A Protective Werewolf and Possessive Boyfriend
The buzz of the last task was obvious around the school, well the buzz for the other three champions, it seems his win against the others just caused the other houses to hate him even more for taking more attention away from the true Hufflepuff champion. Cedric was adamant that he had done nothing wrong and that the others were being stupid but every time he saw one of those potter stinks badges, he felt more and more guilty.
Currently he was sitting in his quarters doing a defence lesson with Remus, never having went back to Moody’s class after the last incident, but he knew the man could tell his mind was elsewhere.
“Harry, what’s wrong? You have been looking at the last question for the past 15 minutes and I know you aren’t stuck with the question.”
“Sorry, lost in thought I guess but everything is fine.” He gave a weak smile and tried to go back to his work, but Remus placed a comforting hand on his arm.
“It’s perfectly alright if you don’t feel comfortable telling me what is bothering you and I will never push you to speak with me, but please don’t lie to me that you are fine when it is obvious something is bothering you. Severus is in his lab if you want to speak with him about whatever it is.”
“Sorry, it’s not that I am not comfortable talking to you because I am it is just that I know it is stupid for me to let this thing bother me.”
“If it upsets you then it isn’t stupid, it doesn’t matter if it is a tiny issue, if it upsets you then it is valid.”
“It’s these badges.” He sighed. “Every time I look at one, I feel guilty because everyone that is hating on me is taking the attention away from them celebrating Cedric. He is the true champion for Hogwarts, but everyone is more focused on making it obvious they don’t support me instead of just actually supporting Cedric. Also, I don’t particularly enjoy seeing how much everyone hates me every time I walk through the corridors, I didn’t actually do anything wrong. I didn’t enter this willingly.”
“This situation in not fair to you at all, I wish everyone could get it into their thick skulls that you didn’t enter this willingly but unfortunately, I also know how stubborn people can be about seeing the truth. I know it is easier said than done but you really don’t need to feel guilty about Cedric because I know after teaching that boy last year that the last thing he would want is everyone fawning over him so in some twisted way you have actually helped him, but these badges are ridiculous, are people even being punished for them?”
“Well, the professors have banned them in the classrooms and if anyone does wear one then they receive a detention and lose ten house points but within the corridors nothing really happens unless it is Severus or McGonagall that catches them. Severus has been destroying them whenever he catches someone wearing one and is trying to get Dumbledore to ban them, but the old man is under the impression that he can’t take away the students right to express themselves.”
“That is complete bullshit, seriously, the right to express themselves. Expressing yourself is having a different hair cut or colour or wearing make-up or changing your clothes not bullying another a student. Nope I’m not standing for this, at dinner I am coming up and confiscating all the badges, I am not employed here so it is not like they can fire me. What makes it even better is that Dumbledore has a speech planned for tonight so when he silences everyone I can just cut in and say my part.”
“Will he not question why you are at dinner?”
“I come to visit Severus quite often, granted we normally eat down here but because of tonight’s speech all the heads are required to be up there. I was going to leave before dinner, but I will go up and make some excuse. I am not leaving here until this is sorted.”
“Thank you for doing this.”
“I just wish Severus had said something sooner, obviously he can’t openly oppose Dumbledore because he works here but I could have done this ages ago. Now, are you feeling better to finish off your work for today or would you prefer to leave it for another day?”
“I will finish it off, now that we have a plan, I think I can focus a bit more.”
***
He couldn’t stop fidgeting at dinner, impatiently waiting for Dumbledore to get up and for Remus to interrupt. His friends were giving him concerned looks but he just waved them off, looking over at the staff table every so often until finally he saw Dumbledore stand.
“Hello all if I could just take a moment of your time please.” The headmaster announced, everyone going quiet to listen but as he expected instead of Dumbledore continuing Remus stood up and started to speak.
“Sorry headmaster but if you don’t mind I actually have something I would like to say to the students.” Remus didn’t even wait for Dumbledore to answer before addressing the students. “Hello all, most of you will remember me as your defence teacher last year.” Here the hall broke into applause, Remus having been the best defence professor in a long time(and also didn’t place students under unforgivable curses which was a win). “I would just like to bring something to everyone’s attention, I was visiting and I have seen a lot of badges around the school and honestly I find them repulsive so if you are an owner of one of these badges I want you to take it off and place it at the front of the room.” No one moved a muscle. “Alright then you want to do this the hard way, either you take the badge off and place it at the front or I will activate the spell that will set them all on fire right now and watch as your robes catch on fire.” There was a commotion as everyone who owned a badge raced to the front and dropped it before speeding back to their seats. “Now that wasn’t so hard was it and it better stay this way. If I return and find these badges in circulation again then you will not enjoy the repercussions.” Remus set the pile of badges on fire before sitting back down, the fire still burning. The flash of amber in Remus’s normally kind eyes was what sealed the threat for everyone, none of them stupid enough to oppose an angry werewolf.
“Erm thank you Remus, although next time I would prefer a method that doesn’t involve burning down the castle.” Dumbledore tried to joke sending a spell to dowse the flames and to vanish the ashy remains of the badges.“Now if there isn’t any more interruptions I would appreciate being allowed to finish my speech. In a few weeks time we will be hosting a Yule Ball for all the schools, in preparation for this event all of your heads of houses will be running dance lessons so you can put your best foot forward. If any student from our visiting schools would wish to join this activity they are welcome to attend any of the houses lessons. The schedules shall be posted on the notice boards of your houses. In addition to the Ball, the castle will be decorated tonight to get everyone into the festive spirit, if you have any suggestion please feel free to tell a member of staff. You may now return to your meals.” Dumbledore sat down giving Remus a rather disapproving look but the man simply smirked and continued eating.
***
There first dance lesson was scheduled today and he couldn’t think of anything worse to do. Not only was he completely inept when it came to dancing but currently Draco was in a bit of a pissy mood meaning the lesson would be even more unbearable.
Draco was being pissy due to the unfortunate amount of times he had ended up trapped under the mistletoe next to another member of there friend group and despite the amount of times he assured Draco he didn’t enjoy having to kiss any of their friends, the blonde would not stop pouting.
And of course with his luck, he was trapped under the mistletoe this time with Blaize as they had been heading from transfiguration to the ball room for their dance lesson. He could see Draco sending daggers at Blaize’s back as the rest of their friends were cheering them on so he quickly pecked the other boys lips before stepping forward sending an apologetic look at Draco. His apology didn’t provide much comfort by the looks of it because Draco looked about ready to explode before storming over to him and slamming their mouths together. It took him a minute to get his bearing’s back before he returned the kiss slightly less aggressively than the blonde.
“You are mine.” Draco growled after drawing back, his lips feeling swollen.
“I know, I wasn’t happy about having to kiss Blaize.”
“Heyyy.” The boy in questioned shouted.
“Erm so is no one going to question the fact that Draco just full on molested Harry in the corridor.” Pansy asked looking between everyone.
“It was obvious they were going to get together at some point.” Theo shrugged.
“I already knew, Harry complained to me for weeks about Draco being distant then next minute they were closer than ever. It didn’t take long to figure out why.” Hermione giggled.
“Well now that you know he is mine, you may all avoid him while walking in corridors so you are nowhere near him under the mistletoe thank you.” Draco clasped his hand and dragged him along on the way to the ball room.
“I guess we are even now about me telling Severus.” He whispered to Draco who just smirked at squeezed his hand tighter.
Their friends were still talking about them once they reached the hall and took seats on the benches at the side of the room, however the conversation stopped when Krum and Fleur sat down next to them.
“Do you guys mind if we join, I could use some brushing up on my dance skills and your house seems the least likely to harass us.” Fleur asked.
“Of course we don’t mind, couldn’t allow my fellow champions to be left fending for themselves in the lions den now could I?”Fleur and Krum smiled and sat down next to them just in time for the hall doors to slam open.
“Listen up everybody.” Severus called entering the room. “I do not have any time for any nonsense or carry on, we are here to learn to dance and that is what you shall do. The Yule ball will start at 8pm on Christmas Day and finish at midnight and dress robes shall be required, this dance is a chance to have fun and connect with other houses and schools but that will not relax my standards for behaviour, if I find that a Slytherin has behaved in any way that isn’t appropriate I will be most displeased. Now onto todays lesson, I will have no immaturity about having to touch someone’s hand or waist and I will have no bullying against being partnered with anyone. If you are genuinely uncomfortable about being partnered with anyone in this room then speak to me privately and I will make sure you are not paired with this person. You shall start with a partner of your choosing and then we will cycle through the room as you need to be able to dance with anyone despite any differences in height. Now first I will have a volunteer to demonstrate the moves with me, Harry do you mind coming up to join me?”
Self consciously he walked up and joined his guardian in the centre of the room. “I don’t know how to dance at all, I’m going to make a fool of myself.”
“Don’t worry, I will lead you through it and it could be worse, Ron Weasley was singled out by Minerva and the twins are sure to spread this knowledge throughout the school.” Severus whispered sniggering before going back to addressing the room. “Now, Harry can you place one hand on my shoulder and grasp my hand while I place my other hand on your waist. For the lead, which is me in this case the steps are as follows: forward with left foot; forward with right foot to bring it parallel to the left; bring your left foot to you right foot; step back with you right foot; step back with left foot to bring it parallel to the right; bring your right foot to your left foot. For the follower, Harry in this case the steps are: step back with right foot; step back with left so it’s parallel bring right foot to left foot; step forward with left; step forward with right so it’s parallel; bring left foot to right foot. It may sound difficult but once you get into it, it is easy to follow. Ready Harry.”
He nodded nervously as music started to play and Severus started moving. He paid more attention to his feet rather than where he was going but he managed to get through all the steps without falling over or stepping on his guardians toes so he counted it as a win. They went through the steps about 5 times before Severus stopped and the music paused.
“That was just a short example to show you what you had to do and for Harry’s first time I think he done a marvellous job so everyone give him a round of applause for being a good sport and then get yourself partnered up.”
He went straight over to Draco and found a space in the room with the rest of their friends paired around them. Theo had went with Tracey; Blaize had went with Daphne; Pansy had went with Millicent and Krum had went with Fleur. Once again music started playing and they went through the steps, Draco leading perfectly as he stumbled through the motions.
“How are you so good at this and I have two left feet?” He whined.
“I have been doing social dancing since birth, of course I’m going to be more experienced. Anyway you aren’t doing too bad you are just focusing too much just relax and give into the music and you will get the hang of it.”
“I don’t want to step on you feet though.”
“You won’t just trust me, relax and follow my lead.”
He took a deep breath and managed to relax his whole body as Draco started up again and surprisingly it worked, he still messed up a few parts but he done much better than his previous attempts and was just starting to feel more comfortable when they had to switch partners to their left which ended up with him being paired with Theo.
“Draco isn’t going to kill me for dancing with you is he?” Theo asked cautiously.
“Hahaha very funny.” He replied sarcastically.
“Seriously though are you going to go with him to the ball, not that there is anything wrong with it, it’s just what about all the reporters and that.”
“We haven’t actually talked about it, I would rather go with him and deal with the backlash than have to pick someone else though. He doesn’t deserve to be hidden away like a dirty secret.”
“Thank you.” Theo said confusing him, the boy elaborating once seeing his face. “Me and Draco have been friends since we were kids, he was very self conscious about coming to Hogwarts in case people used him for his money or blacklisted him because of false information about his parents. That answer to just have me shows me how perfect you are for each other.”
With Theo’s words in his head about Dracos insecurity he constructed a plan of how to show the blonde how much he truly wanted to show off his boyfriend at the ball.