Under the New Moon

Chapter 8

Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll

Ginny often looked into the mirror. She wasn't sure why she did this, as her new echo vision didn't allow her to see herself, but sometimes she thought that this was the accurate view of the world. People were always the last to see themselves. This held true for everyone. Look at Ron and Hermione, Ginny though. Look at Harry and me...

She didn't hate Harry anymore. The more she thought about it, the more she realised that she should have seen this Draco Malfoy thing earlier. Harry had been obsessed with Malfoy for years. Ginny suspected he wasn't gay, exactly, but after everything, she knew he wasn't straight either.

Ginny remembered Harry asking if she was ready that night. They were kissing down the lane from her house the night after Bill's wedding. Ginny was hoping this meant Harry had changed his mind, but even then she knew she wasn't seeing it. Harry asked her if she was ready and Ginny had wanted to ask: "Are you?"

Even now she saw Harry's uncertainty with everything. He had been so relaxed this last year, ever since Voldemort was defeated, but uncertainty showed through when Ron would mention Dumbledore, or when Hermione cried last week about the final battle. Harry's smile would falter and though he nodded with Ron, and placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder, Harry would change the subject to Quidditch or pull out his guitar as soon as the situation looked like the topic could reasonably be changed.

In fact, the new guitar-playing, crayon sky-drawing, happy-go-lucky Harry was about as uncertain as Harry could be, in Ginny's opinion. It was like he had no idea who he was or what he should be doing. Harry always had a sense of humour, which was one of the things Ginny had loved about him, but his new demeanor was too high above everyone else to be real. No one ever knew what he was thinking.

But because everyone had things to deal with, most people were happy for Harry's new found lifestyle. Including Ginny, of course, but she worried he was going to lose himself if he didn't take a good look in the mirror, so to speak.

Everyone had been thrilled with Ginny's echo vision and the party they threw that night picked up the next two evenings as well because, while Ravenclaws owned the best clubs, Hufflepuffs married for life, and Slytherins knew all the tricks ... Gryffindors brought the party.

Even Dean had smiled and talked to her, which Ginny had given up hope of ever happening again. He was nice, she thought. He deserved someone interested in him.

***

In Pansy's opinion, so did Draco Malfoy.

Since Ginny's Weasley's miraculous vision restoration three days ago, Potter hadn't spoken to Draco once that Pansy knew of. Draco hadn't said anything about it, but he seemed unusually withdrawn and drank coffee in the morning: something he only did when he had been up all night worrying about something.

"How are you feeling, Draco?" she asked the fourth morning at breakfast.

"Peachy," he snapped, reaching for the coffee pot.

Pansy was irritated, but didn't push the matter. She figured Draco would be more interested in talking later that evening; the poor baby couldn't handle his caffeine.

An owl flew in through the window and landed on Draco's head. He made a noise similar to the one Blaise had made when Millicent had decided to wear a too- small- mini skirt with fishnets in the common room last night.

The owl dropped a letter on Pansy's lap and flew off before Draco could get his wand out.

"I hope that's important," Draco said furiously.

A sixth year turned cold eyes towards Draco and muttered something; only the words 'Death Eaters' 'deserved' and several profanities could be discerned. His friends nodded in agreement. Pansy glared right back until they looked away.

Unnerved by more blatant hostility, Pansy shook open the letter. The other Slytherins temporarily forgotten, she smiled as she read the contents.

"Well?" Draco snapped.

She looked up at him. "The Three Broomsticks is reopening," she told him. "They're throwing a party on the first of May in honour of the occasion. Also, Beltane, I suspect."

"I'm sure it'll be great," muttered Draco, taking another sip of his coffee.

"Well it should be," Pansy said absently. "It's on a full moon."

Draco made that noise again.

Blaise nonchalantly pushed aside the rude sixth year and sat down across from them. "Morning," he said, and reached for the Draco's coffee.

Draco grabbed at it and missed.

"You know you shouldn't be drinking this, little one," Blaise said, his eyes glittering in amusement. "You really should stick to alcohol when you're upset."

"He eats chocolate when he's upset," Greg said from slightly down the table, not looking up from his bacon.

"Coffee is when he's been up all night freaking out," Vince finished, taking a bite of toast.

"Close your mouth, Draco," Pansy reminded him softly.

Blaise laughed heartily and took a sip of Draco's coffee.

There was a lull in the conversation as they continued with breakfast.

"So..." Blaise said. "Your mum and Professor Snape."

Draco choked suddenly. "Yeah," he wheezed.

"That's... interesting," Blaise said tactfully.

Draco recovered and shrugged. "I like him. He makes her happy."

"What makes you happy, Draco?" Pansy asked. Draco looked at her strangely.

That is when Harry Potter appeared behind Blaise.

"Morning," he said cheerfully.

Pansy hated him.

"Harry," said Blaise, pushing over. "Have some coffee."

Potter looked at him. "Eww, vile. No, I never drink the stuff."

Blaise laughed again.

Draco seemed to have found his voice. "What are you doing here?" he croaked.

Potter waved a piece of parchment. "You hear about the party at the Three Broomsticks?" he asked.

Draco nodded.

"You going?"

Draco looked away. "I don't know."

Potter didn't notice. "You should. What about you, Blaise?"

"Of course," he said. "Full moon and everything."

Potter tilted his head to one side. "I didn't know."

Blaise grinned. "Should be one hell of a party," he said. "I hear they're going to use Pink Elephants."

Draco looked interested. "You're joking," he exclaimed.

"Erm ... they're going to use what?" Potter asked.

Blaise turned back to look at him. "Pink Elephants is a type of magic. It's like hallucinatory drugs like the Muggles use, but they're not harmful like those and have no long lasting effects."

At Pansy's and Draco's stares he added: "I learned about this in Muggle Studies. They get their name from one of the more amusing effects of the spell," he said to Potter who was staring at him in disbelief.

"I didn't even know those existed," he said.

Blaise smiled. "Just wait; you'll see what you've been missing."

Potter turned with a smile and addressed Draco. "Well, now you have to come," he said winningly.

"Yeah ... maybe."

"Come on. Everyone's going. We'll have fun."

"Yeah ... ok," he said reluctantly. Then he smiled with a little more effort. "For sure."

Potter smiled. "Great. I'll see you in Potions, then," he said brightly and left to join Ginny Weasley and a few other Gryffindors.

Pansy watched Draco watch him go.

"Everything alright, Draco?" she asked.

Blaise winked at her. "He's not so bad, you know. Harry Potter, I mean. I think Draco did alright."

Draco ducked his head and tried to hide a small smile. "Did I?"

Pansy sighed.

Draco recovered from the smile and took a sip of apple juice. "I did alright," he said casually.

***

Remus was in trouble. Oh, he was in so much trouble. He had kissed his best friend, obliviated the incident without Sirius knowing, and was having more trouble that usual keeping his emotions in check.

The problem was that Sirius was everywhere. If Remus didn't know better, he would say that Sirius was flirting with him. It was the careful smiles, the lingering touches on the shoulder, the say Sirius said his name with a slight drawl. It was going to be the end of him.

Sirius had insisted that they go to Tonks's grave on her birthday, which was in May. Remus wasn't looking forward to it.

It's not that he didn't miss Tonks, but thinking of her was just another reminder of his failures.

He wanted their relationship to work. He tried. Eventually he told her he was gay. She had yelled at him and stormed out of his flat, but came back two days later with an undercooked pie. They ate it and said nothing for a very long time. Eventually she asked why he didn't tell her sooner. He wasn't sure what to say to that. He told her about Sirius, he told her about a half hope of children in his future, he told her he was so tired of being lonely. She had understood and hugged him. She had said she might want children when the war was over and that if he wanted, they could give it a try.

Remus was still tired of being lonely, and he wanted Sirius far more than a vague promise of children. He was tired of wanting Sirius, too. He was so tired of it all.

"Protect him," Tonks had told him the day before the final battle.

"This is what you want. You rarely get second chances in life, so if anything comes near him, take it out."

"What about you? Where will you be?" he asked, worried and tense.

Tonks finished braiding her long blue hair. "Arthur and I are going to help with the canons, so I'll be looking after that. If anyone wants to get at me, they'll have to go through them first." She winked at him.

Remus sighed. "You've been so good to me."

"It's because you never are," she said with a smile. "Honestly, Remus, you take care of Sirius, and then you two are going to get that second chance. Maybe he can kill that beast inside of you that never lets you have any fun."

"The beast has always been the problem," he said. "I'm bad for myself."

"Yeah? But maybe you'll be good for him, you know?"

He said nothing.

"I'm going now." She stood and kissed him lightly on the lips. "I'll see you when this is over."

"Be careful," he told her and embraced her tightly.

She nodded. "Do what you need to, Remus."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Crack.

***

On the evening of May first, Beltane, Harry sat in the Gryffindor common room with Ron, Ginny and Luna, waiting for Hermione and Neville to finish getting ready. Ron looked uncomfortable in the shirt Viktor had given him as a birthday present, but Ginny and Luna both looked great. Ginny, who was now into textures, was wearing a short leather coat with a large belt and a lace mini skirt, and Luna was wearing pretty yellow dress robes with large hoop earrings. Ginny's hair was a mass of curls, and Luna had put her hair up loosely with several pieces hanging artfully around her face.

Dean walked down the stairs, smiled at all of them and left the common room.

"Come on," Ginny said exasperatedly. "Where are they?"

"What's the rush?" Harry asked.

Ginny shrugged and readjusted her glasses before lying back on the sofa and throwing a ball into the air. She caught it and smiled. "I just want to get to the party. The music will probably make it hard to see, but not impossible."

"You seemed ok at the parties we had when you got your sight back," Ron commented.

"Exactly," said Ginny. "I'll be fine, so you guys have fun and don't worry about me making it back to the castle or anything."

"I'm so glad you're feeling better, Ginny," Luna said with a slow smile.

Ginny grinned. "Thanks to Harry," she said. "And Malfoy," she added and glanced at Harry. "Is he meeting you there?"

Harry looked guiltily at Ron who was staring back at him. "Yeah," he said.

Neville bounced down the stairs at that moment and distracted Ron's pointed stare.

"Hey," he said. "Are we ready?" He kissed Luna on the head, who smiled happily.

"We're just waiting for Hermione," said Ginny who was throwing the ball into the air again.

"I'm here," said Hermione breathlessly as she rushed into the common room. She had straightened her hair again, and was looking very good in a tight t-shirt, jeans, and pointed black boots. Ron obviously thought so because he blushed a deep red and told her she looked very - er, you know - nice.

Harry snorted, but luckily no one heard except Ginny whose lips quirked in his direction.

Harry had been dressed by Hermione earlier that day when he was questioned on his choice of attire for the evening. He had shrugged carelessly and even as he did so, he knew he was sealing his fate. She had 'suggested' black trousers, the black sleeveless t-shirt he had worn during The Halogens performance and a black jacket. Harry had too much life experience not to trust Hermione on most things. He also left his glasses upstairs and used a vision correction spell that he had learned last year, but this was not because of Hermione; whenever he knew he would be around Ginny, he left them off.

"We should get a picture," Neville said suddenly.

"What?" asked Ron.

Neville looked slightly embarrassed. "You know," he said. "Because we've been through so much together, and we're all here ... I mean, who knew we were all going to survive the war. I thought we should maybe ... mark the moment."

Hermione smiled at him. "I think it's a great idea," she said.

The others nodded in agreement.

Neville brightened and took out a magical camera that he mounted on the mantel.

Just then, Colin Creevey entered their midst. "Hey guys," he said. "Do you want me to take that?"

Ron caught Harry's eye and gave him a meaningful look. Colin made Harry nervous and Harry wondered if he was really following him everywhere.

"Everyone stand together!" Colin said, raising the camera.

They obeyed and smiled.

Click!

Harry and Draco had agreed to meet in the Three Broomsticks since Harry was meeting up with the Gryffindors and Luna first, and Draco with the Slytherins.

The place was packed as Harry entered with his entourage and the room smelled like alcohol and sweat.

Ginny waved goodbye to all of them and disappeared into the crowd with a Hufflepuff friend of hers. Ginny had started hanging out with a group of three girls who were all from different houses. They had become a steady source of gossip and awe around the school recently.

Harry scanned the crowd for Draco, but as he did, the most peculiar sensation filled him.

***

Harry turned to Ron. "Do you smell that?"

Ron smiled dreamily. "Feel that?" he asked. "It's the Pink Elephants. I didn't think they'd use them here..."

Harry looked up at the ceiling which had melted away.

Stars.

And mist.

And Draco, though the crowd. He liked talking to people who didn't know him.

Ron smiled at Harry again as Hermione lead him off towards the bar.

Harry turned to find Blaise Zabini handing him a drink. The lights were impossibly bright behind Blaise's head.

"'S just Firewhiskey, relax," he said.

Harry blinked and the lights were fine again. "I am relaxed."

"Too relaxed," Blaise said. "Draco's over there."

"I saw."

"Then go."

"I need a drink first."

Blaise smiled. "Then take it."

Harry lead the way to the bar where Blaise bought three more shots of something black for him. "Thanks," he said, wondering when people had begun to lose their clothing. Blaise was wearing something mesh and staring intently at a large woman on the other side of the bar.

"Blaise!" Pansy Parkinson inserted herself between Blaise and Harry. "Won't you dance?"

"I have been dancing."

Hands. On his shoulders.

Harry looked, but it was a waiter taking his coat and handing him a magical card that he told him would reappear later.

"Aren't you the Halogens?"

"Not tonight, baby," Blaise told the girl. A lie.

Pansy was now wearing what appeared to be a thick pink ribbon wrapped around the important parts of her body.

"I want to introduce you to my boyfriend," she slurred in Blaise's ear.

Harry watched the mist roll across the sky. Floor. No, definitely the sky.

"Oh Harry!" said Parkinson's voice. Too loud. "How are you liking the Elephants?"

Harry blinked at her. "You're the only pink in the room," he heard himself say.

Blaise laughed to the pulsing beat that was getting stronger. Stronger.

"Enjoy yourself, Harry," Blaise said, clapping his shoulder ... Disappeared.

Harry was pulled off the barstool by a woman dressed in black. Millicent Bulstrode was dancing far away on a stage dressed entirely in black lace. Not this woman. She ground her hips into his and laughed in his ear.

"Yeah?" she asked.

Harry smiled at her. "Not a chance," he said.

Eyes only for Draco? asked a voice in his head that Harry didn't hear. "Maybe," he said.

The girl frowned and was gone. She felt like she was never real anyway. Harry reached a hand over his head to the ceiling and the mist. It could descend any second and cover them all. For a second it did, but then, everything was back again.

Draco was there.

He heard Harry's voice in his ear. "Missed me?"

Harry saw, rather than felt him turn. Draco, smiling. "Harry."

Harry pulled him through the crowd. He watched Draco as he walked slowly backwards. The crowd flew by them on either side. Draco's eyes stayed on him.

Draco turned his head and Harry leaned down into his ear. "Missed me?"

Draco turned and smiled. He laid a hand on Harry's bare chest and pushed him back through the crowd. Everyone moved slowly to the impossibly fast beat.

Harry's hands were on Draco's hips and he was pulling him closer.

"Dance with me," one of them said.

Dance.

Ginny watched them briefly. Draco wore a loincloth made from what looked like tinsel and nothing else. Harry wore tight leather trousers and had black paint smeared cross his chest. His forehead was against Draco's and they were moving under the lights.

The lights were on them and Pansy and Hermione both turned to watch. Their eyes met through Harry and Draco and they shared a smile that was gone in an instant.

The music pulsed.

Harry could feel Draco against his leg and moved his hand down.

"Dance with me," Harry said.

Draco heard him from far away. "Dance with me," he repeated and moved out of Harry's reach. He smirked smoothly.

Harry noticed Draco's eyes glittering in the lights. Blue and pink and yellow flashed, but his eyes remained a steady, mercurial grey. The lights bounced off Draco's hair and were absorbed by Harry's.

Harry took a step forward and Draco took another step back into the crowd. This time Harry stepped back and Draco's smirk went liquid. He took another step away.

"Dance with me, Harry." A command.

Pulse. Beat, beat.

A couple danced between them and Harry lost sight of Draco and the mist descended again. Harry tasted a laugh.

"Draco," he said.

"I'm here," said the hand suddenly in his.

And they were dancing again, moving together to the pulsing that filled the room. Their hips ground together and their arms were around each other.

Dance with me.

Draco looked up.

Harry looked up.

Their eyes met and Harry's tongue was in Draco's mouth. Their eyes closed in unison. The beat.

They were kissing and moving to the beat. All tongue. Teeth. Draco's tongue was in Harry's mouth and his fingers were in his hair.

There was shimmer in the air and sweat on skin.

Harry's hand found Draco's arse and gripped it as he pulled him in tighter.

Harry broke off and licked a path up Draco's neck and Draco was appreciating the metaphor 'hard as rock'.

Draco ground against him. "You can actually dance," Draco whispered.

Harry moved back a fraction and met Draco's eyes again. "Fuck dancing," he said and kissed Draco again.

They kissed and grinded and touched and grabbed and Harry pulled away again to finish his sentence. "Let's get out of here."

Pulse, kiss, laugh.

They were outside.

"There's a key..." Harry said.

Draco laughed. "Where are we going?"

"Key ... to get a key. Come 'ere." Harry kissed Draco hard and tangled his fingers in his hair.

Draco felt the cool glass against his back as Harry pushed him against a window of the building.

Harry pulled back and grinned at him.

"About time," Draco said.

"There's still mist," Harry said. "And stars." He grabbed his hand. They wandered down the street like this, pausing to kiss haphazardly every so often.

"It's like red, but it's ... not," Harry commented, leaning his head back against Draco's shoulder as they walked. Draco laughed and held Harry upright.

"This was fun."

Suddenly Draco was pressed against another wall and Harry was laughing into his ear. Harry's hand was on Draco again.

"I want to see it," he breathed and heard Draco's moan in response.

"So fucking beautiful," Harry said as he worked. Draco cried out, still pushed against the wall in the clear night.

"God ... Harry..."

"Dance with me, Draco."

The stars were back and the mist, the mist, the mist...

Draco shuddered, gasped and went still.

He rested his head on Harry's shoulder, breathing heavily.

"Hey," said Harry, stroking lightly his head. "Did you know you have stars in your hair?"

Draco laughed. Then he laughed again, and harder until he became almost hysterical.

Harry rubbed one of Draco's arms over and over. "We need the key," Harry said at last when Draco had calmed down. "To the door. To the room."

Draco pulled back and kissed Harry again. Harry responded with enough enthusiasm to make Draco ... less soft.

"Come on, Draco," Harry said, and pulled him down the street again.

Draco laughed when they arrived outside of the Hogsmeade Inn. "You're joking," he said, hoping Harry wasn't.

Harry grinned at him and pushed open the doors.

Then Harry was pushing Draco against another door and they were falling through it.

They hit the ground together and the music stopped. It was dark in their room save the blue light from the moon in the window. It was enough to see most of the room, but Harry had eyes only for Draco and leaned down to kiss him softly.

They lay in a patch of moonlight, kissing gently for a long time until Draco decided to take action.

The room was floating and had started singing again, but Draco gently pushed Harry off of him and pulled him over towards the bed.

Harry was smiling dreamily. "What's up?" he asked.

Draco pushed Harry down on the bed and kissed him again until his breathing went shallow. They moved properly onto the bed. He crawled on top of Harry and straddled his hips.

Harry put his hands under his head and grinned up at Draco.

Draco smiled back and placed his palm on Harry's bare stomach, over his abs.

He held it there. Blue.

There.

He lifted his hand and saw a glowing blue hand print on Harry's skin. Then Draco leaned forward and kissed Harry's neck. He kissed down his chest, past the ribs and down the trail of hair near his navel. He slowly undid Harry's trousers and pulled them down. Harry kicked them off and ran three fingers through Draco's hair.

Draco looked up at him but Harry was looking at the ceiling.

"Hi Draco," he said.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Hi?" he said.

"I ... I can't see you," Harry said.

Draco laughed against Harry's cock. "That's alright," he said languorously.

"No-" Harry seemed to be trying to say something. "I can't see you."

Draco felt himself smile and moved back up to kiss Harry's lips.

"But I can see you," said Draco.

Harry tried to kiss him again, but Draco had moved back down Harry's body. Harry laughed and Draco smiled at this.

Then Draco moved his mouth down and experimented. He had never done this before, but Harry's gasp was all the encouragement he needed. He had imagined it often enough not to feel completely nervous. Or maybe it was the magic helping his nerves.

Harry was groaning softly at intervals and Draco could feel Harry's heartbeat speeding up to match his own.

"Draco," Harry breathed.

Taste. Draco liked the smell of Harry from here. He could taste the smell. And Harry cried out sharply. And Draco could taste something new.

He pulled back to watch Harry from a different angle.

"Slytherin," Draco said as the world turned to green and silver liquid.

Soon the bed was floating in a sea of Harry's Slytherin, and his breathing had calmed.

He pulled Draco up towards him and tasted Slytherin on Draco's tongue.

They kissed and touched as the bed rocked gently on the waves. And then, as dawn approached in a Gryffindor sunrise over the Slytherin sea, Draco rested his head on Harry's shoulder, and they drifted away.