Chapter four.
******
"Harry, are you...?"
Looking up from his Potions essay, Harry gave Neville a blank stare. "What?"
"Into blokes?" Neville asked quietly.
"What? No!" Harry exploded, looking around them nervously to see if anyone was listening. Luckily the common room was nearly empty at this hour. "Why would you ask that?"
"Well," Neville swallowed nervously. "Because of something Professor Mason said. About the Goblet pairing people up based on compatibility."
From the look on Harry's face it was obvious that he'd completely forgotten about that. Neville quickly tried to backtrack. "I'm sorry, I wasn't implying anything. I mean, I know you're not-"
"No, I'm not." Harry growled between clenched teeth, ending the discussion by going back to work on his essay.
Neville looked dejected. He hadn't meant to upset Harry but he'd been rather curious. The other boys were a little too quick to dismiss the Goblet's decision as a fluke, but he wondered.
He was about to turn his attention back to his own dreadful Potions work when he heard the painting swing open and two tittering female voices approaching. Lavender and Parvati were in good spirits. He grinned slightly, happy that he wasn't making Lavender miserable anymore.
Just then she looked up and saw him and stopped, the smile slipping from her face instantly. Parvati gave her a worried look, placing a hand on her arm.
"Lavender..." Neville began timidly.
Shaking off Parvati's hand, Lavender turned and fled the room. Parvati gave Neville a sympathetic grimace before following her friend. Neville closed his eyes and dropped his head down onto his parchment. He felt Harry's light pat on his back and wondered just which one of them had it worse off; the one stuck with another boy that he hated, or the one stuck with the girl that he secretly loved, who hated him.
***
"Cuddling."
Professor Mason walked between the rows of plush, soft pillows strewn on the floor. Her students were crowded in the back of the room, uncertain about where to sit.
"Today you will establish a higher level of intimacy with your partner. I want you to choose a spot here on the floor and get comfortable while I speak. Sit with you assigned partner and you must be touching them. Now, please."
Everyone moved forward in one rush, taking their partner's hand and pointing to favorable places on the floor. All except for Harry and Draco.
Both boys moved forward a few paces and sat down on separate pillows. Harry looked over to where Neville and Lavender were sitting to see his friend attempting to coax Lavender to lay her head on a pillow he'd placed his lap. When she stubbornly refused he leaned in close and murmured something in her ear. She relented, curling up on her side with her head resting comfortably in Neville's lap. The boy looked over at Harry and smiled before placing his hand on Lavender's shoulder.
Harry looked away, suddenly uncomfortable.
"Misters Malfoy and Potter, we are once again waiting on the two of you," said Mason. "Please do not continue to hold up my class."
Harry and Draco looked at one another, both of their expressions defiant. Neither wanted to be the one to assign themselves the 'girl' role in this exercise.
Frustrated, Professor Mason sighed and snapped, "Mr. Malfoy, place your head on Mr. Potter's shoulder."
Malfoy turned to give her a look of utter revulsion, but she merely leveled him with a dead stare and tapped her wand against her arm impatiently. Grunting something rude, Draco angled his blond head to the side and grudgingly placed it against Harry's shoulder with as little contact between them as possible.
"Today I want to talk about the actual magical part of this class," the Professor began. "The theory of Sex Magic was brought about by Lerner Cunningham, affectionately nicknamed Lerner the Lecherous, in the mid 1930's. He observed the increased amount of wandless magic that appeared to happen when he and his wife were intimate, such as glasses shattering, furniture rattling, or candle flames extinguishing. Based on this he theorized that when a magical person is involved in sexual activity they are not in complete control of their magic. When that person's partner is also a witch or wizard the combined magical energy between them is quite powerful, but unfocused. He thought that if their magic could be brought under control, using their increasing pleasure as sort of a catalyst for the strength of the magic to grow as they reach climax, great things could be accomplished."
Harry felt Malfoy squirming next to him, rolling his shoulders and adjusting his body to lessen the strain on his neck. It looked quite uncomfortable but he was disinclined to do anything about it.
"He was laughed at, of course. After all, the times at which a wizard would need such powerful magic would be quite inopportune for engaging in sexual acts. But Lerner persisted, and indeed he found ways to channel the energy into objects and potions so that they were twice or even threefold as potent than they would normally be. Love charms became irresistible. Healing Potions worked instantly."
When Malfoy's movements became distracting, Harry sighed and turned so that he could get his arms around the other boy's torso. Malfoy startled violently as Harry pulled him around so that his back was pressed against his front. Harry leaned down so that his mouth was right next to his ear and whispered, "Look, I don't like this, either, but we have to do it and we might as well be comfortable."
After a moment Malfoy's stiff, tense shoulders relaxed against him. Harry held his breath as Malfoy settled his head into the crook of his neck and shoulder. His arms were still wrapped around the other boy and it made him feel strange but he refused to move them, it would be too much like admitting that he was unnerved.
He felt Malfoy's heartbeat and the other boy's heat seeped through his robes disconcertingly. He inhaled and noticed that Malfoy smelled pleasantly clean, like soap and fresh air. Harry was surprised. He would have thought that Malfoy would be doused in some atrocious and expensive cologne. He abruptly decided to stop thinking about Malfoy's scent.
"Lerner brought his teachings to Hogwarts nearly a decade after their development," Professor Mason continued. "His understudy, Derrick Spall, took over the class from him in the 1970's when I was a pupil. After I graduated, I studied under him and eventually took his position as professor six years ago. Sex Magic isn't just some perverse, hedonistic practice. It is a legitimate and highly useful branch of magic. Its use is usually limited to parents brewing more effective cold potions for their children, or making for themselves those products that would be expensive if bought in Diagon Alley. But very rarely two people are found who can generate enough magic between them to do amazing things."
Harry squirmed. He was not used to being this close to another person. He could feel every breath Malfoy took. He shifted restlessly, uncrossing his legs and stretching them out on either side of Malfoy's sides. This proved to be a rather unfortunate decision as it put Harry into even closer contact with him, particularly certain parts of Harry's anatomy that he'd rather not have Malfoy pressing into.
Malfoy gave no indication of seeming uncomfortable, and actually appeared to have forgotten just who he was laying on in the midst of Mason's lecture. Harry glanced at the side of his face and found him staring attentively at the Professor. He appeared blissfully unaware of Harry's discomfort and Harry grit his teeth and looked away.
"That will be all for today. I'll see you next week," Mason said.
Harry gratefully shoved Malfoy away and jumped to his feet. The Slytherin gave him a vaguely confused and insulted look before schooling his expression into one of haughty distaste and rising to his feet. Harry considered the thought that maybe Malfoy hadn't wanted to get as far away from him as possible the moment they were allowed and it sent an odd guilty feeling through him.
"Mr. Potter? Mr. Malfoy? I'd like to have a word, if I could?" Professor Mason called out to them.
The two boys moved over to her, standing on opposite sides and shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. Harry noticed that Malfoy was staring at the floor.
"As I'm sure you're well aware," Mason went on. "Your own participation in this class will differ somewhat from the other students. I've prepared for you a small handbook with all the information you'll need to know. It is required reading, do you understand? I will not have you hurting one another because you're too proud to learn how to do things properly."
"Yes, ma'am," the two of them muttered.
"Good. Here you are," she handed each of them a small, plain leather-bound book. "You are dismissed, Mr. Malfoy. I want to have an additional word with Mr. Potter."
Harry watched as Malfoy nodded and left the room. The blond's shoulders weren't as straight as they usually were and his head was slightly bowed. Harry felt something indescribable tug at him at the display of obvious humiliation.
"Mr. Potter," Professor Mason said quietly, drawing his attention back to her. "I want to speak with you bluntly, if that's all right?"
Harry nodded, feeling a prickle of unease at the seriousness of her tone.
"I want you to promise me that you will read that book," she pointed to the volume he was currently transferring from hand to hand. "Without the information it holds you most certainly will end up hurting either Mr. Malfoy, yourself, or both of you."
Harry stared at her blankly for a moment. "I don't understand. Why aren't you telling this to Malfoy too?"
Mason sighed. "Because, Mr. Potter, you are going to have to be the one to take control of this situation."
"I am?" Harry asked, surprised but relieved. Although he had a feeling that Malfoy wouldn't be agreeable to this development.
"Yes, you are," Mason told him. "I've been speaking with Headmistress McGonagall about your situation, and I was informed of the long-standing enmity between the two of you. I also spoke to Professor Snape about Mr. Malfoy's personal history. What I've learned worries me. It is likely that Mr. Malfoy will attempt to take control of this relationship with the goal in mind to humiliate you."
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I'd say it's almost certain that he will."
"You cannot let that happen," Mason said seriously. "From what I've been told, he has never had any reason to practice any form of restraint in his entire life. He does not have the self-control necessary to be considerate and empathetic with a lover. He could end up seriously injuring you. You, however, I think I can trust not to lash out at your partner due to past grievances. I don't believe that you will harm Mr. Malfoy, intentionally or otherwise. Am I right? Can I trust you?"
Harry swallowed and nodded. It was quite a bit to take in all at once.
"Yes," he said, meaning it. "I'll read it. I promise."
"Good. Thank you, Harry," Mason said, smiling. "I'll see you at dinner."
When she left, Harry cracked the book open and peeked inside. The contents were fairly straightforward and he began to understand just how important Mason's talk with him had been as he read through it.
Closing the book, Harry picked up his things and made his way down to dinner with a new perspective on things.
******
Next chapter.
"Harry, are you...?"
Looking up from his Potions essay, Harry gave Neville a blank stare. "What?"
"Into blokes?" Neville asked quietly.
"What? No!" Harry exploded, looking around them nervously to see if anyone was listening. Luckily the common room was nearly empty at this hour. "Why would you ask that?"
"Well," Neville swallowed nervously. "Because of something Professor Mason said. About the Goblet pairing people up based on compatibility."
From the look on Harry's face it was obvious that he'd completely forgotten about that. Neville quickly tried to backtrack. "I'm sorry, I wasn't implying anything. I mean, I know you're not-"
"No, I'm not." Harry growled between clenched teeth, ending the discussion by going back to work on his essay.
Neville looked dejected. He hadn't meant to upset Harry but he'd been rather curious. The other boys were a little too quick to dismiss the Goblet's decision as a fluke, but he wondered.
He was about to turn his attention back to his own dreadful Potions work when he heard the painting swing open and two tittering female voices approaching. Lavender and Parvati were in good spirits. He grinned slightly, happy that he wasn't making Lavender miserable anymore.
Just then she looked up and saw him and stopped, the smile slipping from her face instantly. Parvati gave her a worried look, placing a hand on her arm.
"Lavender..." Neville began timidly.
Shaking off Parvati's hand, Lavender turned and fled the room. Parvati gave Neville a sympathetic grimace before following her friend. Neville closed his eyes and dropped his head down onto his parchment. He felt Harry's light pat on his back and wondered just which one of them had it worse off; the one stuck with another boy that he hated, or the one stuck with the girl that he secretly loved, who hated him.
***
"Cuddling."
Professor Mason walked between the rows of plush, soft pillows strewn on the floor. Her students were crowded in the back of the room, uncertain about where to sit.
"Today you will establish a higher level of intimacy with your partner. I want you to choose a spot here on the floor and get comfortable while I speak. Sit with you assigned partner and you must be touching them. Now, please."
Everyone moved forward in one rush, taking their partner's hand and pointing to favorable places on the floor. All except for Harry and Draco.
Both boys moved forward a few paces and sat down on separate pillows. Harry looked over to where Neville and Lavender were sitting to see his friend attempting to coax Lavender to lay her head on a pillow he'd placed his lap. When she stubbornly refused he leaned in close and murmured something in her ear. She relented, curling up on her side with her head resting comfortably in Neville's lap. The boy looked over at Harry and smiled before placing his hand on Lavender's shoulder.
Harry looked away, suddenly uncomfortable.
"Misters Malfoy and Potter, we are once again waiting on the two of you," said Mason. "Please do not continue to hold up my class."
Harry and Draco looked at one another, both of their expressions defiant. Neither wanted to be the one to assign themselves the 'girl' role in this exercise.
Frustrated, Professor Mason sighed and snapped, "Mr. Malfoy, place your head on Mr. Potter's shoulder."
Malfoy turned to give her a look of utter revulsion, but she merely leveled him with a dead stare and tapped her wand against her arm impatiently. Grunting something rude, Draco angled his blond head to the side and grudgingly placed it against Harry's shoulder with as little contact between them as possible.
"Today I want to talk about the actual magical part of this class," the Professor began. "The theory of Sex Magic was brought about by Lerner Cunningham, affectionately nicknamed Lerner the Lecherous, in the mid 1930's. He observed the increased amount of wandless magic that appeared to happen when he and his wife were intimate, such as glasses shattering, furniture rattling, or candle flames extinguishing. Based on this he theorized that when a magical person is involved in sexual activity they are not in complete control of their magic. When that person's partner is also a witch or wizard the combined magical energy between them is quite powerful, but unfocused. He thought that if their magic could be brought under control, using their increasing pleasure as sort of a catalyst for the strength of the magic to grow as they reach climax, great things could be accomplished."
Harry felt Malfoy squirming next to him, rolling his shoulders and adjusting his body to lessen the strain on his neck. It looked quite uncomfortable but he was disinclined to do anything about it.
"He was laughed at, of course. After all, the times at which a wizard would need such powerful magic would be quite inopportune for engaging in sexual acts. But Lerner persisted, and indeed he found ways to channel the energy into objects and potions so that they were twice or even threefold as potent than they would normally be. Love charms became irresistible. Healing Potions worked instantly."
When Malfoy's movements became distracting, Harry sighed and turned so that he could get his arms around the other boy's torso. Malfoy startled violently as Harry pulled him around so that his back was pressed against his front. Harry leaned down so that his mouth was right next to his ear and whispered, "Look, I don't like this, either, but we have to do it and we might as well be comfortable."
After a moment Malfoy's stiff, tense shoulders relaxed against him. Harry held his breath as Malfoy settled his head into the crook of his neck and shoulder. His arms were still wrapped around the other boy and it made him feel strange but he refused to move them, it would be too much like admitting that he was unnerved.
He felt Malfoy's heartbeat and the other boy's heat seeped through his robes disconcertingly. He inhaled and noticed that Malfoy smelled pleasantly clean, like soap and fresh air. Harry was surprised. He would have thought that Malfoy would be doused in some atrocious and expensive cologne. He abruptly decided to stop thinking about Malfoy's scent.
"Lerner brought his teachings to Hogwarts nearly a decade after their development," Professor Mason continued. "His understudy, Derrick Spall, took over the class from him in the 1970's when I was a pupil. After I graduated, I studied under him and eventually took his position as professor six years ago. Sex Magic isn't just some perverse, hedonistic practice. It is a legitimate and highly useful branch of magic. Its use is usually limited to parents brewing more effective cold potions for their children, or making for themselves those products that would be expensive if bought in Diagon Alley. But very rarely two people are found who can generate enough magic between them to do amazing things."
Harry squirmed. He was not used to being this close to another person. He could feel every breath Malfoy took. He shifted restlessly, uncrossing his legs and stretching them out on either side of Malfoy's sides. This proved to be a rather unfortunate decision as it put Harry into even closer contact with him, particularly certain parts of Harry's anatomy that he'd rather not have Malfoy pressing into.
Malfoy gave no indication of seeming uncomfortable, and actually appeared to have forgotten just who he was laying on in the midst of Mason's lecture. Harry glanced at the side of his face and found him staring attentively at the Professor. He appeared blissfully unaware of Harry's discomfort and Harry grit his teeth and looked away.
"That will be all for today. I'll see you next week," Mason said.
Harry gratefully shoved Malfoy away and jumped to his feet. The Slytherin gave him a vaguely confused and insulted look before schooling his expression into one of haughty distaste and rising to his feet. Harry considered the thought that maybe Malfoy hadn't wanted to get as far away from him as possible the moment they were allowed and it sent an odd guilty feeling through him.
"Mr. Potter? Mr. Malfoy? I'd like to have a word, if I could?" Professor Mason called out to them.
The two boys moved over to her, standing on opposite sides and shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. Harry noticed that Malfoy was staring at the floor.
"As I'm sure you're well aware," Mason went on. "Your own participation in this class will differ somewhat from the other students. I've prepared for you a small handbook with all the information you'll need to know. It is required reading, do you understand? I will not have you hurting one another because you're too proud to learn how to do things properly."
"Yes, ma'am," the two of them muttered.
"Good. Here you are," she handed each of them a small, plain leather-bound book. "You are dismissed, Mr. Malfoy. I want to have an additional word with Mr. Potter."
Harry watched as Malfoy nodded and left the room. The blond's shoulders weren't as straight as they usually were and his head was slightly bowed. Harry felt something indescribable tug at him at the display of obvious humiliation.
"Mr. Potter," Professor Mason said quietly, drawing his attention back to her. "I want to speak with you bluntly, if that's all right?"
Harry nodded, feeling a prickle of unease at the seriousness of her tone.
"I want you to promise me that you will read that book," she pointed to the volume he was currently transferring from hand to hand. "Without the information it holds you most certainly will end up hurting either Mr. Malfoy, yourself, or both of you."
Harry stared at her blankly for a moment. "I don't understand. Why aren't you telling this to Malfoy too?"
Mason sighed. "Because, Mr. Potter, you are going to have to be the one to take control of this situation."
"I am?" Harry asked, surprised but relieved. Although he had a feeling that Malfoy wouldn't be agreeable to this development.
"Yes, you are," Mason told him. "I've been speaking with Headmistress McGonagall about your situation, and I was informed of the long-standing enmity between the two of you. I also spoke to Professor Snape about Mr. Malfoy's personal history. What I've learned worries me. It is likely that Mr. Malfoy will attempt to take control of this relationship with the goal in mind to humiliate you."
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I'd say it's almost certain that he will."
"You cannot let that happen," Mason said seriously. "From what I've been told, he has never had any reason to practice any form of restraint in his entire life. He does not have the self-control necessary to be considerate and empathetic with a lover. He could end up seriously injuring you. You, however, I think I can trust not to lash out at your partner due to past grievances. I don't believe that you will harm Mr. Malfoy, intentionally or otherwise. Am I right? Can I trust you?"
Harry swallowed and nodded. It was quite a bit to take in all at once.
"Yes," he said, meaning it. "I'll read it. I promise."
"Good. Thank you, Harry," Mason said, smiling. "I'll see you at dinner."
When she left, Harry cracked the book open and peeked inside. The contents were fairly straightforward and he began to understand just how important Mason's talk with him had been as he read through it.
Closing the book, Harry picked up his things and made his way down to dinner with a new perspective on things.
******
Next chapter.