Decorus Draco

Chapter 6 - The Wooing begins

Eliot Barnes had grown up hearing stories about the Boy Who Lived. As a child, he had asked for Harry Potter toys instead of those of more popular wizards like Albus Dumbledore. When Eliot had joined Hogwarts, a year after Harry, he was excited to finally see his childhood idol in person. He became firm friends with Dennis Creevey, whose brother Colin was an avid fan of Harry Potter himself. Eliot spent several dozens of hours discussing Harry with the Creevey brothers.

In his fifth year at Hogwarts, Eliot realised that he was gay, and his fascination with Harry Potter grew into an intense crush. Eliot tried to talk intelligently to the object of his affections on quite a few occasions, but always lost his nerve at the last minute and turned into a bumbling idiot. Eventually Eliot settled on getting Harry's attention any way he could. He tried out for the Quidditch team and got a position as a Chaser. He tried to emulate Harry's best friends - he studied hard and topped his class in almost every subject, just like Hermione. He was a good student and became a Prefect in his Sixth year, following the example of both of Harry's best friends. He still hadn't got closer to Harry though. Harry did speak to him now, but never as anything more than a team mate.

Eliot had watched Harry flit between girlfriends and had accepted the fact that Harry was straight and would never be his. Which is why Harry's announcement that day shocked him into a faint. Harry, his Harry, was gay. Sure, he seemed obsessed with the evil blond git, of all people, but still - Harry was gay, Eliot had a chance.

Eliot was still mulling over this new development when Harry and Hermione entered the hospital wing. Hermione saw Ron immediately and started walking towards him, but Harry noticed Eliot two beds before Ron, and stopped by his bed.

"Eliot! Everything alright? Why are you in here?"

Eliot blushed. "I sort of fainted this morning and am waiting for Madam Pomfrey to release me."

Harry looked surprised. "Were you one of the students who fainted after my little...scene then?"

Eliot blushed further. "Yes, I was a little shocked that you...that you were...you know, and that you liked Malfoy. I had no idea."

Harry frowned. "D'you have a problem with ...that?"

"No, no, no," said Eliot hastily. "I was just surprised, that's all. Pleasantly surprised, I mean."

"Why pleasantly?" asked Harry.

"It's just that...well, I'm gay too, and I just...it's good to know that Harry Potter is as well."

"I'm not gay," Harry snapped. "I'm just...making an exception for Draco."

"Yeah," said Eliot quietly. "You made that pretty clear. You did everything but wear a shirt stating that Draco was your own personal sex kitten."

Harry grinned. "Now that's an idea," he said. Harry glanced towards Ron's bed, and continued, "Hey, I've got to go check up on Ron. See you later, hope you feel better soon."

"Yeah, see you," said Eliot sadly.

Harry walked over to Ron's bed, where the redhead and Hermione were having an animated conversation.

"Malfoy, Harry? Malfoy?" Ron asked, as soon as Harry was within earshot.

Harry gave an annoyed snort. "What's up with you, Ron? Didn't we just talk about this last night, and didn't you say you were okay with it?"

"You said that Lupin was your soul mate, not Malfoy!" Ron protested.

"Lupin?" asked Harry and Hermione together.

"Soul mate?" asked Eliot from his bed, causing the three to look over at him.

Hermione quickly cast a silencing spell around Ron's bed as Harry hissed, "Lupin is like a father to me, you big oaf, I was talking about Draco."

"But...but you said it was a magical creature...and you said he was dangerous when he changed...I thought you meant..." Ron broke off, seeming to fight for the right words.

"Yeah, Draco's a Decorus - a male Veela. I overheard Snape saying that I'm his soul mate."

"Malfoy's a Decorus?" Ron asked, still looking pale. "And you're his soul mate?"

"Yes...and yes. Didn't you see him change during breakfast?"

"I suppose I must have fainted before that," said Ron, looking rather sheepish. "It was a bit of a shock, hearing you talk about Malfoy that way. Malfoy, Harry?"

"Yes, Malfoy. And if you remember our conversation last night, you did agree to help me woo him."

Ron made a strangled sound and scowled.

A little while later, Madam Pomfrey came over and checked and released all five students who had fainted on hearing Harry's outburst. Eliot sadly followed the Gryffindor trio while Pansy Parkinson and Amy Zinger, the two Slytherins who had fainted, glared daggers at Harry as he left. Susan Bones, the lone Hufflepuff to fall, walked back to her classes as well.

"We've got to hurry up," Hermione told Harry and Ron as they walked out of the hospital wing. "Flitwick's class starts in less than five minutes."

"I've got to pick up something from my room," Harry told the other two suddenly. "Carry on, I'll meet you at Charms."

"Don't be late," Hermione shouted as Harry sprinted towards the Gryffindor Common Room.

~~~~~

"Today we will be learning about the Locus charm," Professor Flitwick's thin voice sounded around the room. Tuesday's Charms class was with the Gryffindors and Slytherins together. Draco Malfoy was sitting next to a very smug looking Blaise Zabini, a beautiful red rose lying on the desk in front of them. Draco smiled at Blaise, then turned his attention back to the professor, who continued, "This charm can be cast on any inanimate object to trace it. For example, if the Locus charm is cast on a ring, then the person who cast the charm can track down anybody wearing the ring as long as the charm is not ended. In order to try out this charm, choose anything you own - a quill, an inkbottle, a piece of parchment - and point your wand at it and say, 'Locus Investigo.'" Whenever you want to track it, you cast the accompanying charm, 'Locus Ostendo.'

The class had just begun practicing the Locus charm when Harry Potter, his face flushed from running, burst into the classroom. He was wearing a green shirt under his robes, which had been left open. There was bold silver lettering across the front of the shirt, which read, 'Draco Malfoy is my sex kitten.' Below the lettering, there was a cat which stretched and purred every few minutes.

All the Gryffindors burst out laughing at Harry's shirt, while the Slytherins glared darkly at the Boy Who Lived. Draco Malfoy was scowling fiercely, while, next to him, Blaise Zabini had a mildly amused look on his face.

"Mr. Potter, you're late," Professor Flitwick squeaked.

"I'm sorry Professor," Harry said earnestly. "I got caught up It won't happen again."

"Very well, Mr. Potter. Take your seat and start practicing the charm. We are learning the Locus charm on page three hundred and sixty today."

Harry walked to the seat Ron and Hermione had saved for him. He stopped at Draco's desk, frowned at the rose that Draco was gently caressing, then crossed over to his seat and sat down scowling.

The rest of the class passed without incident, apart from a few wisecracks at Harry's expense. As the class ended and the students filed out of the classroom, Harry was stopped by a rather annoyed looking Draco.

"How dare you wear such a thing, Potter? I know your sense of fashion...well, it's non-existent really, but you've really outdone yourself in terms of what not to wear with this one. Just what did you think you were doing by wearing the shirt?"

"Wooing you, of course," Harry replied with a smile.

Draco let out an exaggerated sigh. "That is not wooing, Potter. This," he said holding up the blood red rose in his hand and smelling it dramatically, "is wooing." So saying, Draco turned towards Zabini, who was standing a couple of steps behind him, and pulled him into a deep, long kiss.

Harry clenched his fists and the air around them started swirling. Draco turned back to Harry to remind him, "Don't forget - no physical harm or you lose completely, Potter."

Harry's anger deflated as soon as it had ignited, and he turned to walk away, defeated.

"Oh, one more thing, Potter," said Draco, and Harry turned to face him. "I want the shirt. I cannot allow you to continue wearing that embarrassing article of clothing anymore."

"Alright, I'll send it to you tonight," Harry said resignedly.

"I don't think so. I want it now."

"Now? But I don't have a spare shirt with me."

"That's not my problem, now, is it? The shirt, Potter, now."

Harry scowled and shrugged off his robe. He peeled the shirt off his torso and threw it at Draco, put his robe back on, and started walking away quickly.

~~~~~

The other Gryffindors stayed away from Harry for the rest of the day as the dark haired wizard kept blowing things up and muttering, "A bloody rose? That's wooing? I'll show him bloody roses!"

Harry spent most of the evening in the library, going through thick volumes and intermittently taking down notes.

~~~~~

Eliot walked into the library a little after nine p.m. and walked over to where Harry was studiously reading from a book. He plopped down on the seat next to Harry and was rewarded with a scowl.

"Come to give me more pointers, Barnes?"

Eliot flinched. "I was just being sarcastic, Harry, I didn't know you would actually do it - wear the shirt I mean. You really are something else, you know." There was definitely a touch of awe in Eliot's voice.

Harry muttered under his breath and turned his attention back to his book.

"So you're really serious about Malfoy then?" Eliot tried again.

"Mm-hmmm," said Harry, not looking up from his book.

"And he's your soul mate?"

Harry looked up sharply at this. "Where'd you hear that?"

"I overheard you talking to Ron in the hospital wing. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Is it true then?"

"Yeah," said Harry, staring at Eliot for a minute more before looking back at his book.

"Er...look, Harry. I know we're not friends or anything, but if you need help, I'm here for you."

"You mean more than you've already helped?" asked Harry, feeling rather mean.

"No, seriously, I can help. Are you still keen on...wooing Malfoy?"

"Yes." Harry sighed. "And I really don't want to justify this to anyone else. "So, if you're just here to give me your opinion on Malfoy--"

" No, no, that's not what I'm here for, believe me. Though I do think you deserve the best."

The last sentence was almost whispered. Harry raised his eyebrows, but didn't say anything.

"What are you researching now?" Eliot asked Harry.

Harry looked suspiciously at Eliot, trying to decide if he was genuinely interested in helping him. Looking at Eliot's earnest face, he relented.

"Well, since Draco likes bloody flowers so much, I've been trying to find a way to make sure he's happy. I've actually found a spell that can give him just what he wants. I'm just trying to read up a little more on it."

"I think flowers are really romantic, Harry. Do you need any help?"

"No, I've got this under control. Thanks for your support though. It's been really frustrating having everyone trying to convince me that Draco's the spawn of evil. Not that I think he's not. But I still want him, you know." Harry sighed.

"I know. The heart wants what it wants, doesn't it? Don't worry, Harry, it will work out," said Eliot, patting Harry gently on the back. His touch was almost a caress.

Harry smiled. "Thanks, mate." Harry then looked back to his book and sighed. "I suppose I'd better get back to that spell now."

"Good luck, Harry. And you can ask me for help anytime you need it, alright? See you later then, good night."

"'Night," said Harry, already engrossed in his book once more.

Eliot walked silently out of the library.

~~~~~