Windows of the Soul

Author's Notes: This story ignores HBP and DH; it starts the beginning of the summer before Harry’s seventh year. Thank you to my beta Sometimeselkie for all her hard work.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 14 – Announcements

The school was all abuzz the next morning with gossip flying around about the previous evening’s revelations. Harry and Draco were unaware of the all the rumours being whispered through the corridors and classrooms of Hogwarts.
Both boys decided that they would visit Elli together and breakfast as a family in the Great Hall. Draco was worried about the reaction from his father. He didn’t care about his mother, but his father’s opinion did mean something to him.
Harry held Draco’s hand tightly as they walked to Elli’s room; they gave the password and stepped through. As they entered they heard voices. They were both pleasantly surprises to see Elli sat on the sofa, laughing with Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott and Justin Finch-Fletchley, all seventh year Hufflepuffs.
The three Hufflepuffs looked up at the two boys, as they entered the room. Harry had an inquisitive look on his face. Draco went over to Elli and kissed her forehead. The three students looked surprised at this action. Harry squeezed Elli’s shoulder as he walked past her to sit on the chair opposite her, and Draco sat on the arm of Harry’s chair and draped himself over Harry.
Draco smirked at the looks of horror and shock on the Hufflepuffs’ faces.
Hannah took a deep breath and looked at Harry and Draco. “After what you said to us last night, we got to thinking that maybe Elli could give us a second chance. We were too quick to let our fear rule our heads; we won’t be doing that again. Elli has told us about her condition and that we should be more understanding. We are sorry that we hurt Elli and she has forgiven us. We won’t hurt her again and we won’t let anyone else, either.” With that, she put her hand on Elli’s arm and gently squeezed it.
Harry looked at the happy face of his sister and smiled at her. “If my sister has decided to forgive you then I will abide by her wishes, but know this if you ever hurt her again, you will feel my wrath.” All three Hufflepuffs gulped and nodded.
Susan looked at the two boys and with courage she didn’t really feel, asked. “So the rumours are true about you two?”
Draco raised his eyebrow, but didn’t say a word.
Susan continued, “That you two are together.”
Harry took Draco’s hand in his. “Yes it is.” With that, Susan nodded and turned back towards Elli. Draco squeezed Harry’s hand as he felt the tension melt from his boyfriend.
Justin stood up and walked around to Elli. “Elli, would you allow us to walk you to the Great Hall for breakfast?”
Elli took a deep breath, nodded and stood up, allowing Justin to hold her arm and gently guide her out of her quarters with the two girls following with Canth, leaving the two boys alone.
Harry leaned into his boyfriend and Draco just held him, knowing that Harry had been so worried about his sister, and now there was a little less to worry about. With a quick kiss to Harry’s forehead, Draco pulled his boyfriend up and together they made their way to breakfast. As they got nearer to the Great Hall, more people noticed them walking together hand in hand. They both were surprised when they saw Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny waiting for them at the doors. Both of the girls were smiling at the picture of the school’s worst enemies together.
Without any words, just a couple of nods, the group entered the Hall. There was immediate silence. Without even stopping, they all walked towards the Gryffindor table and sat down, making way for Draco to sit next to Harry. There were no questions or protests, as people were quickly silenced with the glares coming from Ron, Hermione and Ginny. No-one wanted to get on the receiving end of Ginny’s famous Bat-Bogey Hex.
Harry looked over at the Hufflepuff table and was happy to see Elli seated between her new friends, and smiling. He glanced over at the staff table where Remus sat with a smile on his face, Dumbledore had his normal twinkling blue eyes and Snape...well, he had his usual glare, but with an almost indiscernible nod gave Harry his approval.
Draco wouldn’t look over at his former table, as he knew that they would be out for his blood soon enough. Most of the Slytherins had Death Eaters for parents and it would be common knowledge soon that he had defected to the light side and to Harry Potter.
Dumbledore waited until everyone had sat down then stood. Silence descended. “As everyone can see, we have a new inter-house friendship and I commend Misters Potter and Malfoy for making it known to the school. It is a sign of bravery and true friendship in these grave times.” With that, he raised his goblet towards the boys and sat down to carry on his meal.
Harry knew that people would have questions and that he would be inundated with them later, but he was happy that at the moment he could just sit here with his friends and his boyfriend and enjoy the moment. Draco, on the other hand was taking this moment to calculate how long it was until he or Harry were attacked by his so-called friends. The Slytherins were nothing but loyal to their families and most of their families were loyal to the Dark Lord. He didn’t care that they might hurt him, but there would be severe consequences to hurting his Harry.
Breakfast was finished and they all made their way down to their first lesson, Potions. Draco was quite surprised as he was included in the conservations with the Gryffindors. As they neared the Potions classroom they met the Slytherins. Draco held his breath as he looked into the face of his best friend, who glared into his eyes. Draco nearly missed the slight widening of her eyes, but it was there. he knew that at least she was on his side and that they would talk later. Before anything could be said, Professor Snape swept past and entered the classroom with them following.
Draco sat next to Harry, and the class went on as normal with Snape taking points from Gryffindor and berating Harry any chance he got. Neville only blew up one cauldron, which ended up with him going to the hospital wing. The Slytherins were behaving themselves at the moment, but both Harry and Draco knew that they were only biding their time.
Draco had a free lesson after lunch and he knew that he would be having a visit from his best friend. He knew he should have spoken to her last night, but he knew that she would be furious with him and he needed to plan carefully what he had to say. Also, he needed time to shield himself from all the hexes and curses she would probably throw at him.
Potions finished and Harry and the others left for their next lesson. Draco kissed Harry and promised him to meet for lunch.
Draco hung back in the classroom and waited for the last student to leave when...SMACK...a hand left his throbbing cheek. A furious Pansy Parkinson stood in front of him, and before he knew what was happening Pansy had her arms around him in a death hug. His arms went around her and he held on. He held her away from him and looked into her eyes. “Oh, Panse, tell me that we are okay? Tell me that I haven’t lost you?”
Pansy Camellia Parkinson looked at her oldest and best friend, taking in everything about him. He had changed in the last couple of months. He had definitely grown, but it was something else, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
Draco, taking her silence as her answer, stepped away with tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry that our friendship has to end this way, but I love him and I would follow him to the ends of the earth. I won’t do anything to you, but if you do anything to Harry...”
Before he could finish Pansy put her finger on his lips. “If you would just wait a minute there, Draco, so I can actually think before I speak unlike some other people.” She said snidely, with a pointed look at him. “You haven’t lost me or our friendship. It was just a shock to find out about you and Potter, but if you are happy then I am, I know how long you have lusted after him.” Draco didn’t need to hear anything else. He launched himself at Pansy, giving her the biggest hug he could.
They spent the rest of their free time talking and making plans, until all too soon it was lunch time and they made their way to the Great Hall. They went off to their separate tables knowing that their friendship was secure. Harry looked up as Draco approached and could see that his boyfriend was happier than he had been that morning. That meant his meeting with Pansy had gone well. Harry was happy that Draco still had his best friend and so did he; in the coming months they both were going to need all their friends and family to get them through the war. Harry had a slight worried thought about how Draco would be without his father, but it would be something they would face together.