Inside Your Mind

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters; they are all J.K. Rowling’s brilliance.

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Chapter Eight - Lessons

Harry awoke completely contented the next morning, his senses overwhelmed by Draco, whose arms were still wrapped around him. His emerald eyes filled with wonder as he gazed at the beautiful blonde, and he couldn’t resist pressing a light kiss to his lips.

Draco’s eyelids fluttered open and he snuggled closer to Harry, who gave him a light squeeze and said “Time to get up.” The blonde said a quick no and buried his head deeper into Harry’s shoulder. “Breakfast is in ten minutes,” Harry said.

“I don’t wanna get up,” Draco whined.

“If you don’t get up I’ll go to breakfast alone and tell the entire Great Hall that you like to snuggle.”

Draco shot up in bed. “You wouldn’t,” he hissed.

“I would,” Harry replied cheerfully while getting out of bed. “Plus, you have to show up. The other Slytherins are probably suspicious enough already now that you’re not livwithwith them anymore.”

The present Slytherin sighed, knowing that Harry had a point. Hearing the sigh, the Gryffindor turned toward him after picking out a clean shirt. “What did you tell them?”

Draco, who was momentarily dumbstruck by the fact that Harry had removed his shirt and was pulling a new one over his tan, muscled chest, to tto think a moment before answering. “I just told them that I was getting my own room because my father requested it.”

“How did they take it?”

“They were all jealous, naturally. I mean, who wouldn’t be jealous of me?”

Harry snorted. “Go get dressed” he said while leaving the room. Draco went into his room where his trunk was. The Gryffindor waited for at least fifteen minutes before shouting, “What the hell are you doing in there?” When he received no response, he entered Draco’s room to find him standing in front of his mirror, delicately brushing his hair, as if it were gold. It was pointless, considering his hair looked perfect anyway.

Harry grabbed the brush from Draco’s hand and placed it back on the dresser. “Hey!” said an annoyed voice. “I was using that!” He picked up the gel and was about to squeeze some into his hand to use on his hair when Harry took that from him too. “I can’t go out without doing my hair!” Draco said in a panicked voice.

“Yes, you most certainly can,” Harry commented. “Besides, it looks sexy when it’s not gelled back.”

“It does?”

“Yea, sexy as hell,” the raven-haired boy replied while rolling his eyes and dragging a protesting Draco, whose eyes were glued to his own reflection, from the room. He led Draco all the way to the Great Hall and entered, not realizing that his own hand was still attached firmly to Draco’s arm. Blushing, he quickly removed it and went to sit at the Gryffindor table.

A murderous glare from Draco had the occupants of the room averting their gazes and returning to their food and conversations in an instant. Even though the attention was off Potter and Malfoy, the whispers and mutterings between friends were still about them. The blonde strode to his seat confidently, as was his way, holding the death-glare the entire way.

Snape, at the staff table, was having a rather hard time holding in his laughter at the stupidity of his students. What kind of idiots are they, walking in the Great Hall practically holding hands? The fact that they even walked in together is something that could cause enough gossip to last months in this school. Merlin only knows the rumors people will come up with. He had to admit, albeit reluctantly, that he was looking forward to the reactions of the students, and the ridiculous rumors that were sure to be created. Even Severus Snape, the infamous bitter Potions Master, enjoyed a good laugh now and then.

The minute Harry sat down, he was met with wide-eyed stares from everyone at his table except Hermione, who looked at him with knowing eyes, and Ron, who was looking very sorry.

“Listen, Harry…” Ron began, intending to apologize, but Harry held up a hand to silence him.

“I know that you didn’t mean what you said to me, and I forgive you for it. But you were right. I do make quick assumptions and decisions that have led me into some incredibly dangerous situations. But you have to trust me about Draco. He’s not who you think he is. I promise you that I thought this through.”

Ron, who had been listening, nodded slowly. “I can’t promise you that I’ll get along with him, but I will try to give him a second chance. Plus, Hermione supports this too, so he can’t be that bad, right?” he joked.

Harry grinned in relief, and gave Hermione a grateful smile, who nodded lightly in acknowledgement. They ate the rest of their meal chatting about quidditch and classes.

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Draco walked silently to potions, ignoring Pansy next to him saying “Why in the world were you walking with Potter?” Thankfully, they arrived at the classroom, for if he had to listen to her drone on about how horrible Harry was for one more minute, he was sure he would have slapped that superior look off of her face. As he took his seat, he realized that his face had also held that superior look for the previous five years. He had walked around like Potter was beneath him for so long, and was beginning to feel rather guilty abit. it. Realizing that he had only acted the way he did because he was jealous that Harry had chosen Ron over him did nothing to ease his guilt, and he knew that he wouldn’t feel right until he apologized to Harry for it all.

"Hey," he heard as Harry took a seat beside him. Draco looked at him and opened his mouth, about to apologize, when Snape began speaking.

“You will be making a calming draught, and at the end of class, I will be randomly selecting a student to test his or her potion on themselves.” A gulp was heard from Neville. Snape smirked evilly before waving his wand, the ingredients and instructions appearing on the board. “You may begin.”

“I’ll get the ingredients,” Harry said and left. Draco sighed, wondering how to apologize. When he had opened his mouth before, he hadn’t been sure what he was going to say, just hoped that it would sound good. When Harry returned, he set down the ingredients and turned to the blonde. “Were you going to say something before Snape started talking?”

Draco took a deep breath before speaking. “Why did you forgive Weasley for what he said?”, he asked, while following the beginning steps of creating the draught.

“Well, Ron means a lot to me, and I know that he didn’t mean to hurt me, he just wasn’t thinking about what he was saying. I would hate to lose my friendship with him over something stupid. Also, he was kind of right, and that bothered me a lot more than the fact that he said it.” The Gryffindor looked at him questioningly. “Why do you ask?”

“It surprised me that you forgave him so quickly,” the Slytherin answered truthfully. “I men, what he said really hurt you, I could feel how deep your pain was when he said it. How can you just let that go?”

“It’s true that Ron shouldn’t have said what he said, and it did hurt me a lot, but in the end, his friendship just means more and I know he was only looking out for me, albeit misguidedly. What’s this all about, Draco?”

“I realized that I never truly apologized for the way I’ve treated you in the past,” Draco replied while looking at the table intently, his cheeks coloring slightly.
“Draco, look at me,” Harry said. He looked up into the beautiful emerald eyes of his boyfriend, his own silver ones clouded with uncertainty. “That’s all in the past now. We both said and did things that we know mean nothing now. All that matters is how we feel about each other now.”

“But all the things I did to you…” Draco trailed off as Harry shook his head. “It doesn’t matter,” he repeated firmly. The blonde nodded slowly, his eyes brightening with relief, and it took all of the raven-haired boy’s self control not to press a reassuring kiss to Draco’s lips. He settled for squeezing Draco’s hand under the desk, then returned to the potion.

They spent the rest of the lesson working in comfortable silence, only broken by the Slytherin instructing Harry. Five minutes before the end of the class, Snape announced, “I want a sample of each on my desk now. Except for you, Longbottom,” he sneered. “I want to test yours now.”

Neville gulped, for he had prepared this potion on his own, and prayed before lifting the ladle to his lips. As the potion rushed through his body, he felt instantly calm, his nerves soothed. A huge grin spread across his face as he jumped up. “It works!” he said excitedly. Snape stood, staring at him with a horrified look, seemingly thinking that Longbottom correctly brewing a potion signified that the end of the world was near. The Gryffindors cheered for Neville, while Draco laughed at the stricken look that graced his godfather’s face. Snape snapped out of his trance long enough to snap “What are you all cheering for? Get out of my classroom!” Everybody left, the Gryffindors grinning while the Slytherins scowled. Draco said goodbye to Harry, whispering quickly, “Don’t forget that ourst rst lesson with Snape is tonight, so be at ooom oom by 7:30.” Harry nodded before going to catch up with Hermione and Ron.

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“I can’t hang out with you tonight,” Harry said to his two best friends as they sat down to lunch in the Great Hall. “Why not?” Ron asked while piling food onto his plate.

“I have my first training session with Snape and Draco tonight,” he explained. “Oh,” the redhead muttered, not looking at all pleased with the situation. “I still can’t believe you’re spending the evening with them instead of us.”

“Believe me, Ron, if I had my way, Snape would not have any part in my evening. Just because I’m friends with Draco doesn’t mean I actually like that greasy git any more than I did before.”

Ron laughed, somewhat reassured by this answer. Hermione cut in, saying “What exactly are these extra lessons for?”

“To learn stronger defense magic, and to learn how to control and use the strengthened magic that the bond gives us.”

“Oh,” the brunette said. “Do be careful with the extra magic, Harry. You’re already immensely powerful. If you don’t watch what you do, you could hurt someone or yourself.”

Harry nodded, seeing her point. “I will,” he said.

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The rest of the day passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was 7:30. Harry entered their living room just minutes after Draco himself arrived, and both stared at each other, while walking towards one another. Then they were kissing feverishly, as if they hadn’t seen each other for weeks. Hands tangled in hair and roamed bodies, mouths welded together, as if to turn them into one person. After several breathless minutes, they pulled apart, hands still attached to the other.

“Hi,” the raven-haired boy said, completely dazed, eyes darkened with lust.

“Hi,” was Draco’s breathless reply, his eyes also now a stormy gray, matching the color of the overhead clouds of the living room.

They stayed like that a few moments, before hearing arguing voices approaching them.

“We will teach them what I have chosen to teach them,” the Potions Master snapped.

“We’re supposed to be working together,” came the voice of Remus Lupin, sounding like a whining child.

Harry pulled away from Draco before calling out, “Remus?”, just as the bickering pair entered the room.

“Harry!” Lupin exclaimed, crossing the room. “You’re teaching us too?”, Harry asked excitedly. “Yes,” Remus said, chucking at Harry’s enthusiasm. He pulled the Gryffindor into a hug. “How are you?” he asked softly.

“Great,” Harry replied truthfully, grinning. Remus seemed somewhat surprised at this, but happy for him nonetheless. “And you?” Harry asked. “I’m okay,” Remus replied softly.

Draco noticed his godfather watching this scene with a somewhat contented look in his eyes. He knew that it couldn’t have anything to do with Harry being happy, for no matter what Draco might feel for Harry, Snape would always dislike him. So it must be Lupin then, he realized, smirking.

“So where’s the training room?” Remus asked, and Harry led to him to a door on the left side of the room. The blonde noticed his godfather’s eyes rest on Lupin’s retreating arse as they walked from the room, his smirk widening>Yes>Yes, it’s definitely Lupin. Who would have thought Snape would have a thing for guys, let alone the good ones?

He walked over to Snape and said “I thought we had a lesson planned, but you seem to be perfectly content standing here staring at Lupin’s arse, so maybe I’ll leave you here.”

Snape colored slightly, something highly unusual for the seemingly emotionless potions professor. “Shut up,” he growled while stalking off to the training room. Draco grinned and followed.

When Snape and Draco entered the room, Harry noticed Remus’s eyes immediately land on Snape, resting there, before he walked over to him, where they immediately started bickering again.

Remus staring at Snape? He grinned, watching them. This is very interesting. The blonde walked over to him, also gazing at the two adults. He gave Harry a quick kiss before leaning against the wall beside him.“Are“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Draco asked. “I believe I am,” Harry replied. “Who would have ever thought that those two would be attracted to each other? It’s weird, but I can picture it.”

“Yea, I know exactly what you mean,” the blonde replied.

“Hey, I thought we were here for a training session,” Harry called out to the two.

The elder Slytherin and Gryffindor turned quickly toward them, as if remembering that they were there. “Uh, right,” Lupin said.

Snape rolled his eyes. “Dumbledore thought it would be a good idea for you to be able to fight physically, and we are going to start with swords,” he said. “I know you’ve already practiced using a sword, Draco, but this will make you better. The swords are charmed not to injure, don’t worry. Remus and I are going to demonstrate before beginning your training.”

“This should be interesting,” Harry whispered. The blonde grinned.

Each of the men picked up a sword, circling each other. “The key,” Remus explained while taking a jab at Severus, “is to be forceful and strong while remaining graceful.” Both men held true to this statement, executing the fight with incredible grace, looking intently at each other.

“They look great together,” Draco commented, somewhat in awe. “Amazing,” Harry agreed, also unable to remove his eyes from the pair.

After at least ten minutes, Snape finally knocked Remus off balance, winning the fight. He reached his hand to Lupin, pulling him up, both freezing at the contact and looking at each other with wide eyes.

“I wonder if they know how obvious they’re being,” Harry said. “Probably not,” Draco smirked. “Sev doesn’t show emotion if he can help it. I’ve never known someone to affect Sev so much that he can’t hide it.”

Severus and Remus were still staring at each other, so the raven-haired boy cleared his throat to b the them out of their trance. Both elder men blushed, quickly moving away from each other.

“Right,” Snape coughed. “Um, Draco, you’re with me and Potter you’re with Remus.” Harry rose his eyebrows at Snape’s use of Lupin’s first name, but said nothing while walking over to the werewolf.

The next hour and half passed with Harry learning and Draco perfecting the basics of sword fighting. All were having a hard time concentrating, seeing as Draco and Harry couldn’t stop sneaking glances at each other, as was the case with Remus and Severus. It turns out that guys look incredibly hot while sword fighting.

Knowing that they weren’t going to get any further with Draco and Harry staring at each other like that, carefully leaving his own staring out of the equation, Snape called a stop to the training. He hated to admit it, but Harry had held up pretty damn well against Remus, and he knew that stopping tonight’s lesson a little early would do no harm.

Draco went to sit with his godfather about something, and Harry and Remus sat down, resting. “You’re great for a beginner,” Remus commented, while conjuring glasses of water of them. “Thanks,” Harry replied. “You seemed to enjoy staring at Snape.”

The werewolf choked on his water while turning bright red. “I…I don’t know what you mean.”

Harry snorted. “You know damn well what I mean.”

“I…” Remus seemed at a loss for words, so Harry said something he knew would probably make him less uncomfortable. “Remus, I have something to tell you…I’m gay.”

Lupin’s head shot up. “What??”

“Um, yea, and I’m kind of dating Draco.”

“What?? I don’t believe you!” he exclaimed.

The Gryffindor rolled his eyes. “Draco,” he called, “tell Remus we’re dating.”

“Lupin, Harry and I areing,ing,” he said promptly before turning back to Snape.

“See?” Harry said triumphantly. “And before you say anything, I know that you and Sirius were involved.”

The werewolf almost fell of his chair. “What?!”

“You know, you really seem to have a limited vocabulary tonight,” Harry joked.

“How did you know about me and Sirius?” Lupin choked out.

“Oh, please. The ‘discreet’ brushing of hands and bodies as you passed each other, the whispering.”

Remus, whose face was gradually returning to it’s natural color, said “You don’t mind?”

“No, of course not,” Harry said gently. “So what about Snape.” He grinned.

The werewolf blushed again. “It’s…nothing.”

“You two have been looking at each other all night. During that swordfight, it was like you two were the only people in the room. It was incredible.”

“Really?” was the whispered reply.

“Yea, so what are you going to do about Snape? He likes you, it’s so obvious.”

“I don’t know,” Remus replied quietly. “I’ll wait and see what happens, I guess. I have to go, I’ll see you on Thursday.”

He got up from his chair and motioned to Severus that they had to leave. Draco and Harry left the training room and sat on the couch of their living room.

“What are we going to do with those two?” Draco said mockingly. Harry laughed and said “Remus says he’s going to ‘wait and see what happens’.”

“That’s about the same as what Sev said to me. We should go get some food in a few minutes.” The raven-haired boy nodded, and they sat in silence for a few moments, just enjoying one another’s presence, unaware of what was going on just outside their room.

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“See, letting me actually teach something wasn’t that bad now was it?” Remus said as he and Snape left the boys’ room.

“I only let you teach Harry because I don’t like him,” Snape said childishly.

Lupin rolled his eyes. “Must you always have everything your way?”

“Yes,” Severus snapped. “I can say and do whatever I want,” he said, managing to sound even more like a five-year-old than before.

“Well,” the werewolf said slyly. “If you can do whatever you want, so can I.” With that, potipotions professor found himself pressed up against the wall just outside of the portrait to Harry and Draco’s room. Both men stayed completely still, looking in each other’s eyes, each afraid that if they moved an inch the other would pull away. Finally, Snape wound his arms around Remus’s neck and kissed him hungrily, and Lupin responded with equal fervor. They sighed contentedly, as both had wanted this the whole night. Their bodies pressed closer involuntarily, trying to blend into one another, never wanting to let go.

At that moment, Draco and Harry left their room in search of food, only to find their teachers making out. Both cleared their throats, and smirked at the blushes on the men’s faces. They were all silent for a minute, looking at each other, before Harry broke the silence.

“Wait and see what happens, my arse.”