Let the Darkness Take You

Let the Darkness Take You

Chapter Fifteen

~~~~~

Harry slowly blinked his eyes open and stared out the window. It was still night-time... But what night was it? He could not really be sure what time it was or how much time had lapsed. For one thing, he could not remember what had happened. Why was he waking at night, feeling wide awake? Harry stretched luxuriously with a catlike sound and then sat up. His eyes widened in surprise when he found Snape sitting on his couch, an amused smirk planted on his face.

“Charming, Potter. Do you always make those kinds of sounds when you wake?”

“Er... I... I...”

Another smirk and Snape stood up. “Glad to see you’re back to yourself. How are you feeling?”

“I’m... feeling all right. Why are you asking me...” Very suddenly, Harry remembered what had happened. He almost became a Death Eater, he had threatened Snape’s life, and Ron’s, and Sirius’s. A sudden feeling of nausea swept over him and then his expression hardened as he remembered that he should not feel guilty about Sirius. “I’m feeling like myself again.... I’m sorry for… you know... threatening your life and all that.”

“Well, it would not be the first time a student has done so. I’m still waiting for Miss Granger’s threat on my life when I give her a grade of which she does not approve of.”

Harry cracked a smile and gave a small laugh. “Yeah... but still, I’m sorry for not being more careful, Professor. This could have been avoided if I would have been a little smarter about things.”

“Potter, as much as I’d like to pin this on your Gryffindor stupidity, I cannot. To be quite honest, I am impressed.”

Harry stared for a few moments before coming over his shock. “Excuse me? I’ve managed to impress you?” he asked incredulously.

“Not a word to anybody else, Potter. This stays between us,” Snape replied with the smallest of smiles quirking the corner of his mouth. “The mere fact that you fought Black off for so long, is quite impressive. I owe it to the fact that you are able to throw the Imperius off, but you know, since what Black did was invade your mind and made you believe things are real, it was harder to fight off.”

“I’ll... I’ll take that as a compliment then,” said Harry faintly. “Professor - what happened to Sirius?”

“He is in the custody of the Ministry of Magic now, awaiting a trial.”

“They should throw him into Azkaban and lock away the key,” Harry said, venomously and then thought of something. “Do they know he’s an Animagus?”

“Yes. To be quite fair, Potter, he was sent to prison once before without a trial and he turned out to be innocent.”

“I don’t think that that is possible this time. I swear, I’ll get him for this.” Harry looked darkly at the carpet as if it had been the one to wrong him all his life. Snape uncomfortably cleared his throat.

“By the way, Potter, nice password. 'Gryffindor really sucks?’ I never knew you had it in you.”

Harry blushed and looked down at his hands. “Erm - yeah. I should probably change that, shouldn’t I?” Snape was spared from making a comment when the door opened to reveal a sombre but yet very happy Albus Dumbledore.

“That won’t be necessary, Harry. You’ll be moving back into the Gryffindor dormitories soon enough.”

“But... the last time I went in there, Ron, Seamus, and Dean tried to beat me up.”

“Ah, well” the professor began as he moved into the room, “those were unfortunate circumstances that have been remedied.” They both turned as the door clicked softly shut. Snape had left quietly, leaving them to talk in private.

“They’ve been remedied, sir?”

“Yes. Professor Snape drafted the antidote for the Semi Vivus potion, administered it to all the teachers late last night, and then I had the house elves send some up to the dormitories for the students to drink when they woke. I wrote a note so that everybody would drink it. Then we performed the counter spell, though the hate basically wore off when the antidote was administered.”

“It was the Semi Vivus potion? I had only been making that up when I asked Professor Snape about it.”

Dumbledore sent a questioning look, and Harry began to elaborate, knowing what the Headmaster wanted. “I... well, I had wanted an excuse to talk to him. I kind of wanted to know where he went when he was summoned to Voldemort.”

“So you could go there yourself.”

Harry nodded his head and looked down at his hands. Dumbledore sat on the edge of the bed and sighed. “I’m sorry, Harry, for letting this happen. I’m also sorry for what I did to you at the beginning of term. I would never have done or wanted to do that to you had it not been for the potion.”

“It’s okay. Draco brought me food afterwards. And it’s not your fault for trusting Sirius... I trusted him,” he added quietly, his heart clenching painfully in his chest.

“I wish there was something I could do for you that would make the pain of losing him go away, but I cannot. I know how you felt about him.”

“I just don’t understand, Professor!” Harry finally exploded. “Remus said that he was so excited about me living with him at the beginning of the summer holidays last summer. How could he have changed so much in no more than three weeks? I mean, he must have just woke up one morning and been like, ‘I hate Harry. What’s the best way to spite him? Hmm... I think I’ll become a Death Eater and make everybody hate him, and then turn him into a Death Eater.’ It doesn’t make sense.”

Dumbledore put a comforting hand on Harry’s shoulder. “I know. But all we can do is hope for the best.”

Harry gave him a miserable look. “It can’t get any better. I don’t have a hope for getting out of the Dursley’s anymore until I leave Hogwarts. And I just lost my godfather. He was my one connection to my mum and dad.”

“There’s always Remus.”

“I know... but I can’t live with him. He’s not considered human.”

Dumbledore sighed again and stood up. “Don’t worry about it right now, Harry. You need your rest. I’ll let you miss classes tomorrow to continue your recuperation. I’m also sure it will give you plenty of time to wonder what you’re going to say to Mr. Weasley when you see him.”

Harry visibly paled and sunk down into his mattress. “He hates me, doesn’t he?”

“Understandably, he is very angry. I think that given time, he will see that it was not really you acting like that, and will want to be your friend again. So, Harry, would you like visitors tomorrow?”

“No. I just want to be alone for a while before I go back into the school.”

“Very well. I’ll have the house elves send food up for your meals. Oh, and one more thing, I have a dreamless sleep potion for you. I have a feeling that Voldemort is not going to be very happy with you. He knows of your scar now, does he not?”

“He does.”

“Then I have no doubt he will use it against you. Professor Snape offered to keep making the remedy that Voldemort found for you but it won’t block out what Voldemort deliberately sends you.” Harry groaned and rolled onto his side to reach for the offered vial of potion.

“Thank you, sir,” he said after he gulped down the contents.

“You are welcome. Sleep well, Harry.”

However, Harry did not hear the Headmaster because he had already fallen fast asleep.

***

“Harry Potter, sir! Wake up. Dobby has brought you breakfast!”

Harry woke slowly, put his glasses on and looked at the little house elf that was standing next to his bed. “Morning, Dobby.”

“Good morning. Dobby is bringing you your breakfast, sir.”

“Thanks, Dobby. I’m starving. I haven’t eaten for... two days, I think.”

This statement made Dobby’s large brown eyes go wide, and he immediately shoved the tray of food in front of Harry. “Harry Potter must eat. Dobby is making this himself. Headmaster Dumbledore told Dobby to put extra vitamins in it so that Harry Potter is feeling better. He is telling Dobby that Harry has been through a lot this school year.”

“I have,” Harry replied, taking a bite out of toast.

“Oh, Harry Potter should have come to Dobby! Dobby would be happy to help the noble Harry Potter anytime.”

“And that’s why you scare me, Dobby.”

Harry smiled widely to take the edge of his words away, and Dobby returned it. “Dobby is needed in the kitchens, Harry Potter, sir. Dobby will bring Harry’s lunch later.”

“Thanks.”

With a small pop, Dobby was gone. After Harry finished his breakfast, he realised that he did not know what to do. He started to desperately wish that Dobby would come back to just talk. The silence of the room was overbearing, making Harry’s thoughts unbearably loud. After sitting down at the window, Harry looked out over the grounds, seeing the Sixth year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs walking to the Herbology greenhouses. Harry swallowed thickly as he caught sight of the head of flaming red hair; that was without a no doubt Ron. Hermione’s brown head was next to him. Hermione seemed to be talking very seriously about something, but Ron was only scowling and making furious hand gestures when he answered to Hermione’s comments. Harry had a nasty feeling that he knew about what they were talking about. Well, he knew how Ron felt about him becoming a Death Eater, especially since Harry had tortured and almost killed him.... Again, Harry swallowed at the thought and watched the class walk into greenhouse four.

The ebony- haired boy sighed and leaned his forehead against the cold glass. Outside, the wind was blowing fiercely, and foreboding clouds were swirling overhead, promising a good storm later on in the day. The windows whistled from the wind and Harry shivered violently as a slight breeze met his bare chest. As Harry looked up at the dark clouds, his thoughts wandered to his impending meeting with his friends. So, they did not exactly hate him before, but would they hate him now that he had done such terrible things? Knowing that they could possibly hate him of their own free will was worse than anything that Harry had felt since the whole ordeal began. Harry had figured from almost the beginning that the hate had been superficial. There was no counter curse for real hate. If there was anything that could be done to get Ron and Hermione to forgive him for everything he had done, Harry would do it in an instant.

Then to top it all off, Harry fancied Draco Malfoy, of all people. That was the just the cherry on top of all the bitter ice cream. The trio’s most hated enemy next to Voldemort for the past five years of their lives. Well, if Harry had to choose between his friends and Draco - he would pick his friends....

Then Harry’s stomach clenched painfully at the thought of losing Draco. Draco had been the best during the school year thus far. Even when they were pulling nasty pranks on each other, Draco’s were always mild, petty jokes, the way they always had been. Harry’s jokes had nearly killed Draco. Shuddering, Harry felt another fear fall over him. What would happen if Draco rejected Harry because he was so mad at him for everything? What if Draco did not love Harry anymore?

More importantly, was that dream the other night, real? Was Draco really talking to him in his sleep? Did they really confess their feelings toward each other? A warm feeling spread over Harry and he sighed with contentment, even though he did not know if the dream had been real. It felt real. It just had to be real. Draco just had to love him. Harry did not know what he would do if Draco did end up rejecting him. The only thing Harry wanted was for them to be together. ...To be each other’s boyfriends.

“Boyfriend,” he whispered aloud to himself. “Oh, god.... Ginny.”

Harry let out a frustrated growl and buried his fingers into his hair. Ginny would be devastated when she found out that Harry was not attracted to girls, that he was gay.…. That he was attracted to Draco Malfoy. His emerald eyes widened even further.... What would everybody think when they found out he was gay? They would ostracise him from the group again. He would be even more of a freak to Uncle Vernon, and Aunt Petunia. Dudley might be a little more accepting... but that one could go either way. Harry’s breathing started to become shallow, and he found it hard to breathe. A loud pop sounded by him, but he did not look up. His breathing was becoming more erratic.

“Harry Potter, sir! What is wrong with him?” Dobby yelled. Harry could not say anything; he just waved his hands around madly. Dobby looked extremely panicked and disappeared with a small pop, to only appear a few panicked moments later with a small brown paper bag. Harry grabbed it without hesitation and placed the opening to his mouth, calming his breathing. After a minute, still breathing deeply, Harry pulled the bag away from his face and slumped against the stone wall behind him, hands shaking uncontrollably.

“Oh, Dobby. My life is completely over. I’ve messed my life up so badly.”

“Harry’s life is not over yet, sir. He is still young and have lots of life ahead of him.”

“I know, Dobby. I’ve just messed so many things up with my friends. I was grovelling on my hands and knees to Voldemort, I nearly killed Ron, I’m going to end up breaking Ginny’s heart, I almost killed Draco, I’m gay, I’m about to be ostracised from the school again when people find out, and so many other things besides that I’ll regret for the rest of my life.”

Dobby just patted Harry’s knee and jumped up onto the window to sit beside him. “How did you know to come here right now, anyway, Dobby?”

“Headmaster Dumbledore is telling Dobby to keep an eye on Harry Potter so that nothing is happening. So, Dobby is putting a charm on Harry while he is sleeping. It tells Dobby if there is something wrong with Harry Potter. Dobby is coming right away.”

“Thanks. You actually managed to save me without mortally injuring me, or almost getting me expelled.” Dobby offered a toothy grin.

“If Harry Potter is better now, Dobby will be going back to the kitchens now.”

“No! Dobby, I can’t handle being alone right now. I might start thinking too much again... can you - can you stay with me for a little while?. I’m sure Dumbledore won’t mind. He does want you to watch me.”

“Harry Potter wants me to stay with him?”

“If you would, yes.”

“Oh, Dobby will!” Dobby exclaimed happily. “This room is needing to be cleaned!”

“No, Dobby!” Harry cried as the elf jumped to its feet. “No cleaning right now. Do you know how to play Exploding Snap?”

Dobby’s large eyes grew even larger and he shook his head vigorously, making his ears flap wildly. “Well, I’ll teach you then. Come on.” Harry pulled the elf to the couch and pulled out his cards. He then proceeded to teach Dobby the finer points in playing Exploding Snap. Harry had an altogether enjoyable day laughing at Dobby’s surprise when the large pile of cards exploded in their faces, singeing hair off and making brown scorch marks on their skin. Dobby left an hour before dinnertime, saying that he needed to help the other house elves with the meal. Harry then did homework for the rest of the night, took the dreamless sleep potion and fell into a peaceful sleep.

When Harry opened his eyes the next morning, it was to find that Dobby had invited himself over once more and was opening up all the curtains. “Morning, Dobby. Are we going to make this a tradition?”

“If that is what Harry Potter is wanting. Headmaster Dumbledore is sending Dobby here to wake Harry Potter. Breakfast began ten minutes ago and he is wanting Harry there.”

“I... I... can you just bring me it or something?”

“No. Dobby is sorry, but Dobby has been ordered to make sure that Harry Potter is attending breakfast. The Headmaster says it is good for Harry to go. Dobby is laying sir’s clothes by his feet. Dobby will be back in ten minutes to make sure sir is going to breakfast.”

“No. No, that’s okay. I’ll go.”

“Dobby has orders to escort you there. Dobby is not wanting to let down his boss.”

Harry smiled a little and climbed out of bed, putting his glasses on. “Okay. Come back in ten minutes,” Harry said, forcing a smile onto his face.

Harry quickly dressed, and waited the few minutes for Dobby to come back. When he came, it took a few moments for Harry to get the courage to just open the door, but when he did, he made sure to hold his head up high and walk with his shoulders back. The two walked to the Great Hall in silence. Harry felt as though his heart was echoing throughout the entire castle for everybody to hear when the doors came into view. If it had not been for Dobby’s presence, he probably would have turned on his heel and fled back to his room. But, Dobby was there, literally pushing him forward. “I got it, Dobby. Thanks.”

“Dobby is watching here, Harry Potter, sir.”

Harry sighed, defeated and walked to the doors, and cautiously opened one of them. To his horror, most of the school was assembled at the house tables, eating in a rush so that they would not be late to their first classes of the day. Dobby gave him one last push and disappeared with a pop. Harry took a few steps in before everybody noticed him and fell into a hushed silence. His proud demeanour fell as his head fell to look at his feet and his shoulders slumped in guilt and embarrassment. Whispers broke out as Harry walked to the end of the Gryffindor table where there were at least five empty seats. Every couple steps, Harry would take furtive looks around him and find people pointing, staring, and whispering behind their hands. It was worse when Harry sat down, only to catch Ron’s eye.

The red hair boy looked at Harry with an unmistakable look of fury, and betrayal. Harry lowered his eyes in shame and half-heartedly dug in to his food. Harry refused to look up anymore after that. The whispers became louder and somebody even yelled, ‘Death Eater filth,’ at Harry. An irritated ‘tsk’ sounded across the room, and a chair scraped across the stone floor making the whispers stop. Still, Harry refused to look up.

“You all know that Potter is perfectly harmless,” drawled a condescending voice. “He’s rather like a... smaller version of Hagrid.”

Scattered chuckles sounded throughout the cavernous room and chattering started up again along with the sound of forks clanging against plates. Harry continued to poke at his food when a warm hand laid itself on his left shoulder. Breath hitching in his throat, Harry tensed, knowing to whom that hand belonged to.

“Anybody sitting here, Potter?”

A small smile quirked the corner of Harry’s mouth and he looked up almost shyly to meet the shining silver eyes above him. Harry shook his head dumbly, unable to get out anything out.

“Mind if I sit by you then?”

“No,” Harry croaked out. “Go ahead.”

The two boys were so busy staring at each other that they did not even notice the silence that had descended upon the hall again, or even the surprised whisperings once Harry agreed to Draco’s request. Draco set his plate of food down and sat down, reluctantly breaking eye contact. The two ate in silence, not looking at each other, or anybody else. Not long after Draco sat, Ron walked by and sent Harry a glare that made him shrink down in his seat.

“Ron,” Harry said. He could not be sure if Ron just had not heard him or if he just chose to ignore him. Either way, he did not think there was anything that would make the aching in him to go away. That is until Draco placed a discreet hand on his knee. Then he was filled with a different sort of ache. Harry offered a small smile and twined his fingers through his.

Draco raised an elegant eyebrow. “Are you holding my hand, Potter?” he said quietly.

“I suppose I am,” Harry said just as quietly, face turning a brilliant shade of red. Draco smiled, and squeezed Harry’s hand in reassurance. They finished their meal with joined hands.

“We’re going to be late for Care of Magical Creatures,” Draco announced suddenly. Both of them stood in unison and, turned to leave but were stopped when Hermione called out to Harry.

Harry turned in trepidation, waiting for the blow to fall. He could also feel the underlying feelings of anger towards the girl. Resentment sneaked up on him so quickly that he was quite taken aback to be feeling them so suddenly. Why exactly hadn’t Hermione and Ron known that there was something wrong? Couldn’t they have felt something was amiss? Harry swallowed these feelings as best he could. After all, they were not to blame just as much as he wasn’t to blame for almost becoming a Death Eater. They were victims just as much as Harry, himself was one. Hermione was standing directly behind him by the time he managed to get all his body parts working again. “Harry,” she said, voice choked up.

“Hermione,” Harry replied, looking down at his feet, unable to look her in the eyes in fear that he might not ever want to be her friend again, and in the fear that there would still be rejection in her eyes.

Her gentle hand was placed under his chin and she lifted his face up so that they could look each other in the eye. Harry let out a shaky breath when he saw the sorrow and warmth emanating from her brown eyes. “Don’t you dare be ashamed of yourself, Harry Potter. We were all victims here. Nothing you did was your fault.”

Harry felt his eyes well up with tears as a large weight was lifted from his chest. Hermione’s eyes were looking extremely wet. “Harry... I’m s...”

“Don’t!” Harry commanded. “Don’t apologise. There’s nothing to be forgiven. I know that you would never willingly hate me... But I think you also must know that I still am feeling angry about all of this. I know it’s unjustified to be angry with you, but I can’t help but feel betrayed. You’ve been one of my best friends for five years, and then to just have you hate me one day with so much passion... God... it was terrible. I’ve never felt more alone in my entire life.” Hermione opened her mouth to speak but Harry shook his head fiercely and she stopped. “I think that I owe you an apology. I knew something was wrong, and I knew that there was somebody in my head, telling me what was right and wrong, but I didn’t do anything about it because I was afraid. If I had taken action... done something... I’d like to think that we would have had more time together this term as friends. I would like to think that things would not have gone as far as they did. And for that, I’m sorry.”

“Harry... please let me speak for a moment. I will apologise now, because I feel I need to. I feel so stupid for not seeing that something was wrong. For the first time in my life, I failed to recognise that something was terribly, terribly wrong. I remember thinking a few times, though it was always foggy, that I shouldn’t hate you, and I didn’t know why I did. It was all so confusing, but there was always this fog in my mind, blocking me from seeing what was really there. It wouldn’t let me see you for the great friend and person that you are. It wouldn’t let me see that I love you just as much as I do Ron...” Hermione blushed. “Well, I suppose I love him in a different sort of way, but you get my point. So, I’m truly sorry for everything I said and did in these past months, Harry. I really am. I’m just kind of hoping... that we can work on getting things back to normal around here.”

Harry hesitated, but when he thought of it, he couldn’t see himself without the support of his two best friends. They were a part of his small family, and he could never willingly let them go... especially not without a fight. Harry nodded and let the corners of his mouth quirk up in a small smile.

A single tear fell down Hermione’s face and she threw her arms around Harry’s neck, hugging him fiercely. “I know it didn’t seem like it before, but I’ve missed you terribly. I didn’t realise it until the other day though,” she added sheepishly as she pulled away, wiping tears off of her face.

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, Hermione.” The two grinned stupidly at each other before Hermione threw her bag over her shoulder, and linked her arm through Harry’s.

“Shall we go to class?”

“We shall. Come on, Dra... Where did he go?” Harry asked, looking around when he realised that the blond was no longer with them.

“I saw him slip out when I started talking to you. Come on. We’ll be late.” They started walking out of the castle towards Hagrid’s hut, and Harry could feel Hermione looking intently at his profile.

“What are you staring at?”

“Since when did you call Malfoy, Draco?”

Harry fought off the blush that was threatening, telling himself that friends called each other by their first names, and that is exactly why he did…. Which was partly true. “Well, ever since he became my friend.”

“And that would be since this morning?” Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Er - no. Since Halloween, I think it was.”

“But... he was telling Ron and I just how much he hated you one time not too long ago. We...” Hermione blushed but continued on. “We were even planning all these pranks against you together. They never worked... but that’s beside the point.”

“Tell me, Hermione... how do you suppose they managed to fail every time?”

“... Oh. He sabotaged them, didn’t he?”

“Yes, he did. Professor Snape wanted to see why you two had just started hating me one day. Draco was that key since he could act like you were comparing notes.”

“Wait, Snape?”

“Long story. I’ll tell you later. Can you just be, I don’t know, civil towards Draco? He’s not nearly as bad as we’ve always thought. He’s on our side, you know.”

“I’ll be civil as long as he is.”

“Fair enough.”

They stopped walking as they came to where their class was assembled, waiting for class to begin. Draco sauntered up to Harry’s side and elbowed him lightly in the side. “All right over here with the Gryffindors?”

Harry elbowed him back with a shy smile. “With me and Hermione, so far. Yes.”

“Hermione and I,” Draco corrected with a smug grin.

“Shut up. Since when do you get to correct my grammar?”

“Since I saved you from becoming a Death Eater, that’s when.”

Harry looked to his shoes and frowned. “Yeah... thanks for that, by the way,” he said quietly. Draco put a hand on his shoulder again, rubbing small circles, and slowly moving down his back.

“You’re welcome,” Draco whispered as his hand came to a partial standstill in the small of Harry’s back, still rubbing circles. Harry fought to keep his eyes from fluttering shut. Warmth, comfort, and an unbelievable ache to fall into Draco’s body were overwhelming him at the soothing touch. Harry found his body moving closer to the Slytherin’s, and his own hand moving to Draco’s waist, slowly snaking around his waist. Before anything became noticeable, Draco pulled away. “Class,” he whispered to Harry’s bewildered look. Harry came back to his senses and moved closer to Hermione again, who was giving them a calculating look.

“Hermione,” Draco said, moving to stand in front of her. Hermione looked a little startled, and just stared at the boy in front of her, who was now holding out his hand. “I’m sorry for calling you a Mudblood and all the other things I have done to you over the years. Do you think we could make it official now? I didn’t really want to be your friend earlier this year...” Draco swallowed hard with a pained look on his face. “But now I think I do.”

Very slowly, Hermione took Draco’s hand in her own and a small smile quirked the corners of her mouth. “And I’m sorry for slapping you, Draco.” Draco lifted an eyebrow, and gave a lopsided smile, making Harry’s breath catch in his throat. So beautiful, he thought disjointedly.

“What? That little slap? That hardly hurt at all. Besides, I probably deserved it... the arrogant little prat I used to be and all.”

“Used to be?” Harry scoffed.

“Okay, so I still am. Can you blame me, Harry? I am damn gorgeous, have unmarred skin, perfect features, unusual eyes, tame hair,” he added, looking pointedly at Harry’s hair. Harry scowled and tried to flatten his hair. Draco laughed. “Keep trying, it won’t get you anywhere. I already tried one time. It didn’t work.” Harry gave him a confused look but overlooked it as Draco kept talking. “Anyway, where was I? Tame hair, perfect lips. Wouldn’t you say they’re good for kissing, Harry?” Harry glanced at Hermione, and blushed to the roots of his hair when he saw the inquiring look she was giving both of them. “I know they are. The last boy I kissed didn’t have a problem with it. He was quite a grunter when we snogged.”

Hermione let out a laugh. “Who was it? Crabbe, Goyle?” Draco gave her an offended look.

“Do you think I’m that desperate?” Draco turned to Harry, wearing a devilish smile. “No. But I think that Harry knows who the boy is though.”

Harry felt his face turn even more red and he adamantly avoided Hermione’s gaze. “Oh... oh look, there’s Hagrid. He’s been talking all this time. Perhaps we should listen.” Sneaking one last look behind him, Harry crept through the crowds, trying to get away from Hermione and Draco. He stopped at the front, sat down and started playing with a Kneazle. Moments later, Hagrid informed then to get a Kneazle, stooped down and picked Harry up in a tight hug. The rest of the lesson spent playing with the cats, and talking to Hagrid. Harry could not stop grinning for the entire class period.

After dinner, Hermione, Draco, and Harry were gathered in Harry’s room. Dumbledore had granted Harry permission to use it until either the situation settled down, or the term ended. Hermione was currently busy looking around the room, fascinated that two Slytherins had actually combined Slytherin and Gryffindor colours together. Harry and Draco were sneaking sidelong glances at one another when the other was not looking, and slowly moving closer to each other on the couch. “So, Hermione, have you spoken to Ron today?” Harry asked.

“Yes. He pulled me aside after lunch today.”

“Er - what did he say about me?”

“What makes you think that he did say anything about you?”

“Come on, Hermione. I know he did. I can’t really miss those looks he keeps giving me.”

Hermione sighed deeply and sat down onto a chair unceremoniously. “Okay, he did talk about you. In fact, that’s all he talked about, or rather yelled about. He’s furious with me for forgiving you so soon.”

Harry slumped, defeated into the couch. “I don’t know what I expected.”

“Oh, come on, Harry. It’ll get better soon,” Hermione said.

“No, I don’t think it will. I almost killed him, Hermione! Would you forgive me if it had been you?”

“I think so. I think I would have been really angry and felt more than a little betrayed, but I would also know that how you were acting was not really you, Harry. Sirius brainwashed you. Ron should know that you would never purposely try to kill him, and that is exactly what I told him. I mean, you almost killed Draco, and he’s still here.”

Harry looked down, unable to look the Slytherin in the eye. “That’s because I’m not a Weasley. I don’t let people go that easily, even if they do make an attempt on my life.”

“My intent was not to kill you, Draco.”

“Oh, yes. You wanted to see me bleed.” Although Draco was trying to make his tone light, there was obvious anger and hurt in his voice.

“Let’s just not talk about it. I said I was sorry already, and I’ll never be able to stop apologising for the rest or my natural life. What more do you want?”

The two boys eyes met and Harry swallowed when he saw the look that Draco was giving him. There was longing, lust, and love in those eyes, telling Harry exactly what it was he wanted. Harry quickly looked away as Draco’s hand discreetly moved behind Harry and began rubbing circles in the small of his back once again. Hermione cleared her throat and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“Anyway, Harry, Ron will come around. You know how he is, he’ll realise just how much he’s missed having you around and approach you. Just give it a little time. In the mean time, you still have Draco and me.”

“And Sev. Which reminds me, he wanted to speak with me after dinner. I had better go, otherwise I’ll get an earful. Do you mind if I come back after I’m done, Harry? I won’t take too long.”

“Um... no, I don’t mind. Come whenever you’re done.”

Draco flashed a dazzling smile that made Harry’s heart jump and then left the room. Harry did not even notice that he had been watching the Slytherin leave until Hermione cleared her throat.

“Do you like what you see?” she asked casually.

“Hmm? What?”

“Well, I don’t know. I was just making sure that you like what you see since you’re in love with Draco and everything. Obviously you are, I mean you didn’t look away from the closed door for almost a minute.”

Harry blinked. “Um... excuse me? In... in love with Draco?” he laughed nervously. “Of course I’m not in love with him.”

Hermione smiled softly at Harry and got up from her chair to sit next to him. “Don’t do that Harry. I’ve been watching you two together all day. The discreet way you touch each other, the way you look when he touches you, the way you look at him. I saw that look you two were giving each other after you asked Draco what more did he want. I’m not blind.”

“Er - I think you’re reading a bit too much into this, Hermione.”

“Am I?”

“Y... yes. You are.”

“So, what exactly is the problem? Are you scared of what I’ll think of you because you’re gay, or the fact that you fell in love with Draco Malfoy? Or perhaps both?”

“I... I am not gay.”

“I’m okay with it, Harry. Honestly, I am. You can’t help that you like boys anymore than you can help that you’re the Boy Who Lived. I won’t love you any less because of it. I’ll only love you more because it’s what makes you who you are, Harry.”

Harry let out a shaky sigh and hugged Hermione fiercely. “Thank you. Thank you for knowing me only as Harry. That means more to me than you being okay that I’m gay. I love you so much, Hermione. And believe me, that’s completely platonic,” he joked.

They pulled away and both laughed. “I thought you’d hate me if you found out.”

“Don’t worry, I could never hate you of my own free will. I just want you to be happy. So... how did you two figure out how you felt?”

Harry smiled widely, and began on the story of their first kiss. During the Christmas holidays when Draco had made the Gryffindor Common room into a winter wonderland, complete with big piles of snow for a good snowball fight. How Harry had run into the invisible wall and Draco had come over to check if he was all right, and then how they had just started kissing. Hermione laughed about their reactions afterwards, when they both exclaimed, ‘you’re gay?’ Then Harry moved on to their painfully gentle kiss on Christmas morning and how it happened. Harry’s heart fluttered as he remembered the feeling of the boy’s lips on his. By the time he was done talking, Hermione had curled herself up into his body and they were holding each other tightly.

“It seems you’ve been extremely lucky to find him, Harry.”

“Yeah,” Harry breathed sadly.

“When did you two break up?”

“Um... when I went to Voldemort. I found out that he was a Death Eater. But at the time, I was more upset that he was working against Voldemort, and not for him. Now I’m just upset that he risked his life for me and became one.”

“I never thought Draco Malfoy would risk his life for somebody, especially you. I mean, no offence, but well, you know.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“So, tell me Harry,” Hermione began in a cheerful voice. “Is he a great kisser or not? I’ve always imagined he would be.”

Harry laughed. “Hermione!”

“Well, can you blame a girl? You always kind of have to wonder.”

“I do realise that you’re trying to pull me into ‘girl talk,’ you know. Which I find very odd since you never girl talk.”

“Honestly, Harry. I am a girl after all. I just don’t go as far as Parvati and Lavender do. I only like girl talk when it’s with Ginny or you. Ron stinks at it. Besides, we’ve already been having a ‘girl talk’ this entire time. You can’t stop now.”

“You just called me a girl.... I hate you.”

“But you love me.” Harry only smiled. There was no denying it. “So... tell me. On a scale of one to ten, ten being the highest, what is he?”

“A thirty.”

“That good?” Hermione laughed.

“Better than that. I just didn’t want to cheat too much.”

“Hmm... if you don’t make your move on him soon, Harry, I think I’ll have to find out for myself if you’re telling the truth.”

“Don’t you dare!” Harry exclaimed, while Hermione broke out into hysterical laughter.

“Don’t you dare do what?” asked an amused voice from the door. Both Harry and Hermione turned their heads to see Draco closing the door behind him, looking at the two of them. Harry immediately turned red.

“Um... nothing.”

“I only said that I was going to...” Harry covered her mouth with his hand to muffle her words.

“That she was going to tell... Ron how dumb he’s being and that he would have um... done the same thing?”

“Hmm... nice try. I’ll let it go though,” Draco replied as he sat on the other side of Harry. “So... what have you two been talking about?”

“Oh, you know, just what’s been going on in my life since we stopped speaking to each other.”

“Really?” Draco asked, raising an eyebrow. “Anything interesting?”

“Most definitely,” Hermione said, winking at the Slytherin. “Well, I better get going. I have um... have to talk to Ron again? Yes, I’ll go find Ron and try to talk some sense back into him.”

“Have fun!” She then leaned up to whisper in Harry’s ear. “If you don’t tell him that you love him tonight, I will make my move.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Don’t be so sure, Harry. Ron hasn’t exactly been nice to me lately.”

“Hermione... I can’t,” Harry said desperately. “Not tonight.”

“Tonight, Harry. I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t.” She kissed him on the cheek, then leaned across him to try to kiss Draco’s cheek, but Draco leaned back with wide eyes and she missed. Her lips smacked air, and she glared slightly at the Slytherin. “I’ll see you two tomorrow then.” Hermione got up from the couch and opened the door. “Oh, and Harry? Change the password. It’s really insulting.”

“I like it!” Draco exclaimed.

“You would, you filthy Slytherin,” Hermione shot back good-naturedly.

“Mortally offended, I am!” Draco cried as she shut the door behind herself. Draco fell back against the couch and sighed. “Gryffindors. I don’t know why I put up with them.”

“Slytherins. I don’t know why I put up with them.”

“You can’t get enough of me,” Draco said smugly.

“You really think so? What makes you think I want you here right now?”

Harry was surprised by the flash of emotions that went through Draco’s eyes after that was said. Hurt and surprise were the most prominent, and Harry immediately felt bad for saying it. He put a hand on Draco’s knee and squeezed it gently. “I was kidding, Draco. I’m sorry.” Relief flooded the silvery eyes, but then the wall was put back up.

“Of course. I knew you were kidding.”

Harry only smiled softly and removed his hand. “Five galleons to the winner of three games of Exploding Snap?”

“Raising the stakes, are you, Potter?”

“Well, I always win, I might as well make more money off of you.”

“Arrogant one, aren’t you?”

“I learn from the best.”

Draco smirked and they continued to toss friendly insults back and forth the entire time they played cards. Harry won again and soon after Draco paid him, Draco had fallen asleep on the couch, lips parted slightly. The Gryffindor stood over the other boy for a few moments, studying him intently. His robe had fallen open, revealing the top edge of his trousers. The dark grey shirt that Draco was wearing, was riding up his side, and Harry had a hard time not kissing the bare skin that was exposed. But as Harry gathered a blanket from Draco’s feet, something caught his eye.

Harry knelt down and examined the marks on Draco’s otherwise, flawless skin. It was a rather large, fading bruise on the hip bone, in the shape of a hand. The tips of the fingers were pointing in towards Draco’s middle, as if somebody had grabbed the boy from behind and squeezed a little too hard. The dark-haired boy glanced up at Draco to check that he was still asleep before he gently moved the trousers down a little to examine the rest of the bruise. Draco’s body jerked, and he whimpered softly in his sleep upon the touch. Harry quickly removed his hand without looking further.

The Gryffindor then gently laid the blanket over the boy. He pushed back the blond hair and kissed the forehead. Draco began to snore loudly, and Harry smiled fondly.

“I love you, Draco. Sleep well.”