Funerals and Weddings

For disclaimer, summary, story codes and other information, please see the prologue.

Chapter the Fifty-seventh: Facing the Public
26 January, afternoon

Harry returned to the Gryffindor Tower later to discover a good portion of his housemates—and all of his fellow 6th years—lounging about in the common room. Resigned, he didn’t even try to head up to his dormitory. He leaned up against one the pillars and waited for the questions to begin.

Seeing as how Seamus had been born without a shy bone in his body, he was the first to speak. “Well, Harry, even if Katie hadn’t confirmed the rumour about you and Malfoy, now that you’re here, I don’t reckon I’d be doubting it anymore.”

Harry lifted a brow. “And why is that, Seamus?”

“Well, mate, that freshly-snogged look you’re sporting is a bit of a dead giveaway,” Seamus snorted. “And I fancy that’s a love bite on your neck there--unless you’ve recently been on the losing end of a tussle with a hoover?” Seamus laughed at his own wit.

“Could have been a vampire,” Dean offered, with a grin at Harry.

“What’s a hoover?” Neville wanted to know.

Harry flushed a little and his hand flew involuntarily to the place just below his right ear that Draco seemed to enjoy so much. He smiled self-deprecatingly as everyone laughed. He noticed Hermione was giving Neville a quick lesson on hoovers.

“You should see his,” he said, smirking a little.

That brought forth more laughter and Harry mentally blessed Seamus for making the moment light.

“Listen you guys, I know it’s probably a bit of a shock—”

“That’s an understatement,” someone said, causing more laughter.

“—but it’s true,” Harry continued, smiling at the comment. “Draco and I are together. I know that it might be…difficult…for some of you to accept, what with Draco’s history of being somewhat of an arse—”

“Somewhat?” another voice interjected, again to more laughter.

Harry held up his hands, smiling wryly. “All right, a complete arse for most of the time we’ve known him, but he really has changed. I can’t go into details as to the why of it—I hope you can just trust me on this—but he really is different now. He’s not going to be joining the Death Eaters and he doesn’t support Voldemort.”

Ignoring the sudden intakes of breath that always accompanied his use of the forbidden name, Harry went on. “He’s on the side of Light now. Otherwise, I could never be with him—you have to know that. I’m not asking you to jump for joy that I’m with Draco—I’m not even expecting you to like it. All I’m asking is for you to respect the fact that I am in a relationship with him, and to please have the courtesy to keep the insults and snide remarks to a minimum when he or I are around. If you could—well, I’d really appreciate it, that’s all.”

Harry saw lots of glances being exchanged and lots of shoulders shrugging, as if people seemed to generally accept what he’d said.

“You know I’m with you, Harry,” Katie said.

“And us,” Ron said, nodding at Hermione.

“Me too!” Ginny piped up.

Harry smiled his thanks at his friends. He really was lucky to have them.

Seamus seemed to be the designated spokesperson for the rest of the group. “Doesn’t seem too much to ask,” he said, looking around at the others.

“We already agreed to the truce, so I don’t see how this really changes much,” Neville added.

“Yeah, except now we can threaten Malfoy with Harry withholding sexual favours if he doesn’t play nice,” Ginny said, laughing.

Everyone laughed and Harry relaxed. It looked as though everything was going to be all right. He wondered if Draco’s conversation with Snape was going as well—somehow, he doubted it.

Lavender sat back with a pout on her face. “You all do realise that this means that three of Hogwarts’ hottest boys are off the market?”

“Three?” Ron asked.

“Well, Harry’s been off the market, for us girls, at least,” Lavender explained.

“And now we’ve lost Malfoy and Zabini!” Parvati finished, shooting a mock glare at Katie, who just grinned smugly.

Harry’s eyes had widened at Lavender’s announcement that he was considered one of Hogwarts’ “hottest” boys. Hermione saw his expression and started laughing. Several people looked ‘round to see what she thought was so funny, but Katie was the first to catch on.

“Looks as though one-half of Hogwarts’ hottest couple is having a little trouble believing his own appeal,” she said, chuckling at Harry’s obvious confusion.

Harry looked around. “What, me? One of Hogwarts’—oh, pull the other one, guys. That’s a good one.” He rolled his eyes as he figured out the ‘joke’.

Some of the girls started to protest, intent on convincing Harry, but Seamus jumped up on one of the tables and got everyone’s attention.

“Now, now, everyone. No use wasting your time trying to convince that one of anything—he’s as stubborn as they come,” he started.

“Are you sure you aren’t a Taurus, Harry?” Lavender asked. She and Parvati were convinced that Harry’s astrological sign should be Taurus instead of Leo. Personally, Harry thought Leo suited him fairly well as an astrological sign—he’d had to read about them all for Trelawney’s class of course—but Lavender and Parvati seemed to think that his stubborn nature was distinctly Taurean.

Harry shook his head and Seamus continued. “No, mere words won’t convince that one—it takes something tangible, something he can see to believe. And I—”

Dean cleared his throat rather loudly.

“—and Dean, of course, have just the ticket. Ladies and gentlemen, you are the first to hear the news of Hogwarts’ first-ever Sexy Student Survey.”

Seamus grinned at the gasps and murmuring that went around the room at his announcement.

“It’s actually something Dean and I have been working on for awhile, and now seemed the perfect opportunity to reveal it. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be polling all of Hogwarts on the following three questions: Who is the sexiest male student at Hogwarts…”

“Who is the sexiest female student at Hogwarts…” Dean continued.

“And who is the sexiest couple at Hogwarts,” Seamus concluded. “So put your thinking caps on and be ready to cast your vote! The results will be revealed, naturally, at the Inter-house Valentine’s Day party. And, as seeing how everyone is a potential winner—good luck to you all!”

Seamus jumped off the table and he and Dean were immediately surrounded by a chattering clutch of Gryffindors. Harry took advantage of the distraction and made for the stairs. He glanced back over his shoulder when Ron called his name.

“Just going up to the dorm for a bit—need to write to Remus, let him know about what happened yesterday,” he called back, then climbed the rest of the way to his room.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Harry lay face-down on his stomach and pondered how to say what he needed to ask Remus. He’d already filled most of a sheet of parchment with the details of yesterday’s attack, but he needed some advice and while he wasn’t sure Remus would have any answers, he needed to ask someone and the former Marauder was his best bet. Dipping his quill in his ink once again, he decided the direct approach was best.

There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about, Remus. You told me once I could talk to you about stuff, so I hope you meant it and don’t mind what I’m going to ask you. What I need to know is this: how do you know if you’re in love?

As you may have guessed from my question, I’m seeing someone. And before you find out from the Daily Prophet, I’ll go ahead and tell you who it is: Draco Malfoy.

Well, have you picked yourself up off the floor yet? I reckon I should have warned you to sit down, if you weren’t already. I know it’s likely a bit of a shock—to tell the truth, it was to me, as well—but I’ve been involved with him for about a month now. Since the day after I left you to return to Hogwarts after Christmas, actually. At least you already know his story, so I don’t have to go into all of that with you. That would take up at least another roll of parchment, if not two!

So back to my question: how do I know if what I’m feeling for Draco is love? Because I really think I might—love him, that is. But I’ve never been in love before—no where near it—so I’m hoping maybe you can give me some guidance.

I’m completely out of space now, so I guess that’s all. Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom and I hope to see you some time soon.

Your friend,
Harry

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Just before six pm, Harry headed down to the Great Hall with a group of other Gryffindors for dinner. He and Draco had made arrangements to meet outside the doors to the Hall—this would be their first “public” appearance as a couple and they’d agreed it would be best to just get it over with and go in together. Draco had even agreed to sit with Harry at the Gryffindor table (assuming that the Gryffindors had behaved as their usual loyal selves and agreed not to cause any scenes about he and Harry’s relationship), on the condition that Harry join him at the Slytherin table for a meal the following day.

Draco stood with Blaise at the bottom of the stairs. Harry went straight over to him and kissed his cheek.

“Hi Draco. Hi Blaise. How’d it go with Snape?” Harry asked.

Draco rolled his eyes. “As well as one could expect. I’ll tell you about it after dinner—when we don’t have an audience.”

Harry looked around and noticed the unusually large number of students—mostly Gryffindors—loitering in the entrance hall. He looked at Katie, who’d joined Blaise. “What’s going on?”

Katie smiled at Harry’s confusion. “I guess you could say it’s your Gryffindor Honour Guard, Harry.”

Draco and Blaise looked bemused and Harry looked stunned. “Are you serious?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at the crowd off students again.

“Of course,” Katie answered. “Do you really think we’d let you and Draco walk in there without anyone at your back?”

“Really, mate, what do you take us for, Hufflepuffs?” Ron added, obviously overhearing Katie as he and Hermione came up behind Harry. “C’mon, get a move on, I’m starving!”

“Just a minute,” Draco held up a hand. “Harry, Blaise, Katie—can I have a word?”

Harry immediately knew what Draco was worried about: Blaise. Turning to Ron, he said, “You guys go on in, and save us some seats. We’ll be there in a moment.”

Ron looked at Harry, then the other three, then back at Harry. “All right, see you in a few,” he said. He motioned to some of the other Gryffindors. “C’mon, you lot, let’s eat!”

After the pack of Gryffindors moved inside, Draco turned to Blaise. “Blaise, you realise if you go in there with me and Harry—especially with all those Gryffindors ready to leap to Harry’s defence—certain people are going to question where your loyalties really lie. Just because I’ve been outed, so to speak, doesn’t mean you have to be.”

Blaise shifted his feet and looked nervous. “I know. I’ve been thinking about it since yesterday. I mean, Bellatrix saw me there with Dumbledore. For all I know, my cover’s already blown.”

“Not necessarily,” Draco argued. “Bellatrix might not have seen you, or even know who you are. And if anyone asks, you could just say that you heard I was in trouble and went out there to see what was going on.”

Blaise looked doubtful. “I dunno, Draco. I’m pretty sure she saw me and it’s not like there are many black Slytherins or black Death Eaters—it wouldn’t take much for someone to put two and two together and figure out I’m Enzo Zabini’s son. What do you think, Katie? Harry?”

Katie shook her head and sent a worried look in Harry’s direction. Harry hesitated, then offered, “I think maybe you should talk to Snape before you decide, Blaise. He’s probably the best person to advise you on this kind of thing.”

Blaise nodded and looked at Draco. “I think that’s a good idea. As for right now, I guess I’ll just go in alone a few minutes after you guys and sit at the Slytherin table.” He looked apologetically at Katie.

“No, what you’re going to do is play the girlfriend card,” Katie said, looking determined. “You and I are going to walk in a few minutes after Draco and Harry. You’re going to start to head over to Slytherin and I’m going to insist you sit with me. You can put all the blame on me.”

Harry looked between Katie and Blaise. “Will that really work?”

“Of course it will,” Katie said confidently. “It’s a girl thing.”

Draco started snickering. “So, Blaise, looks like you’re either going to be labelled a blood-traitor or pussy whipped. Which do you prefer?”

Katie leaned around Blaise to smack Draco’s arm while Blaise simply looked pained.

“You know, Draco, I think we’ve kept our fans waiting long enough,” Harry said, taking Draco’s arm and tugging him toward the door. “See you two in a bit.”

Harry looked at Draco before pulling open the door. “Ready?”

Draco took Harry’s hand. “Let’s go, I’m hungry.”

Harry opened the door and he swore every head in the Great Hall swiveled in their direction. A dead silence fell over the room. Harry gave the room a sweeping once over, then turned to walk to the Gryffindor table.

The silence continued as they walked the length of the hall. They finally reached the Gryffindor table and moved to two empty seats across from Ron and Hermione. Once seated, Harry exchanged glances with his two best friends.

“Did someone put a Silencing Charm on everyone here?” he asked conversationally. Though he spoke in a normal tone of voice, in the deathly silence, his words carried clearly. “I don’t think I’ve heard this place so quiet since they pulled my name out of the Goblet of Fire.”

“Or the time when everyone thought you were the Heir of Slytherin after you started speaking in Parseltongue at the Duelling Club meeting,” Ron offered.

A few chuckles sounded at Harry and Ron’s banter. It broke the silence and normal conversation began at the Gryffindor table. After a few moments, however, it became obvious that the Gryffindor table was the only table behaving normally.

Draco leaned forward. “Are Potter and I as a couple really such a shock that the other three houses are still struck dumb by our mere presence? Or did someone really hex them all?”

Neville, hearing Draco’s comment, pushed back his chair and waved a hand toward the Ravenclaws, two tables down. “Hey Luna!” he said loudly.

Now everyone’s attention was fixed on Neville and Luna.

Luna sat up and waved back at Neville. “Hi, Neville.”

“What’s going on down there?” Neville asked, completely straight-faced. “Why’s everyone gone quiet? Did you hex them?”

A few people laughed and some gasped outright at Neville’s audacity. Luna, however, looked as serene as always.

“Oh no, Neville, no one hexed them. For some reason, everyone went quiet when Harry walked in holding hands with that Malfoy boy. I really don’t know why. It’s not like they’ve never seen Harry Potter do something unexpected before, is it? Now, if a Crumple-Horned Snorkack were to walk in holding hands with that Malfoy boy, I can see why some people might be shocked. Crumple-Horned Snorkacks are awfully rare, you know.”

After a moment of silence to digest what Luna had just said, every Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff—and even a few Slytherins—in the room dissolved into laughter. Ron was laughing so hard he was crying, as was Seamus. Ginny had buried her face on the table and her shoulders were shaking in mirth. Harry had managed not to spray Hermione in the face with his pumpkin juice, but it had been a close call—he ended up half-choking, half-laughing while Draco pounded him on the back. Once he got his breath back, he waved across the hall to Luna.

“Thanks, Luna!” he called, grinning.

“Sure thing, Harry,” she replied, then went back to calmly eating her beef stew.

Katie and Blaise entered the Hall at this moment, and as everyone was still laughing, no one even seemed to notice them as they joined the Gryffindor table.

Seamus, still wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, looked at Neville. “Neville, me lad, that was brilliant!”

“Bloody brilliant!” Ron echoed.

Neville smiled as he reached for the boiled potatoes. “I figured if anyone could break the ice, Luna could,” he said, shrugging modestly.

Draco was looking around the table as if he’d never seen any of the Gryffindors before in his life. Turning to Harry, he said, “I think the Sorting Hat needs to update its description of Gryffindors.”

“How so?” Harry asked.

“It needs to add that Gryffindors are stark, raving mad!”

It hardly seemed possible, but people started laughing harder than ever. It ended up being one of the most entertaining meals anyone ever remembered.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A/N: Sorry, bit of a filler chapter for you here. The next one should be more interesting—and will have some sex too, I promise! And has anyone ever noticed that Harry really is very much a Leo? I had to look up what his sign was and started reading it and was impressed with how much it matches his character. Some of the other main characters (Draco, Ron, Hermione) fit their astrological sign as well—makes me wonder if JKR really looked at all that before deciding their birthdays! Ah, well. Just a little observation. Thanks for the reviews!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^