The Road Home

Chap. 7 - THE GIRL

Harry and Draco lived in bliss for a week. They enjoyed every free time they had together. Voldemort, The Favored and the death threat were totally forgotten, left in second place on their list of priorities, because their main concern lay down in each other's passionate touches, kisses and whispers. All their thoughts and attentions were turned to each other. Everything to boot was superficial. Nothing else mattered except for their stolen moments.

If Draco spotted Harry walking down the hallway alone he immediately pushed him into an empty classroom and ravished him into a long and intense kiss. Usually their conversations started the same way; with a tease fight.

'Hey, scar face!' Draco said before pressing Harry in the wall.

'Let go of me, ferret.' Harry pretended to struggle, biting his lower lip to prevent a grin.

'Not until you pay what you owe me.'

'Are you still thinking I owe you something, Malfoy?'

'You know you do, Potter. And I won't let you go unless you kiss me.' Draco said grinning.

Harry fought for dominance. He spun Draco and gripped both of his hands in the wall.

'Now I can do whatever I want to you. You are at my mercy.' Harry smirked, his green eyes sparkling amusement.

'I always knew your secret fantasy was to have me at your mercy, Potter.' Draco remarked instants before Harry kissed him.

Draco knew he looked foolish every time Harry was with him, but he couldn't help feeling so happy and enchanted just by looking into Harry's eyes. His most powerful fear was to come to the conclusion that Harry was just playing with him, just like his father had done it all his life. He was tired of being used. This time he wanted to be loved.

His world started to tumble down at exactly seven days, five hours and twenty minutes he and Harry were together; when she came to Hogwarts transferred from Durmstrang. Celeste Strut, daughter of Sir Gilbert Strut, one of Voldemort's most loyal minions. Draco had been stunned as he watched her entering the Great Hall batting her long and seductive eyelashes at Harry. Dumbledore must be losing his mind, he thought.

To his surprise, she was sorted into Gryffindor. Draco raised an eyebrow at this unexpected news. The Sorting Hat couldn't possibly have placed her in Gryffindor when she had all the qualities to be a legitimate Slytherin. But he was even more astonished when Celeste sat down at Harry's side and started to talk to him animatedly and Harry smiled. How could he? That smile belonged only to Draco and nobody else.

At least one of the Gryffindors seemed immune to Celeste's charms. Hermione was looking at her with the same suspicion and disgust as Draco.

After dinner, he ignored Crabbe's and Goyle's stupid comments and went straight to his dorm. He wrote a letter to his father, asking for explanations about Celeste and her presence in Hogwarts. Deep down he knew precisely why she was there; to seduce Harry Potter.

That night Harry sent him a note through Dobby saying that he wouldn't be able to meet him. He closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't want to think about the meaning of that. If Harry traded him so fast with the first girl that came to sight he didn't deserve Draco. And he, Draco Malfoy, wouldn't be at his dorm crying over it. Not in the same way he was doing now.

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Harry Potter was the most confused person in the world.

Lately, his world seemed to revolve around Draco. He couldn't eat, play Quidditch or sleep unless he had talked to or kissed the blond boy. He was disappointed with himself for being so attached to Draco. It was like he couldn't even breathe if Draco wasn't around.

Erin was always reminding him to enjoy life but to keep focus. But how could he, if Draco was the only one he had eyes for? The idea of keeping his focus while kissing Malfoy was a total contradiction in his opinion. He particularly liked the way Malfoy caressed his body with his fingertips as if he was fragile, easily breakable. During these times, Harry closed his eyes and all he could feel was the soft breathing against his neck and lips. He absolutely loved that sensation of absolute abandon.

His consciousness had to remind him everyday that Malfoy wasn't trustworthy. That maybe he had been the one trying to kill him all along and being with Harry was just a scheme, an evil plot to hand him over to Voldemort. That maybe he was Voldemort's Favored.

But none of these things matters when they were together. Harry had come to a point where he would probably join Voldemort if Draco wanted him to. It was why he should be as far away from Malfoy as possible.

That night he had forced himself to not meet Malfoy as usual. He decided to stay at the Gryffindor Common Room, playing chess with Ron - if Ron wasn't in a date - or studying with Hermione. He would do precisely that, even if it killed him.

But something turned out unexpectedly. The presence of Celeste Strut bewitched his senses. Not only his but practically of every Gryffindor boy. There was something about her that he couldn't quite place his finger on. She was charming, dashing and funny. The instant she sat down at his side, he had been drawn to her. It was almost as if he couldn't be apart from her, like she was some kind of powerful magnet. It was weird. The feeling was the same he had for Draco but at the same time it was different. And that was the reason of his confusion. Something was wrong but he couldn't think about it as she looked straight into his eyes and smiled.

When he went to bed, he had the sensation of having wakened up from a disturbing dream. He felt sedated.

He felt like he had been drugged.

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"I don't like her. And I honestly don't know why everybody is making so much fuss about her. She is not all that." Hermione said the next day with disdain.

When she first laid her eyes upon Celeste, Hermione had a bad feeling about the girl. There was something about her that just wasn't right. Perhaps it was her conceited smile and the way she swung her hips when she passed near a boy. Or perhaps it was her simulated style, her fake act, her... everything. And the fact that the boys, especially Ron and Harry, acted like Neanderthals when she was around made Hermione really sick.

If Celeste was blond, Hermione would think she was part veela, like Fleur Delacour.

"She is sweet, and funny, and beautiful. What is not to like about her?" Ron said, watching his best friend talking to Celeste. "And Harry seems to like her, that's what counts."

"Oh, please." Hermione looked at Harry. "Harry was just fine. Why did she have to come here to spoil everything?"

"I think you're jealous." and by the tone of his voice, Ron didn't like the idea much. "It looks like you are the one in love with Harry."

"Don't be stupid, Ron. Besides, my personal feelings have nothing to do with it. She came from Durmstrang, for Christ's sake! Why doesn't anybody say something about that?"

"She's from Durmstrang. So what?" said Ron shrugging his shoulders.

"Are you mental? No one from Durmstrang is reliable."

"What about Krum? You seemed to like him." Ron's mouth tasted bitter on saying this.

"Every rule has an exception." Hermione said with her usual 'know-it-all' tone of voice.

"I still think you're just jealous. Were you and Harry going out behind my back?"

"Of course not! Jesus! You are so blind..." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, Ron. Absolutely nothing. And since you and Harry are so stone-blind, I think I'll have to keep an eye on that girl by myself."

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Draco received an answer from his father at lunch. He opened up the parchment and passed an eye over it quickly. He read everything he had to know. Indeed, Celeste was there to bring Potter down. Her mission was to seduce him and make him vulnerable. She was carrying an amulet with her to make sure that nothing went wrong. The type of amulet and its meaning his father didn't say. But the purpose was obvious and Draco could go from there.

Along with the letter came a small package. Draco unwrapped it and found a little object. It was a silver stone that reflected the exact color of his eyes. Inside, he found another note.

'Keep this with you when Celeste is around. It will protect you against her amulet and she won't be able to bewitch you. Ps: burn the letter.'

He burned the letter without blinking. Something inside his eyes had changed severely.

Meanwhile, Erin observed Celeste talking to Snape and bashing her eyelashes at him. And the bastard was truly smiling at her.

"He should be ashamed of himself. A man at his age, behaving like a teenager..." she muttered to herself.

"Yeah. I agree with you, Professor."

Erin blushed like she hasn't done in years and turned around to face her cleverest student - Hermione Granger. "Hi, Hermione! I was just..."

"Yeah, I know. Casting evil eyes at Celeste, just like every other girl in Hogwarts."

For a minute Erin regretted the freedom she gave her students. Then she smiled. "Well, that wouldn't be appropriate, you know."

"What?"

"I'm a teacher. I shouldn't be casting evil glances to anyone, especially against a student."

"Well, with all due respect, Professor, if someone deserves evil glances is Strut. She's a..."

"Watch your language." Erin said grinning at her.

"... total bitch."

"Hermione! I don't think I ever heard you talking in such a manner!"

"Sorry."

"It's ok. That's what she is anyway."

Hermione looked at her stunned and Erin grinned.

"Just don't tell anyone I said that." added Erin.

"Your secret is safe with me." said Hermione with a solemn voice.

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Whenever Erin was feeling irritated or sad she picked up her guitar and played it for hours and hours. The simple gesture of running her elegant fingers through the strings helped her to calm down, to find her inner peace.

That afternoon she was feeling particularly upset with the entire world. She had argued with the Headmaster all day about Celeste Strut. Erin didn't trust a girl that was daughter of a Death Eater - 'ex-Death Eater' said Dumbledore.

'Well, I think all men lost their senses. Or maybe they are all thinking with your d....'

'Erin!'

Well, she admitted she had lost her mind. What was she thinking, talking to the Headmaster with such inappropriate language? Dumbledore wasn't stupid. He certainly had a purpose for accepting Celeste. Right, Erin? Maybe. Dumbledore was also guided by his heart and his belief that everyone was good until proven otherwise. Erin had to respect that. After all, he had been wonderful with her, never asking too many questions about her past. Not to mention the infinite patience he had with her difficult personality.

A little before an angry Draco entered her office, she had grabbed her guitar and started to play.

"And I wanna believe you,
When you tell me that it'll be ok,
Yeah I try to believe you,
But I don't

When you say that it's gonna be,
It always turns out to be a different way,
I try to believe you,
Not today, today, today, today, today...

I don't know how I'll feel,
tomorrow, tomorrow,
I don't know what to say,
tomorrow, tomorrow
Is a different day

It's always been up to you,
It's turning around,
It's up to me,
I'm gonna do what I have to do,
just don't

Gimme a little time,
Leave me alone a little while,
Maybe it's not too late,
not today, today, today, today, today...

I don't know how I'll feel,
tomorrow, tomorrow,
I don't know what to say,
tomorrow, tomorrow
Is a different day

Hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah, and I know I'm not ready,
Hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah, maybe tomorrow

Hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah, and I know I'm not ready,
Hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah, maybe tomorrow

And I wanna believe you,
When you tell me that it'll be ok,
Yeah I try to believe you,
Not today, today, today, today, today...

Tomorrow it may change" (A/N: Tomorrow - Avril Lavigne)

"Sounds just like me and Harry. I mean, I can't understand what he wants from me most of the times." said Draco letting his indifferent mask slip, no longer protecting his real feelings.

"I know exactly what you mean."

"Where is he?"

"Who? Harry?"

"Yeah. The stupid four eyes with an ugly scar on his forehead."

"He told me he couldn't come tonight."

"I knew it. They are probably up at the Astronomy Tower right now. The son of a b-"

"Who is up at the Tower?"

"Potter and Strut."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"Why not? Haven't you heard the wonderful news? It's all over Hogwarts. Harry and Strut are a couple now." informed Draco scornfully.

"So fast?"

"Pretty amazing, huh? I couldn't believe it myself until I saw them kissing and-"

"Gosh! That girl works fast!"

"I wasn't coming here either. I wasn't in the mood, you know? But then I thought that this moment was perfect to learn about Dark Arts."

"No, it's not. You are too angry. You'll learn for all the wrong motives. Revenge is not the right answer, Draco."

"Why not? It's good enough for me."

They remained in silence for a long time, lost in their own thoughts.

"He is enchanted. Harry, I mean. She is wearing some kind of amulet. That's all I know."

"How do you know?"

"Father told me. You should have known better, Erin! You are a DADA teacher, for Merlin's sake! You should have known there was something wrong about Strut! You always seem to know everything! Why can't you see that she is evil? Why can't Dumbledore see this?" he was almost shouting.

"Calm down, Draco. It's only been a day. Give me some time. And credit."

"I haven't eaten all day. I just couldn't."

"Christ! I'll get you something. You teenagers are so exaggerating."

"I don't want anything to eat. I'll probably throw up on your shoes if I put any food in my mouth. Dobby - do you know Dobby? - he was worried about me. Can you believe it? He noticed I didn't eat well and he brought me some pumpkin juice and a piece of chicken pie. I actually know a house-elf! And it's because of Harry. I wanted to be a better person because of him. And he... he just doesn't care, does he? He was just using me, like everyone else in my life. He doesn't give a fuck about me. All the effort I'm putting to keep him safe and the bastard falls for the first trap Voldemort sets for him. Do you know what I should do? I should deliver him to Voldemort myself. I'll probably get a medal or something. I'll be known in History as the one who destroyed The-Boy-Who-Fucking-Lived! I'll be famous and have all the power in the world. And I'll never, ever, love anyone again." Draco only noticed the tears running down his chin when it was too late to hide them.

Erin hugged him tightly. He cried upon her shoulder for a long time. No one had ever hugged him like that, as a mother would do it. Since he was the cold bastard Draco Malfoy, he was not supposed to share his weakness with anyone. But he would enjoy that tender moment as much as he could. He had needed it for too long.

Draco backed away from Erin and cleaned the remaining tears with his hand. He took a long breath and in an instant he recovered his usual pose of indifference.

"Don't do things just because of Harry. Do them because you believe in them."

Draco nodded. "Did you talk to Dumbledore about Strut?"

"Yes. But he didn't say his reasons for accepting her. For the magical community her father is not a Death Eater anymore. No one has any proof against him. So..."

"We just have to sit and wait for the catastrophe, is that it?" said Draco coldly.

"No, not necessarily. We can do some research about the amulet you told me about. We can find a way to break whatever spell she is using. We can expose her. We can do a lot of things. What we cannot do in any circumstances is panicking. And you should give Harry some credit, too."

"I don't want to talk to Harry right now. He is not my favorite person at the moment."

"I don't blame you. But honestly, Draco, it's not his fault. If Celeste is using some twisted Imperius curse, then there's not much he can do about it."

"He's bloody Harry Potter! He should be able to fight it."

"For heaven's sake, Draco, he is not infallible."

"I don't care."

"You're hurt, I understand that. But don't let yourself become blind by hate."

"Do you mind if Potter and I don't take classes together anymore?"

"Well, I'll sure miss the verbal duels between you two. But that's ok."

Draco was almost leaving when he turned around to say 'Thanks.'

Erin spent all night planning her next step.

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Close to midnight, Draco was sitting on a stone near the lake. He didn't care if it was dangerous to be there alone so late at night. He didn't care about anything. Not anymore. He had seen Harry Potter kissing Celeste Strut - the cow - and his heart had shattered into a thousand pieces. The pain had been excruciating but he had survived. Now he only felt empty inside.

He wished his love for Harry was just an ephemeral, temporary feeling. Only a crush of a spoiled brat. Looking at the moon, he thought about all that was wrong in his life. No one cared for him, not even his mother. She hadn't been around much. Dumbledore told him he wrote a letter to his parents about the incident in the forest, but Draco didn't hear a word from them.

Suddenly he felt eyes on his back. He didn't turn around to see who it was because he knew exactly who was there. It was the only person that could get under his skin. The only boy who had turned his world upside down. Harry Potter.

"What do you want?" Draco said, staring at the lake.

He watched the giant squid swimming calmly.

"I wanted to see you. I wanted to explain about Celeste-"

"Save yourself the trouble 'cause I don't want to hear it. I don't even want to look at you."

"Draco..."

"Don't. You don't have the right to call me that anymore, Potter." Draco said coldly.

"I didn't know I had this right before."

"Just leave me alone." Draco closed his eyes and sighed.

"Not until you hear me out." Harry shortened the space between them. "There's this stupid rumor about Celeste and I as a couple but it's not true."

"I said I don't want to hear it!" Draco yelled.

He turned around to face Harry and realized it was a big mistake. As soon as his eyes came across Harry's he felt his will diminishing. He quickly tried to look the other way but Harry noticed his hesitation and touched his face gently so they could stare at each other.

"I saw you together, Potter. I saw the kiss." Draco said, realizing how hard it was to breath around Harry.

Harry stared at him in shock. "I didn't want you to see it."

"Ha! That's all you have to say? Great, Potter. Just great!" he opened his arms in disbelief.

"I just... We need a cover and-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence! She is not just a bloody disguise!"

Harry looked at him confused. "Yes, she is." Draco shook his head. "I mean, for a crazy moment I thought that maybe if I had a girlfriend then nobody would ever suspect about us. But then I thought it wouldn't be fair to her and-"

"To her? What about me?" interrupted Draco angrily.

"I don't even know what we are, Malfoy." Harry started to feel irritated.

"You don't." it was meant to be a question but came out as an affirmation.

"No, I don't. This thing we have is just a sickness. It's not real" Harry regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth. "I didn't mean to say that."

"Really? Well, let me make it easier for you, Potter. Whatever we had - this *thing* as you called it - is officially over so you don't have to worry anymore."

"What?" Harry whispered. Harry's eyes filled with tears but Draco didn't notice them.

"You heard me."

Draco started to go away when he felt Harry's hands grabbing his arm and turning him around so they could be face to face. Their noses were touching slightly. Draco felt Harry's breath caressing his lips and closed his eyes. It was more than hard to breathe now. It was impossible.

"Just let me go." Draco demanded.

"I'm sorry."

"It's not enough, Potter. Sorry is not enough."

Draco freed himself and ran away.

A/N: Please review!