Harry Potter and the Unsettling Discovery

Harry Potter and the Unsettling Discovery

Ch. 6

The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.--Elie Wiesel

It was the last day of class before Christmas holiday, and if Harry's emotions were a painting, they would be a Picasso. Ron and Hermione were going to visit Hermione's parents during the break. Harry would miss them, but he was also looking forward to spending some quiet time alone. A record number of students were going home for the holiday, and Harry was one of only five Gryffindor students who would be staying at Hogwarts.

What with his newly realized sexuality, the occasional reoccurrence of his troubling dream, and the myriad of thoughts swimming through is mind about Draco, Harry had a lot of things on his mind, and he vowed to himself that he would use the solitude over the holiday to straighten out his thoughts.

The middle of the night on Wednesday Harry received the newest bit of information that was co-mingling with the thoughts in his already jumbled head. Harry was making his way back to Gryffindor tower after taking his turn at midnight potions stirring when he saw Draco in the corridor ahead, hurriedly tiptoeing around the corner. Draco had not been the one stirring his group's potion that night, so he had no business being out of bed at the time. His interest piqued, Harry followed Draco through the halls, keeping his distance, all the way up to the corridor with the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Harry watched as Draco approached the statue guarding the door, spoke the password, and entered.

Harry considered following, but hesitated on the thought of barging into Dumbledore's office in the middle of the night, uninvited. Before he could make a move either way, the decision was taken out of his hands.

"Mr. Potter! What are you doing out of bed at this time?" Professor McGonagall looked livid.

"I was in the dungeons, professor. We're working on Garwyn's Revealing potion this month." Harry hoped that his presence so far away from Gryffindor tower would not rouse her suspicions.

"Oh, yes. Of course, well...off to bed with you now."

"Yes, professor." Harry turned the corner toward Gryffindor, but stopped and listened. The only reason to be in this particular corridor was to go to Dumbledore's office. He listened as McGonagall spoke the password and entered the headmaster's office. Draco and McGonagall were both in Dumbledore's office. Harry wondered if this was by accident or design.

Harry returned quickly to his dormitory, and pulled the Marauder's map out of his trunk. He activated it at scanned it for Dumbledore's office. In it were the dots of Albus Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy and Minerva McGonagall, and just as he watched, the dot of Severus Snape made its way down the corridor outside and joined the other three.

-- -- -- -- --

"Bye, guys. See you in a few weeks." Harry smiled and waved as Hermione and Ron walked arm-in-arm toward Hogsmeade Station, Ron floating their luggage in front of them. Harry mused to himself at what an adorable couple they made. He waited until they were out of sight before heading back into the castle, and up to his dormitory.

He couldn't get the midnight meeting in the head's office out of his mind. What reason could all of them have had for being there, and at such a late hour? A slight panicky feeling filled Harry as he thought back to the overheard argument between Draco and Snape. His scar had not hurt in a while, so he had assumed that Voldemort wasn't up to anything, but now he realized how unwise this assumption had been. How likely was it that the most evil wizard in a hundred years would just take a holiday from his plans for world domination? Not very, Harry thought to himself.

Harry decided that he had to go see Dumbledore. He made his way to the right corridor, and spoke the same password that Draco and McGonagall had used. The statue leapt aside and Harry climbed up to the head's office. At Dumbledore's invitation, Harry came in and before the headmaster could offer a greeting Harry was already midway through his panicked inquiry.

"Sir, is Voldemort planning an attack? When's it going to happen? Where? Are we prepared to..."

"My dear boy, what makes you think Voldemort is planning an attack?"

"Well, sir, He's Voldemort. He's evil."

With a smile, Dumbledore concurred, "Too true, it would be illogical to assume he is NOT planning an attack. What I meant was, have you come upon any information you feel relevant to this topic? Has your scar, perhaps, been bothering you?"

"Oh, no. In fact, not at all. The last time it hurt was right before he attacked the ministry last year."

"Ah, yes. Your early warning saved many lives that day Harry. I assumed Voldemort would have found out why we were ready for his attack by now, and that is why your scar has not been hurting. He has closed that particular connection between you. But why, then, this sudden urgency?"

"Oh, well, uhh...I inadvertently overheard something. Uhh, something between Malfoy and Snape."

"Ah, yes. Well PROFESSOR Snape has informed me of this, it is nothing for you to worry about."

"Yes, professor, but as you said, Voldemort probably IS planning something, shouldn't we..."

"I assure you, our intelligence has been working as diligently as ever, and uncovered much information. We are not as ill-informed as you think us, Harry."

Harry stopped himself before mentioning the midnight meeting. There was more to this than Dumbledore was letting on, but Harry could tell that Dumbledore was not about to tell him about it. After hesitating for a few moments, Harry nodded. He didn't quite know what to do with himself. Perhaps the midnight meeting and the argument between Snape and Draco had nothing to do with Voldemort, perhaps it was none of his business, and he should leave it alone.

Taking pity on the obviously conflicted boy, Dumbledore offered, "Why don't you accompany me down to lunch? As I was walking by the kitchens this morning I smelled the most heavenly roast, and am particularly eager to sink my teeth into it."

Harry tried to smile, but couldn't. He merely let himself be steered out of Dumbledore's office and down to the great hall. Once inside, Harry started to make his way over to the Gryffindor table, but stopped in his tracks when he saw that Draco was sitting over on the Slytherin side. Draco had put his name on the list to go home for the holidays ages ago, why was he here now? Harry continued to his own table and put a bit of the roast onto his plate, along with potatoes and honey-glazed carrots. Harry ate, looking up at Draco periodically.

When Draco rose from his table a few minutes later and left the great hall, Harry made up his mind. Though half his food was still on his plate, Harry rose and followed Draco out. By the time Harry had made his way out, Draco was almost across the hall and to the dungeons. Harry called out, "Malfoy, wait!" Draco stopped, and with relief, Harry jogged across the hall to catch up with him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I have just as much right to be here as you do, Potter." Draco was already on the defensive, and Harry needed to dispel it quick.

"No, I mean, don't you always go on about how lavish Christmas is at your parent's house, and how much you look forward to it? Why would you want to stay here instead?"

Draco looked sad for a moment. Harry almost thought he had blown his chance to speak to Draco when Draco answered, "I can't go back this year, I just...I can't go back."

"Why can't you go back?"

"Merlin, Potter, are you always this nosey?" Draco was getting defensive again and Harry didn't know what to do. Draco had turned to go when Harry blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

"Want to play a game of Quidditch?"

By the look on Draco's face, he had surprised Draco just as much as he had surprised himself. Harry held his breath, not knowing what to expect. But to his surprise, a small smile graced Draco's face before he nodded and said, "Meet you on the pitch in ten minutes."

Harry ran up to his dorm and dressed for a winter game of Quidditch as quickly as possible. He stopped to look at his reflection in the mirror, quickly trying to make his hair lay flat, before running back down and out to the Quidditch pitch.

Draco was already out, flying warm-up laps around the pitch. Harry straddled his broom, but did not kick off. He hadn't had much chance to watch Draco fly, and he had to admit that Draco was quite good. His movements were fluid and steady, and his speed was excellent.

"Like what you see, Potter?" Draco began making his way back to the ground beside Harry, and didn't miss the blush that Harry was not quite successful in hiding. Quirking an eyebrow, Draco recognized an opportunity when he saw one. "Couldn't wait to feel some hard wood between your legs again, I see. Perhaps I could help you with that later..."

Harry's physical response surprised Draco. His eyes dilated, despite the bright sun reflecting off of the white snow all around them. His breathing hitched, and his lips reddened slightly. Draco had never considered the fact that the famous Harry potter could be anything other than as straight as an arrow, but judging by the bulge that Draco observed growing in Harry's trousers, Draco might have to re-evaluate his assumptions.

"...but for now, you keep for me. I'll go grab a Quaffle." Draco pretended not to notice Harry's predicament and walked off to the broom shed, delaying long enough for Harry to adjust anything that needed adjusting. When Harry had flown up to hover in front of the hoops, Draco joined him in the sky.

Draco played as chaser while Harry attempted to block his goals. Draco was landing over half of his attempts, which he was quick to point out to the Gryffindor.

"Yeah, well, I'm a seeker, aren't I?" Harry retorted, slightly annoyed.

"Have you forgotten that I'm one too?" Draco grinned right back at the other boy.

After a half hour they switched and Draco seemed to me a more effective keeper than Harry was. When a gust of cold wind swept the pitch the boys were reminded that they were chilled to the bone, so they decided to pack up. They headed over to the broom shed together.

"Wow, you are an abysmal keeper, Potter. You make Weasley look like a pro."

"Well, I'm still a better seeker than you."

Both boys laughed as they opened the shed. They put their brooms away and Draco took out the bag that held the practice balls. As Draco stuffed the practice Quaffle in the bag, while trying to prevent the escape of the practice Bludgers, Harry noticed something.

"What's that on your arm?"

Draco quickly pulled his sleeve down, and tried to deny it, but Harry was too fast for him. He shot out his hand and wrapped it around Draco's wrist. With his other hand he pulled Draco's sleeve up. What he saw made his stomach drop. He released Draco's arm like it had electrocuted him, and backed up, wide-eyed, toward the door. When his back collided with the door jam he opened it and turned to run back up to the castle.

Never before had the sight of the Dark Mark filled Harry with so much anger, sadness, fear and confusion.

End Chapter Six