For 16 Galleons

Chapter 14

Draco had a new tactic this year for getting through the crowds at King's Cross Station. He had Crabbe and Goyle shove everyone out of the way while he, Harry, Blaise and Dean followed closely behind them. It worked beautifully. They found a compartment easily and enjoyed a mostly Pansy-free ride.

At one point, Lisa and her Ravenclaw mistress, Su Li, stopped by. Lisa took one look at Harry and blushed furiously. When the girls left, Dean elbowed him in the ribs.

"Ooh, Harry, got a girlfriend this year?"

"Huh? What do you mean, Dean?"

Justin piped up at this point, "Didn't you see the way she was looking at you? She's just dying for a smooch."

"You guys are barmy," Harry shot back. How embarrassing.

"I heard someone say that Sally Ann wants to be your girlfriend, too," commented Dean.

"Geez, Harry, leave some girls for us, why don't you."

"Shut up, you prat," Harry retorted and turned bright red.

He looked up at Draco and saw the strangest look on his master's face. Now wasn't the time to ask, though.

Dean looked amused. "Like you have anything to worry about, Justin. Hermione was awfully interested in whether or not you were on the train when I ran into her out in the corridor."

"Really?" Justin asked. "Um, I need to go to the loo," he said and quickly got up.

"She's in the fourth compartment towards the back," Dean yelled after him, giggling.

*********

That evening the feast was noisy as everyone caught up with their friends after the summer. Harry sat between Dean and Hermione. He noticed that the girl kept glancing up at the Gryffindor table and shook his head. Girls; he just didn't understand them.

Draco was grumpy that night as Harry got their room set up the way his master liked it. Harry just let him, figuring that he would eventually talk about what was wrong.

**********

The next few weeks were a bit of Hell for Harry. It became apparent that Lisa and Sally Ann were interested in him. They kept trying to sit next to him in class. Hermione had moved and was now sitting next to Justin. Harry wrinkled his nose in distaste every time he thought about it. The two of them kept making those faces and stupid noises at each other. He had no intention of making a fool out of himself like Justin.

Meanwhile, he had to use all his cleverness to dodge the two girls who seemed intent on cornering him. He now understood how Draco felt about Pansy being clingy. Speaking of Draco, the boy was like a lit fuse these days. One minute they would be together like usual then suddenly Draco would get snippy and turn away from him. It usually happened when Lisa or Sally Ann were either present or mentioned, but Harry had no idea why.

***********

It was Thursday evening and Harry was exhausted after Quidditch practice. He stumbled out of the changing room and found himself face to face with Lisa.

"Hi, Harry."

Harry wondered why she was blinking at him so much. "Um, Hi, Lisa."

There was a very awkward silence for a few minutes while Harry tried unsuccessfully to back away from the girl. There was a wall in the way. Finally, he asked her, "What's up, Lisa? Do you need something?"

"Oh, yes, Harry," she said as she leaned right up against him. Harry began to panic. What was she doing? How was he going to get away? What was wrong with her voice? It wasn't usually that growley. He was just about to give her an excuse that would hopefully let him slip away when she pressed her lips to his. He just stood there, back against the wall, trying to pull his head away and blinking his eyes rapidly.

Then she tried to stick her tongue in his mouth! Harry shoved her backwards rather hard and glared at her for a minute while wiping his mouth off. "What do you think you're doing?" he practically screamed. "That's... gross!"

Lisa looked up at him and burst into tears before running away. Well, at least he didn't have to worry about how to get away from her.

Back in the Slytherin Common Room he threw himself down in a chair next to Draco, who was studying with Blaise.

Seeing the scowl on Harry's face, Dean asked him what was wrong.

"Lisa," he grumbled.

Dean looked at him funny. "What's wrong with Lisa?"

Harry didn't notice the sudden interest Draco was paying their conversation. "She kissed me outside the Quidditch changing rooms. At least I think that's what she was trying to do."

Dean grinned, "You kissed a girl!"

"I did not! She kissed me and I shoved her down. Then she started crying and ran away," he admitted sheepishly.

"Harry!" Hermione cried out from nearby. "That's no way to treat a girl."

"She tried to stick her tongue in my mouth. What was I supposed to do, let her?"

Blaise laughed at him, "Well, yeah, Harry. That's called French kissing and it's really advanced."

Harry looked at everyone laughing at him. Disgruntled, he got up and went to his room. He didn't see the grin of relief on Draco's face.

Later that night, as Harry was on the verge of sleep, he heard a moan from Draco's bed. He was instantly awake, worried that his master might be having a nightmare. Then he heard the soft rustling sound of movement and heavy breathing. Another moan, this one louder, prompted him to dart over to Draco's bed.

"Master, wake u..." his voice trailed off as he realized that Draco was wide awake and his hand was down his pyjama bottoms. "Erm, uh," he struggled to find something to say. Draco glared at him. "I guess you aren't having a nightmare, are you?"

Draco just glared at him some more. Harry looked around the room as if he expected to find a professor hiding in the corner.

"Are you... wanking?" he asked with awe. He had been there when one of the Fourth Years had told Draco and a few others all about it but he'd been too afraid to try it himself.

"I was," Draco drawled. "I think it's a bust now, though."

"Oh, sorry." Harry knew he was red by now. He turned and got back into bed. He laid there for a few minutes, trying to think of anything other than just having caught his master in a really 'personal' moment.

"Master Draco?"

"What?" Draco snapped.

"Did it feel good? Before I screwed things up, I mean."

He heard Draco sigh and shift in bed. "Yeah, it felt really good."

"Is, was that the first time you've done it?"

There was a pause. "No. Marcus kind of showed me how to do it in the shower the other day."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he said all the older boys do it." There was another pause. "He said it's easier if someone shows you how."

Harry found himself feeling rather hot suddenly. "Really?" he squeaked.

"Well, I don't know if it's true or not. I mean, I think I probably could have figured it out on my own, but..." Neither of them said anything for awhile.

"Harry?"

"Yes, Master Draco?"

"Um, if you need anyone to show you... um, well, I'd, you know, I'd do it. Just for you, mind you. I don't want you going to one of the other slaves or anything."

"Thanks, Master Draco. Um, do we need to be in the shower?" Harry asked.

"You just caught me in bed doing it, Harry. What do you think?"

"Well, isn't it messy?"

"Not really. I mean, not for me, anyway, just a few drops of stuff. Marcus said that's because I'm only 12."

"The others, out in the Common Room, talked like it was huge mess."

"I imagine it will when we get older. You should have seen what happened to Marcus. He kind of jerked and shot this wad of white stuff all over the wall. It was amazing, kind of gross. He taught me a cleaning charm to use later."

"Oh."

Harry was pretty sure he could figure out how to do it on his own. Frankly, he was really embarrassed by the thought of watching another boy do something like that. He decided that the next time he was alone in a shower stall he was going to give it try. He'd have to ask Draco about the cleaning charm, though.

It took him ages to fall asleep that night.

To be continued.