Motivations for Sex

CHAPTER TWO: The Hogwarts Gay Straight Alliance

Monday and Tuesday were difficult school days for Harry. Already he wasn't particularly engaged in his studies, but anticipation for Tuesday night's Gay Straight Alliance meeting had him particularly distracted. McGonagall even called him out on Tuesday for not paying attention during Transfiguration, but Harry forgot what she said as soon as she had said it.

The others were excited, too, Harry could tell. They had been mightily miffed when Dumbledore wouldn't let them join the Order meetings (particularly Ron and Ginny), so they were happy to be involved in the war effort in whatever way possible. Infiltrating a random school group started by Draco was no more than a hill of beans compared to taking down Voldemort himself, but it was something.

Harry kept his own reasons for excitement to himself. There was no point in sharing with them, anyway--he likely wouldn't act on any desire to fuck Draco, and in any case, the Slytherin boy was probably straight.

And yet, despite these qualifications, Harry headed over to the Astronomy Tower student lounge with an uncommon tug of exhilaration in his stomach. He was almost there when he realized that he was 15 minutes early, and that he hadn't even thought to find any of the others. So he stopped a few hallways down and took a moment to collect himself.

This is about keeping an eye on Draco, Harry reminded himself, not about trying to fuck him. This is an assignment. I'm here to keep him from poisoning others with his Pureblood supremacy.

Then again, another part of his brain pointed out, what better for a supremacist git than to have the arrogance fucked out of him?

"Shut up, brain!" he said out loud. The portraits around him shot him weird side glances. "You don't need to fuck him."

"Why not, though?" one of the portraits said with a yawn. It was a Medieval priest with a severe lazy eye and an unsightly chancre on his lip. "It's not going to kill you, particularly after the syphilis remedy potion."

"It's not part of the plan!" Harry snapped back.

"It rarely ever is," the priest said reasonably. "It just sort of happens. Just go with it."

"That's awful advice!"

"Maybe," the priest conceded. "I did die, after all. But you only live once--might as well have a good time while you're at it!"

At that very moment, Hermione and Ron walked around the corner. "Heya Harry, why're you talking to the portrait?" Ron asked.

"Just giving him sage advice about sex," the priest said properly.

"He's trying to get me to fuck Malfoy!" Harry said heatedly. "I'm not going to do that!"

"But you are going to seduce him if he's gay," Hermione pointed out. "You might have to fuck him."

"No, I won't," Harry said, a little too quickly. "I'll figure out another way. In--in any case, don't side with this priest. He doesn't know what he's talking about--nobody dies from syphilis anymore!"

"I know that!" The priest insisted. "After the syphilis remedy potion--"

"Muggles don't die from syphilis anymore!" Harry interrupted.

"Actually, Harry, they do," Hermione said. "In the developing world--"

"It's almost 7:00!" Harry cut in, not wanting to get corrected yet again by Hermione. "Let's get to the student lounge." And he led the way, turning the corner and taking a staircase two steps at a time.

On the third-floor landing, instead of continuing up the flight of stairs to the top of the Astronomy Tower, they turned towards a modest wooden door. It was normally unadorned, but today it bore a sign: "HOGWARTS GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE." It was an incredibly well-made sign with golden text in the same font as Voldemort's ad campaign. Stained-glass filigree outlined the frame in rainbow hues--glimmering and glistening, but not at all gaudy.

"That's one bitchin' sign," Ron said, nodding his head in approval.

"Ron, language!" This came from Hermione.

"I'm just saying! I don't like to give Malfoy praise, but I'm not gonna lie."

Harry ignored them both and, with an ever-rising heartbeat, pushed open the door.

This student lounge was normally unassuming. It was not a huge room--with a few oaken desks with matching velvet-cushioned chairs, it could pretty easily fit two dozen people, but not much more. Today, the desks had been pushed to the side and the chairs formed a circle around the room. The deep violet curtains of a large alcove had been pulled back to reveal a wide window that afforded a brilliant view of the castle grounds and the sunset over the mountains.

Draco was there already, pouting at a string of multicolored lights affixed to the ceiling. He waved his wand to straighten them a little. Next to him, Crabbe and Goyle sat in two of the seats and fidgeted nervously, not sure where to look.

When Harry entered, the door creaked on its hinges, and Draco turned around. "Potter!" he spat. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for the Gay Straight Alliance," Harry said, staring stony-faced at the blonde little twink.

"Why the hell are you interested in a Gay Straight Alliance?" Draco accused.

"Because we're straight allies," Hermione said, striding through the door to join Harry. Ron followed at her heels. "We believe in standing up for everyone who has been marginalized and oppressed."

"But you can't join--it's not what I--you're going to ruin--" Draco stopped short of finishing his sentence and began a long string of curses under his breath. "Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger!"

"We're going to what?" Hermione said, a little innocently but also coldly.

"Merlin's goddamn beard," Draco swore again. He gritted his teeth and glared at them. "Welcome to Hogwarts's first Gay Straight Alliance," he said, his voice low and ragged, like it was being dragged through broken glass.

"Gee, thanks, Malfoy," Ron said, immediately taking a seat. "Are there refreshments?"

As if on cue, three house elves appeared with a pop and began piling one of the desks on the side with an array of finger foods, desserts, and beverages. Hermione opened her mouth to protest at the use of elf labor, but Harry nudged her in the ribs and muttered, "Don't cause a fuss!"

Hermione hmphed a little, but Ron jumped up and started helping himself to a little of everything. More accurately, to a lot of everything. He piled two plates with crackers, cheeses, cakes, tarts, and treacles, then gingerly returned to his seat with a plate in each hand and a non-alcoholic raspberry spritzer lodged in the crook of his elbow.

In the next ten uncomfortable minutes, a meager number of students trickled in, and at five minutes after 7:00, Malfoy looked around the room, sighed a little, and stepped into the center.

"Sonorus," he muttered, pointing at his throat. "WELCOME TO THE FIRST MEETING OF HOGW--goddammit Finite Incantatem!" His voice was painfully loud into the tiny lounge, and everyone winced as it bounced off the walls. Once the spell was canceled, though, he began talking again, this time at a much more manageable volume.

"Welcome to the first meeting of Hogwarts's Gay Straight Alliance. I'm--ah--delighted by the turnout."

He bit back another sigh and surveyed the small group of students, which barely amounted to more than a huddle. There was himself, Crabbe, and Goyle representing Slytherin. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat at the opposite side of the room with Luna, Ginny, and Neville (who arrived at 7:00 sharp). Other than that, the only other people to show up were Terry Boot, Orla Quirke, and Morag MacDougal from Ravenclaw.

Draco Malfoy glanced nervously around the intimate space before continuing. "I--I started this group so, uh, Hogwarts could have a safe space for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender witches and wizards. Because, um, that's important. Wizarding culture doesn't talk much about LGBT wizards and witches, so I thought it was high time to start talking about it. So I... I started this club for LGBT Hogwarts students and their straight allies."

Silence and fidgeting. Draco licked his lips and pressed forward. "Let's go around and introduce ourselves. Give your name, your sexual orientation and your preferred gender pronoun. Er, if you feel comfortable doing so."

Terry Boot raised a hand.

"It's not class, Boot," Draco sighed. "Just ask the question straight out."

"What's a preferred gender pronoun?" Terry asked nervously.

"It's the gender pronoun you prefer to go by," Hermione butted in. "Some people don't identify with the gender they were assigned to at birth, so it's good not to assume someone prefers he because they look like a boy, or her because they look like a girl."

"Thank you, Granger," Draco said, his voice laden with sarcasm, "for answering a question that wasn't even aimed at you. But yes, Terry, that's what a preferred gender pronoun is."

Draco clapped his hands together and said, "Okay, I'll start. I'm Draco Malfoy, I'm, uh, straight, and I prefer he or him."

He waved at Orla Quirke to his left. The third-year eeped a little and said, "I'm--I'm Orla Quirke... You can call me Orla... I'm, uhhhhh, straight? And I go by she/her."

Then Terry Boot. "I'm Terry... I'm... straight. Um, he/him."

Ron next. "I'm Ron Weasley--call me Ron. I'm straight, and I prefer him."

Hermione gave him a pat on the back and went next. "My name is Hermione Granger. I identify as straight, and my preferred gender pronouns are she and her."

She motioned to Neville. "Neville Longbottom. I'm straight, I go by he and him."

Luna hummed faintly for a second before going herself. "I'm Luna.... straight... she..."

Harry shuffled his feet, knowing he was next. He cleared his throat and modulated his voice in hopes that he'd sound confident and masculine. "I'm Harry Potter... duh, haha." Terry and Orla smiled faintly at the joke, but everyone was still too shy to laugh. This made Harry more nervous as he plowed on. "I'm... I'm straight."

Lies, his nefarious brain reminded him. You want to fuck Draco. You've been looking at his blonde hair since the meeting began, wishing you had the chance to yank it back and bite at his neck.

"I'm straight," he repeated again, trying to quell his unruly thoughts. "And I go by he and him."

He tried desperately not to blush, and he was grateful nobody in the room was skilled at Occlumency. Hopefully, too, they couldn't read any expression on his face.

The intro continued without a hitch, though, with Ginny: "I'm Ginny Weasley, I'm straight, and I'm a she."

Then: "Morag MacDougal. Um, straight. She/her."

Then next was Crabbe. A long silence passed, at least fifteen seconds, as he stared at everyone with his mouth open. Then he said, "I don't get it."

"You're introducing yourself," Draco hissed at him. "Your name, your sexual orientation, and your preferred gender pronoun."

"Uh... okay. What do those mean?"

"Start with your name!" Draco ground his teeth in frustration. "Your goddamned name--Vincent Crabbe!"

"Oh! I'm Vincent Crabbe. And I'm.... what's next?"

"Your sexual orientation! Straight, gay, bisexual?"

"I don't get it."

Hermione, ever eager to help, put in, "Are you into boys or girls?"

Crabbe stared at her for a second, then said, "You mean, like, for having sex?"

"Yes, you dummy!" Draco snapped at him.

"I haven't been in anyone yet," Crabbe said. "I'm a virgin."

Draco threw his hands up and turned away in frustration. "Ohhh my fucking God. Crabbe! Which the fuck do you think you like?"

"To have sex with? Wait... wha--why would I have sex with boys? That's gross."

"CRABBE!" Draco yelped. "This is a Gay Straight Alliance! You're not supposed to say that! We accept people of all sexual orientations!"

He took three paces forward, then three paces back, running his fingers through his blonde hair in deep frustration. Harry's lips parted as he imagined his own fingers in place of Draco's. He wanted to get that Slytherin even more bothered than Crabbe could!

Draco huffed and said shortly, "Okay, guys, I apologize for Crabbe's remarks. His name is Crabbe, he's straight, he's dumb as rocks, and he goes by he and him. Okay, Goyle, your turn."

There was another fifteen seconds of silence, and then Goyle said, "I... I don't get it."

*****

Once the awkward introductions were over, the meeting started. Draco gave them a history lesson about various important witches and wizards who happened to be LGBT, and afterwards they had a discussion on these wizards and on how they could draw inspiration from them. Harry tried hard to determine if Malfoy was sneaking anything nefarious into the lesson, but apart from the fact that all the wizards and witches were Purebloods, nothing stuck out at him.

The meeting ended at 8:00. Malfoy sent them off with a request that they bring their friends with them next time. Most people didn't hang around any longer, though Ron made sure to heap up another plateful of sweets. Harry lingered over a raspberry spritzer as an excuse to stay longer, hoping to catch Malfoy alone.

Hermione cast Harry a questioning look as she stood in the doorway. Harry tried to communicate that he wanted her to leave so he could have Malfoy alone. And she was no dummy, so she took the hint, dragging Ron with her.

Malfoy was too busy packing up his presentation to notice who stayed and who left, but when it was just him and Harry in the room, he finally looked up.

"Potter," he said curtly. Had he been angry, Harry was sure he would have spat the words, or snarled.

Merlin's beard, he wished Draco had snarled!

"Good meeting, Malfoy," Harry said sincerely, though with no hint of friendliness. "I do believe I learned some things about gay wizards."

"I'm nothing if not thorough," Draco said with a chill, turning his gaze away from Harry.

"Ron liked your sign outside," Harry continued. "It was good craftsmanship."

"House elves made it."

"You're the first student to start a Gay Straight Alliance at Hogwarts. I'm impressed."

Draco sighed and turned his head towards Harry, looking him directly in the eyes. "Why are you here, Potter?"

"I could ask you the same question... Malfoy." Harry did not raise his voice. Nor did he move. Nor did he betray any sort of agitation, though a sudden spasm of pure exhilaration burst through him. He kept his whole body still, but he felt the emotion escape through his burning gaze.

Draco Malfoy was still looking directly at Harry, and for a long moment his cold, grey eyes locked on Harry's green ones. Draco froze, as if transfixed, and his lips parted. Another spasm shot through Harry, but this time it was more than exhilaration--it was arousal. He wanted to see that look on Draco again--unexpectedly vulnerable, spellbound, and a little afraid--but next time when the blonde boy was tangled around him, or underneath him, or bent backwards with his legs over Harry's shoulders.

The Slytherin boy shook himself suddenly, as if to clear away a fog in his brain. Without looking at Harry, he strode over to the refreshments table to pour himself a glass of chilled pumpkin juice.

"I'm here because I care about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender wizards," Draco said formally. "I'm bringing awareness to LGBT issues at Hogwarts." He took a long sip of pumpkin juice, his head tilted back to expose his neck and his bobbing adam's apple.

Harry wasn't sure what to do or say next. What he wished to do was to knock the glass of pumpkin juice out of Draco's hands, sweep the refreshments off the table, bend the skinny blonde over the tablecloth, and grind his erection in the Slytherin's clothed arse.

But that wouldn't take his investigation any further. Sadly.

No, he needed to be more patient, and more subtle.

So, after pulling at his collar and shifting his robes around his tenting crotch, Harry said quietly, "It's just unexpected, is all. Draco Malfoy, champion of diversity."

He finished up his raspberry spritzer in one long swig, then set the goblet on the table. "I guess there's more to you than meets the eyes, Malfoy." He didn't know if he meant to be sarcastic or not, but the comment came out sounding mostly serious.

Malfoy neither took nor rejected the compliment. He simply stood by the refreshment table, trying not to look directly at Harry. The Gryffindor let loose a little smile. He meant it to be cold, more like a smirk, but another spasm of arousal warmed it up well beyond what he intended. "I'll see you next week."

And he left feeling much too excited, considering he hadn't in any way discovered Draco Malfoy's motive. He took the steps two at a time, replaying in his mind the look in Draco's grey eyes when they had locked gazes.

Before he had much longer to fantasize, though, a silver otter Patronus burst around the corner and stopped inches from Harry's face. "Harry," the otter said in Hermione's voice. "Come to the Room of Requirement for a debriefing."

So Harry followed Hermione's Patronus back to the Room of Requirement, where his five friends were waiting for him. This time the room had fashioned itself into a red-lit hookah lounge with massive cushions instead of seats. Ron and Neville sat cross-legged next to each other, exchanging puffs on the hookah's gold-encrusted pipe.

"So what do you think?" Harry said immediately when he arrived. He was too giddy for the atmosphere, and Ron shot him a strange look.

"You're killing the vibe, Harry," he said.

"I think," Hermione said primly, tugging the pipe from Ron's hand, "that we accomplished nothing. Not to be a downer or anything." She took a long, slow drag on the hookah herself, much to Neville's amusement.

"I didn't know you smoked, Hermione," he laughed.

"I appreciate the cultural richness of hookah," Hermione said formally. "And besides, the nicotine content is very low compared to other forms of smoking.

"But back to the meeting," Ginny said, taking her own turn at the hookah. "Hermione's right, we didn't accomplish anything."

Luna sat a couple meters back from the hookah, smoking on a personal pipe that the room had provided her. It was almost as long as she was, and it emitted clouds of thick, purple smoke. "We did accomplish something, though," she said. "We know that Draco's gay."

Everyone turned to look at her. Harry's face lit up, even though he tried to conceal how happy her statement made him.

"No, Luna," Hermione said, making an effort to sound patient. "We don't know that. Whatever gave you the idea, definitively, that Malfoy is gay?"

"He just is," Luna said matter-of-factly. "The Nargles told me."

"That's not enough, Luna!" Hermione huffed. "We need more! Malfoy even said during the meeting that he identifies as straight."

"So did Morag," Luna said. "So did Terry, and I once found a copy of Playwitch on his bed. Everyone's just saying they're straight, because it's their first time, and they're too scared to say otherwise."

"Hey, I'm straight!" Ron said, a little defensively.

"Yes, but Malfoy isn't," Luna said. "He's gay. And I think he's very susceptible to Harry's charm."

"Are you sure, Luna?" Harry said. He schooled his voice so that he sounded cautious instead of overeager. "Are you sure Malfoy is gay?"

Luna nodded. "I really do believe so. I think, Harry, it's up to you to seduce him and discover his tricks."

There was a few seconds of silence. Then Hermione coughed and said, "We still have nothing to go off of. Maybe someone is trying to wriggle out of having to seduce Draco!"

Harry scooched over to the hookah and took a very long puff. As smoke spilled out of his nose and mouth, he said, "Now wait a moment, Hermione. I trust Luna's judgment. Sure, she has a different way of seeing things, but I'd trust her with my life."

He meant this from the bottom of his heart, of course, but he also just really wanted the excuse to go after Draco hardcore with his friends' unwitting approval.

"I'd trust you with my life, too, Luna!" Hermione insisted. "But I don't know if I'd trust you with my privates. No offense."

"None taken," Luna said. "I might melt your ovaries. But do trust me with Draco's privates. He is gay. And I think he's ripe for seduction by Harry Potter."

"So assuming that he actually is gay," Hermione said slowly, "it's still another leap to say that he's ripe for seduction by Harry."

"Gee, thanks, Hermione," Harry said with light sarcasm.

"I don't mean it like that!" Hermione insisted. "You may not be as bumbling and loveable as Ron, and you don't have sexy red hair, but you're hot in a conventional sense! And you're rich."

"Geeee, thanks," Harry repeated, this time with real sarcasm laden in his voice. "I'm conventionally hot and rich. Just what I've always wanted."

"To be fair, mate," Ron said, "I'd take that any day."

"But back on subject," Hermione said, blushing furiously. "Malfoy hates Harry. That's no grounds for seduction."

"Actually," Ginny piped up, "that's perfect grounds for seduction. I can think of plenty people I hate that I'd want to fuck."

"Precisely, Ginny," Luna said, giving the redheaded girl a warm smile. "So, Harry, the pressure's on you now. You must seduce Draco."

Harry gulped theatrically (though it was really to cover a gulp of excitement). "Welp, I signed up for it," he said, trying to sound brave instead of excited. "But that means you all must come up with a plan."

"I already have one," Luna said. "Use your Marauder's Map to run into Draco--before the next meeting, mind. We don't have seven days to waste. And then strike up conversation."

"About what?" Harry said. The only things he could think of saying to Draco right now were extremely filthy and of a sexual nature.

"Say that you've been thinking about his motives," Luna suggested, "And say that you figure it's because someone who's close to him is gay. Tell him about someone close to you who's gay--make them up if you have to. But just see where it goes."

"And if it doesn't work?" Harry asked.

"Come back to us," Luna said, "and we'll think of something else. We'll always be thinking of new ideas. Harry, we're here to back you up and be your brains. It's your job to act."

And Harry was very touched by that. He gave Luna a hug and thanked her for her loyalty. Hermione was also touched by this display, and she joined the hug, and soon all six of them were huddled around Harry, giving him the support he needed.

They acted like they were sending him into battle. But Harry was absolutely giddy with excitement. He was going to seduce Draco Malfoy! It was time to put their plan to action.

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