Coveting Thy Enemy

Chapter 21: Repercussions

To say that Hermione was mad was a definite understatement. Hermione Granger was usually the mediator and all around peacemaker of the trio. But, today she felt a new role suited her mood better. After all, all the world's a stage. Right? Her first move after leaving the infirmary was to break up with Ron. Sure, she had to admit that she loved the git, but he really needed to grow up. She always felt that the first step to growing up was to let bygones be bygones. Once Ron was able to do this, then perhaps there would be a future for them. Until then, well he would just have to suffer. Hopefully, miserably. From the look on his face when she used a few choice, colorful words to tell him to sod off, he would be doing exactly that.

Unfortunately, Hermione's decision to dump Ron was quickly placing a damper on Harry and Draco's relationship. Now that Hermione no longer had Ron to spend time with, it seemed she relied on Harry's companionship even more. Harry could tell Draco was beginning to get rather perturbed about this, but he wouldn't say anything because he knew how Harry felt about Hermione. After all, he once told Draco that the only family he felt he had in the world weren't even blood relatives. They consisted of: Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and now Draco. Draco couldn't help but to feel pleased about this remark, and even though Hermione was becoming a clichéd third wheel, he wasn't going to complain. He also couldn't help but to feel somewhat pleased about the situation Ron was placed in. Hermione was ignoring him because of his sophomoric behavior at breakfast (although Draco was sure she was also quite pissed about being practically bitch-slapped in front of the entire school), and Harry was ignoring him for his treatment of his truly. If anyone deserved the silent treatment, it was Weasely. He had tried to bury the hatchet, even if it was only for Harry's sake, but Weasely refused to be mature about the situation.

Unfortunately, whenever the wonder trio had an argument, the entire house became involved. It seemed everyone had taken sides. Ginny of course sided with her brother, along with Seamus who quite noticeably had a crush on the youngest Weasely. Dean, not wanting to upset his best friend, of course followed suit. There were actually quite a few Gryffindors who sided with Ron. After all, Draco Malfoy had chosen the Gryffindor house to despise and mistreat the most. Now the Great Hall actually seemed to be divided into five houses instead of four. The Gryffindor table was split like two football teams on a gridiron. One side was pro-Ron; the other was pro-Harry. Draco, unfortunately being the object of the Gryffindor chaos, chose to stay in neutral territory, at the Slytherin table. Talk about irony. He had tried to get Harry to sit with him at his table several times, but Harry refused. He said he was going to play this little drama out to the bitter end. Of course, Draco was irritated about this, but he had to admire Harry's stubbornness.

The Gryffindor Civil War, or so it was dubbed, unfortunately also placed a damper on the entire school. It would seem that everyone relied on the Gryffindors' happiness to dictate their own. After all, the Gryffindors seemed to be the strongest in personality, and when they were in bad moods, their moods seemed to culminate into one gigantic storm cloud that hung over the entire school. As if that wasn't symbolic enough, spring had finally sprung and brought with it a tempest that rivalled the Gryffindor war. It seemed like the rain was never going to end. Unfortunately Quidditch was postponed yet again until the rain stopped. After all, nobody wanted to play in the rain, or worse yet the lightning.

In the library, the new Hogwarts trio, Harry, Draco, and Hermione were studying for their NEWT's. Actually, it was more at Hermione's insistence, since the boys could both think of better things to do on a rainy day. She had had them in the library all day that day, thinking studying was a better alternative to wallowing in depression. Although Harry and Draco knew she wouldn't admit it, she was beginning to give up on any type of reconciliation with Ron, and she wasn't taking it very well. So, the boys put up with her anal-retentive behavior despite the fact that it was causing a bit of tension between them. Sure, they were getting along as well as ever, but with Hermione's constant presence and vigilance they hadn't really had a chance to be alone since the day the Gryffindor split had occurred. Any intimacies between them had to be rendered to simple handholding underneath the library table. Being virile teenage boys who had tasted the sweetness of physical pleasure with one another simply once, they were both beginning to get a little edgy.

Finally, when Madame Pince decided they had exceeded the limit of after-hour library time she afforded to choice students, Harry and Draco decided enough was enough. Walking from the library, Harry turned to Hermione, "Herm, I know you probably want to study some more in the common room, but if you don't mind, we'd like to do something else."

Hermione blinked and smiled innocently. "Sure Harry, whatever you two want to do. I'll be happy to let you pick for once. But, honestly, I think we should use this time to prepare for the NEWT's. They are the most important tests we'll ever take, you know."

Harry sighed. Clearly Hermione hadn't got the point. "Well, you see. . . Hermione . . ."

Although Draco believed Harry was adorable when he stuttered with embarrassment, he knew the situation required more force. "Hermione," he said placing his hand on her shoulder and pulling her gaze toward him. He tried to be diplomatic, but the tension was clear in his gaze and stature. "You know we think the NEWT's are important. We've been studying for ages. But, it's Saturday - date night, and Harry and I have been studying so hard we haven't had much time together. Understand?"

Hermione did understand. "Oh gees, you two. I never realized. . ." she blushed a shade of beetroot that was clearly unbecoming. "Christ, you should have said something. I've been tagging along with you two like we're attached at the hips or something. I never wanted to be a distraction."

Harry didn't like the look Hermione was giving them. He could tell she was trying to be logical, but there was hurt in her eyes when the realization hit her that hurt him as well. Draco felt bad too because he suddenly seemed fascinated with his shoelaces. "Aw, Herm. You're not a distraction. We love spending time with you. Right, Draco?" he asked, giving Draco a look that meant he better agree or else.

"Of course we do. I mean, you're like family to us - to me. I know that's not saying much, considering the bastard my father is, but Harry and I both consider you our sister. It's just that it's Saturday and we're all tired of studying. Even you, I can tell."

Hermione nodded. "You got a point there, Draco. Alright, you two go and have fun. I have a couple of letters I need to write anyway," she said smiling. Draco's admission of friendliness, even kinship with her, had uplifted her mood somewhat. "But, I want both of you back at the library at nine a.m. sharp tomorrow. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, ma'am," they said in unison before Harry grabbed Draco by the elbow and drug him down the hall. When Draco realized Harry was headed for the dungeon, he had to pull back. "Uh, Harry, we can't go down there."

"Why not?"

"Because it's Beltane, Harry."

"It's what?"

"Beltane. It's a pagan holiday that all the Slytherins decided to celebrate a long time ago."

Harry looked confused. "I didn't know the Slytherins were pagan."

Draco laughed and shook his head at Harry's naivety. "Most of them aren't, really. They just see it as an excuse to party. It's supposed to be a celebration of growth and fertility, but they use it as an excuse for some pretty wild behavior."

"Oh, you mean they get drunk and act like idiots, right?"

"Well, yea. But, let's just say that a lot of them like to celebrate in a more. . .uh, base manner."

"You mean, sexual, right? Well, that's no big deal. You have your own room, we can hide out there," Harry said, seemingly quite pleased with himself.

"Harry, I'm only going to tell you this once. Unless you want to join in on a full blown orgy in the middle of the common room floor, I suggest you think of a better place for us to go."

Harry reddened to a shade that outshined the blush Hermione had given earlier tenfold. "Alright, I gotcha, Draco. I guess. . . I guess we could go to the Gryffindor dorm."

"Are you sure?" Draco asked. He wasn't quite sure if he wanted to walk into the Gryffindor dorm during the state of upheaval it was now in.

"Yea, they typical Gryffindor response to things they don't like is to ignore it. Even Ron has now committed himself to the silent treatment. Besides, they usually spend Saturdays talking filth in the common room until all hours of the morning. They probably won't even notice us walk in.

Harry was right. The boys in the common room were so engrossed in one of Seamus' tawdry tales of sheer fantasy, they hadn't even seen the pair enter the boys' dormitory. When the door shut behind them, Harry gave into the tension that had been pulling on them for several days. Pushing Draco onto his bed, he began ripping at the Slytherin's clothes as if they weren't made of the most expensive material they were. Draco didn't seem to mind the attack on his attire however, because he began undressing Harry in a similar fashion. Finally, when both boys were completely unclad, Harry pulled the curtains of the bed closed.

"Mmmmph," Draco said beneath Harry's mouth, "this bed is really small, Potter."

"Good," Harry replied, sucking on Draco's lower lip, "that means we'll have no choice but to be close." He situated his body on top of Draco's and shuddered at the ecstasy created by the heat of skin-on-skin. Their erections were now smashed against each other, and he delighted in the feel of Draco throbbing against him. Unconsciously, he rocked his hips, creating the friction they both desired. They had waited too long for this moment, so there was no thought of patience or slowness. They both simply had to have each other as soon as possible. There would be time for endearment and consideration later.

Draco was clearly in the same state as Harry because his hips began bucking wildly against Harry's. "Oh, God, Harry, faster!" he cried in utter abandonment. Harry cried out as well, but he had no idea what he said, considering he was completely lost in the throws of passion. The pace picked up until they were writhing against each other at a speed that neither knew the other possessed.

The heat within the confines of the curtains was so sultry that when a blast of cool air hit their bodies, it shocked them both to a standstill. Green and silver eyes looked up into fiery brown ones. Ron Weasely had pulled the curtain and was now staring at them with a mixture of shock and downright loathing. "WHAT THE FUCK!!!??" he yelled. His astonishment had rooted not only his feet to the floor, but his eyes on the naked boys, naked aroused boys, in the bed.

Although it didn't seem to be a rhetorical question, Harry answered anyway. "Ron, I can explain. . ."

"I don't think there needs to be any explanation, Potter!" Ron screamed. "I can't believe this. You shirk my friendship for this . ." he flung his hand toward Draco, "bastard, and now I find out you're fucking him. You disgust me. I should have known you were a bloody faggot!" With that retort flung over his shoulder, Ron stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Harry looked down at Draco, who was still beneath him. "Oh, fuck," he said.

"You got that right, Harry," Draco replied.

"Shit, so what do we do now?"

"Well," said Draco reaching out and pulling the curtain back around the bed, "there's no use getting upset about something we can't change, is there?" he asked logically with a grin. Harry smiled and leaned down to kiss the Slytherin beneath him. His arousal was returning rather quickly.

"I have two words for you, though, Harry," Draco said when Harry's mouth began moving down the slope of his neck.

"What's that?" Harry asked, pausing for a moment.

"Silencing charm," Draco said and arched his neck back up for the Gryffindor to devour it with his lips.