asking what he was.

�That my dear is what the Weasley twins call an owl.� remarked Lucius in amusement.

Narcissa regarded Pickle with an air of caution � Well it�s unlike any owl I�ve ever seen that�s for certain.� it was then she noticed Zeus. �Oh Zeus is here! Did we get a letter form Draco?� she asked excitedly.

Lucius smiled �Yes I was just reading it now.�

�How is my little Dragon, are things going well with the Potter boy?�

�He is fine and things seem to be going quite well since Mr. Potter has excepted Draco�s invitation to come to the Manor at Christmas.�

�Oh how wonderful! My little boy is in love!�

�Now Cissa I wouldn�t go so far as to call Draco�s attachment to Mr. Potter love , well not yet at least.�

Narcissa waved him off �Oh Lucius you must be joking, all Draco has ever seemed to talk about in regards to school since his first day at Hogwarts was Harry Potter. Of course he�s in love.�

�Whatever you say dear.� Lucius read a bit further �Oh my, it seems Draco got into an altercation with the youngest Weasley boy.�

�Oh dear! Was he hurt?� asked Narcissa in alarm.

Lucius read on �No, but the Weasley boy was sent to the infirmary and will be there for some time apparently.� Narcissa gasped and Lucius frowned as he read further. �But it appears Draco was not reprimanded because he was only acting in self defense and his claim was backed by the entire Gryffindor quidditch team.�

�Why on earth would Gryffindors defend a Slytherin against one of their own?� asked Narcissa in confusion.

�Well it appears that young Mr. Weasley said some very rude and hurtful things to Mr. Potter and when Draco came to his defense Weasley pulled his wand. Mr. Potter is understandably upset over it but has sided with Draco. However Draco goes on to say that Weasley lost his place as captain on the Gryffindor team and was replaced by Mr. Potter and that Slytherin�s chances for winning the cup have increased because of it.� Lucius had to smile at that, he would have to floo Severus and ask about the game�s outcome.
Lucius picked up his tea and took a long sip which he immediately regretted because he had just read Draco�s news in regards to his godfather and his mouthful made a spectacular reappearance. Lucius began to choke as what little tea he hadn�t expectorated across his desk went down his windpipe.

�Lucius! Darling what is it, are you okay?� asked Narcissa frantically as she rushed to her husband�s aid.

Lucius waved her off as he tried to regain his breath. After a moment Lucius regained his composure and snatched up the letter once again to reread what he had surely misread the first time.

Lucius� eyes widened in shock, he hadn�t read wrong after all. �Sweet Merlin!� exclaimed the head of the Malfoy family.

�What is it Lucius? What�s happened!?� asked Narcissa in fear.

�It�s Severus.�

�What about him? Has he been hurt? Is he sick? For the Gods sakes Lucius don�t just sit there tell me!� Narcissa all but screamed at her unresponsive husband.

Lucius slowly turned to her his eye still wide with shock �He�s going to be a father.� he said quietly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco was all but crying he was laughing so hard and Harry wasn�t much better off. �I..I can�t be-believe father spit tea all... all over his desk when he read about Uncle Sev!� exclaimed Draco.
Harry wiped his eyes and nodded, it was an amusing thing to picture the cool and powerful Lucius Malfoy spewing tea all over his morning post.

�He�s written more do you want to read it?� asked Harry.

�I don�t think I can at the moment love.� laughed Draco �Could you read it to me?�

�Sure.� Harry cleared his throat and began to read aloud. �Your mother�s reaction was no calmer then my own. I dare say that I shall have ringing in my ears for days to come after her rather spectacular squeal of delight. She has already begun planning a baby shower and left almost immediately after she heard the news so that she could go shopping for the babies. I think it would be only fair of you to warn your godfather of the impending influx of gifts he and his lovers are soon to receive, though I shall to my best to delay her, your mother can only be held at bay so long. I shall leave you here, give my regards to Mr. Potter, your godfather and his lovers. Oh and your mother wishes for me to tell �her little Dragon� that Mummy sends her love. And yes I am laughing at you because I know you are laughing at me. Keep up with your studies as you have and I shall she you and Mr. Potter at the holiday�s. With love, father.� Harry giggled.

�Mummy sends her little Dragon her love.� he cooed and Draco smacked him.

�Oh do shut up Harry.�

Harry laughed �So shall we go warn Professor Snape now?�

Draco leered �No, I think that can wait until after dinner. Right I believe you should accompany me back to my room so that we can finish what we started earlier.�

Harry eeped and jumped up as Draco grabbed for him, then grabbing his bag Harry ran toward the castle laughing as Draco gave pursuit.

~TBC~

If you didn�t read the mini story before this I really recommend going back and reading it now. It really is very funny and it explains some of my delay in posting.
*I made this rule up to fit the story, I have no idea how they settle ties in real sporting events. I�m not what you would call a �sports person�, I am not a team player and I really doubt many people would want me on a sports team anyway because I invented the term �throws like a girl�, seriously I suck.
Seamus: Oh really? *raised eyebrow*

QD: *hits Seamus* go away you Irish pervert!
*I was going to describe the window but it just didn�t fit in the paragraph. Basically it is a window that is always open to allow in owls but won�t let in any of the elements or creatures other than owls. And it�s child friendly too because it will only allow owls to leave it as well. Just in case you were wondering. ;)
AN: Thank Merlin that chapters done! *snicker* did you like the feather duster thing? I decided I didn�t want Harry busy after dinner so I did the canceled class thing but having three years free at the same time just didn�t seem realistic so Mark was meant for after dinner but like I said I wanted Harry free so what could I do? Send Mark to Poppy! Then I thought well what�s wrong with him? Well sickness didn�t seem plausible cos he was fine that morning and he couldn�t have been hurt in potions or defense cos Harry would have heard about it. Then I thought ah-ha! a transfiguration gone bad! But what was he turned into? I had several ideas but I didn�t like them. Then I thought I want him to cough up feathers like cartoons do when hit with a pillow but I didn�t want a pillow. Then I thought Feather Duster! That way he can cough up feathers and have the urge to clean things! It�s alarming how my mind works sometimes.
Oh and the thing with Quenten and Quintessa Dementia yes that was a shameless self insertion and no quite_demented a.k.a. yours truly is not, in fact, two people..... although I have been accused of being schizophrenic before and had an alarming number imaginary friends as a child.... some of which I still talk to....WHAT!? DON�T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT! *runs away screaming*........... *comes back* Sorry about that um.... well you know the drill. Thanks for reading, hope you liked it, R and R and all that jazz. Much love.

quite_demented
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