Interhouse Relations

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe and all the characters are property of J.K. Rowling and whomever else has a finger in the huge franchise. I do not. I make no money nor do I claim any ownership of the people, places, and things (unless I make them up as we go). It is only to have some fun do I write this story, in hopes of some entertainment.

Warning: This chapter contains scenes with course language and mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised.


Harry groaned. The first class of the day was Potions. No, not just Potions, but Double Potions. With the Slytherins! It was always with the Slytherins. Having class with the House of Snake was bad enough, but today was infinitely worse. Draco Malfoy was happy.

When Draco saw Harry and his two friends approaching, the platinum blonde teen propped himself against the wall, crossed his arms over his chest, crossed his feet at the ankles and smirked. Harry swallowed at the sight, the lump in his throat dropping like a stone to his stomach. It churned and bubbled in his gut, boiling his blood before moving down and making a certain piece of anatomy grow. He felt hot under the collar. He felt hot in the pants. Pulling at his tie slightly, Harry groaned mournfully. Instead of pulling at his collar, he wanted to pull at his trousers. With a worried frown, Harry thought, “Could he have drugged me again?”

“You look a little peaked there, Potter,” Draco said smoothly, his voice like honey. “Late night last night?”

Harry glowered at his adversary. “Not so’s I would notice. I’ve been up later.”

“Harry, don’t,” Hermione said with a warning. Her hand tugged at his elbow.

Draco arched a perfectly contoured eyebrow. His voice took an icy tone. “Is that so? No doubt sticking your nose where it shouldn’t be. Careful Potter, someone might get hurt.”

The door to the Potions’ classroom opened then, cutting off any further discussion, much to Harry’s relief. Was it just him, or was Draco sounding jealous? Draco’s parting remark last night flashed through his mind. \'Don’t let me catch you looking at another boy Potter. I will castrate you. I will cut off your balls and feed them to that owl of yours\', the teen had said. It was all Harry could do to stop the tirade. Could it be that Draco thought they were together now? That they were in a relationship? Harry shuddered at the thought, but then wondered if it was from disgust or excitement.

Class went downhill from there. Draco continued his subtle attacks gleefully. His cool aristocratic voice sending Harry’s blood to racing once again. He tried his best to ignore the Slytherins, but it proved difficult as the snickers and giggles grew louder. Ron didn’t help matters either. He was ready to leap over the steaming cauldrons to pummel the conniving little ferret baiting him. The only thing stopping the fired up Weasley was an irate Hermione, who had grabbed the back of his robes and was trying desperately to drag him back to his seat.

“Ronald Weasley,” she hissed out the side of her mouth, whilst keeping an eye on Professor Snape. It wouldn’t do to bring his attention towards them more then necessary. Of course, that would be impossible. The teacher was always out to catch the trio at something nefarious. “Ignore him. Please! You’ll just end up the one with detention and you know it.”

Draco looked smug. If his plan was to embarrass Harry, then it was working beautifully. “Hey Potter,” he said in a loud stage whisper that everyone could hear. “Why don’t you keep your boyfriend on a tighter leash?” Rubbing his chin dramatically, Draco chuckled. “Perhaps you do keep him on a leash and tie him to your bed.” The Slytherins broke out in tumultuous laughter. Ron flushed, his whole face turning as red as his hair, his mouth opened and closed in mute horror. “Do you enjoy a lot of slap with your tickle?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Hermione shot back. Draco’s eyes opened wide and his cheeks gained a rather healthy amount of pink to them, before he managed to regain his composure with a sneer.

Professor Snape rose from his chair behind a desk cluttered with marked and unmarked essays and scowled at Harry, Ron and Hermione. “Such outbursts will not be tolerated. Mr. Weasley, sit down this instant. Ms. Granger, I expected better from a school prefect. Ten points from Gryffindor.” An almost imperceptible smile twitched at the corners of his mouth at the outrage on Ron and Hermione’s faces. Quickly he turned to his precious Slytherins. “Mr. Malfoy, kindly get back to work. It is on the shoulders of well behaved students, such as yourself, to set an example for the others.”

“Yes, sir,” Draco said with a sycophantic grin.

When the class ended, everyone made for the door quickly, not wanting to tarry in Professor Snape’s classroom. Harry hoped that the last of the taunting would be behind him now that the Slytherins were heading off to a different class. It was rather bad luck that there was only one way out of the dungeons of the castle and so Draco and his cronies swiftly pushed their way ahead of the Gryffindors. Harry sighed deeply as Draco stepped up the stairs ahead of him. Harry couldn’t stop his eyes from straying to the other teen’s arse. Harry blinked. Was it his imagination or was Draco wiggling his ass at him?

Draco reached the top of the landing first and turned to leer down at Harry and his friends. “Bugger me, Potter, but stop staring at my backside,” the Slytherin ordered with a wink. Crabbe and Goyle pushed their way through the students jammed on the stone staircase behind the now immobile Harry. His mouth hung open stupidly. Pansy sprinted up to stand beside Draco and slipped her hand around his arm. Confusion and uncertainty flicked across his face at the girl’s closeness. His pale grey eyes locked on Harry before he managed to catch himself and looked coolly at the others.

“I think all the Gryffindors are queer, Draco,” Pansy tittered, her pug nose wrinkling in disgust. “I distinctly felt Granger’s muddy eyes on my bottom too.” She cackled at her jest, followed along by the other Slytherins.

Draco looked askance at the girl before he chuckled lightly. “Yes. I believe you are quite correct, Pans. The lot of them must have a thing for asses. Especially Potter.”

The corners of Hermione’s mouth twitched upward. “If we all have a thing for asses, Malfoy, it’s a wonder we’re not all after you,” she said sweetly. “You are, after all, the biggest ass at Hogwarts.” Laughter filled the corridor, but this time it was the Gryffindors snickering. Dean and Seamus gave each other high fives. Harry smiled widely at Hermione, while Ron smacked the bushy haired girl on the back enthusiastically.

Draco’s eyes narrowed in anger, before frosting over in smugness. “My assessment still stands. What does it say about you lot? Especially you, Potter?” And with that, the Slytherins swept away to their next class, both groups neither victorious nor defeated.

By lunch time, Harry felt a bit more cheerful. He hadn’t had to deal with Draco during the whole of Charms class and even managed to make his chopsticks dance across the table in a rather elaborate jig. It had nothing on Hermione’s full blown Riverdance performance with ten sets of sticks thumping on the desk that garnered a standing ovation from the class. Even Professor Flitwick stood and clapped merrily, although with his height it was difficult to tell if he was on his feet or not. Seamus’ chopsticks brought the house down when he waved his wand. The resulting explosion broke most of the chopsticks and set the rest on fire.

But stepping into the Great Hall for lunch brought the tension back. Draco caught Harry’s eyes instantly and the Slytherin’s knowing smirk caused a fire to light up in his belly. He groaned slightly at the strain in his trousers. Thank Merlin for Hogwarts’ robes. Harry cautiously pulled the black cloak closed around him.

“Feeling alright, Harry?” Ron asked as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.

Hermione turned her concerned brown eyes on him. “You look a little flushed, Harry. Do you have a fever?”

Harry ducked away from her hand. “I’m fine,” he snapped and felt instant guilt at Hermione’s hurt look. He opened his mouth to apologize but shut it quickly as Neville sat down on the other side of Hermione. He shot Harry a rather determined look. Frowning, Harry sighed mightily, the sound almost like a deep growl coming from his stomach.

Hermione stared curiously at Harry, not realizing the other boy’s presence. She was on the verge of speaking, taking a deep breath for a lengthy discussion. Her mouth opened slightly when Neville made his presence known. The soft spoken wizard placed his hand over top Hermione’s while it rested on the table. Harry noticed that Neville’s hand seemed to swallow his best friend’s easily. Hermione let out a startled squeak at the sweaty hand touching hers. Snatching her hand away, Hermione swivelled around to see who was beside her. “Holy cricket, Neville! You startled me.”

“Sorry,” the timid boy muttered. “I didn’t think you would mind me sitting here.”

“I don’t mind,” she said hurriedly. “Just don’t sneak up on me like that.” Neville smiled sheepishly and Hermione smiled back.

“Oi, Longbottom,” Ron exclaimed from the other side of Harry. “What do you think you’re doing?” His tone was a challenge that he was sure Neville would back down from.

Clasping his hand with Hermione’s, Neville looked defiantly at Ron. “I’m having lunch with my girlfriend.”

“Your what?” half the Gryffindor table roared in shock, including Harry, Ron AND Hermione. Even a couple Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs stared at Neville, gob smacked.

Neville’s face went bright red, but he set his jaw. “My girlfriend. Do you have a problem with that?”

“Too right I do!” Ron yelled as he rose from his seat at the table. A rumble of murmurs rose around the four tables. The makings of a fight swept the room. There were several shouts and cheers, mostly from the Slytherin table, the students there eager for the sport.

Professor McGonagall stood up at the High Table, as did Professor Snape. The Potions Master arched a brow at his house table and the students there quieted down, content to just watch. McGonagall looked to the Headmaster, but he was watching the scene intently. It surprised the old witch that Dumbledore seemed rather amused by the turn of events.

“Sit down, Minerva,” Dumbledore whispered. “Let us see how the students handle themselves.”

Hermione jumped to her feet and blocked Ron’s approach. “Ronald Weasley, sit back down this instant!” she ordered. Her heart was racing in her chest. Her face felt hot while the rest of her body was cold. The young witch let out a thankful breath as Harry rose and stood beside her, looking confused but determined to keep the peace.

Wild eyes flicked around from Hermione, to Harry, to Neville and back again. Ron opened his mouth and sputtered hysterically. “But you… he… how can…” Not able to string a complete thought together, Ron trembled in bewilderment.

“Ron?” Hannah bawled out, jumping to her feet from the Hufflepuff table.

“What is the matter with you?” Susan cried out.

Ron looked to the two Hufflepuff girls and blanched. He looked to Hermione and blanched some more. He looked to Harry and blushed. He blanched again when Hannah and Susan marched up to him and tugged him out of the Great Hall, their voices berating him for his ridiculous display.

“You aren’t going to hex me, are you, Harry?” Neville asked apprehensively. He stood behind Hermione, hiding from Harry’s reaction.

Harry gave his classmate a brief glance before turning to his best friend. Hermione wore a ‘save me’ expression, but Harry didn’t know what to do. His shoulders raised and then lowered in an apologetic shrug, making Hermione roll her eyes in defeat. The bushy haired girl shook her head at Harry in irritation and then turned to Neville with a very plastic smile. “Neville, let’s go somewhere to talk.” Before the confused boy could reply, Hermione grabbed his hand and dragged him away from the prying eyes of the student body.

Looking around the Great Hall, Harry found most eyes still on him. The other students, realizing the show was over, quickly turned away and the sounds of whispering and chattering rose in volume again. Slowly, the raven haired wizard sat back down at the table. It was hard to tell what he was feeling. Hermione had just walked off with Neville, who fancied her. Ron had just walked off with two girls who fancied him, yet he seemed to fancy Hermione still. Harry didn’t know what was going to happen with that, but it might turn out rather messy. He gave a slight grimace.

He looked to the teacher’s table and saw Professor Dumbledore speaking quietly with Professors Sprout and Snape. The greasy git looked to be rather put out. That wasn’t really surprising. If you had a wand shoved up your butt, you would be slightly put out too. Harry frowned. Or just extremely weird.

With ‘weird’ on his mind now, Harry easily found Draco with his eyes and the two teens locked gazes. There seemed to be sparks shooting between them and Harry felt his stomach flop with giddiness. He had to meet the Slytherin tonight, but how was he going to accomplish that?

After staring at each other for several long seconds, Draco did something that unnerved the raven haired Gryffindor. Draco blew Harry a smug, promising kiss. Harry quickly turned away, his face burning in embarrassment. The platinum blonde wizard smiled knowingly.

A pair of soft brown eyes widened in surprise, flicking between Harry and Draco. She couldn’t believe what she was witnessing. That ‘kiss’ was very flirty, and Harry was acting like all the vapid little girls that Draco teased. Ginny couldn’t believe it.

Author\'s Note: another chapter! sadly, no sex. i thought there might be some fun in this chapter but everyone seemed to want to just cause chaos. i promise though that the next couple chapters will see some action.

Melagic - the only review for the fourth chapter. thanks so much for taking your time to post a little something. keep them coming.