Remember You

Remember You
Chapter Eight
~~~~~

Harry was stunned, and found that it was nearly impossible for him to get off the floor. Draco, however, stood immediately, with the persona of somebody with authority. "Did Dumbledore want us to do anything?" he asked Hermione.

"He wanted you and me to come to his office after I informed you of what happened. Security around the castle is going to become tighter and I suspect we're going to have to hold a Prefects' meeting soon to inform them of the changes."

Draco nodded and stared off towards the windows where Harry's stick figure Quidditch game still played. "How did it happen? Did somebody see it?" he asked.

"Terry was apparently going to the Ravenclaw Common Room after the feast with a couple of his friends. They had all heard a weird noise behind them, and he, being a Prefect, thought it was his duty to see if there was anything wrong. But as his friends told Dumbledore, he only took a step forward when he was immediately pushed back. Then a blue light erupted from nowhere and hit him in the chest. When the light subsided, he just... dissolved. The story matches up with Hannah Abbot's story about Neville. So, we know that it's the same thing, it's just the question of who or what is doing this."

"And if Longbottom and Boot are alive," Draco added. Hermione nodded her head.

"We should go and see the Headmaster, Draco. He'll be waiting for us now."

"Yes, but if you don't mind, I'd like a word with Harry first. I'll be out in a minute." Draco turned a glare on Ron. "You, Weasley, should stay outside with Granger until I come, then you can go back to the Common Room with Harry. It's obviously not safe with groups, as we've seen, but... I think we'd all feel a little better if we're with somebody."

Ron kept his mouth shut and nodded, for once able to agree with Draco. Harry could not help the small smile that crossed his face. He quickly wiped it off. It did not seem like a good time to be happy about something, no matter how trivial. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and they left the classroom silently. Draco watched them go, and turned to Harry only when he was sure the door was closed. "Planning to stay there on the floor all night?" he asked, amused.

"No," Harry replied. "I was just a little surprised, that's all."

Draco frowned as he stuck out a hand to help Harry to stand. Harry took it gratefully and stood, looking down at Draco. Draco looked up to meet his eyes and frowned even more. "I never realised that you were taller than I."

Harry could not help but to smile. "Well, I think I grew more this past summer. Besides, I'm not that much taller. It can't be more than two inches."

"Two inches too tall," Draco grumbled.

"Well, you can just where platform shoes, or I can hunch."

Draco looked appalled. "Platform shoes? Who do you think I am? I'm not allowing you to hunch either. I don't want you to start looking like a plebeian."

"Anyway," Harry said pointedly. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Oh. Well, I just wanted to make sure you'd be here tomorrow night because I still want to speak with you about a few things. Is that all right?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "But you know, if things around school, I mean with the disappearances keep you away, don't feel bad or anything."

"Why should I feel bad if that happened? I'm the one who wants to speak with you, so you should feel bad if you don't show up tomorrow."

Harry decided not to argue. He was too tired and they both had somewhere to be. "All right then. I'll be here just so I can avoid feeling bad."

"Good." Draco grinned. It made Harry's heart flutter. They fell silent and Harry felt Draco moving closer to him, but could also feel the reluctance. They both swallowed nervously, both knowing what the other wanted to do, but knowing that it might be inappropriate. Harry leaned his head down, but pulled back at the last moment, not wanting to seem aggressive, and in doing so, push Draco away again. But with the one movement, the tension only mounted and Harry could almost feel it crackling between them. Draco smiled nervously, stepping closer as he tilted his head up in invitation. Harry brought his hand up and cupped Draco's soft cheek, and lowered his head, and brushed their noses softly together. Their breath intermingled as they brought their mouths closer together, and the air between them caressed their lips, giving the sensation of touching. Harry moved his hand under Draco's chin and tilted his head up. Their lips were so close that Harry could almost taste Draco.

An "eep" sounded from the door; they stepped away from each other, though Harry's hand remained on Draco's chin. "I'm sorry, guys, but Dumbledore is really waiting for us, Draco," Hermione apologised, her head sticking through the doorway. Harry sent her a clearly frustrated look. He forgave her instantly however, when he remembered the situation that the school was in. "Sorry," she mumbled again and closed the door again. Harry let his hand drop and forced a smile.

"She's right. You should go."

Draco inhaled deeply and nodded. "Tomorrow night, then?"

"Yeah. I'll see you here."

Draco turned and walked towards the door. He was about to open it but he turned back and sent a dark glare at the orb on the table. "Don't you dare take that orb back to your dormitory. I'll know."

"There's nothing wrong with it!" Harry exclaimed. The Slytherin made a disbelieving sound in the back of his throat and left the room without another word, leaving the door open. Ron stuck his head around the corner nervously.

"Ready to go back to the Common room, Harry?"

"Yeah. I'm ready." With one longing look at the orb, Harry left with a sigh.

When they returned to the Common Room, they found it filled to near capacity. Most were doing homework, while others were being loud and raucous. Harry glanced at Ron, and in silent agreement they went up to their dormitory. Harry waved to Austin and Sierra who were sitting by themselves in the only deserted corner of the Common Room before he walked up the stairs after Ron. When they shut the door, the roar of students below turned into a soft rumble and both boys sighed. Ron sat on his bed and stared at Harry, clearly bored.

"Want to play something?" he asked.

"Sure. Exploding Snap or Chess?"

"Chess... Damn. I left mine down in the Common Room, and I don't want to go get it."

"Don't worry about it. I have mine in my trunk."

Harry knelt down in front of his trunk, unlocked it and began rummaging inside. He normally kept his chess set, Marauder's Map, and a few other things wrapped up in his Invisibility Cloak on the bottom. When Harry found his chess set, however, it was not wrapped in his Invisibility Cloak, and on closer inspection, neither was the Marauder's Map.

"Strange," Harry muttered and set the two objects on the floor beside his knees.

"What?" Ron inquired as he lounged lazily on his bed.

"They weren't wrapped in my Invisibility Cloak. I could have sworn I wrapped them in there."

"They probably just got jostled around a bit and fell out of the Cloak."

Harry did not answer as he began emptying all the contents of his trunk onto the floor in search of his father's cloak. Panic began to set in when he was down to only a few books from fourth year. He unnecessarily threw them out of the trunk and ran his hands along all the wooden sides of his now empty trunk. "It's gone!" he cried out. He jumped up and tore his bed apart, looked under his bed, and then went to the wardrobe, throwing everybody's clothes out in search of it.

"Harry!" Ron exclaimed, grabbing his hands. "Stop it! You're not going to find it if you make a mess of everything." With a wave of his wand, Ron put all the clothes back in the wardrobe and closed it. "It's got to be around here somewhere," he muttered, scanning the contents of Harry's trunk that were strewn over the floor. He raised his wand again and began putting things back into Harry's trunk, one by one. When there was nothing left, Harry levitated his trunk and Ron checked underneath it, but the cloak was not there. Harry let the trunk drop, barely missing Ron's head and dropped onto his bed in despair. "It's gone... my father's cloak. Somebody stole it."

Ron dropped down onto his bed and stared at Harry, contemplating. "It's odd, isn't it?"

"What?"

"That we find your Invisibility Cloak is missing now. How long has it been since you used it?"

"Not since last term."

Ron's eyes brightened in triumph. "That explains it then. Somebody stole your cloak and is now attacking the students."

"Don't be daft, Ron. For all we know, Seamus could be using it for... for a joy ride, or something."

"I'm completely serious. I mean... nobody has been able to see the person who attacked Neville and Terry Boot. It makes perfect sense."

"But that would mean that a Gryffindor or a teacher is doing it. I, for one, am sick at the possibility of a teacher doing it."

"Me too. Besides, I don't see any possibilities of teachers who are here now that would do it. Miraculously, we have Sirius back for Defence, and we know where he stands, and no other new teachers... so it has to be a Gryffindor."

"Yeah, but who?" Harry asked dubiously. "Nobody has ever given us enough reason to be suspicious."

Ron thought for a few moments but then shrugged, a small smile crossing his face. "That's where Hermione comes in, isn't it?"

***

Early the next morning before classes, a Prefects' meeting was held in a room beside the Great Hall. Draco and Hermione were heading it as always, looking very grave and very tired. They had been in the Headmaster's office until late into the night. Harry filed in with the rest of the Prefects and sat close to the Head Boy and Girl. Draco sent Harry a small smile and called the meeting to order.

"As you all may have already guessed," he began. "This meeting is about the recent disappearances of two of our fellow students, Neville Longbottom and Terry Boot." A few Ravenclaws sniffled as their loss was more recent and they had not had as much time to grieve. Harry looked into his lap as Hermione took over, hoping that Neville and Terry were all right.

"Draco and I were with the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall late last night, discussing ways to keep the students safe. Now, it is admitted, that we really have no clear idea what is causing these disappearances, so we have no base to formulate the best plan of action. But, curfew will be strictly enforced from now on, and the only people allowed out in the halls after six thirty will be the faculty and Prefects who are on duty. If you are not on duty, you will be given detention and points will be deducted from your respective house. Please note that we are not to take kindly to people are out of bounds after hours."

At this point, Harry lifted his head and met Draco's eyes. He could not help but wonder how they were going to meet that night, but Draco smiled and nodded his head. Harry could not really decipher what it meant, so he turned his attention back to Hermione.

"Students are also not allowed out of the Common Rooms until after seven in the morning. That's all for the curfew. We were debating on whether certain areas of the castle should be restricted during certain parts of the day, but we decided against it since we don't know how serious this problem is. You will be able to go wherever we normally are in-between curfew. Draco?" Hermione looked at Draco, expecting him to continue.

He nodded and spoke. "Until it is deemed unsafe, Hogsmeade visits will proceed as normal. There will be one in this month on the fifteenth, third weekend of January, same weekend in March, and in May. The threat seems to be inside the castle with no reports outside, so there isn't a reason to terminate the visits. The library has new shortened hours. It will open at approximately seven thirty in the morning and close at five-thirty. It's advised to get to the library in any free time you have and check out books you need and do homework in the Common Rooms."

For the next ten minutes, Draco and Hermione covered business as usual, to which Harry found himself not paying attention. He really wanted to speak with Draco about their meeting that night. Much to his relief, the meeting quickly adjourned and the Prefects all filed out to go to breakfast. Hermione quickly excused herself and followed behind them. "Hey," Draco greeted with a tired smile. Harry stood and walked to stand in front of him. "So... how are we going to meet when we have this new curfew?" Draco smiled mischievously. "Well, it seems that Severus did a few extra charms on the room last year when I wasn't around. He placed the same kind of protection spells on it that are on the Common Rooms, so, Dumbledore said we could meet there; but if we are there after seven, we have to stay there for the night." "You told Dumbledore that?" Harry asked incredulously. "No. The old fool somehow knew that we were planning on meeting there. I don't know how he does it. I took down the portraits in that room for a reason." "All of the portraits spy for him?"

"Obviously," Draco replied as if it was common knowledge. "How else do you think he knows so much? I mean he's smart, but not that smart. Everybody has their connections, and he just happens to have connections with the portraits." Draco smiled at Harry's look of realisation. "Come on, we better get to breakfast before we're late for class."

"Okay," Harry nodded. "But there was one thing that I really want to do before we go. I mean, if you'll let me."

Draco contemplated Harry with a small quirk of his eyebrow. "Are you asking my permission to kiss me, Harry?" he finally asked, amusement dancing in his eyes and voice.

Harry blushed and looked down. "Erm - I suppose I am. I just... I just don't know how you really feel about being with me again yet.... I mean, in... in the future or.... Yeah, so I just wanted to make sure... I suppose."

Draco pretended to swoon, making Harry blush more. "If only I were a girl, I could pretend you to be my chivalrous knight!"

"Shut up, you prat."

"Sir Harry Potter. Oh, what a nice ring it has, doesn't it?" Draco then fainted into Harry's arms, hand dramatically thrown over his forehead. The Slytherin peeked from one open eye and whispered conspiratorially. "This is the part where you save me from a perilous death by kissing me." He then raised his voice dramatically. "Kiss me not, and I shall die a thousand deaths!"

Harry could not help it. He laughed. "You're such an idiot sometimes," he said softly. Draco closed his one open eye, trying not to smile, and turned his face up, ready to be kissed. Harry, one never to deny a person in distress, lifted Draco up to him more, and placed a soft kiss on Draco's lips. The silver eyes fluttered open and he smiled at Harry, placing his arms around his neck.

"It's not so bad being a knight, now is it?" Draco smirked. "Only I do hope that you know you didn't just save a maiden in distress. I am a man, you realise."

"Could have fooled me, you drama queen."

"Admit it, you enjoyed the show. You better have because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's not everyday that a person gets to see a show put on by Draco Malfoy."

"Okay, I admit, I enjoyed it." Harry tightened his hold around Draco's waist, while still trying not to feel like he was being aggressive and leaned down to kiss the corners of Draco's mouth. If the two had not been so preoccupied, they would have heard a small gasp, and the click of a camera. But both Harry and Draco were busy teasing each other, and stealing small kisses. They did not leave until they were both quite late for class.

Harry dragged through the day, anticipating the end when he could meet Draco again. The few kisses they had shared that morning were still tingling on Harry's lips. He had subconsciously been running his fingers over his lips in Defense Against the Dark Arts, daydreaming about Draco. Sirius had noticed during his lecture, and called Harry to his desk when he had set everybody to work. Harry grinned as he approached his godfather. "Yes, Professor?"

Sirius smiled. "Is there something on your mind, Harry? You have seemed a little out of it today."

Harry could not help the large grin that was plastered over his features. "Nothing much."

"Does this have to do with a certain Slytherin?" Sirius asked slyly while glancing sneakily around his godson at the students.

"More or less." Harry glanced behind him with a small grin and hurried around Sirius' desk and kneeled down by his chair so that Sirius had to look down at him. "We've been going to the classroom where I stayed in sixth year. We haven't really been speaking to each other, just doing our homework... But last night, he came in after I did, and he really ticked me off, and I ended up tackling him to the floor." Sirius raised an amused eyebrow, but Harry did not take notice. "We were yelling at each other, and then we just started talking and he told me everything! He told me why he pushed me away..." Harry paused, his smile fading quickly. "It's not my place to tell you what the reason was, but... Sirius, it's awful. I feel so terrible!"

"You didn't do something to him, did you?"

"No! I might have aggravated the situation a little, unintentionally of course. But I feel terrible because I didn't notice. I saw a sign, and I noted it, but I didn't make the connection."

"Harry, don't feel bad about that. It's not your fault. Some people never would have even picked up on the signs." Harry nodded and fell silent. "So... are you and Draco in the midst of working things out, or what?"

"Yeah." Harry's eyes brightened up. "We kissed this morning after the prefects' meeting."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "I was never a prefect, but if somebody had told me that there were perks like kissing somebody, I would have paid my way in."

Harry laughed loudly, making the students look towards the front of the room. Harry looked around sheepishly, and saw that Seamus and Dean were giving him funny looks. The dark-haired boy raised an eyebrow at them. When he turned to Sirius, he was looking over Harry at the door. Harry also turned and saw the classroom door opening and closing as if by itself. Sirius stood up and reached for his wand. Harry stood as well, looking around cautiously, moving his hand discreetly to cover his own wand for protection. He felt his blood boil that this person could be the one who had stolen his Invisibility Cloak. But, if the person was not in this class with the seventh years, it meant that he or she was in a lower year. The question that nagged at Harry's mind was, who had found out about the cloak? He had never told anybody about it out of his year. "Class," Sirius began cautiously. All eyes immediately turned up. "If you'd be so kind as to pack your things up. I think I'll dismiss you early today."

The Hufflepuffs all cheered at this, but the Gryffindors, who knew Harry well, saw the apprehensive look on his face as he glanced about the room with a keen eye. "Quickly, please," Sirius urged, trying to keep his voice steady. Hermione and Ron hurriedly approached the professor and their friend.

"What's going on, Professor Black?" Hermione asked urgently.

"There's somebody in here," Sirius whispered to the three of them. "The door opened and closed by itself just a few moments ago."

Ron exchanged a meaningful look with Harry.

"We need to get everybody out one at a time," Sirius continued. "Hermione, you do it. Have a close guard on the door so that you will feel if anybody that we can't see tried to leave."

Hermione nodded curtly and moved in front of the door before Seamus and Dean got here. "Okay, everybody! Get into a single file line, and get as close as you can to the person in front of you. Make sure another person won't be able to fit between you." She then opened the door a little and stood tightly in the small opening. Seamus and Dean were the first in line, looking on with curiously puzzled looks. "Okay, Seamus, come here," Hermione commanded. Seamus moved forward awkwardly because of Dean stepping on his heels. The Irishman stopped directly in front of Hermione and raised an eyebrow.

"Now what?"

Hermione sent a glare reminiscent of McGonagall. Seamus immediately quieted. "We wait until everybody is in line." She waited for a few more moments while everybody got situated. "Now remember, don't let any spaces come between you as you move forward." Hermione backed up a few feet, Seamus following her every step. When Seamus was successfully blocking the entrance and Hermione was in the hall, she stepped to the side and opened the door more to make room for her in the doorway. The line moved slowly as each person squeezed between Hermione and the doorframe, and into the hallway. Harry and Ron looked on, as always, impressed at her quick thinking and ability to carry through effectively, while Sirius began casting charms around the room. There were only three Gryffindors left at the front of the line, with the whole Hufflepuff group at the end when it happened. Susan Bones was third from last, whispering in the ear of another Hufflepuff girl in front of her. Susan was suddenly pushed violently back into the boy behind her. It was like a domino effect. Susan effectively knocked down her two housemates with her. Harry and Sirius stepped forward in alarm as a blue light erupted from right in front of them and hit Susan in the chest.

The young Hufflepuff let out a bloodcurdling scream as she was lifted into the air, and began convulsing. Harry began to hurry forward. He did not know what he would do, but he had to help her before she disappeared.

"Harry, no!" Sirius exclaimed grabbing his shoulder. "You mustn't interfere! You don't know what'll happen to yourself if you do. Everybody keep back!" he then yelled at everybody. "There isn't anything we can do!" All students willingly complied as they continued to watch Susan's suspended body, convulsing and letting out violent screams. Her friends were now sobbing, calling out to Susan. The blue light dissipated and Susan dropped to the ground in a heap, but she still continued screaming. The girl with whom Susan had been whispering came out of her shock and leaped forward in an attempt to help the girl. But just as she reached down to grab Susan's shoulders, Susan dissolved, and the room fell into an unearthly quiet. Harry felt a jolt go through his body. The girl stared for a few moments before screaming and sobbing hysterically. Sirius rushed towards her.

"Miss Wren!" he exclaimed, gently grabbing her shoulders. Wren stopped screaming, but looked up at Sirius as violent sobs continued to wrack her body. She fell into Sirius' body, seeming to have fainted. Sirius effortlessly scooped her into his arms and looked around. He swallowed thickly. "Miss Granger, thank you for trying to evacuate them quickly and efficiently, but I think we can open the door completely now and let this creep get out of here before I bl--"

"Sirius," admonished a voice behind the doorway. Hermione moved out of the way and Remus Lupin walked in, closely followed by a very grave Albus Dumbledore. "There's no need to upset the students more. Who was it? We heard the screams in Dumbledore's office."

"Susan Bones," Sirius answered, looking down at the small girl in his arms. "Tara Wren had a bit of an emotional breakdown just now because of it."

"Anybody who would like a calming potion from Madam Pomfrey, please follow Professor Black to the infirmary," Dumbledore said loudly.

Sirius immediately walked from the room with Tara in his arms, with all the seventh year Hufflepuffs following behind him. The only Gryffindors left were Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Lavender. Parvati had just run from the room to go tell her twin what had happened. Lavender was sniffling quietly to herself when Harry set a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right, Lavender?" The blonde turned to him and sniffled again, while tears rolled down her face.

"Hey, Harry... I'll be all right, but that was just... terrible. It's not something you see everyday."

"No, it's definitely not. I hope to never have to see it again."

Lavender's bottom lip trembled and she threw her arms around Harry, hugging him fiercely. "I feel horrible, Harry!" she wailed.

Harry awkwardly patted her back. "Why?"

"I know that it's really bad what happened to Susan, but I still can't help but think that I'm glad it wasn't another Gryffindor."

"Oh. Well... I don't think you should feel bad, Lavender. Those are probably just normal thoughts. Anybody who is a part of Gryffindor is like our extended family, and when somebody else is hurt or dies in another family, people will always say how terrible it is, but they'll be thinking, 'I'm glad it didn't happen to my family.' It's a normal thing. Just as long as you don't brush it off as nothing, because you have to remember that this did happen to us with Neville." Harry caught Hermione's eyes and she was positively beaming at him. He raised an eyebrow, wondering why. Ron, he noticed, was trying to smother a smirk, since he knew it would be inappropriate. But Harry knew that Ron was just laughing at his friend for having Lavender hang on him.

Lavender leaned back and smiled up at Harry. "You're so smart, Harry. I don't get why Padma thinks you're stupid."

Harry goggled. "What? Padma Patil thinks I'm stupid? She doesn't even know me!"

"That's what I said, but Parvati agreed with her. I think Parvati only said it because she was sore at you for the Yule Ball. She's not anymore, of course, but she still says it once in a while. And Padma... well, I don't know why she says it, probably just to agree."

Ron snorted as Harry glowered. More professors began to file into the classroom, so Harry stalked out with the intent of going to dinner. Lavender caught up with him and placed her hand at the crook of his elbow. "Don't be angry, Harry. They're not very good judges of character." Harry ignored her, wishing that she would stop hanging on him. When they entered the Great Hall, it was already full, with the exception of the Hufflepuff table. The Hufflepuff sixth and seventh years were gone, and the years that remained were unusually silent, having already heard the news about Susan. Harry could feel Draco's gaze on him, but he did not dare look over at him with Lavender hanging on his arm.

"Sit here, Lavender." Harry gestured to an empty seat, where she did sit. He then pushed Hermione down beside her and left a space open for Ron. But it was not Ron who sat. Lavender moved from her seat and sat next to Harry looking a little hurt.

"Why did you do that? I wanted to sit by you."

"Oh... I didn't realise. I thought that you might like to sit by a girl since -er - we boys have really bad table manners. I didn't want to splatter food on you or anything."

Lavender grimaced but then smiled charmingly. "Oh, I'm sure you have good table manners somewhere. Perhaps you could pull them out for me?" She fluttered her eyelashes again, whether she knew about it or not, Harry did not know. Harry thought that Lavender was a pretty girl, but when she fluttered her eyelashes like that, she looked like a crooked butterfly. He forced a smile onto his face.

"Er - sure."

Lavender smiled charmingly and kissed Harry's cheek. He was so shocked that he almost fell backwards off the bench. The blonde giggled. "Lav... Lavender, what are you doing?" he asked, horrified.

"Kissing your cheek for being such a gentlemen, of course."

"Oh... Well, that's nice of you, but if you'd mind- erm - not kissing me, that'd be great. Thanks, Lavender."

"Why not?" she asked, looking as if she got the disappointment of her lifetime.

"I already told you that I'm involved with somebody." Across the table, Colin Creevey choked on his pumpkin juice. "Are you all right, Colin?" Harry asked. Colin pounded his chest with his fist and nodded.

"You said that you had broken up!" Lavender exclaimed.

"We did, but we're in the middle of working things out right now. In fact, we're to meet after dinner to talk for a little while. I'm sorry, but I'd rather not be seen getting kissed by a girl right now." Colin choked again. "Are you sure you're all right?" Harry asked concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Harry slowly looked away, unconvinced and strangely unsettled. He stood up, eyeing Colin nervously. "I'm going to get a head start then..."

"But you haven't eaten, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I'm not feeling very hungry. I'm just going to go where I'm supposed to be meeting Dr... I mean, my... er - date. See you guys later. If I'm not back tonight, Ron, Hermione, you know where I am."

Harry glanced quickly at Lavender who looked scandalized, having taken his comment on not coming back incorrectly. The Gryffindor sighed and quickly left the Great Hall, glancing meaningfully at Draco on his way out. Draco gave a very small nod and continued eating. Harry immediately went to the classroom again, and sat on the couch to wait for the Slytherin.

It was a very long wait, especially when the orb was sitting on the table five feet away, taunting him, daring him to watch it again. Harry stood up to go watch it, thought of Draco and sat back down. After his fourth time doing this, he finally gave in. He stood in front of the table and clearly said the incantation for the orb to work. The dark-haired boy watched contentedly as his parents spoke to him, and hugged him. To Harry's surprise, he found himself mouthing his parents words as they said them. But then, he remembered that he had watched the orb no less than twenty times. The 'show' ended twenty minutes later, and Harry waited patiently for it to crack open and the red light to hit him in the chest. When it did begin to crack open, he closed his eyes and waited for it to come. But what did come, surprised and knocked his breath away.

A moment after Harry closed his eyes, he found himself flying through the air, and hitting the floor with a dull thud. As the Gryffindor gasped for breath, he opened his eyes to find that Draco was lying on top of him, panting for breath. "Draco!" he exclaimed angrily. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What the bloody hell are you doing, Potter? I told you not to watch that damn thing anymore, but do you listen? No! Never! Does what I say mean anything?"

"Of course it does! I stopped myself from watching it four times, but I couldn't help it! I needed to feel better. Seeing Susan Bones disappear this afternoon wasn't fun."

Draco's face softened and he lifted himself from Harry. "Sorry for tackling you like that, but I didn't want that light to hit you again."

"Did it even come out this time?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Draco started sheepishly. "It hit me."

"Oh, so it's okay for it to hit you, but not me? That makes a lot of sense," Harry pouted.

"Just drop it. You better not watch that thing anymore. In fact, I'm confiscating it."

"You can't do that! It was my birthday present, and Dumbledore wants me to keep it safe! You aren't taking it," Harry replied stubbornly. The darker boy stood up, painfully rubbing his ribs. "You great fat arse. That hurt." He groaned as he fell onto the couch.

"Quit whining." Draco was scowling heavily as he sat next to Harry. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Harry waiting for Draco to begin talking. "Look, Harry..." he began. "This morning... I won't lie to you and say that I haven't wanted that for a long time. Every time I see you, all I want to do is kiss you, but... I shouldn't have done that. After we got that meeting over with, I was just relieved... and then you were there, and we were alone, and... I couldn't help myself."

"I know that, Draco. You don't have to explain. I've been wondering a few things myself. I know that you know this, but, I cheated on you, Draco! How can you be totally pissed at me one day, but then the next, we're fine and kissing? It doesn't make sense. What changed from two days ago and today?"

"I told you everything that I wanted to tell you before. Don't get me wrong here, I'll probably never forget what you did to me. I hate you for what you did to me, but yet I don't hate you, because I know it's largely my fault, like I said before. But I think I've done some more growing up since the end of last term. I can't hold grudges against people I don't want to hold grudges against. I don't want to hold a grudge against you, no matter how hard I wish myself to. You betrayed me in the worst way possible. But, Charlie told me a couple weeks ago, that Muggle Christians have this thing about forget and forgiving, or maybe it's the other way around...."

Harry smiled. "I think it's forgive and forget, Draco."

"Whatever. Same thing."

Harry studied Draco with a small grin. "Don't tell me you've never been to church?"

"Harry, a lot of wizards don't go to church, rarely think about it. Most wizards who do are Muggle-born wizards and witches, or maybe purebloods who have married Muggle-born. So, call me stupid for not knowing the correct way of saying it, but I don't care. Just never mind. Charlie--"

With that, something clicked in Harry's brain, and he stopped smiling, completely taken aback. "Sorry, but hold on. You've been writing back to Charlie?"

"You knew he was writing to me?"

"Ron said something back in September about how he started to but you just wrote back, saying to sod off."

Draco nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah. That's the only time I wrote to him, actually. I always read his letters though. He writes once, sometimes twice a week, telling me a whole load of Gryffindor crap that I just let travel around in my brain for a little bit, before deciding that it is indeed crap, and weed it out. Weasel... er... Weasley could have been a good Slytherin because he relates a lot of things to how Slytherins think. He seems to know what's important to us. But anyway, he does say a lot of intelligent things... It really makes me want to be with you again... I mean, not that I haven't wanted to on my own, but well, it's just made me... never mind. This is getting to my deep down thoughts. The bottom line is, Harry, I love you. I hate what you did to me, I hate you for doing that to me, but I also wouldn't blame you for hating me for pushing you away like that. But I love you, and I want to get back together. It might take a while for us to get back to how we were before, or it might not, but I do.... Do you?"

"Of course! Why do you even have to ask?"

"I don't know," Draco smirked. "I guess for some strange reason, I was feeling a little insecure. But that would be ridiculous since I am drop dead gorgeous. Who could resist me?" Harry shook his head. "Besides, I better get my hands on you before Brown claims you." Draco smirked again, only this time it was Draco's signature evil smirk, and Harry did not like that very much. "Oh, and we might as well live up to the rumour, right?"

"Rumour? What rumour?"

"You haven't heard?" Harry shook his head, slightly apprehensive. "There's this rumour that that little rat boy Colin Creevey took a picture of us kissing this morning. According to Blaise, he still has to make his developing potion so that he can develop it. So, nearly half the school believes us to be together. Which isn't too far from the truth, I think." Draco smiled shyly.

"Aren't you worried?"

"About what? What would I have to be worried about?"

"Well, I don't know... about coming out to the world? You do know that the whole wizarding world is going to find out about this sooner or later because of me. Your face is going to be all over the front page of the Daily Prophet. People are going to judge you and say that you're not worthy enough of me because of who your father is."

"I don't mind having my face all of the papers, whether it's good or bad press. I'd say this would be good press, since I like the news. And I don't give a damn what people out there think, and neither should you. Even though you are Harry Potter, who cares?"

"I do! I hate being in the papers! I wish I could just keep something in my life private for once."

"Shut up, Harry. I'm sure you have a lot of secrets that the press doesn't know about. For instance, the press didn't find out about you giving yourself to Voldemort last term. That's something. They don't know anything that went on last year, now do they? They don't know how your relatives treated you at home. They don't know about Dudley and what kind of relationship that you had with him. Hell, Harry, they don't know jack shit about you.

"What do they know? They know you defeated Voldemort when you were one year old, that your name is Harry Potter, and are called The Boy Who Lived, you're a Parselmouth, the Tri-wizard champion, and godson to the infamous ex-convict Sirius Black. Those things are nothing, Harry. They know nothing about you that matters. All those things are just titles, names. It doesn't matter. When they find out about us, you'll be Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy's boyfriend. Or it might be the other way around. But that won't matter either, because they don't actually know what we have together. They don't know what we mean to each other. They know nothing about you. It'll stay that way because they don't care about the real you. They care about the things that don't matter. Just leave the important things to Granger, Weasley, Black, and me or anybody else who you consider important to your life. You do have your own life away from the press, so don't ever say that in front of me again."

Harry smiled shakily. "See? You are good at those kind of talks, Draco."

Draco shrugged. "I guess I have it in me sometimes when it counts."

Harry smiled and took Draco's hand. "I think it's there all the time."

"You're such a sap," Draco replied, shaking his head.

"Somebody has to be, right?" Without waiting for an answer, Harry continued. "Draco... does this mean that we're back together?"

"Let's just give it a little time, Harry. Just give it a little time, and we'll be friends, and we'll see just how long we can last, all right? I just don't really want to jump too quickly into this. I'm sure you understand, though, right?"

"Of course." Harry nodded as their eyes met and held. The Gryffindor already felt his resolve failing, and the overwhelming need to kiss Draco was overpowering him. But he smiled and nodded again. "Completely. Let's be friends again, first."

***

The following week was the Gryffindor Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. Harry was a nervous wreck because Ravenclaw had a new Seeker this term, and he was extremely good. His name was Ethan Granlund, and everybody was whispering that he could be the next one to beat the famous Harry Potter. This did not bode well on Harry's nerves at all on the morning of the game.

As Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, playing with his bacon, he felt his stomach churn uncomfortably with nerves. It was still relatively early in the morning, and the hall was still only half full. Harry took a small sip of his orange juice as Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini entered the hall. The two Slytherins looked directly at the Gryffindor table and headed for it, looking oddly defiant of all the strange looks they were attracting.

"Morning Gryffindorks!" Draco crowed.

Half-hearted mumbles and retorts were heard from all at the Gryffindor table as Draco sat down next to Harry and Zabini beside Draco. "What are you doing?" Harry inquired, staring at the two Slytherins next to him.

"We've come to give your team our support, of course," Draco replied easily.

"More like Draco has come to give your team support. I'm only here because Draco paid me twenty galleons to sit with him," Blaise mumbled as he piled eggs onto a plate.

"It's down to fifteen now, Blaise. I asked you not to say that part. Now it sounds like I actually want Gryffindor to win."

"I think you proved that point just by sitting over here, Draco," Hermione replied, smiling.

"Hiya, Harry!" Colin Creevey exclaimed as he plopped himself down on the other side of Harry. Harry jumped a little in surprise but smiled politely at the sixth year. Nothing had come of the rumours of Harry and Draco together. In fact, most of the school had already brushed it off as rubbish since Harry could not be gay because he is the Boy Who Lived, and Draco Malfoy could not possibly be gay because of his Malfoy, pureblood ideals. Actually, Harry had a sneaky suspicion that Draco sabotaged the film before it could be printed for Harry's sake.

"Hey, Colin. Are you coming to the game?"

"I sure am! I'm bringing my camera to take pictures of it. I'm building a scrapbook of this school year, and I'm selling it to people who want to buy it. I'm even thinking of starting up my own little business. I'm hoping that people might employ me to take candid shots of them and their friends so that I can build personalised scrapbooks."

"That's a great idea," Harry replied, honestly thinking that he might be interested in one.

"Yes, that would be a great money making business, Creevey," Draco drawled from beside Harry. "Do you think you could start with my friends and me? We'll negotiate the price later." Harry gave a small start when he felt Draco's hand crawling into his lap. He stared down, wide-eyed as the long fingers began to massage his crotch. Harry could not help the small squeak that came out as he felt himself react. The squeak brought Colin's attention to Harry's lap. The small Gryffindor's eyes went so wide that his eyes might have been in danger of popping out.

"What are you doing?" Harry hissed at Draco.

Draco let out a devilish laugh and removed his hand from Harry's lap. "I'm just showing Creevey the kinds of pictures he's going to have to take if he takes me for a boss."

"I'll pass, thanks," Colin said weakly.

Draco continued laughing mirthfully as Harry and Colin flushed with embarrassment. Harry was more than a little upset. Not only was Draco playing with his own feelings by touching Harry like that, he was also making Harry very uncomfortable. With just thinking of Draco's hand on him, he felt himself reacting even more. Harry shifted in his chair, scooting forward so that his lap was completely hidden by the table.

"Harry, should we get the team and go down to the changing rooms now?" Ron asked at that moment.

Harry felt himself flush even more. "Erm - no. Let's... let's give them more time to eat." Draco snickered beside him, but Harry sent him a glare. "Thanks a lot," Harry muttered so that only Draco could hear. "Now my mind isn't on Quidditch."

"Are you thinking about food?" Draco asked innocently.

"No," Harry grit out.

The Gryffindor gave Draco a look that clearly conveyed that Harry was not mad just because he was not able to stand up without anybody taking notice. "Seriously, Draco," he began quietly. "You can't do that to me, especially when you know that I want more that a quick feel from you."

Draco's smile faded, and he swallowed thickly. "Sorry," he whispered quickly. "But you know that I'm not ready?"

Harry nodded. "Yes. I know that, and that's exactly why you can't do that to me."

The two made eye contact for a few moments before Draco nodded in agreement.

"You're right, so I won't do it anymore. But you better get out to the Quidditch pitch now. The game is starting soon."

Harry quickly agreed as he was now calmed down enough and called down to the team that they should leave for the changing rooms. Draco and Zabini left before and walked ahead of the Gryffindor team, on their way to the stands so that they could watch the game. Harry watched Draco talk quietly but with great animation to Blaise Zabini. Zabini was just as animated, and Harry vaguely wondered what they were speaking about. Ron elbowed Harry in the side with a devilish gleam in his eye.

"Harry," he whispered. "Malfoy said he was supporting us, so why not give him something that will help him cheer us on?"

Harry grinned just as brightly when the meaning of Ron's words sunk in. They were currently walking down the front steps of the castle. The Creevey brothers were closely following them, one with a camera, and one with two Gryffindor flags. "Hey, Dennis," Harry called. "Can I let somebody else borrow that flag?"

"Sure thing, Harry!" Dennis exclaimed and tossed a flag to Harry.

Harry quickly said his thanks, unwrapped his scarlet and gold scarf from around his neck and ran to catch up with the two Slytherins. Sneaking up behind them, Harry quickly removed Draco's Slytherin scarf and tied the Gryffindor scarf around his neck, and wrapped his slender fingers around the pole of the flag. Harry grabbed Draco's wrist and made him wave it back and forth. "Yay! Go Gryffindor!" Harry exclaimed, doing his best, but very bad impression of Draco's voice. When the dark-haired boy let go, Draco had stopped walking and was staring, dumbstruck at the flag in his hand, clearly wondering how it had gotten there so fast.

"You don't expect me to wear this, Harry?" he exclaimed indignantly, as he turned around.

"But of course! You're cheering for Gryffindor so it's only natural for you to wear our scarf and carry our flag."

"But... but... I'm a Slytherin! You don't see Blaise wearing a Ravenclaw scarf!"

"Oh, it's just a Gryffindor thing. If you cheer for Gryffindor, you have to wear our colours."

"But they're hideous!" Draco protested, beginning to take the scarf off.

"No!" Harry exclaimed, retying his own Gryffindor scarf around Draco's neck. "If this will make you feel better, I'll wear your scarf so you don't feel quite so dumb." To prove his point, Harry wrapped Draco's scarf around his neck. All that were there, goggled at Harry, wearing Slytherin colours.

"No!" Ron wailed. "My worst nightmare has been realised!"

Harry only smiled brightly at the group around him. "Oh, please," Colin scoffed. "If you had been on my side of the table this morning at breakfast... then your worst fear would have been realised."

Harry made eye contact with Draco. They both could not help it. They burst out laughing. Zabini laughed along with them, who had also seen the little display put on by Draco. When they finally all stopped, Zabini replied, "it's nothing bad, Creevey. They were just having a bit of fun."

"Yeah, no ki--" Draco stopped in his comment when Zabini was suddenly pushed back by so much force that he was thrown onto his back, hitting his head on the ground. "Blaise!" he exclaimed and rushed forward as Zabini moaned in pain. Harry froze in fear. Zabini had not been pushed by anybody. It had been an invisible force, just as it had happened to Susan Bones a mere week ago. As if in slow motion, Harry looked down at Draco, leaning over his friend. The Gryffindor got his legs in motion and ran for the two.

"Draco!" he cried out. "Get away from him! There isn't anything you can do!"

Draco looked up at Harry as he was helping his fellow Slytherin to stand. "What are you on about? He just fell back." The Slytherins walked a couple steps closer to Harry and the castle.

Just then, the blue light formed between them. Quick as lightning, Harry leapt forward, tackling Draco to the ground, away from Zabini. The light hit Zabini in the chest, and levitated him into the air. He cried out in excruciating pain as the light consumed him. "Get off me, Harry!" Draco yelled out. "We have to help him!"

"There isn't anything we can do, Draco! We can't risk losing more people."

Even as Harry said it, Dennis Creevey, Lavender Brown and Derek, the new chaser, were pushed violently to the ground. "No," Harry whispered. The light on Zabini dissipated, and the Slytherin fell to the ground panting. By this time, Draco was too stunned to do anything but stare at the chaos around him. Zabini was still screaming his pain as three more bright blue lights shot out of nowhere, hitting Dennis, Lavender and Derek in quick succession. As Zabini dissolved, Harry felt a jolt go through his body, and the three Gryffindors were all levitated into the air, they began twisting in ways that the human body should never be twisted. The area was filled with their shrieks of pain and cries for help. Harry noticed all the professors running out of the castle towards them, looking panic stricken. The rest of the school were all trying to squeeze through the doors at once, trying to see what was happening. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny crowded around Harry and Draco, staring at the horror in wonder.

Tiny Professor Flitwick squeezed through the towering professors around him and began circling the pain-filled students. Dumbledore nodded at him, so Flitwick raised his wand towards the students, but before he could get anything out, he too was thrown onto his back, just as the Gryffindors were dropped to the ground. Hermione whimpered beside Harry as tears cascaded down her cheeks. The same process was repeated for the professor, and he was lifted into the air by the blue light as well. Dumbledore cast sonorus on himself, and said, "Everybody keep still, lest you become victims as well." Everybody who could see what was happening obeyed, not wishing this misfortune to befall them. Harry wished that plugging his ears would block out all the terrible screaming coming from his professor, but he knew it would not. The only thing he could do was tear his eyes away from the terrible image. Only when the screaming stopped, and no less than four electrical jolts went through his body, did Harry know that it was over.

Sonorus charm still in place, Dumbledore stated, "All Quidditch games will be cancelled until further notice. Please return to your dormitories as quickly as possible."

Harry and Ron wrapped an arm around Hermione at the same time and they pulled close together. Harry then wrapped an arm around Draco as well, who wrapped an arm around Ginny. The small group huddled together in a semi-circle, silent as the rest of the school began to return to the relative safety of Hogwarts. Parvati Patil came towards them, and Ginny immediately broke away from their small group and accompanied the distressed girl back to the Gryffindor dormitory. Harry turned towards Ron and Hermione and gave them a small smile.

"I'm glad you two are okay."

"You two, mate," Ron replied over Hermione's head, which was pillowed on Ron's chest. Harry offered what was possibly the most fake smile he had ever offered anybody before, then broke away and turned to Draco who was looking at the place where Blaise had once been. Harry wrapped both arms around Draco's waist and pulled him near.

"I'm especially glad you're still here. But I'm sorry about Blaise."

"Yeah, and I...." Draco stopped and shook his head, no able to continue.

Harry nodded and slowly reached his hand up to caress the blond's face. "Merlin... that light was so close to hitting both of you. I don't want to lose you."

Draco returned the gentle caress to Harry's cheek, but did not say anything. "Is a week being friends long enough?" Harry asked quietly.

Draco looked torn for a long moment, but as his gaze settled on the spot that his friend had disappeared from minutes earlier, his face hardened. "It's been too long. We should have declared me insane right when I suggested being friends."

Harry offered a sad smile. Without a care for who was watching, Harry leaned down and captured the Slytherin's lips with his. The darker boy ran his tongue gently along Draco's bottom lip and slid it over Draco's when the blond let his mouth fall open. Neither one rushed it, for they were just happy to have each other again, especially after the events of a few minutes ago. As the two boys entwined themselves more firmly around each other, tenderly caressing backs, faces, arms, and hair, Colin Creevey, hands shaking in grief and fear, raised his camera and took a picture.