Innocent

A Drabble by Josh McCusker

"Fuck you," he spat, nearly literally at Draco. The boy's sharp features were tensed in what appeared to be innocent hurt, but Harry knew better.

Draco remained silent as Harry turned and left the room. It hadn't been the best of days, and hearing Draco Malfoy say he was in love with him was the last thing he needed.

As he rounded the corner into the Gryffindor hall, Harry yanked the invisibility cloak off of him and stormed up to the Fat Lady.

"Golden snitch," he said forcibly, through clenched teeth. It was nearly midnight as she swung herself open and so Harry had to ignore the chastising remarks as he threw himself through the opening. It was no surprise that both Ron and Hermione were waiting for him.

"That bloody shit," Harry said in greeting. "He fucking told me that he loves me."

Hermione looked at Ron with one of her now very well patented looks and Harry nearly smacked her. Ron just grimaced and tried to find the meaning of life in his laces, which was so typical Harry didn't even notice.

"Harry," she started softly. "I heard from Parvati, who heard from Marianne, who heard from Pansy—"

"Since when do you listen to gossip?" he snarled, already decided that the next words were useless.

She ignored him and continued. "—That Draco's been obsessed with you for years. Pansy says he's always talking about you and—"

"Sod him anyway," Harry said over her. "Bloody thinks he can tell me this now. Even if it were true, I'm going to die tomorrow! Like I need him hanging over my head! Fuck!"

Harry disappeared up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. Ron just looked at Hermione with a pitiful expression and said, "I told you we shouldn't have interfered."

"We?"

"Harry's gone," the voice said softly. Hermione's eyes filled with tears and Ron collapsed in a pile of mourning. Draco, who had been hiding around the corner, emerged with a face like someone who had lost a mate. Hermione didn't even say anything as Draco came nearer, but once she could, she grabbed him and Ron and turned them into a threesome of mourners.

Minerva walked away, afraid to interfere on the moment. She swatted at the annoyance of the tears on her cheeks.

"Professor!"

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Is—Is Voldemort gone as well? Did he—Was Harry successful?"

"Yes, Miss Granger."

Ron was angry with her for days when he'd come to his senses to find Draco Malfoy part of the huddle. Neville, Luna, Ginny and Seamus were all there as well, but Malfoy should never have been invited. When he finally came around, it was only with the understanding that it would be forgotten, never mentioned, and that he could not stand a repeat occurrence.

Hermione wanted to argue, to say that no matter his past deeds Draco had come around at the end, but she knew it was futile.

When they were alone at the funeral, she looked into his stormy grey eyes and said through the tears, "He loved you as well, Draco."

Nodding, he turned and walked away.

She read a few days later, on the cover of the Prophet, that he'd been found hanging from a chandelier at Malfoy Manor. A picture of him and his parents had been showcased in memoriam, Narcissa Malfoy looking as though she were showing off a prized dog and Lucius looking, for all the world as though he'd rather be killing muggles than posing with his family.

"He loved him," she said softly. Ron snorted and pretended he hadn't heard. "He did," she said more forcibly. "He fucking loved him as much as you did, Ron."

"No, he bloody well didn't!"

She didn't argue the point further.