Believe in me

Believe in me

Chapter Two

Harry had snuck back into his dormitory at two in the morning after what was definitely a memorable night in the potions classroom. Harry had no idea that kissing could be so much fun when done with the right person.

The right person, was that how he thought of Draco? He decided not to obsess over it and just enjoyed falling asleep with a smile on his lips and nothing but Draco in his thoughts.

It made a change, to dream about pleasant things.

In the morning Ron, who threw a towel and Harry's wash bag on top of him with a thump, woke him up. They were late. Again. Harry had jumped out of bed and grabbed his stuff racing into the en-suite bathroom where Ron was hastily brushing his teeth.

"Mwarnin' 'arry, sweelp 'ell?" he sprayed before spitting out a mouthful of toothpaste.

Harry shook his head in amusement.

"Fine thanks Ron," he replied turning on one of the five cubicle showers and testing the water.

"How was detention with Snape?" Ron asked after wiping his mouth on a towel.

"Snape wasn't there," Harry said loudly as he climbed into the steaming shower, "so that made it all the more enjoyable."

"I'm going to run down to breakfast," Ron shouted, "I'll save you some bacon and scrambled egg if I'm not too late. Better hurry up mate, it's nearly eight thirty!"

"Okay," Harry shouted above the rushing water as Ron rushed out of the bathroom, grabbed his satchel, and raced out the door and down to breakfast.

Ten minutes later Harry was cleaned, dressed and out the door. He ran through the empty common room and out the portrait hole, the Fat Lady who guarded the Gryffindor common room entrance shouting down the corridor after him, "Late again Harry! It's only the third day back!"

He was just rounding the corner to the entrance hall that followed into the Great Hall when he skidded to a stop in front of Draco Malfoy.

"Nice hair," Draco commented with a lopsided smile.

Harry ran a hand through his towel dried hair and grinned, "I just keep it messy to drive you wild," he said, knowing how much Draco loved everything to be neat and tidy. After years of watching Draco perfectly arrange his potions equipment at right angles and teasing him about constantly checking his hair whenever a reflective surface was at hand, Harry knew Draco's perfectionist habits rather well.

"This is not the kind of wild I hope to experience when looking at you," Draco said, "You're cutting it a bit fine aren't you?" he commented.

"Well you know, I had a pretty exhausting night," Harry replied still grinning.

"You'd better go and get some breakfast if you want to make first period," Draco said seriously, and then with a quick look over his shoulder to check they were alone, he kissed Harry quickly on the cheek, "see you later," he said.

"Not if that's the best goodbye kiss you can muster up," Harry said cheekily.

Draco accepted the challenge and kissed Harry deeply on the lips, a hand on the back of the Gryffindors head, fingers entwined in damp coconut smelling black hair. The two parted ways, each with a smile transfixed on their face.

Harry walked into the Great Hall still grinning insanely and taking a seat next to Hermione.

"Morning all," he said cheerfully, accepting the plate of food Ron had salvaged from him.

"You're in a good mood," Hermione commented suspiciously, "not that I'm complaining or anything," she added hastily.

"Just glad to be back," Harry said in between mouthfuls.

"See that Ron," Ginny said pointedly to her brother, "That's called not speaking with your mouth full of food. You might like to try it sometime."

"Oh its not just food," Harry said, "he does it with toothpaste as well."

Ginny looked disgustedly at her older sibling, "I pity the girl who ends up kissing you," she said.

Harry heard Hermione choke on her piece of toast and he turned to look at her.

"Went...down...the wrong...way," she said between coughs.

Harry could swear he could see a slight blush on her cheeks, but he didn't say anything.

"What you got first period 'Mione," Ron said changing the topic.

Hermione swept into her bag and fished out her timetable.

"Haven't you memorised that yet?" Harry asked, receiving only a glare from his meticulous friend.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts," she said, so we're probably all together this morning.

Harry snatched her timetable.

"Hey!" Hermione said indignantly.

"I've got Advanced Potions this morning. How come we're not in the same class?" he said sounding annoyed.

"I don't know," Hermione said, snatching her timetable back, "Maybe the subjects clashed or something. Aren't you taking Specialised Quidditch Skills instead of Divination this year?"

"Yeah," Harry said, "but I figured that I'd just have that while Ron went to Magical Healing and you went to Arithmancy. This sucks!" he exclaimed, "I have both Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts by myself!"

"Don't forget Specialised Quidditch Skills," Ron said with a mouthful, achieving annoyed looks from three different angles, "I'm sorry!" he spat sending scrambled egg across the table whist holding his hands up.

Harry walked grumpily down to the potions dungeon by himself, muttering how the world really was out to get him, but when he entered the door, his bad mood vanished. Inside the classroom was one silver haired boy sitting at the front of the class talking to the greasy haired potions master. Okay, so Snape's appearance dampened his new found high slightly, but still, it looked like he and Draco were the only two in the class.

"Mister Potter, so glad you bothered to grace us with your presence at last," Snape drawled in his usual silky voice.

"It's not even nine yet Professor," Harry said back, not bothering to hide his dislike for the teacher, "its hardly my fault that you decided to show up early. You can't take points off me for being on time."

"No, but I can take them off for disrespecting a teacher," Snape said, although he didn't actually take any points away, "Sit down Potter, we have a lesson to get on with."

"It's just us?" Draco said.

"Unfortunately yes," Snape said, "There has been a very low turn out for Advanced Potions. Students just can't handle the pace of my lessons even though I am working as slow as the syllabus allows. There are exactly fifteen students taken Potions as a N.E.W.T, and the other thirteen are in the second class I have been forced to run due to a mess up with the timetable. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are both taking Specialised Quidditch Skills?"

They both nodded, and Harry could feel his bad mood lessening with every second.

"Useless lesson if you ask me," Snape said, "and taught by a boy who is barely out of school himself. What is the world coming to when you can take Quidditch as a N.E.W.T?"

Harry suspected that the Ministry had agreed to the new subject in an attempt to make up for the disaster that was the Hogwarts High Inquisitor last year. Oliver Wood, the old Gryffindor Quidditch captain and keeper were teaching it. Harry was thrilled to have Wood back at school, even as a teacher. He was the single most enthusiastic person about Quidditch that Harry had ever met. He played for Puddlemere United reserves, but had been granted the time to teach twice a week at Hogwarts for experience.

Harry had received an enthusiastic letter from Oliver about two weeks into the summer holidays telling Harry that he'd got the job, and would Harry be interested in taking it up next year. All the new sixth year players on the House Quidditch teams were being asked, and most of them had jumped at the chance. Ron had wanted to take it up, but Mrs Weasley had blatantly refused to let him saying that Healing was a much more useful qualification.

Oliver was trying to get experience in as many different fields as possible so that he would have a good chance at being accepted to the World Wizarding University in a year's time. This was the first time Harry had heard of the institution and so he had asked Wood about it. Apparently, you had to be at least twenty-one to apply, have ten O.W.Ls, preferably at grade "E" and above (Wizarding grades were thus, "O" is Outstanding, followed by "E", Exceeds Expectations, then "A" being Acceptable, the last pass grade, and the "P" for Poor, "D" for Dreadful, and the humoured "T" for Troll). You also needed five N.E.W.Ts, not to mention all the extra curricular stuff just to be allowed an application.

Harry was sure that Oliver would be accepted with open arms. He had eleven O.W.Ls to his name, five at grade "O", four grade "E" and two grade "A", the five required N.E.W.Ts, four of which were grade "O", with one grade "A", plus he had been Quidditch captain for five years, played professional Quidditch, had taken part in a foreign exchange in his fourth year and was now a N.E.W.T level teacher at Hogwarts, one of the most prestigious Wizarding schools in the world. Harry was surprised the University weren't begging him to come.

Harry turned his attention back to the lesson. Two years of potions lessons with just him and Draco. The look on Draco's face told him that the blonde was thinking the same thing, although they were both trying to not look too pleased about it. Snape had his back to the pair, and they chance a grin at each other. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Before we start," Snape said abruptly, turning on the spot swiftly so his cloak billowed around him, "I think we should make a deal, seeing as it's only going to be the three of us for the foreseeable future. Do you think you two can try to be civil towards each other in my lessons?"

Neither boy spoke. Harry was actually thinking that he had a much bigger problem being civil towards Snape than Draco. Harry hated Snape. He didn't trust the professor and saw no reason why he should pretend to respect him. Harry's disdain for Snape was equalled only by Snape's dislike for Harry.

Only last year Harry had found out why Snape despised Harry so much, during one of their Occlumency lessons. Snape had been teaching Harry to block the intruding mind of Lord Voldemort, however, Harry's deathly curiosity had caused the unauthorised ceasing of this training. Harry had paid a visit into Snape's memories via a Pensieve and discovered that Harry's father, James Potter, and godfather, Sirius Black, had picked on Snape mercilessly whilst at school. Harry despised Snape for many reasons, but the source of it was probably Snape's childish behaviour over the event and his inability to let it go. It was hardly Harry's fault that James and Sirius had acted like prats at school.

"I have a standard to maintain," Snape continued, "and I intend to maintain it. That means that I will get you through these N.E.W.Ts if it kills me. So I trust that you two will work together, act like adults and pay attention to my lessons. Is that clear?"

They both nodded. Harry may hate Snape, but he needed to pass this lesson and despite everything, Severus Snape was renowned worldwide for his potion making ability. Harry was actually amazed that he'd been accepted into the class at all. He hadn't expected to pass his Potions O.W.L, let alone pass it with grade "O". Harry had the sneaking suspicion that Dumbledore had forced Snape to take Harry into sixth year after discovering the grades he'd received. Harry was most proud however, of his Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. Not only had he passed with an "O", but also he had received the highest pass mark in Hogwarts history for the subject.

Hermione had congratulated him of course, but he had noticed her studying the subject a little more than others over the summer. He didn't mind. It was one of the things that made Hermione Hermione. Her desperate need to be excellent at everything academic. She had achieved ten O.W.Ls, four of which were grade "E" and the rest grade "O", and in Harry's opinion had absolutely no need to be jealous of Harry's one amazing achievement.

Overall, Harry had achieved a grade "E" in Transfiguration, History of Magic and Charms, "A" in Herbology, Astronomy, and Divination, and his three Outstanding O.W.Ls had been in Care of Magical Creatures (no doubt due to the excessive amount of time he spent with Hagrid), DADA and Potions. How he achieved such good results he didn't know, but that didn't stop him feeling proud. He had nine O.W.Ls to his name, more than he's ever expected.

The Potions lesson passed surprisingly quickly. What with there being only two students, Snape's usual intimidating teaching method was useless. Instead, he had actually helped them brew the Dreamless Sleep potion, pointing out mistakes before they made them instead of letting them fail.

For the first time ever, Harry found that he was appreciative the art of potion making. It was exact and delicate. The tiniest error could ruin the whole concoction, meaning that when the brew was a success, Harry felt extremely proud. At the end of lesson, there was one further bizarre occurrence. Snape awarded both Draco and Harry ten points each for their successful potion.

On the way to lunch (Potions had been a treble lesson, lasting all morning), Draco and Harry walked together slowly, being the only pupils exiting from the dungeons, enjoying the time alone.

"That wasn't so bad," Harry commented.

"I think I can cope with that lesson for the next two years," Draco agreed, "Although I am surprised that you carried on with Potions."

"Whys that?" Harry said grinning, "My obvious hate for the lesson, the teacher and everything potion related?"

"That," Draco said, "and the fact that last year I walked in on you taking Remedial Potions. How'd you get so good so fast?"

Harry laughed, remembering that Draco knew nothing about Harry's experiences of last year.

"I wasn't taking Remedial Potions you idiot," Harry said, "I'm not that bad at it. I was taking Occlumency lessons."

"Occlumency?" Draco asked confused, "Why on earth would you need to take Occlumency? And with Snape for that matter, don't you have to delve into each others minds to practice or something?"

"Yes," Harry said, making a show of shivering at the memory, "It was horrible."

"Awww, poor Harry," Draco said smiling and taking the other boys hand as they walked.

As the neared the end of the corridor Harry reluctantly let go of Draco's hand and the stopped to face each other. Harry stared into the Slytherins pure blue eyes and sighed.

"What are we doing Draco?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.

"I don't know," replied Draco, "Do we have to think about it now?"

Harry thought about this, and decided that as complicated as his life was, he didn't have to analyse the one thing that was making him happy at the moment.

"I guess not," he said smiling.

"Can we meet up later then?" Draco asked matching Harry's smile.

"Definitely, and I know the perfect place. Meet me at nine on the seventh floor opposite the tapestry Barnabas the Barmy," Harry said.

"You mean the one where he's being clubbed by those trolls?" Draco said confused, "but there's nothing there."

"Just be there," Harry said smiling mysteriously.

"Okay," Draco said, "I'll see you then. What have you got after lunch?"

"Charms," Harry said, "What about you?"

"Care of Magical Creatures," he replied.

"Your taking Care of Magical Creatures!" Harry exclaimed, "But you hate that, and you really hate Hagrid."

"Oh come on," Draco said, "I know you have some sort of bizarre relationship with the guy, but you must admit, he does have some very unconventional creatures on his syllabus."

Harry glared at Draco, but he didn't contradict him, because as much as Harry loved Hagrid, Draco did have a point.

"So why are you taking Care of Magical Creatures?" Harry asked.

"Look," Draco said, "If I tell you this, you're not to spread it around, okay?"

Harry nodded.

"I kind of have this thing for dragons," Draco said, "and when I leave school, I was planning to go and train them in Romania for a while before going to Uni."

Harry saw Draco in a whole new light then and he realised that he really didn't know the blonde that well at all.

"I think that sounds like a good idea," Harry said genuinely, "although you realise that dragons can bite, scratch and burn all at once right? You should have seen Charlie's hands when he came back from Romania."

"Charlie?" Draco said.

"Weasley. Ron's older brother."

"Right," Draco said, "Well if a Weasley can handle a dragon then so can I."

"I'll ignore that obvious insult," Harry said sternly, "Now we really have to go to lunch."

"You go first," said Draco, "we can't be seen walking in together."

"I guess not," replied Harry sighing, "See you tonight then."

"Later," Draco said.

Harry kissed Draco softly on the lips before departing.

The rest of the day was less productive, academically anyway. Harry sat through Charms with Ron and Hermione and didn't take in a word that was being said by anyone or anything. He read the same passage over and over from his Charms textbook, but not a word of it went in.

Harry was daydreaming quite peacefully, remembering Draco's kisses. The touch of his porcelain skin and the spark in his crisp blue eyes that made Harry want to do unspeakable things to the other boy. The thought of meeting him later on was all that got Harry through the day smiling.

Unfortunately, when Harry was daydreaming, he wasn't thing about the glazed over look in his dazzling emerald green eyes. He was startled back into reality by a sharp jab from Hermione's wand in the common room that evening after dinner. They were the only ones left up, Hermione had been trying to explain the Charms work to Harry earlier on, but he had tuned out long ago.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, "Did you hear a word I just said?"

"What?" Harry said focussing on his bushy haired friend, "Oh, right.... You were saying something about homework?"

"No," she replied glaring.

"N.E.W.Ts?" Harry guessed.

"No," she growled, her glare becoming more severe.

"Anything about school in general?" he asked.

"No!" Hermione practically shrieked, "My God Harry, where have you been all day? You've been so happy all of a sudden with no real reason, you didn't complain once about having treble Potions, and you have been drifting in and out of your own little world all day...." Hermione seemed to come to some sort of conclusion all of a sudden, "Harry, have you got a girlfriend?"

Harry jumped with surprise at Hermione's unexpected question.

"What? No!" he said a little too strongly.

"You can tell us if you've got a girlfriend Harry," Hermione said a smile playing on her lips.

"I don't have a girlfriend!" he exclaimed.

"Then what is going on with you?" she pushed.

"Nothing!" he snapped, and then made the rash decision to turn the conversation away from his own love life, "You're one to talk anyway," he said,

"What is that supposed to mean," Hermione said, sounding calm, but a blush on her cheeks once again.

"Isn't there something you may have neglected to tell me? A development that occurred over the summer holidays perhaps? Involving a mutual red headed acquaintance? Is this jogging any memories 'Mione?" Harry was questioning her harshly, but he was trying not to burst out laughing at the horrified look on Hermione's face.

"Harry...." she stuttered, "I.... how did.... what...?"

Harry couldn't do this to her. She looked so embarrassed and confused, and whilst it was fun in a twisted sort of way, she was his friend.

"It's alright Hermione," he said smiling, "I don't know anything, although you have just raised my suspicions a little higher," he finished with a quizzical expression on his face.

Hermione looked obviously relieved.

"That was mean," she said under her breath.

"You can tell me anything you know 'Mione," Harry said, "I know that I've been a bit.... distant recently, but I'm still your friend."

"Oh Harry," Hermione said, suddenly flinging her arms around his neck, "I'm sorry. We wanted to tell you, but you've been through so much recently, we didn't want you to think that we were excluding you or something."

Harry's mind was suddenly filled with disturbing images of Ron and Hermione including them in their activities, but he swiftly pushed them aside, determined to never think those thoughts again.

"Is that a round about way of telling me that you and Ron are now officially a couple?" Harry asked smiling, still hugging Hermione.

She pulled back from his and pulled her hair away from her face so she could look straight into his eyes. Slowly she nodded.

His grin widened.

"About bloody time," he said and got up from his chair, stopping only to give Hermione a kiss on the cheek, something he'd never done before, "I'm very happy for you," he said, and Hermione looked like she was about to cry with relief and joy.

"Do you mean that?" she asked, "You're not mad."

"I'm not mad," he said, "Go to bed," he told her kindly, "I'll see you in the morning."

"Where are you going?" she asked curiously, "You can't have got detention again!"

He winked at her, and climbed out of the portrait hole. He wasn't technically lying, he thought to himself as he began to walk.

As he climbed the many stairs to the seventh floor corridor he thought about Ron and Hermione. He had really only guessed that something had happened between them that morning, but looking back with hindsight, he could see the signs. Stolen looks when they thought no one was watching. Ron holding doors open for Hermione wherever they went.

Would he have been mad if he had found out before his night with Draco? Harry wasn't sure, although he suspected that Hermione had been right in predicting that he would have felt excluded in a way. He had always thought that Ron and Hermione would get together eventually, ever since fourth year, and hadn't he sort of been willing it not to happen. But now, now that his mind was filled with thoughts of Draco, he felt genuinely happy for them.

He realised that he had reached his destination and that Draco was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall where a door would soon appear. Sure enough, as Harry approached, Draco suddenly fell backwards through the entrance to the Room of Requirement. Harry laughed at the sight of the usually graceful boy toppling unceremoniously though the unlocked door.

Harry walked into the room and helped Draco to his feet. They both stared around the room.

"What is this place?" Draco said string in awe at the magical room.

"It's called the Room of Requirement," Harry explained, also gazing around the room, "It only appears when you really need it, and when it does appear, it's equipped for what you need it for."

Harry had discovered this place last year when he needed someone secure to practice Defence Against the Dark Arts. Back then, the room had been filled with books and training equipment. Swords and weapons, cushions on the floor and several objects that Harry had no idea what they were for. Now however, it looked like a small flat.

There was a kitchen area complete with tea, coffee and cakes, a couch in front of the fireplace and a large four-poster bed off to the side. Shelves were lined with books and there was the Wizards equivalent to a Hi-Fi next to the bed.

This was exactly the kind of place Harry had pictured living when he finished school crammed into one room and given some small improvements of the magical variety.

"This is just like the flat I imagined living in after school, only smaller, and a little more Muggle," Draco said.

Harry laughed.

"What?" Draco said.

"Nothing," Harry replied quietly and he took the blonde in his arms.

Harry kissed Draco softly on the lips, and Draco responded by passionately pulling Harry up against him. The two boys continued kissing each other as Harry managed to lock the door behind them and they made the silent yet mutual decision to move across the room to the couch.

Draco sat down and pulled Harry down with him by a tug of his shirt. Harry's arms encircled Draco's back as they lay on the sofa, Harry slightly on top of Draco at first, but then Draco shifted their weight so that he could straddle Harry and lean over the raven-haired boy to kiss him. They stopped kissing for a minute, Draco sitting on Harry's hips and Harry lying on his back breathing heavily. They looked into each other's eyes, and grudgingly Draco released Harry and lay down on the couch resting his chin on Harry's chest.

Draco reached up and removed Harry's black-rimmed glasses.

"You should get Madam Pomfrey to correct your vision. You have amazing eyes, it's a shame to hide them," Draco said.

"She can do that?" Harry asked.

"Of course she can," Draco replied, "She has to adjust your vision every three months or so, but its worth it to not have o wear glasses all the time, although a lot of people don't bother. Think its too much hassle."

"How do you know this?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Draco opened his mouth to reply, and then closed it quickly.

Harry grinned in realisation.

"You need glasses," he said.

"Don't you dare tell anyone Potter," Draco said, mimicking his more familiar tone.

"I think you'd look good with glasses," Harry said thoughtfully, "silver rimmed, rectangular shaped, not to big. They'd bring out your cheek bones, and make your eyes seem a bit bigger."

"This is a very disturbing conversation," Draco said.

"Shut me up then," Harry said playfully.

"Gladly," Draco replied moving his body up so his face was hovering above Harry's, and they kissed contentedly until they fell asleep in each other's arms.