Warriors in love

bèta'd by my wonderful friend Vittani
Thank you, hun.
You are a treasure!

1-One of those days

Harry lay on his back, holding Draco close to him and thought back to wednesday three weeks before.
It had been one of those days.


After waking up he tried to find his robes (which were somehow stashed under his bed), he spilled ink over his homework on his desk, then he broke his glasses and had to calm down Ron who had an awful nightmare about spiders.
He went downstairs and had a row with Seamus, who was the one to hide the robes under Harry's bed.
Yes, it was definitely one of those days.
Harry figured he'd better get something to eat, before anything else went wrong. The Great Hall was occupied by a few students and some of the teaching staff.
It was summer break after all.

Harry and Ron stayed at Hogwarts, because Ron's parents went on a vacation for the first time in years and the boys didn't want them to worry.
Harry's relatives died a few months before in a car crash and the headmaster had offered Harry to stay at Hogwarts, to spend the holidays, which Harry accepted gladly. After defeating the dark lord Voldemort, the press were continuously
hounding him for a story, so staying at Hogwarts was the best idea in Harry's opinion.
Hermione was invited to spend the holidays in France with relatives of hers, so Harry and Ron were on their own.
To their surprise Malfoy and some other Slytherins stayed at Hogwarts for the holidays too.
It seemed that after the final battle quite a few Slytherins were orphaned, because of the loss of their Death Eater parents.
Malfoy's parents, Lucius and Narcissa, were very much alive, but in hiding. Ron had overheard someone say that Professor Dumbledore had requested that Draco stay at the castle.
He didn't know why though.
Harry just finished breakfast and headed out the great hall, when he heard the familiar drawl of Draco Malfoy.
“So Potter, where are your sidekicks? Snogging somewhere? I bet the Weasel couldn't even find his own dick if someone spelled a big arrow to point it out to him!” Malfoy's house mates were snickering, but somehow Harry had the feeling they were only laughing, because it was expected of them.
To Harry it seemed as if they lacked conviction, as did Malfoy.
He didn't dwell on it too long, though.
He'd just had enough. It was their last year and Harry had more important things on his mind than Malfoy's irritating and childish behaviour.
“Listen Malfoy, I don't know and I don't care where Ron is.
And Hermione isn't even on the premises.
Why are you even asking? It is not like you are interested or something. By the way, did you ever stop to think I am more than just
'Potter'?” Harry asked softly.
Malfoy looked utterly surprised.
Not only because of Harry's words, but also because the Gryffindor sounded...well polite. Malfoy just looked at Harry silently.
“I didn't think so.” he stated calmly.
“Draco, we are in our last year. I would like us to try and at least be civil to each other. We are going to be spending a lot of time together, seeing as we will be having most classes together this year. Okay?” Harry said even more softly.
Draco Malfoy, the one and only ice prince of Slytherin, was at a total loss for words.
Did Potter just call him Draco? Could this be true?
Was Harry Potter finally offering him a truce? Offering friendship maybe? Or was there an ulterior motif?
Nah, that would be something a Slytherin would do, not a Gryffindor.
Draco looked at Harry again and after some consideration gave him a little hesitant smile, which Harry answered with a big grin.
Harry stuck out his hand and Draco felt compelled to shake it.
“Peace?” Harry asked.
“Peace!” Draco said, without thinking about why he had felt the urge to take Harry’s hand and how right it felt in his.
After classes Harry went to the library to search for a potions book. To no avail, the library had loaned that book to another student.
While Harry walked through the isles and searched for another book, Draco appeared.
“Harry...hey Harry?” Draco whispered.
Harry looked behind him to see Draco standing there with the book he was looking for.
“You can use it. I am finished with it.” Draco said a bit nervous.
“Thanks Draco. I was starting to panic. Without it I can't finish the homework Snape gave us” Harry said in hushed tones.
While taking the book, Draco's hand touched Harry's ever so lightly and they both blushed profusely.


And that’s when all hell broke loose.


“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING, FERRET?”
“HARRY MATE, ARE YOU OKAY?” Ron shouted walking into the library, just in time to see the hands touch and the boys blush.

Now, Madam Pince would have none of that in her library.
This was her territory and she was going to make that very clear right this instant.
“Mister Weasley, your conduct is more befitting the quidditch pitch,
than the school library. You would do well to remember that this is a place of learning and I will not tolerate this behaviour.
You will serve detention here with me, tonight at eight pm sharp. Even though it is a holiday, you are still bound by the rules of this school. We will see if you can learn some respect for the books that help further your education. Now get out of the library, before I change my mind and make you serve detention for a week, instead of one evening”


Harry was quite embarrassed by his friend's behaviour and left the library with Draco in tow.
Ron came after him though and started his tirade again.
“Harry, what are you doing with ferret-face? You know you can't trust him. He is a SLYTHERIN for goodness sake.”
“Ron...” Harry said, “We called a truce today right after breakfast”
“WHAT???” Ron's face went from bright red to dead pale in mere seconds. “ARE YOU MENTAL? BLOODY HELL, YOU ARE JOKING RIGHT?” Ron thundered.

“Mister Weasley, what pray tell is the meaning of this outburst?” the silky baritone of Professor Snape drawled.
“I...he...well...” Ron muttered.
“Rather eloquently put, Mister Weasley. As you do not seem to grasp the meaning of 'proper behaviour', you will serve detention with me, tonight at eight. Not a minute later Mister Weasley.” Snape said with a satisfied glint in his eyes.
“Sir? I…I can't serve detention with you tonight” Ron said shakily.
“The reason for that would be...?” Snape asked a bit annoyed.
“Well Sir...I...erm...I already have to serve detention with Madam Pince” Ron said, wincing slightly under the glare from the potions master. “Then, Mister Weasley, you will serve detention tomorrow and Friday evening with me. It is my sincerest wish that that will teach you not to shout in the hallways. I do make myself clear, do I not, Mister Weasley?"
“Yes Sir” Ron answered meekly.
“Good!” Snape smirked, nodded his head to Harry and Draco and turned around sharply, robes billowing behind him.
“Thanks a lot Harry” Ron muttered.

“What? How is it my fault Ron?” Harry asked flabbergasted.
“You come in the library raving and ranting like a lunatic.” Harry continued in disbelief.
“You get detention because of it. You do not stop to think about it, but continue to shoot your mouth off in the hall. That is what got you the second detention. Now it is my fault? Ron, how thick can you be?” he asked angrily.
Harry paused for a moment to collect his thoughts and when he spoke again it was in a much quieter tone.
“I am trying to have a quiet year for once, Ron.
Don't you think I deserve some peace and quiet?
I have been in battle-mode ever since I laid my eyes on the Wizarding World.
I am sixteen, but I feel like an old man.
Everybody wants something from the bloody Boy-Who-Lived-Even-When-He-Was-Supposed-To-Die-Four-Times-Over!
I am so sick and tired of all of this.
And now you go and make it all about me once again. Can't you see I am trying to be a normal teenager for once?
If I decide to be friends with Draco Malfoy, then who the fuck do you think you are, to say I can't be?
If you are not supportive of that decision, so be it, but I will not let anybody make any more decisions for me!”


The fact that Harry said all of it in a deadly quiet voice, made the scolding even scarier. He never raised his voice, neither did he use his hands to get his point across; he just stood there calm and collected and said what was on his mind.
Ron was quite taken aback and Draco saw a whole new side of Harry.
Harry was known for his short fuse. He usually blew up in a spectacular way.
Ron didn't know how to answer that and turned towards Draco.
“And you? Don't you have anything to say?
All of a sudden you are Harry's new best mate? Is that it?
Well, I don't trust you and I will be watching you!” he growled.
Ron turned around, but stopped dead in his tracks when Draco answered;
“I don't know if I am Harry's 'new best mate', but I am willing to give it a try.
But that's just it, isn't it Weasley?
You are afraid that Harry will not be your friend anymore.
Has no one ever told you green clashes with your hair?” Draco sneered.
Ron looked at Draco as if he had grown another head.
“Green? Hair?” Ron asked baffled.
Harry turned away to hide his grin.
“Yes Weasley, green as in jealousy...” Draco said smirking.
“You...you...obnoxious pureblood prat. What would you know about real friends? You even have to watch your back in your own dorm. I sleep easy at night. Do you?” Ron snapped.
That hit a bit too close to home for Draco and he was about to retort with a nasty remark, when all of a sudden his world turned black and he fainted.


“DRACO!!!” Harry cried out.
He kneeled beside Draco and searched for a pulse.
He didn't even know how he did it, but he was relieved when he felt one.
It was slow and Draco's breathing was shallow, but still. Forgetting all about Ron, who just stood there pale faced, Harry picked Draco up and walked away.
*****************************

Throughout this exchange the hall had filled with students and teachers alike.
None of them were going to interfere.
This had been a long time coming.
When Draco collapsed, however, they all turned to Ron and looked very angry.
“Nice going, Weasel” said one of the Slytherins.
“Great Ron…when will you learn to keep your big mouth shut?” Seamus snapped.
Most of the others just shook their heads.
Finally Draco and Harry tried to be nice to eachother and Weasley decided he was more important, than Harry’s peace of mind.


“Mister Weasley? Please follow me.” His head of house, Minerva McGonagall said.
When they entered the classroom, the professor pointed at a chair for Ron to sit in.
He sat down reluctantly.
“Mister Weasley, you have been one of Mister Potter’s best friends for all of your Hogwarts’ years. I know it must be difficult to try and accept that he is making new friends now, next to you. However I fail to see why you had to be that harsh on Mister Malfoy.
I doubt if you appreciate how difficult Mister Malfoy’s life has been the last eight months. All of the students in Slytherin house are orphaned or left behind, Mister Weasley. They are lost, but still try to maintain some resemblance of unity and friendship amonst themselves.” She looked at Ron sternly and continued
“It was a huge step for Mister Malfoy to accept a friendship outside his own house. His housemates will ask him why and hold him responsible for anything that might go wrong, if this friendship blows up in their faces. Although I doubt that that will happen. On top of that you find it necessary to attack him, because of what? Petty jealousy!”
“Really, Mister Weasley. I expect better from my students. I want you to apologise to your friend and Mister Malfoy and soon. Have a good day, Mister Weasley” she said in an icy tone.
Ron wanted to protest, but thought better of it after one look at the face of his professor.
He walked out of the office, in search of Harry, he had some explaining to do.


********************************
let me know what you think?