Chapter 4.

"Indulgence of their innocent desires"

Don Juan – Byron – Canto the Third

It was lunchtime, and finally Hermione joined Harry and Ron at the table and looked intently at Harry's face. Her eyes expressed understanding but it was still mingled with that look of questioning. When Hermione had a new problem, Harry knew, there was no escaping her analytical abilities.

Harry had spent the rest of his previous free finishing a Transfiguration essay with Ron and they had both avoided any conversation that was not school work. It was an amicable silence that was full of the knowledge that later, yes later, they would talk.

With the current presence of Hermione, completing their trio there was no real excuse for Harry to ignore them, he couldn't keep secrets from them, not really, they'd shared so much, been through too much together. He knew too that they would stand by his decisions, even if they were initially inclined to repel, because Harry was Harry and they loved him no matter what he chose.

Also, there was the tiny factor that Hermione couldn't resist, a problem.

Hermione could see something had changed within Harry. He was looking wistful, his fork making patterns in his gravy. His lips looked kiss bruised. She couldn't deny her curiosity as she pondered aloud, "Harry?"

Harry looked her with nervous anticipation; he didn't know how much he dared to reveal if Hermione followed the line of inquiry he was anticipating. He couldn't lie to them, never, but he could be careful and really, it was such a fragile situation that a word in the wrong place now could bring the whole school's ability to distribute scandal crashing into full force.

"I see that things have got better between you and your mystery ma-"

Still staring at his plate Harry cut her short.

"Before you ask, I'm not telling you who"

Undeterred Hermione ploughed on.

"I hope he is good to you Harry and that he doesn't hurt you but if you're being this secretive I'm worried that this might go terribly wrong.

"Please, when you feel you can, confide in us."

Ron nodded his agreement meekly. He knew that Hermione was the tactful one who could understand, or at least try to, the crazy mind of Harry.

"The thing is," Harry admitted, "We haven't had a chance to speak yet, it's all so quick. It isn't like anything I've done before; I've never been so impulsive and never been so scared as to how this will play out. But, so far, everything has been normal, well, as normal as I can expect…

(This was pushing the boundaries of his truthfulness, nothing between Harry and Draco was ever going to be normal again.)

We shared a promise for later, we need to talk but it's looking good, I was scared last night it that my spontaneity was misinformed but it seems it might have been worthwhile.

"Nothing has ever been this risky before and I think tonight, even though I crave more than just a civilised chat, that's all there is going to be."

"Careful mate, I hope you know what you're doing, it sounds risky, do you want Mione or me to come with you?"

Ron suggested out of habit before he realised quite how strange it would make the situation. He sat back from the table and shook his head at his own whimsical offering.

"No," Harry said resolutely, proud of Ron despite his own impulsiveness, "I think it will be ok actually, I'm just going to the owlery to send him a message, I think that's the best option right now."

As Harry journeyed up to the owlery he penned his note mentally.

"D

I think we need to talk above everything else.

The RoR should do, I know you know about it.

8. Tonight.

Yours,

H"

Yes, that ought to do it, polite and interested but drawing a line, he knew he needed to after their previous hormone driven encounters.

He thanked who ever thought of having "school owls" for that decision, yes it helped those who needed to send multiple messages or for kids who didn't have an owl but really it had always been best employed for covert communication within the castle.

It was half seven before a reply found him, a charmed piece of parchment folded into an origami owl swooped though the portrait hole as some 4th years clambered in.

Harry unfolded it and read:

"Of course. D"

The irony of this form of message was not lost on Harry as he remembered the paper crane that the same "D" had once sent him with a crudely scribbled image depicting himself and a dragon.

Lapsing into thought Harry started once again to think through the millions of possible outcomes that the night might bring.

(A/N: I'm having dire trouble decidinge whether to write a detailed "scene" with the boys... I think my fruity language might help to cover awkwardness. I'll see where the next chapter takes me.)

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