Expelliarmus

Chapter 4

The face from his nightmares leaned in, and whispered "Don't worry, pretty boy. I won't hurt you. Yet." He punched his open palm, and slid his finger across his throat. Dan turned to Phil, and put his hand on his shoulder. "Don't look behind, but the bullies from my old school are here." Phil gasped and instinctively grabbed Dan's hand. Dan looked down, then back up. "I've got you. If they come after you I'll protect you. Ich habe dich." Dan intertwined his fingers with Phil's, yet he was hiding it. Phil couldn't blame Dan. From what Dan had told him, the people bullying him called him a fag, beat him up for it. The crimson red robes draped round his shoulder, looking like a dress. A reminder that Dan was too skinny. Dan caressed Phil's hand with his fingers, and looked into his eyes. Phil noticed his cheeks were flaming red, and his eyes were gleaming. After Dumbledore had made his speech, he waved his hand, making stacks upon stacks of roast dinners, puddings. From Yorkshire puddings to profiteroles. Everything. Everyone was digging in, while Dan merely toyed with his food. "Come on Dan. Please eat. Don't do this to yourself." Dan shook his head lightly. "You're amazing." Phil looked into his sad, empty eyes, willing his problems would just disappear.

Then, finally, when dinner was over, they had a chance to be away from the penetrating stares, the whisper shouts. Phil couldn't believe he was so open with Dan - but...Dan hadn't opposed him holding his hand. Maybe he did..like him. Phil quickly dismissed the thought, getting changed into Labrador-covered-pyjamas. Dan grinned at Phil when he saw him. "Why am I not surprised, Phil?" Phil laughed. Of course Dan wore all black. Phil looked inside Dan's trunk. Yes. Yes it was the only colour he had brought for a year at Hogwarts. And Phil was the opposite, of course. If it wasn't the full rainbow that Phil had evidently packed, it was the animals. And if it wasn't the animals, it was the Plaid Shirts. Oh-my...that's a lot of Plaid for one guy.

They headed downstairs, and flopped themselves down, lifelessly on the sofa. Since it was a Friday, they had no lessons for 2 days-plenty of time to recuperate. "What's our first lesson, Philly?" Phil pulled out his timetable, scanning it. "Well...it's not potions with Snape." Dan just looked at him as if to say 'and?' Phil continued. "Charms! Flitwick! Followed by Transfiguration with Cat Lady. Dan pumped his fist up and down. He'd always wanted to learn things like this. "Oh, Dan. Will, Jay and Anthony. They're in Slytherin." Dan's smile faded. He knew what Phil was about to say. "Were with the Slytherins lesson 3." Phil scooted up closer to Dan on the sofa. "Remember. Ich habe dich." Dan smiled, Phil resting his hand on his.

Fo all the hating of school he did in Primary School, it was worth nothing now. Charms and Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws, sat next to Phil. Phil seemed to be rather intelligent for spells. He actually gave dan a few pointers for the spell "Wingardium Leviosa" whereby he grabbed his wrist, performing the motion for him until he understood and performed it. After Transfiguration was over, Phil motioned for him to join him for break. "You go ahead Phil. Wait in the library." Phil waved to Dan.

After Phil had left the room, McGonagall turned to him. She wore an emerald green dress, which looked older than her. She also wore a rather large hat which looked as if it were slowly withering away. "Well..." Dan began. "You're the head of house, right?" She nodded curtly. "That I am, Mr Howell. How can I help you?" Dan thought about his answer, and responded "Well, a few people who used to..bully me, to put it lightly, came here to Hogwarts. What can you do, Miss?" McGonagall was shocked at the story Dan was telling. She looked around to see no one was watching, and ran quickly into her office, fumbling about in her draws. When she finally returned she brandished an empty piece of parchment, folded and tattered. "Here." She handed Dan the parchment. He was confused. "What's this Miss?" She sighed, and told him its story. "It is the Marauders Map. It belonged to a few students until it was confiscated. Now I feel like you need it more than me." Dan was still confused. "What do I do with it?" She withdrew her wand, and incanted "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." As she tapped the page, ink began to spread the middle to the edge, covered in footprints and name tags. "This...shows every student's location. You can use it to stay away from the undesirables. I'm not technically allowed to give you it, however, so be careful with how you use it." Dan nodded thankfully, giving McGonagall a small wave as he left the room.

He made his way to the library to see Phil, eager to talk to him, and tell him McGonagall's will. Phil was sat, engrossed in a book in the Charms section, a grin plastered onto his face. "Phil!" Dan whispered. Phil looked up, and Dan grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the corner. Once Dan was sure he was alone, he pulled out that map and said "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." As the ink appeared, Phil took a step back. "What...what is it?" Dan beamed at him. "This is what we'll stop Will from winning against me with." Phil stepped forwards, closer than before, and took Dan's hand and clasped it in his own, and leant in towards his face. Their eyes met, and they insanely knew what was going on. They both wanted it, and they both got what they wanted. As Phil leaned in, so did Dan's. Before they knew it, Dan's soft lips had collided with Phil's and they were kissing. He was kissing the boy who swore to protect him. It felt so right. Dan smiled, with the gesture being copied.