Third Place - Angst

When Harry awoke the next morning there was no trace of his nightly visitors. Madame Pomfrey did not comment on them and Harry actually began to wonder if he had dreamed it all. Until he found the ribbon that Snape had used as a bookmark. It was twirled up in his sheets. Harry stared at it as he played with it between his fingers, and then stuffed it under his pillow.

Hermione and Ron came to see him at breakfast and lunch. They regaled him with all the gossip and the heartfelt apologies that everyone in Gryffindor was expressing, while Harry ate a few things off the plates. Apparently, none of the others had known how far Duncan and his gang had been willing to go. Seamus, in particular, was exceedingly miserable about the event and had sent along his entire collection of Chocolate Frog cards, which numbered in the thousands. Harry sent them back with a simple message of apology accepted.

Madame Pomfrey decided that the effects of the tranquilizer had dissipated and proclaimed him fit to rejoin society. Harry was just wrestling with the last of his buttons as he finished getting dressed when the curtains around the infirmary bed parted. Harry turned with a smile on his lips in greeting for his friends. But before he could complete the turn, Harry knew who stood there.

Draco was now blood and frenzy free. He was dressed in his regular school clothing and wore his signature superior look.

"Ready, then?" he drawled.

Harry blinked. "For what?"

"For dinner, lack-wit."

"You're taking me to dinner?" Harry asked feeling a bit confused.

"Well, it's not a date," Draco smirked.

Harry actually blushed. "I meant, you're going to walk with me to dinner?"

"No, Potter. I'm going to eat you for dinner." Draco rolled his eyes. "What the hell do you think? Why is this such a hard concept for you?"

"I just don't understand why you would come all the way up here just to walk me to dinner!" Harry huffed.

"Oh, have we forgotten that your own house conspired to have you murdered?" Draco's face remained arrogant but his voice and eyes had become hard.

"It wasn't my whole house," Harry argued. "Just a few of them. The rest of them are really sorry about the way they acted."

"Mmm hmm." Draco was obviously not convinced. "Well, I shall leave room for doubt. Besides, it wasn't just your house alone. I also broke a couple of Ravenclaws."

Harry was a bit disturbed about the casual way in which Draco spoke about the violence he committed. "Do you remember what happened yesterday?"

Draco again rolled his eyes. "Of course. I was struck dumb, not stupid."

"But don't you care that you... that you hurt people?"

Draco smiled an evil smile. "Have you ever known me to care whether or not I hurt people? Besides, I actually quite enjoyed it. I only regret that the press hadn't been around with their cameras. But I suppose the artist renditions will have to suffice. But the Daily Prophet bloke did not quite get the spray of blood right. It was more of-"

"Oh gods," Harry groaned and sat heavily on the bed. "I am not going to be able to eat." Draco laughed.

"Well, too bad. You are under orders to eat and eat you shall."

"Whose orders?" Harry asked looking up.

"Snape's, of course. What? Did you think we'd listen to that old battleaxe?" Draco nodded in the general direction of Madame Pomfrey's office.

"Hey! She's taken care of me more times than I can count, so don't call her names," Harry snapped.

"Yeah, yeah. Fine. Well, now you have us and Snape is more qualified in this then she is, now isn't he?" Draco didn't wait for an answer. "Now get up and lets go eat."

It wasn't until they were halfway down the stairs that Harry realized something was missing.

"I don't feel like bowing and scraping before you!" Harry stopped mid-step when he become conscious of this. Draco came to a stop on the stair below Harry's. It put them at equal height.

"And you want a cookie for this or something?" he said in a bored voice. Harry narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"And you're not being all puffed up and nasty. Why aren't you telling me to do degrading things or trying to have... um," Harry shook his head as Draco smirked in the knowledge of where Harry was about to go with his words. "Never mind. But still, how come? What happened to all of that?"

"Other than you were taken down like a rabid animal?"

"Yeah. Other than that."

Draco sighed. "You don't smell right."

Harry nearly lifted his arm to check when he realized what Draco meant. "I don't smell right? You mean like a sub?"

"Oh no, you smell like a sub, alright." Draco practically leered. "But you aren't exactly as inviting as before."

"When the hell was I ever inviting?" Harry bellowed.

"Good, Potter. Why don't I just cast Sonorous on us and let the whole school hear?"

Harry pursed his lips and crossed his arms. "I have never been inviting!" he hissed.

Draco smiled. "Oh, yes you have. Maybe you didn't think so, but you were. Good enough to eat, you were." Draco licked his lips. "You still smell delicious but you have a..." he shrugged. "I don't know how to describe it. Snape says it'll pass soon though. So I can wait." Draco started down the stairs again. Harry sped up to catch him. Grabbing his arm, he brought the blonde to a halt. Draco turned with an eyebrow raised.

"You're pushing your luck," he said softly. Harry ignored him, keeping a grip on his arm.

"Why did Snape say it would pass? What would pass?"

"Don't go gray over it, Potter. It's your first phase of Lustrum. It'll be gone in a day or so and then we can get on getting on." Draco smiled his evil smile again.

"Lustrum?" Harry's eyes were wide in apprehension. "It's starting? Now?"

"Yes. Now, can we go on to dinner before it's over?"

"But, I don't understand," Harry whispered.

"Then get Granger to explain it. I'm hungry. It takes a lot out of a body defending his piece of ass." Draco pulled his arm free and resumed his way to the Great Hall. When he got to the bottom floor he stood and waited for Harry to catch up. Harry followed, a worried frown on his face.

When they walked in through the large doors, the room became very quiet as all eyes turned on the pair. Harry wanted to walk right back out but Draco sneered at them all and many an eye quickly returned to their own business.

"Idiots," Draco chuckled. "Now go badger Granger with your questions and leave me be. But," he grabbed Harry's arm just as Harry was turning away, "stay in this room until I come get you. You've got a nasty habit of having people trying to kill you, you know that, Potter?" With one last smirk, Draco went to the Slytherin table.

Harry stared after him for a moment before hustling over to his two waiting friends and a wary table of Gryffindors.

"We were coming to get you when Draco growled at us," Ron complained as soon as he sat down. "He honest to goodness growled!"

"How are you feeling, Harry," Hermione asked. Harry quickly threw some food of a yellowish nature on his plate before leaning across to talk to her. The other Gryffindors were quite obviously moving back away from them, especially Seamus who had gotten up to move halfway down the table. Harry ignored all of this, but did give Neville a smile to let him know he wasn't angry with his quiet friend. Neville sent a shy smile back.

"Hermione," Harry whispered, "Draco says that Lustrum is starting!"

"Really?" Hermione's eyes crinkled in thought. "Hmm, well, I suppose he would know."

"But, I thought you said it wouldn't start until the first week of October!"

"It is the first week of October, Harry. Today's the first," Hermione explained.

Harry pulled back as if hit and then thought about it, quickly running through the first line in the poem 'Thirty days hath September'. She was right. He had lost track of the days when he was in hospital.

"Well, what's happening?" Harry whispered earnestly.

"What do you mean?"

Harry looked at her as if she were crazy. Hermione and Ron, both, were contentedly eating their dinner. "All right, so the whole world went mad while I was laid up then?"

"What are you on about, Harry?" Hermione's voice was almost prim.

"Hermione! I just asked you what was going on as I seem to be going into some sort of heat and you both are acting like nothing is out of the ordinary!" Harry barely kept his voice from a screech.

"Harry, calm down. Here, have a sugar biscuit." Hermione reached over and offered one from the dessert platter. Harry grabbed it and stuffed it in his mouth before he even registered what it was. "Now, I only asked for clarification. If you ask a more specific question I shall be more inclined to answer it appropriately." Hermione's voice was smooth and slow, as if talking to a lunatic. Harry finished chewing the biscuit and felt a bit calmer.

"Alright." He took a deep breath. "What I want to know is what does he mean when he says I am in the first stage?"

"Ah." Hermione took a moment to spear an asparagus and daintily bite the tip off. "The first stage is when the Subicio prepares for insemination. As any intercourse at this stage could throw off the chemical balance needed for conception, the Subicio begins to emit a scent that warns off the dominant. It says to steer clear. Also, the sub will begin to become, well, a bit bitchy, really." Hermione took another bite of asparagus.

"It's kind of like P.M.S, mate." Harry turned to stare in bemusement at Ron who was happily munching on a turkey leg. "You'll get all emotional and nasty, ya know."

"No, I do not know," Harry said between his teeth. Hermione handed him a piece of fudge and it immediately went in his mouth again. "Stop handing me sweets!" he said around the bit of chocolate in his mouth.

"Harry," Hermione said patiently, "do you remember I said that you would crave sugary things?" Harry nodded and swallowed and she continued. "It helps in not only fueling the extra work your body is beginning, but also aids in stabilizing your mood."

"So, you're going to get me fat and pregnant?" Harry did screech then. The whole table, save Hermione and Ron, scooted about two feet away from him. Hermione took another bite from her asparagus.

"No, Harry. We are only trying to help you. This stage will only last a maximum of thirty-six hours. I imagine it started some time early this morning by the way both Snape and Draco suddenly stayed away from you."

"Great! So now I'm not even attractive!" Harry grabbed a handful of toffee candy and shoved it into his mouth. He barely noticed the look of amusement exchanged between his supposed friends. The candy did its job though and he became calmer again. He took a deep breath.

"Okay, apparently I've gone round the bend then." "Oh Harry, you haven't." Hermione reached across and laid a comforting hand on his wrist, her voice sympathetic and soothing. "It's a completely natural part of life."

"I swear, Hermione, if you ask me if I ever feel not so fresh I'll hex you bald," Harry rasped.

"What?" Ron looked between them with a confused look. Hermione smiled and patted Harry's wrist before going back to her dinner.

"You should expect hot flashes and mood swings. And, of course, a strong craving for anything with sugar on it." Hermione looked up from her jacketed potato. "But on the bright side, Draco should be fairly placid. So take it easy, all right? Nothing to worry about."

"You're treating me with kid gloves!" Harry accused.

"Too right, mate!" Ron said with a laugh. "I'd be dining with the Slytherins if I could. A super powerful wizard on the rag is not my idea of fun!"

"I'll kill you!" Harry lunged for Ron's throat but was stopped by a handful of lemon drops shoved in his face.

"Mr. Potter." Dumbledore said as the sweets were ripped out of his hand. "How are we feeling today? Better than yesterday morning, I hope?"

"Yeah," Harry said through a mouthful of candy, "sure."

"One hopes you would learn to control that tongue of yours, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore shook his head but his eyes were crinkled in the corner. "Otherwise, being the friend of a super powerful wizard 'on the rag' will be a hazard to your health."

Ron slowly sat back down and took his hands down from their protective position about his own throat. "Um, yeah, thank you, sir. I'll remember that," he said with a shaky smile.

The headmaster nodded to Hermione and then glided back to wherever he had appeared from. Harry couldn't care less at the moment. He felt like an idiot. An emotional, girly idiot. How embarrassing! Next he'd start breaking out into tears!

"Harry? It really is okay. Nobody is going to think less of you."

Harry barked out a derisive laugh. "Oh right, Hermione. I'll just nip over to St. Mungo's and explain that to Used To Be Headless Duncan, shall I?"

Somehow the other Gryffindors slid another two feet in both directions away from Harry.

"Harry, calm down. Have a-,"

"I am going to shove that sugar biscuit up your-,"

"Harry!" Ron yelled. Harry pursed his lips and slumped in his seat, arms crossed. Hermione's face was a bright red but she continued on.

"This will only last a little while longer. Try to have a bath. I know it works for when the girls are- er, um," She swallowed at the dark look Harry shot her. "What I was going to say was that I have heard it helps relieve stress. And we can all agree that you are under a lot of stress. I can give you the password to the Prefects bathroom and you can have a nice hot bath, hmm?"

"I don't need it," Harry hoped that didn't come out as pouty as he thought it did. "Draco has a bath in his room."

"Why that prissy, spoiled git!" Ron threw down his forkful of beets. "A shower and a bath in his private bathroom in his private dorm room?"

"Yeah? You want to be an animal too, Ron? Gets you a lot of perks, ya know!" Harry was getting worked up again. Ron quickly picked his fork up again.

"Ah no, I was just saying that it was awful nice of the school to be so, uh, accommodating." Ron bent his nose to his plate and began eating quickly.

"Neither of you is an animal, Harry," Hermione said, drawing the raging emerald eyes to her. "There is a difference between a rare magical creature and a rare magical being. You are of the latter variety."

"Well, it doesn't feel like it," Harry muttered.

"I know," Hermione sighed. "But just know that Ron and I are here for you no matter what. We will always be here for you. We love you and care about you."

"Damn it, Hermione!" Harry turned away and tried to surreptitiously blink his eyes rapidly to clear the tears. Hermione hid a smile and waited for him to turn back around.

"Just know that this part will be over soon," she said.

"Oh and then what have I got to look forward to?" Harry asked nastily.

"Well, the mood swings will have stopped," Hermione said as she reached for a dinner roll.

"And?"

She sighed. "Alright, you will also experience the need to be around Draco or Snape. You'll need them to at least touch you but you'll want more."

"Great. Just great." Harry slumped back down in his seat. He didn't look up as the room started to clear out.

"But, again, it'll only last for a bit. Three days at most." Hermione said encouragingly.

"Yeah, and then I get to go back to being a slave," Harry mumbled. Hermione gave him a sympathetic look.

"Oy, and don't forget the babies, yeah?" Ron said looking up. "I bet you'll be all moody and cranky when you get all..." Ron's eyes went wide as Harry started turning red. "Oh bugger, I really need to learn how to shut it."

"Yes you do!" Hermione hissed. She turned back to her upset friend who looked half angry and half depressed. She would have to analyze the way he did that later.

"Harry, don't worry about that right now. Draco's not going to come near you for at least another day. After that, well, we'll see Madame Pomfrey or... or something. Alright?"

Harry felt like crying again and almost did once he realized there were very few people around him. But then realized that he was thinking about crying and immediately told himself to suck it up. He felt like he was going insane. He knew he was fine but then felt like he was anything but, and his so-called friends weren't helping. Sitting there all smug and calm and as if the whole world hadn't gone crazy. Damn it, he was going to cry!

"If he falls apart, you two are putting him back together."

Harry spun around and looked at Draco as he glided towards them. Harry hated him too. The stupid blonde! Thinking that he was so with it, so cool. Harry wanted to hit him. Hard.

"I was just telling Harry that he should have a bath-."

"Don't tell me what to do, Hermione!"

"-because it would make him feel a bit better." Hermione didn't even look at him during the angry outburst.

Draco smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Great advice there, beaver face."

"Don't call her names!" Harry stood up and went nose to collarbone with Draco. "It's a great idea! Genius! In fact, you couldn't come up with a better one!"

Draco looked down at Harry with an amused expression on his face. "Oh yeah?" From his pocket he produced a small square of Honeyduke's fudge.

"Oh, you marvel!" Harry gasped as he grabbed it and quickly started breaking a piece off. Hermione rolled her eyes at the smug Slytherin.

"You know, that will only last a moment," she informed the blonde. Draco shrugged.

"Whatever. Come on, Harry. I have more in my room." He grabbed the full-mouthed Harry around the arm. "I bought you a whole pound of it, remember?"

Harry yanked his arm away. "Don't touch me!" He swallowed the last bit of chocolate and slid over the bench. "You bought it for me, Draco?" he asked in an almost simpering voice.

"Malfoy, wait!" Hermione stood up and faced him. In a hushed voice she said, "You're not going to do anything are you?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Not that it's even remotely any of your business, but no."

"And, what about... after?" she said, nodding in Harry's direction.

"Again, none of your business, Granger." Draco started to turn away. Hermione pushed him back by the shoulder. Draco snarled.

"It is my business! Harry is too young and he doesn't want to have kids right now!"

"Hey! Don't talk about me when I'm right here!"

"No, it is not your business," Draco said dangerously, but Hermione didn't even flinch and met him eye to eye. "If I want to fuck him, I will. If I decide to get him up the duff, then I will. And there isn't a damn thing you can do about it!" He stepped closer to her, putting them literally toe-to-toe.

"Hermione! Stop!" Ron whispered loudly. Hermione ignored him and glared right back at the Indago.

"You can't just play with Harry's life! You had your sick fun, your petty revenge, but this is the rest of his life! Your life! Are you really willing to create such a drastic mess just to prove who has the bigger balls in the relationship?"

Ron's eyes bugged out. "Hermione!" he strangled out.

"I'll do whatever the hell I want, mudblood. And you and your bitch will stay the hell away!"

"Or what? Rip our heads off?" Hermione never blinked as she gave the challenge. "Try it, Malfoy. I'd like to see you try. Then you'll understand that everything cannot be handled by brute strength. Especially life! You need to grow up, Draco, and realize that you have a responsibility to Harry. You may think it's wicked to strut about and intimidate people more than ever before, but Harry needs you to act better than that! He is relying on you, trusting you, whether he knows it or not. If you can't step up to the challenge then I suggest you step off!"

Hermione spun around and walked out. Ron cleared his throat. "Uh, I'll just, um, go see..." He quickly disappeared after her.

Indago - Chapter 26

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