Song of the Sea

chapter four

Harry made his way down to the dungeons after dinner, intent on talking to Severus for a bit. No one had quite realized that Harry had grown up over the last few years; that tends to happen when a madman is trying to kill you. Only Severus had bothered to treat him like a damned adult. He also knew he could talk to him about Draco, and how he was feeling about the boy, and maybe he could even tell him about the strange singing he could hear in his dreams at night when he was having a nightmare. Severus wouldn't mock him. He would listen, and tell him what he truly thought. He reached the potion master's doors and knocked tentatively. He heard the soft "Enter," before he pushed the doors open and walked into Snape's personal quarters.

"Harry, what brings you to the dungeons at this time of night?" Severus inquired. He gestured for Harry to take a seat on the couch before sitting across from him on his favorite leather chair. He summoned some tea and cakes and looked at Harry.

"I just needed to get away from the others for a little while. No one seems to know me as well as you do anymore. Ron seems uncomfortable around me since I came out to him and Hermione and she hates that I've been doing better than her in our classes; especially potions. Says it's because you are letting me cheat since we have gotten so close. I just don't know how to act around them anymore. And now I’m roomed with both Ron and Draco, of all people, and I don't know how to feel or how to act, because I like him, Sev, Have since fourth year, I know that Ron would completely stop talking to me if he found out, and Draco would be absolutely disgusted and I just don't know what to do, Sev!" Harry said all of this in one breath and gasped for air when he was finished. He was having a hard time looking at the man after just spilling his guts. He felt a little mortified that all of that had come out, he hadn’t meant to say all of it at once, and he certainly hadn't meant to tell him about what he felt for Draco!

Severus opened and closed his mouth, looking like he didn't know what to say. He just stared at Harry, a thoughtful look on his face. "Let's address the issue with Weasley and Granger first," he said, "they are the least complicated problem. First off, you shouldn't let that know-it-all's ego get to you, your marks are entirely your own success; as you well know. If she cannot handle a little friendly competition, then so be it. That is her problem. You have become a very bright young man, and I am proud to have been given the chance to call you family. As for Mr. Weasley, that boy has problems of his own. He should not be so judgmental of other people." Snape sneered. "You have become a bright young man, Harry. I should think you would know when it's time to lose the people that refuse to support you. Ron Weasley is nothing but a leech of a boy who has done nothing but cling to your fame in the hope that it would make him a more important person. I have never seen him give any effort in your adventures that would benefit either himself or Miss Granger. She, at least, I can see getting over the academic issue and standing behind you, once she gets her head out of her rear end, but Ronald, I fear, is a lost cause, Harry. I know it's not what you want to hear, but you would not have come to me if you did not want the truth."

Harry didn't want to agree with Snape, even though he knew he was right. Harry and Ron haven't really been the same since fourth year, when Ron stopped talking to him after the whole Goblet of Fire incident. Harry knew that he had been pulling away from the Weasleys for a while, and then even more after he had come out to them and they realized he wouldn't be marrying Ginny after all. A small part of him had known that they had clung to him for his name and fame, but Ron had been the first friend he had ever made and he hadn't wanted to lose that. So he had convinced himself that it was all in his head.

He was so naive.

He hoped Snape was right about Hermione. He didn't really want to lose both of his friends; especially all at once.

"Now, about your other problem", Snape started, and Harry winced. He had almost forgotten about that. "Draco is a phenomenon in his own right. He certainly is not the same as he was a year ago, and a lot has changed for him. He is under a lot of pressure, and he doesn't know who he can trust any more. If you were to show him that you are willing to put your pasts behind you, and try to befriend him, I'm sure, after his suspicions fade, that he will come around and at least accept your friendship, and that, at least, is a start. You might even make a few new friends of your own. Slytherins, yes, but better friends than what you have had in Ronald Weasley. Not to mention some of your other Gryffindor pals. I would also recommend getting closer to Neville longbottom. He may be lousy at potions, but he is bright, I am loath to admit, and a fierce friend. That boy has loyalty deep in his bones."

Harry smiled weakly at his mentor, knowing that it had pained him greatly to make that admission about Neville, but also knowing that he was right about everything else. Harry needed to suck it up, get over his fear, and bury the hatchet with Draco. It was a start at least, and even if the other boy never knew how Harry felt, at least they could be friends. He also knew that it was time to leave Ron behind. He was never going to support Harry. The boy couldn't even look at Harry any more without showing his disgust.

Harry sat with Severus for a little while longer, chatting about classes and plans for Christmas break, before Harry finally said goodnight and headed back up to the eighth year’s common room. He wasn’t sure how he was going to do it, but he knew he was going to distance himself from Ronald, and Hermione too, until he could figure out where she truly stood.

When Harry made it back to his dorm room, Draco was walking out of the bathroom with just a towel around his waist and he looked up at Harry, a smirk playing on his lips as Harry stared.

" Like what you see, Potter?" he asked.

Harry spluttered. Before he could say anything, the door to the rooms opened and Ron pushed his way through, a sound of disgust escaping his lips.

"In your dreams Malfoy. Harry may be a pouf, but he would never consider the likes of you," he said. Harry looked at him in horror, never expecting to be outed by the other boy. Ron just looked at him and shrugged like it was no big deal.

Harry could hardly breathe. He slowly made his way to his bed, gathering some clothes for a shower and darted for the bathroom, refusing to look in Malfoys direction. This was not how he was expecting his night to go.

HPDM

Draco watched Harry flee from the room, not even looking in his direction.He scrunched his face up in confusion, then rounded on the other boy. "What the hell was that, Weasley?" he asked, trying to stay calm. He would deal with his curiosity later, but what the Weasel had just done needed to be dealt with right now.

"What was what, Ferrett." Weasley spat.

"What the hell gives you the right to out another person without their permission? You just mortified Harry! What the hell gave you the right?" he shouted.

Ron looked at him like he was crazy. He walked right up to Draco and got in his face."What the hell does it matter to you, Malfoy? Do you fancy him? You wanna get in Harry's trousers? That's it, isn't it? You wanna shag the boy who lived. You're disgusting."

Draco saw red and before he could stop himself, he slammed his head into Weasley’s nose, hearing a satisfying crack. Weasley roared in pain and then launched himself at Draco, tackling him to the floor and pummeling him. He tried to fight him off as best as he could but Weasley was a heavy oaf and Draco couldn't move him. He managed to get his own punches in, and did some of his own damage, but his vision was starting to go blurry and he didn't think he would be conscious for very much longer.

Draco was relieved when the weight on his body was lifted and listened as flesh hit flesh, not entirely sure what was happening. He heard a groan and a thud and then his body was being lifted off the floor and covered up by a blanket. He vaguely remembered that he had only been wearing a towel and blushed,realizing that he had lost it in the fight, and was grateful that someone had bothered to cover up his nakedness. His eyes were closed but he listened as they left the dorm room.

"Blaise!" Harry seemed to shout. He didn't know why. He felt like he was floating and the smell surrounding him was heavenly. He could hear urgent voices and the air changed as if they were leaving the room. He sighed and curled his body into the arms of the person carrying him as his world went black.