Guarding and Sorting
Harry POV
The walk back to the Griffindor common room seemed endless, yet far too short. Running a hand through his hair, Harry debated turning around and racing back to Professor Snape's office and finding Draco. Shaking his head, Harry tossed those thoughts out of his mind; there would be time later to figure things out. Forcing himself to walk up the stairs to the tower, Harry swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. With a raspy voice, Harry whispered, "Grindylow," and the portrait swung open, revealing the place he once considered his safe haven: now turned personal hell.
His eyes flicked around the darkened common room before taking a deep breath and moving up the stairs to his dorm. Once there, he walked to his bed and collapsed onto it.
"Merlin's beard! Why was his life always so hard?"
Within moments, he was fast asleep.
Draco's POV
Draco trudged down the hallway with Theo by his side. He tried not to let the conversation in his Papa's office go to his head, but it was hard.
"Papa had stated that he would find a way for Harry and me to spend time together and be together after classes and at night at the very least," he reminded himself.
Draco fiddled with the newly placed Queen's ring on his finger. It was a dainty little thing, initially intended for a woman to wear, but later adjusted as the pureblood circles, and consequently, the Wizarding World, became more open and accepting. The ring was small and silver, with the Slytherin house crest embossed upon its round face, two small emeralds made up the eyes of the snake upon the crest, and a short edge of diamonds circled round it. Running his hands over the diamonds, Draco let himself relax in the knowledge that he was safe and that he would be taken care of.
Their footsteps seemed to thunder in Draco's ears as they walked closer to the common room. Theo soon led them into a sharp turn and whispered the password to the dorms, "Pygmy puff," and the door swung open, letting them step inside.
Being led to the large seats in the center of the common room, Draco sat down and opened one of his favorite books that were always on the side table, The Princess Bride .
Letting his fingers slide over the familiar bumps of the well-read novel, Draco let himself get lost in the story he knew far too well. As the story developed under his fingers, the images grew in his mind's eye, playing out in a series of scenes. So distracted by the book was he that he missed the sound of footsteps as they approached the dais he was seated upon. A spell snatched the book out of his grasp as a hand came to circle his throat. Startled, Draco froze for a moment before growling and grabbing the hand wrapped now around his neck.
"My Queen-" came Theo's voice, but Draco held up his free hand, silencing the boy.
With a nonverbal spell, he caused his neck to heat up like metal in a forge, smirking when his attacker released his neck with a yelp. Grabbing the hand, he twisted it backward until he heard the person cry out once more,
"Don't try me. I may no longer be king, but that does not mean I'm not stronger than you."
Theo's voice came in just then, "attempt to lay hands on your queen once more, and you shall face the wrath of your king mark my words." Theo's footsteps approached whoever was in front of Draco.
"Come, my friend, I believe we must teach you a lesson in house unity."
Draco let go of the person with a smirk, sitting back against the chair and summoning the book back into his lap. He felt rather than heard Blaize step up into the place Theo had once been.
"My Q-"
" Blaise, you know you call me Draco. Don't make me reinforce it like I did first-year, "
Blaise chuckled, "Very well, Draco. Just know I have taken up Theo's place while we wait for him to return from his...ahh conversation with Mr. Flint."
"Hmm, very well. Flint, huh? He was always a slimy bastard, grabbing higher than his station." Draco shook his head and returned to his book.
Theo tapped Draco's shoulder a few hours later, "Majesty, " he murmured, "It is time for bed. Curfew will hit soon, and Professor Snape can give you detention, Queen or not." Draco nodded and stood up, marking his place in the book before gently taking Theo's elbow and allowing him to lead them to Draco's chambers, well, Harry's room, but whatever.
Theo led Draco to the door before informing him that he would be standing guard outside and leaving, closing the door behind him. Draco walked into the bathroom and began his nightly ablutions. Walking to the bed, Draco flopped onto the silk sheets, burying his face into the pillow wishing above all that Harry we were with him.
Severus POV
The fire crackled softly, the orange glow highlighting Severus' face as he read the book rested in his lap. A few editions of Hogwarts rule books sat open on the floor before him, the most recent one currently open on his lap.
"Nothing in here said anything against switching houses for bond mates!" Severus realized, "or winning the castle's favor!"
Perfect. Now to put his plan into action. Severus rose from his winged back chair and began the long trek to the headmaster's office.