𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Chapter 7

Transformation: Chapter Seven

The first two weeks of spring term passed in a blur. As if to make up for the holidays, the professors seemed to assign twice as much homework, and when Harry wasn't working or listening to Hermione tell him that he should be, he was meeting with Remus to plan for the DA or visiting Dumbledore to practice his Occlumency. And, nearly every evening, Harry and Draco would find each other – in the Room of Requirement or any number of dusty, unused classrooms, and even once in the Quidditch changing rooms, after Slytherin practice ended and all the other players had gone.

The first time, Harry had felt guilty about telling Ron that he was meeting Lisa about Potions, even as Hermione was giving him a suspicious, warning look from over the top of her Charms text. He had second thoughts all the way to the classroom and had nearly convinced himself that it was all a terrible mistake when he saw Draco, waiting irritably on top of a desk, and promptly forgot every reason he had.

The next time had been easier. And, while Hermione attempted daily to get him alone, Harry pointedly avoided that confrontation. It was something he wasn't ready to face.

And besides, he allowed himself no time to think about it, afraid of what kind of doubts would crop up if he did. Instead, he spent his time learning the way Draco trembled when he came; the soft noises he made in the back of his throat when Harry slid his mouth over Draco's prick; the way Draco looked, flushed and eager, when Harry pressed him against the wall and slid hard against him. They perfected the desperate slide of skin on skin, thrusting against each other in the shadows, their breathing harsh and loud in the silent classrooms. They became experts at swiftly half-undressing in corners and keeping silent after curfew. Harry knew the firm clutch of Draco's fingers around his cock, and the way Draco fisted his hand in the hair at the nape of Harry's neck just before he came.

They never went farther than that, despite Harry's breathless suggestion just after they'd returned to Hogwarts; Draco had reacted with such violent surprise that Harry had flushed and kissed him to avoid having to speak.

By the second week of January, the weather had taken an unexpected turn for the worse, giving rise to the rumor that the Ravenclaw-Slytherin match would be cancelled. Nevertheless, that Saturday Harry found himself sitting in the Ravenclaw section with Lisa, Padma, and Theodore Nott, who looked sullen and not very enthusiastic about Quidditch, even if his House was playing.

"I hate winter," Padma was saying, her teeth chattering as she leaned into Theodore. Beside her, Lisa's cheeks were pink with cold. "Oh, here comes the team – look, there's Cho–"

She and Lisa waved. Harry scowled.

"Where's Hermione?" Lisa asked, as Draco coldly shook the Ravenclaw captain's hand on the pitch and both teams turned to mount their brooms. "Isn't she coming?"

"Doing Runes, I think," Harry shrugged. "She isn't much of a Quidditch fan."

"No, but Ron Weasley is," Lisa said slyly, and Padma giggled. "Nor do I remember Ron being in our Runes class, now that I think about it . . ."

Harry had to shout to be heard over Ackerley, who was exclaiming excitedly over Ravenclaw possession of the Quaffle. "He decided to keep Hermione company," he yelled, thinking of how Ron had reddened that morning and mumbled that perhaps it was too cold for attending the match. Harry had never known Ron to miss a Quidditch match in his life.

Padma smirked. "What a surprise. I'm sure Anthony will be thrilled to hear that."

"How is he?" Harry asked, then winced as Ackerley shouted just above them, "RAVENCLAW SCORE!" He cheered with the rest of the crowd, then added, "You aren't mad at Hermione, are you? She liked him a lot–"