Taught to Wed

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Taught to Wed

Chapter 4 - Polyjuice

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Lunch went by rather quietly for the two boys. Hermione had devoured her lunch quicker than Mrs. Norris could catch you while wandering the halls after hours, and had returned to her room to research. Ginny and Neville hadn't even shown up; they weren't at breakfast either. Ron was engrossed in his meal. And Harry was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't even notice Colin Creevey chatting animatedly at him about his new camera. Harry was in fact so deep in thought he didn't even eat his meal.

Though it's quite difficult to eat when you're thinking about Draco Malfoy. Not just idly thinking about him, but really thinking. Thinking about the way he walks with an air of confidence that rivals your own. Thinking about how he smirks at everything, how you wish he would do something else with those lips. Wishing he had been using them on you rather than the pug-faced Pansy Parkinson. You didn't mean to see it, but since they were snogging in the potions classroom, with the door open nonetheless, it was hard to miss. It wasn't your fault you had to walk in either. You were only there because Ron wanted Veritaserum for the truth or dare game. Fortunately you had your invisibility cloak, it would have been very embarrassing if Draco had seen the expression on your face when you saw them. Mouths entangled with one another, almost fighting.

Fighting, that's how you came to realize this ridiculous attraction. Well it is only ridiculous now because it seems quite obvious he's not into guys. Then again you thought he had better taste than to snog a pug-faced meddlesome bitch. You would fight her for him. Fighting, always back to fighting. You're sure it all started sometime before then, but it wasn't until the Quidditch match during fifth year that you realized it. When you were beating him senseless and he never bothered to fight back. He just let you hurt him. He allowed you to straddle him and writhe against him, though it wasn't sexual at the time. Well at least you didn't think it was, you were punching him, after all. Beating him with all your anger, all your passion, all your hate, and all your....

"Harry," Ron said, waving his hand in front of the other boy's face, "Harry!" Ron tried snapping his fingers, but even that wasn't bringing Harry to attention. Now most people thought of Ron as a bit dumb; he didn't have the flair of the twins, the self-centeredness of Percy, or the shear-dogged determination of Bill and Charlie. Ginny was blooming, but she was different, Ron was just Ron; but Ron did have a brain, and realizing that allowing Harry to continue to stare off into space, especially since Colin had given up the one-sided conversation, was going to raise a few questions, not to mention make them late for class, he did the only thing a real friend would do. "Harry, Draco just walked in," he whispered into his friend's ear.

Harry's reaction was swift and startling, verifying a few things that Ron had been noticing as of late. "Hmmm?" said Harry looking dazedly around the emptying Great Hall, "What did you say, Ron?"

"Class, Harry, we have got to go to class," Ron said, getting up from the table, "Are you coming or what?"

"Um, yeah," said Harry, still a bit groggy from his thoughts, "Did you want to meet up in the library after class?"

"Of course, we need to talk," Ron said, a little nervous as to what Harry's reaction would be.

"Oh - ok," said Harry warily, "Any thing specific?"

"Yeah, but we'll talk about it later," said Ron, splitting off and heading towards Muggle Studies.

"Yeah, later," said Harry, not at all excited about double potions, except, of course for the fact that he'd get to see Draco again. Since the O.W.L.s, the majority of classes had shrunk in size and so all of Harry's classes were doubled up with the Slytherins.

*****

Lucius Malfoy stepped into the potions classroom with his usual air of elegance, or rather arrogance. "Good afternoon, Severus, Miss Granger," he said looking intently at the two of them, "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," his lips curling up in devious delight.

"Of course not, Lucius, Miss Granger and I were just finishing up discussing plans," said Severus. "She was just headed out the door to the library to meet up with her friends," he said, nudging Hermione, praying that she would be quick to pick up on things; (praying she would act appropriately, he had no fear she'd pick up the hint, after all she did havvee a brain; but could she dissemble, that was the difficulty. Luckily he had picked the one destination she would always sound believable about, the library) unlike she had been in class.

"Yes, that's right. I was just heading to the library," Hermione said, grabbing up her books, and heading towards the door, "I will see you later, Severus."

As Hermione went to open the door, Lucius spoke up once again, "Really, Severus, is that the way to see off your fiancée?" Lucius raised his eyebrow, daring Snape to back down from the challenge he ad just set forth.

"How forgetful of me, Lucius," Snape sneered, "However, you should be quite aware that I am not accustomed to sending Hermione off from class with a kiss. Surely the students would talk."

"I see your point, Severus, but as there are no students here, you may as well send her off to the library, properly," Lucius said pointedly, "That is, unless you have objections to kissing your own fiancée."

Severus glared at Lucius for having dared to question him, before quickly turning and heading towards Hermione. As he approached he silently mouthed the words, 'Just go along with it.' Hermione's eyes locked onto his, confirming her willingness to participate. Upon reaching th young woman he leaned down the few inches it took to meet her lips with his own. He gently kissed her, his thin smooth lips lightly brushing her own chapped, supple ones. After a brief moment he reluctantly pulled away. He had been so close to everything he's wanted for the past six months, knowing it would most likely never happen again. Hermione smiled up at him, "I will see you later," she said before skipping out the door. Dear Merlin, she thought, kiss me again. Hermione walked to the library in a blissful cloud of confusion. She was unsure of so many things as it was, and this only made it worse.

Severus watched her disappear from sight before turning back to the other man. "Lucius, may I inquire as to why you have decided to drop by unannounced? I'm sure it has to be quite urgent for you to not have owled first," Severus said scathingly.

"Right in one, as usual, Severus," Lucius stated coolly. " The matters of this visit are quite sensitive. I am in urgent need of Polyjuice potion for Draco."

"I am sorry, Lucius, but it takes..." Severus began.

"I am aware of how long it takes to prepare, Severus. I am also quite aware that you keep many potions in stock for occasions such as this," Lucius stated, daring Severus to counter him.

"And what sort of occasion would that be?" Snape said, raising his eyebrow. "I would hope that it is not for personal reasons, but for reasons pertaining to this?" he said, his hand gently resting over Lucius' covered dark mark.

"If it were a personal issue, Severus, I wouldn't have come to you about it," Lucius sneered. "Just be sure that Draco receives it. He has the hair and has been informed of his mission," he said, headed towards the door, "By the way, send my regards to Dumbledore." With that, Lucius swept out of the potions classroom.

*****

Harry gave Hermione a quick look as he exited the classroom. He was going to wait for her, but that one glance was enough to tell that she was going to be more than a minute. Harry grudgingly began his hike toward the library, where he was to meet up with Ron. He was not looking forward to the conversation, it seemed it would be about rather personal issues.

Harry's ears turned pink with a mix of anger and embarrassment as he walked into the library, spotting Ron, and remembering Ron's words from lunch, Harry, Draco just walked in. Harry wanted to know exactly what Ron knew in order to come up with that, but was worried about how he was going to get that answer without bringing it up himself, or giving away too much.

Ron was tucked off in the back corner of the library, in plain sight, but out of the way of prying ears. He knew the conversation was going to get quite personal, and figuring that Hermione might be joining them at some point, he wanted to be able to see her before she heard them.

Harry sat down awkwardly in the chair next to Ron's. He kept shifting his weight, unable to get comfortable. When he was a first year the armchairs seemed absolutely humongous and engulfing. Now, they were still oversized, but his tall frame made it difficult for him to get comfortable. Add to that his nervousness about the nature of the impending conversation, and the overstuffed chair felt as comfortable a tiny metal chair with spikes on the seat and back.

Ron sat quietly, waiting for Harry to stop squirming before saying anything. He was afraid that by speaking before Harry was comfortably seated, would only cause Harry more discomfort. A few moments passed in silence before Harry had settled.

"So," said Harry, looking Ron in the eyes. "What's going on?" he asked, his hands twisting nervously with each other in his lap, his gaze dropping from Ron to his knees.

"Not that I'm complaining, Harry, but do you know why Cho's back this year?" Ron said, figuring that starting out slow and as far from the subject he really wanted to encroach, would lull Harry into a sense of security and help him to be honest with his best friend.

Harry's eyes shot up to Ron's once more, a sigh of relief escaping his lips, his expression softening from anxiety to one of content. "Yeah. She didn't do well enough on her N.E.W.T.s last year."

"What? But she's bloody brilliant Harry. Ok emotional, but brilliant. How could she not do great on her N.E.W.T.s?" Ron asked indignantly. The thought of Cho, a Ravenclaw, nonetheless doing poorly on any test was completely ludicrous.

"Well, she did do very well, just not well enough to her standards. That and she couldn't get into the program she wanted. She does not want to be an Auror like us; she wants to go on to a Wizarding University. Hermione does too. She doesn't want to be outdone by Hermione, and she knows that Hermione is going to pass all her N.E.W.T.s with ease, mostly because she studies all the bloody time. That and she spent too much time on Quidditch instead of over her books," Harry said, catching his breath at the end of his tirade.

"Gee, Harry, you sure you don't like her? You just about gave me her whole bloody biography," Ron said, hoping that this would be a good segue into his next question.

"I'm sure, Ron. I'm just a good listener," Harry said, blushing slightly.

"Since when did you become such a bloody great listener?" Ron chided.

"Um," started Harry. Merlin's beard, now what? 'Oh, about the same time I realized what a ponce I am.' I'm quite sure that'll go over great with Ron. "Since Cho stopped talking about Cedric. About the same time that her and I gave up on being anything more than friends."

"Oh. Why'd you give up?" This is easier than I thought. Maybe I could have been a Slytherin. Mum would be furious though if I had. "You can't tell me its because you don't understand girls. You obviously understood her enough to tell me everything you've just said."

"Ron," Harry said, his voice taking on a serious and hushed tone, "If I tell you this, do you swear that you won't say a word of this to anyone?"

Ron nodded, "I swear on Merlin's beard." Tell me that you like Draco. Tell me, I know you want to.

"I'm..." Harry said, looking into Ron's eyes, wanting to gauge his best friend's reaction, "Well I think I'm gay. I'm not sure though. It's just these feelings."

Ron visibly relaxed, relieved now that Harry had finally trusted him completely. "It's about bloody time you told me," Ron said softly, almost soothingly, "I assume you haven't acted on these feelings?" Harry shook his head, looking worried once more. "It's ok mate, take your time. It's a big step to take." Harry smiled. "You know, Bill, he's gay. He told me so this summer. He met this really nice bloke at Gringott's."

"Really?" asked Harry, "Do you think he'd mind if I owled him?"

"I don't see any problem with that," Ron looked up, seeing Hermione enter the library. He nudged Harry, "We can talk more about this later, Hermione's here," he said, waving the girl over.