A Lion and a Snake

Chapter 10

Harry's POV

I grabbed all the ingredients we'd need. It was weird, all of it. Being back at Hogwarts, taking NEWTS, being friends with Draco-and calling Draco Draco. It was strange. It didn't make sense. And there was that lingering feeling that something bad was going to happen...

But I didn't need to worry about that. As Hagrid had said, "What will come will come, and we'll meet it when it does."

I walked back to the table Draco and I were changing. Why did thinking Draco's name make my heart flutter?

"Got it." I handed Draco the stuff. He glanced over it and then continued working.

"Hand me the salamander scales." Draco said. I handed them to him. He quickly added them in, with two second intervals between each scale.

~time skip to ten minutes left of Potions~

Draco had asked me to cut, squeeze, break, and hand him stuff the whole time. He never even glanced at me to make sure I was doing it. Or maybe he did, but I didn't notice.

It seemed easy when Draco did it. Simple. He paid close attention to the cauldron, glanced over the instructions once before doing anything, and then he did it. It looked like one of those things that was simple, so long as you paid attention.

"Eight minutes left!" Professer Slughorn called.

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Draco's POV

The potion just needed to simmer for five minutes now.

"Now the potion simmers for five minutes." I said, glancing back at Harry. I started when I found him staring at me again. I glanced away, hoping he wouldn't notice the faint blush in my cheeks.

"Okay." Harry said, sighing at tearing his eyes away from me. He focused on the potion, which was a pale blue color, but gradually turning closer and closer to the plum color it needed to be. Two minutes in it was pale lavender, getting darker and darker.

I found myself staring at Harry the same way he had stared at me. His hair was untidy like usual but it looked soft. I glanced over his cheek and then focused on his lips. Then I tore my eyes away from his lips, because we had just started being friends, and I didn't want to ruin it by being a lovesick puppy.

Harry's bright green eyes were mesmerizing. They had the light of adventure flaming in them behind his glasses. And if you just looked for about two seconds, you wouldn't notice the haunted look in them. But I did.

"Five minutes left!" Professer Slughorn called, snapping me away from my thoughts. I turned back to the potion and watched as it got darker and darker. Two minutes later, it was a dark plum color, and I quickly turned off the fire with a flick of my wand.

"Done." I sighed, reaching for my bag for a vial.

"Here." Harry handed me a vial of his own, and I smiled slightly, filling it with potion.

"Now, bring up your potions." I waked forward and handed Professer Slughorn our potion.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy."

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Harry's POV

Our next period was a free period, so I started heading back to the Eighth Year Common Room.

"Harry, Tiana is back!" Hermione said, grabbing my arm. Tiana was my new owl. It pained me to think about her, and although she was a good owl, she wasn't Hedwig, and it was hard for me to be perfectly happy with her.

"Oh." I said, back tracking toward the owlery.

"I would come with you, but Ron wanted me for something, he wouldn't tell me what, and I have to go. Just thought you should know she was back."

"Right, course, 'Mione, that's fine." I said. "You go ahead, I'll head back up later."

"'Kay, Harry. Thanks." Hermione hurried up the staircase while I walked toward the owlery.

The owlery was empty when I got there. Tiana was sitting patiently, waiting for me. As soon as she saw me she stuck her leg out.

"Hey girl." I told the screech owl. She hooted softly and flew away once I untied the letter.

Harry,

That's fine, I'll be at Zonko's your next Hogsmead weekend anyway. Just a heads up, you'll need to bring a friend. Perhaps Neville Longbottom is free? It doesn't matter, so long as it's not Ron and/or Hermione-they already know what it is. Or Ginny. Or anyone who's been at the Burrow last summer.

Thanks for agreeing,
George.

I smiled lightly as I thought about Neville's bright red face this morning. He would not be free. I'd just have to find someone else.

"Oh, hiya Harry." Came the voice of Joshua King.

"Hey." I said, swinging around to face him.

"What's up?"

"Just got a letter-from George Weasley."

"Oh, yeah, you're friends with him, aren't you? Last year, my ex-well, not Ex at the time, but-my ex and I went to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes together, you know, while it was still open."

"Ah, Right." I said.

"Yeah, we were pretty happy. But then he cheated on me, so..." Joshua said, grimacing a little.

"He?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm gay." Joshua said.

"Oh, right. Neville's gay too, did you know?"

"Really? Longbottom? I thought he fancied Luna."

"Nah. That was just to throw us-his friends-off. He was worried we would hate him, you see, but then he accidentally let it slip, and realized we couldn't care less. We love Neville for who he is, and that can't change."

"That's so great!" Joshua said. "I had to get new friends when they found out, and-well, let's just say I wish I had friends like Neville does."

I didn't know what to say. How could someone hate someone else for that of all things?

"Well, Joshua," I said, making a quick decision. "Do you want to come with me next Hogsmead weekend? We can test out some of George's new merchandise together."

Joshua grinned. "Are you asking me out, Harry?"

I blushed. "No-Well, so you want me to be?"

Joshua nodded once.

"Okay, Fine." I said. "Yes, I'm asking you out." Joshua smiles as he tied a letter to his owl. I couldn't say I didn't find him attractive, and I had thought I was bi since last year, but we had been just a tad too busy for me to figure that. This was a perfect way to figure it out.

"Alright. See you next class!"

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1,082 words. AND I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!!!! Yay!!!! I hope you guys don't hate me for it, because it NEEDS to happen, people.

Oh, also, I would like to thank everyone who is reading this for dealing with me and my rambling at the end of chapters. Heehee.

Please keep commenting, voting, and-most importantly-READING!!!

Till next time, fellow Drarry shippers!!