Good Intentions

Chapter 6: The Price of Knowledge

"You see Minerva, our plan is still moving along just as we had hoped," Dumbledore said, as he sat behind his mahogany desk across from Professor McGonagall.

"Albus," McGonagall said shrewdly. " We planned nothing. You brought up this rather insane idea, and I reluctantly agreed to go along with it. That was, of course, because I knew you could override my opinion and that you always get your way in the end."

"Ah yes," Dumbledore agreed. "Quite right. Although I'm sure you see the evidence quite clearly now that I've brought it to your attention. It's quite undeniable."

"I can see a few hints of what you're suggesting, Albus, but nothing is ever guaranteed," McGonagall said primly. "Especially in matters like this," she added shrewdly.

"My dear Minerva. Can't you just for one second let your guard down and see that what I'm saying is unmistakably obvious?" Dumbledore looked at her seriously. "Wouldn't you say so?"

"Oh alright," Professor McGonagall relented. "I still don't approve of us interfering like this."

Dumbledore smiled. "Who said anyone was interfering? I'm just doling out punishment where it is needed. That is my job after all, is it not Minerva?"

McGonagall sighed in defeat and gave Dumbledore a rare smile. "Indeed."

***

"Well that was just peachy, was it not?" Draco said sarcastically as he and Harry sat down at their table for dinner. They had made their entrance into the hall for their first time since 'it' had happened. Some were shocked, other's smirked, while the other's honestly just didn't care.

The Slytherins had been ruthlessly cruel to Harry; even a few had been rude to him. The nerve of them! Boy would he make them pay when this was all over. The Gryffindors were somewhat more subdued, though several evil glares were cast in his direction. The Hufflepuffs were giggling behind their hands at them, while the Ravenclaws were too busy in their studies to notice anything at all.

"Oh, you think you had it bad?" Harry asked him. "For a bloody minute there I thought that Crabbe and Goyle were going to try and physically remove me from your side."

Draco snickered. "They probably would have tried, but I called them off."

Harry looked around the Great Hall uncomfortably. Was he ever comfortable anymore? Not since that damn binding charm. Over half the population of girls were whispering to each other, their gazes fixed on him. Even some of the guys were looking at him funny.

"Like all the attention you're getting, eh?" Draco asked, smiling playfully, noticing Harry's discomfort.

"Err, exactly why are they staring at me?" Harry asked, turning back to his food bashfully.

"Simple," Draco said with a shrug of his shoulders. "You look gorgeous." He somehow managed to say that without any sign of embarrassment.

Harry spat out the mashed potatoes he'd been eating, flushing a deep crimson. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. It's amazing how a few new clothes and a hair cut can change how you look." Harry's blush deepened, and looked around the hall again, causing another fit of giggles from the Hufflepuffs. "Oh yeah," Draco said off handedly. "There's also the fact that they all probably think we're shagging."

Draco had to suppress laughing out loud as Harry's face turned white, then quickly back red. "Each other?" Harry sputtered, dumbfounded.

"Of course," Draco said nonchalantly. Harry didn't know what to say, or how to react to this, so he stuffed his mouth full of mashed potatoes and tried to disappear.

***

"Potions tomorrow," Ron groaned. "I still haven't finished that essay. Could I have a look at yours?"

Hermione glared at Ron. "First of all I just want to say how lazy you are." She sighed. "Oh all right. Go ahead." She thrust the scroll at him. "Just don't copy it."

Ron whooped, planted a kiss on her cheek, and sprinted up the stairs to his dorm, yelling "Thanks!" over his shoulder.

Hermione turned a deep shade of red, lightly placed her hand on her cheek where Ron had kissed her, and smiled.

***

"You should all have your essays on Wolfsbane Potion completed by now. Failure to hand this in on time or to have written an adequate synopsis of this potion could result in failure of this class."

There was a hushed silence throughout the class except for Neville's 'eek' at Snape's last revelation. "Now," Snape commanded. "You are going to attempt to make this potion. You will of course be working with partners." He sneered in Harry's direction.

Snape then proceeded to pair everyone up with a partner. "Professor, I don't believe you assigned me anyone," Draco said innocently. Several of the dumber Slytherins sniggered at this.

"Mr. Malfoy, I am not in the mood. You will of course be working with Potter. My regrets of course, but alas... given the circumstances."

"Thank you Professor," Draco said. "I'll try and manage," he added, tossing a sneer in Harry's direction.

"I thought I told you to stop acting like that around me in public," Harry said, chopping up his Boomslang.

"Acting like what Potter?" Draco asked, louder than he needed to, his voice dripping with malice.

There was a hushed silence throughout the room as the class tried to understand what was going on between Harry and Draco.

"Like a prat when you're around me in public. There's no reason for you to not treat me the way you usually do when we are alone," Harry said quietly so only Draco could hear him. He wasn't interested in having his and Draco's relationship, friendship, or whatever it was spread around the school by dinner that night. However, apparently Draco was, as he purposefully kept his voice just loud enough for everyone in the class to hear.

"I think you've played a bit too much Quidditch outside in the sun Potter. I clearly have no idea what you're talking about." He studied Harry for a minute, leaned over closer to him in an attempt to grab the knife, and said quietly so only Harry could hear, "Don't make a big deal of this. You know I can't act that way around everyone else."

"The hell you can't. What's bloody stopping you? Why can't we be friends in public?" Harry's temper was getting the better of him again. "Tell me Draco. I would love for you to enlighten me."

"Harry," Draco hissed. "I told you not --."

"The hell with that. I'm waiting. What is it? Your dead father? Voldemort has been destroyed, so it can't be him. Afraid of what your bloody Slytherin pals will think?"

Draco's normally silver eyes were almost turned completely black from anger. "You." He grabbed Harry and pulled him from the classroom. "Come with me." He jerked open an empty classroom door and shoved Harry inside, none too gently.

Harry was slowly backing up away from Draco who was approaching him. "First of all," he hissed, "Never, ever, mention my Father again." Harry's back made contact with the wall and he swallowed nervously.

"You want to know why, do you? Are you sure you want to know Harry?" Harry had never seen such fury, or passion, in Draco before. His chest was heaving with emotion and his eyes were narrowed to slits. Harry wished he was like this more often, only he didn't have to be angry. It would make a lot of things simpler if he could tell what Draco was really feeling.

"I believe I said I did." Harry wasn't quite so sure as he'd been before.

Draco was so close now that Harry could feel Draco's warm breathe tickling his face, giving him goose bumps. Draco smiled. It was a malicious sort of smile that made Harry extremely uncomfortable.

"Well, if you're sure." Draco cupped Harry's face in his hands and kissed Harry hard, and full on the lips.

Harry was stunned. He didn't know what to do, so he did the only thing he could and kissed Draco back. Draco eventually pulled away from the kiss, and being unsure of what to do next he took a step back and looked to Harry for a sign of where to go from there.

Harry cleared his throat, and then raised his eyes so that they met Draco's, which were stormy grey and clouded with emotion. "Well then. So that's why."

***