Expensive Disaster

Authors Note: Many thanks to my beta Alexandra. I'm trying to stay ahead with these stories, but I did take a moment to write out a new fluffy oneshot called Sugar, which I posted yesterday if anyone is interested.

Chapter 6 Caught

That afternoon brought Harry a package.

When he returned back to his dorm, having successfully ditched Theo, he had a thin brown box awaiting him in front of his door. He brought it inside and set it on the desk with the rest of his purchases from his tedious day out.

He got excited when he noticed the handwriting was Sirius’s and he tore into the box. Inside was a slim silver laptop with dark gray and black bats all over the cover. Harry grinned and rushed to get it all set up.

In no time he had it humming and was opening his email while listening to his new Blue October CD on his headphones. He had been expecting Sirius to deliver his old computer from home that weekend, but this was even better.

As expected he had an email from Sirius and several others from friends at his old school. He opened the one from Sirius first.

I hope you are finding the Academy to your liking and we hope (Remus and I obviously) that you are getting along with your new classmates. I know you well enough to know that you are probably being resistant to making friends with old acquaintances, but you shouldn’t hold grudges. It’s been 3 years and people really do change.

At least that’s what Remus said to tell you.

I say, if anyone messes with you, let ‘em have it!

Love

Sirius

Harry chuckled and read the next few emails. Most of them were well wishes and condolences from his friends at the public school. He hadn’t seen anyone but Ron and Hermione since the accident, so most of them hadn’t gotten to talk to Harry before he left for the Academy.

A few of the notes were from Ron and Hermione and Harry read through them quickly.

They were as he had expected. Hermione was worried about him and hoping he wouldn’t be too ‘broody,’ as she liked to call him. Ron was already asking when they could come up and visit.

He typed out short replies to everyone letting them know he would be talking to them all shortly, and hoped to see all of them soon.

He shut down the laptop and thought about going to dinner, checking his reflection in the mirror in the corner of his room. Surely Theo would want to begin their pretend dating fiasco as soon as he arrived.

The thought of having to go along with the charade erased his appetite and he went back to staring at his new computer. He leaned back in his chair thrumming his hands on the desk to the beat of the song playing. It was one of his favorites on the album so far.

“I'm reaching farther than I ever have before. Leaving all who broke your heart upon the shore. I may be some sort of crazy, we may be some sort of crazy, but I swear on everything I have and more,” he sang along with the music.

A clapping from the doorway broke his concentration and he whirled around and glared at the two intruders in his room. Draco stood there clapping, with Theo directly behind him, a smile across his face that made Harry nervous.

“I had no idea you could sing, Potter. You have a beautiful voice,” Draco said, leering at him from across the room.

“What do you want, Mafloy?” He asked curtly.

He frowned then and Harry felt a jolt of guilt for being so rude. “I was here to see if the rumours were true,” he said simply.

Theo was already making his way over to Harry’s side of the room and Harry stood. “Rumors?” Harry made it a question, playing dumb.

“You know, the ones about us dating,” Theo said.

“News sure does travel fast,” Harry muttered. “I don’t suppose you had anything to do with that?” Harry asked, glaring at Theo.

He only shrugged innocently and smiled.

“So is it true?” Draco asked, and Harry almost told him the truth. He looked dejected, beaten. He obviously didn’t want Harry to say it was true.

But Harry had made a deal. He didn’t want Malfoy, and Theo did, so he would do what he could to achieve victory on both fronts. For all he knew that was Draco’s main concern right now. He was probably jealous that Harry was with Theo now instead of Draco having Nott all to himself again.

“Yes, it’s true,” Harry said at last.

Theo grinned and stepped up beside Harry, lacing his arm around his waist. Harry tried not to tense up, but it was a wasted effort. Malfoy saw his discomfort right away and laughed.

“See Theo, he can barely stand the touch of you,” Draco scoffed.

Harry groaned inwardly. This ruse was going to take more work than he had originally anticipated. “I’m tense because you’re here, Malfoy. Why would I be tense because of Theo? We spent the entire day together.”

Draco paled, which was saying something, because he was already quite pale. The look of disbelief still tinged his eyes though, so Harry gave in and went for the kill.

He turned to Theo and kissed him.

It was awkward at first, because Theo had obviously not expected it, but he quickly regained his composure and returned the kiss.

It was heated and rushed and though Harry enjoyed it - and made a note that Theo had potential to be a very good kisser if the time came that they were both into it - it wasn’t the best he had ever had.

The best was standing in front of them, scowling.

He broke the kiss first and Theo grinned at him, his eyes shining with lust and unfulfilled desires. Harry took a deep breath and faced Draco, only to find him no longer in the room.

In the doorway instead was a very stricken looking Griffin. He was staring at the two of them with wide wet eyes. “So, it is true?” he whispered.

Harry blinked rapidly. “Er… yeah. Look, Griffin wait,” Harry called out to his friend’s retreating form. He sighed heavily and slumped to the floor.

“What a mess,” he groaned.

Theo practically danced his excitement. “Oh, that was good, Harry. He didn’t belive me for a minute, but you obviously convinced him. You. Are. Brilliant. He’ll be off your arse and onto mine in no time,” he said, leaning down to kiss Harry’s forehead.

Harry rolled his eyes. If he were so good, then why did he feel like scum rolled over?

Authors Note: Hope your all enjoying the drama! lol. Please review, I love reading each and every note people send!