Hey, this chapter's mainly dialogue – I promise the next chapter will be more fun! Enjoy…

Chapter 7

I lifted my head off the table as soon as I heard the thud of footsteps galloping down the corridor. Professor Sprout hurried into my charms class with a worried gaze and called Flitwick over with a flick of her hand. I watched, thirsty for knowledge as my charms professor climbed up onto the stool so Sprout could lean down and whisper something into his ear. He turned back to the class with a bewildered expression as the Herbology teacher strolled back out, my ears pricked.

"Classes will be dismissed until further notice under some alarming circumstances," he began.

"What circumstances?" someone called out in front of me, and the Professor sighed heavily.

"A girl has been murdered," I felt my jaw drop slightly as excitement bubble up in my stomach.

"Who?" I shouted back to him with eagerness. Flitwick gave me a hard stare.

"That information is restricted to students Mr Holmes," he replied sharply, "You are all dismissed," I gathered up my things and dumped them into my bag, hustling out before everyone else as I made my way to Gryffindor tower.

I reached the fat lady's portrait and repeated the password Neville leaked to me earlier. She gave me a disapproving glare as she glanced at the colour of my uniform before swinging open, my long legs leaping through and meeting eyes with none other than Draco Malfoy.

"Draco," I said, surprised, "What are you doing here?" The Slytherin wouldn't meet my eyes as he replied back.

"I've come to talk to you and Harry," I raised an eyebrow as I took the armchair next to him.

"Since when did 'Potter' become 'Harry'? And how the hell did you get in here?" Draco smirked down at the floor.

"I have my ways. And it's none of your business what I do in my personal life,"

"Oh really? That's not what you were saying a few months ago," I shot back with distaste. Malfoy glared at me through ice-blue eyes.

"You wouldn't dare. Not after what's happened to your little friend," I opened my mouth to retort, but was stumped at his last words.

"What do you mean," I demanded. The boy remained silent. "Draco," Finally he huffed.

"Your young pal was murdered. Molly Hooper, wasn't it?" I stared at him as my mind reeled. Suddenly, a wave of anger came over me and I shot up from my seat, hands clamped round his collar in a threatening manner.

"You better be joking Malfoy or you'll be very sorry you even mentioned her name,"

"Sherlock?" a familiar voice yelled from behind me. Someone's arms were round my waist as they pulled me away with force and I stumbled, shocked. I frowned as my eyes were met with John's, his face displeased.

"Care to explain what you were doing attacking Malfoy?" I pinched the bridge of my nose, sighing.

"Molly Hooper has been murdered, or so he says. And also, since when did he become friends with Harry?" A smile played on John's lips as he folded his arms.

"Who knows," he inched closer to me so only I could hear his whisper, "Love and hate are on two sides of the same coin, y'know. They've been walking along that line for a very long time…it's just a matter of time before one of them falls," I contemplated his words as Harry moped into the room. He raised his eyes at us all, surprised.

"Draco? Sherlock? What are you doing in our common room?" there was a hint of amusement in his voice. Just then Malfoy stood up and walked over to Harry.

"Didn't you know? I've moved to Gryffindor now as you can clearly see," Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Oh sure. Draco Malfoy: the new Gryffindor prince," he joked as Malfoy sniggered. I narrowed my eyes, evaluating them. As they carried on talking in witty banter, I shuffled closer so I could see clearly into their eyes. Dilated. Just as I thought.

My eyes traced down Malfoy until I reached his wrist where a watch lay strapped on. Perfectly timed, I bumped into him and grabbed onto his wrist as I felt his pulse. Beating fast. As I thought.

"Ah…so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," I stumbled out. The blonde rolled his eyes and turned back to Harry.

From my deductions, I concluded that a certain Draco Malfoy was nursing a crush on Harry Potter. But did he like him back? And how do I know it's even true? And how do I feel about this? I shook away the last thought with a tired mind. Of course I was fine with it. My feelings for Draco…well, they just weren't real anymore. Maybe they never were.

I watched in amusement as the girl Weasley – Ginny – stormed into the common room with a perplexed expression at the sight of Draco. Stalking past him as if he were invisible, she pointed a threatening finger at Harry and inched towards him menacingly.

"You," she hissed, "You, Harry Potter, are one of the most ignorant, self-absorbed people I have ever had the misfortune to meet!" The room was silent now, everyone turning to watch as the Weaslette continued her rant.

"You didn't tell me…your own girlfriend!" he raised an eyebrow, confused.

"Tell you what?" Ginny quieted her voice so that only us four could hear.

"That you're…bisexual," My thoughts froze as soon as the words left her tongue, watching Potter's mouth remain agape as he fumbled over his words. After a while, he managed to choke out a few rushed letters.

"How did you know?" Ginny narrowed her eyes.

"I had to find out from a note that was slipped to me in Herbology. By a guy I'd never even seen before…it said that you were, y'know, and then said if I wanted proof then I should go to your classroom after break. So I did…and found you with him, freaking out because you'd just told him what looks like your biggest secret!" she paused for breath, fuming. Harry wouldn't meet her eyes as he replied.

"Ginny, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I really I am. In fact I was going to tell you soon, I just haven't had a chance,"

"Oh yeah right," she scoffed.

"Really!" Harry said, desperate. "This doesn't change anything between us…I still want you to be my girlfriend, of course I do," Harry smiled up at her, grasping her hand.

She yanked it away with force, stepping back in disgust.

"I can deal with you being bi…or whatever, Harry. It's just…I don't know. This relationship hasn't felt right for a long time. This was just the tip of the iceberg," Meeting his eyes for one last glance, she weakly smiled and turned away to run back up the stairs to the girls dormitory. Potter remained silent for a long time before turning round to us with glazed over eyes.

"I'd like you guys to go," he mumbled.

"What?" Draco stepped closer.

"I said I want you to go!" he was shouting now, angry. I backed away until I reached the back of the portrait, swinging it open and stepping through fairly quickly after Malfoy. I sighed loudly. What a day.

My mind wouldn't shut off for the rest of the day. I, John, Harry and Draco sat in the library as Potter continued on his sad-induced rant.

"I really loved her…the only girl I actually liked and she's dumped me over something as stupid as my sexuality!" he wailed. Madame Pince shushed us from behind her desk. We huddled in closer as Harry slammed his head onto the table.

"I understand, just stop banging your head on the table!" Draco hissed, "We don't need you being shipped off to the hospital wing in a box that says, 'boy who couldn't handle losing his girlfriend over something stupid'," Harry groaned again. As John comforted him some more, I licked my lips in thought as a question suddenly sprang to mind.

"Wait a second, didn't Ginny-," I paused as Harry glared at me, "Uh, sorry I mean, didn't Weasley mention something about a boy she'd never seen before handing her a note about you?" Potter looked up from the table and directly into my eyes. They were hard, cold like steel.

"That son of a bitch," he muttered, "when I find out who did this I'll-,"

"Hey guys," at that moment Ron and Hermione strolled into the convocation hand in hand. The older Weasley glared at Malfoy through harsh blue eyes.

"What's he doing here?" he demanded. Draco smirked lazily as he sank back into his chair. Harry turned to narrow his eyes at Ron.

"Just for today can you both just shut up! I don't need any of this right now…can't we just get some fire whiskey?" I raised an eyebrow at Hermione, who shrugged.

"Let him be. If the man wants fire whiskey, let him have the fire whiskey," Ron stared at Granger in confusion.

"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" he asked her with a smile. Hermione leaned into him with a soft sigh.

"Still saying the same jokes from last year I see," I looked away as Harry suddenly jumped up.

"See – even Hermione agrees! Seamus probably has some that he's smuggled in, let's go ask," With that he bolted off to the Gryffindor common room with John, Granger and Weasley trailing after him. Me and Draco stood up more slowly as we followed them from a distance.

"I'm guessing we're sneaking in with them again," Draco drawled. I nodded with a tired smile.

"Exactly,"