Appearently Muggle Studies was something sixth years were required to take, as it was 'highly probable that in coming years, students will at some point have to deal with non-magical folk. Far be it for Hogwarts to lack in their education in anyway that could lead to disaster.' So Harry Potter was sitting in the Muggle Studies classroom with a particularly bored expression on his face listening to Ron rant on why his father hadn't had to take Muggle Studies while Draco Malfoy complained loudly that if he every had to deal with Muggles, he doubted he would need any knowledge on how they live as they all waited for the teacher. Harry transfered his gaze to the Slythrin side of the room where a few Gryffindors were engaging in not-so-friendly variety of friendly banter, and wondered why the powers that be insisted on placing Slythrin and Gryffindor together in the same room. Don't they ever learn?
"Alright, settle down settle down! Find your seats please!" Students slowly drifted back to their seats and looked with nothing short of contempt on most of the students parts and calm indifference or bordom of others. "Good morning! Welcome to Muggle Studies, I'm Professor Cecile, I'll be teaching this class-obviously. Now, I understand that some of you grew up in Muggle homes and all of this will be mostly known to you; for that reason I would much appreciate your aide during this class. Here is your syllabus for the year, we'll be doing a few major projects this year. The first symester will be practical and the second will be theoretical. There will be partnered assignments in this class and I will assign your seating. Let me tell you now that I did not attended Hogwarts and I have no sympathy for this fued of yours-I will not discrimante or pair you by your houses; be warned. Now, if you would turn to the index and find the chapter on household iteams...I believe it's the first chapter."
"When you come in tomorrow, do not take your seats, as I will have them assigned. Thank you for a good first class, enjoy potions and I will see you tomorrow. Class dismissed." The class was silent as it slowly packed and headed for the doors.
"Muggles are so stupid! I mean really...'telephone' what sort of awful contraption? Don't they know that the fireplace is faster?" Draco scoffed, turning his textbook upside down and making a face at the picture of the telephone. Hermione slapped a hand over Ron's mouth as he opened it to make a retort that would undoubtably start at least a verbal fight if not a physical one.
"Just don't say anything. Let's go, we're going to be late for potions." They walked up ahead of the Slythrin group that was headed in the same directions. Some evil person had also decided that the Gryffindors should have to suffer through yet another class with Slythrin, not to mention Care of Magical Creatures which was a double class as well.
Harry was accutely *not* looking foreword to Muggle Studies when he woke that morning and now he knew why. As fates would have, Harry Potter was seated next to Draco Malfoy on the right and Neville Longbottom on the left.
Just my luck. Someone up there doesn't like me. He decided finally, trying not to take in Draco's particularlly malicious smirk.
"Now, the person you are sitting next to will be your partner for the semester and quite possibly the year depending on wheather or not I feel like changing seating next semester. Starting with this side, pair off into twos."
Please let me be with Neville, please let me be with Neville...he never thought he would ever hope for that!
"Well, Harry it looks like we're partners." Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
"Please take into account people missing...Pansy is the only one, and her seat is...next to Mr. Longbottom." Harry felt the bottom drop out of his stomach and he whished he could sink through the floor.
"Sorry Harry. I guess we're not partners." If Harry had it in him at the moment he might feel sorry for Neville who now had to work with Pansy Parkinson. But he didn't, so he just sat there and felt sorry for himself.
"Well, well, well what do you know?" Draco sneered.
"Now, as you may or may not have noticed I've paired you so that at least one of you knows what's going on, and has some idea of Muggle procedure either by having grown up in a Muggle household or having taken the class before." All eyes turned to Neville who had actually taken the class twice already for no appearent reson.
"Now, we will be trying out the telephone today. Professor McGonngle has graciously offered to help as half of you will be leaving the room under her supervision. I am passing out sets of phone numbers and the demonstration, which is also a test will be going this way: Calls will start from this end, you will be display your ability to correctly use a telephone as demonstrated in class yesterday as well as in your text book. Your partner will pick up the other line and you will carry on a basic Muggle phone conversation; theme being thus: You don't know eachother, you've never met and you have five minutes in which to find out everything you possibly can about your partner. You'll be reporting what you've learned to the class tomorrow; if I do not find it sufficent you will be writting a full paper on it. When all calls are completed on this side, your partner will return your call and the process will be repeated. Any questions?" Draco raised his hand and Harry absolutely didn't like the look on his face.
"Do they absolutely *have* to answer?" He asked innocently enough.
"Since this is a 'hello nice to meet you' phone conversation they shouldn't have any need not to answer, so yes, they must answer. Any other questions? No? Alright, one of each pair are to go with Professor McGonnagle." Seeing Hermoine and Ron both headed toward the door, Harry jumped out of his seat and was out the door before Draco could protest.
"Who's your partner Harry?" Ron asked when he caught up to them
"Malfoy." Harry grumbled darkly.
"Sorry, mate. But don't feel too bad, we got stuck with Crabbe and Goyle. At least Malfoy can carry on a mildly intelligent-if not insulting-conversation that exceeds 'uh' in vocabulary." Hermione added a similar sentiment and they continued down the hall to the Transfigurations classroom where a number of telephones had been set up. Harry looked at the number on his card and found the phone with the same number on it before taking a seat in front of it, casting Ron and Hermione a nervous look and settling into wait for The Call. It had gained capitals somehow and he had a sinking feeling that this phone call was in someway going to change something important.
"All of you find the phone that correspondes to the number on your card." Cecile instructed, waiting until each had found their seats. "Mr. Longbottom? Since your partner is not here why don't you work on tonight's homework and you two can make this assignment up after class when she returns." The Professor suggested. Neville only shrugged; he had taken this test several times anyway and was confident that he would pass it fine. Mostly confident.
Draco stared at the phone for a minute and considered insinerating it just because he could, but decided against it and looked at the phone number again.
"Alright, you may start you call when you're ready. I'll be coming around at random." Draco watched in amusement for a moment as the Muggle born and those who grew up in Muggle households picked up the phone confidently and began to dail, while those like Crabbe were not quiet so confident. And those like Goyle were simply incompetant. His overweight bodyguard-as if he needed one-was punching in all the numbers fine. He simply hadn't picked up the receiver. Goyle sat back and waited for Hermione to talk to him, getting greatly confused and irrated when nothing happened. Sighing, Draco picked up the receiver and handed it to him.
"Now try." He suggested. Goyle beemed at him and gave him that stupid adoring look before slamming the keys in. Crabbe was carrying on a mostly 'um' conversation with Ron and many of his other classmates were glaring at the phone mistrustfully. Shaking his head slowly, Draco picked up the reciever and balanced it on his shoulder while he graceful dialled the number. Harry picked up after three rings.
//"Hello?"// He asked dully, but it seemed he was at least making a mild attempt at sounding interested. Maybe McGonnagle was right behind him.
"Hello, may I speak with Harry?" There was a sigh on the other line.
//"This is he."// Draco successfully stifled a laugh and continued the conversation.
"So, how are you?"
//"Fine. You?"//
"I'm doing well. Actually I had a few questions I would like to ask you. Is that alright?" The soft laughter from the other line was oddly pleasent. Maybe the telephone wasn't so bad; if it made talking to Potter half way pleasent it couldn't be all bad.
//"Sure."//
"So...what do you look like?"
//"Um...well I have green eyes, I wear glasses, dark hair, I'm about avarege height for my age...I guess that's it."// again that soft laughter. Draco found himself smiling despite himself.
"What do you do for fun?"
//"I play chess with my friend Ron, or I walk. Sometimes I play sports."// Sure "sometimes" Harry was on the Quidditch pitch every chance he got, but he wasn't about to say he played Quidditch during a Muggle phone call.
"Really? What's Ron like?" There was a choking sound from the other end.
//"Ron? Uh...Ron's awsome. He's got red hair and freckles and he's the best friend I could ever have. Him and Hermione."//
"Hermione? Is she your girlfriend?" He found that he was actually...enjoying this conversation and had even bypassed a chance to slam Ron.
//"Uh...no, she's not my girlfriend...I don't have a girlfriend."// That same soft amusement that lead Draco to believe he had some kind of secret.
"Really? Why? Not into girls?" Draco winced; that had come out much more snappish and sneering that he had wanted. He found that he was actually curious and had wanted to take advantage of Potter's talkative mood. There were of course rumors...but right now he was more worried about the silence on the other end of the line.
//"I'm not answering that, Malfoy. Ask something else."// Harry hissed at him. Draco sighed; so much for that.
"Why? Embarrased about your sexuality, P-Harry?" He just had to push it. Draco kept telling himself to stop, but he didn't.
//"That's not what this conversation is supposed to be about. Ask something else or I'm hanging up."// Harry warned, and Draco believed he would do it too.
"Fine if the issue of your sexuality really bothers you..." Dial tone. He had actually really been about to give it up. "He hung up on me..." He told the phone wonderingly before depressing the little silver pikes down and re-dailing.
//"Hello?"// This time his voice was tight and it was obvious he was angry.
"I wasn't going to say anything else about it you know." Draco told him conversationally. Silence. "So...have you seen any good...films...lately?" He could almost hear the confusion in Harry's voice when he said that he hadn't. "Well perhaps we can go see one sometime?" oh, god! Did he just ask Harry Potter on a date?
//"Um....did you just ask me on a date...Draco....?// Draco's heart slammed against his ribcage, but it was too late to take back what he said; in fact it would be quite tactless and unMalfoy-ish
"Yes, I suppose I did. What do you think?"
//"I don't think there are any theatres in this part..."// It should have ended there, it really should have.
"If we get permission from one of the teachers, we can floo into London and see one." It really *really* should have ended already; that's why of course it didn't.
//"Uh...Do they let students do that?"// Harry asked skeptically, obviously uncomfortable.
"Sure. Leon Miltsky took a girl into London last weekend. Sixth and seventh years are allowed to do that." Damnit, shut up, Draco Malfoy!
//"I...I have to go; Professor McGonnagle wants me off the phone...I'll talk to you later. Bye."// He sounded decidedly uncomfortable.
"Bye then. Talk to you in a little while." The line went dead again and Draco leaned back, chewing on his lower lip. He decided that telephones were evil; it must have been something with the telephone, because he certainly wouldn't have asked Harry Potter out on a date other wise.
Harry stared at the phone for a minute, unsure of what to think. His first thought was of course that Malfoy thought that was a normal Muggle conversation...well it sort of was. There was of course still that small doubt that maybe-just maybe-Malfoy was serious. Harry found that his stomach was in knots and couldn't decide if it was because he was abhorrid or if it was something else...
"You may all start your calls when you're ready." McGonnagle informed him. Harry waited a moment and listened to Hermione try to drag straight comprehensible answers out of Goyle while holding the phone away from her ear because the boy was screaming through the phone.
"Alright...I guess I have to call huh? Just stay away from any topics involving films." He whispered to himself, picking the reciever up and unconsciously balancing it on one shoulder while he dialed the number.
//"Hello?"// Draco answered immediatly.
"Is Draco there?" Harry asked tentively feeling accutely foolish.
//"This is he."// Draco couldn't stifle a laugh this time; it sounded so odd.
"So...how is everything....?"
//"Good."//
"Um...so what's your favorite subject in school?"
//"...."//
"Draco?"
//"Potions?"// Harry realized why Draco didn't want to answer and chuckled a little.
"Is that like home ec?"
//"Sure."// Harry nearly laughed trying to imagine Draco Malfoy sewing and cooking; it was an odd image to be sure.
"So what do you do in your spare time?"
//"I actually read a lot, write, play sports, listen to my *friends* plot against the other house at my boarding school."//
"How many houses are at your boarding school?"
//"Four. But our house is at a permanent war with another house. I'm sick of it to be honest...it exhuasts me..."// Harry was surprised to find there really was a tone of exhaustion there.
"Well, why don't you just not participate?" He found himself suggesting. Draco snorted.
//"Yah...right. I wouldn't make it through the rest of this year if I stopped participating. Everyone does, my house is big on pride and everyone at least has to sit and listen if not help with all the pranks. And we definitely couldn't be nice or even *civil* to the members of the other house."//
"That doesn't sound pleasent."
//"They're just as bad."// Harry opened his mouth to protest, but closed it seeing the timer above his phone approaching four minutes.
"Do you think there's anyway to stop the fued?"
//"Maybe. But both houses are far to stubborn. It would take a long time."// He sighed again.
"Well, it's about time for me to go. It was nice talking to you...Draco." And Harry was shocked to find that it was.
//"Harry?"//
"Yes?"
//"Think about that...film, okay?"// and before he could respond, the line went dead. Harry pulled the phone away from his ear and just looked at it; there had been something in Draco's voice that had suggested that he was quite serious.
McGonnagle lead them back to their classroom and left to finish out the rest of her break. Harry carefully slid into his seat, not meeting Draco's eyes, but then again, he hadn't made an attempt to do so either. Both sat quietly and waited for the rest of the class to calm down.
"Well," Cecile began "I was extrememly impressed with some of your conversations..." he looked around the room, his eyes momentairly resting on groups-Harry was surprised to find that he and Draco were one such group. "and not quite so impressed with others." he rather displeased expression settled on other groups, Crabbe and Goyle included. "Oh, and Harry, Draco if you would please stay after class?" All in all they only had about ten minutes left in said class so Cecile allowed them to start on their homework. A full composite of Muggle phone courtesy, the uses of the telephone, it's history etc.. Quite boring really.
"Do you want me to stay with you...for moral support?"
"I'll be fine, Ron! I'll see you in potions, okay?" With a few more worried glances, Ron left the room and made his way to potions.
"You wanted to see us, Professor?" Draco questioned when they reached the front desk.
"Yes, I did. Have a seat boys." They pulled chairs from nearby desks and sat, shifting uncomfortably. "I must say that I was particularly impressed with your phone conversation, what I heard of it anyway. I was also rather intrigued by Mr. Malfoy's idea of going out to see a movie. If you boys would be willing to write a short report on the theatre-you know, seating, concession, the way Muggles interact that sort of thing. I would be willing to offer you a substantial amount extra credit. What do you say?" Harry's world spun. First Draco Malfoy asks him out on a date, then his teacher asks him to go? He almost suspected that Snape would award Gryffindor points that day just because it would make a perfectly off balance weird day complete.
"Can we think about it?"
"Yes of course...it would have to be by...well the end of this week. But yes, think about it. But just a warning; I don't extra credit very often, in fact almost never. So keep that in mind."
"So what do you think?" Draco asked, stopping in the hall as he tucked the excuse he had recieved from Professor Cecile into his pocket while Harry did the same. He leaned against a wall.
"I don't know...this is all really wierd...no offense intended, but you and I really aren't suposed to date. What would your house think of that?" His tone implied that while his house wouldn't be *happy* they wouldn't ruin him for it.
"Do you care?"
"Care about what?"
"About what other people think?" Harry looked at him; looked at his eyes. He was completely sincere as far as Harry could tell.
"No. But do you?" Draco shook his head without saying a word.
"Just think about it okay? But like Professor Cecile doesn't give extra credit often, I don't give second chances. Don't say no and change your mind and expect me to accept. Just think about it." With that, he pushed himself off the wall and began walking, but seemed to remember something and turned back. Without warning, he brought his lips to Harry's in a soft chaste kiss.
"See you in potions." He whispered into the other boy's mouth before turning and walking toward the dungeons. This time he didn't look back. Harry followed.
"Mr. Potter, so glad you could join us. I would personally like to know how you are here three minutes later than Mr. Malfoy when you supposedly left at the same time? Think that just because you have an excuse you can wandering the halls and come to class when ever you feel like it?" Harry said nothing, he knew that saying anything would only get *more* points taken from Gryffindor.
"Professor? We didn't leave at the same time. Professor Cecile only wrote the notes at the same time. Potter stayed after I left." The room went deathly silent as Severus Snape serveyed his favorite student, eyes narrowing. Draco Malfoy was *defending* Harry Potter.
"Well...that explains it, I'm sure. Take your seat Mr. Potter." He returned to the black board looking positively confused; probably wondering if he were in some kind of dream.
"Wow. That was nearly as good as Snape *awarding* us points." Ron commented quietly when he sat down.
"What did you feed him, Harry?" Hermione added, tossing nervous glances towards the head of the room. Harry shrugged.
"Maybe he's just as tired of fighting as I am." His friends fell silent.