Change of Hearts

Change of Hearts

Chapter 7

December came very quickly, bringing snow and the holiday spirit. And a new girlfriend for Ron after a very nasty breakup with Ernie. His new girlfriend was Ravenclaw's very own Padma Patil--shock to everyone.

The end of the term arrived and everyone was free to visit Hogsmeade for last minuet presents and time with friends before venturing home for the holidays. Draco among the many who were leaving.

The couple strolled though Hogsmeade alone (Hermione had refused to join them while Ron and Padma were currently doing something somewhere.) having yet to decide how they were going to spend their last day together. What they really wanted was some against the rules fun that could only be done in private.

"Is there any place we can go to be alone?" Draco whined.

"The Shrieking Shack?" Harry suggested.

"The Shrieking Shack? Harry, that's the most severely haunted place in all of Britain! We can't go in there!"

"You sound a little scared, Draco," Harry teased.

"I don't like ghosts," he pouted.

"You'll be fine, there isn't a single ghost in that place. Trust me, I've been there."

"You have? When?"

"Third year. That's where I met..."

Sirius. The wound was too fresh, to painful still. Harry just couldn't say his name.

"Who?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it. Ask Hermione or Ron to tell you. Just someone else."

"Did I say something wrong?" the worry clearly audible in his voice.

"No," Harry replied hurriedly. "No, no. No it wasn't anything you said. It's something that happened last year. When I landed you dad in Azkaban."

A dark look crossed Draco's face. "I remember that. He broke out three weeks later. Along with all the other Death Eaters in there."

"Yeah. Could we maybe change the subject?"

"How do we even get into the Shrieking Shack? It's all boarded up and everything," Draco asked faithfully changing the subject.

"A tunnel under the Whomping Willow. It leads to a trap door."

"Is that the only way? Seems a bit dangerous if you ask me."

"The only way I know. But there's actually a ton of places we can go inside the castle with guaranteed privacy. My personal favorite being the Room of Requirement. No one knows about it."

"How do you know about it then?"

"Your old house elf."

"My--how--what?"

"Dobby. He works at Hogwarts now, for Dumbledore. Gets paid and everything."

"He gets what?"

"After your dad--well, I--freed him, he wanted paying for his work. No one wants a house elf like that right? He and Winky, Crouch's old elf, finally went to Dumbledore. He said he'd pay them if that's what they wanted. And they're still free."

"Well, he was the weirdest elf we've owned. Don't know why I'm so surprised. Can't blame him for wanting his freedom so badly either. It's not like I want to be there. I don't even want to go back for the holidays."

"Then don't," Harry shrugged. "No one can stop you."

"I know, but my father--"

"The man constantly abuses you and only cares about you following in his footsteps, and yet you care about what he thinks about you?"

"I don't, but I don't want him to think something's up."

"Then go."

"You're supposed to help me decide what to do, not follow my thoughts and tell me where they're going."

"Look, just go. I'll be here when you get back, you can count on that, and that way your father wont think something is wrong."

"But that makes it so you're here all by yourself."

"I'll be fine. Hagrid's here. Owl me if you want. Say your sending Pansy a letter or something. And if you insist on worrying, worry about what I'll do to you should I find out."

Draco smiled. "Alright, I'll go, and I won't worry."

"Now, where should we head off to?"

"How big a chance is there that your ideas are currently in use?"

"About two to however many people are at Hogwarts."

"Then how about that room you were talking about. The one Dobby told you about?"

The Room of Requirement was in use.

"Now what," Draco whined. "Now where do we go?"

"I gave you my ideas, it's time for you to come up with one."

"As long as it's not the Shrieking Shack. If it's really not haunted then it's probably dank and dusty and moldy and I will not allow myself to venture into a place like that."

"It's not that bad," Harry said choosing to ignore Draco's prissy attitude to the place.

"Well, we could go to my room..."

"You have your own room?"

"As per my fathers demands. And my being Prefect."

"It'd mean that people know about us."

"I don't care anymore. The whole world can know for all I care."

Harry grinned. "Lead the way."

*****

The surprise on everyone's face when Draco entered followed by non other than Harry Potter himself was priceless. In fact, Draco laughed out loud, something he'd never been caught doing before--when it wasn't the appropriate time for it anyway.

"Malfoy," Zabini said cautiously, "what is he doing here?"

"Everyone, meet my boyfriend, Harry Potter. Harry, meet the Slytherins. Slimy bunch if there ever was one."

"Boyfriend?" a seventh year girl asked. "You're gay?"

"Yes."

"Oh, well then, er...welcome, Potter."

Ahh the loyalty of the Slytherin House. Automatic acceptance with good reason and never faltering loyalty. Well, as long as said loyalty is in your favor.

With the lead seventh year setting the example, the others quickly dismissed Harry's presence as though he were one of them. It couldn't have been better if it'd been planned.