I Don't Need a Man
I Don't Need a Man
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
style='text-transform:uppercase;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>I Don’t Need a Man
style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>________________________
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Harry chooses a university career after his years at Hogwarts. When he
signs up for a course (while doing a Master’s in Emancipation lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>—
and Queer Studies), he runs into the most unlikely person one would think of
encountering on university grounds, namely Malfoy. But why is Malfoy there?
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>________________________lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>He stamped his foot on the ground
angrily — like a little child that wasn’t getting his way. He huffed.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I can’t stand you! I want to be in
this class and you just can’t bloody well kick me out!”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>He stared at the other man, glaring
daggers in the direction of where his heart should be located. If he even owned
such an organ.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Mister Potter, I am not responsible
for who gets into my classes or not — it’s just a question of luck.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“But I’ve been looking forward to
these classes for over a year!”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>He saw the other man smirk.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“— the subject, I mean. I didn’t know they’d hire someone like — style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>you.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Well, you’d have to take up this
issue with the secretariat.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>He huffed again. “No! Don’t be such
an ass — I know you can let me attend your classes, but you just won’t!”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“We’re rather back where we started,
aren’t we?” The other man sighed and walked up to his desk.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Damn — I need this class! I won’t
get my Master’s degree if I don’t take it. Please!” He almost whined.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I was just about to ask why you are
taking this course. I thought it would be something for you.” He raised his
eyebrows suggestively.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Well,” Harry huffed,” style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>you’re the one teaching it — suppose you
got lots of experiences in the field, then?”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I only stepped in for professor
Cook, he’s on sick leave. Someone has to teach these numb students about the
horrors in the so-called ‘free’ world.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>There was a short knock on the door.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Yes?” the man behind the desk
responded, brushing some of his blonde hair out of his face.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>A girl stood in the doorway, looking
rather lost.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Sorry professor Malfoy, but — I
really wanted you to take a look at my thesis,” she asked shyly. “It’s not
getting anywhere.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Sure, give it to me and I’ll get
back to you in a few days — if that’s okay?”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>The girl nodded and handed over a
little binder. “Thanks,” she muttered and walked out.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Harry scanned the document — style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Purple Triangle: Homosexuality During
World War Two it said.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Looks interesting,” he admitted.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Draco scanned through it and nodded.
“Indeed.” He leaned back in his chair and held his hands above his head in a
casual way. “So, tell me – Harry, why are you still studying?”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I just like it, I guess.” He
shrugged. He wouldn’t want to show his enthusiasm for learning to Malfoy — style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>professor, ugh — of all people. How he
had gotten his BA’s in English literature and German and was now starting with
a Master’s in Emancipation, with Queer Studies as his beloved pet project.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Maybe you’d care to tell me where
the hell you got creditials for teaching subjects on gay rights?”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Malfoy grinned.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “Oh, you wouldn’t even believe me if I told
you, dear Potter.” He let Harry’s
surname roll on his tongue, making his voice sound too velvety for its own good.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Harry growled and hit Malfoy’s table
with his fist.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Don’t even think of physically
assaulting me Potter,” Malfoy said with a raised eyebrow. “I might not look
like a big pile of muscle, but I’ve got hidden talents that I am not afraid to
use.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I see the years haven’t changed the
way you adore yourself,” Harry muttered.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Malfoy grinned and lit himself a
cigarette.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Now, Malfoy. I know how we have
this history of rivalry and hatred. But, seriously, please let me take your course! I need it!”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Draco blew circles of smoke and
appeared to be pondering Harry’s question with zeal.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Hmm, I don’t know. I am not
convinced that your abilities and intelligence are adequate enough for this
course.” Malfoy took a drag of his cigarette.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Perhaps you should convince me,
Potter.” Draco smirked.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Harry’s mouth opened and closed in
astonishment resembling that of an oblivious weasel.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“What the hell are you implying
there, Malfoy?” Harry managed to mutter, with one of his eyebrows raised.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Malfoy grinned. “Oh, no — Potter.”
He shook his head as if teaching a little child a lesson. “Do not fear for your
prudence. I was merely suggesting you hand in two of your best and most
relevant essays or papers. After assessing them, I might be able to make a
choice.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Harry was clearly surprised. “Are
you serious, Malfoy? Is that all?”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Draco cleared his throat. “Well,
since you seem so adamant on doing something else — you could assist me with
some filing, in order to convince me to let you partake in the course.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Harry blushed. Damn, why did he have
to act so surprised? He could have just pretended that Malfoy’s idea was
something very normal.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Euhm, sure, I guess.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Great!” Malfoy smiled and leaned
back in his chair. “I’ll see you tommorrow, nine a.m. sharp.”
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>________________________lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>TBC.
Sorry for making it so short and cliffhanger-ish. I won’t do that
anymore, I promise.
I have had this idea for a long time and I only ‘published’ it now.
I hope the rest of the world likes the idea of Malfoy as a professor as
much as I do.
lang=EN-GB style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>