Yet Another Protector: II

By tir-synni

 

A/N: I'm very happy with all the reviews the original story received.  Please, review this as well.  I want to know if I should continue this.  I hope everyone likes it.

 

Chapter I: Secrets to be Kept

 

      "You came."

      "Of course I did.  You're usually the late one."

      "Oh, don't start.  I get enough of that from--"

      "Uh-huh.  No talk of the outside world in here, remember?"

      A low laugh.  "Yes, I remember."

      A small pause.  "Do you really think this could work?  Can we really hope?"

      "Of course.  There's always hope.  We'll make it work, I promise you."

      "Heh.  Always the optimist."

      "I try."

      A soft laugh, quickly muffled.  An aristocratic hand arose, burying itself in pale hair.  A gold and emerald ring glinted from the light tresses, casting a soft glow in the dark room.  Neither occupant noticed, too deeply immersed in their kiss.

      -Scene from Yet Another Protector

~~~~~

      "Did you see the new DADA teacher?  She was hot!"

      "Um, Ron?  We were in the class with you."

      "What do you mean, she was hot?  Anyway, you shouldn't be looking at the teachers like that!"

      "Oh, like there's another teacher in the school I can look at like that.  They're all ugly!"

      "Ronald Weasley!  Don't--"

      The bickering was silenced by Harry Potter's soft laugh.  Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley both quieted and looked to their right, where Harry was walking beside them.  In unison, they both blushed.

      "Well, at least we know you're in high spirits, mate," Ron commented.

      Hermione nodded, just happy for the diversion.  Arguing in the middle of the hallway was not an action befitting the Head Girl.  True, DADA was their last class for the day, but even with classes over, she shouldn't act so childish.  She darted a quick look over at Ron.  Of course, Ron was never going to grow up.

      She glanced curiously to her right, where Harry was still smiling at them.  She almost commented on his good humor after what the Dursleys had done to him, but she remained quiet.  And for Ron's sake, he had better keep his mouth shut, too.  Hermione could still remember the letter she had received, explaining Harry's illness.  She had been worried, thinking that this was just another weight on Harry's overburdened shoulders.  But Ron had reassured her, saying that Harry was cheerful.  Perhaps it has something to do with a certain someone he's not telling us about, Hermione mused slyly, glancing at Harry's left hand.  There it was, like a shining beacon: a lovely gold and emerald ring.  It looked beautiful on his aristocratic hand.  From the timing, Hermione guessed it had been a gift for his birthday, but who--

      The hand she had been looking at jerked, and Hermione's gaze flew up in alarm.  Draco Malfoy had slammed his shoulder into Harry, so hard it had knocked her friend off balance.  Quickly, she grabbed his other shoulder to steady him.

      "You bloody git!" Ron snarled.  Instantly, he was on Harry's other side.  His blue eyes glared into Malfoy's cool grey ones.  "I should punch your face in!"

      "Go ahead and try," Malfoy replied haughtily.  For the first time, Hermione noticed Crabbe and Goyle at his side.  "Too bad you can't transfigure talk into money.  Maybe you should find a spell to do that.  Your family needs all the help it can get."

      Ron roared, and Hermione glanced nervously at Harry.  If he started up, she would have a terrible time separating them.  By incidents over the past several years, she had learned that while Harry was not a powerful fighter like Ron, he was a vicious one in a physical battle.  And if wands were pulled out....

      But Harry had yet to move.  A strangely hesitant light glowed in his eyes, replacing the shine of a minute ago.  She watched as his gaze darted between Malfoy and Ron.  Abruptly, he straightened.

      "Come on, Ron," he interrupted icily.  He shot a glare at Malfoy and his cronies.  "We have better things to do than waste our time with this trash."

      Something flickered in Malfoy's eyes, then Harry was leading her and Ron past them.  Harry's attention was diverted on calming Ron down, so Hermione sneaked a quick peek over her shoulder at Malfoy.  At that moment, she caught Malfoy looking back at them.  No heat burned in his eyes.  Only...

      ...Longing?

      Confused, Hermione turned back around.  Harry and Ron was already walking swiftly to the Gryffindor common room.  She hurried her steps.  In her mind, she could still see the emotion in Malfoy's eyes.

~~~~~

      "That...that...that arrogant ferret!" Ron roared, pacing swiftly back and forth between Harry's and Hermione's chairs.  "He just goes and smacks you like he's king of the bloody hallway!  Couldn't move to the side, nonono, couldn't do that!  And then he acts like he didn't do anything.  That's all he does.  That pompous git!  You would think that with all his money, he could afford manners!--"

      I think I was the one who said that, Hermione mused.  She watched in concealed amusement as Ron turned before touching her leg and darted to where Harry was sitting across from her.  The light from the fireplace silhouetted Ron dramatically, and Hermione thought he looked pretty good like that.  Apparently, he looked scary to everyone else, judging by how far away everyone stood.  No one else even approached this area of the room.

      She glanced at Harry as Ron heatedly continued his tirade.  Not once as Ron carried on had Harry joined in.  Last year, Harry would have happily agreed, and they would have traded creative insults about Malfoy for the rest of the night.

      Not once this year had Harry spoke up.

      Hermione frowned.  Her mind drifted back to Malfoy's odd look, but she quickly shook her head.  No relation.  Perhaps it had something to do with Harry's illness from earlier.  Ron told her later that Harry had been delirious by the time Ron's family had brought him to his home.  For most of the summer, the young man had been bedridden.  Hermione had been horrified to learn later that he had mild sun poisoning on his back and was suffering from dehydration and malnutrition.  No wonder he had been so sick!  She bit her lip and examined her friend closely.  Did he look a little pale?  A little flushed around the cheeks?

      Harry noticed her perusal and flashed her a small smile.  "I'm okay, 'Mione.  Just tired.  I'm probably going to take a small nap until dinner."

      Ron paused in his tirade to look at his friend.  "Don't let that bloody git bother you," he said, and Hermione had to smile at the worry in his voice.  While Harry had seemed all right to her when they had met at the station, Ron had been more overprotective than usual.  He reminded her a lot of his mother.  For the past two years, whenever his friends were upset, he would be offering tea.  Hermione wondered if he had realized that yet.

      Smiling warmly at Ron's concerned face, Harry stood up.  "Don't worry, Ron.  It's nothing.  I'll see you guys before dinner."

      Before either could comment, Harry was walking upstairs.

~~~~

      The moment Harry knew he was out of sight of his friends, his feet sped up.  Eyes twinkling merrily, he entered the empty room.  Everyone else was either in the commons or outside.  It was still early in the year and very beautiful.  Normally, Harry would be joining them, but he had more important things to worry about.  Humming cheerfully, Harry plopped on his bed and pulled the curtains shut around him.

      Rolling on his back, Harry dug his hand into his robe.  Triumphantly, he withdrew the letter.  Despite the near fight, it had been worth it.  Swiftly, he opened it and pulled out the letter.  With one wave of his hand, a spell was erected, and he was safe to continue.

      "Dear Harry," he read aloud.  "I was watching you at breakfast today.  One of these days I swear I will bring the magic basket over to the Gryffindor table.  Perhaps then you will actually eat.  You have my most solemn vow that I will personally handfeed you every bite.  I know how much you would enjoy that."

      Harry laughed softly.  Perhaps he could eat a few more bites.  He noticed the Slytherin watching him like a hawk at breakfast...like he had done all week since school started.

      "Meet me at the usual place," Harry read on.  "Make sure--"  Harry raised an eyebrow at the clearly marked out spot.  "Make sure that Weasley and the Muggle born do not see you.  They would not understand."

      Harry couldn't help but soften.  No.  They would not.  Nothing Harry could say would help them to understand.  Even if there was a way, his lover would never agree.  If there was the slightest chance that they would be torn apart, Draco would have a fit.  Proper Slytherin and whatnot, he was still a pampered rich boy.  Even Draco could not argue with him on that fact.  And if Ron and Hermione ever found out and tried to separate them, there would be hell to pay.  Harry's smile was sad.  And they would try to separate them, no doubt.  But for now, he and Draco understood.  That was all that mattered.

      After closing his eyes for a moment, Harry continued.  "I know Gryffindors are legendary for attempting the impossible, so live up to it and actually try to take care of yourself for once.  I know you believe you are immortal, you foolish git.  But if you were, where would I be?  I know you're not that thickheaded.  The Dark Lord is still out there, and he still wants you dead, no matter what that idiot Fudge thinks.  Actually use those few braincells Gryffindors are rumored to possess and be careful.  It's very tiring watching out for you, you know.

      "Love, Draco."

      Harry chuckled lightly.  He wondered if Draco had ever noticed he never insulted Harry, only Gryffindors.  Probably.  His lover was the ever-cunning Slytherin, after all.

      Gently, he folded the letter back up and slipped it into his robe.  Then he kicked his shoes off.  Slipping under the covers, Harry closed his eyes.  "Might as well sleep.  It's going to be a long night."

 

 

Good?  Bad?  Please review and let me know!

Oh, and what is Ron's eye color?  It's either blue or brown, I know that much.

And for those who noticed little, interesting facts in the fic, those are on purpose.  :)