Chapter Four: An Uncomfortable day
They both nod their heads in agreement as they descend the stair case and head back to the common room to get Harry to go breakfast. To their surprise Harry was no where to be seen. The only guess they could come up with is that he was already down there. The meeting with Professor Dumbledore had taken a lot more time than they had hoped it as almost 8:00 a.m. If they didn't hurry they wouldn't get any breakfast , and they would more than likely be late for class and that wasn't an option seeing as it was double potions and then double transfiguration both of which they had to endure the company of the Slytherins. This was bound to be one of the worst mornings of the term. They hurried down the corridor and to the Great Hall taking all of the short cuts that they could remember. When they got down there however they were a bit peeved to see that Harry wasn't there. Where could he be?
Little did they know Harry hadn't even gotten out of bed yet. He was so confused on where he stood with Draco that he couldn't seem to move. He knew that he loved him, but what was he supposed to do about it….there was no way in hell that Draco Malfoy would ever feel the same way about him. The snottiest Slytherin and he had to be madly in love with him. Damn his luck, first he had to be some popular guy because his parents had been killed. He had been left with a family that no sooner wanted him than they did a hole in the head and now he was irrevocably in love with someone who would never in this lifetime…or any for that matter return his feelings. What was the matter with him anyway? I mean look at Ron and Hermione they were so deeply in love it made him sick sometimes, but don't get him wrong he was happy they had finally gotten together.
When Harry finally saw the time he knew if he didn't hurry he was going to be late for his potions class. He didn't want to go because for the seventh year in a row the Slytherins and Gryffindors had been paired together to be in the potions class at the same time, and of course it was a double period followed by double transfiguration. It was a royal pain in the ass. Harry felt like he was being tortured on purpose by his instructors. The only class he didn't have with Draco was charms because Draco didn't take it. They even had all of the same free periods and they always seemed to run into each other. This year he didn't always have Crabbe and Goyle with him so more often than not he was by himself brooding when they ran into each other. Last time they almost kissed and it pissed Harry off that he was the one that moved.
" Damn my accursed timing." Harry said as he rushed out of bed and into his robes. He had 20 minutes to make it from the Gryffindor Common Room down to the dungeons for potions. Harry knew all to well that if he didn't sprint he wasn't going to make it. So he hurried up and began the long sprint down to the dungeons and his double period with Draco, and the "lovely:" Snape.
While Harry was sprinting down the stairs Ron and Hermione were sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall talking in hushed whispers.
" Ron which one of us is going to tell him? I mean Harry has to know that his aunt and uncle aren't his only family. He deserves to live with people that love him. Your parents will be more than happy to take him in, but we have to tell them about it first." Hermione whispered she was distraught and looked very perturbed.
" We'll tell him together after we talk to mum and dad. I'll send an owl to them during my first free period asking them to come up on our first Hogsmede weekend. Then if they say it's ok we'll tell Harry and then he can plan on moving in with me." Ron said in a hushed tone but he seemed much more optimistic about the whole situation than Hermione did.
Then again he should be the headmaster hadn't just called him a liar and refused to believe something that hurt so much to say let alone lie about. He didn't believe her at all, and that hurt more than anything else because she had never lied to him before why should she start now? She needed to talk to Professor McGonagall she would believe her. She was the only female teacher that Hermione trusted. Maybe she could help with the dilemma they had put themselves into.
" Ok. We should get going to potions. I am going to grab Harry some food just incase he didn't make it down here in time." Hermione said looking along the table before stuffing some food into a napkin and placing it in her pocket.
" Yeah your right we probably should get going. None of us can afford to be late to Snape's class he isn't one to mess with these days. He is even harder on us now that we are only going to be here for him to torture for this year." Ron said holding out his hand to her and getting some rather encouraging stares from Ginny she was so happy that those two had finally asked each other out. They both needed someone to bad they didn't realize until this last summer that they had wanted to date all along.
Ron and Hermione both smiled back at Ginny and Neville who she had been dating for over two years now. They were so happy it was cute. Finally all of them were happy except Harry, and now Ron and Hermione knew why. They were now bound and determined to help Harry in any way they could even though Ron didn't approve of who it was. I mean come on of all people Harry was in love with Malfoy. Who'd have thought it? Certainly not Ron, but oh well he knew what it was like to fall in love and not know how it happened.
As they were leaving the Great Hall Ron and Hermione saw Harry about halfway down the long staircase." Hey Harry I got you some breakfast." Hermione called up to him.
" Thanks sorry I didn't meet you guys down there I over slept." Harry said joining them down on the bottom level and walking with them the rest of the way to potions.
" I know what that feels like." Ron said walking hand in hand with Hermione and watching Harry closely.
" You guys didn't have to wait for me though. I mean it isn't right of me to make us all late." Harry said in between bites of the food Hermione had given to him.
" It's ok Harry. We don't mind at all." Hermione said giving him a warm smile." Its good to see that you didn't sleep through potions Snape would have killed you." She said in a joking tone and the two boys joined in laughing with her.
Even though they were laughing things were still off with these once perfect friends. Two secrets that they new of at this point threatened to ruin the bond they had. Harry was so unsure of what they would say that he was afraid to tell them. Where as Ron and Hermione were afraid that their secret would make Harry hate them for the rest of their known lives. What great ways for friends to be thinking.
They got into the dungeons just as the bell rang for class to begin and they were relieved to see that Snape wasn't in the dungeons yet. Unfortunately however they all caught Draco Malfoy staring right at them, and as soon as he knew it was them he sauntered over to have what they thought would be yet another poetic exchange.
" Granger, can I ask you something in private?" Draco wasn't being mean this marked a turning point for him. What was even more shocking was the fact that he was asking Hermione for help. Since day one he had found her inferior because he was of pure descent and she wasn't.
" Yes I guess so." She said letting go of Ron's hand and walking away with Malfoy to have a private word.
" Your one of Potters best friends, and I need to ask your opinion on something." Draco began in an almost melancholy tone.
" Ask away. I'll even keep an open mind if you like, but I do need to be getting back to my seat soon." She said knowing that Snape would be here any minute and she didn't want to have to hear his voice any more than she had too.
"I want to know if there would ever be a chance for Potter and me to be together." He said quickly but clearly. You could tell it had taken a lot to get him to ask it.
" I think there is a good chance but you would have to be a bit nicer to him. Maybe even talk to him more than just insulting him." Hermione said. She couldn't be happier in her mind she as jumping for joy Harry could be just as happy as she and Ron.
" You might be right. I'll have to think about that one. Please keep this between us. I don't think I can handle any more crap right now." Draco said putting his hand out to shake hers.
" It's a deal. You talk to him when you want to." Hermione said shaking his hand and walking back to her seat in utter disbelief.
" What did he want to know?" Harry asked looking up from the essay he was going to hand into Snape.
" Just a question on the homework Harry. Nothing important really. I don't understand why he asked me though." She said getting her cauldron ready and also getting out her essay.
" That is pretty weird." Both Ron and Harry said at the same time and had a good laugh about it later.
After they finished that thought Snape walked in so they fell silent. No one wanted to get on his bad side these days. He seemed to be in an even worse mood than every other year. The only guess that anyone had was that he got passed up for the job he truly wanted yet again. It really did seem to peeve him. Snape tapped the board twice with his wand and then turned to his class of seventh years.
" This is your assignment. I expect a sample by the end of the period, and an essay about the properties of the potion on my desk by tomorrow. Now get to work." He said to the class and then turned and went into his private chambers.
While everyone was moving to get the ingredients for the potion Harry had gotten lost in a day dream of him and Draco kissing by the lake and didn't move at all. It wasn't until Draco's voice was right next to him did he jump what seemed like 50 feet in the air.
" What the hell was that for Malfoy?" Harry said finally looking at the board and groaning at the look of the potion they had to make. He glanced over at Hermione who was already beginning as was half the class.
" What are you talking about Potter? I didn't do anything." Draco sneered and his two cronies Crabbe and Goyle laughed along with him. As they did that Hermione gave Draco a look that said" That really isn't the way to start getting him on your good side."
Harry thought about it and realized Draco really hadn't done anything this time so Harry backed off and went to get the necessary ingredients for the potion.
From the table Ron and Hermione watched Harry and Draco from the corners of their eyes. Ron couldn't decide whether or not he wanted to be sick or whether to push the two of them together, and he didn't even know the true meaning of Malfoy's talk with Hermione. Hermione was just hoping that someday those two would finally realize that they loved each other. Draco had unknowingly been stalking Harry since the day he stepped into Hogwarts and it had only gotten worse as the years went on. Those two were perfect for each other but they were both so stubborn it would be almost impossible to get them together…or would it? She was going to have to think about this one but she was going to do whatever it took to get Harry and Draco together.
Just as that thought went through her mind she realized she was interfering in her grandson's love life and the tears welled up faster than she expected. All she could do to stop the questions was leave the dungeons. Right now she didn't really care if Snape decided to give her detention or anything like that. All she cared about was getting this whole situation dealt with.
"I really need to get my emotions under control. I can't keep crying like this in front of Harry he might think this is his fault." She said to herself as she walked along the corridors.
In the dungeons however Harry wasn't paying any attention he was busy staring at the back of Draco's head yet again. He found himself imagining running his fingers through the white-blonder locks." What am I thinking? Like that would ever happen. Malfoy would no sooner be that close to me than he would drink veritaserum on purpose." At this thought Harry had to laugh. Nobody ever drank veritaserum on purpose. Not even a total git like Malfoy.
"Harry, we really should get to work. Snape just got back in here." Ron said making Harry come out of his thoughts.
"Your right Ron. We really don't want any more detentions with Snape." Harry said reading the ingredients on the board and finally got busy putting the lousy potion together.
After Harry got back he realized Hermione was gone." Ron, where'd Hermione go? Snape is going to be a bloody great mess if he notices she is gone." Harry said in a whisper as he continued making the potion and making side glances at Malfoy.
"She got up and left about ten minutes ago. Looks like she left in a hurry too. We better try and finish her potion as well. We can't let her get in trouble." Ron said looking at all of Hermione's stuff and he began to worry about her.
"Yeah she is never in trouble. You know there is no way we could pass our potion off as Hermione's. She is way better at this class than we are." Harry said trying no to mess up his concentration on the three things he was doing. Two of which concerned Malfoy, but that wasn't the point.
"Your right we could never pull it off. I bet this would be the first zero in any teacher's book for her." Ron said. He was really worried now. Hermione …his Hermione was ditching a class. She would never do something like this. What was wrong? Hell if he knew. He never was really good at figuring that out…especially if she wasn't here to ask.
"Your right Ron. Hermione has always been such a good student. This is going to come as a shock to all of the teachers. Are you ok… I mean you seem really distracted?" Harry said looking over at Ron with a concerned expression on his face.
" Yeah I'm ok. I was just wondering where Hermione could have gone." Ron said looking at Harry.
" Ok. Let's get back to work then. Maybe she'll be able to sneak back in." Harry said going back into working on the potion.
Meanwhile in the third floor passage Hermione was finishing crying." I need to stop this bloody blubbering it isn't getting me anywhere. I am going to be in so much trouble. Snape is going to hang me for just leaving his class, but I honestly don't care. My only concern right now is getting Draco and Harry together. If I can talk to him on the way to transfiguration I think I have just the plan to get those two alone together." She thought as she headed up to the hospital wing to have an excuse for leaving the dungeons.
" I never expected to see you out of class so early Miss Granger." Madame Pomfrey.
" I wasn't feeling so well Madame Pomfrey I was hoping you had something for a headache." Hermione lied trying to pass it off like that.
" Yes I do. Here drink this." Madame Pomfrey said walking around her desk and handing her a small vial of blue liquid.
" Thanks Madame Pomfrey." Hermione said." Could you please give me a note to get back into Professor Snape's class? He will be wondering why I'm not there."
" Here you go dearie off to class with you. That potion will take effect in about 15 minutes." Madame Pomfrey said pushing Hermione out the door with the note and going back to her desk.
Just as Hermione was leaving the Hospital Wing Snape realized that she was gone, and as he did that he walked up behind Potter and Weasley ," Would either of you mind telling me where Miss Granger is?" Snape said in his deadly cold voice.
" We were just wondering that ourselves Professor." Harry said not looking up from his cauldron.
" Oh is that so Potter? Are you trying to tell me that you her best friends have no clue where she is?" Snape said the disbelief in his voice was evident.
" Yes." Harry said.
Before Snape could say anything else Hermione walked in and right up to Snape" Here professor this will account for my not being in your class." Hermione said re-taking her seat and began to re-work her potion.
Snape quickly read over the note and crumbled it. He was very upset that he couldn't give her a punishment. She had proof that she was out of the dungeons for a good reason. She had just gone to the Hospital Wing. "Damn" Snape found himself thinking he really wanted to punish Granger. So with that he stalked back to his desk and began to grade the essays they had turned in today.
Within a half hour of her return Hermione had bottled up her sample and taken it to Snape's desk. On her way back she dropped a small piece of paper unto the desk next to Malfoy.
" That was awfully fast Hermione." Ron said looking up at her with a look that said" What's wrong?".
" I always work fast Ron. You just never noticed before." She said cleaning up her area and beginning on the essay that was due with the potion.
" You're probably right." Ron said.
" Hermione…can you help us with this please?" Harry said he had lost track of his thoughts and didn't know what to do anymore.
" Yes." Hermione said getting up and fixing there potion." Just let it boils up for about ten minutes and then take the sample up there."
As those ten minutes passed Draco finally realized the small piece of paper that was by his elbow. " I wonder where this came from." He found himself thinking and opened it to have a look.
Draco,
I have a plan to help you get Harry. It isn't going to be easy, but I am sure it will work. Wait for me after potions are over and I will tell you more about it if you're interested.
Hermione.
Draco turned around after reading that and gave Hermione a look that said "ok" she knew exactly what he meant and just nodded.
Draco was excited he wanted to be with Harry more than he let on. He had loved him from the first year and only found out about it this summer after seeing him in Flourish and Blots. He realized how bad he had missed Harry Potter. He had tried to convince himself that it wasn't true that he hated Potter now just as much as he always had, and that's when it hit him he had never hated Potter he had always loved him. Oh that was great. His sworn enemy and he wanted him as his lover…..how was he ever going to tell his father? God knows Luscious would never forgive him. The sound of the bell snapped Draco out of that thought and he hurried bottled a sample and waited for Hermione.
" Draco I'd like to have a word with you please." Snape said Just as Draco caught Hermione.
" Professor can't it wait? I have to get to Transfiguration." Draco said as Hermione slipped out the door.
" I'll write you a pass it will only take a minute." Snape said. His tone wasn't the usual cold and melancholy one it was warm and almost fatherly.
" Alright Professor." Draco said hoping that Hermione had waited outside the door for him.
" Never mind. It isn't important. Here's your pass." Snape said handing him a piece of paper.
" Thanks Professor."Draco said as he hurried out of the dungeons and was happy to see that Hermione had waited for him.
" I know my plan is going to sound crazy, but I really want to see you and Harry happy together." Hermione said as Draco and she hurried up to the transfiguration room.
" Alright tell me it. I am more than interested in any way that can get me closer to Potter." Draco said in a hushed voice.
" Alright…." Hermione began telling him her plan and Draco just smiled and nodded as she went further into it." So do you think you're up for it?" She asked looking at him.
" I believe that is the best plan I have heard. I'm in." Draco said as they rounded the corner to Transfiguration.
" Good. I'll try to get everything set up soon. I really hope this works." Hermione said.
" Yeah… me too. Do you mind if I call you Hermione instead of Granger? I mean your helping me it just doesn't seem right to call you by your last name." Draco said looking at her.
" No I would like that a lot." Hermione said sticking out her hand so they could shake on it.
" I'm glad you feel that way, Hermione." Draco said shaking her hand.
After there handshake they hurried into the classroom. The next double period was just like the last. Harry staring at Draco and Hermione and Ron watching the two of them. This went on through all the classes they had together and all of the free periods too. Even though Draco knew he was being stared at him never turned around. He didn't mind Harry staring at him. He rather enjoyed it, but he didn't know why he was staring at him. All well you can't win them all.
" Mr. Potter…please pay attention. This is a very important lesson." Professor McGonagall said, and that was the last thing Harry heard before her feel asleep and spent the rest of the double period dreaming about Draco Malfoy.