Harry Potter and the Love of the Dragon

*~*~*~*~*

"Harry!" Hermione gave Harry a huge bear hug as soon as he emerged from the Portrait hole. "Are you OK?"

"I'm fine Herm. Don't worry about it."

"What happened?" asked Ron.

Harry sat down heavily in his usual chair and tucked his legs beneath him. "Dumbledore's not sure. But he said not to worry." As much as he tried, Harry was unable to hide the huge grin that was plastered over his face.

"Why so happy?" Hermione quizzed him.

"I dunno," Harry shrugged. He was in the best mood he had been in for weeks and was unable to sit still. His hand was tapping on the arm of the chair repeatedly. "I guess I'm just looking forward to the Halloween Ball next weekend. By the way Ron, did you ask Lavender yet?"

"Not yet. Hermione has some news though!"

"Daniel asked me to the dance," she squeaked.

"That is so cool! Ron, go ask Lavender now before it's too late. I know she'll say yes."

"I might just do that." Ron took a deep breath and strode over to the other end of the Common Room. Harry turned back to Hermione.

"Have you decided what to go as yet?"

"Nope. I'm drawing a blank," she sighed.

"How about Little Red Riding Hood?" Harry suggested.

"Good idea. I thought maybe a cat or a fairy."

"Hmmm. I was thinking I should go as a jester."

"That's a wicked idea! Ron's gonna go as a soldier. He already has his costume and everything."

Right on cue, Ron returned grinning widely, cheeks flushed.

"I'm guessing she said yes," laughed Hermione.

*~*~*~*~*

The next morning at breakfast, Harry glanced over at the Slytherin table to see Draco sitting with Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy looking particularly bored.

It was a Sunday morning, and Ron and Hermione were chatting about their dates for the upcoming dance, which gave Harry the perfect opportunity to test his telepathic skills.

'Hi Draco.'

'Harry! You'll never guess what these prats are talking about.'

'Urm, the consistency of porridge?'

'Not quite. Close though. They're discussing the finer points of pumpkin juice.'

'Sounds like fun. Look, you wanna meet up later? We could go to Hogsmeade,' Harry suggested whilst he smothered his slice of toast with raspberry jam.

'How? There's no Hogsmeade trip today.'

'Meet me at the one eyed crone statue.'

'OK. I'll take your word for it. Eleven o'clock?'

'Great. See you later.' Emerald and silver eyes briefly met across the room before Harry turned back to his friends.

"So, which is it gonna be Herm? A cat or Little Red Riding Hood?"

*~*~*~*~*

At a quarter to eleven Harry tucked the Marauders' map into his robes and bid goodbye to Hermione and Ron who were busy with their homework. Ron was composing a new list of catastrophes for Professor Trelawney and Hermione was carefully translating a page of complicated-looking runes. Harry reached the statue and just seconds later, Draco appeared from around the corner.

"So how do we get into Hogsmeade then?" Draco asked, looking curiously at the old, crumpled piece of parchment in Harry's hand.

Harry grinned mischievously. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." He tapped the map with his wand and Draco intently watched the lines snake across the page forming a comprehensive map of Hogwarts. Harry examined it carefully and, after checking that there was no one else around he tucked it back into his robes. "All you have to do is tap the statue's hump and say 'Disendium.' Watch." Harry demonstrated to Draco and the passage opened obediently. "Come on". Harry grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him into the secret passage.

"Any more surprises Harry?" laughed Draco. The two walked quickly down the corridor hand in hand and soon reached the trapdoor into Honeydukes.

"This leads into the basement of Honeydukes so we have to be careful," Harry informed Draco. After checking that the coast was clear, Harry and Draco loosed hands so as not to attract any unwanted attention and climbed through the hole, entering the sweet shop.

"Where shall we go then?" asked Draco, exhilarated with the idea of being outside school when he should not be.

"How about the Three Broomsticks?" Harry suggested. They entered the pub a few minutes later and sat at a table in the corner with their Butterbeers.

"You know what Dumbledore said? About our combined power?" Draco thought aloud.

"Mmm hmm," mumbled Harry, his leg pressed up against Draco's beneath the table.

"We should try it out sometime."

"Sure," Harry agreed. "We'll try it when we get back to school. First I have some shopping to do."

Draco grinned broadly. "Shopping is my middle name. What do you need?"

"A whole new wardrobe it would seem." Harry tugged self-consciously at the sleeves of the jumper he was wearing.

"Great! First stop though, that opticians down the road. We need to get you some contacts."

*~*~*~*~*

A couple of hours later, Harry and Draco emerged from Magical Lenses and Spectacles looking vaguely annoyed.

"How long does it take to sort out a few pairs of contact lenses?" Draco grumbled.

"Tell me about it. But at least I've got them now. We won't have to come back for three months now."

"I still don't understand why you won't wear them today."

"You know why," Harry grinned cheekily. "I want it to be a surprise."

"But I've already seen you in them," whined Draco.

"I know you have." Harry hit Draco playfully on the arm. "The surprise isn't for you. Man., I'm starving."

"Me too. Where shall we go for lunch?"

"I know a little cave down this way." Harry started towards the other end of Hogsmeade. "It's very private," he winked. "I picked up some food from Dobby after breakfast."

"Dobby?"

"Yes, Draco, Dobby. You must remember him?"

"My father was angry about you tricking him for weeks. Of course, I was too then." Draco scowled at himself.

"We're here!" Harry changed the subject quickly before Draco could withdraw back into that shell he was so fond of. He grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him over the rocks and into the cave.

"How do you know about this place?"

"My godfather stayed here a couple of years ago. He's on the run from Azkaban."

"Oh, I remember. Sirius Black right?"

"Yep. He didn't do it you know."

"He didn't? My father told me that he was responsible for...for your..."

"My parents? Nope. That's what everyone else thinks though too. You don't know anything about me," laughed Harry.

"Then teach me."

"I plan to." Harry grabbed Draco's robe and pulled him into a long, slow kiss. He felt Draco's heart pounding against his own ribcage, and his own responded in reply. He pulled away as his stomach growled loudly.

"Sounds like it's time for lunch," Draco beamed.

Harry pulled a small package wrapped in brown paper from his pocket, set it on the floor and pointed his wand at it.

"That's lunch?" Draco feigned anger.

Harry smiled sarcastically at Draco. "Engorgio." The parcel grew until it was big enough to have filled Harry's old cupboard-under-the-stairs. He bent down and tore off the paper. Inside was a large basket and a blanket. Together, Harry and Draco laid the blanket down on the floor and unpacked the food.

"Is that better?" Harry chuckled. He sat on the rug opposite Draco and helped himself to a ham and cheese sandwich.

'Much better thanks.' Draco had his mouth full of crisps and was unable to speak aloud.

After a few minutes of silence whilst the two boys stuffed their faces with various cakes and pies, Draco groaned and lay back onto the rug.

"I'm stuffed. I don't think I could move."

"Well, don't stay there too long - we haven't finished our shopping yet," Harry leaned over and flicked a stray piece of hair out of his boyfriend's eyes.

"More shopping?" Draco sat up abruptly and began packing the plates and leftover food back into the picnic basket. Harry gave him a hand and, after shrinking the blanket and basket down again so that they could fit in his pocket, Draco pounced. His tongue ventured into Harry's welcoming mouth and Harry leaned in trying to get as close the other boy as he could. Harry felt a pair of hands tangle in his hair and responded by wrapping his arms possessively around Draco's neck. Draco's mouth tasted of the strawberries he had just eaten.

"Come on." Draco ended the moment and grasped Harry's hand. "Where shall we go first?"

*~*~*~*~*

Ten minutes later, Draco and Harry were scouring the only Muggle-style clothes shop in the village.

"How about these?" Draco held up a pair of distressed, flared jeans.

"Hmm, they're nice. Put them with the rest." Draco added them to the large stack of items next to Harry. "What do you think of this?" Harry showed Draco a fitted green shirt.

"It matches your eyes," Draco replied. Harry smiled bashfully at his boyfriend and added it to the rest of the clothes. "I think we should try some of the clothes on now Harry," he suggested.

"Good idea." Harry picked up the clothes with a little difficulty and Draco followed him into the changing rooms with the couple of items he had picked out for himself. They entered two adjacent cubicles and Harry changed quickly into one of the outfits they had picked out.

"Whatcha think?" he asked Draco, posing comically in his first outfit - bootleg black trousers and grey, long sleeved T-shirt.

"It suits you."

"Looks like I really did pick up your fashion sense," Harry laughed. "I like that top by the way." Draco was wearing a green vest top with a silver dragon design printed on the front. "Very appropriate."

"You think so?" he grinned cheekily. "Go try on the rest of your clothes."

*~*~*~*~*

About half an hour and many more visits to the changing room later, Draco and Harry emerged from the store carrying numerous bags of shopping. Harry had bought a number of pairs of jeans and trousers and a sizeable selection of shirts and jumpers for the winter and Draco had purchased a couple of new items for himself. On their way through Honeydukes Harry bought them both some of the new variety of chocolate that was being advertised, and eventually reached the trapdoor in the cellar after they were sure that the woman on the till was occupied.

As soon as they reached the dark, damp corridor, Harry dropped his bags on the ground and pressed his lips against Draco, catching him off guard. A second set of bags hit the ground and the two became happily caught up in each other, losing all track of time. Harry managed to prise himself away from their entanglement to look at his watch.

"What's the time?" Draco asked him in between the spattering of kissed he was trailing over Harry's neck.

"Bloody hell!" cursed Harry. "Dinner starts in ten minutes!"

"Shit." They picked up their respective bags of shopping and ran as fast as they could down the passage, reaching the end in record time. "Here." Draco removed his wand from his robes and shrunk both sets of clothes so they could be easily concealed beneath their bulky winter cloak.

"Thanks," Harry said, tucking the bags away as best as he could. He planted one last kiss on Draco's mouth and, after checking the Marauders' Map, opened up the statue's hump and stepped into the Hogwarts corridor. "I have to take my stuff up to the tower," Harry sighed.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Draco suggested. "I'm always knackered after shopping. I don't think I could stay up late enough to see you again tonight."

"Tomorrow then. It's Potions first thing you know," Harry winked and glanced at the map in his hands. "Damn, Snape's coming, I'd better go."

Draco brushed Harry's hand lightly and turned towards the Great Hall. Harry watched him leave around the corner before spinning on his heel and heading up to Gryffindor Tower.

*~*~*~*~*

"Harry! Where have you been all day?" demanded Hermione as soon as he took his seat next to her in the Great Hall.

"I...urm..." Harry fished around for an excuse that would be even vaguely viable.

Ron gasped dramatically. "Harry's got a girlfriend!" he sung.

Harry went slightly pink and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "No, I haven't got a girlfriend. I went into Hogsmeade to find a costume for the ball."

"Do you have a date yet for the ball?" Ron quizzed. He seemed perfectly satisfied with the excuse, even if Hermione wasn't. She was giving him those funny looks again.

"No. I haven't decided who to ask yet." If truth be told, Harry hadn't even considered asking anyone. He knew that he couldn't go with Draco, but he didn't want to ask anyone else either.

"So did you find a costume?" Hermione grilled.

"Yep, I did, as a matter of fact." It was true - he had bought a Jester's hat from the Muggle shop, and he had already picked out the spells he would need to change some of his clothes into a Jester's outfit.

"Good. It sure took you long enough. You were there all day, and it isn't even a Hogsmeade weekend."

"Did you decide yet then Herm? Cat, Fairy or Red Riding Hood?"

"Well, Parvati is going as a fairy and Lavender is going as a cat so that narrows down the options a little."

"Who's Red Riding Hood?" asked a confused Ron.

"It's a Muggle fairy tale Ron," Hermione informed him.

"Well if you're gonna dress up as this girl then I'd better know the story." Ron grinned cheekily.

Hermione sighed. "Once upon a time there was a girl called Little Red Riding Hood..."

*~*~*~*~*