Harry Potter and The Bound Prince (BP1)
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
37
Views:
50,964
Reviews:
155
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
37
Views:
50,964
Reviews:
155
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Snake in the Lion's Den
Chapter Number/Total: 22/37
Chapter Title: Snake in the Lion's Den
Words: 2818 Words
May 8
Harry couldn't believe what McGonagall had told him after class. Draco Malfoy staying in Gryffindor? In Gryffindor? Merlin, so many things were wrong with that. It made Harry sort of happy to know that they would be able to stay back in his common room; he had been missing it, and he'd been missing seeing Hermione at least. What would she have to say about all this? What would Ron have to say? Harry winced at the thought of that. But worst of all, what would Draco have to say? Harry was sure he wouldn't be happy. He finally reached the door to Draco's hospital room and opened it. He stepped inside quietly and shut the door behind him.
Draco sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by books and parchment. He had finished his homework by noon again and had spent the afternoon researching magical binding agreements. He smiled when Harry came in, but spent a moment finishing the notes he was taking. There was a smudge of ink on his lip where he had obviously been tapping the quill against it while thinking.
Harry couldn't help but smile a little at the sight of Draco. The ink on his lips made him chuckle. He walked a bit closer to the bed and dropped his robes off to the floor. "Hey," he said, reaching in and ruffling Draco's hair.
Draco rolled his eyes. "My hair's going to look like yours if you keep doing that." He reached a hand up, grabbing Harry's and pulling him down for a kiss.
Harry smiled against Draco's lips. "Did you make good progress today?" he asked, pulling away and moving to lean against the wall. He would put off telling his news for a bit.
Draco leaned back on his arms and cocked his head, smiling. "Well, there is a lot of documentation to what I told the old man. And a lot about how to set up these bindings. They used to be used as marriage contracts. Still are in some families."
"Wow," Harry said, eyebrows high on his forehead. "We're not married though ... right?"
Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at Harry for a moment. "What is your definition of marriage, Potter?
"Erm, being together forever?" Harry said slowly.
Draco sighed. "Like I said last night, what we did seems to most closely resemble a concubine contract. Which makes someone the sexual servant of the other." He frowned. "It does not give the servant the usual rights of marriage though. No right to inherit. No mutual bind on the other person."
Harry frowned too. "Well, what if we really got married? I mean -- we could -- I mean, but -- not right now -- I mean, you know, just like -- maybe later?" he stammered.
Draco looked up. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. "You would want that?" he asked.
Harry bit his lip. "Yeah," he said quietly.
Draco's chin dropped to his chest. He was breathing hard suddenly and squeezing his eyes shut not to start bawling again.
Harry's eyebrows pulled together, and he moved forward quickly. "Draco?" he asked quietly, reaching out a hand to touch him.
Draco shuddered and a couple tears escaped after all.
Harry bit his lip again and dropped onto the bed, scattering papers. He pulled Draco to him and held him tightly. "Would you marry me?" he whispered into his ear.
Draco shuddered, giving over to the crying instead of fighting it. He gripped the other boy's shirt tight. "I wish I could," he managed to whisper.
Harry's eyes fell closed as they welled with tears now too. "I will marry you," he said fiercely. "I swear I will."
Smiling, Draco managed to pull himself together. He took a deep breath and wiped his face with the edge of the bed cover. He smiled softly at Harry. "So, how was your day?" he asked, needing a change of subject.
Harry rubbed furiously at his eyes with his hands so that they were a bit red when he stopped. He took a large breath as well and cleared his throat. "Erm ... it was all right," he said after a few seconds. "McGonagall told me where they're going to move us."
"Really?" Draco smirked. "That was fast."
Harry grinned, despite being terrified of telling Draco what he was going to tell him. "Yeah, it was. You must have some special powers or something."
The blond rolled his eyes. "My father made sure I know the law. It comes in handy when you want to get your way." He started collecting up the parchment on the bed and shoved playfully at Harry who was sitting on several.
Harry moved so that Draco could gather up the papers. "Erm, so you want to know where we're staying?" he asked, not looking at Draco, but studying his nails.
Draco stopped at the tone in the other boy's voice and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Potter?"
"Oh, nothing's wrong," Harry said quickly. "McGonagall told me -- erm, well, she just said that we'll be staying in Gryffindor," he said as casually as he could. He went still, waiting for the explosion.
Draco’s face froze. Then he looked at Harry, trying to decide if he could really mean what he had just said. He huffed and sat back, realising that Harry was indeed serious. "I'm a Slytherin," he said firmly.
Harry winced. "Well, yeah, I know, and you'll still be -- it's just that, since we can't be apart, we have to have somewhere to stay."
Draco shook his head and smirked. "I suppose your dorm mates will be getting quite a sexual education then."
"We aren't staying in the dorm, thank Merlin," Harry said, surprised that Draco wasn't as angry as he'd thought he would be. "They set up a room in Gryffindor Tower."
"With strong Silencing Charms, I hope." Draco shook his head, grinning at Harry. "At least it's not Hagrid's Hut."
Harry sighed with relief. "I thought you were going to freak out," he said.
"I may yet," Draco said quietly. "And the rest of the Gryffindors?"
Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The snake in the lion's den? Oh, that's going to go over well. Has anyone told them?" Draco asked, leaning back with his hands behind his head.
"No, I don't think so," Harry said. "They'll all be ... well, actually, I'm not exactly sure what they'll do, but it's none of their business anyway."
"Potter, do you ever think about why we have passwords to our House areas?" Draco asked in a weary tone.
Harry winced. "Well, I'll be there, so nothing will happen," he said, although he knew that wasn't very likely.
Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Because we will all play nice if you are there?"
Harry sighed. "Okay. You get on with me just fine, so I know it's possible for you to be friendly with a Gryffindor. Just try not to say anything that you know would make them angry. I know they might not do the same for you, but it'll make things easier."
Draco huffed, but began picking up the rest of the things on the bed and stowing them in his book bag. "You do realise this means everyone, and I do mean everyone, in the wizarding world will know about this by tomorrow?"
Harry let out a long breath. "Yeah, Colin Creevey and his dreaded camera are in my House."
"We will be front page of the Prophet." Draco shook his head, standing before the room's small mirror and combing his hair. He didn't have much more with him than the clothes and his bag. He turned to Harry. "Ready when you are."
"You're ready to leave the hospital wing?" Harry asked, a bit taken off guard that Draco was ready to leave so soon.
"Is there anything I can do here that I can't do there?" Draco smiled. "I mean, I eat, sleep, study and fuck you." He grinned at the last part.
Harry smirked. "Well, I guess," he said. "Are you going to go back to classes tomorrow then?"
Another huff and a head tilt. "I suppose. It's not like there's any point to it, but I guess they'll insist."
Harry groaned. "Ugh, Draco, I swear!" he said exasperatedly. "Let's not talk about that right now. Let's just go and tell Pomfrey we're leaving and get this whole thing over with."
Twenty minutes later they stood before the portrait of the Fat Lady. Draco crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Harry. His face said what he thought of a place guarded by this particular portrait.
Harry rolled his eyes at Draco and gave the password. The Fat Lady swung open, eyeing Draco's Slytherin robes suspiciously. Harry took a huge breath and let it out slowly. "Ready?" he asked, looking into the portrait hole.
Draco peered in then gestured forward. "Definitely after you."
Harry nodded and squeezed Draco's hand for a second before climbing up and into the Gryffindor common room. When Harry stepped through, there were several shouts of welcome and a few people got up to ask him where he had been. About a dozen students were lounging or studying around the room, including Hermione and Ron. But when Draco stepped in behind Harry, the entire room grew instantly quiet.
Harry sighed and looked around at everyone. "Erm, hey guys," he said.
No one said anything; they all continued to stare at Draco. Hermione was looking at both boys with wide eyes, and Ron looked like he wanted to get up and hit something just at the sight of Draco.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he called from the table he was sitting at.
Draco leaned against the edge of the opening they had just come through, arms across his chest and one eyebrow raised. He glanced at Harry, waiting for him to try to explain this. They were his Housemates after all.
Harry immediately went defensive at Ron's words. "Maybe if you'd shut your fucking mouth I could explain," he said angrily.
A few people looked very confused that Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were talking to each other like that.
Harry sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "Draco and I are going to be staying here," he said, trying his best to be calm.
"What the fucking hell!" Ron yelled. Hermione glared at him.
"What's going on?" Seamus asked, eyebrows raised.
Harry took another great breath. "DracoandIaretogetherandwe'reboundsohehastostaywithme," he said very, very quickly. Everyone looked at him like he was insane.
"Er, what?" Seamus asked, eyeing Draco like he was something nasty and dirty.
"Draco and I are together, and we're bound and so he has to stay with me," Harry repeated more slowly.
Nearly everyone's mouths dropped and eyes widened.
Hermione winced, and Ron turned red with anger.
Harry noticed Ginny standing off to the side, her eyebrows pulled together in a frown.
"Together?" Neville asked very quietly, going white.
"Erm, yeah, as in we're ... lovers?"
Everyone's mouths opened wider.
Draco's face was impassive, bored looking even. He held his tongue and nearly his breath as Harry started explaining. He watched the room carefully, noting every reaction and who would be a problem. He couldn't help the twitch of a smile when Harry said they were lovers.
"What!" Seamus said incredulously.
Ron got up and stomped up the boys' staircase.
Harry closed his eyes to try and hide the hurt he felt.
"You're gay, Harry?" asked Lavender from a nearby table.
"With him?" asked Parvati.
Harry sighed heavily. "No, I'm not -- does it matter?" he asked like he was talking to a five-year-old.
Quite a few people looked like it mattered quite a bit.
"Gryffindors," Draco couldn't help but mutter, shaking his head. "Black and white thinking again."
"What the bloody hell?" Seamus asked.
"What is going on, Harry?" Ginny piped in suddenly.
He looked at her and bit his lip, feeling guilty somehow. Was it really only a week ago that he'd felt so strongly for her?
"I already told you," he said. "Draco and I are together. We're bound and it's very complicated, and we don't even know everything about it yet. He has to stay with me, or he might die."
Some people looked like they didn't care much.
Draco pushed off from the frame and stood up, stepping up beside Harry. "It means there is a magically binding contract between Harry and myself. Until the issue is ... resolved, we must remain together. So the headmaster decided Gryffindor was the better option of where to put us."
Everyone sneered as Draco talked. They all looked to Harry.
"It's true," he said, nodding.
"But he's a Slytherin!" Seamus said loudly. Dean nodded beside him
"What if he's working for You-Know-Who, Harry?" Neville asked seriously, colouring a bit as he looked at Draco.
"I knew this would come up," Harry muttered to himself. "He's not," he said firmly, looking around at everyone. "I know he's not."
Draco raised an eyebrow and looked at Harry. Okay, he supposed he wasn't really, but it was definitely a grey area. Maybe Gryffindor black and white thinking would help them after all. Not knowing if his help would actually hinder, and feeling a bit self-conscious in the Lion's Den, he crossed his arms and said nothing.
Everyone looked at Draco suspiciously.
"Look, I wouldn't be with him if I thought he was going to hurt me," Harry said, using the same words he had used with Hermione. "I know it's a lot to ask, but you're all going to have to deal with it. We're staying here."
"In the dorm?" Seamus asked quickly, making a face.
"No," Harry said with a sigh. "There's a room set up for us."
Dean, Seamus and Neville all sighed with relief. Harry rolled his eyes.
Everyone was silent for a moment, still looking at Harry like he was mad.
"I believe you, Harry," Hermione said suddenly, getting to her feet and coming to stand next to him.
Harry smiled at her.
Draco cocked his head, looking at Granger, and then nodded to her. He looked around the room trying to size up who else were Harry's real allies.
"I do too, Harry," Ginny said loudly.
Neville sighed. "Me too," he said.
Seamus looked at Draco for a minute, still making a face. "Whatever," he said, and shrugged, turning and walking up the boys' staircase. Dean shrugged as well, making a face still, but he gave a short nod before following Seamus.
A few other people said that they too believed Harry, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Katie Bell and a few younger students Harry really didn't know. Most people just stared.
Draco leaned toward Harry a bit and said in a low voice, "Now that the show is over, can we find the room?"
Harry sighed and nodded. "Yeah," he muttered. He turned to Hermione. "Talk to you later."
She nodded and squeezed his arm.
He smiled at her and grabbed Draco's hand. "Thanks, guys," he said to the few people who had supported him.
They nodded and Harry began leading Draco over to the boys' staircase. "McGonagall said if we just keep walking, the room should be at the top," he said. He frowned heavily when they passed the sixth year dorm. He could hear Ron yelling inside.
Draco allowed himself to be led up the stairs by his hand, watching the stares of the others when Harry touched him. He shook his head as they passed the room where he heard Ron yelling, and was very grateful when they reached the quiet of the private room. It was a lot better than the hospital, if you could handle the fact that it was decorated in gold and green. At least it had a double-wide canopy bed, which he happily fell back on.
Harry lay down next to Draco and rested his hands on his stomach. "It didn't go too badly, I guess," he said. "At least most of my friends were okay with it ... or at least semi-okay with it." He closed his eyes. Why did Ron have to be such a bastard? Harry hated that he missed him.
Draco snorted. He realised he hadn't spoken to anyone from his House since all this began, not even Pansy. That was going to be ugly. He reached his hand up and began playing with Harry's hair.
Harry sighed. "What now?" he asked, eyes still closed.
Draco pulled gently on the strand in his fingers. "Well, I'm hungry, and at some point, we should eat food too," he said with a smirk.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Not even a minute has gone by and you already want to break the bed in?" He smirked as well.
Draco laughed. "Don't you?"
Chapter Title: Snake in the Lion's Den
Words: 2818 Words
May 8
Harry couldn't believe what McGonagall had told him after class. Draco Malfoy staying in Gryffindor? In Gryffindor? Merlin, so many things were wrong with that. It made Harry sort of happy to know that they would be able to stay back in his common room; he had been missing it, and he'd been missing seeing Hermione at least. What would she have to say about all this? What would Ron have to say? Harry winced at the thought of that. But worst of all, what would Draco have to say? Harry was sure he wouldn't be happy. He finally reached the door to Draco's hospital room and opened it. He stepped inside quietly and shut the door behind him.
Draco sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by books and parchment. He had finished his homework by noon again and had spent the afternoon researching magical binding agreements. He smiled when Harry came in, but spent a moment finishing the notes he was taking. There was a smudge of ink on his lip where he had obviously been tapping the quill against it while thinking.
Harry couldn't help but smile a little at the sight of Draco. The ink on his lips made him chuckle. He walked a bit closer to the bed and dropped his robes off to the floor. "Hey," he said, reaching in and ruffling Draco's hair.
Draco rolled his eyes. "My hair's going to look like yours if you keep doing that." He reached a hand up, grabbing Harry's and pulling him down for a kiss.
Harry smiled against Draco's lips. "Did you make good progress today?" he asked, pulling away and moving to lean against the wall. He would put off telling his news for a bit.
Draco leaned back on his arms and cocked his head, smiling. "Well, there is a lot of documentation to what I told the old man. And a lot about how to set up these bindings. They used to be used as marriage contracts. Still are in some families."
"Wow," Harry said, eyebrows high on his forehead. "We're not married though ... right?"
Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at Harry for a moment. "What is your definition of marriage, Potter?
"Erm, being together forever?" Harry said slowly.
Draco sighed. "Like I said last night, what we did seems to most closely resemble a concubine contract. Which makes someone the sexual servant of the other." He frowned. "It does not give the servant the usual rights of marriage though. No right to inherit. No mutual bind on the other person."
Harry frowned too. "Well, what if we really got married? I mean -- we could -- I mean, but -- not right now -- I mean, you know, just like -- maybe later?" he stammered.
Draco looked up. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. "You would want that?" he asked.
Harry bit his lip. "Yeah," he said quietly.
Draco's chin dropped to his chest. He was breathing hard suddenly and squeezing his eyes shut not to start bawling again.
Harry's eyebrows pulled together, and he moved forward quickly. "Draco?" he asked quietly, reaching out a hand to touch him.
Draco shuddered and a couple tears escaped after all.
Harry bit his lip again and dropped onto the bed, scattering papers. He pulled Draco to him and held him tightly. "Would you marry me?" he whispered into his ear.
Draco shuddered, giving over to the crying instead of fighting it. He gripped the other boy's shirt tight. "I wish I could," he managed to whisper.
Harry's eyes fell closed as they welled with tears now too. "I will marry you," he said fiercely. "I swear I will."
Smiling, Draco managed to pull himself together. He took a deep breath and wiped his face with the edge of the bed cover. He smiled softly at Harry. "So, how was your day?" he asked, needing a change of subject.
Harry rubbed furiously at his eyes with his hands so that they were a bit red when he stopped. He took a large breath as well and cleared his throat. "Erm ... it was all right," he said after a few seconds. "McGonagall told me where they're going to move us."
"Really?" Draco smirked. "That was fast."
Harry grinned, despite being terrified of telling Draco what he was going to tell him. "Yeah, it was. You must have some special powers or something."
The blond rolled his eyes. "My father made sure I know the law. It comes in handy when you want to get your way." He started collecting up the parchment on the bed and shoved playfully at Harry who was sitting on several.
Harry moved so that Draco could gather up the papers. "Erm, so you want to know where we're staying?" he asked, not looking at Draco, but studying his nails.
Draco stopped at the tone in the other boy's voice and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Potter?"
"Oh, nothing's wrong," Harry said quickly. "McGonagall told me -- erm, well, she just said that we'll be staying in Gryffindor," he said as casually as he could. He went still, waiting for the explosion.
Draco’s face froze. Then he looked at Harry, trying to decide if he could really mean what he had just said. He huffed and sat back, realising that Harry was indeed serious. "I'm a Slytherin," he said firmly.
Harry winced. "Well, yeah, I know, and you'll still be -- it's just that, since we can't be apart, we have to have somewhere to stay."
Draco shook his head and smirked. "I suppose your dorm mates will be getting quite a sexual education then."
"We aren't staying in the dorm, thank Merlin," Harry said, surprised that Draco wasn't as angry as he'd thought he would be. "They set up a room in Gryffindor Tower."
"With strong Silencing Charms, I hope." Draco shook his head, grinning at Harry. "At least it's not Hagrid's Hut."
Harry sighed with relief. "I thought you were going to freak out," he said.
"I may yet," Draco said quietly. "And the rest of the Gryffindors?"
Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The snake in the lion's den? Oh, that's going to go over well. Has anyone told them?" Draco asked, leaning back with his hands behind his head.
"No, I don't think so," Harry said. "They'll all be ... well, actually, I'm not exactly sure what they'll do, but it's none of their business anyway."
"Potter, do you ever think about why we have passwords to our House areas?" Draco asked in a weary tone.
Harry winced. "Well, I'll be there, so nothing will happen," he said, although he knew that wasn't very likely.
Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Because we will all play nice if you are there?"
Harry sighed. "Okay. You get on with me just fine, so I know it's possible for you to be friendly with a Gryffindor. Just try not to say anything that you know would make them angry. I know they might not do the same for you, but it'll make things easier."
Draco huffed, but began picking up the rest of the things on the bed and stowing them in his book bag. "You do realise this means everyone, and I do mean everyone, in the wizarding world will know about this by tomorrow?"
Harry let out a long breath. "Yeah, Colin Creevey and his dreaded camera are in my House."
"We will be front page of the Prophet." Draco shook his head, standing before the room's small mirror and combing his hair. He didn't have much more with him than the clothes and his bag. He turned to Harry. "Ready when you are."
"You're ready to leave the hospital wing?" Harry asked, a bit taken off guard that Draco was ready to leave so soon.
"Is there anything I can do here that I can't do there?" Draco smiled. "I mean, I eat, sleep, study and fuck you." He grinned at the last part.
Harry smirked. "Well, I guess," he said. "Are you going to go back to classes tomorrow then?"
Another huff and a head tilt. "I suppose. It's not like there's any point to it, but I guess they'll insist."
Harry groaned. "Ugh, Draco, I swear!" he said exasperatedly. "Let's not talk about that right now. Let's just go and tell Pomfrey we're leaving and get this whole thing over with."
Twenty minutes later they stood before the portrait of the Fat Lady. Draco crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Harry. His face said what he thought of a place guarded by this particular portrait.
Harry rolled his eyes at Draco and gave the password. The Fat Lady swung open, eyeing Draco's Slytherin robes suspiciously. Harry took a huge breath and let it out slowly. "Ready?" he asked, looking into the portrait hole.
Draco peered in then gestured forward. "Definitely after you."
Harry nodded and squeezed Draco's hand for a second before climbing up and into the Gryffindor common room. When Harry stepped through, there were several shouts of welcome and a few people got up to ask him where he had been. About a dozen students were lounging or studying around the room, including Hermione and Ron. But when Draco stepped in behind Harry, the entire room grew instantly quiet.
Harry sighed and looked around at everyone. "Erm, hey guys," he said.
No one said anything; they all continued to stare at Draco. Hermione was looking at both boys with wide eyes, and Ron looked like he wanted to get up and hit something just at the sight of Draco.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he called from the table he was sitting at.
Draco leaned against the edge of the opening they had just come through, arms across his chest and one eyebrow raised. He glanced at Harry, waiting for him to try to explain this. They were his Housemates after all.
Harry immediately went defensive at Ron's words. "Maybe if you'd shut your fucking mouth I could explain," he said angrily.
A few people looked very confused that Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were talking to each other like that.
Harry sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "Draco and I are going to be staying here," he said, trying his best to be calm.
"What the fucking hell!" Ron yelled. Hermione glared at him.
"What's going on?" Seamus asked, eyebrows raised.
Harry took another great breath. "DracoandIaretogetherandwe'reboundsohehastostaywithme," he said very, very quickly. Everyone looked at him like he was insane.
"Er, what?" Seamus asked, eyeing Draco like he was something nasty and dirty.
"Draco and I are together, and we're bound and so he has to stay with me," Harry repeated more slowly.
Nearly everyone's mouths dropped and eyes widened.
Hermione winced, and Ron turned red with anger.
Harry noticed Ginny standing off to the side, her eyebrows pulled together in a frown.
"Together?" Neville asked very quietly, going white.
"Erm, yeah, as in we're ... lovers?"
Everyone's mouths opened wider.
Draco's face was impassive, bored looking even. He held his tongue and nearly his breath as Harry started explaining. He watched the room carefully, noting every reaction and who would be a problem. He couldn't help the twitch of a smile when Harry said they were lovers.
"What!" Seamus said incredulously.
Ron got up and stomped up the boys' staircase.
Harry closed his eyes to try and hide the hurt he felt.
"You're gay, Harry?" asked Lavender from a nearby table.
"With him?" asked Parvati.
Harry sighed heavily. "No, I'm not -- does it matter?" he asked like he was talking to a five-year-old.
Quite a few people looked like it mattered quite a bit.
"Gryffindors," Draco couldn't help but mutter, shaking his head. "Black and white thinking again."
"What the bloody hell?" Seamus asked.
"What is going on, Harry?" Ginny piped in suddenly.
He looked at her and bit his lip, feeling guilty somehow. Was it really only a week ago that he'd felt so strongly for her?
"I already told you," he said. "Draco and I are together. We're bound and it's very complicated, and we don't even know everything about it yet. He has to stay with me, or he might die."
Some people looked like they didn't care much.
Draco pushed off from the frame and stood up, stepping up beside Harry. "It means there is a magically binding contract between Harry and myself. Until the issue is ... resolved, we must remain together. So the headmaster decided Gryffindor was the better option of where to put us."
Everyone sneered as Draco talked. They all looked to Harry.
"It's true," he said, nodding.
"But he's a Slytherin!" Seamus said loudly. Dean nodded beside him
"What if he's working for You-Know-Who, Harry?" Neville asked seriously, colouring a bit as he looked at Draco.
"I knew this would come up," Harry muttered to himself. "He's not," he said firmly, looking around at everyone. "I know he's not."
Draco raised an eyebrow and looked at Harry. Okay, he supposed he wasn't really, but it was definitely a grey area. Maybe Gryffindor black and white thinking would help them after all. Not knowing if his help would actually hinder, and feeling a bit self-conscious in the Lion's Den, he crossed his arms and said nothing.
Everyone looked at Draco suspiciously.
"Look, I wouldn't be with him if I thought he was going to hurt me," Harry said, using the same words he had used with Hermione. "I know it's a lot to ask, but you're all going to have to deal with it. We're staying here."
"In the dorm?" Seamus asked quickly, making a face.
"No," Harry said with a sigh. "There's a room set up for us."
Dean, Seamus and Neville all sighed with relief. Harry rolled his eyes.
Everyone was silent for a moment, still looking at Harry like he was mad.
"I believe you, Harry," Hermione said suddenly, getting to her feet and coming to stand next to him.
Harry smiled at her.
Draco cocked his head, looking at Granger, and then nodded to her. He looked around the room trying to size up who else were Harry's real allies.
"I do too, Harry," Ginny said loudly.
Neville sighed. "Me too," he said.
Seamus looked at Draco for a minute, still making a face. "Whatever," he said, and shrugged, turning and walking up the boys' staircase. Dean shrugged as well, making a face still, but he gave a short nod before following Seamus.
A few other people said that they too believed Harry, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Katie Bell and a few younger students Harry really didn't know. Most people just stared.
Draco leaned toward Harry a bit and said in a low voice, "Now that the show is over, can we find the room?"
Harry sighed and nodded. "Yeah," he muttered. He turned to Hermione. "Talk to you later."
She nodded and squeezed his arm.
He smiled at her and grabbed Draco's hand. "Thanks, guys," he said to the few people who had supported him.
They nodded and Harry began leading Draco over to the boys' staircase. "McGonagall said if we just keep walking, the room should be at the top," he said. He frowned heavily when they passed the sixth year dorm. He could hear Ron yelling inside.
Draco allowed himself to be led up the stairs by his hand, watching the stares of the others when Harry touched him. He shook his head as they passed the room where he heard Ron yelling, and was very grateful when they reached the quiet of the private room. It was a lot better than the hospital, if you could handle the fact that it was decorated in gold and green. At least it had a double-wide canopy bed, which he happily fell back on.
Harry lay down next to Draco and rested his hands on his stomach. "It didn't go too badly, I guess," he said. "At least most of my friends were okay with it ... or at least semi-okay with it." He closed his eyes. Why did Ron have to be such a bastard? Harry hated that he missed him.
Draco snorted. He realised he hadn't spoken to anyone from his House since all this began, not even Pansy. That was going to be ugly. He reached his hand up and began playing with Harry's hair.
Harry sighed. "What now?" he asked, eyes still closed.
Draco pulled gently on the strand in his fingers. "Well, I'm hungry, and at some point, we should eat food too," he said with a smirk.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Not even a minute has gone by and you already want to break the bed in?" He smirked as well.
Draco laughed. "Don't you?"