JADE & THE SILVER DRAGON

Chapter Eighteen


“Good morning seventh years,” Hagrid’s voice bellowed out to the class. “I’ve a special treat for you today. The reason we’ve come to the waters edge is that the creature we will be studying today lives in the water, but has been known to come on land for a short period of time. Today we study the Arcusus Sea Serpent. Professors’ Snape and Potter are here to assist in today’s class as there are many things these creatures can contribute to potion making.”

“Get on with it already,” Blaise muttered behind Draco, Pansy, and Harry..... who stood a bit too close to Draco in his opinion.

“Shush!” Pansy said turning to look behind at Blaise.

“They’re actually kind of interesting,” Draco said as his hand reached out to link his fingers through Harry’s.

Blaise glared at the joined hands and stepped forward, just about to tear their hands apart when Harry brought Draco’s hand up to kiss the palm then went towards Hagrid and Severus. “Do you guys have to do that?” Blaise asked.

“Do what?” Draco asked, his gaze locked onto Harry’s retreating backside.

“Be all lovey in public,” Blaise said grumpily.

Draco looked back to Blaise, “yes,” he smirked.

The class all looked to the water as Hagrid gave a loud whistle. While they were waiting, Hagrid faced the students while Harry waded into the water up to his hips. “The Arcusus usually gathers after a heavy rainfall,” Hagrid instructed, then smiled when he heard the mother serpent rise from the water. “As you can see she is truly beautiful with her colored coat of fur. Some legends say that when you see a rainbow after a rainfall, it’s actually the body of the serpent reflecting from the water to the sky.”

“Is this the creature you were telling me about last night Drake?” Pansy asked.

“Yes. Just wait until you see the young,” Draco replied grasping the sleeve of her shirt to bring her closer to the water...and Harry.

While Harry hissed to Somnus, Hagrid continued with his lecture. “For today’s class we need everyone to be grouped in four. We will be getting some fur samples for Professor Snape.”

“And how would we be doing that?” Seamus asked looking to the serpent.

“By petting them of course....they love that,” Hagrid grinned. “For each group you will get two pairs of special gloves with tiny ridges on them that will collect the fur while petting them. Two of you will be petting the serpents, one feeding it, and the other can take notes...as it will be tested in the future.”

Draco edged closer to the water so he could hear Harry speak to the mother. He was glad they had to wear robes for this class, as the parseltongue from Harry was getting to him again. He watched as the mother waded to Hagrid who held out some sugar while three young ones were circling Harry, nipping at the end of his shirt.

“Is that really wise Harry, being that close...they look like they’re trying to bite you,” Pansy asked Harry.

“That’s what I thought too, but Somnus said they were just playing,” Harry replied grinning as he reached out to pet the nearest serpent head.

“As you can see these creatures are quite friendly. The sea serpent breeds about three times a year and have between eight to fifteen offspring. Somnus has ten here. The Arcusus, although not hostile can be quite deadly. The adults have a venom that can put you in a coma-like state indefinitely, as the young ones have venom that is used in healing potions. The fur is also used for medical purposes. Harry here will show you how we should do this today. He has talked to them and they are willing to give us samples....for sugar,” Hagrid grinned.

Harry waded closer to land and gave a loud whistle. A young serpent glided to the edge of the water, the tail end of it swaying back and forth in the water while the head was raised to about Harry’s chest. He held some seaweed out until the serpent sniffed it then took it into it’s mouth. While it was chewing, Harry raised the pail of sugar where the serpent immediately stuck it’s nose in. While the serpent was gorging itself on sugar he brought a gloved hand up and petted the side of it’s head. Severus stood at his side with an empty jar where Harry peeled a layer of fur from the glove and placed it inside.

“As you can see, they love to be petted,” Hagrid said as the serpent nudged Harry’s shoulder after eating the sugar. “Harry and Professor Snape will be coming around to take the venom sample while you do this.”

Draco partnered with Pansy, Blaise, and surprisingly Hermione. Hermione took the notes and held the jar, Blaise fed the serpent, while Draco and Pansy pet the creature. Harry and Severus came up to them after about four others before them. They stood back as Harry walked up close to the young one and started talking to it in parseltongue. After a nod from Harry, Severus stepped up and held up a jar with a thin layer of cheesecloth fastened to the top, that was coated with liquidated sugar. While Harry stroked the back of the head, Severus held onto the jar while the serpent sunk it’s fangs into the cloth.

After Severus received the sample, he went to the next group. Harry held back and spoke a bit more to the serpent before stepping back to walk up to Draco. He leaned in to give Draco a brief kiss on the mouth, then moved his mouth to Draco’s neck, hissing by his ear, making Draco’s body tremble as he held onto Harry’s shirt.

“What does that mean?” Draco asked quietly, not noticing that Pansy moved the rest of the group away from them.

Harry licked the side of Draco’s neck before answering. “Are you hard for me Drake?” he translated into Draco’s ear.

“Harry, you’re not playing fair,” Draco replied worrying his bottom lip to hold back a groan.

“So.. are you?” Harry asked looking into Draco’s eyes.

Draco took Harry’s hand to slip it into his robe, his back to the others. “What do you think Jade?” he asked huskily as he pressed his straining erection into Harry’s hand.

“Meet me after classes, and I’ll help you take care of that for you,” Harry said suggestively giving Draco’s erection a few rubs before pulling away. “Come to the portrait on the top floor in the northwest tower. Password is ‘Grey eyes’.” Draco nodded and accepted the quick kiss before Harry rushed over to Severus who was smirking at the two of them knowingly.

Harry and Severus only had two more young serpents to get the samples from. The last few were quite stubborn, as they wouldn’t venture onto land when called. Harry sighed and waded waist high into the water while most of the class stood back and watched, as most of their creatures had retreated back into the water. Harry’s legs were soon being nudged under the water while some of the other young ones were circling around him. “Uh....Sev...I think we’re done with the samples. These guys want to play,” Harry laughed as one of them had poked it’s head into Harry’s side.

Draco, Pansy, and Hermione looked on in worry. The young serpents were not leaving Harry alone, but became more persistent in their play. They were somewhat reassured when Harry was laughing and hissing at them, even though Harry looked like he was stumbling in the water. All of a sudden, Harry was pulled under the water. Draco and Hermione were rushing to the waters edge with Severus and Hagrid when Harry surfaced...laughing.

Draco sighed in relief, his eyes on Harry’s wet body, the way the shirt clung to his upper body. Harry was trying to head back to dry land when one of the young serpents bit onto the back of his shirt, trying to pull him back again to play. Draco watched as Harry’s hands were gently swatting the serpents heads away while trying to unbutton his shirt that the creatures were tugging on. His eyes followed Harry’s hands as he undid the shirt to shrug it off, revealing the black sleeveless muscle shirt.

“I am so jealous Drake,” Pansy teased, eyeing Harry’s upper body.

Draco thought he was extremely lucky himself as his mouth watered at the sight, remembering how that chest felt and tasted, and the sounds Harry made as he played with the nipple ring with his tongue. Harry had then turned to the side to talk to Severus when Draco saw the panther tattoo on his upper arm. He froze as he recalled a conversation with Raiden and Devlin during the summer.


Flashback:

“So who’s the mystery person who’s good in bed?” he had asked.
“He’s hot,” Raiden had said.
“Tastes good,” Devlin added.
“A sex maniac,” Raiden voiced.
“You’ve both had him?” he asked them.
“Yep,” Devlin said, “we’ve had some amazing threesomes.”
“What’s he look like?” Draco had asked while laughing at their lusty expressions.
“Dark hair, amazing green eyes,” Raiden said.
“All over tan....not an ounce of fat anywhere on his body,” Devlin added.
“A panther tattoo on his right arm and a nipple ring that makes him give the most erotic groans when you play with it with your tongue,” Raiden smiled.


Pansy looked at Draco who had a dazed look about him. “Drake. Are you okay?” she asked shaking his one shoulder.

“Uh..?” Draco said coming out of his musings. “Oh...yeah....I’m okay. I need to ....go back,” he stammered giving Pansy the gloves.

“You want me to come with you?” Blaise asked coming towards him as he was taking a few steps back.

“No,” Draco shook his head. “I’ll see you guys later.”



Harry had seen the hurt look on Draco’s face and was coming towards him when Draco rushed back to the school. “What’s wrong with Draco?” he asked Pansy and Hermione after muttering a drying spell.

“I don’t know. One minute he was grinning ear to ear, the next he looked like he was going to fall apart,” Hermione said.

“What the fuck did you do to him Potter?!” Blaise shouted gripping the front of Harry’s thin shirt, a rip sounding to everyone’s ears.

“Back off Zabini,” Harry warned.

“Or what Scarhead?” Blaise sneered, getting the attention of Severus and the other students.

Harry closed his eyes then waved his hand to have Blaise fly back, landing on his backside. Harry looked down at his torn shirt and walked over to the fallen Slytherin. “Don’t ever do that again Zabini,” Harry glared. “That will be fifty points from Slytherin for threatening a Professor,” Harry said between clenched teeth then stalked off to find Draco to see what was wrong.

Blaise glared after Harry. When he faced forwards again he scooted back on his backside when Severus was standing before him. He was hauled up to his feet by his shirt front by Severus. “Detention...tonight,” Severus said. “I will decide how long and where you will be serving it before then.”



Harry went to the Slytherin portrait and said the Professor’s key password to enter. He noticed a few sixth years sitting in the common room doing some kind of schoolwork. “Have you seen Draco?” he asked.

“Yes. He came in a few minutes ago and rushed to his rooms,” the girl replied. “He looked kind of upset.”

“Thanks,” Harry said then went up to the portrait that led to the Head Boys rooms. “Emerald Jade,” he said. Nothing. He tried the key password again but the portrait didn’t budge. He heard a hissing noise and looked closer to the picture to see a small snake. ‘Is he in there?’ Harry hissed.

‘Yesss,’ it answered.

‘Let me in,’ Harry ordered.

‘He does not want to see you,’ it said then slithered back into the trees of the portrait.

“Draco...please let me in,” Harry said leaning close to the picture. “What happened? Why don’t you want to see me?”

On the other side of the portrait, Draco was leaning against the wall, listening to Harry plead for him to let him in. After he heard Harry slam his fist against the portrait, he went to his bed, laying back, staring up at the ceiling. He remained there the rest of the day, missing both meals, and the rest of his classes, his thoughts conflicted on how he felt about Harry and knowing he screwed around with his cousin.

Harry noticed the absence of the blonde at lunch and dinner. He came down to the Slytherin table and sat beside Pansy. “Have you seen Draco?” he asked worriedly.

“No. Not since he took off in this mornings class,” Pansy replied. “It’s not like him to miss classes like that.”

“Do you know why he took off like that?”

“No.”

“He won’t see me Pans,” Harry sighed. “What did I do to make him reject me like that?”

“I’ll try to find out what’s wrong Harry,” Pansy reassured, “but if he asked me not to talk to you about it...I won’t.”

“I understand,” Harry said. “Thanks Pansy.” He stood up and walked out of the Great Hall with Severus watching his retreating back, his chest feeling the hurt that Harry was feeling with the connection the two of them shared since the night Harry removed his dark mark.


(typos fixed Apr. 07)