Oriens Ex Cinere

Chapter One

AN: Lavender's, Michael's Lisa's and Anthony's blood status is not mentioned in the books so I'm making them half-blood. Also I am planning for this to be multi-chaptered as in I have writer four chapters thus far and I will be putting them up weekly, so it gives me four weeks to write more or finish it!! If there's anything you want to see happen let me know and I might be able to fit it in otherwise enjoy!

"Love? We have to write an essay on love?"

"Sweet Merlin, he's worse than Lockhart!"

Ron sniggered at Harry whilst Hermione shot them a dirty look returning her attention to the lecture.

"...muggle poem in class next week. For those that don't know muggle literature you will be partnered with someone who does, there are muggle books here for you to read and pick your poem from. I shall call the purebloods first so there is no confusion: Ernie Macmillan and Lisa Turpin, Ron Weasley and Anthony Goldstein, Gregory Goyle and Michael Corner, Neville Longbottom and Justin Finch-Fletchley, Daphne Greengrass and Terry Boot, Millicent Bulstrode and Lavender Brown, Theodore Nott and Seamus Finnegan, Pansy Parkinson and Dean Thomas, Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger and finally; Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter."

Ron clapped Harry on the shoulder as he stood making his way to where Anthony was sitting, Harry turned to Hermione and held out his hand she took it and together they made their way to the back corner where Blaise and Draco were; making no effort to move.

Hermione kissed Harry's cheek "be nice" before she made her way to the left side of the desk where Blaise was, pulling a chair out and sitting down next to him. Harry glanced at Draco before pulling a chair around so the back faced Draco and the seat towards Harry, straddling the chair Harry put his arms over the back of it and looked at Draco.

"So."

"So?" Draco echoed.

"So, what do we do now?"

"You pick poems from these books Mr Potter and you chose one to perform to the class, you practice with your partner and you get to know your partner and if you were listening Mr Potter then you would know that the essay you write on love must include your views as well as those of your partner. So right now you discuss your definitions of love."

Harry nodded at the Professor who dropped two books on their desks before moving on, when he was out of earshot Harry's head dropped onto the desk which caused Draco to chuckle.

"Alright Potter let's get this over with, how do you define love?"

Harry groaned "why do we have to do general studies? Why make it compulsory now? We have a year left it does not matter!"

"You're avoiding the question."

Looking at Draco, Harry raised his eyebrow "sacrifice. Love is sacrifice. Your turn."

Licking his lips Draco was intrigued to see Harry's eyes follow the motion, "love is sex," Draco enjoyed the hitching breath that came from Harry, "love is passion and like you said, love is sacrifice."

Harry drew a breath to calm himself, "I think we have very different ideas about what sacrifice is, you seem to think it's giving up the role of top so your partner can top you. My idea of sacrifice is giving up your life for one person, giving everything and taking nothing in return."

Draco could help but lean forward as Harry leant in closer their eyes never leaving the other and Draco couldn't have torn his eyes away from Harry's intense green eyes. When they were so close that their noses brushed, Draco retaliated.

"Why would you waste away for someone else? Why sacrifice yourself so intensely that they get stronger as you get weaker?"

"No you see it's not mutually exclusive as you give yourself up for them, they sacrifice themselves for you and you get stronger and weaker together. You sacrifice yourself so the other will survive, and they sacrifice themselves for you, so you will survive."

Both boys were panting and their cheeks were flushed, Harry fought down the urge to kiss Draco and Draco was helpless and unable to look away as Harry's eyes slowly turned black, it seemed as if his pupil expanded so that no green remained. The skin around his mouth started to turn gold and the rest of his face a deep scarlet, Draco was so shocked he shoved himself away from Harry whose eyes widened and he stood, leaving his bag and work behind Harry ran out of the classroom.

Draco's eyes were wide with fear and shock as he stared at where Harry was, he didn't notice the whispering that shrouded the classroom nor did he notice Professor Renny shut the door behind Harry but Draco did notice the hand Blaise placed on his shoulder and he tilted his head up and looked into warm chocolate brown eyes.

Frowning, Draco felt his brain catching up, Blaise didn't have brown eyes he didn't have bushy hair either, looking down slightly he realised Blaise was beside him but Granger was in front.

"Are you alright Malfoy?"

He nodded dazedly, "I think so."

"Good. Listen Zabini can we continue this tonight? In the library?" Not waiting for Blaise to do more than nod she continued on "good, you come too Malfoy, Harry will be fine by then."

Hermione then rushed to put Harry's things in his bag before placing it over the shoulder which didn't have her bag, turning around she was at the door Ron by her side instantly and the two left together closing the door firmly behind them shutting in the excited chatter which filled the classroom.

XXXX

The Common Room is quiet as the few students who are there mope about; the majority of the house was in the library or around the grounds, they only go down to Slytherin to sleep not wanting to be associated with the Death Eaters, dark magic and dungeons.

The door opened and Draco and Blaise sauntered in, Draco tilting his head towards the boys' dorm and Pansy, Greg, Millicent and Daphne with Draco and Blaise in tow made their way up to the Seventh Year Boys Dormitory. Everybody had been held back a year due to the lack of teaching under the Carrows' reign so there was twice the amount of first years.

The six friends found purchase on each of the beds; Draco sat on his with Blaise next to him as Pansy and Daphne were on Blaise's bed whilst Greg held Millicent in his arms on his bed. Vincent's bed was untouched and empty in the corner.

They sat in silence nobody wanted to bring attention to the elephant in the room, "well what happened to Potter, Draco?"

Glaring at Daphne who chucked at pillow at him, which he held onto, Draco sighed "I don't know."

"Well what did you see?"

"His eyes. Oh sweet Merlin his beautiful green eyes turned black."

None of his friends batted an eyelid at Draco's talk of Potter being beautiful they were used to him lamenting over Potter.

"Black? Are you sure?"

"Of course he's sure Pans, they were inches away from each other. Any closer and you'd have been snogging him Drake."

Shooting a half-hearted glare Greg's way Draco just hugged the pillow closer to himself and stared at the floor. The other five exchanged worried glances, this was unusual Draco always had something to say, insulting or not.

"Maybe he changed."

"Obviously Millie, no one's the same after the war."

"No Blaise, he changed transformed. He became something not human."

It was those two words which scared Draco the most not human. His head shot up as Pansy gasped harshly.

"Vampires have black eyes. Maybe he had to leave before he could suck another student's blood."

"Don't be so stupid Pans," Draco chastised.

"Not so hasty Drake, she has a point be careful around Potter. Try not to let your dick rule your head."

Rolling his eyes and squaring his shoulders Draco stood "c'mon we should get to the library I'd like to do some homework before Potter and Granger show up."

XXXX

Harry and Hermione arrived at the library, sans Ron, to find their general studies partners surrounded by the rest of the Slytherin Seventh Years.

There was an empty chair between Draco and Pansy, Daphne next to Pansy then an empty chair and Blaise, then Millicent and Greg next to Draco completing the circle.

Raising his eyebrows Harry exchanged a look with Hermione before they moved apart to sit next to their partners.

"You alright, Potter?"

Harry turned, his wide eyes meeting Draco's calm gaze and Harry nodded. "I'm fine" he spoke a bit brusquely and winced so he softened his tone and lightly touched Draco's forearm "thank you."

Draco nodded the relief on his face not just due to the fact that Harry's eyes were green again, "shall we get this over with?"

"Right," Harry slid his hand off Draco's arm and he picked up his quill "poem or essay?"

*

Across the table Hermione watched the exchange with narrowed eyes.

"He won't hurt him."

"Pardon, Zabini?"

Blaise's smile was wry "Draco won't hurt Potter."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know Draco. He, let's just say he takes an interest in Potter and hurting him is detrimental to what Draco wants."

Nodding her head her suspicious expression melted into a smile.

*

After an hour or so of flicking through the poetry book Harry still hadn't found anything and Pansy and Daphne's whispered argument was getting annoying.

"It's Expecto Patronum for crying out loud. It feeds off a happy memory the castor conjures in their mind and the corporeal patronus takes the form of an animal and is able to repel dementors." Huffing in annoyance Harry stood and stomped off between the shelves.

"Sorry about him, he's been a tad moody lately."

The table's inhabitants turned their attention from where Harry disappeared to Hermione, "but he is right. Ask him tomorrow and he might show you his patronus and even show you how to make one."

Hermione smiled at Draco as he slithered out of his seat and went off in the same direction Harry had.

*

"It happens more often Mione," Harry said and Draco thought he sounded scared.

"I'm not Hermione."

Gulping Draco stood his ground as Harry whirled around, his eyes angry so Draco held up his hands in surrender.

"Look I don't want to hurt you, but we could help. Whatever it is that happens to you I'm sure Granger has researched but she won't have our resources."

Narrowing his eyes Harry scrutinised Draco before "she's not found anything."

Draco took a step closer and put his hand on Harry's shoulder, "I'm sure she looked in the Black Library, the Parkinson and Bulstrode libraries are the same size but the Zabini and Malfoy libraries are double. We can help," he squeezed the shoulder he was holding and looked into Harry's eyes sincerity shining through.

For a moment it looked as if Harry was going to say yes but he shook his head, "just because we're working together on love doesn't mean we have to fall."

Harry pushed passed Draco, whose hand just dropped off Harry to hang limply by his side and when the footsteps had faded the words escaped his mouth whispered before he could stop them "I'm not falling Harry. I've fallen."

After a few more minutes Draco made his way back to the table he nodded to assure his friends he was fine, but they knew he wasn't. Draco glanced at Harry sadly but Harry ignored him and kept flicking through the book of poems, Daphne in an attempt to get Draco away from Harry asked "Draco? Can you help me?"

Standing from his seat Draco gracefully made his way around the back of Harry's chair and around the table to where Daphne was sitting, Draco crouched down next to her and they started talking quietly. Harry watched them from under his fringe and noticed Draco seemed sad and hurt emanated from his grey eyes when Draco looked up to catch Harry staring.