New chapter. Hurrah! Please, please, I need your reviews. I'm a little unsure of the plot so far and I want to know what you guys think of it so far. Do you like it so far? You think it sucks? Do you think it's boring? Or are there too many cliffhangers? Just, tell me something.
-A
Chapter 4: Ravenclaw Resolution
Harry was just about to enter his office on the first Monday of December when he noticed that two people were already in there.
The door was ajar and two people were seated on the couch adjacent to the chimney. One was Hermione and the other one was Draco. The two seemed very absorbed talking about something. Harry saw Draco open his mouth but heard nothing, Hermione did the same. Both were exchanging words that are inaudible from where Harry stood. He coughed loudly to make the other two realize his presence. He fully opened the door and made his way in. Hermione stood and greeted him and took leave. "I'll see you at lunch, Harry." She only said and went on her way.
Harry made his way to his desk and put down his belongings over the table. Draco stood up and put a folder at Harry's table. "Read this, Potter."
"What's this?"
"Your speech for tomorrow's press conference."
"What for?" His brows furrowed.
"Well, Luna, Hermione, and I already agreed about this. This – " Draco pointed at the folder. "Is your statement addressing the rumours that were published at the Prophet."
Harry picked up the folder and scanned its content swiftly. "So I am denying the truth then?" He said and tried gazing at Draco's eyes. Draco's eyes tried averting Harry's eyes.
"Hermione said that you didn't want to be 'out' yet. So I guess it's only natural to deny the truth at this time."
Harry sat down and scanned the folder again. "What's your take on this?"
"Nothing. I let Hermione and Luna decide what you should say." Draco sad coldly.
"Malfoy, we need to talk."
"We are talking, aren't we?" Draco snapped.
"About last night…"
"It's none of my business, Potter. Your personal preferences are of the least importance to me. I'm here to make you win, not to meddle with your affairs."
Harry sighed loudly and tried reaching Draco's wrist. Draco waved away Harry's hands and walked away.
"Malfoy… I just need to explain…"
"No need, Potter. Things are the way they are. Reinstating the past is useless. We have a job to be done here and I intend to execute it properly." Draco said. But, as he was about to walk out the door he took out a small box from the pocket of his trousers. "Take this. That's a new invention, a firecall watch." He handed the package to Harry.
Harry, curious at the new gadget, hurriedly opened the lid of the box. It revealed a watch-like apparatus. The clock was replaced by a half globe with green fire within it. The green fire flickered and danced within the globe and Harry grew even more curious at the apparatus.
"So we can…"
"Yes, Potter. We can use to communicate with each other. You only need to tell the name of the person you're contacting and it will directly connect you to him or her."
"Wow. This is amazing…"
"Yes. But Luna said it is a little temperamental at the moment. She's still trying to refine it. But it is really helpful at the moment so we're using it nevertheless. Makes communication a way lot easier."
Harry gladly strapped on the watch and gaped at it merrily for a while. Draco quietly left the room as Harry was decidedly sidetracked by Luna's new invention.
The press room was full of reporters. Wizard cameras are everywhere, quills and parchments aplenty. It was very crowded and the people inside the room were chattering loudly, contributing to the room's chaos.
The Equality Party called for a press conference to address the rumours circulating about Harry. Also, they are now about to formally introduce Draco Malfoy as their new campaign manager.
Harry was nervous as he stepped on the podium. His heart was beating twice as fast, not that he hadn't done this before. But this time is different, something big is about to happen.
Flashes and flashes of light drowned the room. The reporters were crazily throwing questions. Harry raised his right hand, commanding silence from everyone in the room. The room's tension rose as everyone waited for Harry's statement.
"I am here to clear the rumours regarding my personal life." The reporters muttered and scratched hastily at their parchments.
"Although I believe that my personal life is none of anyone's business, I have come to realize that as a public figure, it is inevitable that the public will clamor over details of my personal affairs. And so, I am now deliberately affirming that yes, I am gay."
The press went hullaballoo at Harry's confession, but no one is more shocked at his confession than his team and Draco. The reporters tried to press more out of Harry but he refused to answer any questions. He walked away from the podium only to see the stunned looks from his team. Ron was the only one sensible enough to take action and grabbed Harry, shielding him from the flashes of the camera and the wave of crowd approaching them. Harry and Ron were the first ones to leave the room, followed by the rest of the campaign team.
Draco, surprised by the circumstances, still managed to remain cool. He volunteered to remain in the room for further questioning from the press. He wanted to stay because he desired to assess the situation and see how the press reacted from the recent revelation – that, and he cannot face Harry at the moment. He is drowning in confusion at the moment, never has he felt more confused and humiliated ever in his life. Harry refused his feelings because he wasn't gay, but that was a lie. Harry is gay, but from what he knew he didn't want anyone else to know. But this stunt Harry just pulled is contrary to whatever he wants. What is Harry playing at?
He must, at this moment, suture these feelings and prodding. A job must be done. He stood elegantly at the podium and forced himself to relax. He answered every question with grace and respect.
Luna, unnoticed by many was smiling all through out the tryst.
Before the interview Harry decided to give the firecall watch a try. He initially wanted to contact Draco but decided not to. He needed first a help from someone whose knowledge is exceptionally brilliant. He never really understood why, but he had this eerie feeling that what he was about to do is wrong. And so, without much thought, he contacted the first person in his mind who he thinks has unbridled genius.
"Call Luna Lovegood."
The firecall watch glowed and the green fire grew bigger, revealing the face of a very expectant Luna Lovegood.
"Oh hello there, Harry. Fancy contraption isn't it?"
Harry nodded vigorously. "Yes, fancy indeed. Listen, Luna, I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead Harry. Better ask now than later. After all questions are answers in themselves." She said in a rather philosophical tone.
"Ok. So here's the thing. Should I tell the truth?" Harry asked vaguely.
Luna was silent for a while from the other line. She spoke, "Tell the truth, I say. Not because it is the right and honest thing to do but because it is the only thing to be done. All lying and hiding is exhaustible, but the truth is not. If for anything, tell the truth because it can never be gone nor disappear."
Harry thought of Luna's words carefully before responding. If he tells the truth many things and people will be implicated. Especially…
"Luna, what about him? Wouldn't he be hurt if the truth come out?"
"Ah yes, him. To be honest, I don't think the truth will hurt him at all. He knows of it anyway, so what's another a thousand more to know what he already knows?"
"I suppose you're right. I think it will hurt him more if I hid the truth. Err. Thank you Luna."
"You're welcome, Harry." Luna replied.
"Uhm, Luna… how do you turn this off?" Harry asked sheepishly.
"WHAT ON MERLIN'S BEARD WAS THAT?" Hermione shouted as soon as they were away from the horde of reporters.
"I just wanted the truth out."
"But why, Harry? I – we all thought you didn't want the truth out?" Hermione asked, now calmly. Her question was backed-up with the nods of the rest of the team.
"I didn't want to hurt him. I want him to be free of this. He deserves it."
There was silence in the room. As if no one can argue against the welfare of this him. Just then, the press conference has ended and Luna and Draco entered the room. Everybody slightly looked panicked and jumpy.
"Potter! You better have an explanation with this madness!" Draco yelled.
It was Hermione who now answered. "We just think it's better for… for the campaign if he told the truth."
"You do realize we have to recalibrate our plans then, Weasley?"
Hermione nodded. Draco eyed the rest of the team. He knew something was off. He knew there were having a conversation before he entered the room, but they stopped as soon as they heard him coming in.
He wondered what other secrets this team is keeping from him. Draco so wanted to voice out his need to know whatever it is that needs knowing, but restrained himself. For now, all he wanted was to go home and sort things out.
"Right." Harry said. "Let's all just go home. We'll just meet tomorrow. I hope by then everything is settled."
The rest of the team dissipated and only Luna, Draco, and the Trio remained. Harry spoke out once again and ordered the rest of them to leave except for Draco. "We need to talk." He said in a very commanding voice.
"About what?"
"That thing… Yesterday. When you found out that I was gay."
"What about that?" he said and sneered.
"I know you're upset…"
"I am not upset!" Draco shouted. "I'm just a little taken aback, that's all."
Harry resisted the urge to lose his temper. Draco's stubbornness is really making him lose it.
"I just want you to know that I didn't admit then because I was protecting someone. And that… And that I really wish you still give me a chance."
"No." Draco answered profusely. "You rejected me, laughed at my face, and went on your merry way. Whatever chance you have, it has been long gone. Now please, Potter, let's keep this relationship professional."
The last word was the last straw. Harry threw all the restraint he has left and blurted out: "Damn it, Malfoy. Why are you so stubborn? Can't you see that I like you? A lot. OK. And that what happened then was just… unfortunate… It wasn't the right time, things were different then, there was Ginny and… and… Just give me a chance, OK?"
Draco felt a pang in his heart, as if he was joyful and pained at the same time. He was happy to know that Harry, his first love, actually liked him. Shouldn't he be jumping up and down from joy? But no, something inside him betrayed him, something in his memory that won't go away.
The pain of rejection weighs more than the healing feeling of happiness. One can forget how to be happy but one cannot forget rejection, not him, especially.
Harry grabbed Malfoy's hand and tried to hold it but Draco didn't respond.
"No." Draco said with finality. "I won't let you close enough again to hurt me." He said as he let go of Harry's hands.
He exited the room and never even looked back at Harry.
