The Fire Within

IMPORTANT: To my very dear readers, I'm sooooooooo sorry for posting up so late. I first had vacation, then a horrible test week and then i kinda lacked off and then my beta didn't send it on time cuz she spelled my email wrong, that was minor. I hope you like this chapter it's 10 pages. Well, 9 and a bit. have fun and review!!!


Chapter 7

‘Ahh, lunch time,’ Harry thought, his tummy growling in response.

“Geez, mate. Could your stomach growl a little louder? You must be real hungry!”

Harry just blushed at being heard.

“Ron, leave him alone. His stomach wasn’t the only one growling, if I recall,” said Hermione in a know-it-all and motherly tone. How she’s able to manage it, Harry will never know.

“Man hater.”

“Shirt-lifter.”

“Lesbian.”

“Homo.”

“And what a good looking homo I am!” The Golden trio laughed so loudly that everyone in the great hall looked at them.

“Sorry! Didn’t mean to ruin your meals with our verbose laughter,” exclaimed Ron.

“Well you should be sorry Weasel. You are a OUCH! What the hell was that for Zohra, Pansy!?” Draco felt thoroughly wounded by the actions his new and old best friends just took against him.

“Oh hush up, Draco. Whining doesn’t become you,” stated Pansy in a put out voice. Blaise, Vincent and Greg just chuckled.

“Don’t worry my fellow Gryffindors. You can laugh as loud as you want. It’s a lot more interesting than looking at Draco’s cold, unfeeling, and sometimes funny face.”

“Hey!” Draco gave an indignant shout. “My Face Is NOT funny. It is a perfect face. You are just jealous.”

“Yeah right, Malfoy. Who would want to look like a ferret,” said Ron next to Draco.

“At least I’m not …”

“Don’t even try to finish that sentence, Draco.” said Zohra.

“What? I was just going to tell him that at least I’m not a red headed idiot like him and not am I as gangly,” Draco said innocently. But of course, no one fell for it.

“Hey! I’m not gangly. I haven’t been since third year! At least I don’t look like a stupid ferret,” Ron growled. During all of this Harry just couldn’t stop thinking that it seemed that Ron and Draco were always flirting though they seemed to be fighting. How odd. Harry then decided that it was time to end this shouting match before something happened.

“Hey guys, I think…”

But someone had a different idea.

“Monsieur’s. Potter, Weasley, and Malfoy. Misses Parkinson, and Snape,” Growled the tall dark figure. “What in the world do you think you are doing?” Harry almost creamed in his pants.

‘Merlin, he has the most amazing voice. It’s so silky and sultry and seductive. I want him sooooo much,’ thought Harry dreamily till he was snapped out of it by his dream man himself.

“Why are you all disrupting lunch in the Great Hall? Hmmm? 30 points from Gryffindor for disruption and 15 points from Slytherin for retaliating,” glared Snape.

‘How can he be so evil while still looking so hot? Gosh I just want to. Mmmmm. Yum!’ the dreamy look back in his eyes. Hermione had noticed but decided not to tell Harry anything. She wanted to see if the professor would notice or not, and if he did what in the world would he do.

“Brot… I mean Professor, you’re being unreasonable. We were just having fun.”

“I was not talking to you, now was I,” sneered Severus. “I suggest you sit down and get on with lunch, Ms. Snape, unless you want detention on the first day of school.” A look of hurt passed Zohra’s eyes, but it was gone before anyone could notice. It was hidden behind her mask.

“Fine,” She said out loud. “Bastard,” she mumbled quietly but not quietly enough because Severus had heard.

“What did you call me?” His eyes flashed, and his hand reached for his wand.

Zohra looked up defiantly. “You heard me. If you heard it that first time, I see no reason to repeat it.”

Harry could feel the atmosphere in the room change. He knew that he had to act fast or something bad was going to happen to both his secret crush and his new friend. Thinking quickly, Harry pushed Ron into Draco. However, what happen next he wasn’t counting on.

‘Oh shit, I hope Ron doesn’t kill me,’ Harry thought franticly.

Everyone in the Great Hall was in shock. Even the Professors paused what they were doing to stare. Zohra was the only one looking unconcerned and went back to eating.

Draco Malfoy and Ronald Weasley were stuck in a liplock and hadn’t moved for the last 10 seconds.

‘Oh shit, I’m dead meat,’ thought Harry. ‘But at least he got a kiss from his crush! Even if it was an accident. But hey now Severus and Zohra can’t kill each other.’

When both Ron and Draco got over the shock, well really just Ron, he turned to Harry his face all red and said threateningly, “Potter, you better run, because I am going to kill you.”

‘Bloodly Hell!’

That was the only thought that ran through his head except for ‘I hope I don’t have to go to the bathroom.’

And he sprinted out of the room to God knows where.

***********************************************

‘Okay, I’m safe. He won’t be able to find me now. Now that I’m safe inside my mind and in this wonderful abandoned girls bathroom. Nope, he can’t find me here, I’m safe,’ he inwardly sighed.

“I know you’re in here, Harry. I’m going to get you.” Harry heard Ron’s frighteningly playful, deceitful voice. “You are so in for it now, Potter. You may have defeated the dark bloody lord, but not me. Not now.”

‘Okay, maybe I should just go out there and bear my soul and he won’t kill me. Yeah that sounds good,’ Harry thought hopefully. ‘Oh hell. Who am I kidding? He’s going to skin me alive!’ And at that Harry bolted out of his stall. But sadly, he never made it to the door.

“Ha! I got you now, Potter. You are going to die,” said Ron triumphantly.

“No! Help! Come on, Ron. I’m sorry! It was an accident! I swear!”

“Pleading isn’t going to work. And you definitely pushed me on purpose, you lying sod.”

“No! I mean…I pushed you on purpose, but I had to to keep Severus from hurting Zohra and from Zohra hurting Severus. The thing with you and Malfoy kissing was a total accident. You were just supposed to fall on him.”

Harry didn’t know what else to do but beg for his life.

“And what would you’ve done if he’d mashed the pulp out of me!?”

Actually, Harry hadn’t considered that.

“Um…Protected you good looking, homosexual self?”

Staring at Harry incredulously, Ron snorted in amusement – unable to stay angry at Harry for long.

“Bloody hell, Harry. Just get up off the floor, will you? What would the Wizarding World think -- seeing their savior cowering on the bathroom floor?”

“That there’s a fate worse than Voldemort?” “By the way…Not that I’m complaining, but why are you forgiving me so easily?”

Ron’s eyes gleamed with light. “I’m only forgiving you because I got to feel those gorgeous soft lips against mine. Oh, they felt…Blimey! I felt like I was soaring! It felt sooo Goood. However, I will get you for embarrassing me. Besides. I have to keep up appearances. Can’t let anyone realize that I actually liked what happened, now can I.”

“Right. Of course. Can’t let that happen.” Harry gulped. “You aren’t going to hurt me badly, are you Ron?”

“Of course not, Harry,” Ron said with an evil gleam in his eyes. “Nothing too bad.” Ron laughed and left the bathroom.

“Oh God! There is a fate worse than Voldemort! Why couldn’t he have just killed me, the stupid bastard! Bloody Hell,” Harry shouted and left the bathroom -- dreading for what was to come.
***********************************************

Back at the Slytherin Common Room

“Oh Merlin! We kissed. WE KISSED,” shouted Draco in shock in his sound proofed room. His friends just sat there and waited for him to tell them what he really wanted to say. Zohra just watched Draco curiously. She’d had suspicions that the person that he liked was Ron, but she wasn’t sure. It’s a good thing that he would explode, because Zohra was planning in her head on how to get these people together.

“Draco, I don’t see what the problem is,” said Blaise looking, thoroughly bored. He knew who Draco liked and he wasn’t going to say anything unless Draco himself wanted Zohra to know.

“Well, Blaise. The first kiss we should have shared was supposed to be romantic and consensual. NOT AN ACCIDENT!” shouted Draco at the end.

“So you do like Ron, don’t you?” asked Zohra knowingly. “Why didn’t you tell me? I can help you know.”

“You’re going to help me get Ron. Why,” Draco asked, his eyes narrowing.

“What? I can’t help a friend,” asked Zohra hurtfully. “I’m only trying to help. Besides, I’m going to the Gryffindor common room after dinner.”

“Zohra…I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, But, I didn’t know if I could trust you. It’s just the way of us Slytherins.” Draco hoped his words were making Zohra feel better. Even though not everyone realized it, except for his friends, he cares about people he’s close to.

“It’s fine, D. Now let us plot.” And the planning began. However, Zohra was making her own plan of how to get these two boys from opposite worlds and house together. Oh she was a Slytherin alright. Don’t let anyone tell you any different.

*******************************************

After the planning, Zohra had taken aside Pansy, and told her that she, as in Zohra, would need her, as in Pansy, to put her plan in action. When Pansy had looked at her curiously, she knew she had to explain that she was going to help Draco with Ron. So now when the need would arise, Pansy would help Zohra to complete her task. Now all Zohra had to do was find out if Ron truly did want Draco. She had suspicions, but that meant nothing without proof. What Zohra would soon realize was that Draco and Ron were meant to be and that they were two of four she was searching for.
*********************************************

It was now after dinner in the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry and his friends were sitting around the fire.

‘I love this place. My home. I don’t ever want to leave,’ thought Harry.

“I wonder where Zohra is. I told her to come up here after dinner and she said she knew the way and the password. I really hope she wasn’t lying,” said Hermione sadly and worriedly.

“Don’t worry, Hermione. She was really nice. I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” said Neville -- a slight blush on his cheeks. Harry and Hermione looked at their friend curiously.

‘I wonder what Zohra said or did to Neville to make him blush.’ Harry eyes suddenly widened. ‘Does he have a crush on her? And they just meet so recently! Weird…’

“You know what Herms? If she doesn’t want to be your friend and decided to lie and tell you that she liked you, then she is nothing more than a bitch!” said Ron, a slight red glow on his face. His eyes were simmering.

“Whose a bitch.” Zohra asked as she walked into the room – looking around curiously.

“N-n-no o-one,” stuttered Neville. Zohra just looked at him with warmth.

“You’re so cute, Neville.” Zohra smiled.

‘Does Zohra like Neville?’ Harry looked at the exchange curiously. “Actually, Zohra, Ron here said you were a bitch.” Harry said matter-of-factly.

“Harry,” shouted Ron and Hermione simultaneously. Hermione shouting, because she wanted Zohra to be their friend and didn’t want to hurt her while Ron shouted because well…Your friends shouldn’t tell other people what you said about another person in a hypothetical sentence.

“What?” Harry looked at them innocently.

“It’s okay, guys. I know what Ron said. I was actually here for a bit when I heard Ron say what he said.” Ron looked at her sheepishly and of course, they all knew he was sorry. Zohra took pity on him, and said, “Ron, don’t worry about it. What happened happened and you can’t change that. Besides, if I really did what you said, I would have to agree that I would have been a bitch.” Ron smiled at this – his embarrassment gone.

“Thanks, Zohra.”

“So, Zohra. How was your day,” Harry asked. He was worried about what was going on with her and Severus. He hoped whatever the problem was that it would be resolved soon. She hadn’t looked that happy in class. When she looked at Harry, he could have sworn that she knew exactly why he was asking the question.

“Thanks for asking, it was fine. A few ups and downs, but otherwise it was cool,” stated Zohra -- a bit of sadness in her voice. Only Harry had heard it.

They all talked for a few hours -- getting to know each other. They found out that Zohra and Neville had met in Herbology. The fact that Zohra had known so much had intrigued Neville. Madame Sprouts had made them partners and they’d talked a lot about plants, with Zohra sliding in compliments about Neville. By the end of their talks they seemed to have become the best of friends. Just like Zohra and the Slytherins. Their next conversation went like this.

“So, Zohra. What do you think of the Gryffindors and the Slytherins,” asked Ron.

“Both you guys are pretty cool. You each have your own quirks that make you guys great. I’m really glad I met you guys. This is the first time in years that I’ve been able to feel so close to new people in such a short amount of time. It’s really amazing. Before it used to be just myself, Storm and Se…” Zohra trailed off with a sigh.

Hermione looked at Zohra in concern. “What happened between you and Professor Snape?” Harry, Neville and Ron look on in eager concern.

Zohra looked at them all. She sighed. “I don’t know. He was never like this before. I tried to ask him before I came up here what I had done to warrant the way he was behaving. All he said, was, ‘why should I change the way I act now that you are here,’ and left without another word. I just don’t understand.” A glassy look crossed her gaze.

‘I need to help her. But what do I do?’ Harry looked at Zohra. ‘I guess I know what I should do right now.’ Harry moved and hugged Zohra tightly against his chest and Hermione, Ron and Neville joined in.

“We’ll help you with your brother, Zohra, don’t worry. We’ll have you both in a proper sibling relationship soon,” said Harry. The rest agreed.

“Thanks, you guys. And the Slytherins were right.” The Gryffindors looked at her with raised eyebrows. She sniffed and laughed a watery laugh. “You guys do have a hero complex.” At that, they all laughed -- diffusing the sad atmosphere.

“So… What should we talk about now?” asked Ron.

“How about the fact that you like one Draco Malfoy,” stated Zohra? Everyone looked at her wide eyed. “What? Was it something I said?”

‘How in the world did she figure that out? Was she guessing and we just gave it away,’ thought Harry.

Ron spluttered but they all knew it was futile. “I do not like Dr-Malfoy.”

“Then why were you about to use his first name,” asked Zohra slyly.

“I was not!”

“Were too.”

“Was not!”

“Were too!”

“Guys, shut up! This is one of the most childish conversations I have ever heard,” said Hermione -- her voice stern.

‘Always have a bookworm to know when a fight is stupid or not,’ thought Harry.

“Ron, just tell her. Maybe she can help you get him,” said Neville in a reasonable voice.

‘No wonder he was put in Gryffindor,’ thought Harry.

Ron looked at Neville and then at Zohra and sighed. “Fine. I do like Draco Malfoy.”

“More like love,” Harry snickered.

“Hey. I wouldn’t be talking. I’m not the one in love with a bat,” snapped Ron.

That shocked both Zohra and Harry. Zohra because she didn’t know Harry liked her brother, and Harry because he could not believe that Ron just blurted out his secret.

Zohra looked at Harry, who started to shift uncomfortably. “You’re in love with my brother,” she said incredulously. Harry nodded sharply. “For how long?”

“Since the end of 5th year,” Harry squeaked. He really did not like to be in the lime light. Not at all.

“Huh. Who would have thought?” Zohra laid back into her seat. “We will definitely have to talk about that. Not that I mind.” She started to fiddle with her cursed hair that everyone had gotten used to. Harry was the only one who still thought it was really funny that Severus Snape would actually think of a curse like that. “Okay, let’s talk about getting Ron and Draco together.”

Ron looked at her like she was crazy. “He doesn’t even like me. How the hell are we supposed to get together if he won’t even talk to me?”

Suddenly an evil smirk appeared on her face -- making her look slightly like Snape.

“Leave that up to me, my precious redheaded friend. Leave that up to me.” It looked like Zohra was already cooking up a plan.

“Seriously. You will get us together?” Ron looked at her in disbelief.

Zohra smiled. “Isn’t that what friends do for each other? Help out?” Ron nodded his head -- pretty happy that his new friend liked him so much to help.

“Thanks.”

“No prob. I love getting people together and making them happy. It’s always fun to see love blossom.”

Ron smiled and then started to yawn. “I think I’ll go to bed now. See you guys tomorrow.” They all said good night to Ron and waited till he went to his dorm.

“Okay, Zohra. What didn’t you tell Ron?” said Hermione. She must have been watching Zohra closely to know she was hiding something.

Zohra looked shocked. ‘I guess no one has ever caught her before.’

“How do you know I’m hiding something?”

“You were too smug for your own good,” stated Hermione.

“Okay, you caught me.” They waited for Zohra to elaborate and when she didn’t, Hermione gave her a look that said ‘tell me right now or you are so in for it.’ “Okay, okay. I’ll tell you.” She sighed. “Draco likes Ron too and we have already made a plan for him to get Ron, but his plan is going to take too long, so I have a better one. His plan entails lots of love letters and tokens. Too subtle for me, so I decided to make my own. I will have Pansy’s help to make sure Draco goes with it, and now I need yours.” Harry thought for a moment. He really wanted his friend to be happy even if it was with the ferret. Besides…The ferret wasn’t so bad since the fall of Voldemort. His mind was made.

“Okay, I’ll help.”

“Me too,” said Hermione and Neville.

“Good.” Zohra started to discuss her plan with them. They agreed that it was a great plan and couldn’t wait for it to be placed in action.

It was getting late, and Harry knew that they all wanted to sleep. He really wanted to help Zohra with the Severus problem as he was sure the others did too. But right now, he wanted to sleep. “Hey guys, it’s getting late and I need rest. Can we talk at lunch about Zohra and Severus? We can find a way to help you then, okay? Is that good for you Zohra? Lunch at Gryffindor?”

Zohra smiled. “That sounds great. Thanks for caring, you guys.”

“Don’t mention it, Zohra. We like you and want to help you with your brother problems,” said Neville -- his eyes filled with warmth.

“Thanks, Neville,” Zohra said softly. “And thanks to you guys too. Good night.” Before she left, she pecked Neville on the check and moved swiftly out into the corridor.

Neville just stood there in a daze.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. The thought that passed their minds at the same time was ‘Neville finally likes someone who likes him.’ And it looks like he’ll soon be getting some action as well.