Believe in me

Believe in me

Chapter Four

"Alright there Harry," said the unforgettable Scottish voice of Oliver Wood from behind the Gryffindor Seeker.

Harry turned around to face Wood, and grinned when he saw the utterly unchanged face of the old Gryffindor Quidditch captain. Same handsome face and tall build and the same boyish grin on his face at the sight of a Quidditch pitch. The only difference from Harry's point of view was that Harry was at almost eye level with the young man. It was strange to look someone in the face with whom you remembered literally and metaphorically looking up to.

"Hi Wood," Harry said smiling.

The class hadn't been waiting long for Wood. Harry had been talking with a couple of Hufflepuffs for the past five minutes, Draco having gone to talk to a fellow Slytherin a good few metres away. It was odd, Harry thought, how easily Draco slipped into his role of notorious head Slytherin. It was as if he'd had years of practice at holding up the pretence, but then, Harry remembered, he probably had.

Harry stole looks at the blonde and futilely tried to understand what the other boy's life was like. The Draco that Harry had been getting to know over the last couple of days was not the same as the Malfoy with whom he had fought for the last five years. Which one was the real Draco Malfoy?

Harry knew the answer to that question without even contemplating it. Draco, his Draco was the real person inside the Slytherin, but that didn't help make his façade any less believable.

Harry's thoughts were broken into by the sound of Wood's voice.

"Harry, I was wondering if I could have a word with you later this evening. After dinner?"

"Ummm.... Okay," Harry answered perplexed, "Should I be scared?"

"No Harry," Wood said smiling, putting a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder, "I just need to talk to you about something delicate. It's nothing to worry about I promise."

"Alright then," Harry agreed, albeit a little hesitantly. What could Wood possibly need to speak to Harry about that was 'delicate'?

Harry didn't have time to ponder though as Wood called over the class into a group, and carried out a brief roll call. Everyone was present, meaning that there were exactly fourteen students, perfect for two Quidditch teams.

"Okay everyone," Wood said to the enthusiastic group, "this morning we're going to ease into our lessons with a timed game of Quidditch, which I will record for use this afternoon when we'll start learning about different tactical manoeuvres, that you'll hopefully demonstrate during the game.

Now, because the game will be timed, there will be no Seekers and no Golden Snitch, instead, each team will have four Chasers. The game will consist of four quarters of twenty minutes each, with five minutes in between each quarter for teams to regroup and discuss tactics.

This is Short Quidditch and is often used by Professional teams for training purposes, allowing all players to have a go at different positions and try out new formations."

Wood dived into the large brown leather holdall at his feet and pulled out a small bulging black bag.

"I want all of you to put your hands in here and pick out a ball," Wood explained, "Those of you with silver balls are to go into the changing rooms on the left, and those of you with black balls go to the right. I want you to elect a Captain for the morning that will delegate positions, get changed, and be back here in ten minutes, and bring your brooms and the little balls with you. All clear?" Wood asked.

Everyone nodded.

"Good. Pick a ball and off you go."

Students stepped forward and chose their balls and divided into the two teams. Harry pulled out a black ball and so headed for the changing rooms on his right along with a couple of Ravenclaws, typically, Draco picked a silver ball and so headed in the opposite direction.

As Harry walked he briefly wondered whether he would be happier playing with Draco than against him. He imagined both scenarios, and Harry grinned to himself as the answer came to him clear as day. There was only one-way Harry could enjoy Quidditch with Draco, and that was in full-blown competition.

And he wouldn't have it any other way.

Harry had never had such a fantastic school day before. Quidditch all morning really worked up an appetite. He enjoyed a quiet lunch with Draco on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, just out of anyone's sight. It turned out that it wasn't only Gryffindors who knew the secret entrance to the kitchens. Draco had managed to collect quite an array of food for the pair of them including sandwiches, cake and pumpkin juice. They just ate and talked about the lesson, and then Harry lay down with his head on Draco's lap and allowed the Slytherin to play fondly with his messy black hair, neither of them saying a word, not wanting to break the comfortable perfect silence between them.

Harry almost begrudged having to leave, but as it turned out, the theory behind Quidditch was fascinating as well. Wood really was an excellent teacher. His enthusiasm shone through with every word he spoke and the whole class was in rapt attention. For the first time ever, Harry readily and happily took down pages of notes and he left the classroom with a grin on his face.

It wasn't until after dinner in the Great Hall that evening when Wood had tapped Harry on the shoulder that he remembered that Wood wanted to talk with him.

"I wouldn't have thought it possible Harry, but you've actually improved! That Porskoff Ploy was unbelievable, and you're a fair beater as well, give Fred and George a run for their money any way, although your technique was a little awkward. You should read the Beater's Bible by Brutus Scrimgeour, some fair pointers in there," Wood was saying as he and Harry walked round the Quidditch pitch that evening.

Harry nodded along with what Wood was saying, but didn't respond. If he did Wood would talk for hours about Quidditch, and Harry wanted to know the real reason why the old Gryffindor Keeper wanted to speak to him.

Wood seemed to sense Harry's reluctance to talk about Quidditch and stopped walking.

"Look, Harry," Wood said, running his fingers through his coffee coloured hair, "I feel like I need to tell you this, even though its none of my business really. I'm just worried about you, as your teacher and your friend, alright?"

"Alright...." Harry said slowly, getting more confused with every passing second.

"Harry, I saw you this morning. I was flying in from Portree on the Isle of Skye after a friendly match with the Pride of Portree, more of an excuse to see Meghan really," he said with a grin, "beautiful girl, knew each other when we were kids and now she plays keeper for The Prides. We started seeing each other about a year ago, and...." Wood trailed off seeing the look of disbelief on Harry's face and realised he'd gone off the point.

"Anyway, I arrived this morning and flew over the lake. I saw you walking with Malfoy Harry, and you looked, well how can I put this.... very friendly, not at all like I remembered you two being. And then in lessons the two of you completely ignore each other when you're off the Quidditch pitch, although I have to say that the pair of you were rivalling me for over competitiveness."

Harry was dumbstruck. He didn't have any idea what to say to this revelation and none of the questions buzzing around in his brain stuck out as the most urgent. What had Wood seen exactly? Had he told anyone else? Was he angry? What was he going to do?

"Close your mouth Harry," Wood said, "You remind me of a goldfish with your jaw opening and closing like that."

Harry shut his mouth obediently, but still couldn't think what to say.

"Don't worry Harry, I'm not going to do or say anything, and I really don't know what it is that's going on between you and Malfoy. I just wanted to ask you to be careful. You're a good person and I don't want to see you hurt again because you trusted the wrong person."

"He won't hurt me," Harry said quietly, not meeting Wood's gaze.

"I hope you're right, but don't forget who he is Harry. He's a Malfoy, and with that family, that's what comes first. Loyalty to blood.

I just wanted to tell you that I saw you, and to let you know that if you need to talk to someone about this, you can talk to me."

"Thanks," Harry said, "but I'm fine. Really, I know what I'm doing," but even as Harry said it a voice popped up in the back of head questioning him, did he really know what he was getting himself into?

Wood nodded once courteously.

"Alright then. I'd better be going; I've got to sort out some textbooks for your class. I had no idea Flourish and Blotts would run out of The Noble Sport of Warlocks so quickly, I had to get them to order in another batch specially for the class. Should be useful, Quintius Umfraville is a fantastic author, really loves Quidditch, you can tell. They're only on loan though, so if you don't loose them, or burn them or anything, you won't have to pay. Anyway, I'm ranting again aren't I. Catch you later Harry!" Wood said with a wave as he headed for the main school gates guarded by two giant winged boars. As soon as Wood was outside school grounds he promptly Apparated, to Diagon Alley Harry assumed.

Harry walked slowly back to the castle lost in thoughts about Draco, so much so that he didn't notice the blonde boy until he was nearly on top of him.

"Wow, you look pensive. What did Wood want?" Draco said.

"He saw us this morning," Harry said monotonously.

"Oh," Draco said sounding fairly unaffected, "Is he going to tell?"

"No," Harry replied in the same dreary voice.

"Okay, then why the face?" Draco said.

"Draco," Harry said his voice threatening to break with confusion and frustration, "I know we said we wouldn't talk about it, but I keeping thinking about us, what we're doing and I can't find any sense in it at all, and its making me...."

Harry was forced to stop talking abruptly by Draco's lips pressing against his. Harry allowed himself to become enveloped in the kiss, his hands finding their way to Draco's back. When they finally broke apart gasping for air, they still held each other close.

"How do you feel now?" Draco asked.

"A bit better," Harry said.

"Just a bit?" Draco said smiling.

"Maybe you should try again," Harry said mirroring Draco's grin.

Draco laughed and leaned in to kiss Harry more passionately than before. His delicate hands cupped Harry's face and for a few moments, Harry lost himself entirely in that kiss. The world around him dissolved along with all the problems and complications within it. Nothing existed except Draco and himself and nothing else mattered except the tender caress of Draco's lips and the timid exploring of his tongue.

No magic could compare to the enchanting exhilaration that Harry felt at that moment. It was a feeling unlike any other. For the first time he felt genuinely wanted, more than that, he felt needed. He felt loved. Wholly and completely, without being compromised, and it was a wonderful feeling. A magical feeling.

Harry kissed Draco back with equal intensity and felt Draco smile against him and Harry pulled him close.

"Harry," Draco said when their lips finally parted, "I'm just as confused as you are, but I can't think about it. More to the point, I don't want to think about it. It hasn't even been three whole days and in my opinion, that's a little early to ask 'Where is this relationship going?' Can't we just enjoy the moment?"

"How is that you know exactly what to say to make me feel better?" Harry said leaning his forehead against Draco's.

"It's a gift," Draco said grinning and Harry laughed.

"We should go to bed," Harry said after a few minutes of blissful silence had passed.

Draco raised a teasing eyebrow.

"Our own, separate beds," Harry said smiling, "we can't stay out every night. People will talk."

"I suppose," Draco said grudgingly, his tone making Harry feel warm inside, "but we're going to have to find a feasible way to disappear sometimes, a plausible regular excuse."

An idea suddenly struck Harry and he smiled.

"I can do that," he said mysteriously.

Draco looked at Harry suspiciously, but didn't say anything.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Harry said.

"I guess you will," Draco replied.

Harry leaned in and kissed Draco briefly goodnight on the lips.

Harry pulled away from Draco slowly, only to be re-caught in Draco's lips as the blonde grabbed Harry from around the waist and hugged him tight. Harry smiled as he wrapped his own arms around Draco's neck, allowing himself to be kissed over and over again.

Draco moved his caressing lips over to Harry's neck and earlobe before placing a final long and passionate kiss on Harry's already swollen lips.

They broke apart, still entangled in each other's arms, and Harry kissed Draco one final time on the lips. Their faces lingered in front of each other, noses almost touching, and Harry kissed Draco on the forehead sweetly before they ultimately parted ways.

Harry headed up to Gryffindor Tower with no recollection of his feet ever touching the ground.

He climbed through the portrait hole after muttering the password 'Loyalty' to the Fat Lady and entered the common room to find several of the older students still up. Some were finishing off homework and a sudden bang alerted Harry to a game of Exploding Snap going on in the corner of the room.

He spotted the flaming red hair of Ginny Weasley by the fireplace. She was laughing at something Dean Thomas had said, and as if he were tracing the intense gaze backwards, Harry saw Ron glaring at his little sister from across the room. Harry couldn't help but laugh, but he did try to subdue his amusement when he approached the table where Ron and Hermione sat.

"Hi," he said sitting down next to Hermione who was reading a worn out copy of 'Hélas, j'ai Transfiguré mes Pieds' or in English 'Alas, I have Transfigured my Feet', a play by a wizard named Malecrit. Hermione was reading the original French text in an attempt to improve her proficiency at the language.

In acknowledgment of his arrival she put down the book and smiled at Harry, Ron mumbled something as waved a hand in Harry's general direction, not once shifting his gaze from Ginny.

"Hi Harry, how are you?" Hermione asked ignoring Ron.

"I'm fine. How long has he been staring at them?" Harry asked quietly nodding at Ron.

Hermione looked at the clock by the fireplace and sighed.

"Nearly and hour. I tried to have a conversation with him, but after ten minutes I gave up. Any idea?"

"Just one," Harry said mischievously, and then he spoke loudly, "I don't know Hermione, I mean maybe we should just let it go. I think I saw a nest in our dorm; it would be cruel to kill it. Its only a spider after all, it can't defend itself."

Harry had said the magic word and Ron had leapt out of chair and spun to scan the Oakwood table.

"Where? Kill it!!" Ron exclaimed frantically sweeping the table with his eyes.

Harry started laughing at Ron's startled expression.

It didn't take long for Ron to realise that he was being teased.

"That's not funny," he said sulkily sitting back down at the table, but this time not shooting daggers across the room, "Where have you been? You disappear all day, show up finally for dinner then vanish again, what's going on?"

Hermione glared at Ron. It didn't take a genius to figure that she had told Ron not to say anything.

"Wood wanted to talk to me," Harry said dismissively, "Did you know he's seeing Meghan McCormack?"

"You're kidding? How'd he pull a girl like that, she's gorgeous! Ouch!" Ron said as Hermione kicked him sharply under the table, "Oh come on! Like you don't have a thing for that Muggle actor.... John Deppy or whatever?"

"It's Johnny Depp!" Hermione said sharply, "and I don't ogle him in front of you. It's a matter of courtesy."

"Alright, alright," Ron said holding his hands up, although Harry distinctly heard him mumble 'women' under his breath.

Harry decided to put his plan into action. He thought of it as a plan, he didn't feel so guilty about doing it if it was just another scheme, deep down inside though, he knew it was more of a straight out blatant lie.

"I'm starting Occlumency again," Harry said, trying to sound slightly annoyed by this.

"Oh," Hermione said surprised, "well.... that's good isn't it? I mean, it'll help with.... everything.... "

"Yeah," Harry said unenthusiastically.

"When have you got to go?" Ron asked.

"Don't know yet," Harry said, "but it'll be once or twice a week I think. Snape isn't the easiest person to get a straight answer out of."

"I'm surprised he's agreed to start again at all, I mean, I know he should never have stopped last year, but still.... I do kind of get where he was coming from. It must have been embarrassing for him, you seeing his past," Hermione said thoughtfully, then seeing the horrified expressions on both Harry and Ron's faces hastily added, "I'm not excusing what he did, I'm just trying to see it from his point of view, that's all!"

"Well it sounds a lot like you're sticking up for him is you ask me, "Ron said.

"Well no one did ask you, did they," Hermione snapped, "and you know, just because Snape is a slimy git, doesn't mean he doesn't have feelings. He is still human after all."

"I can't believe you're sticking up for Snape Hermione!" Harry exclaimed.

"I'm not!!" Hermione insisted, but her protest was drowned out as Harry continued to speak.

"If he hadn't stopped giving me Occlumency lessons, then I wouldn't have had those dreams, and I wouldn't have gone to the Ministry and Sirius would STILL BE ALIVE!!" Harry almost shouted.

"Well if you hadn't been so stubborn, then maybe you would have realised that Sirius could look after himself! If you'd just waited for help instead of running right into Voldemort's trap just as he knew you would, then it wouldn't of mattered that Snape had stopped teaching you!" Hermione said harshly back.

It didn't take long however for her to realise the impact of what she had just said, and she seemed genuinely mortified by her own words. It was very rare that Hermione lost control and didn't mean what she had said, which just made things worse.

"How can you justify what he did? The one person in the world I could count on is dead because of Snape and his stupid childhood grudge!! The only real family I've ever had died because he was stupid enough to care about me, and he wouldn't have if Snape had let me protect him!" Harry said, emotion straining his voice.

Hermione and Ron stared dumbfounded at Harry's outburst.

"Harry, I'm sorry," Hermione stuttered, "I'm so sorry, I didn't meant it, I swear.... Please don't be angry. I'm so sorry."

"I'm going to bed," Harry said irately, pushing he chair away with such force that it threatened to topple over, not that Harry noticed this. Within seconds he was up the stairs and outside his dormitory.

Harry opened the door to the empty room, and just as he was about to step inside he heard someone run up the stairs towards him. He was a split second too late to shut the door on Hermione as she appeared outside the boy's dorm and placed a forceful hand on the door to prevent him from closing it.

"Harry, you don't really think that do you?" Hermione said, tears welling up behind her eyes as she stood outside the threshold of the room with Harry holding the door on the other side.

"Think what?" Harry mumbled quietly, not making eye contact with his friend.

"That you could only count on Sirius," Hermione replied, her voice wobbling slightly.

Harry remained silent.

Hermione removed her palm from the door and looked into Harry's eyes, usually so bright and bold, now dull and unresponsive.

"Harry, you are surrounded by friends who care about you, we love you, I love you. You're the kindest, sweetest, most wonderful person in the world, and you've had such a terrible childhood that no one deserved, least of all you.

You mean so much to us Harry, you're the only real friend I've ever had. Me and Ron, well, its not the same as me and you. I always know I can count on you and we never fight about anything. You're my best friend, my family, and I know that I'm not the only one who loves you. You are so special to so many people Harry.

Any one of us would die for you." Hermione said.

Harry looked into Hermione's eyes and forces a small smile, trying to will away the pained look on her face.

"I know," he said quietly, "That's why it hurts so badly. I can't stand the thought of loosing anyone else 'Mione, I just can't."

Hermione opened her mouth to say something else, but Harry cut in, knowing full well what she was going to say.

"Look, don't worry about me," he said, "I can look after myself.... I've been doing it my whole life," and with that he closed the door gently on Hermione as tears began to fall down her face.

He crept into bed with only his nightmares to comfort him.