The mirror cracked from side to side 4
Disclaimer: I own little Harry and Draco figurines (thanks to my lovely Svacha) and some nice piccy's of my 2 fav boys. No rights on these books and characters alas...
This chapter is dedicated to Chakahlah for the wonderful babbles we had.
Chapter 4: yellow rose
Harry strode among the different passageways in the dungeons. He still felt slightly dizzy from his experience in the Slytherin common room. The events were disturbing enough but is was the behaviour of the inhabitants that had turned his world upside down.
'I guess being nice towards the Snakes is finally paying off. But it's Malfoy and Snape that have me wondering... '
Over the year, and the one prior, Harry had started to change his behaviour whenever he was around the Slytherins. There was something in the way they interacted with each other and the world around them that made him question their motives, but in a good way. Sure, Malfoy repeated every word that his father dictated, but that was mostly when he was around other people. Whenever they had a private tussle , he would find insults far more creative. And if Harry was not mistaking, the blonde had mellowed a little towards him.
' Too bad that this doesn't extend towards Ron and Hermione, but can you blame the Slytherins? Ron sees them all as miniature Death- Eaters and won't give them a chance. Not to mention Hermione! She's becoming more persistent than ever in her campaigns. She wants to trace down all Death-Eater encouragers and develop a Dark Mark detection spell!! I feel more connected with the Snakes nowadays than with the golden Lions.'
Harry was so caught up in his musings that he had reached the top of the staircase that led to the dungeons. He quickly turned to the left to enter the Great Hall. Behind him, he could hear the rest of the Slytherins, Malfoys and cronies included, coming up.
When he entered the Great Hall, he could feel the eyes of the entire table of Slytherin on him. But it didn't make him feel self- conscious. On the contrary. The looks he received weren't ones of loathing or the calculated gaze of a predator looking for a flaw. There was real concern on their faces, if you cared to look for it. It wouldn't do to forget that they have a role to play.
Striding through the pathway, he quickly seated himself facing the doors. He had just sat himself down when he was confronted with the inquisitor of Hogwarts.
Hermione Granger shot him a stern glare while Ron, who was sitting next to her, was silently seething. His face was already gaining the legendary reddish-purple colour.
" Hey guys. You've been waiting for me?" Harry casually prodded while loading his plate. Several pieces of fruit and a healthy portion of yoghurt were placed before him while he waited for their reply.
" Waiting for you! We bloody hell stayed in the Common Room for 30 minutes! All the nice food has been taken now, because we were down here too late!!!" Ron yelled, always the one to explode in the face of danger. That danger being that he would not be able to take second and third share from the extremely greasy food that lay splattered across the table.
" Ronald, that's not our concern now. We have more important matters to ask Harry." Hermione fixed Harry with that tell-tale look of hers. The one that said she would be happy to rip you in pieces so she would be able to find out everything about you. It must be the same look that mousses received from the haunting owl, or that an unknown potion got when you presented it to Snape.
" Harry"
' Merciful Morgana, here we go! I can already envision the Spellotape across her mouth.'
" While we were waiting for you to return from Dumbledore, Ronald decided to take a look at the Marauders map. So we went up to the dormitory and searched for it. We couldn't find it in your bedside drawer so I went through your trunk and..."
An icy drawl interrupted her. " You went through my trunk? You decided your incurable nosiness was enough reason for you to shift through all my personal belongings? You know I have the map with me these days to..."
" Yeah mate, so no slimy snakes can't try to start a fight eh? " Ron decided to contribute to the conversation.
" Ron" Harry said with barely concealed venom dripping from his words. " I so appreciate your point of view, I almost regret that I'll have to dismiss it. " This brought a bunch of snickers from the Slytherin table. Acting upon some unknown, insane motive Dumbledore had found it prudent to seat the two Houses that stood at different sides of the figural chasm next to each other.
' Hmm, I guess Potter's finally growing a backbone?' Draco thought.
" Pss, Dray!" Blaise tried to gain his interest. " Is it just me or did Potter acted like a carbon copy of you, sarcasm and sneer all into one?"
" Why yes, Blaise. I do believe we raised him well. Our little Boy, he's all growing up!!"
That mention made Harry blush slightly and he gave Draco a half-hearted glare. After which he stuck his tongue out towards the blonde. Luckily for him all of his Housemates had turned towards the Slytherins when they heard them snicker, so no one saw this gesture.
Hermione returned her attention towards the confrontation that was forming between her boyfriend and the small youth on the other side of the table.
" You see 'Mione! I told you he was going Dark, he's even acting like a bloody snake already!"
Harry rolled his eyes. Was there ever going to be a year when he would not be accused of insanity or Dark intentions?
" What the hell are you taking about Ron! I'm not going Dark! I just think it's time that you step out of your perfect little world of denial and see that the world is not black and white!"
" But Harry, you consort with the enemy! You're way too friendly with those bastards, they're just waiting for you to drop your guard and then they'll take you to V-...Vol.., You-Know-Who!! Everybody knows that's the truth!" Ron all but shouted.
Up on the Staff table, Severus and the elder Malfoys were looking on with concentration. If it hadn't been for the fact that Severus wanted to see what the Golden Boy would do, he would have swept down upon Weasley for insulting his charges. For now he wondered how the Brat would manage to get out of this. He stood at a cross-road and would have to take a stance.
" Merlin Ron, if you want to insult someone you have to do it properly. You can't even bring yourself to say Voldemort. As for it being the truth..." He stood up from the bench on which he had been seated. " I decide to believe those who seek the truth and to doubt those who are certain they've found it."
" We're getting out of point here Harry!" Hermione yelled at him. " We found a list of Dark Artefacts and books in your trunk. Try to explain that!" There was a collective gasp from the other tables, save the Slytherin one. They merely lifted an eyebrow at the penetrating sound of the girl's shrieks.
Harry took his book bag and started digging through it. Apparently he couldn't find what he wanted because he pinned the bushy- haired Prefect in front of him. The sound that came from his lips was a near hiss when he addressed her. Low and barely crossing the air between the pair but still heard by the entire hall.
" Give it back." He held his hand out and waited until the trembling girl dropped a roll of parchment in his hand. He waved his wand while unrolling it. Seething with righteous anger he presented the content.
" If you want to know Hermione, this was a sketch I've been working on! What happened with all those spells you know? You were keen enough to use them in 3th year when I received my Firebolt! But you were eager enough to think the worst of me!"
Ron and Hermione blinked stupidly. Ron was the first to open his mouth.
" Oh man, I'm sorry mate! But you have to confess that you're way too buddy- buddy with that!"
At this he jerked his head behind him, indicating the leaving Slytherins. They had decided to look for shelter when they saw the anger in the eyes of Potter and they could practically feel the magic crackle around his thin body. Apparently they were the only ones, because neither part of the Golden Trio made a move to dodge the coming storm so to speak.
" I'm not even going to answer that. You stay away from me today if you know what's good for you."
That being said he marched towards the still open doors, following the cluster of Slytherins. Ron, Hermione and Ginny had jumped up and were now advancing on him while he made his way towards Malfoy.
Draco saw Harry walk towards him in a unwavering manner and decided to wait and see what the younger boy had to say. His father ,mother and Severus had just joined the assembly when Potter reached them. But before he could state his purpose there was a flurry of red and a shrill yelp.
" Oh Harry, you're not mad at me are you? Don't listen to those awful things Ron says! Where are we going when you take me to Hogsmeade? Madame Puddifoot or one of those new eating places? How about you buy me a nice gown for the coming wedding of Bill and Fleur or..."
You could not mistake the lump that had attached itself on Harry' s right arm: Ginevra Molly Weasley.
Harry, startled by the sudden manifestation of the red-haired banshee, toppled forward only to be caught by Blaise and Theodore who helped him on his feet again. With a grateful nod in the direction of the bigger boys, he turned and faced the bouncy girl that had yet to unlatch herself from his appendage.
" What are you talking about, Ginny? I never said I would take you to Hogsmeade today, more so that I would take you on something akin a date..." Harry eyed her distrustfully. Since the start of his 6th year and the happenings at the end of his 5th, she hadn't let him out of her sight. It was a wonder that he had made it to the Slytherins, and that was only because Dumbledore ordered him. It was maddening to say the least; he found her in his chamber, on his way back from showers, in the changing rooms of the Quidditch team... He would have been able to handle her less than subtle attempts to gain his interest... The thing was that she gave him a sordid feeling. Whenever they talked, it was about his fame and the new trinkets she wanted or a fashionable dress that she couldn't find the money for: like she was asking him to buy her things.
Ron came to the rescue of his little sister.
" Come on Harry, you can't treat Ginny like that because you're mad at me!" He said with a self-satisfied grin. He was sure of his triumph on this topic; he had played the Hero-card after all. No way Harry would dismiss Gin if he thought that it would hurt her feelings. Sometimes he was just too easy.
" Ron, this has nothing to do with our disagreement. Now if you would kindly extricate your sister from my arm, I wanted to start a conversation with some sophisticated company." Harry counteracted while trying to pry the fingers away that had buried themselves in his flesh painfully.
" Sophisticated! You mean those filthy beings over there! Malfoy, what have you done with my pal? Imperius or some Confundus charm?" Ron shouted while he was grabbing for his wand.
Harry, finally able to escape the kludges of Ginny, placed himself in the ring of Slytherins directly next to Malfoy. With a discerning sneer he let his eyes rake over the shape before him.
" Ron, Ron, Ron... And here I thought that you would have learned something from Charlie. He is a dragon- tamer after all, isn't he?" Harry mocked.
" Sure he is! You know that just as well as I do. But why does that concern Malfoy and his affairs with you!"
Harry started to turn away from Ron while addressing the Malfoy patriarch.
" If it would be not too presumptuous, sir, could I join you and your cohorts for a lunch this fine afternoon? I do believe we have some topics to discuss?" When he received an affirmative nod from the tall blonde he considered it worth to address the glare from the Gryfindors.
" You do know that the first name of Malfoy is Draco, don't you Ron? And even you, with your minimal brain capability should be able to know that it means dragon. So I give you this warning on behalf of Draco: Do not meddle in the affairs of Dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup."
This being said, he descended the stairs leading to the grounds, leaving behind a stunned red head and followed by Slytherins.
A/N My next chapter! Sorry for the long wait but my cat stole my usb-stick. He likes to take it into the garden and chew on it. Yesterday he was able to reach the hard-ware so I had to retype this.
Yellow rose: infidelity, joy, gladness, friendship, jealousy, welcome back, remember me
Now, some of these meaning won't make sense. But in my head they do; which is no consolation on the sanity of these meanings, in my head a lot makes sense. Hehe XD Just ask!!!