Close Enough

Ch 7 Harry’s friends


Harry was so excited he felt like his very bones were vibrating, he actually wouldn’t have been surprised if they were. As he made his way up to the entrance hall he straightened his shirt a little and couldn’t help smiling to himself that he didn’t have to wear the stupid school uniform anymore. He reached the top of the stairs just in time for the doors to be thrown open and for a strange band of youths to enter.
They all appeared to be in their late teens or very early twenties. The first to enter was a tall sandy blond haired boy. His outfit was similar to that which Harry wore, but his pants were black and his shirt was a deep emerald green. This made his soft olive skin and bright baby blue eyes stand out brilliantly. Following him were two brown haired boys only shorter than the first boy by maybe two inches, both with a rich tan and deep chocolate brown eyes. They wore faded and torn jeans, one had a dark blue tank top and the other was black. Though the slight differences in dress the boys were very difficult to tell apart, and it seemed that they liked it that way. All three boys were taller than Harry, but they were also all slimly muscled as he was. Giving off the appearance of hidden strength.
“hey guys.” Harry called as he reached the top of the stairs. The small group walked toward Harry and gave him a big group hug with big smiles plastered on their faces. Upon his release Harry looked around and then asked, “where’s Cord?” just then the doors opened again.
A tall, curvy young woman walked in. Her long slightly curly black hair falling past her waist, her black eyes shining merrily, “I’m right here, Har.” At this Harry ran towards the doors throwing his arms around the girls neck allowing her to lift his feet off the ground and hug him tightly. “did you really miss us that much already, love? It’s only been a day.” She asked softly putting Harry’s feet back on the ground but still holding him in a loose hug. As Cord put a small amount of distance between them she looked into his face frowning, “Harry, why are you hiding?”
Harry looked a little startled and cast his eyes down to the ground. “I’m not comfortable here.”
Cord put a delicate finger under Harry’s chin making him look up at her, “Harry, there is no need to be afraid to be who you are regardless of other people and what they may think. Now you take off that glamour this instant before I do it for you.” And with that Cord dropped her arms from around Harry crossing them over her chest stepping back a little. Harry hesitated. “Harry you know if I undo your magic it will hurt. I’m not going to let you go back into hiding just because you have to be here. Now you make yourself normal this very minute or so help me…”
“Fine, Cord, I’ll do it. Jeez, no need for threats of pain and violence.” Cord smiled at getting her way. Unknown to the group Draco stood at the top of the stairs only a few yards away where he could see and hear everything. Draco’s mind was racing a mile a minute. At first he wasn’t happy about the way Harry reacted to these new people, I mean how could he be his mate, his intended was more intimate with these strangers then with him. However after hearing that Harry was uncomfortable here, though Draco couldn’t see why he would be, he was almost glad because Harry finding out he was a Vampires mate could only make him more uncomfortable. And now, a glamour? Why was Harry wearing a glamour? And why hadn’t he noticed?? Why didn’t he see he magic working? That was supposed to be one of the perks of being a Vampire. How could this Cord girl see it and not him??
Harry sighed, and in the blink of an eye the glamour was gone. Harry had been using it to keep all the questions at bay, all the questions about his changes that he’d gone through. The glamour had made it appear as though he was wearing his glasses even though he wasn’t, it also covered up his eyebrow piercing over his left eye. Cord reached forward with both hands and pushed Harry’s hair back behind his ears and smiled eyeing the utility piercing in his left ear, and two hoops plus one in his cartilage in his right.
“Now that’s the Harry I know and love.” Cord hugged him again. “You spent all that money on your birthday to get those and you were just going to cover them up? And those glasses, come on Har! I am so happy you don’t need them anymore! It was a blessing that we waited to get the photos done until after your birthday!” the group all began laughing and chattering as they walked toward the Great Hall for dinner.
Draco stood rooted to the spot as the group came closer to where he stood. None of them seemed to notice, except the girl. As the group passed close to his hiding spot the girl, Cord, looked him straight in the eye seeming to sniff the air, a hard stare followed as though she was figuring something out. And then a light seemed to go on behind her eyes and she smiled revealing two pearly white fangs, before she broke eye contact and went back to chatting with her friends and they entered the hall.
Draco walked quickly into the Great Hall and sat himself next to Pansy and Blaise feeling very confused. They both looked at him when he sat down. Pansy was the first to speak, “Draco… who are those kids with Potter?”
Draco tore his eyes away from the still happily chatting group and looked at his friends, “they are his friends.” Draco didn’t know what to say other than that. He wanted to add, ‘and one of them is a Vampire. And she keeps touching him!’ but he didn’t. Draco spent most of the meal watching the group two tables away. The headmaster had done away with the long house tables and there was a mix of square and round 10 person tables all around the hall. The one that Draco was sitting at was only two precious tables away from Harry’s almost close enough to hear the conversation but not quite. He watched as Harry’s eyes began to shine happily as he began to relax for the first time since he arrived back at school. It seemed that now minus the glamour and plus his friends Harry felt comfortable, not even just comfortable in the place where he was, but comfortable in his own skin. Draco could feel his own happiness rise when Harry would laugh at one of his friends jokes, and smile happily even after the laughter had died away. If these people made his Harry happy, then they must be okay.
Suddenly Draco had an idea, “Pansy, I need your help with a scheme. I need to get close to Harry’s little friends.” Pansy looked at Draco a little confused. “Pan, look at him with them. That is the Harry I want, the laughing one with the shining eyes, the happy one. If I can get an in through his friends then maybe I can get to know that Harry.” Draco looked back over at Harry and his friends, and then back at his friends pleadingly, “will you help me?” They both nodded and then spent the rest of the meal plotting a way to get Draco in Harry’s friends’ good graces.

After Harry and his friends had eaten their fill, Harry took them to their rooms. It was just another one of the student suits near the dungeons, not all that far from Harry’s own dorm. Harry spent a good half hour helping them all unpack and get settled before he turned to Cord and said, “Severus wants to see you tonight. He asked me to bring you along after you got settled.” He watched her face in anticipation of a nasty response but when none came he continued. “He said that I could stay if you wanted me to, if that would make you more comfortable.” Harry smiled when Cord nodded and stood.
“Well there is no time like now.” She reached a hand out to Harry, which he took, before turning to the rest of the group. “You boys rest up. Maybe we can have a little jam when I get back?” she questioned. Every one of the boys’ faces lit up at the words and she chuckled walking hand in hand with Harry out of the dorm. Harry silently walked Cord down the hall to where Severus’ private chambers were, stopping in front of the door. “ready?” Cord only nodded and Harry knocked on the door.
As the door swung open Harry smiled at up at Severus, “We’re here.” At these words Harry squeezed Cord’s hand gently, and upon receiving a squeeze in return asked, “May we come in?” Severus moved slowly out of the door way, never taking his eyes off the young girl entering his chambers. Harry led Cord over to the sitting area and sat down close next to her their hands still clasped firmly together. Severus sat down in the chair across from them, opening his mouth many times only to close it again. Finally he coughed nervously.
“You look well Cordalina. I’m glad.” Severus stated softly, looking intently at the black haired girl.
“Yes I am well, thank you for the concern, father.” Cord intoned softly, almost in a hiss.