Fatally Alluring -- Chapter Three

[lotrspnfangirl]

Title: Fatally Alluring (3/?)
Rating: Mature
Pairing: Draco/Harry, Neville/Ginny, Hermione/Ron
Warnings: Suicide attempt, angst
Disclaimer: I do not own or know JK Rowling personally and these characters are all based upon her creation. I am taking them and playing with them a bit!
Summary: Before starting Hogwarts, Harry was rescued by someone he never knew existed. Escaping the Durley's so early, allowed Harry to finally have a family and a place he belonged to. But as always, The Dark Lord has other plans for Harry. When everything changes, Harry will find its not that easy to just walk away.
A/N: Any feedback is welcome! It fuels the fire :)
Other stories/chapters can be found in the Fiction Index

Each and every portrait in the hallway turned to look at him as he walked by, as if they knew he didn’t belong there. Sighing, Harry looked down, watching his feet as he trudged along. Dumbledore, as if he were already expecting it, didn’t argue with Harry when he decided to skip dinner and head up to where he believed the Gryffindor Wing was. He didn’t feel very hungry, nor was he particularly excited to have everyone turn around and stare at him sitting at a completely different table. Eventually, he would have to get over it… this was his new house. But he didn’t have to get over it tonight.

“Potter!” Harry turned to see a tall woman in dark green robes striding towards him, her hat cocked perfectly to the side. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Hello Professor McGonagall.” He nodded and waited for her to catch up with him. Although she was the Head of the Gryffindor house, he had always gotten along with the Transfiguration teacher. “I wasn’t feeling hungry…”

“Yes,” she replied looking at him, “But didn’t you go to your common room? I trust you aren’t out in this hallway to start any trouble?”

“Oh right… I have been resorted into the Gryffindor house.” Harry waved his hands down the front of his robes.

“You…” McGonagall looked confused for only a moment before she composed herself. “I am assuming that is where you and Professor Dumbledore were while the rest of the students were making their way onto the grounds?”

“Yes, Professor. My Godfather was uncomfortable with…” Harry trailed off for a moment, wondering how he was supposed to explain the situation. Professor McGonagall wasn’t going to be the only Professor to ask him what had happened. He mentally kicked himself for not preparing an excuse.

“I see.” She smiled kindly at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Well, Mr. Potter, I think I should show you to your dormitory, don’t you think? I believe that you possess many of the talents and attributions we pride ourselves in having in Gryffindor, but I warn you – I do not tolerate some of the behaviors that Professor Snape tolerates in his house. Everyone in this house, and the other houses, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Professor.” Harry nodded and shuffled forward after her as she continued down the hallway.

“This is The Fat Lady.” Professor McGonagall stopped infront of a large portrait. A woman wearing a large pink, and extremely frilly gown. Long black hair was piled up on to the top of her head and she looked down at them, a glass of wine just moments from her lips. “She is the guardian of the Gryffindor Tower and will ask you the password for every entry.”

“He doesn’t look like a new student.” The Fat Lady purred down at them, placing her wine glass on a nearby table.

“He is a new student to Gryffindor.” Professor McGonagall replied before looking back at Harry. “The current password is…”

“Newt Scamander.” Harry said, cutting her off.

“Ooooh…” The Fat Lady cooed as the portrait swung backwards to reveal a large opening in the wall.

Together, they stepped through the opening and Harry found himself standing in the center of a large and warm room. Three fireplaces were roaring, giving off a cozy glow. All of the chairs and sofas were a deep shade of red, with golden accents all around the room. On one side, tables and comfortable looking chairs were set up below large windows that seemed to stretch to the ceiling.

“Welcome to Gryffindor, Mr. Potter.” Professor McGonagall smiled as she watched Harry’s expression as he took in the room. “As a fifth year, your room will be on the fifth floor. I believe we have an opening in the fourth room… You will be bunking with Mr. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Finnigan and Mr. Thomas.”

“Thanks, Professor.” Harry nodded at her before turning to the staircase. He made his way up the stairs, counting the floors until he found his new room. The room mirrored those of the Slytherin house, except all the furnishings were a warm red, the wood a deep mahogany instead of the green and black he was used to. His eyes traveled over the six trunks that were set at the foot of every bed. His trunk was the last on the right. He glanced over the chest beside him to see if he saw a name etched on the front. Short of opening up the chest and looking, he was going to have to wait and see when they showed up.

Throwing himself on top of the bed, Harry finally allowed himself a moment to relax. Sure, he didn’t know anyone in this house, not really anyways. And sure, he had lost everyone he had considered his friend over the past five years… but it wouldn’t be that bad. Tears sprung to his eyes as he stared up at a golden lion sewn into the canopy.

”Yes, I’ll be careful!” Harry laughed as he pushed away from the table he was sitting at in the Leaky Cauldron. “I’m just getting ice cream, you can see us across the street!” Without waiting for a reply, he walked away from his Godfather and out onto the street. He could already see his best friend sitting at a table, his blonde hair glistening in the sun.

“Hey Harry…” Draco smiled at him as he sat in the chair across from him. But something wasn’t right.

“Are you okay? Is your Dad being a jerk again?” Harry asked, reaching for a small menu. “Just tell your Mom you had forgotten some supplies from the new school list, no big deal.”

Draco nodded, looking down at the table. Harry looked up at him. He didn’t look well… For the past five years, Harry could count on one hand the number of times he had seen his best friend not completely cool and collected. It was a rare form for Draco to be any type of upset. Today, Draco had large purplish circles under his eyes, which were strikingly blue considering the rest of his eyes were completely bloodshot.

“What the hell is going on, Draco? Are you okay?” Harry leaned forward, reaching for his friends arm.

“Don’t!” Draco hissed, yanking his arms off the table, almost upsetting the chair he was sitting in. “Don’t touch me, please.” He glanced up at Harry quickly before scooting his chair back into the table. “I’m okay, really.”

“You look like shit, Draco.” Harry replied, pulling his hands into his lap. The menu lay between them on the table, forgotten. “Did something happen with your parents?”

“No.” Draco shook his head quickly, closing his eyes. “It’s not about them, Harry.”

“Then what is it? You know you can tell me anything.”

“We can’t be friends anymore.”

“Seriously, Draco?” Harry snorted. “Your parents have been telling us that for years. Hell, so has Sirius.”

“I’m serious, Harry.” Draco finally looked up fixing Harry with a cold stare.

“And why the hell not? I am sorry I didn’t make more of an effort to hang out this summer… but with what happened last year, Sirius wasn’t that keen on me just hanging around Diagon Alley. He’s barely okay with me sitting out here, and I am sure he’s staring at us, ready to pounce if he feels any threat. You know, my ice cream might fall on my lap or something.” Harry laughed, studying Draco’s face. He didn’t appear to have registered anything Harry said. Draco’s eyes were turned back down to the table, and through the glass he could see Draco picking at his fingernails. Dread quickly coiled through Harry’s stomach and he pushed back all forms of warnings he had heard his Godfather mutter to him through the years. “Draco?”

“I am so sorry.” Draco whispered, forming his hands into tight fists.

“Well, don’t be sorry.” Harry tried to push back how nervous he was feeling, tried not to let his voice shake. “Just stop being such an arse and order an ice cream with me. You don’t have to be sorry, if you stop being an arse.” He reached forward again for the menu.

“Harry, he is back.” Harry froze. His eyes found Draco’s, which were now full of tears.

“I know that, Draco.” Harry whispered, “I know that, everyone knows that. Why does that change you being my friend?”

“Because he’s back, Harry. You know what that means.” Draco choked on his whisper, his hands shaking as if he were fighting with himself to reach out to Harry.

“No, Draco. I don’t know what that means.”

Draco returned to looking down at his hands. A sharp pain twinged through Harry’s scar, like it had been all summer. Fear ran through him and he looked over Draco’s shoulders, surveying the people milling around them. Everyone wearing a dark cloak or a hood, sent a shock of panic through him. He looked over his shoulder and saw Sirius starting to stand from his table by the window. Quickly, Harry shook his head at him and focused his attention back at Draco.

“What are you saying, Draco.” He whispered.

“We can’t be friends anymore…”

“Why?” Harry demanded, cutting him off. “Spell it out for me!”

“Because of my family, Harry! Because of our history! Because our friendship could jeopardize everything my family has ever worked for and everything that they have achieved!” Draco leaned forward, his voice pleading with Harry to understand.

“How is that different from any other year we have been friends?”

“Harry…” Draco closed his eyes and moved his left arm up on the table. Exhaling, he met Harry’s eyes and pulled up his sleeve. Harry glanced down and felt his heart drop. Leaping up from his chair, Harry watched Draco yank his sleeve down and place his hands back into his lap.

“No.” Harry whispered, shaking his head. “No… you didn’t…. How… Why…” He swallowed hard, staring at the boy still sitting. He barely recognized him. How was this the boy who had sat beside him on the train every year? The boy who refused to gawk at his scar and his name when they first met? The boy he told everything to and shared everything with?

“I’m so sorry, Harry…” Harry heard Draco whisper, but he had already turned and was stalking back towards his Godfather. The only person, he apparently had left to trust.

“I will kick your arse in a game of Wizard’s Chess and you know it! Be right back!” Harry heard someone hollering from the hallway outside of the room. He sat up quickly, wiping at his eyes. The red headed kid from the train, Ron, walked in and stopped short when he noticed Harry. “Oh bloody hell.” He muttered, rolling his eyes before making his way to the trunk at the end of the bed beside Harry’s.

“Hey.” Harry mumbled, watching Ron dig through his chest to pull out a worn looking chess board.

“I see you did convince Dumbledore to change your house. Didn’t think you would be my new room mate though.” Ron replied, turning away from Harry.

“I’m sorry.” Harry said, shrugging. Ron gave him a look over his shoulder before shrugging back at him.

“Once you’re a Slytherin, I think you’re always going to be a Slytherin. But, what do I know?” Ron said heading towards the door. “Hermione thinks you’ll be alright…. She said to me at dinner she thought you were going to be in Gryffindor. Hell if I know why.” He laughed shortly and stopped at the doorway. “I’ll give you one chance, mate.”

And then he was gone. Harry sighed and reached up to pull the curtains around his bed. Kicking off his shoes, he slid off his trousers and robe and pushed under the covers. Tomorrow would be better. He removed his glasses and reached through the curtain to place them on the table beside him. Once he lay back down, he closed his eyes and was soon asleep.

Chapter Four