The Secret Closet

The Secret Closet

Part One


It was in the middle of December that had changed the lives of two young men forever. It was late, about 11:30 or so, when a dark figure strolled quietly through Hogwarts. Harry Potter couldn’t sleep, so he donned on his invisibility cloak, and began wandering aimlessly through the corridors. Every now and then he felt the cool breeze that entered parts of the halls that had no windows. It was nights like these that Harry felt the safest; invisible, undetected, and shielded by his ‘security blanket’.

Harry’s mind was deep in thought. It was racing back and forth from Quidditch; to his best friends that chose to go home over the holidays; to finally feeling detached of any of his responsibilities. It was short-lived, however, when he heard a loud noise nearby. Recognising the sounds of glass shattering, he instinctively ran to where the noise had come from. He was only a couple of corners away when he heard the echoes of people scrambling about. He knew who they were by their voices. It was a few teachers, a caretaker and possibly the school nurse, and they were conversing all at once in high-pitch tones.

Harry stopped in his tracks so fast that his cloak slid off revealing himself. He gasped quietly and quickly bent down to scoop up the lightweight fabric. Not even having time to slip his cloak back on, he turned and ran in the opposite direction. He knew they would be searching all the surrounding hallways, and he didn't want to get caught out of bed at this late hour. He quickly glanced back when he heard the voices approaching.

Harry came to an instant halt when the voices became louder. Heart beating wild in chest, he began to silently curse as he fumbled with his tangled cloak, and then he started jumping up and down as he flicked it in the air trying to straighten it. His eyes opened wide as he saw the shadows coming into view. That was it. He was done for. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, awaiting his captivity.

Harry’s mind raced to all of the points he was going to lose for his House, then a hand suddenly clamped over his mouth and pulled him backwards. His eyes blinked furiously, but he still couldn’t see anything but darkness. Harry finally deduced he was pulled into some kind of closet that was long forgotten, judging by the dust that was now covering his head. He hoped that he wouldn’t sneeze, thus exposing himself and whoever it was that had grabbed him.

A low voice whispered in his ear, “By the hand of all mighty Salazar, Potter. If you make one noise, I’ll kill you.”

Harry knew exactly who it was. That drawl was unmistakable and it would be forever embedded in his brain.

“Am I making myself clear?” Draco Malfoy hissed, as he pushed his hand deeper into Harry’s flesh. Harry could only nod once because of the constriction from Draco’s tight grasp.

Both boys held their breath as the voices became distinct. “…I know I saw something, Minerva. I saw someone right here!”

“Severus. The hallway is 100 feet long and there are no doors down this corridor. If you did happen to see someone, they wouldn't have made it out without us seeing them,” she said in exasperation.

“Don’t even breathe, Potter,” Draco growled in his ear.

As if Harry could with Draco's hand covering part of his nose as well as his mouth. The voices outside were getting louder as their tempers started to flare. Draco knew now was a good as time as ever.

“Potter, there is a secret door behind us leading us into a different room. There is nothing on the floor for us to trip on. We need to move together so they won’t hear us. Understand?” Draco emphasised as he whispered softly in Harry’s ear.

Harry nodded again and gently pushed back into Draco, indicating he was ready. He felt Draco's other hand snake around his torso and he guided Harry carefully backwards. Harry’s foot lightly stepped on Draco's, causing him to hiss in his ear.

“Watch it, you stupid git.”

Harry mumbled what could have been ‘I’m sorry’, but was silenced with a tighter grip on his mouth. There was definitely going to be a bruise there tomorrow.

“Shut up,” Draco said angrily, causing Harry to flinch.

They stumbled together, almost losing their balance a couple of times, but Draco had managed to catch them both before they fell. He pressed something on the wall behind him and a small door opened. Nudging Harry, they both backed up into it. The secret door closed gently and Draco removed his hand. Harry took a couple of loud gulps of air. Draco recovered his mouth again.

“I said silence!” he hissed.

As Harry looked around, he could see that it wasn’t a room at all. It was more like a miniature closet; similar to the ones muggles use to store water heaters. Such a small space it was that it had left Draco pinned to the back wall, and Harry nose-to-nose with the door. There wasn’t much room on either side of them, making it nearly impossible to stand side-by-side. Their breaths hitched as they heard the sound of the outer closet door being flung open.

“I told you there was a door here!” Snape bellowed.

“Honestly, Severus. I’m right here. There's no need to shout.”

There were sounds of items falling to the floor, scuffling of feet, and rapping on each of the surrounding walls.

“Severus. There is nothing in there.”

Snape’s voice became a little muffled, indicating that he had turned around.

“Where’s Argus?” he snapped.

“He went to go get Albus. Why?”

“He knows every inch of this place! Perhaps there's a secret door here!”

“Oh really, Severus. Why don’t you just admit--”

“If you will not go and fetch him, I will!”

“There is no need to raise your voice at me, Severus Snape!”

Snape huffed, and Draco and Harry heard him storm away. They barely heard Professor McGonagall whisper, “Honestly. That man.”

It suddenly became eerily quiet and both boys strained to hear any types of noise. They heard soft footsteps in the distance and assumed it was McGonagall pacing. Both of them sighed of relief, then Harry reached up and jerked Draco's hand away.

“You stupid prat! What are you doing here?”

Draco scoffed. “I could ask you the same thing, Scarhead.”

Harry tried to turn around, but it only pushed Draco further into the wall. Draco let out an ‘Oof!’ and then briefly coughed.

“Sorry,” Harry whispered.

“No, you’re not,” he choked. “I bet you’re just loving this.”

“Loving what? I can’t do shite!”

“Keep your voice down, idiot!”

Harry snorted and tried to fold his arms out of habit.

“Shite!” Harry exclaimed as his knuckles hit the door.

Draco sneered, “Serves you right.”

Harry sighed loudly, then softly asked, “Now what do we do?”

“I’m thinking.”

“Brilliant,” Harry mumbled.

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing. Nothing. Just shut up and think!”

Draco scoffed. After a few minutes, Draco couldn’t take the silence anymore and started to whinge.

“My hands are getting numb.”

“Gods, you are such a baby, Malfoy.”

Draco blew a sharp bit of air out of his nose and it tickled Harry’s neck.

“Stop that!”

“Stop what? I didn't do anything!”

“Now my neck itches!”

“Who’s the baby now, Potter?”

Harry tried to reach behind to scratch his neck, but his hand hit the side of Draco's face instead.

“Ouch!”

Harry stifled a laugh.

“That’s not funny. You hit my eye!”

“Oh, sorry. I’d turn around to look at it, but I can’t right now.”

“Oh, very funny, Potter.”

Harry pulled his lips in his mouth and bit down so he wouldn’t laugh. He soon realised his legs were starting to get cramped. He also noticed a protruding lump pushing against him.

“Uh, Malfoy?”

“What?” he snapped.

“Nothing.”

“What?”

Harry didn't want to embarrass Draco, nor did he even want to think about what it no doubtfully was. Or why it was for that matter.

“I said WHAT?” Malfoy hissed.

Harry thought fast. “Er…Do you have something in your pocket?”

“What? Of course no-” Draco stopped.

Even without looking at Draco's face, Harry could tell the boy was blushing.

“Not a word, Potter. Don’t you even say a word.”

Now Harry was blushing. “Mm hmm.”

A few more minutes of silence.

“Malfoy? How long do you think we have to stay in here?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure there’s somebody out there waiting for us.”

“Yeah,” Harry agreed. “Malfoy?”

“What?” Draco answered, very annoyed.

“My legs are really beginning to hurt.”

“So are mine. So what?”

Harry sighed. He thought a moment before speaking again.

“Malfoy?”

"Gods, do you ever shut up, Potter?”

“Sorry,” he mumbled quietly.

Draco sighed. “What is it, Potter?”

“I just thought maybe… uh…”

“Yeeeesss?” Draco drawled.

“I thought maybe if we both leaned against the wall …”

“You mean against me, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Sorry,” Harry whispered.

Draco opened his mouth to counter an attack, but in truth, he knew Harry had a good point. His legs were cramping as well.

Draco huffed, “Fine. Come here.”

Draco stretched out his legs on either side of Harry, and slowly guided him against his chest. Harry leaned back into him, resting his head on Draco's shoulder. Draco was about to comment on it, but he was distracted by the smell of Harry’s hair. It smelled of vanilla. He turned his face into it, and took a small whiff. He gently tilted his head against Harry’s, and his arms automatically went around Harry’s waist. It was then that it dawned on him, that there was plenty of room between Harry and the door. He also realised that Harry hadn’t protested about his arms being around his waist. Nor his head against his.

Or even of his ‘protruding’ trousers.