12 Grim Old Place

Chapter 9
Date Started: 03-02-07
Pairing: A dash of HermionexRon. A little bit more Snape and Lupin... cause they amuse me. OMG FINALLY HINTS OF DM/HP. ( They are small and you might have to squint... I mean really squint. )
Disclaimer: Yep. Don't own them. Wish I did...but nope. The idea wasn't even mine. It was Yami Bakura's. I had thought of something like this... but my idea was a lot stickier so I knew deep down I'd never write it. XD http://hp.adult-fanfiction.org/authors.php?no=1296771786

Bill's vows: Jamie Foxx - Wedding Vows
Fleur's vows: Shania Twain - From This Moment

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"I'm marrying an angel today. As I take your hand, I pledge to be your man. I vow to love, to hold, to cherish and never disrespect the love we share. I'll be honest. I can't lie. There'll be real good days and some bad times. But I'll be standing right beside you. Me and the love of mine."

"I do swear that I'll always be there. I'd give anything and everything and I will always care. Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, for better or worse, I will love you with every beat of my heart. I give my hand to you with all my heart. All we need is just the two of us."

Harry heard Hermione give a sniff and looked over at her as she slowly raised her hands to cover her nose and mouth. She looked completely torn and Harry could only wonder if she looked so emotional at every wedding. Harry looked forward again as he moved a hand to lightly rest over the silky fabric of the dress that covered her knee. She had kept one up but moved the other to hold his hand, looking over at him with a smile that he returned.

"You are now husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

The couple kissed and Harry caught sight of Ron standing up with the rest of his brothers. The youngest male Weasley looked like he could be sick at any second. Harry had to smile even as Hermione had dropped her head, brown curls falling over her shoulders and let out a sob.

Harry's past few days with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny felt like some of the best days of his life. It was very easy to forget that soon he'd be going to war. To sit and laugh over the smallest things. He felt loved and extremely comfortable in Sirius's old house. Malfoy had even been tolerable or at least as tolerable as usual. He had stopped with calling Ron and Hermione the weasel and the mudblood. Ron and Ginny were still Weasley and Hermione was Granger but it was a small improvement. Now he was sitting at a wedding, watching Bill and Fleur kiss in one of the first moments of their marriage. It was so normal and pleasing. He felt completely content.

He knew it would end, though. He'd be once again facing the thing that killed his parents. Facing the followers that tortured so many people. Fighting the good war to defend the wizarding world. Fighting for everything he believed in. Nearly throwing his life away for his beliefs. Facing the greatest evil the wizarding world had ever known.

All good things must come to an end. His time with his friends was no different.

Come this time tomorrow he'd be sitting upstairs in Dudley's second bedroom at Number Four, Privet Drive. He'd be hearing his aunt fuss over his cousin and his uncle's car pulling in as he got home from work. He could almost see them and he shook his head, forcing himself to focus as Bill and Fleur walked back down the aisle together, hand in hand. That made him smile faintly and he relaxed. He'd worry about his poor excuse for a family later.

Ron walked past them and gave an almost pleading look as he was paired up with some blonde haired girl to walk from the room with. Harry just grinned and Hermione looked slightly spiteful. It was more than a little funny.

***

"Severus...Severus..." A pause. "Severus!"

Dark eyes opened slowly to find a half naked werewolf looming, creating shadows against the light that made it seem all to much like a dream. Snape, in turn, rolled over pulling cloak back up and over his shoulder, ignoring the werewolf sitting on his bed. Remus could only frown at the other man.

"Severus..." The werewolf cleared his throat but when that didn't work he raised a hand, lightly shaking one cloak covered shoulder. "Severus... the potion..."

Snape sat up at that, waving his arm to remove the cloak and nearly knocking Remus backwards before walking briskly across the room and searching through the ingredients. He pushed the lengthy hair from his face before carefully adding in butterfly wings and buttercups and stirring in a precise manner.

Remus situated himself comfortably on the bed, absently folding the cloak left by Snape for a real lack of something else to do and since his shirt was currently on the other side of the room. He pulled up his legs and gave a small yawn. "Fancy that... Me waking up before you...," he said with a wolfish grin.

The potions master slowly turned his head to glare venomously at the werewolf before carefully emptying the chopped jobberknoll feathers. He began stirring again, his free hand lifting to straighten out some of the knots in his hair. "Don't pretend that we're friends."

Remus felt slightly startled and sat up a little bit more straight, moving the folded cloak from his lap to the bed beside his thigh. "What do you mean?"

"I have not forgotten what you did..." Snape said calmly as he slowly stirred the potion, keeping his movements measured and exact.

"What are you talking about...?"

Snape's head turned, his eyes narrowing faintly. "You know what you did. You know what those so called friends of yours did. Just because they are gone... don't pretend we are friends." He looked back to the bubbling gray liquid.

Remus frowned slightly, it had never really been in his nature to argue. Never against something like this. "You were never too kind to me, either..."

"Can you blame me?"

The werewolf flinched and stood, walking over and across the room where his shirt and shoes were, pulling the fabric on and over his head.

"I suppose not."

"Good. Your treatment of a fellow student was unbelieveable. You had so many friends yet those who weren't you showed no care to what happened to them."

Snape closed his eyes and stood to let the potion simmer for three days as directed with a stirring every twenty one hours. He moved back over to the bed and lifted his cloak, pulling it on. He wouldn't have to stay with the potion. He felt almost certain that the Dark Lord would be expecting him soon. He felt somewhat cut off by Remus's words and turned to look at him sharply.

"I always wanted to..."

***

Harry returned to number twelve Grimmauld place, feeling vastly better than he had expected. He assumed he'd be bored out of his wits and instead discovered that he actually had fun. Weddings weren't nearly as bad as he'd imagined them to be and despite having to sit still for a good while, it was okay. Granted he didn't want to be like Hermione and go to weddings every year. He shifted to lay down on his bed, taking in a deep breath, not even bothering to change out of his dress robes yet and looked around slightly. He strongly disliked the idea of returning to his uncle's house but he knew it would only be for a couple of weeks. Then he would be of age and could do whatever he wanted.

He could live in Sirius's house and be with the family that he loved and not the one that forced to stay with. He could overlook Draco. He was actually quiet when not provoked by something. He still said his comments if Harry did something out of the ordinary. That was just how Draco was, he guessed. He could overlook Snape who never really said a word to him except a rare 'Potter' or something along those lines. Remus tended to spend quite a lot of time with Snape, too. Harry just guessed that he may be trying to learn how to make the wolfsbane potion. So that made sense, even if he still missed his seond godfather of sorts.

Professor McGonagall wasn't around much either. Harry guessed she was doing things with the school and it's future. As much as going back to Hogwarts, the place he'd come to love more than his own home for six years, was appealing, he knew deep down he shouldn't. He needed to find the horcruxes. It was the only way to kill Voldemort. Dumbledore had told him this for a reason. He had to figure them out. Find them. Destroy them. The fate of the wizarding world once again, rested gently in his hands.

The-Boy-Who-Lived-To-Bring-Back-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Harry murred in the back of his throat and pushed himself standing, walking over to get out of the dress robes. One layer, two layer. They were so much work it seemed almost stupid that people would wear such things on an almost daily basis. He lifted his hands to unbutton his shirt and slid it off his shoulders just as the door opened revealing the last person he wanted to see.

"Potter..." Draco paused, gaining a look that gave the impression he'd just completely forgot what he came to say.

"What is it, Malfoy?" Harry asked, resisting the urge to roll his eyes or even let his tone get harsh. Today was a good day. Malfoy wouldn't spoil it now.

The blonde haired boy cleared his throat. "Ahem. You have an owl..." Draco said before turning abruptly and closing the door behind him.

Harry raised a brow but didn't question the look Malfoy had been giving him. You'd think he never saw another boy half naked or something. Surely he had after Quidditch. That's what the teams did. He finished undressing and changed into a pair of loose jeans and plain gray t-shirt.

He wandered downstairs to find Malfoy curled up in a way that looked so uncomfortable that it had to be in one of the chairs. He shook his head and took the letter from the gray owl. "Thanks?"

With a feathered flap the owl was gone, perhaps to rest outside somewhere or have a nap. It didn't really matter to Harry so he sat and opened the letter.

Harry,

Sorry I wasn't there last night. You understand, I'm sure. Severus's skills with the cauldron are truely remarkable. Perhaps I should give him a nickname... Not sure what. He refuses to be known as Snivellus. I hope the wedding went perfectly. I wish I couldn't be there but with the Ministry's views towards those like myself, I'm sure you understand my wanting to stay hidden away for a while.

We are brewing a large batch. So that hopefully I may return to the werewolves. I'm sure Fenrir misses me. The horrible and disgusting thing he is. It will be nice to know if they still favor the Dark Lord or if it's just the particularly nasty ones that do. The worst stages of the potion are over, though. So I'm sure I'll return soon.

Love,

Moony

Harry smiled and leaned back, eyes trailing over the familiar writing before looking up to where Malfoy was. He wasn't sure if he was planning on asking him something or if he had expected a comment but what he saw sent any thoughts away from his head. Malfoy was asleep.

He couldn't be comfortable. If he was then that was just another thing that Harry would never understand about Malfoy. He stepped closer, leaning over forward, forgetting the head splitting pain that caused last time. Harry frowned, moving a hand to one of the arms crossing over Malfoy's stomach and giving it a small nudge. The other boy only made a soft sound that made Harry jerk back for a second.

Steeling himself over, Harry moved his hand back, using a bit more force this time. He gasped sharply when he felt a warm and pale hand move over his.

"Don't touch me, Potter..."

Harry looked up into those silver eyes that glared at him. What had he done? Just as he was about to ask, Malfoy shoved him back, granted it was lightly but still enough to make him stumble back a couple steps. He took a couple seconds to regain his composure and Malfoy took the time to stand.

"Wha-" Harry glared when Malfoy stood and turned to walk out of the room and into the hallway. He followed him and grabbed his arm, making him turn and face him. "What is your problem?"

The other boy glared, grabbing Harry's hand and removing it from his arm. "You have no right to touch me."

Harry thought he heard something in Malfoy's tone break but the eyes still shone with the hatred shared. "Why not? You're in my house." Before Harry could really think what he was doing he shoved the blonde haired boy, hearing the dull thud that proved that Malfoy had came in contact with the wall. Damn him for ruining his day, yet again.

"Do you think I want to be here, Potter? To grace my presence to you lot of halfbloods, mudbloods, and blood traitors?" Malfoy looked a little mad, almost like a trapped animal in a cage that was being poked by a scientist before roughly shoving Harry against the wall on the other side of the hall. "Don't flatter yourself. Not everyone loves the great Harry Potter!"

Harry was about to say something before he made a frustrated sound and shoved Draco backwards with all the strength he had. If he couldn't jinx Malfoy then that wouldn't stop him from still hurting him. "Then just go home, Malfoy! Back to your richy rich house and your spoiled lifestyle!"

Draco seemed to tense up against the wall and Harry thought for a second that he may have won in this and turned to walk away, taking a deep breath that hopefully would be calming when he felt hands come on his shoulders and shove him back against the wall, causing a few of the several picture frames to shift their position. "Shut up, Potter!"

He gave a grunt and lifted his eyes to glare at Malfoy, ignoring the way his glasses were sitting somewhat crooked on his nose. "What is your problem?!"

"I. Hate. You." Draco said leaning closer and Harry could feel his hands tightening on his shoulders, bordering on the brink of pain. His voice was almost breaking again. "I don't want you to touch me. I don't want you to be near me. Do you understand... I hate you!"

Harry could see Draco's chest without moving his eyes away and it looked like the blonde was upset. Damn him. He lifted his hands to the other boy's chest, preparing to shove him away. "I hat-"

Before everything registered, Harry found Draco's fist coming into contact straight with his jaw. Harry made a strangled whimper and moved one hand away from Draco's chest and up to cover the now pounding pain.

With another rough shove Malfoy turned and left before Harry could catch his expression. He swallowed as he heard a door shut sharply, the sound almost vibrating the entire house. He closed his eyes and willed his body to stop shaking as he heard a few of the painting whisper behind him. He really hated Malfoy. The mindless git. He turned and punched the wall, giving a pained whine before pulling his hand to his chest.

He shook his head to try and ignore to sharp pain throbbing through his entire arm before turning to move to the door. He had to get out of the house. He couldn't stay. If he stayed he could get himself into trouble and that was the last thing he needed. Two weeks and he'd be able hex Malfoy for making a fool of him. Just what gave him the right to do something like that?! Malfoy had no right to hate him! He hadn't done anything. He slammed the door behind him and walked away from the house.

***

Draco threw himself onto his bed, burrying his face and releasing a silent scream. Potter was a complete idiot! He was so unreasonable. He tried. He really had. Something about that boy made him go insane. Every bloody little thing. The way Harry talked to him like he was normal. The way that black hair stuck up. The way he looked at him. Those bloody horrid glasses.

He suddenly felt a wave of nausea hit and shuddered. Harry Bloody Potter thought he knew everything. So what if he was usually right? The way he was always there at the last moment that Draco wanted to see him. The fact that he wasn't there when Draco wanted him to be. The way that he was so happy. It was horrible!

He couldn't imagine ever hating someone more than Potter. Though, as much as he wanted to, he really couldn't. He couldn't stand Potter saying that he hated him. It was a strong word that shouldn't be thrown around. He wanted to hate him but he just couldn't.

Harry Potter was a half-blood. Harry Potter was the hero. Everyone loved him. He had the great friends that stood by him. He could catch the snitch. He had people who loved him. He had a home to return to. He had everything Draco wanted and nothing that he had.

Draco had parents up until recently. Draco had a big and wonderful house. Draco had house elves to watch over things. Draco had enough money to buy Hogsmeade and probably already owned part of it. Draco had people that would kill for him. Draco grew up in a home where his parents loved him on certain levels. His father prided in him. He had pure blood. He was a Malfoy.

Lifting his head slowly, Draco looked around the small room. Perhaps he shouldn't have hit Potter. It was so sickening to think of going back home and he honestly wanted to hate Harry for telling him to go back to that house. He would never return there. Deep down, he knew it... It would be too much for him to handle. Just like the task Voldemort had given him.

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A/N - Yay! Another chapter! Did you guys like it? I was gonna have something else happen in this chapter but I changed my mind. I think it will be better if it happens later. Yes... later. Maybe after a couple more chapters. *nodnod* I really loved the reviews. You people make me so happy~
Yami Bakura... <3! Your review made me smile sooo much.
Daft Fear... Me love Draco too! He's so special. Getting your head ripped off... just might happen. XD
thrnbrooke... Your reviews never fail to make me smile. :D Draco does still have some work to do. Severus and Remus are cute! There isn't enough people out there that like them.

I am soooo hungry...

Oh... go check it out. XD http://www.greatestjournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=_leviosa_ If you like slashy HP RP.