Stand Up For Judas

Stand Up For Judas

6
Potions

     Harry woke up in a state of absolute bliss. He'd told Draco how he felt outright and been greeted not with insults and jibes, but with reciprocal feeling. He wriggled around happily under his covers, bathing in the light that was sneaking in through the window opposite. The fact that Malfoy had run away after the detention didn’t really matter. Harry had spent the past two days running, he could understand if Draco needed to get his head around it too.
     He stayed sprawled across his bed with an indulgent grin on his face for a good few minutes before getting up. When he’d got back to the common room the night before Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen so Harry had headed straight up to bed. After his midnight escapade and missing two meals, he was not at all adverse to an early night, despite his jubilation.
     Harry rolled himself languidly out of bed, and much more gracefully than the previous morning, this time managing to stay upright. He stretched his shoulders back, still grinning to himself. He had Potions first lesson, and for once in his life, he couldn’t wait.
     It was still early, so for the second day in a row he was surprised to find the common room wasn’t empty. Hermione was sat in their usual spot again, working on yet another essay.
     ‘Morning, Hermione.’ Harry grinned at her as he walked over.
     ‘Hey Harry,’ Hermione looked up from her essay, ‘How did your detention go?’
     ‘It was wonderful.’ Harry sighed happily as he flopped into the chair opposite her.
     ‘I never thought I'd hear you say that!’ Hermione gave him one of her knowing smiles. Harry said nothing, but kept beaming at her and she chuckled slightly, turning back to her work.
     ‘Oi,’ Harry sat up, suddenly remembering Hermione and Ron’s absence the night before ‘Where did you and Ron get to last night?’
     ‘Oh, I just took him to the library,’ Hermione blushed slightly at the implication of Harry’s words, ‘You know, I thought he might study better there.’
     'Gotcha.' Harry winked at her and her cheeks reddened a little more. Harry knew that if his two best friends got together things would be very different, but that morning nothing could bring him down. Anyway, if he was about to start a relationship he was in no position to tell Ron and Hermione not to.
     Harry's insides squirmed slightly at the thought of a relationship with Draco. He hadn't really though about how it would work before, but now that it seemed as if it might become a reality he didn’t know what to do. He was meant to be trying to get over Malfoy, not think about starting relationships with him! But even with that thought in mind, Harry entirely failed to suppress his elation.
     ‘What’re you grinning at?’ Harry turned to see a rather bleary-looking Ron sink in to the chair next to him.
     ‘Oh, er, Hermione was just telling me about your little study date last night.’ Harry said, his grin turning slightly malicious.
     ‘Harry!’ Hermione said, astounded, and blushing harder than ever ‘I was saying nothing of the sort!’
     Harry did all he could to not laugh at his two blushing friends, but failed at that as well. He gulped, Hermione was looking daggers at him and Ron seemed to have taken a sudden and complete interest in a patch of carpet next to his right foot. After a few moments silence Hermione sighed, apparently giving up trying to kill Harry with her eyes.
     ‘Maybe we should head down for breakfast.’
     ‘But it’s still really early!’ Ron grumbled, though looking extremely relieved that the subject had been changed.
     ‘Well, the sooner we have breakfast the sooner you can get on with your Charms essay’ Hermione smiled at him and walked off, leaving the two boys with another awkward silence.
     ‘Y’know’ Harry started eventually, ‘It’s fine if you two want to get together.’
     ‘Really?’ Ron looked up at him, seeming even more relieved than he had been by Hermione’s subject change.
     ‘’Course’ Harry smiled, ‘Whoever you date is fine by me, and its about time you sorted out your feelings for each other’ Ron grinned sheepishly him. Harry just hoped that when the time came, Ron would be able to accept who he wanted to be with, too.
     ‘C’mon, lets get down to breakfast before Hermione starts writing us homework timetables again.’
     ‘Don’t start on that’ Ron groaned ‘She’s already got the rest of my year planned’
     Harry smiled. At least for the moment relationships went going to come between him and his best friend,

     Even after their slight delay, Harry and Ron arrived at the great hall before most of the school. They walked over the the Gryffindor table where Hermione being accosted by Luna. The look on Hermione's face at the younger girls gesticulations made Harry want to burst out laughing again.
     ‘Oh there you are.’ Luna said dreamily when she saw Harry. ‘Romilda Vane was asking about your favourite chocolates today.’
‘     Ah.’ Said Harry ‘Thanks for the heads up, Luna’
     ‘No problem’ Luna murmured as she wandered off in the vague direction of the Ravenclaw table.
     ‘Absolute nutcase,’ Ron said, shaking his head as he sat down ‘Tell you what, Harry, I’m all for this “you can date anyone you like” thing, but please don’t try her’
     ‘She’s actually really nice’ Hermione said, giving Ron a hard stare. He looked back at her sceptically.
     ‘Come off it, Hermione, you think everything she says is a load of old cobblers.’
     ’Yes, well, be that as it may, she’s still nice!’ Hermione retorted.
     'That make no sense!' Ron said, and he and Hermione began bickering over how much someone's sanity effected their ability to be nice.
     Harry’s thoughts drifted off. He scanned the room for any sight of Draco, but it was so early that there was only a smattering of students across the entire hall. He sighed and turned his attention back to his empty plate, taking the bowl of scrambled eggs Hermione was handing him, still deep in her argument with Ron. He loaded up his plate with eggs, his mind elsewhere. What would Harry have done if he had been there? Smiled at him? Gone over? Surely not.
     He started munching on his breakfast, purposefully eating really slowly in the hope that Draco would turn up before he’d finished. Unfortunately, Ron and Hermione made to go before that happened.
     ‘Get a shift on, Harry, I’m supposed to be doing this essay before Potions’ Ron gave Hermione a dirty look, which she pretended to ignore. Giving up hope of the blonde appearing, Harry abandoned his rapidly cooling breakfast and stood up with the other two to leave the table. Even so, he dragged his feet across the floor, slowing his pace as much as he could without arousing suspicion. When they got to the entrance hall, Hermione rounded on him.
     ’Harry, Ron’s essay isn’t going to write itself!’ Hermione looked at him impatiently.
     'Sorry, I er, need to tie up my shoelace’ Harry bent down hastily, hoping the pair wouldn’t notice there was actually nothing wrong with his shoelaces. After fumbling with his laces for a moment he straightened slowly, trying to think of some sort of joke about Ron’s new work schedule, but at that moment he caught a glimpse of shimmering platinum hair. He froze.
     ‘I think I left my quill on the table, you guys go ahead, I’ll catch you up’ Harry said hurriedly. Hermione quirked her eyebrow at him, turning to see what he was looking at, and suddenly understanding Harry's strange behaviour.
     ‘Okay, we’ll see you in potions then.’ She smiled at him and turned to go. Ron, however, seemed unconvinced.
     ‘Harry, you didn’t have a qu-’
     ‘Come on Ron! You can start your essay whilst we wait for Professor Slughorn.’ Hermione grabbed Ron’s arm and frogmarched him in the direction of their potions room, looking back over her shoulder to give Harry a wink.
     ‘Now what?’ Harry thought. Draco was walking towards him, alone, and apparently oblivious of his presence, what was he going to do? He hadn’t really thought about what would happen after he got rid of Ron and Hermione. He stood rooted to the spot, completely unable to think of anything. Then Draco looked up.
     He continued towards Harry, but adding the slightest bit more swing to his hips, smirking at the blush that started to appear on Harry’s cheeks. He looked around him then sauntered straight up to Harry.
     ‘Has someone stupefied you, Potter, or are you just unable to keep your eyes off me?’
     ’I, er, I- I-’ Harry could feel his cheeks colouring even more.
     ’You never were very eloquent’ Draco smirked at him again and strutted off in to the great hall, gently brushing against Harry as he did so.
     Harry thought he was going to faint. He’d had no idea how Malfoy would react to him, but he certainly hadn’t expected that. Yesterday, Draco had been quiet and avoidant, today he seemed a fully fledged flirt. Either that or he was just using Harry’s feelings to tease him.
     ‘No, that can’t be right’ Harry thought. There had been something in Malfoy’s voice, a slight lilt that was different to before. He couldn’t be using Harry, he just couldn’t.
     It was as if Harry's body had been sent into a state of shock. His heart was pounding against his chest and his face felt like it would be able to fry eggs. He turned and ran towards his potions class, Draco’s actions still wreaking havoc with his mind.

     When Harry reached the dungeons he still hadn’t worked out what on earth Malfoy was playing at. He slumped against the wall outside the potions room; class wouldn’t start for a good few minutes so he had time to try to fix his head before facing Ron and Hermione.
     ‘One moment he’s shy, the next he’s practically jumping on me!’ Harry completely couldn't fathom Malfoy’s mixed behaviour. ‘And I thought girls were complicated.’
     He sighed. Standing out in the cold corridor wasn’t going to help him understand the infuriating workings of Draco’s brain. He might as well go in and talk to his friends, try and take his mind off it.
     Hermione and Ron turned towards him as he opened the door, both looking faintly guilty.
     ‘Hey Harry,' Ron said, grinning loutishly at him. 'Where’s your quill’
     ‘I, er, I-' Harry cursed himself for not having the foresight to grab a quill before entering the classroom. 'Must have dropped it on the way.’ Harry mumbled, trapped.
     ‘Don’t worry, mate, Hermione told me about your friend.’
     ‘She did?’ Harry looked at Hermione, horrified. Surely she hadn't?
     ‘Yeah, Ravenclaw girl, eh?’ Ron elbowed him. ‘You sure like the brainy ones, mate.’ Harry almost visibly relaxed, suddenly understanding.
     ‘So do you, apparently’ Harry teased, recovering himself. Ron shut his mouth, defeated. He turned back to his rather short looking essay, but was saved from having to continue it by the appearance of Ernie McMillan, who dumped his bag angrily on the table with a loud crash, making the three of them jump.
     ‘Er, are you alright, Ernie?’ Hermione asked tentatively.
     ‘No, actually, I’m thoroughly annoyed,’ He turned to Harry and Ron, ‘I’ve just heard from Professor Slughorn himself that we’re going to doing exactly the same potion as last time!’
     ‘That’s not good?’ Ron attempted.
     ‘Of course not! Harry, I’m sure you of all people will understand that this year it is of the utmost importance that our knowledge is expanded.’ Ernie looked at him expectantly.
     ‘Um, yeah, you’re right Ernie.’ Harry wasn’t quite sure that was the right think to say, but Ernie seemed pacified.
     ‘Did Professor Slughorn say why we’re doing it again?’ Hermione asked earnestly.
     ‘Oh, something about different methods of preparation.’ Ernie scoffed before settling into a surly silence. Hermione seemed about to say something, then stopped, obviously thinking better of it, so the four of them stayed in silence.
     Harry's thoughts drifted on to Draco again, for the umpteenth time that day. Despite the blonde's mixed messages, Harry found himself wishing they were together again. Just the thought of Draco being close to him sent pleasant little shivers down his spine.
     Harry stared at the door, waiting for it to open and hoping it would be Draco walking through it. In a matter of minutes it did open, but only to show the walrus-like face of their Potions Professor.
     ‘Oho! some of us are eager, I see.’ He chortled as he entered the room, noticing the four students. Ernie snorted.
     ‘Well, seeing as you’re here early, I guess I can let you in on my little secret!’ Professor Slughorn looked very happy with himself ‘We’re going to be having a bit of fun with Amortentia today.’ He seemed to relish the word, but the only person it had an effect on was Hermione, who gasped.
     ‘But sir, surely, that’s very dangerous!’
     ‘Only if you don’t know what you’re doing,’ The teacher winked at her, ‘Which I’m sure you do, Miss Granger. But don’t worry for your classmates, we will be making a very dilute version today that has, funnily enough, the very same effects as the euphoria inducing elixir we made last lesson!’
     He paused for a moment, for what was evidently supposed to be dramatic effect, then deflated. He seemed to have expected more from the class than Harry and Ron’s blank stares and the back if Ernie’s head. He turned dejectedly to the board to write up the instructions for the lesson.
     ‘Er, Hermione?’ Ron started, once the teacher had turned away, ‘What’s Amor-ten-sugar?’
     ‘Ron, don’t you take in anything in these lessons?’ Hermione replied, frustrated ‘Its a love potion, there was a cauldron full of it here in our first lesson. And its Amortentia.’
     ‘Oh, yeah’ a hazy grin crossed Ron’s face ‘I remember that.’
      Slowly, the classroom began to fill up with students. Harry's eyes whizzed over to each new arrival, hoping in spite of himself to see the blonde hair and delicate features of his tormentor. Almost as if sensing Harry’s need, Draco, spitefully, arrived last. Harry’s eyes lit up when he saw him, silently wishing that the blonde would glance his way, smile, any faint sign of recognition, but he just went to take his seat on the other side of the room as if Harry didn’t exist.
     Harry felt a stab of pain as Draco continued to ignore him. Maybe he was being toyed with, another one of Malfoy’s twisted jokes, another way of getting at him. Harry had to shut his eyes to stop the tears spilling out of them, but even as that happened he could feel his pain turning in to anger. What’d Malfoy done to him, that he was suddenly struggling not to cry just because the fucking Slytherin twat had ignored him?
     Harry had hated Malfoy for six years, and he couldn’t understand what’d changed. He felt so foolish for thinking that ferret boy could possibly like him like that, but his feelings of foolishness paled in comparison to his fury. Harry was about to burst in to tears in the middle of a potions lesson and it was all his fault.
     ‘The instructions are on the board, please pair up and prepare the potion.’ Professor Slughorn seemed to have dropped all his grandeur after the disappointment of their earlier reactions.
     ‘Right Harry, where’s your book?’ Ron asked immediately, Leaving Hermione to cope with Ernie. Harry made a faint gesture at his bag before escaping to the cupboard to get his the ingredients needed before anyone could notice he was crying. He reached for the first ingredient on the list, using his other hand to wipe his eyes. Fucking Malfoy bastard. If they weren’t in a crowded classroom he’d-
     That train of though was violently interrupted by the sudden appearance of a hand on his arse. He spun round to find himself face to face with Draco, who smirked at Harry’s look of shocked indignation.
     ‘You shouldn’t stretch like that, Potter, it makes your arse look far too good’ he whispered. Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Malfoy put a finger to his lips. Without another word he turned, collected his ingredients, then left, not looking back once.


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Authors Note: I am so sorry this has taken so long! the last week has just been so hectic >.< I’ve had this chapter half ready for days. I sat down to finished it a couple of says ago and my ex boyfriend turned up and kicked up a fuss. Not fun. I was determined to finish it today and I’ve now been awake for 20 hours XD I’m sorry if the last scene is ins a bit crap, I’ll edit it tomorrow when I’m actually awake and not running on caffeine, promise.
Actually this chapter was never meant to happen, it wasn’t in my original plan. And now its taken over a whole chapter [yeah, it snot finished, we’ve still got the rest of the potions lesson to go!] but its quite a bit longer than my usual chapters, so I hope that makes up for the wait =]

Edit: I've re-written the last part of this chapter somewhat. Chrissy, you're so right - emo Harry is not fun, so I've made him a bit more angry. Much more believable, I think.

Oh, and please, please review ^^;; I don't wanna beg you to, but I'm feeling kinda apathetic towards this story at the moment, and I need all the encouragement I can get! With any luck I'll write the next chapter tomorrow, but I need motovation XP

Edited again: forgot the bloody indents -.- sorry everyone!