Enlightened Future

Enlightened Future - Chapter Four: Seat of the Problem

Harry's head was still hurting and the closed in, lonely atmosphere of the Gryffindor common room didn't help any. He decided that what he needed was fresh air and that the best place to get it was the Quidditch pitch. He ran down the corridors and out of the castle to the courtyard. Once there he took a deep breath of the crisp morning air. Everything around him smelled like freshly cut grass and damp stone. This was his favorite smell, so earthy and clean. He closed his eyes to relish it and suddenly felt ten feet taller.

His moment of utter piece was interrupted by raised voices coming from the Quidditch pitch. He wondered who would be out there before today's game, certainly not the Ravenclaws. They would be back in their dormitories for at least another hour going over strategies. The Slytherins were probably lounging comfortably in the Hall or in their common room, secure in the knowledge that they would win by whatever nefarious means were available to them. Harry decided to find out who was on the pitch.

As he drew closer he was able to recognize bits and pieces of what was being said, mostly explicit cursing and cries of outrage. He turned the corner and looked at an odd scene. Three Slytherin players in practice robes were zooming around the pitch committing some very obvious fouls while a girl, who was unmistakably Alethea Florecer, sat on the Slytherin bench and shouted at the three who were on brooms while furiously taking notes on a piece of parchment. Harry was intrigued and moved closer. He saw that the two girls in the air were Cynthia Polasko and Emilie Childs two of Slytherin's new ruthless chasers. The third flyer was slender and fast with short blond hair. It had to be Draco Malfoy.

It struck Harry head on that Malfoy had been spending time with these three girls all year. Crabbe and Goyle still followed them around but he didn't really talk to them much anymore. Even Pansy Parkinson had gone off to greener pastures. He wondered what had caused such a shift in Draco's social life. He had never noticed Alethea until earlier that day and the other two girls he had of course played against but never cared about. Hermione was right when she said that he, for all intents and purposes, denied the existence of the Slytherins until they entered his personal space. He seriously needed to pay more attention to his surroundings.

"Oi, you wanker! What the fuck was that?" screamed a very angry Cynthia. Her golden curls were standing at all angles and she looked as if she wanted to kill something.

"Sorry Emilie, no Butterbeer for you. I saw that one," called Alethea.

"What, you bloody did not? You knew I was going to do that; you didn't actually see it," yelled back Emilie.

"Sorry, if Cynthia hadn't screamed I wouldn't have seen it. Nice tactic, Cynthia!" Alethea looked very happy and not at all apologetic.

"Bitch," grumbled Emilie and she zoomed off after Draco who was sitting lazily on top of his broom waiting for the end of the argument. Draco saw her coming and flew out of the way. He hooked around behind Cynthia and grabbed her foot, turning her upside down on her broom where she hung by one leg.

"Get back here you little fuck!" she hollered while righting herself. Unfortunately Emilie whizzed past her, missing the tail of her broom by inches, and she turned upside down once more. "Not again," she groaned.

Draco and Emilie were flying side by side now. Emilie took the back of Draco's robes and flung them over his head. Then she pushed him so that he flipped head over heels on his broom. Draco fortunately pulled up short of the Hufflepuff stands and tried to untangle himself from the fabric. His green Quidditch sweater rode up exposing his pale back. Harry watched intently. Emilie flew off to help Cynthia, laughing hysterically. Draco finally got himself out, his hair ruffled and--if you asked Harry--looking rather adorable.

"You little bitch! My hair is a bloody mess and you nearly made me crash my broom into the Hufflepuff stands! The Hufflepuffs! The indignity! You have no Slytherin decency in you!" Harry filtered out ninety percent of the reply as it was composed of obscenities that he had no idea existed.

"Tally time my angels of profanity!" called Alethea in a sing-song voice. She grabbed a broom from the bench and flew up to meet the three in the air. "May I say that you were completely pitiful? I saw most of that crap. You've got to learn to be more subtle, or pray that Hooch is looking the other way." The three grumbled and Alethea smiled.

"Okay, Draco gets six. The thing with Cynthia's broom up... well never mind, it was very creative. I have no idea how you accomplished that one." Draco preened accordingly.

"Cynthia, that was low, underhanded and cheap." The blonde cowered slightly. "I loved it!" squealed Alethea, tossing her hands in the air. "Just next time please remember that Draco does want children one day. Okay? Seven Butterbeers for you." Cynthia leered at Draco who gripped his legs tighter around the broom in response.

"And last but most certainly not least, also with seven Butterbeers, Emilie, what the fuck was that anyway? Actually, I don't want to know. Just apologize to Cynthia. I look forward to seeing that one used on Chang today. Might want to practice once on Harry once just in case." Alethea smirked. They didn't notice her slip. Harry on the other hand did and moved just under the group on the pitch for a better view.

This has nothing to do with my wanting to see up Malfoy's robes. Nothing at all, Harry was desperately trying to convince himself. Alethea nearly fell off her broom when that thought reached her and pursed her lips to fight down her laughter.

"Wait a minute." Draco's voice cut through Alethea's mirth clouded brain. "I just lost. I just bloody lost to two crazy hormonal girls in a game of deception. I can't fucking believe this!" Draco was shouting now.

"Sorry Draco, you have to learn to be more aggressive. You waited too long to pull any of your tricks," said Alethea coldly. "You need to learn and get lost in the passion and subtle art of cheating."

Hmm... I wonder if Harry likes it rough, thought Draco.

"Look who's calling people hormonal. And why don't you ask him? He's standing right under you," said Alethea with mischief sparking in her dark eyes. Draco instantly turned and looked down. Harry Potter was standing there looking up, his robes. Or at least Draco was hoping that's what he was doing. He smiled slightly and looked at Potter. His hair was its usual mess and his robes were a little on the rumpled side. Draco thought he looked quite sexy.

Cynthia was still angry with Draco for turning her upside down on her broom and a few other things that she will never be able to describe to anybody out of sheer embarrassment. Most unfortunately for Draco, his ogling Harry Potter provided the perfect setting for her revenge. With a quick nod to Emilie and Alethea she hooked her foot around Draco's ankle and kicked up, tossing him off his broom and down to the pitch. She smirked like a well fed cat and shook hands triumphantly with Emilie. Alethea sat back on her broom and wondered what would happen next. She found not being able to see the outcome of a prank beforehand proved a novel experience.

Draco plummeted to the ground and prayed that he would not break anything before the game. Fortunately for him, Harry was there to break most of his fall but his poor backside still hit the grass hard. Both Harry and Draco fell backwards in a tangle of limbs and furious curses.

"Ouch, bloody Merlin! I think you broke my back, Malfoy," said Harry, shoving Draco off of him and sitting up.

"If I broke your fucking back, Potter, you wouldn't be moving. So, shut the fuck up." Draco rolled over to his stomach to take the pressure off his aching posterior. "Polasko, you will die!"

"Where does it hurt?" asked Harry with concern.

"I think I bruised my tailbone, Potter. That means I will not be able to walk for a bit and flying will be out of the question," he grumbled unhappily.

"Here, I'm taking Medical Magic this term. I know a pain killing charm that can help you with that," said Harry. He pointed his wand at Malfoy's backside.

"This is so humiliating. That bitch will pay," intoned Draco with conviction.

"(insert spell name here)" The ache in Draco's posterior faded slowly and he stood up, facing his savior.

"Thank you, Potter. It feels much better now. I think I'll go see Madam Pomfrey," said Draco without any emotion.

"I'll walk you over there. It's on the way to the Gryffindor dormitories," said Harry. "I'm not very good with that charm and it might wear off halfway to the infirmary."

"Wonderful. Typical Gryffindor competence. I feel so safe," groused Malfoy with a smirk. Harry punched him lightly on the shoulder and Draco smiled. He had never exchanged friendly half hearted banter with anyone before. Crabbe and Goyle were stupid to goad properly and the girls, well, you just didn't insult them and live to see their reaction.

"Ouch, you really are bad at this, Potter," said Draco with a wince when they turned a corner two hallways away from the Hospital Wing. He leaned up against the wall for support.

"Let me see," said Harry. He slowly placed his hand on the small of Draco's back. The blond boy's muscles tensed and his breath hitched sharply.

"Just relax," Harry said softly. Draco braced himself against the wall and took a deep, calming breath.

"Now, tell me where it hurts." Harry pressed into Draco's back with his fingertips.

"Here?"

"No," Draco replied as steadily as he could manage. This whole situation was very strange and he hoped nobody was in the near vicinity. Harry's hand moved lower.

"Here?"

"No." Merlin he has a nice voice. Lower.

"Here?"

"No." This is actually quite sensual. I hear this position is rather nice. Draco's breathing became heavier as Harry's hand moved still lower.

"Here?"

"Mmmm, no," moaned Draco as he let his head roll back onto Harry's shoulder.

Harry's hand slipped and Draco laughed breathlessly. He turned his head to the left so that Harry's face was only inches from his. They were both breathing heavily and their hearts were racing as if they just flew around the pitch at top speed. Draco's lips were parted slightly and Harry's were closed. Draco reached up his left hand and caressed Harry's face gently

"Harry," sighed Draco just millimeters away from Harry's lips. The Boy Who Lived moved his hand.

"Ah!" Draco winced and turned away from Harry, slamming his palm into the wall. "There." The spot had been found and it was just where Draco predicted, his tailbone. The moment passed and they went back to semi-normal.

"I think you're right. You bruised your tailbone, and from the looks of it, pretty badly," he said breathlessly.

"Thank you for that astute observation, Potter," said Draco, his face buried in the sleeve of his practice robes. He smiled slightly. Harry's hand was still resting on the small of his back. "I'd better get over to Madam Pomfrey. The game starts in a little over an hour and I want to be there when Chang gets a mouthful of grass. Emilie has been practicing hard." Draco flashed a smug smile.

"She wouldn't really do that, whatever it was, to Cho would she?" said Harry worriedly.

"Of course she would! Emilie is a Slytherin and that is her best trick. The little bitch, my hair must be an absolute sight!" He raised one hand to check on his coiffure but Harry pressed it back down.

"Its fine you silly git. Who knew Draco Malfoy honestly worried about his hair as much as all the rumors say," he laughed softly by Draco's ear.

"What? You mean people have me figured for a ponce?! Oh, Merlin, I'm dead. Tell me you didn't believe those rumors or I will hex you until you see little snitches flying round your head." He glared at Harry with his silver eyes flashing.

That's not the only way I can make him see flying snitches, thought Draco slyly. Harry was having similar thoughts and both of them were trying to hide their amusement at the whole situation.

"No, I didn't believe it... until now," said Harry with a raise of his eyebrows. Draco groaned let his head fall back on Harry's shoulder in frustration, of more than one kind. Harry reached his arm around Draco's waist and pulled him closer to him. "Come on, you have to go see Madam Pomfrey." He helped Draco away from the wall and down the hall to the hospital wing.

Along the way they passed several students who were stunned by the sight of Draco Malfoy leaning on his rival Harry Potter for support and exchanging quips here and there with him. One poor Slytherin girl nearly fainted when she saw Draco laugh turn his head to rest it on Harry's shoulder when Harry said something particularly unflattering about Professor Trelawney.

Cynthia and Emilie rounded the corner just then and saw the two boys go into the infirmary. The Slytherin girl, Absinthe Keller, turned to the two shocked girls and told them what she saw. Emilie threatened that she would personally torture and kill the girl in a most gruesome manner if she told anybody anything about this. Absinthe was genuinely frightened and made a hasty exit. Cynthia turned to Emilie, taking a deep breath.

"Shit! We are going to have to tell him not to be so friendly with Potter anymore. This is not going to be pretty," said Cynthia angrily.

"Yeah, well what else can we do? After that thing over the summer I don't think he can take it if his father finds out," said Emilie with a shake of her head as if trying to clear some bad memory from her brain.

"I know, I know. Our families want us to keep an eye on him and tell them if anything odd happens. What are we going to tell them? You know we can't lie to them for long. They'll find out everything eventually. Fuck, his father probably knows about Blaise already." Cynthia's voice was tinged with exasperation.

"Unless Blaise enjoyed it too much to rat on him," said Emilie with a smirk. Cynthia snorted with laughter and shook her head.

"We have to tell him." The two girls nodded in grim agreement and entered the infirmary. Draco was lying face down on a cot while Madam Pomfrey was bustling about trying to find the appropriate poultice or potion. Harry was sitting in a chair beside Draco's bed and laughing at some droll comment from Draco.

"Cynthia my favorite pain in the..." called Draco sarcastically while looking up from his pillow.

"I will have none of that language in my infirmary Mister Malfoy, if you please!" scolded Madam Pomfrey.

"I was only going to say neck," said Draco in mock innocence. Harry snickered and Cynthia glared at him. Emilie leaned down to Draco's ear with a sinister smile on her face.

"Hurt like you got a hard shagging, Draco?" she said maliciously. Harry's eyes widened in shock but Draco did not even flinch.

"Wouldn't know, but I suspect that it's much worse," he drawled calmly. Harry let out a deep breath of relief. He had no idea why he was holding one to begin with.

"You'd better go," said Cynthia firmly, her stern gaze catching Harry's. Harry nodded once and got up, walking to the door. Once he was out of hearing range Draco buried his face in the pillow and then looked back up at the girls in anger.

"Why the hell did the two of you have to ruin everything? We were getting along just fine. I didn't even have to provoke him and then you come walking in here acting like my mother and scaring him off. I can't believe you," said Draco exasperatedly.

"Absinthe Keller saw you two hanging all over each other in the corridor, not to mention that the whole school saw you kissing Blaise," sighed Emilie. "You promised us not to do anything in public. You know we are supposed to keep an eye on you and report anything. Now we have to tell them," sighed Emilie.

"Damn you Draco, we both hate doing this, but what bloody choice do we have? The least you can do is stay out of trouble. We can't cover your bloody arse and you know it," shouted Cynthia. Madam Pomfrey had thankfully gone to another room to get something.

"Fuck your orders and fuck you. I'm not going to hide from him anymore. I'm sick of it. Tell him what you want, I don't give a fuck anymore," said Draco with his face in his pillow.

Cynthia rolled her eyes and looked down at Draco. "Fine, we can bend the truth a little. Zabini kissed you in a mad fit of his normal insanity. The whole school knows he wants you anyway. And you were just leaning on Potter because you couldn't really walk, which is true." She pinched the bridge of her nose to stop an oncoming headache. "I don't know how long they'll buy this. Just promise me you will not think with your balls next time you do something."

"Fine, no more fraternizing with Potter in public, I got it." He smiled as a bad idea suddenly crossed his mind. "Could I use Alethea's room for such things, then? After all, it is soundproofed."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," sighed Emilie, "The whole of the Death Eater community thinks you're shagging her anyway. You can smuggle him in if you like, just don't get caught."

"I'm a Malfoy. Deception is my middle name," he said proudly with a smirk.

"Bye, Draco!" called Cynthia over her shoulder as she and Emilie turned to leave.

"Wait, where's Alethea?" asked Draco suddenly.

"She said she had some business to take care of in the library," said Emilie as she walked out the door.

I wonder what she is doing in there at this time of day. Madam Pomfrey came into the room and started working on his backside.

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