The Bet

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The Bet

Chapter XIII - Love Will Weather Any Storm

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30 September 2003

Thirty minutes later.

Raven and I just fought. She didn't bother answering my question, and even managed to insult me by shoving her 'rescue' in my face. Then she walked away before I could come back at her. I'm so fucking pissed off, but then someone had to show up and stop me from going after her, actually managing to make me think about things before lashing out; not to mention giving me more to think about.

Hermione Granger.

Dammit! It's not like I fuckin' wanted to talk to her in the first place--it's not like I could tell her about the bet, she'd hex me before I could twitch an eyebrow. But she still managed to get me to talk. Not that she wouldn't have figured it out anyway. NO, I didn't say a thing about the bet, but she knew something had happened between Raven and I, and proceeded to stick her overly curious Gryffindor nose into it. I'm pretty sure she didn't actually hear anything though. If she had...well, like I said, I wouldn't be here right now.

And then she gave me that 'more' for me to think about. She said that if Harry cared about me, then so would she. I think that was her way of saying that if I needed advice on women, that I could go talk to her. Ha! I don't need advice on women, I need advice on Potter. Raven I can deal with, regardless of how she hurt me. I realise now that she probably didn't mean it. The way I approached her probably wasn't the best way; I think I let some of my sexual frustration show through without meaning to, and that set her off.

Oh, fuck. Here comes Potter now.

~~~~~

Harry wasn't quite sure what had been going on with Raven, but he did see her come out of the library as he left Number One, and so he quickly made his way inside said building, just as the wind and rain started to get worse.

He saw Draco at his usual table near the back, and headed straight for him, but someone grabbed a hold of his robe sleeve before he could make it much farther into the large room.

Whirling around, he came face to face with Hermione, who was between the first two rows of books.

Smiling, he greeted, "Hermione! What's up?"

Hermione returned his greeting with a solemn gaze, and the smile immediately dropped from Harry's face. "You're going to see Draco, aren't you?" she asked quietly.

"Er...yeah," Harry answered, a bewildered frown growing on his face. "Is there a problem with that?" he asked with a little edge in his voice.

"No." She answered curtly. "I just thought I'd warn you that he and Raven just had a little tiff, and so I don't think he's in the best of moods."

"Oh, I see. Yeah, I just saw Raven outside, looking rather upset, and I was wondering what had happened."

Hermione nodded. "Just tread carefully." Harry nodded and moved to step away. "Oh, and Harry?" Hermione called.

"Yeah?"

"Malfoy's still a right prat, but if you see some good in him, then I'll try to too." It was said with a small smile gracing her lips.

Harry smiled. "Thanks Hermione. That means a lot. I'm assuming Ron's talked to you about this morning?"

Hermione blushed slightly and nodded. "Yes. He's...well; he's still having a hard time getting over it, Harry. He's just really worried about you. And so am I." She paused slightly, before continuing, "We're here if you need to talk to us, Harry. About anything."

Harry leaned forward and gave Hermione a one-armed hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I know 'Mione. And I appreciate it." Then he stepped away and was gone, continuing on to his original destination.

Hermione sighed. She hoped beyond all hope that things would work out. For all parties involved.

~~~~~

"Raven!"

Blaise was now a sopping wet mess of Zabini goo, trudging through the mud, rain, and leaves, trying to get to Raven. It wasn't that she was so far away from him, it was just that she seemed to know the path through these woods quite a bit better than him, and he was finding it hard to manoeuvre through all the fallen logs and bushes in his path. It was like every step he took only slowed him down.

"Raven!" he called again against the wind, hoping that the girl would finally hear him and stop.

"GO AWAY, BLAISE!" she screamed back. Oh good. She did hear me...

"NO!" he yelled back, and through the rain and grey darkness of the woods, he saw Raven's darker form fall down a few metres ahead. "RAVEN!" He pushed through the leaves and branches harder, stumbling down next to Raven's kneeling form, and gathered her up in his arms. She was crying, her legs and skirt and robes covered in mud and leaves, her dark hair plastered to her forehead and shoulders.

"Raven...Raven, what's wrong? What's happened?" Blaise asked gently in her ear, rocking her back and forth.

"I just...I...Draco Malfoy's an absolute jerk!" She gripped his robes tightly, pressing her face into his chest.

Blaise sat there stunned for a moment before chuckling. "Oh? Raven, I hate to say this, but how could you not realise this before?"

Raven looked up, blinking the rain and tears away. "What do you mean?" she frowned.

"Raven...I've watched the two of you become closer and closer, and I swear I was just waiting for it to blow up in your faces. You guys have been in love for so long, and yet you've never fought. Not about relationship things, in any case. You dance around each other using your natural Slytherin charms, yet neither of you knows how to act in a real relationship."

"And when did you become such an expert on relationships, Blaise? I can't remember any particular relationships of yours getting past the 'let's just fuck' phase." Raven said bitterly.

Blaise had the good grace to blush but flippantly said, "I've had a few...but they were all at Hogwarts." He shrugged and quickly waved her next string of questions off. "Anyway, even though my relationships haven't always been the best, I have noticed that every couple has to really fight at some point; I'd think there was something wrong with you and Draco if you hadn't."

Raven sniffed. "Jeeze, thanks a lot, Blaise. Now I can go running back into Draco's arms and live life happily-ever-fucking-after."

"Okay, let's try this. What were you guys fighting about?" the dark-haired man asked, holding Raven closer as they both shivered.

Raven sighed and rubbed the tears from her face, leaving mud trails in her wake. Blaise chuckled, and said before Raven could reply to his question, "How about we go inside first, and get you all cleaned up. Come on," he urged, shifting to stand and help Raven up.

Raven just rolled her eyes. "You know, for all the Slytherins in the world, I swear you and Draco are the vainest. And you're both men. I was perfectly happy rolling around in the mud like a pig."

Blaise laughed. "There's the Raven I know. Never one to stay sober for long."

"Oh shut up, you twat."

They trudged back through the mud and leaves, Raven occasionally shifting them in the right direction. After about ten minutes, they were more soaked by rain and mud than before, if that was even possible. Blaise led them to Number Three, which was closest, and using a quick cleaning spell, Raven had both of them rain and mud-free and ready to take nice hot showers.

"You take the bigger one," Blaise offered, leading Raven upstairs and into the larger bathroom, which sat just next to Draco's room. "Here, I'll get you a towel." And the Slytherin left, coming back a moment later with a few towels, leaving again for the other bathroom.

Raven stared at the closed door for a moment, and then turned to the mirror, taking in her bedraggled appearance. Slowly, she peeled off her clothes, until all that was left was her bra and knickers. Gazing at herself, dark hair contrasting pale skin contrasting black undergarments, she let the tears well back up in her eyes, not bothering to wipe them away this time. Sitting down on the toilet, she cried, not knowing what it was exactly she was crying for.

~~~~~

"Hey, Draco."

"Potter."

Harry sighed. "Okay, I know you just had a spat with Raven, so I'll let it go this time."

"Oh? So you talked to Raven, then?"

Harry shook his head and sat down. "No. I did see her though. She ran into the woods."

Draco glanced out of the large window next to him where all he could see was darkness, with the occasional white of the water breaking below them. The rain and wind were rattling the glass, and Draco turned back to Harry with a scowl. "And you let her?"

"Blaise followed her in."

Draco looked away again and breathed out heavily through his nose. "So who told you then? It must have been Granger. I tell you, she's about as nosy as Gryffindors come."

Harry smirked. "Yes, I suppose she is. Even to me. And yes, she's the one who told me. You wanna talk about it?"

Draco shrugged, still not looking at Harry. "It doesn't matter, now. I started the conversation off aggressively, and Raven retaliated in kind, we both said things we didn't mean, and she left. The only way to deal with it now is to either ignore it, or talk to her."

"You mean apologise?"

Draco's head snapped to Harry's face, and he glared. "No. Slytherins don't apologise, Potter. We get even."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Look, Draco, I may not be an expert on relationships, but I have a feeling that 'getting even' with her is not the correct way to go about things."

Draco sighed and squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I know, I know. I'm just...I'm not good at this sort of thing. I automatically want to fall back into old habits."

"I understand." Harry paused for a moment before asking, "Do you think Raven feels sorry for whatever she said to you?"

The blonde's eyes opened, and he shrugged. "I'd hope so. In fact, I'd assume so, if she ran into the forest after talking with me."

Harry nodded. "She looked rather upset. I think that you're both sorry."

Draco nodded absently. "I think so too."

Harry turned his gaze to the window, noting that almost all he could see was his reflection against the glass. "Do you think practice is cancelled?"

Draco followed Harry's gaze. "Looking at that, I'd hope so. I don't care if there is a game this weekend. I'm not going out in that."

Harry grinned. "Always the vain one, aren't you, Slytherin?"

"Always the brave one, aren't you, Gryffindor?" Draco shot back. The men smiled at each other for a minute before something clicked in Draco's brain and he suddenly started packing his things.

"Draco? What's wrong?"

"Raven...Raven and Blaise are out there in this..."

Harry's brain seemed to click as well, and they scrambled to collect their things and get outside before the storm got any worse. They burst through the library doors and headed straight for the forest, ignoring people's stares and calls as everyone tried to get inside, away from the storm.

~~~~~

Raven let the hot water wash away the tears and chill, easing her mind, and warming her skin. Thinking back on what had happened that evening, it became apparent that she needed to apologise to Draco. There was really no excuse for her harsh words. She knew she didn't mean what she said, and what Draco had said to her certainly didn't warrant that kind of response. She wasn't quite sure why she lost her cool; perhaps it was a lot of things--stress from school, pressure from Draco, and his obvious jibe about her intent regarding the two men, not to mention the strange dreams that she'd been starting to have...

It was a wonder she wasn't just about going insane.

Turning off the water, she stepped out of the tub, wrapping herself in a towel. Looking at the fogged-over mirror, she took a hand and wiped a bit of the condensation off where her face was, gazing in contempt at her reflection. She had never before felt any self-hatred towards her looks, more than enough men had told her she was beautiful, and were probably doing it just to get into her skirt (not that it did any of them any good; Raven may have loved getting compliments, but she didn't sleep around). Experimented with many boys at Hogwarts, maybe, but sleep around...no. Yet today; looking at her fair skin, sprinkled with freckles; her dark green eyes, dull with many troubles; and her long black hair, falling heavily around her shoulders; she felt an unfamiliar bubble of disgust rise up from her stomach. How could Draco stand to love her, when she could hardly find it in her to love herself anymore?

Sighing heavily and shoving the very uncharacteristic thoughts away, she went about drying her hair, twisting the long locks in a towel. A knock on the door sounded, and Blaise's voice was heard from the other side.

"Raven? Are you done? I have a spare set of clothes for you to hang out in if you want."

Raven walked over to the door and opened it. Blaise was standing there in dark blue pyjama pants and tee shirt, holding a pile of clothes.

"Do you have a brush too?"

Blaise chuckled. Running a hand through his short spikes, he answered, "I have a comb...is that alright?"

"Yeah, that'll be fine."

Blaise held out the clothing. "Erm...they'll probably be a little big on you...but the pants have a drawstring, and you can roll up the legs..."

"That's fine, Blaise. Thank you." Raven took the pro-offered clothing and closed the door, saying, "I'll meet you down stairs in a bit. Bring your comb."

"Okay."

As Raven found out, Blaise was indeed right about the clothing being a bit too big for her. Blaise was about four inches taller than she was, and so the dark green pants he gave her had to be rolled up. Their waists were actually pretty close, and once the pants were over her hips, they stayed up just fine. But it was the matching shirt that was the problem. It was long sleeved, but was pretty tight around the chest, whether she had a bra on or not. She actually opted without one--she'd never really liked the blasted things anyway. So she unbuttoned the top two buttons to alleviate some of the pressure on the closures.

Once she was dressed, she grabbed her things and the dirty towels and headed downstairs to the lounge area, where Blaise was sitting on the couch nearest the hearth. A bright, warm fire blazed inside, casting the darkened room in shadows. Blaise looked up when she entered.

"I sent everyone else upstairs, so we could talk," he said, standing up and taking the towels from her.

"Oh, you didn't have to do that," she replied, setting her bag down and charming her clothes dry and folding them on top.

"Nonsense. Of course I did. You're family to us, Raven. Well, the Slytherins at any rate. They understand. And..." Blaise turned around, picked up a mug from a table, and handed it to her. It was filled with hot chocolate.

"Oh, Blaise...chocolate...every woman's first love."

Blaise grinned. "I thought you might like some. To help warm you up a bit more."

Raven sipped a bit of the smooth liquid. "Hmm, yes, this is just what I needed."

Blaise threw the towels on a nearby chair as he and Raven settled down on the couch. "I have that comb you wanted," he said, taking the object off of the low table in front of them.

Raven twisted around in her seat so that she was facing away from Blaise. "Could you?" she asked.

"Sure," he replied, and moved closer to the girl and started running the comb through her hair.

"Ow! Blaise, you're supposed to start from the bottom and work your way up."

"Sorry. I'm not a girl; my hair's never been past my ears, how was I supposed to know?"

"You weren't, mistake on my part. I should have told you." She sipped more from the mug in her hands. After a moment of silence, Blaise finally spoke again.

"So...you wanna tell me what happened?"

Raven sighed. "Draco and I fought, is all. I barely said hello to him, and he started firing off questions at me. And...it startled me, I guess. Threw me off. I reacted badly. So badly, in fact, that I think I should have been disowned as a Slytherin for a moment, there," she chuckled sadly.

"Hmm..." Blaise murmured, still working through Raven's long hair. "May I ask what kind of questions he asked to make you react so badly?"

Raven shrugged. "Stuff about Harry. Stuff about me. He made an assumption about how well he knew me, and it pissed me off. So I...I shot back at him with a jibe about the...the 'liberation.'" The last was said quietly, laced with shame.

Blaise nearly dropped his comb. "You what?"

"I know."

"Raven..."

"I know," she said, her voice sounding pained. "I know I shouldn't have said that. Gods, I must have hurt him so badly...I just...I wasn't thinking." She dropped her head into her free hand.

"You were most certainly not thinking, Raven!" Blaise reprimanded. "I...I can't believe you said something like that..."

"I know, Blaise. I know. You don't know how sorry I am that I even thought of saying such a thing."

It was a silent agreement between the three Slytherins not to mention Draco's 'liberation' or 'rescue' from his father that night, all those years ago. And if it ever was mentioned or referred to, it most certainly was not ever used to hurt one another. There was no reason to even think about using it that way. But Raven had crossed that line, and she regretted it more than anything.

Blaise resumed the combing of Raven's hair. "You're going to apologise to Draco, right?" he asked, his tone brooking no argument.

"Of course. As soon as he comes home."

And as lucky and cliché as it was, Draco and Harry, at that moment, burst in through the front door, sopping wet, and both looking muddier than even Blaise and Raven had been. Upon seeing Blaise and Raven through the open entryway of the lounge, immense looks of relief spread on both of their faces, and Harry closed the door behind them, both of them slumping to the ground in shivering heaps.

"Draco! Harry!" Raven shot up from her position on the couch and scrambled over to the two men, dropping her hot chocolate on the floor. "Oh my god...what...oh Merlin, it doesn't matter. I'm just so glad you're both safe!"

Draco's eyes flashed with hurt and anger, but he smiled wryly up at her anyway. "I'll forgive you as soon as I'm clean and warm."

Raven and Blaise sighed in relief. It was a start, anyway.

~~~~~

Draco and Harry tried their hardest to follow the correct path to the alcove, and even spread themselves out a little to make sure they were covering their bases. But their search was becoming more and more daunting as they approached the alcove. The wind was picking up, and although they had a bit of shelter amidst the copse of trees, the rain continued to pour harder, feeling much colder and icy when the wind managed to sweep below the branches and leaves.

At one point, Harry found some footprints in the mud, and an area where the leaves were churned up in the mucky substance, looking like a rather unappetising forest stew. They couldn't see signs that the 'trail' led any further into the forest, but Draco refused to go back--there was always the chance that one of them got hurt, or one made it to the alcove, and one didn't--with the dense brush lining the forest floor, it was hard to tell just where they had gone without crawling through the muck themselves.

So they continued on, calling for Raven and Blaise, and becoming more and more panicked as they neared their destination. When they finally made it to the alcove, they were flooded with relief that no one was there, as looking down, they saw that the alcove was filled with water, the wind sweeping down into the cul-de-sac and breaking the sea hard against the rocks below.

Unfortunately, their relief was short lived, as they still had not found the pair of Slytherins, so they quickly turned back around and went back the way they came, moving as fast as their mud-bogged legs and feet would let them. Draco mused aloud as they broke through the forest and headed to Number Four that they were probably worried about nothing--they were wizards, not to mention ex-Death Eaters, they should be able to take care of themselves, right?

Of course, Harry had answered, running up the steps to Number Four and knocking harshly on the door.

But again, their relief was short lived, as neither Raven nor Blaise was there. So they quickly said thanks to a bewildered Daphne Greengrass and pushed themselves the last few yards to Number Three, practically falling through the door.

Draco's first thought upon seeing the two in the lounge was, Oh, thank Merlin, they're both safe... and his second thought was, Is he brushing her hair And of course, his third thought was, Wait, I'm supposed to be mad at her...so why have I been so worried? But leaning back against Harry as they both slumped to the floor, Draco couldn't find himself to care so much. Especially not with that worried look Raven was giving him right now.

"I'll forgive you as soon as I'm clean and warm," he said, finally relaxing as Harry chuckled in his ear, and Raven and Blaise sighed out loud.

~~~~~

After the boys had showered and dressed in clean, dry pyjamas (Harry borrowing a green pair from Draco),all four of them proceeded to squish onto the couch, Blaise and Harry on the ends and Raven and Draco in the middle. All it took was a glance between the two dark-haired men, and while Harry held nothing against Blaise, Blaise decided to look over any harsh feelings he was currently harbouring against the Gryffindor, so the two could work together to get Raven and Draco on good terms again.

They all sat on the couch for a few minutes, talking amicably, as if nothing was wrong between any of them at all. But after a few minutes of describing just how they had missed each other in the last hour or so, they quickly lapsed into silence, all of them knowing that the reason behind it all would need to be discussed at some point.

Feeling rather uncomfortable, Harry started to fidget slightly. "Erm..."

Draco, who was sitting next to him, rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Oh honestly, you two. We all know that you're about to spout a stupid excuse about having something else to tend to, so that Raven and I will be alone, so why don't you just bugger off already. We're adults, I don't think things will come to blows."

Harry blushed and Blaise laughed.

"Alright, alright. C'mon, Potter. I'm sure none of us has eaten yet tonight. You think you're up for cooking?" Blaise stood and stretched.

Harry stood as well. "It depends. There isn't necessarily anything I can make that's spectacular, but I'll help."

The two men started walking out of the room. "Perfect. I think I'm going to make my Nonna's Chicken Cacciatore..."

Once they were out of the room, Raven looked down to Draco and said, "Well, aren't they a happy little couple?"

Draco snorted. "It's doubtful. Harry told me when we were upstairs that Blaise issued somewhat of a threat before going into the forest to find you."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Hmm..."

They sat in silence for a while before Raven spoke again. "I know you've always told me not to do this, but I want to apologise. For what I said to you. Regardless of what you said, it was completely uncalled for."

"I agree."

"Draco," Raven deadpanned, nearly glaring at the man sitting next to her.

"What? Look, Raven, you know I'm no good at this. I just..." he sighed, running a hand through his freshly washed hair, causing the carefully brushed strands to become dishevelled. "I agree that what you said was completely uncalled for, but I also know that I came at you a little too harshly. So I...I'm sorry."

Raven leaned over and crawled into Draco's lap, straddling his hips and looking him directly in the eye. "Draco...the questions you asked were fair. And knowing you, you were probably trying to catch me off guard," she smiled wryly, and he returned the expression. "So...I'll answer you. But before I do that, I want you to understand that as much as we know each other, there are still things that I have not told you. Not about my past...you know all about that. But there are things...recent, bothersome things which I haven't talked to you about."

Draco looked up at Raven and wrapped his arms around her waist, running his hands over the silk-covered skin. "Can you tell me these things? Do you want to?"

Raven nodded and cupped his face in her hands. "Yes. After I've answered your questions."

"I can wait."

"Okay." Raven took a deep breath, and began speaking very softly, so that only Draco could hear her. "I won't bother telling you half-truths. I originally thought of starting the bet mostly on a whim; I had been watching Harry for a while, and knew that I was starting to like him. Part of it was and is genuine concern, and the other part is sexual. I find him very attractive, Draco. And insatiable and Machiavellian as I am, I wanted to see if he was seducible."

"Why not just seduce him yourself?"

Raven smiled wily. "A few reasons. One, I knew that you'd be hurt and beyond confused by my actions, and two..." her smile grew wider and more sinister, "I've always wanted two men to myself."

"Oh, so you're man hoarder, are you?"

Raven shrugged. "Call it what you like. Anyhow, I noticed you looking at him that day, and then it hit me--I already knew that Harry wouldn't--not in a million years--want to be in any type of relationship with you, and you him, so...how do I fix that problem? Well, have you seduce him instead. Get you both used to the idea, not to mention get past your silly animosity with each other."

"Killing two birds with one stone."

"Precisely." Raven stroked Draco's cheek with her thumb lovingly. "However, there was no way you'd just agree to do it, so what do you do to get a Slytherin to do what you want them to?"

"Challenge them. Make them think they can't do something."

"Exactly. You see, Draco, you knew exactly what I was doing, you just chose not to recognise it for what it really was. I said that you couldn't seduce Potter. I challenged your seducing ability. After I already had you thinking about his appearance, his body. And you took it, just like any Slytherin would, just like any man would, just like you would."

Draco playfully glared at his girlfriend. "So you got me. I promise you, it won't happen again."

"Oh, I don't doubt that."

"So the actual bet was just a whim?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"And two hot guys going at it? Does that have a part in that whole nympho-driven mind of yours?"

"Oh, of course. That's just an intriguing bonus."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "I see."

"So...did I answer your questions?"

"Yes. I suppose it'll have to do," he said with a grin, leaning up and capturing her lips with his. As their lips moved across one another, Draco snaked his hands under Raven's shirt, splaying his fingers out and lightly massaging the smooth plains of her back. She moaned into his mouth, shifting to get closer to him, twining her tongue with his. They sat for a long moment, losing each other in the sensations of kissing, finally pulling away when they desperately needed air.

"So," Draco said a little breathlessly, "would you like to tell me some of those other things now, or later when you stay over?"

Raven giggled. "Was that an invitation, Draco Malfoy?"

"Why yes, love, 'twas."

"Then I accept." She kissed him again and said, "Most of those things are really just stupid, like the fact that N.E.W.T.'s are coming up this year, and I still don't know exactly what I want to do with my life. I love painting, and writing, but those things just seem so..."

"Mundane?"

Raven scrunched up her nose. "Muggle-like, actually. Like I could have been born a muggle and done the same things. Like what I want to do isn't anything wizard-like, other than the charms and potions to make things move."

"Are you saying you don't like muggles, Raven?" Draco asked with a hint of sarcasm. "Didn't you just tell me on Friday that you had picked up muggle photography?"

"Yes, yes. I have. Actually, that's another thing. A thing I'd actually like to talk to both you and Harry about."

"Oh? Ready to take those pornographic pictures of us?"

Raven laughed. "Perhaps. I'd like to do a few paintings based off the pictures, actually. I think taking the pictures and blowing them up to paint from would be easier than having you two sit or stand there for hours on end. A lot more comfortable for you, too."

"I would probably have to agree."

"Yes, so...I'll talk to you guys after dinner about that."

"Anything else?"

Harry suddenly poked his head in and said, "Dinner's ready, guys."

"Thanks," Draco said over his shoulder, glancing back to look at Harry, managing to catch the longing look on the Gryffindor's face before he turned back towards the kitchen.

"Did you notice that?" Draco asked quietly, still looking at the now empty entrance to the lounge.

"You mean the look on Harry's face when he saw us?"

"Yeah."

"Yes. I noticed."

Draco turned back to Raven. "That's what you've been talking about, isn't it? The thing about Harry?"

Raven smiled sadly. "I believe its part of it, yes." She pressed a quick kiss to Draco's lips before moving off of him. "Nothing to be done about it at this very moment...we'll just have to wait. Oh, and to answer your question: yes, there's more, but I think we should discuss it later. After dinner."

"Alone?" Draco asked, as he stood up and stretched.

"You really want to get me into bed, don't you?"

"Oh, I've already had you in my bed. I'm just waiting for the feature presentation."

"Oh Gods, Draco! And you call me insatiable."

"Babe, you call yourself insatiable. I just happen to fall not far from the same tree."

~~~~~

The second Harry and Blaise got into the kitchen and out of earshot, Blaise took Harry roughly by the arm and said in a low voice, "Look, Potter, Raven and Draco are like family to me, so I just want to make sure you understand that I'll do anything to make sure that they're happy. And if that includes dealing with the fact that they've decided to incorporate you into their lives, then I'll live with it. But if you dare to even think about fucking with their relationship-"

Harry frowned and pulled his arm from the bigger man's grasp. "Look, Zabini, I'm not sure why you dislike me so much, but I can assure you that I feel the same way about Raven and Draco. I may not know them as well or as long as you have, but that doesn't mean I care for them any less. I won't lie to you; things are still a little awkward between Draco and I. We're both having problems getting used to this new change in the status of our relationship, but I'm trying. And so is he. I really don't think you have anything to worry about." He smirked. "Besides, I'm a Gryffindor, do you really expect me to set up an elaborate plot to befriend Draco and Raven? To 'fuck' with their relationship? There'd be no reason to. The war's over, we've all chosen our paths, there's nothing more to get past than our misguided animosity."

Blaise gazed blankly at Harry for a moment before his brow straightened and a smirk danced at the corners of his mouth. "You know, Potter, you make an awful lot of sense for a Gryffindor." Harry's smirk turned into a grin. "But that doesn't mean I like you."

Harry laughed. "I'm not expecting you to, Zabini. I don't think I'd be able to handle another Slytherin dying to become my friend after so many years of nothing."

Blaise chuckled. "Good. 'Cause it's not happening. It's not a matter of like or dislike, I just don't see the need to force things."

"Makes perfect sense. If you have no inclination, why bother?"

"Exactly. Well--how about we get going on that dinner?"

"Chicken Cacciatore, you said?"

Blaise nodded, going to the charmed cupboards where all the perishables were kept. "My Nonna's, actually. One of Raven's favourites." He stood, pulling out an array of veggies and some chicken.

"Do you cook for your dorm often?"

The Slytherin shrugged. "About once a week, usually on the weekends. The rest of the time, we're all too busy to really make one huge meal, so..." He pulled out a few cutting boards and a few knives, handing one of each to Harry, along with a few green peppers. "Cut this into half inch pieces."

"Do you all get along pretty well?" Harry asked as he went to work.

"You mean us Slytherins and Ravenclaws?" Blaise started chopping up some onions.

"Yeah."

Blaise shrugged. "Pretty well, by now. Why? You can't tell me you Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs aren't all sunshine and daisies over there in Number One."

Harry laughed. "No, we're all fine." Harry paused in thought before saying, "Blaise...have you ever noticed how we still associate ourselves with our houses from Hogwarts? Like...everything we do is just a representation of what are houses were...we're never really individuals. Does that make sense?"

Blaise shot a bemused sidelong glance at Harry. "No...I can't say I have noticed, but now that you mention it... Is it something you've been thinking of lately?"

Harry frowned. "No, not really. I guess I just realised that a lot of the little barbs Draco and I still throw at each other are always insults, but we always call one another by our old houses."

"Can you give me an example? I'm not sure what you mean."

"Like...I'm always calling him vain. So I say, 'always the vain one, aren't you Slytherin?' and he'll say something back, but using the name Gryffindor."

Blaise chuckled. "You know, Raven said something similar about both Draco and I earlier. She said we were the two vainest Slytherins she knows." Blaise handed Harry some olives, and took the garlic cloves from himself. "Could you chop the olives?"

"Sure." There was a pause as the strong smells of onions and garlic filled the air. Finally, Harry said, "So are you?"

"Am I what?"

"As vain as Draco."

Blaise snorted. "I like to look good. There's nothing wrong with that." Harry caught the glance Blaise cast his way, which was more like a once over, pausing slightly at Harry's head.

"Don't even say it, Zabini. If I hear one more comment about my bloody hair..." Harry finished his chopping and set the olives aside.

"Well...since I certainly don't want to acquire bodily harm, I'll say the other thing that's on my mind." Blaise finished as well, and moved to get a large skillet.

"Oh? What's that?"

"You look good in green. And silk. Wear it more often."

A strange thought passed through Harry's mind, but before he could decide on whether or not to voice it out loud, his mouth decided for him. "You're not gay, are you?"

Blaise dropped the pan loudly on the old stove. Gazing blankly at Harry he said, "No. Are you?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Not that I'm aware of."

"Hm." Was all Blaise said, before pouring water into the pan and setting the logs in the belly of the stove ablaze.

Harry gazed at the Slytherin, watching him work as he added some type of pasta to the boiling water, and then methodically added the freshly chopped garlic, green pepper and onion. Blaise asked him to cut the tomatoes into halves, and when he was done, Harry turned to the sink and started washing the knives and cutting boards, along with his hands.

"I wonder how they're doing," he mused quietly.

Blaise answered, "You hear anything?"

"No..."

"Then they're fine."

"You sure?"

Blaise nodded as he stirred the mixture. "They're rather nasty when they really fight. They nearly come to blows, sometimes."

Harry gaped at the man. "You're kidding."

"Nope."

"I can't imagine them fighting like that. What do they fight about that gets them so riled up?"

"Oh, they used to fight about some pretty serious stuff. During the war."

"Oh."

"Yeah. But now they fight about stupid things, like clothes and hair."

Harry burst out laughing. "God, with Draco, I can so see that." As his laughter died down, he said, "I'm assuming they don't fight very often."

"Nah. Even before they started dating they were as loving and playful as kittens, really. It was quite sickening to watch, actually."

"Hmm...Draco said that he and Raven aren't really the type to show their affections outwardly."

Blaise shot a look at Harry before magically extracting a majority of the water from the mixture and adding in the tomatoes Harry had cut. "Yeah, I suppose they aren't. But they show their affections differently than most other couples do, I'd surmise."

"Like how?"

"The little things. Looks, brief touches, words..." Blaise added a few different spices Harry didn't really know the names of to the mixture. "Well, words that have double meanings, anyway. I think they like to talk in riddles, sometimes."

Harry chuckled. "I can see that. Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"Set the table, I guess. The plates are over there," and he gestured over his shoulder to some cupboards. "I'll get the rest here."

"How many should I set it for?"

"I dunno. Ask upstairs if anyone wants some."

"I don't think I feel comfortable just wandering around your dorm, Zabini."

Harry didn't see it, but Blaise rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. Cut the chicken into one-inch pieces, and once this simmers, add that, the olives and some of this Parmesan. Can you handle that?"

"To use the reference that I absolutely abhor, 'If I can take down the darkest lord of our time, I'm sure I can handle this.'"

Blaise smirked. "I'll go get everyone else." And with that he was out the doorway and up the stairs.

Harry did as Blaise asked, and just as he was finishing up, Blaise came downstairs with Graham Pritchard, Theodore Nott, Kevin Entwhistle, and Stewart Ackerley. "Michael's not here, so it'll be eight of us tonight."

"Alright," Harry said. "This is ready, I'll just go get Raven and Draco."

"Okay," Blaise replied, and took over the cooking helm.

Harry walked through the kitchen and foyer and tentatively poked his head into the lounge, seeing Raven sitting on Draco's lap, talking quietly. "Dinner's ready, guys," he said, and watched as the two lovers' reverie was broken, and Draco replied.

Harry's gaze lingered for a moment longer, inwardly smiling and cursing that he had to go fetch them. He was happy for the couple, yet the normally hushed aching need for the something Harry hadn't quite bothered to look into had blossomed suddenly into a strong longing that he realised he had felt all along. His heart twinged slightly, and as much as he wanted to think it was just because he thought he was having feelings for Raven, he knew that that wasn't it. He wasn't jealous of Draco. He was jealous of the both of them. For having something that he couldn't seem to find.

Turning away from the room, he shuffled back into the kitchen to see Blaise putting the Chicken Cacciatore in a serving dish, and the other four boys finishing setting up the table in the dining room. Blaise looked up at him when he entered.

"Are you alright, Potter? Something's wrong with your face, I think."

Harry grimaced. "No. I'm fine. I always look like this."

"You didn't walk in on them having sex, did you?"

Harry's pained look quickly turned into one of shock. "What? No! Oh gods..." He shook his head as his cheeks flushed pink at the sudden visuals running through his head. "No. No, I didn't. They were just all snuggly."

"Who was all snuggly?" Draco's voice came from behind Harry.

Harry jumped slightly, turning around and catching Draco's gaze before quickly averting his eyes.

Blaise responded when Harry didn't. "I was just teasing Potter here. He had a funny look on his face, so I asked if he'd caught you two in the act."

Raven scrunched up her nose. "You're such a Neanderthal, Blaise. No class and no tact." Then she winked at Harry who had glanced up at her. "We weren't just having sex, we asked if he wanted to join in."

The pale shock on Harry's face caused Draco to burst out laughing, and soon they all started joining in, the men in the dining room coming in to see what the commotion was.

Blaise handed a serving dish and spoon to Graham, and hooked an arm around Harry's neck. Pulling him into the dining room he said lowly in Harry's ear, "Maybe you're not so bad, Gryffindor."

Harry finally smiled, although it was wryly. "Always one to laugh at another's expense, Slytherin."

"I wouldn't be a Slytherin if I didn't."

"And I wouldn't be a Gryffindor if I took it lying down."

"Too true. Now, let's eat!"

They all settled around the table, Harry between Draco and Blaise, and Raven on the other side of Draco, where they sat holding hands. When Harry smoothed down his napkin on his lap, he felt another's skin brush against the back of his hand, and looked down to see Draco's fingers tracing circles on his skin. Looking up, he caught Draco's eye, who smiled at him, and took Harry's hand in his. Looking further down the table, he saw Raven grinning at him as well, the look in her eyes signalling her approval of Draco's gesture.

Squeezing Draco's hand back, some of the longing in his chest abated, and he felt a kind of belonging, sitting there with Draco and Raven that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Things are definitely changing.

But I think it's for the better.

~~~~~