Thank you for all the kind reviews.
Special thanks to harryherm84 who pointed out a spelling error.
====================================================================================
Chapter 7: Revelations
That evening, Harry was sitting in his favorite chair by the fire in the Gryffindor common room idly tearing apart an old quill and tossing the pieces into the fire. He had just returned from a quick chat with Professor Dumbledore where he had explained what Malfoy had shown him. Professor Dumbledore had listened quietly and once Harry had finished his story, he told Harry that he was going to inform Professor Snape immediately. Harry began to protest, but Dumbledore gave Harry a twinkling smile and assured him that Professor Snape had experience in this type of situation. Dumbledore also told Harry that he would not tell Snape that Harry told him about Draco's problem. Harry knew that he should be relieved that Professor Dumbledore would be taking care of things, but he was still very disturbed by what Draco had shown him. Harry suddenly realized that he had completely ruined his quill and disgustedly threw its remains into the fire. He got up, went upstairs to his dormitory, and sat down on his bed. He was just wondering when everyone would be back from dinner when Ron walked in.
"You look like someone pissed in your pudding." Harry shrugged but didn't answer so Ron pressed on. "What did Dumbledore say about Malfoy?"
"He said that he was going to tell Snape and let him handle it", Harry said.
Ron's face flushed and he had just opened his mouth to begin what Harry was sure would tirade against Professor Snape when the rest of their dorm-mates walked into the room.
Ron's mouth closed with a soft snap as Neville and Dean greeted him and Harry. Seamus paused at the doorway, looked out, then firmly shut the door and locked it.
Seamus turned to face the room, a jovial grin on his face, and called to Harry, "So you finally shagged Parvati, huh? Took you long enough."
Harry turned a furious glance at Ron, but Seamus continued, "Oh, don't look at Ron, Harry. He didn't tell me, Lavender did at dinner just now. I'm sure you know by now that we're dating, don't you? Well she and Parvati are best friends so naturally they know each other's secrets. So, how was she? Is she a screamer? I always thought she looked like a screamer."
Neville turned to Seamus, "You're serious? Shit! When did it happen?"
"Today, just before dinner," Seamus answered.
"Who won the pool?" Neville asked.
"Lemme check," Seamus said and crossed the room to his trunk and began to rummage around in it.
Harry was stunned, "Pool? What pool?"
Dean smiled kindly at Harry "The pool on when Parvati would pop your cherry, of course."
"WHAT?" Harry looked to Ron who shrugged, then back to Seamus who had just emerged from his trunk with several pieces of parchment he began to pore over.
Neville laughed at Harry's expression and said, "We didn't tell Ron, Harry. We knew that he would eventually break and tell you."
"How many people knew about this? How did you know? What the fuck?" Harry was starting to get angry now.
Seamus, still scanning parchment, said, "Calm down, mate. No worries. To answer your first question: all us guys in Gryffindor, and most of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs as well. We never told those wankers the Slytherins. To answer your second question: we" he gestured to Neville, Dean and himself, "have known since third year that Parvati would be your first. When you asked her to the Yule Ball fourth year, we all thought that was it but, you let us down. See, Parvati is gifted at Divination and one of the first things she `saw' was that she was going to make you a man. She knew it would happen, she just didn't know when. Once I found out from Lav, I told Dean and he came up with the idea for the pool. It just sort of grew from there. Let's see…" Seamus was peering intently at the piece of parchment in his hand. "Oh no! That wing-nut Justin Finch-Fletchley won. Oh, he's going to be nauseating."
Harry's face began to flush with anger. Dean said calmingly, "Easy, Harry. It was all in fun. We never meant for anyone to get hurt. I don't see why you're getting all bent out of shape. We've all been rooting for you. Actually, it's a relief to finally tell you."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better is it!" Harry shouted as he felt rage coursing through him. "WHY THE FUCK AM I THE LAST TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY OWN FUCKING LIFE?"
Everyone froze. Neville ventured timidly, "We never thought you'd be mad, Harry, honest."
Harry stormed to the door blind with rage. He began tugging furiously at the door handle. "I have to get out of here!" he hissed pulling repeatedly at the door, his frustration rising.
Seamus stepped towards him. "Harry, the door's locked. Just calm down."
Harry took half a step back from the door and made a slashing motion across his chest with his right hand. The dormitory door exploded with such force, their hinges were torn from the walls and went caroming down to the common room in a hail of mortar, dust and wood fragments. Harry ran down the stairs and out the portrait hole as all the other Gryffindor dormitory doors opened to see what was going on.
Ron, Dean, Neville and Seamus stood looking at one another stunned by what they had just seen. People began to appear on the landing to inspect the damage and speculate on the cause. Dean was the first to recover and said, "That could have gone better. Ron, maybe you should make sure he is OK. We'll explain this", he gestured at the ruined doorway.
Ron walked stiffly across the room kicking debris out of his way. He stopped and turned "You three had better put your heads together and think up a way to make this up to him or I'll curse you and have you running backwards through the nearest cornfield naked." Ron turned and pushed his way through the crowd to pursue his best friend so he missed watching the blood drain from his dorm-mates faces.
When he wants to be alone, why does he always go upstairs? Ron mused as he paused for breath on the long winding staircase. As Ron stepped into the Owlry, the crisp December air enveloped him and he felt as if he had just plunged into icy water. He shivered with the cold as he approached the crouching shadow before him. "Harry?"
Harry looked at Ron and sighed. "Yeah. Sorry I yelled." Ron gestured to Harry's glasses, which were dangling limply in Harry's hand. "They fogged up".
"You know, Harry, this really isn't a big deal."
"I know. It's just, well, because it's me it will be a big deal. It'll probably be front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow".
Ron smiled, "Nah, they wouldn't run that story without a juicy photo. Witch Weakly or the Quibbler will probably run the story first." Both Harry and Ron chuckled at the thought. "Look, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Parvati is hot! I wouldn't mind a quick romp with her myself. Just look at it this way, any guy who ribs you is just jealous and the same probably goes for the girls as well."
"What? No way", Harry said firmly.
"Think so do you? I bet plenty of girls here would have jumped, pardon the pun, at the chance at taking your virginity. You should really be grateful that you got popped by a major hottie and not a bull dyke like Millicent Bulstrode!"
"Ugh! I guess you're right. I just didn't want her to find out about Parvati and I like this."
Ron looked intently at Harry in the darkness, "'Her' who?" he asked slyly.
"What?" Harry asked evasively.
Ron was sure that if he could see better that Harry would be blushing. "You said you `didn't want her to find out' that way."
"I meant `them', you know, as in everyone. I would have really rather kept this private." Harry sighed deeply again and asked, "Are the guys pissed at me for overreacting?"
"Scared shitless more like", laughed Ron, "especially after what you did to the door. How'd you do that anyway?"
Harry thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. I was really pissed that the door was in my way and I couldn't get out. I felt trapped. I just wanted the door out of my way."
Ron gave Harry an appraising look. "Well, if you figure out how you did it, let me know. Looks like a handy bit of magic." Ron rubbed his arms and stamped his feet to restore circulation. "Things must have quieted down by now, let's go back to the tower. I'm freezing."
"I guess so. I might as well get this over with. At least there's only one week of classes to go before winter break. C'mon, I'm cold too."
Back in Gryffindor tower, the repairs to the sixth year boys' dormitory door were completed. Neville was the only one present when Harry and Ron entered. Neville walked timidly up to Harry and looking at his shoes said, "Harry, I am really sorry about this whole mess. I should have told you. If I had thought more about how you would feel, I would have. I just hope you can forgive me and we can still be friends."
"No Neville, I apologize. I shouldn't have gotten so mad and overreacted. Look, let's just call it even." He held out his hand to Neville. "Friends?"
Neville looked Harry in the face, smiled, and shook Harry's hand. "Friends".
"Where are Dean and Seamus?" asked Ron as he changed into his pajamas.
"Oh, they're probably still in McGonagall's office. When Filtch saw the door missing he went ape shit and fetched Professor McGonagall. Dean and Seamus told her that they were scewing around and blasted the door by accident. I'm not sure she believed them. I wonder what she's going to do to them," Neville stated, as he too got ready for bed.