Cupid and Fate

Cupid stood at the top of the stairs, his cloak wrapped tightly around his chubby body. He was waiting for something. And then, he had to wait no more. A Slytherin, looking to be in his seventh year, wandered into the hall, his hand clutching his wand tightly. He had a large grin on his face and was trailing behind a first year Hufflepuff who looked rather frightened. She backed into the wall and, when she realized she could go no further, she stopped and the boy advanced on his victim.

"Exactly what do you think you're doing, Malfoy?" The boy jumped and turned around to see a seventh year Gryffindor.

"Just having a bit of fun, that's all." His grin widened and he turned his back to the Gryffindor and chuckled at the young Hufflepuff.

"I don't think you should." Malfoy rolled his eyes and turned around.

"And why not, Potter? Playing the hero again, are you?" The girl started to sneak away as Potter held Malfoy's gaze.

"Not exactly. It's just not very nice, you see." Malfoy shook his head and turned around only to find that the girl had taken off up the stairs and away from the Entrance Hall, her blonde pigtails flying back behind her head.

"Aw, now look what you've done. I've lost my catch! Oh well, looks like I've got another one."

Cupid watched the scene with curiosity. It was obvious these two students hated each other and he was beginning to get an idea. Laughing shrilly, he bounced out of the hall and dissapeared with a small pop, leaving the two boys below to duel. He appeared next to an old man with a long, grey beard who was sitting at a desk, pouring over papers. "Fate! How have you been, old man?" he said cheerfully.

The man looked up, startled by the sudden disturbance. But he ignored the short, fat creature and went back to his work. He looked angry, to say the least.

"Are you going deaf?" asked Cupid, a grin plastered on his face. "You might want to get that checked. Meanwhile," He raised his voice. "I've recently gotten an idea and I think you'll find it rather delightful."

"I can hear you just fine," the old man said, not bothering to look at Cupid.

"Good, then you'll hear me then. I was just at Hogwarts, the wizarding school, and I witnessed an interesting scene. It seems that two of the students there - I suppose their names are Potter and Malfoy - hate each other."

"And your point? There are quite a few students at Hogwarts you hate each other."

"Come now, Fate. Hear me out. I've got an excellent idea. I only need your permission to go through with it, you see." Cupid paused. "As you know, I am in control of who falls in love, but - as you also know - I cannot make people fall in love without permisson from you, Fate." Another pause as he cleared his throat. "Now, these two boys could ruin the perfect world you have spent years building with their hate. I suspect you know where this is going?"

"Indeed I do, Cupid, and I tell you it shall not happen! Do you not remember the last time I let you meddle in my plans? You, my friend, ruined the world I spent years building and I had to go back and fix everything!"

"But it's love, old man! What can go wrong with love?"

"A lot of things, Cupid. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do." He turned away and looked back at his desk, adjusting his glasses.

"Fate! How can you turn your back to such a brilliant idea?" Cupid was starting to panic. He had convinced Fate to give him permission plenty of times. Why now was the man ignoring his request? But Fate had nothing more to say on the matter.

Sighing, Cupid dissappeared again, his destination: Hogwarts. With a large grin on his face, Cupid obviously had an idea. “I'll do it with or without your help, old man.”

The Entrance Hall was empty. Apparently, the fight had been broken up while he was gone. "Excellent," he said, rubbing his hands together, his eyes darting around the room. "I shall do it tonight." He popped out of the room once more.

* * *

Harry laid his head down on his pillow, his hand rubbing the long scratch upon his cheek. It had been put there by none other than Malfoy. He had hexed him before he had had a time to react. It burned, but Madam Pomfry assured him that the pain and the scratch would be gone by the following morning. "I'll get him back," he grumbled as he turned on his side and closed his eyes. Soon, he was dreaming of the perfect revenge. Meanwhile, Cupid crept up to the bed, his grin wider than ever.

He climbed onto Harry's bed and whispered into his ear, "Draco Malfoy you will forever love. His absense will pain you, his heart will beat alongside yours until the end of time. Go to him tomorrow and confess your love." Giggling madly, Cupid left Harry's side and wandered out of the dormitories and the Common Room. "Time to visit the other one," he laughed.

Draco glared angrily at the canopy of his four-poster. He had no scratches or scars and had not been harmed by Potter's wand. Yet, he was still angry that his own wand had not worked properly. The hex he had intended to use had hit the door leading onto the grounds and had busted a hole into it. It was the door, in fact, that had left the long scratch on Potter's face. The wood had snapped, and, with the hex still active on the wood, had caused it. "Tomorrow," he whispered to himself, falling asleep almost instantly afterwards.

Cupid was now creeping onto Draco's bed. He bent down to his ear and whispered, "Harry Potter you will forever love. His absense will pain you, his heart will beat alongside yours until the end of time. Go to him tomorrow and confess your love." Rubbing his hands together again, he dissappeared.

* * *

Harry walked into the Great Hall, a dreamy grin on his face as he scanned the Slytherin table. His smile faded when he saw that Draco Malfoy was not there. He stumbled towards the table, ready to scream at its occupants for not getting him up that morning when he heard a gasp nearby.

"Harry! What on earth are you doing?" Hermione had jumped from the Gryffindor table and was running towards him. She steered him back to their own table. "Care to explain?"

"I don't know what you mean," he said, his face blank.

"Harry, are you on drugs?"

He stared at her. "Possibly," he said.

"Snap out of it, mate!" Ron stood up, reached across the table, and started slapping Harry across the cheek. He stopped. "Hermione...what are drugs?"

"Oh, Ron! I'll explain later. Something's wrong with Harry!"

"Oh, right, sorry."

Meanwhile, Draco was just walking into the Hall, the same dreamy expression on his face. He looked at the Gryffindor table, smiled, and started walking towards Harry and his friends. "Er, Harry, may I speak with you for a moment?"

"What did you do to him?" Ron shrieked, standing up quickly. But Malfoy ignored him.

"Of course." Harry extended his hand and Draco took it. He leaned down and kissed it. The both giggled and headed for the Entrance Hall where they would speak privately.

"Bloody hell," said Ron. "What has gotten into those two?" Hermione didn't say anything. She merely stared, unable to get over the shock of what she had just witnessed.

The two boys walked away from the door, careful not to let anyone see them. "I love you," they both said quitely. "You do?" they said in unison. "Of course I do!" The four words echoed across the hall and they both giggled again at the sound of it.

"Oh good," said Draco calmly as he leaned in for the kiss.

"DRACO MALFOY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" The scream came from nearby and Draco stopped before his lips could touch Harry's. Pansy Parkinson was just arriving for breakfast and she wore a terrified expression on her face. She ran over to him, grabbed him by his ear, and dragged him away. "Care to explain?" she said. But Draco was not paying a bit of attention to her. He was, at the moment, blowing a kiss at Harry, who returned it.

Pansy fainted.

The rest of the students were watching the scene from the doorway. Some were laughing, some had fainted as well, and others were just staring as if frozen with fear, their mouths wide open. Harry and Draco did not seem to notice them at first. But when they did, they turned and smiled at the crowd. "We would like," Harry began. "to confess our love!" finished Draco. With that, they kissed. The crowd groaned, either from disgust or surprise, no one but they knew.

* * *

Fate shook his head as he stared into his crystal ball. He was watching the two boys and rubbing his forehead. "That Cupid," he said with a sigh. "He gives me such a headahce. It'll take me two years to fix everything he's just ruined. I'll have to modify the memories of every single student at that school and that's his fault." He turned his face up to the heavens. "Dear God, why won't you allow me to fire that demon?"