The Badger And The Snake; Phan/Harry Potter AU

Nine: Regret.

The professor's eyes widened, and at once with a loud CRACK, she seemed to have disappeared.

"What the hell?" said Tyler. Carrie gasped loudly, and started crying when she saw the dying unicorn. She knelt down and tried to tend to its wounds with her wand.

"I don't find this surprising at all. I knew that woman was weird -" (AVPM reference. ayy) When the three boys looked to see what she was trying to do, she stared for a bit then continued her work. "Hufflepuffs are good healers," said Carrie, more to herself than anyone else, as though encouraging herself.

Despite her efforts, Carrie could not save the unicorn. She continued sobbing. What a sad thing it truly was, to see such an innocent creature die for the sake of another selfish person's - rather, creature's life.

Dan and Phil held hands, feeling electricity shoot through their veins and to their hearts. But neither of them said a thing, just holding onto each other for support. (You couldn't see the blush creep up onto their cheeks, anyway. It was dark.)

Once Carrie had paid her respects to the fallen unicorn, the four students walked to the front of the forest silently. Until -

"So, do you two . . . Have a thing for each other?" said Tyler. Carrie nodded knowingly, as though she was going to say the same thing.

Dan and Phil immediately flushed a bright red, let go of each other's hand and stuttered. "What - no. We're just, really good friends . . ." said Phil.

Dan felt himself become disappointed for some reason. This only made him blush harder. I don't like him that way, Dan thought to himself. I'm not gay. I've had a girlfriend before. What was her name, Susan? Yeah, I got all the bitches in second grade. I can't possibly be gay for Phil. True, he is really cute, and funny, and nice, and smart, and really attractive, and a good listener, and really kind, and -

"Dan?" Said Phil. "We're just friends . . . Right?"

Dan felt his throat close up, but he nodded and agreed. "Yeah, we're best friends."

Yep, Dan thought. Because platonic best friends hold hands every time they meet. And your heart beat always speeds up when you see your best friend, right? Your hands get sweaty and you want to look your best and you blush all the time . . .

Just friends.

________

When they met Hagrid again - Dan and Phil no longer holding hands - Phil handed him his bag of Nufflers and Dan realized that he and Tyler had forgotten all about the actual task at hand - what with scaring his . . . Friend . . . And finding your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in the Forbidden Forest sucking on a unicorn. And whatnot.

The four didn't know whether to confess what they had seen to the professor. Or perhaps even the Headmistress. "Maybe we can finally get that old bat fired," whispered Dan to Phil, who chuckled and held his hand again.

There it was, that shiver that went up Dan's spine whenever Phil touched him. Why hadn't he noticed sooner? There was no ignoring the redness of his cheeks, despite the darkness. It was around midnight, maybe creeping up on 1am and Dan didn't feel remotely tired because his best friend was holding his hand.

Could it be I . . . Have a crush on him?

Crush couldn't capture the way Dan felt when he saw Phil. The way his heart raced when they hugged hello and goodbye, the way Dan loved to see Phil smile, and especially laugh. Oh, when Phil sticks his tongue out when he laughs especially hard, and his face scrunches up. He looks so adorable. And his eyes. Dan loved looking at his eyes. Sometimes when they were in an empty classroom by themselves in free periods, Phil would allow Dan to just look at his eyes. They were three different colours at once, depending on where you looked. And it was fascinating. Phil was fascinating. He was by far the kindest person Dan had ever met. And when they snuck into the kitchens at night, Phil's cereal addiction was so cute. Phil is cute, Dan thought to himself. It doesn't matter whether he's a boy or a girl. His personality and, okay, attractiveness are enough for me. Dan smiled to himself.

"Mr. Howell," said Hagrid. "You understand?"

Dan nodded, not having comprehended a single thing the half-giant had been ranting about. His mind had been elsewhere.

_______

The next day, Dan woke up late, as it was a Saturday and he could spend the whole day lounging around. He didn't do his homework until the night before it was due, anyway. No matter if this was a magic school. His procrastination followed him everywhere he went, Muggleborn or not.

When Dan finally left Slytherin tower to shuffle off towards breakfast, he bumped into Phil.

"Oh, hi, Dan!" Said Phil energetically. Dan had no idea how his friend could be in such a good mood so early in the morning - 10:36, read Dan's muggle watch he kept on his left wrist at all times - but he didn't say anything about it. He just smiled and hugged his friend. They walked to breakfast together, chatting animatedly about stupid things like Dan's opinion on trees or Phil's fear of the dark.

But once they reached the breakfast hall and sat with Carrie, the subject turned more serious.

"Hello, guys!" Carrie said at first. And then, "What do you think that was about . . . Last night?" The curly haired girl's eyes were still puffy from mourning the unicorn not nine hours ago.

Dan and Phil glanced at each other, their fingers intertwined underneath the table, then Phil said, "I think Professor Carbonaries is a vampire."

________

"Wait, what?" Carrie was obviously beyond confused, but intrigued. Like she was thinking about it. "Why would you believe such a thing?"

"Well," began Dan, "When we were studying vampires in DADA, she kept listing the traits of vampires. And she seems to have all of them."

"Yeah," Phil continued. "She is pale, very old but looks very young - I found out she was born in 1802. She looks around 20, which is the most common age for someone to turn into a vampire. She also has acute hearing, which would explain all the trouble Dan and I get into in DADA. Thanks, Pete," Phil said, laughing at his friend. Dan smiled, and Phil thought it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Why hadn't he noticed that dimple before? Anyway . . . "She is harsh around other humans. Also explains all my detentions," continued Dan. "And that thing we saw last night . . . I can't get it out of my mind. Ugh, that was disgusting."

Carrie thought about it, mulled it over in her big brain, and agreed. "That actually makes a lot of sense. You two have a good case going for you. The only thing is; what are you going to do about it? Tell the Headmistress? What if . . . Carbonaries comes after you?"

Dan and Phil froze. They hadn't thought about that.

"I suppose," said Phil. "If she comes after us . . . We'll just have to come after her as well." Phil laughed and stuck his tongue out, the action Dan loved so much. But of course, he would never tell him.

"What'll you do if she comes after you, Danny?" teased Phil. "What'll you do if she bites of a right chunk of your neck?" Even Carrie giggled. Dan tried to laugh but was too tired.

Louise came running up to the table. "Guys, Carrie told me what happened, and I told McGonagall obviously so professor Carbonaries is being fired!"

"She really is gonna come after you, Dan," said Phil, teasingly.

"I hate you," he said, mustering a smile and punching his best friend in the arm.

Hurt immediately flooded Phil's eyes. Oh no.

Dan had messed up.

Just then, the bell rang. Perfect bloody timing! Dan screamed at himself. Phil rose and left at once, without turning back to say goodbye to Carrie or Dan. Were there tears in Phil's eyes like Dan's? Pain flooded him.

Phil thinks I hate him.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no.

________

A/N: Ooo cliffhanger. Hey guys! Double update!! I'm working on chapter ten as we speak. Maybe triple update?? Who knows???? *Screaming*
Anyway I'm going to try to update AT LEAST every two days because, writing is hard m8. So forgive me if I don't update every two seconds. Thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote, comment and follow! Ily