Chapter Thirty-Seven of 'Soldier's Welcome'- Decisions Made

[lomonaaeren]

Title: Soldier’s Welcome (37/45)
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling and associates own these characters. I am writing this story for fun and not profit.
Rating: R
Pairings: Harry/Draco preslash, Ron/Hermione
Warnings: Violence (and plenty of it), profanity, references to sex, takes account of DH but ignores the epilogue, heavy angst.
Summary: It’s the first year of Auror training for Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and…Draco Malfoy, But with Hagrid, Snape’s second Pensieve, rogue Death Eaters, Auror classes, and someone trying to start a second war to worry about, Harry might not have the time to pay that much attention to Malfoy. At first, anyway.
Author’s Notes: This story is the first in a trilogy called Running to Paradise, which takes its title from a W. B. Yeats poem. Each story will be novel-length, and each will cover a year of Harry and Draco’s training as Aurors. Though there are a lot of fics out there about them acting as Auror partners, there aren’t as many about their training, so I hope to cover some original ground there. I’m indebted to a reader named SP777 for suggesting a training fic for me to write.

Chapter One.

Thank you again for all the reviews!

Chapter Thirty-Seven—Decisions Made

“Of course we aren’t going to tell them everything.”

Draco spoke the words as if they were a settled argument. Harry frowned as he glanced down at the map of Death Eater caches throughout the British Isles that Draco had sketched, and didn’t answer.

“Why should we do that?” Draco’s eyes were brilliant as he paced around the central room, avoiding the furniture with the ease of someone who had lived here for months; Harry still occasionally bumped into it himself. The instructors had originally said they would move the pair of them into other rooms, but that hadn’t happened. Harry wondered if they had forgotten or decided it would be better to leave Harry and Draco alone, because bodyguards were already enough of a mark of favor.

“Why should we?” Draco repeated, turning around abruptly. At least that caused him to almost run into Politesse, who had been trotting at his heels. The little dog appeared offended that he’d been left out of most of their adventures lately. He scrambled up Draco’s leg now while Draco was still blinking over almost stepping on him. Draco blinked again and then focused on Harry. “What if there’s a traitor in the group despite everything we’ve done to prevent it? What if they make sure that Nihil learns this information? He would go and raid the caches he hasn’t already raided, and probably booby-trap the ones he has.”

Harry nodded absently, turning Ginny’s latest letter over in front of him. He hadn’t opened it. At least it didn’t appear to be a Howler of any type.

“You look as if you doubt me,” Draco said, suspiciously enough that Harry had to glance at him and smile.

“Well, yes,” Harry admitted. “You said that we were going to start trusting more people when we reached out to Arrowshot and Kepler and Margate. We can’t act alone. But isn’t making decisions about releasing the information to only certain people before we even see what reaction it causes—I don’t know, premature?” That had been a long sentence, and he stopped to catch his breath.

Draco shook his head. “I don’t trust these precautions to keep Nihil out, as intelligent as he is. I think that he’ll find a way around them soon, if he hasn’t done so already.”

Harry frowned at him. “Then how can we risk any of the information? We don’t know which caches are which. The memories only gave us a few hints about the things that Nihil might have done or built on. I don’t see that it really makes a difference what or who we tell, as long as we have no more clue than this ourselves.”

Draco half-lidded his eyes. His right hand stroked Politesse’s back. Harry studied him warily. He didn’t think Draco was actually considering his words and coming up with a counter to them. Draco had this particular expression when he’d already made up his mind and had decided to persuade Harry around to his way of thinking.

“Perhaps,” Draco said, voice so low that Harry at first heard the words more as a puff of breath, “this is the time for us to talk about trusting the other people you’ve always been so keen to have me trust.” He smiled at Harry, and the smile took half of Harry’s objections away.

Only half, though. “Ron and Hermione?” he asked.

Draco nodded.

Harry scowled. “You’re only saying this so that we can do something with the information, aren’t you?”

Draco gave him a perfect smile, a brighter version of the one he’d just offered, and then stood there, waiting.

Harry sighed heavily. He didn’t think he stood a chance of convincing Draco otherwise, not when Draco had already made up his mind. And he would feel more comfortable having Hermione’s advice, and doing something to reconcile Ron to the situation. Ron had started looking upset again about Harry and Draco spending so much time by themselves.

“All right, then,” he said.

This time, when Draco strode across the room and kissed him, Politesse did nothing more than wag his tail and lick Harry’s cheek with a sharp tongue.

*

“If I do this for you, then I want something in return.”

Draco nodded. When he had gone to retrieve some Veritaserum from Kepler, who had access to it as Ketchum’s trainee, he had anticipated a price. “Name it.”

Kepler leaned forwards. Her face remained without passion, even the suppressed greed that Draco was used to seeing in pure-bloods who demanded something from him. “I want you to bring Potter to meet my sister,” she said.

Draco blinked. He wouldn’t have thought this quiet, cold woman was someone to care about celebrity. “All right,” he said slowly. “Why? Do you want her to meet him, or does she want it on her own?”

“She’s dying,” Kepler said. “A Dark curse during the war withered her legs.” Even those words, she spoke calmly. Perhaps she’d had to say them many times already, Draco thought, just as he’d got used to repeating the fact that his father was in prison to those who asked. “The Healers are baffled.” Kepler shrugged slightly. “But she got it in her head during the war that it was really being fought because of Potter, and so the injuries she suffered, as well as other indignities, would be easier to bear if she could have the chance to speak with him.”

Draco nodded. He would insist on her repeating the words under Veritaserum before he subjected Harry to this, but the story sounded plausible on the surface. He knew people he could contact to make sure that Kepler’s sister—who presumably shared the same last name she had—had really suffered such a curse during the war. “When do you wish the meeting to take place?”

“I can’t bring Joanna to the Ministry any time soon,” Kepler said. “In a fortnight.”

“We need the Veritaserum before then,” Draco snapped, and then cursed himself for betraying their need as Kepler inspected him with an unhurried, lizard-like gaze.

“Do you? Well, delay what you need it for.” Kepler turned her back and strode away up the corridor that led to the second-year barracks.

Draco leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. Perhaps this would be a good thing. It would give him and Harry a chance to concentrate on their classwork and several upcoming exams. It would let him evaluate Weasley and Granger and decide how closely he could work with them. It would mean a little more time to speak to Margate and Kepler, as well as investigate a new angle that he’d thought of on researching the cause of Harry’s fits, and to come up with schemes to slip away from their bodyguards. (Having been left behind several times, Timmons and Redworth were becoming uncomfortably persistent).

Matters could not continue at as high a pitch as they had been. Draco knew that.

But it still troubled him.

And, for the first time, he began to wonder if it had been right to promise something for Harry without his consent.

*

“You have discovered nothing new, Mr. Potter, I assume?”

Harry was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to hide his scowl. Dearborn always made him the most uncomfortable of the instructors, and he didn’t know why. Outwardly, he was no more like Snape than Portillo Lopez was, but there were things about him that reminded Harry of Snape. The way he would stand with his eyes apparently fixed on someone else and then speak to you, perhaps, or the way he walked, his robes swishing around him.

“No, sir,” Harry said, picking up his books from his desk and keeping his gaze stubbornly fixed on them. Draco had left already. He had told Harry that he intended to speak with Hermione and Ron and try to get them to agree to a private meeting where they would share some of the information from the map. Harry wished he was here. He was Dearborn’s favorite, and he was also better at lying. “Why would you think that?”

“Because you never go long without stumbling onto something new.” Dearborn’s voice was the gentlest that Harry had ever heard it, the most amused, but that didn’t matter. “And it has been almost a week since our last meeting. It is improbable that that much time could pass without a new secret.”

Harry shivered and scratched behind one ear. There was a prickling itch there. He wondered for a moment if Draco was in trouble—Draco had told him about the pain he’d experienced when Harry was facing the beasts in the Forbidden Forest—but the itch went away and didn’t return.

“We haven’t found anything new, sir,” he said, and tried to sound dull and uninteresting both at once. Go away and spend time with Draco, he thought irritably at Dearborn. I don’t want anything to do with you. You’ve made it clear that you don’t think much of my intelligence. The insults had gradually become more common and more pointed in the last few weeks, though, really, Draco was only doing marginally better in the group fighting sessions.

“Now, why don’t I believe you?” Dearborn said, softly but with steel beneath the tones. “Look me in the eye and say that.”

“Auror Jones will be upset if I’m late for Conduct, sir,” Harry said, and picked up the last of his books, turning towards the classroom door.

“Impedimenta.”

Harry tripped and went down. He held his breath in; he wouldn’t show Dearborn that he’d banged his left arm on the ground and it hurt for the world. Now he knew why the man had reminded him of Snape. He was a bully.

He began to pick up his books again, while Dearborn stepped close to him. From the low, cold tone of his voice, he was no longer amused or in anything like a gentle mood. “Holding such information to yourself when it may concern the safety of numerous others is a mistake, Trainee Potter. You must see that. If you are reluctant to trust me because you are reluctant to trust anyone, remind yourself of what I wear.” He thrust his arm under Harry’s nose. Harry could make out the faint shimmer of the glamour that concealed the jade bracelet. “I took the Veritaserum. The bracelet would warn you if I was infected by Nihil.”

Harry hesitated, in an agony, and not just because of his arm. He’d made stupid decisions in the past, like running off to the Forbidden Forest alone. Maybe Dearborn was right and they should tell someone about this. And Dearborn was Draco’s favorite teacher. Draco was a better judge of character than Harry. If he thought it was all right to trust him, then surely it had to be all right, didn’t it?

“Harry.”

Draco’s voice spoke from the door. Harry lifted his head and gave him a small smile. “Hullo.”

“What are you still doing here? You know that we have Conduct in a few minutes, and we do have to be there, though of course the material isn’t as fascinating as what we learn in Auror Dearborn’s class.”

Draco’s words sounded exasperated and chiding on the surface. When Harry stood, however, he could see the way Draco’s head was angled and the sharpness of his gaze—as well as the way his hand swayed lazily back and forth above the fold in the left side of his robes where his wand was concealed. He looked at Dearborn much more than he did at Harry.

Warmed and supported by the way that Draco stood there, Harry nodded and forced himself to his feet. “I had a bit of an accident,” he said. “Auror Dearborn was helping me up.”

“I see.”

Harry shuddered lightly. Those words didn’t sound important, unless you knew Draco the way he did. They blew up his spine like a cold wind.

Draco was angry.

From the way Dearborn suddenly stilled next to Harry—he’d been reaching out a hand as though he meant to help him rise to his feet—he knew it, too. He retracted his hand a moment later and moved away, clearing his throat.

“I trust that I do not need to remind you, Auror Malfoy, of what could happen if the information that you are undoubtedly discovering through your private investigations fell into the wrong hands,” Dearborn said, when Harry had risen and picked his way over to stand by Draco in the doorway.

“No, sir.” Draco still sounded angry. He moved so that he partially shielded Harry from Dearborn. “And if we discover anything important, then we will be sure to guard it particularly well from enemies.”

Harry hoped Draco was looking into Dearborn’s eyes when he said that. At least that ought to satisfy the bastard’s desire for “truth.” Draco was the kind of liar who could meet someone’s gaze and still deceive them.

“Very good,” Dearborn said in a distant voice. “If you would move out of the way now, so that my next class can enter.”

Harry walked beside Draco towards Auror Conduct. It was hard, because Draco’s rage made his footsteps quick. He waited only until they were in a side corridor by themselves before he caught Harry’s arm and leaned towards him.

“Did he hurt you?” he whispered, his hand caressing Harry’s arm.

Harry looked up into his eyes and smiled despite himself. Draco looked as protective as Harry could have wished Ron or Hermione to look. He covered the stroking hand with his own and shook his head. “No. He was demanding answers, and then he tripped me when I tried to leave.” He moved his arm back, only to realize when it hit stone that they’d been standing closer to the wall than he thought. He hissed in pain as the bruise on his left arm was pummeled again.

Draco’s hands were on his arm in an instant, drawing back the sleeve. Harry looked down and blinked. The bruise was more impressive than he’d thought it would be, extending in brilliant shades down from his elbow almost to his wrist.

“Liar,” Draco breathed, crowding close. He was standing taller than normal, straining his shoulders and his neck as if he thought he had to make himself bigger and thus protect Harry from an enemy on the other side of him. “How did you get this, if he didn’t hurt you?”

“I fell and hit my arm on the floor,” Harry said, rolling his eyes and trying to pull free. Draco held on. Harry relaxed with a sigh. He reckoned he couldn’t blame Draco for being overprotective, when Harry had done things that risked his safety before. “So you could say that Dearborn’s tripping jinx caused it, but no more than that. He was probably frustrated with me.”

“I’ve never heard you defend him before.” Draco’s voice had eased a bit, as had his grip on Harry’s arm, but he didn’t seem inclined to move back. Harry tugged on his arm and raised an eyebrow. That tightened Draco’s grip again. “Why are you doing it now?”

“Because he’s your favorite teacher,” Harry said, “your mentor. And he didn’t do anything to me, Draco. A tripping jinx, but that’s nothing worse than some of the things Snape used to do. Will you let me go now?” He could feel his ears burning. Yes, in one way it was very pleasant to have this much of Draco’s attention, but on the other hand, they were in a corridor where anyone could come by any instant. Anyway, Draco was worried over nothing.

Draco’s fingers curled beneath his chin and tipped his head up. Harry started. Somehow, he’d looked away from Draco’s face in the last few minutes and hadn’t even realized it. He was more than willing to look up again, and he tried for a mixture of defiance and exasperation.

The expression Draco looked at him with melted the exasperation away. He was staring into Harry’s eyes as though he had discovered something new there, some new color or vision. Harry cleared his throat pointedly, and still Draco didn’t move. Harry didn’t think he’d blinked, either.

“I’m tired of thinking about Nihil,” Draco whispered, “and about your friends—who weren’t very positive about my trying to approach them without you, anyway—and about the instructors. We have another week before we can prove Granger and Weasley to be trustworthy. I want to spend them doing something else.”

Harry opened his mouth to ask what that was, and Draco lowered his head and showed him.

The kiss was more intense than any of the others, so intense that Harry felt as though it had frozen rather than melted him at first. Draco’s tongue moved fast, sweeping into his mouth, and his hands locked behind Harry’s neck. Small sounds worked their way out of his throat, but Harry couldn’t tell what they meant.

He worked past his stunned astonishment in a minute and actually forced Draco to step back a bit with the pressure of his return kiss. He curled his fingers into Draco’s hair, tugging at it, and kicked his legs further open so that Draco was standing splayed and uncomfortable and Harry could move closer still. Then he moved Draco back, step by awkward step, until he was against the far wall of the corridor.

There he could get purchase and leverage to really take control of the kiss. Draco fought, making Harry cough sometimes with how fiercely he pushed his tongue, but for the most part he was the one who moaned when Harry’s fingers dug into his shoulders, and the one who shifted his knees apart with a shudder when Harry’s thigh insisted on parting them, and the one who gasped breathlessly when Harry pressed forwards again and began to rub.

“Do—do you know what you’re doing?” he whispered, wrenching his mouth free somehow.

“No,” Harry gasped, watching the way Draco’s eyes widened and rolled and his fingers slid like rain down Harry’s shoulders and to his arms, “but I like the way it makes you look.”

Draco shook and tilted his head back, teeth clenched on his tongue as if to keep noises from coming out. Harry didn’t like that, so he began the kiss again, and Draco’s teeth and tongue moved to respond. Harry chuckled, and Draco heard him and started the fight again, wrapping a leg around Harry’s waist and pulling him closer so that their rubbing contest was more even.

“Trainees.”

Harry leaped away from Draco with a squawk; he felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped on them. He turned around, panting, to see Auror Portillo Lopez behind them with a raised eyebrow. Her face was pale instead of red the way he would have expected to see.

She examined Draco, and then him, as if trying to determine who was more responsible for this catastrophe. Then she said, “I will require your attendance tonight as I make Blood-Replenishing Potion, trainees. Eight-o’clock, in my office. Do not be late.” When she turned to stalk away, Harry thought he’d seen faces that were less eloquent than her back.

Draco hissed under his breath and fumbled his hair back into some sort of order. Harry cleared his throat and glanced at him. He tried his best to keep his eyes away from Draco’s groin, he really did, but the outline of Draco’s erection sent a thick pulse of satisfaction through him.

“Sorry,” he managed to say.

Draco tilted his head. “Maybe it’s for the best,” he said. “We are expected in Auror Conduct.”

Harry lifted his head high. “Does that mean that you regret doing it, then?”

Draco was suddenly close to him, touching his throat with gentle fingers, his face with heated eyes.

“Not for a moment.”

Harry was so flushed when they sat down in Hestia’s class that Hermione asked him with some concern if he was sick.

*

“I know you don’t like Draco that much,” Harry said, “but I do, and I think that should count for something.”

Draco looked at Harry with quiet pride. They were meeting in Weasley’s rooms, which were the most private now that Harry had moved out and joined him. Weasley had insisted on that, and had sat with his arms folded since the meeting began, while Granger sat in a chair at the table and took notes.

The meeting had started badly, with Weasley giving Draco all sorts of insults that only a Weasley would think clever and Granger alternating between trying to calm him down and looking at Draco with suspicious eyes. Then Harry had leaned forwards and insisted on making them listen to him.

He would make a finer leader than he knows, Draco thought, his eyes running over Harry’s face, if he would only stop doubting and distrusting himself so much.

The thought of what else was fine about Harry made him flush, and he hastily turned his thoughts back to the conversation.

“But Harry,” Weasley said, while his face turned an unattractive red color, “how do we know that he’s really changed? How do we know that he won’t call Hermione a Mudblood tomorrow just because he wants to?”

“Shall we ask him?” Harry asked with bright brittleness that should have warned his friends, and turned towards Draco. “Do you feel that way about them?”

“I think I can manage to refrain from insulting your friends,” was all Draco had time to say, before Weasley plunged in again.

“How can we trust him when he says that?”

Harry whipped back towards Weasley, jaw clenched and one fist hitting the table with a shock that caused even Granger to jump. “The same way I trusted you when you said that you would stop interfering between me and Ginny,” he said in a low, dangerous tone. “I didn’t ask to read your mind. I’m not even asking you questions under Veritaserum—yet. I want you to accept his word.”

“For his sake?” Granger spoke for the first time, shooting Draco a dark glance.

“No,” Harry said. “For mine.”

That has them, Draco thought, sitting back with a small smile. That plays on their Gryffindor guilt complexes. For Granger and Weasley were exchanging glances, and although Granger still looked distrustful when they turned back, and Weasley anxious, they both mustered weak smiles for him.

“If you insult me,” Granger said to Draco, barely moving her lips, “the bargain’s off.”

“I understand,” Draco murmured back. “Simply know that it applies both ways.”

He turned to Harry, who was taking out a parchment with the information written on it that they had decided was safe for Weasley and Granger to know until they could retrieve the Veritaserum. Harry’s face was flushed and happy, and he’d already started talking willingly about his fits to Weasley—something he would have withheld only a short time ago.

He can do anything he wants if he sets his mind to it, Draco thought, with a complacency he would never have imagined possible when contemplating Harry Potter’s power.

That was before I stood at his side.

*

“Come in.”

Harry took a deep breath as he led the way into Portillo Lopez’s office. He wasn’t looking forwards to making Blood-Replenishing Potion, though he had to think that Portillo Lopez would have Draco do most of the brewing. Harry’s bad brewing skills were already legendary throughout the Ministry.

Portillo Lopez turned around from a table already covered with ingredients when she saw them. She nodded at them both and cast two spells. One Harry knew locked the door, but the other broke over them like a shower of fine mist and left him spluttering.

“Your pardon,” said Portillo Lopez, “but I had to be sure that you were who you appeared to be.” She stepped forwards. Her eyes looked intense and brilliant under her head-scarf, itself green and gold. “There is no one else I would trust with this information save the two who brought it to my attention.

“The infection in the magic of several trainees that I had discovered has vanished.” She tapped her fingers together sharply. “As if Nihil’s corruption of them has ceased. And other small signs I had noted of his presence in the Ministry are gone as well.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight.

Comments

[elgraves.livejournal.com]

That an interesting turn of event. What is Nihil up to? And there is something about Dearborn that seems off.

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

No one knows what Nihil is up to, which is rather the problem.

[critterel.livejournal.com]

Lovely update! The kiss in the hallway was HOT. I also really love seeing Harry defend Draco to his friends and Draco attempting to make nice. Obviously it is for a Slytherin reason and fits into his long term plans... but still, it is nice.

I wonder when Draco will tell Harry about what he promised. It doesn't sound like something Harry would mind doing - not for someone dying.

Can't wait to see what happens next. You have me on tenterhooks with both WIPs.

Clare

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Harry wants his friends and Draco, and won't put up with nonsense from either of them.

Draco forgets. Of course, they both have plenty of other things to think about.

[neji-chan.livejournal.com]

“Of course we aren’t going to tell them everything.”

That’s exactly what I thought they should do, share the information but not all of it… until Harry spoke, and I realised he had a good point… and then Dearborn showed up and I thought maybe it’s better if they go with Draco’s plan after all… but finally I think telling just Ron and Hermione first was the best decision. Aside from them, I don’t trust anyone (though I want to trust Ketchum and Portillo Lopez).Plus, it means more Trio + Draco interaction, something I was looking forward to.

“If you insult me,” Granger said to Draco, barely moving her lips, “the bargain’s off.”

“I understand,” Draco murmured back. “Simply know that it applies both ways.”

Heh, I loved that exchange.

I’m curious about Ron and Hermione’s reaction. Ron could vote for them to tell The Fellowship everything only to be contrary to Draco. On the other hand, Hermione can as easily go with Draco’s plan as against it.

The whole scene with Dearborn made me uneasy. Most of all because I can’t decide if Harry feeling that itch and then thinking that maybe he should trust Dearborn (not to mention Dearborn jinxing him and demanding to see his eyes) meant Dearborn works for Nihil. He reminded me so much of Snape… I think that is something they should tell a member of the Fellowship.

The little dog appeared offended that he’d been left out of most of their adventures lately.

It’s funny, I was wondering where he was!

The kiss in the hallway was hot, of course. Unfortunately, I was more interesting in the Nihil plot so I couldn’t appreciate it as much… that’s just more proof of how amazing you’re with misteries!

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Harry is starting to distrust the instructors as much as Draco would hope that he would. He really doesn't like their behavior.

Ron and Hermione don't get as much of a vote as it might look like. Draco (and Harry) will overrule them if necessary. After all, they're the ones who have the evidence. Ron and Hermione running off and telling the instructors would seem like childish tale-bearing, and Harry would get angry at them.

Dearborn can't, at least, be corrupted by Nihil, or he couldn't have worn the jade bracelet.

I am glad you like the mystery, even if it's to the point of ignoring the romance!

[azamir.livejournal.com]

I don't trust her.

*grrrr*

this is seriously too difficult for me to understand. It's good to be that way, but somehow... it confuses me that I totally can't see who is who and everything... thought that's what Harry and Draco ar feeling as well. I'm just used to be the omniscient reader XD

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see that. :)

And Harry and Draco and the reader are all meant to be in the same position, don't worry.

[mathsnerd]

Dearborn worries me, Lopez is intriguing, and I want more!

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[invincible-sum.livejournal.com]

As I've said many times, Harry and Draco's interactions in this story are so yummy and multi-layered (and hot). And yeah for cute little Politesse apparently liking H. now! ;) Dearborn has always struck me as somewhat slimy and potentially untrustworthy, but who knows what you have up your sleeve with respect to any of the characters. H&D have careened into pretty much a deep and trusting romantic relationship so quickly due to the effects of the compatible magic, that I forgot that Ron and Hermione might not have caught up and would still be throwing a hissy over D. They better get with the program, since it seems likely that H&D will be inseparable from now on, unless something happens to one of them. I look forward to whatever you have planned with regards to Kepler's request as well.

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Politesse responds entirely to Draco's moods, so he started being happy with Harry as soon as Draco was happy with him. :)

I am glad that you see the relationship as natural because of the compatible magic. I didn't plan it to go quite that fast, and am sometimes left to feel as though I'm scrambling to keep up, myself!

Hermione is trying to get used to it, but she does find it very hard to be patient with someone who was prejudiced against her. Ron just plain doesn't like it.

[daftfear.livejournal.com]

OMGOMGOMG! *fans self* That bit in the hallway was intense! XD And Dearborn is a wee bit worrisome, though I'm not sure why. He does seem a lot like Snape, particularly in the sense that it's hard to know whether to trust him fully or not. O_O

I can't wait to find out more, but I'm going to happily dwell on the lovely hallway scene for a while now. 8D And I love Portillo Lopez's reaction, too. XD hehehe

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Dearborn, you could argue, has been corrupted by the Dark magic that he likes to practice. Maybe.

[jtsbbsps-dk.livejournal.com]

YAY AWESOME KISSING! *grins*

And Hmm.... Quiet before the storm methinks... gathering the power/forces, perhaps...

And LOVED Harry's satisfaction with giving Draco a hard-on *grins* Awesome! And Draco's protectiveness was brilliant! :D

Brilliant chapter!

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I'm trying to show that Harry does have a sexual side! It's just that it got repressed for a while after Ginny.

[callistianstar.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit sad that Dearborn has turned into a more distrustful character as he seemed to be the first to accept Draco for Draco, but I'm definitely looking forward to Harry and how he reacts to what Draco promised. And, if it is important, what was in that last letter from Ginny.

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Well, in a way, it's kind of Draco's fault. Since he started being able to talk to Harry, he's stopped telling Dearborn everything, and of course Dearborn does resent that.

As far as Harry is concerned, that letter is not important at all.

[hogwartshoney.livejournal.com]

Boy, I wish I was a fly on the wall in that hallway with H&D. Mmm mmm mmmmm gooooood.

I dislike Dearborn and distrust Lopez, but y'know, I never know where we all stand with your fics, so I'm just gonna wait to be wowed! ;o)

MOAR !

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm really glad that you liked the hallway scene.

[(Anonymous)]

Politesse is back! Yay...and him licking Harry's cheek is adorable. Can't wait to see him in action.

What a hot, honest kiss. And Harry admitting that he had no idea what he was doing, but was enjoying pleasing Draco is so Harry and yet so damn sexy all at once.

Dearborn and Portillo Lopez are acting odd and suspicious and in general shady. And those bracelets are already causing trouble...so much going on. Can't wait to see where all of this goes, and how you eventually wrap up their first year of training. We approach second year! Woo.

Did you know that on your ff-net profile, it says you wrote a James/Sirius? Did you mean Remus/Sirius, which I know you did write? And if you wrote a James/Sirius, can I read it? Lol.
Can't wait for the next update.
-Jolene

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Harry is trying desperately not to think about the fact that he has no experience with men. He's hoping boldness and pleasing Draco will make up for that.

I'm trying to show that both Dearborn and Portillo Lopez could have good motivations; it's just hard to trust them when Harry and Draco are in the position they're in.

If it says that, it's mistaken. I wrote a James/Scorpius.

[calmnla.livejournal.com]

Call me officially paranoid now. I don't trust Portillo-Lopez, I don't trust Dearborn, I don't trust Politesse (there was something irregular about how Harry got the dog-thingie). Not that Politesse isn't cute but few characters are what they seem to be in this story. The only ones I trust are Draco and Harry since we see their points of view. Hermione and Ron don't even get my full confidence.

If one of the boys wakes up and this was all a dream you would be in a world of trouble, you know.

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Harry definitely should have been a little less trusting about the person who gave him Politesse. But so far, the dog hasn't sprung any traps. And, of course, it's a bit of a stretch to say that whoever gave him to Harry would have known that he would give him to Draco instead of keeping him for himself.

I promise you that that will not happen. (In this story).

[yanagi-wa.livejournal.com]

All the infection is gone? Wonder what that means. And I'm not sure I like Dearborn. What's his problem? Great chapter

[lomonaaeren.livejournal.com]

Thank you!