Chapter 4: In which Rita Skeeter ruins everything.

Harry Potter had been through so much. And all throughout this, he had learned one thing: Rita Skeeter was a bitch. But this…this was a new low. Not just for her, but for Malfoy too. He tossed this morning's Daily Prophet, (whose cover flashed between the words "The Boy Who Lived" and the words "Boy Love!") onto the floor, silently fuming. He had begun to respect Draco in the week since the boy had first helped him in Potions, and continued to help him through the passing days. Every time he'd slipped up, he looked down to see a little paper plane on his desk.

He looked over at it, hating himself for his stupidity. Of course, he never should have let his guard down! He picked it up again and once again, read over the article, all about his "loving relationship" (as Rita had called it) with Draco Malfoy. It even had an exclusive interview with the Malfoy boy:

Well, at first, he really didn't trust me, what with that little incident during the war…but well after I confessed my undying love for him…well things just changed from there…we even have our own secret places. We keep them to ourselves and meet up there when no one's awake. No one figured it out, but he started feeling like I didn't want him, so we're out now! I hope my little baby Phoenix is happy now!

Harry could have cried with frustration with himself. He then looked up at Ron and Hermione.

"You know, right, that none of that ever happened. I am NOT Draco's…whatever vomit-worthy name he used," at this Harry gave an involuntary shudder.

"Well…I dunno mate, you and him have seemed really close this past week…"

"I am NOT dating Malfoy!"

"It's alright, Harry!" replied Hermione. "We're alright with it! I promise-"

"It's not happening! Get that? It's just that Skeeter cow doing what she usually does! I just…" he looked at the picture of him and Draco laughing in a corridor at something Draco had done to Filch the day before. "I thought he wasn't half bad, you know…that maybe he'd changed. But, it's obvious from this," he gestured bitterly at the newspaper "That he's the same arrogant, pigheaded, prat he's always been."

"Draco!" roared a very furious Pansy Parkinson from the common room that very morning. "You arrogant, pigheaded prat! Get your ass out here!"

Draco was used to being called out like this, but usually he had an idea of what he'd done to incur the wrath of Pansy. This time he was in the dark, and that worried him. He quietly got up, got dressed and slipped out of the room he shared with Blaise. He looked at the fuming girl, and then back to his door, wishing he was back in bed with Blaise. She seemed to know and snarled "Don't even think about it!"

"Tell me, what horrible crime have I committed today?"

"Oh, you know what you've done!" she flung that day's Daily Prophet at him. He looked at the front page, dominated by the picture of him and Harry, laughing together. He looked at it and read the article. As he read he grew more horrified and he began feeling sick. And then another thought came to him-what must his father think? Even worse, what did Harry think? Did Harry hate him now? He stared hopelessly at it, and then looked up at Pansy. After wordlessly opening and closing his mouth a few times, he just shook his head and collapsed in the nearest chair. She sat across from him, the anger draining from her face as she saw him gazing in horror and disgust at it. Then she saw his pale eyes flick to the name of the writer, and become filled with a kind of rage she had only seen in him once. His stormy grey eyes flicked up.

"You know I didn't do this! When I find her…" he subsided into murderous, raging silence. "What must Father think now? And Harry…" she could see that his anger was draining, to be replaced by misery. "And it was going so well too…"

Her eyes widened "You…made your move?"

He looked up. "I was…going to use the Pensieve…so I c-could…show him what happened. Now… if he lets me look at him I'll be lucky…" he closed his eyes, and started to shake. "When I find her…" his mouth twisted into a feral snarl. Luckily for Pansy (Draco's murderous rages were a bit disturbing) he was distracted by Blaise exiting their room and coming to squeeze himself into Draco's seat, and wrap his arms around the Malfoy heir.

"Hey, Drake what's wrong?" Blaise asked, seemingly immune to the fury in Draco's gaze, the kind of fury that makes any creature who is its subject want flee as fast as possible. The boy, obviously too disgusted to speak, thrust the Prophet at him. He read the article, his face darkening with every word. When finished, he set the paper on fire, and managed to choke out "How could she?"

They sat like that for a while, until lunchtime. Then Pansy said "We'll get you something. Don't worry about it. We'll explain if we get the chance." She shared a look with Blaise, but their knowing look was cut short by an adorable little sound from the pocket of Draco's robes. They both stared at him.

"It's…a baby Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Harry…mentioned that he thought I was a bit rude to Luna…I found this last year… I was going to show it to her." He looked sadly at it. "I guess I don't need to anymore…"

"Don't say that Draco! We'll get you and him together if it's the last goddamned thing we ever do! Remember what you said? Love can conquer all!"

Draco looked up at her, and for a fleeting second, believed in his own words. The next moment, reality came crashing down on him, and all he said was "Okay."

Memories soon, I promise! Review me! I promise next chapter will be awesome! But only if you review. Oh, and thank you to those who did, I promise to update soon!