On The Other Side

A/N Thanks to everyone who has sent reviews. I love reading them and it made me work on this chapter faster:) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and make no money from the writing of this fiction.

Three Minutes

After a long moment of silence, Lucius Malfoy, who had been sitting behind them in the second row said:

“James, it appears you may have Salazar Slytherin in your bloodline.”

“I’ve never been aware of it, Lucius,” James replied, still staring at Harry in shock.

“Then this warrants a bit of ancestral research,” Lucius stated. “I shall consult the council regarding this matter.”

Harry could swear his father turned even paler. “If you insist.”

“I do.”

Sirius let out his breath. “Harry, how long have you known you’re a Parselmouth?”

“What, Black, are you saying you and James had no knowledge of this ability until now?” Crabbe senior asked.

“No, we did not.”

Harry shook his head, coming to their defense. “No, they didn’t know. I… never told them.” He looked at Sirius. “I talked to a few snakes before, when I was younger, but back then I didn’t know it was something rare. I thought everyone could do it. I haven’t really had many opportunities to use it lately, so I just forgot about it… until tonight.”

Rabastan Lestrange stood from his seat and made his way to Harry. James, Sirius and Regulus went immediately to Harry’s side.

Rabastan smirked at their protectiveness. “Relax, I merely wish to examine young Mr. Potter.”

“This is neither the time nor the place,” Sirius growled.

“Brother,” Rudolphus Lestrange called out, “this is a party. Let us not mix business with pleasure. There will be time enough for this tomorrow.”

“Indeed,” Rabastan replied, eyeing Harry in interest. “Tell me, Mr. Potter, why did you not allow your snake to feed. Do you have a soft spot for Muggles?”

Harry quickly reminded himself to act like one of them. “No, of course not,” he spat. Everyone was staring at him, waiting for an explanation. “I saw her and fancied her. I’d like to sample her first. It is my gift, isn’t it?” Harry asked, with the most snobbish air he could muster.

The ring leader bowed and cleared his throat. “Sir, shall I have the girl put in a room for you then?”

Harry glanced at him. “No, have the gifts sent to our home. I wish to enjoy the party my father has planned for me.”

“Very well,” he bowed.

“Harry, a word in private,” James said, putting a hand on his shoulder and guiding him out of the room. Sirius and Regulus followed them to an empty niche. James cast a privacy bubble around the four of them.

They could see the other guests leaving the theatre from where they stood. Some talking excitedly and some glancing sidelong at Harry and his family.

“I don’t understand why you never mentioned this,” James started.

“I’m sorry,” Harry replied. “I suppose I didn’t want the attention or anyone to know.”

“Until tonight,” Sirius said, running a hand through his dark hair. “Of all times to reveal your gift, Harry, this was not the ideal one.”

“Was I suppose to let that girl get eaten?” Harry snapped, hating that he might be the only one here that felt this way.

Sirius looked down at the floor in regret. “We’ve seen worse, Harry.”

James squeezed Harry’s shoulder. “Do you think we enjoy these ‘entertainments‘?”

“Some of those gits do, I’m sure,” Harry seethed. “I couldn’t sit by and do nothing when I knew I could do something. The war is long over. Why do people still have to die?”

“It’s not the point, pup,” Regulus spoke. “It’s how our Lord lets us know he still has the power of life and death over us all. If we were to turn against him, we would be as worthless to him as the Muggle girl. It’s a power move - a reminder, and, perhaps, a warning.”

“He’s not MY Lord!” Harry spat.

The other three men looked startled. “Harry, you must never, ever say that outside of our family, do you understand?” James scolded, shaking his arm.

Harry shut his eyes a moment, willing himself to stop threatening the fragile balance that kept his mother, the Blacks and Potters safe in this world. It was hard not to want to solve everything and make it better. It was hard not to take a stand. He opened his eyes and looked at his father. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t muck up your lives too much in there.”

Regulus sighed, trying to smile. “Don’t worry about it, Harry. Happy for you that I’m on the council and I have friends in high places. I’ll get it sorted out.”

Harry didn’t miss the stricken look that flashed momentarily across Sirius’ face. He’d have to remember to ask him about that later.

“Perhaps we do have some Salazar Slytherin in our line. Could be an affair somewhere in history, who knows?” James pondered.

“That would be quite hard to trace,” Sirius replied.

“What was the deal with Rabastan?” Harry asked.

“He’s skilled at Legilimancy, Harry,” Regulus answered. “I believe he wanted to find out if the rest of us really knew nothing of your skill beforehand. I’ll deal with Rabastan. But enough of this. Go on and enjoy your party. It seems your friends are going to play some Quidditch.”

Harry looked where Regulus pointed, noticing the young men grabbing brooms and having a heated discussion of some sort - probably picking teams. “All right, but can you do me a favor?”

“Sure, pup.”

“Can you contact Tally and tell her to find a live deer or boar for the anaconda? I promised it I would find something else for it to eat.”

“You don’t really want that girl, do you?” Regulus asked, giving Harry a humorous grin.

“Of course not. We need to return her to her home,” Harry replied.

“Wait a few days,” James cut in. “They may be watching you, Harry, now that you’ve turned their heads. You’ll have to pretend you’ve ‘enjoyed’ her, first. Once you are back at school, we’ll take care of it.”

James turned to Regulus and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, Regulus.”

“We’re family, James,” he replied, but his eyes were on Harry.

OOOOOO

Harry walked away from the three men, glancing back over his shoulder to see James leaning against the wall and Sirius pressed against him, holding his head between his hands and placing a kiss on his forehead.

Merlin! Not them too, Harry gasped. James and Sirius were together? Harry willed himself to focus elsewhere. He would deal with that image later. Quidditch, yes, think about Quidditch. Harry’s group of ‘friends’ had grown considerably as they stood picking teams, and Harry recognized some of the blokes from Slytherin house that had graduated before them.

“Harry!” Adrian Pucey called out as Harry neared. He slung his arm around Harry. “You’re just in time and you are going to be on my team.”

Everyone gathered around Harry. “Speak in Parseltongue again, Harry. That was so fucking hot I almost creamed myself,” Adrian urged.

Harry blushed a bit and shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that. I have to see a snake, or at lease the image of one. You hear a different language, but all I hear is myself speaking normally.”

“Wicked,” Theodore grinned. “How come you didn’t tell your best mates about it, Harry?” Harry looked about, noticing that some of them did indeed look disgruntled that he’d never told them.

Harry shrugged, “Don’t know.”

“I have a trouser snake you can talk to,” laughed Warrington. Everyone else laughed as well.

“You wish,” smiled Harry. Was everyone gay around here? Or maybe they were tipsy. Harry noticed most of them were well on their way to getting drunk. This ought to be an interesting Quidditch match. In fact, Harry thought he could use a few more drinks as well after what happened today. He grabbed a shot glass of fire whiskey that came floating by on a tray and chugged it down.

“All right then, shirts and skins,” Adrian announced, since they were all dressed the same in white shirts and black trousers. “We’ll be skins since it’s too bloody warm in here. Harry, it’s your birthday, so we’ll let you pick whatever position you want to play.”

“Seeker,” Harry said, immediately.

“Seeker?” Draco laughed. “Harry, you’re not that fast.”

“Shut up, it’s his birthday,” Adrian scolded, winking at Harry. Harry could sense that Adrian was interested in him and he hoped he didn’t have to fend him off later.

“All right, then,” Draco smirked. “I’m the seeker for the shirts, so I’ll meet you up there.” Draco got on a broom and took off.

Harry pulled his tie off and discarded his shirt like the other boys on his team.

“Oh, fuck, Potter, you are mine tonight!” Adrian announced, hungrily taking in Harry’s physique.

Everyone else checked him out as well. He had been working with Dudley’s weights and exercise equipment in the garage all summer, when Dudley was out, and he was all sleek, hard, muscle and toned abs. His skin was tan from working in the sun last week, painting the Dursley’s fence.

“When did you get that body?” Teddy asked, awed.

“Oh… um… just practice Quidditch a lot this summer. I’m thinking of going out for the team,” Harry said.

“Shirtless?” Blaise smirked.

“Yeah, it was hot,” Harry replied.

“You fucking bet it was hot,” Adrian smiled, licking his lips. “You should have invited me over, Harry. I could have showed you some moves.”

Blaise frowned. “Yeah, I bet.” He hopped on his broom and took to the air.

Harry grabbed another fire whiskey from a tray and chugged it down. Bloody hell, Adrian was making him nervous. And was Blaise sounding… jealous?

Warrington bent down and whispered something in Adrian’s ear, making the later grin wickedly.

“Let’s play already, yeah?” Draco yelled from above.

Everyone took to the air.

Before the balls were released, Adrian announced. “We need stakes. Warrington and I thought of making this game a bit more interesting.”

Everyone waited.

Warrington flew to the center of the field. “Listen up. Whenever a team scores, they get to request something from the other team or a specific person on the other team. Whatever they ask for, you have to do.”

“Within reason,” Teddy added.

“Within reason,” Warrington grinned.

Harry had a bad feeling about this. “Hey,” he said, “what kind of things? You need to have some guidelines.”

Adrian flew to Warrington’s side and talked to him in hushed tones.

“All right, it has to be something that could be done on your broom within three minutes. And it has to be done over this field - no hiding,” Warrington clarified.

Harry rolled his eyes. He knew this was going to be gay, somehow. Merlin, was everyone bent here? How was he to last the night? Gentlemen’s club? Where were all the women in this world?

Harry swooped down and picked up another shot glass of fire whiskey. He was going to have to be drunk for these ‘stakes’, he was sure.

OOOOO

Harry hovered above, watching the game and looking out for the snitch. But it was a bit fuzzy where ever he looked. Damn that fire whiskey. He could only hope Draco was as drunk as he was - or more.

So far the skins had scored twice. Once, Warrington had made another Slytherin Harry didn’t know lick Warrington’s nipples for three minutes. The second score, Adrian had Blaise Zabini wank himself for three minutes. That last act was actually funny to Harry because Blaise kept almost losing his balance the whole time he was at it. The first act just made Harry feel strange inside.

Draco pulled up next to him. “You should have told us, you know.”

Harry glanced at him. “Sorry, M… Draco, I didn’t want to feel like a freak.”

“What? You think being a Parselmouth is a bad thing?” Draco asked, amazed.

“No, but what it could mean might be a bad thing.”

“You mean, being related to our Lord? You think that would be bad?”

Harry shrugged. “Depends how he sees it, I suppose.”

Suddenly all the players were surrounding Draco and Harry, and the two boys looked about.

“Didn’t you hear us shouting at you two?” Adrian asked, out of breath.

“No, sorry,” Harry replied. “It’s hard to hear up here sometimes.”

“Well, since you two are getting so cozy in your conversation, I suppose our next stake is for you.”

“You scored? I missed it.” Draco said.

Adrian nodded. “Yes, Malfoy, skins scored again. So, what you need to do, is give Harry a nice snog for three minutes, tongue and all.”

“Fuck off,” Harry growled. “I’m on skins like you. Don’t I have a say if I want to be involved?”

“You don’t like being kissed, Potter?” Adrian asked with a woeful face.

“I…” Harry floundered. He couldn’t say he wasn’t gay, because the old Harry definitely was. “Draco’s my friend. It would be weird, is all.” There, that sounded plausible, didn’t it?

“It’s only a game,” Teddy laughed. “You don’t have to marry him.”

“KISS HIM, KISS HIM, KISS HIM, KISS HIM….” The chanting began.

Draco pulled his broom next to Harry’s, facing in the opposite direction. He smirked and shrugged as if to say, ‘What the heck, let’s just do it’.

“Tongue, boys, I want to see some tongue,” Adrian smiled, licking his lips.

Harry’s belly did strange flip flops inside as Draco leaned towards his face, eyes flickering to Harry’s lips. Harry closed his eyes and felt soft, dry lips pressed to his, pecking softly for a response. Harry puckered finally, returning the pecks, which soon morphed into firmer, longer, wetter kisses.

Draco groaned and grasped Harry behind the neck, pulling him more firmly onto his lips, opening his mouth further for his tongue to sweep out.

“Hmmm…” Harry moaned, knowing this was wrong, but unable to stop the flood of sensation filling his body. Malfoy? He was snogging fucking Malfoy. It seemed almost pointless to resist, to stifle his own pleasure, so Harry’s tongue met with Draco’s in a sensual dance as the kiss deepened. Harry felt Draco’s other hand caressing his bare chest as they kissed, sending pleasurable chills over his body.

It seemed it was over too soon when Warrington announced, “Three minutes are up.” Time had slipped by unnoticed by the two young men.

The two boys pulled back slightly, panting. It was then Harry noticed his hands were grasping Malfoy’s thighs as he had leaned into their kiss. He now withdrew them as Draco withdrew his own hands. It was an awkward moment as they both smoothed their hair and adjusted themselves on their brooms, trying to avoid eye contact.

“Mmmm… that was hot,” Adrian sighed.

Glancing around, Harry could see lustful, glassy eyes all around him, some of the blokes sporting hard-ons. Harry cleared his throat, trying to avoid direct eye contact with anyone for very long. There was some sort of strange atmosphere of lust growing.

And that’s when he caught sight of the snitch. Thank Gods - a way out of this uncomfortable situation. Harry shot after it, startling the others into action.

“Go, Harry!” Warrington cheered.

Harry could hear Draco swearing behind him as he tried to catch up. So Draco thought he wasn’t fast enough, did he? Harry smiled, drunk with determination. The snitch was a few inches from his grasp, but they were headed for the wall of the room at breakneck speed.

“HARRY, WATCH OUT!” he heard someone yell .

Harry grasped the snitch, and flipped over, barely missing a crippling smack against the wall. He flew to the center of the field, holding the snitch high.

“We won!” Harry yelled, grinning, and happy he would not have to be subject to anymore ’stakes’ now that he had ended the game.

They all landed on the field, the skins grasping Harry and lifting him, carrying him around in victory. When they placed him down, Draco stalked over.

“Are you fucking nuts? You could have killed yourself with a move like that. You were inches away from death.”

Adrian frowned at Draco. “You sound like my wife.”

Warrington laughed, “It was bloody brilliant. You should definitely try out for the team this year, Harry.”

“Where’d you learn to fly like that?” Goyle asked, perplexed.

Great, the old Harry was a crappy flyer, Harry sighed. Another thing to lie about. “I told you, I practiced a lot this summer.”

“I’d say you did,” Teddy smiled, clapping him on the back. “Let’s go get a Room of Pleasures everyone.”

“What’s that?” Harry asked.

Adrian stood on the other side of Harry, placing an arm about him as well. “It’s only the best thing about this club - whores, whores, and more whores. Oh, and did I mention, whores?”

“Wait! You just said you had a wife.” Harry mentioned.

“So?” Adrian replied. “Everyone here over the age of eighteen has a wife. What has that got to do with anything?”

Harry looked about at the older blokes that were no longer in school. There were many nods of agreement and shrugs.

“Everyone? But… eighteen is so young…” Harry pondered, still buzzed from the alchohol. “And you still take up with whores, knowing your married?”

Everyone around him laughed. Harry didn’t see what was so funny.

Adrian hugged him. “Harry, you’re so cute, you know.”

Harry tried to push away. “Am not!” he struggled.

“Yes, you are. But I suppose you can be forgiven for your naivety. After all, the marriage laws don’t apply to half-bloods. You don’t have to dread turning eighteen and being forced to marry some harridan,” Adrian said, caressing Harry’s arm.

Harry wanted to ask why they had to get married, but he knew that the other Harry would probably already know and to ask further would expose his differences. He made a mental note to ask Tally later.

So Harry bit his tongue, keeping his questions to himself as he followed the group, pondering if he was going to lose his virginity with a whore tonight. It wasn’t exactly how he saw his first time, but he was getting older and he new loads of blokes his age back in his world that had already been having sex for a few years. Harry thought about himself, and why he hadn’t pursued it as much as some of his friends did. They were always talking about getting in some girl’s pants or another.

Harry didn’t see relationships that way, he supposed. Maybe he was a romantic? He enjoyed the cuddling and sweetness he had with Ginny, but he didn’t recall scheming to get in her knickers. He just didn’t think of her that way. Kissing her wasn’t the same as…

Wait! What was he thinking? The same as Malfoy? The feeling of butterflies in his stomach, the pounding of his heart in his chest, his temperature rising, the breathlessness - those things didn’t happen with Ginny. But they did happen with Malfoy. Merlin, he might be gay, after all!

Harry glanced over his shoulder at Draco, who was walking a few steps behind him. Their eyes met a moment before Draco looked away and smirked.

The group suddenly stopped at a desk with an attendant behind it. “Yes, gentlemen, how can I be of service?”

“We need a Room of Pleasures, please,” Theodore ordered.

“Of course, sir,” the attendant nodded. “How many males and how many females would you enjoy?”

Theodore looked around at the group. “How about ten of each.”

Warrington laughed, clapping Teddy on the back. “By Gods, Nott, you randy bastard.”

“Hey, it’s a party, isn’t it?” Teddy laughed. “And give us some of those purple potion phials too - one for each of us.”

“Of course, sir,” the attendant replied, turning and opening a cupboard. He pulled out a box of phials filled with purple fluid..

“What kind of potion is that?” Harry asked.

“Just a little something to relax you and loosen you up a bit,” Teddy grinned, mysteriously.

OOOOOO

A/N So, more revelations for Harry - about this world and about himself. I hoped you liked this chapter. Lots more good stuff still to come.

Please review and tell me your thoughts on this fiction so far. I do value them. Thanks!