Warning: Rating M, slash content, Ginny bashing.
Disclaimer: I own nothing besides the plot of this story and perhaps additional original characters.
It all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling who we all praise.
Side-note: This fanfic was written by two people as roleplay though in some situations we changed side characters. So there might be sharp changes from one character's POV to another. I tried smoothing it out bit but it still might be a bit.. well, confusing.
Most importantly, enjoy!
Ron opened the door with a curious expression before he grinned and basically threw himself at Harry, embracing him.
"Harry! ...Since when do you knock, mate? You alright?"
Harry placed the biggest, happiest grin and replied.
"Hey mate. Yeah, I'm awesome. How you been?"He proceeded into the living room
Ron blinked at the sudden mood change, but shrugged and followed him.
"S'all right. You know how it goes. Work work and more work. What about you? Baldwin told me you're stuck with that ferret, Malfoy, for the next... Well, however long. What's up with that?"
Harry faked a groan.
"I gotta stay there until Kingsley tells me to. They're trying to set up D-Malfoy with lack of parental abilities, proved death eater status, forbidden dark magic items and so on. I have to stay there and be a watchful eye." Harry rolled his eyes on the outside but on the inside prayed Ron didn't notice he almost called Draco by his first name.
"Where's the rest of the family?" he asked in hope of distracting Ron.
"They ran to Diagon. Should be back soon." He shrugged.
"So till Kings pulls you, huh? Must be awkward.. Just, be careful about what you wear around him..." Ron snorted lightly.
"I hear he's a ponce. Wouldn't put it past him to try and talk you into bed."
Harry flinched slightly when here he remembered what happened a couple of nights ago and guilt washed over him.
"We've been mostly avoiding each other, it's fine." Harry responded flatly.
Ron nodded with a smile.
"Probably best, yeah? The way the two of you went at it in school. What about his son? Little carbon copy of the prick?"
Harry gulped and spat out. "Pretty much, yeah." He looked around the weathered living room with flashbacks. "Hermione didn't arrive yet, I suppose?"
Ron rolled his eyes. "No, she was here. Mum and Gin dragged her off to shop with them.. When I say 'dragged' I mean 'promised to go to the bookstore'." He chuckled. "So, you know how that goes."
"Yeah." Harry responded chuckling.
"So how are you and Hermione doing?" Harry asked curiously. Unsure of how to ask that tricky question, he hesitated. If they did break up, Harry would most likely be forced to choose sides and he honestly didn't want to hurt Ron. He was a good friend but Hermonie was something else. Hermione was the first person he came out to, the person he moved in with after Hogwarts, the person who was always there for him. No exceptions.
Ron shrugged again, looking uncomfortable.
"Honestly? I dunno, mate..." He ran a hand through his hair.
"She seems... Off. Just not quite right lately. She's always working or off with Ginny."
"Oh, I'm sorry man." Harry tapped Ron's shoulder, shooting him a small smile.
Ron sent him a pained smile.
"Yeah... I don't think she's really happy. But she always says she is. So I don't know what to do."
"You'll work things out man. Or maybe you're just not meant to be." Harry shot an encouraging smile to Ron, helping himself with some chocolate frogs.
Ron glanced at Harry nervously and sighed.
"I think it's probably that second one... I love her. I do. But... I think we're together because that's what was expected. You know? Kinda like you and Ginny would have been."
"Until I broke up with her.. Yeah." Harry said darkly. Ginny was one of the first girls who tried sneaking love potions in his food and she still tried seducing him when they saw each other. It was just plain annoying. He had no idea what he saw in her before.
Ron shot Harry a sympathetic look. He knew all about Ginny's antics.
"Maybe if you brought a girl over, she would leave you alone?" He shrugged. "Worth a shot."
"I didn't really meet anyone. I've been busy with work." Harry hoped Ron would buy it. He popped another chocolate frog in his mouth when three witches stumbled out of the fireplace. Hermione looked grumpy but instantly cheered up when she noticed Harry, Miss Weasley was lecturing Ginny about something while Ginny was looking 'seductively' at Harry who was avoiding her look. He got up and hugged Hermione. Her familiar arms embraced him and he felt safe, again.
"I missed you and I have loads to tell you." he whispered in her ear.
"Missed you too, we'll talk later." He heard her whisper back. He pulled away from the hug, to be crushed by Miss Weasley, following with the usual remarks "You're too skinny, honey."
He turned to Ginny and awkwardly waved but she went in for an uncomfortably long hug with an addition of a butt squeeze. He repressed a shudder and looked away to Mrs. Weasley.
Mrs. Weasley smiled at him.
"How are you, dear? You look tired. Have you been sleeping well? Eating all right? How is work going?"
Ron grumbled as the women dumped bags on him and told him to put things away.
"It's going good. Don't worry Miss Weasley, I am eating my daily meals and getting enough sleep." He smiled politely at her. The woman was like his mother but sometimes she was just plain annoying. He was glad to see her though.
"And yourself?"
She smiled kindly at him. "We're all fine here, dear. We miss you though. You haven't been around much since you and Ginny had that falling out."
"I'm sorry, I guess I was busy with work and everything.." Harry gritted through his teeth. She just /had/ to mention that.
Ginny was leaning in the doorway, smiling at him 'seductively'. Mrs. Weasley smiled, nodding sympathetically.
"Well don't work too hard. I'm going to go start dinner." She patter his cheek gently and walked away.
"Hullo, Harry. Haven't seen you in ages. Been busy with work? Or been avoiding us? Or me?"
"Actually Ginny, some of us /do/ work sometimes. We earn a living. Understand?" Harry couldn't help his sarcasm. She was already annoying him. Aware of the rudeness of his tone, he apologised almost immediately.
She just smiled and walked over to him. "Avoiding then, if your attitude says anything." She reached up, running a finger down his chest.
"I miss you."
He clutched her wrist and moved her arm away from him.
"I don't miss /you/. I'm sorry Ginny but we were never going to work out. I don't have those kinds of feelings for you." He said honestly. He has had many talks with Ginny already but she was like blind. He turned his head, to maybe catch Hermione's eye so she could save him but she wasn't in sight.
She glared at him.
"We were supposed to be together. You said forever, Harry. And then you left." She smiled after a minute. "It's ok though. I'm willing to wait."
"I said that while I was under a /love/ potion! Which you slipped into my morning pumpkin juice!" Harry yelled out, becoming angry. He grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes.
"I do not like you, I will not like you. We are not happening. /Ever./" he finished with a scowl and walked out of the house, in order to get some air. It might have seemed a pretty mean thing to say at that point but after 8 years of her denial and constant flirting, nothing seemed rude.
Hermione watched him for a moment before clearing her throat from the bench she was on.
"She still not listening, I take it?"
"Nope." Harry simply answered. He went to sit down next to her and placed his head on her shoulder.
"How are you?"
Hermione shrugged slightly.
"I'm ok. Things have been... tiring." She sent him a sad smile.
"Ron has been distant the last few months but, Harry, the worst part is, I don't mind! And I feel horrible about it. I just don't think things are working out like we expected... He wants me to stay at home like his mother does, raise kids and not work and I just can't."
Harry put his arms around her and embraced her.
"Nobody ever said you two need to be together. Take a month off and see how you feel. Maybe you just weren't meant to be. Honestly, Hermione, I've always though you could do better. Don't get me wrong but you two are completely different people that want different things in life. He wants a wife who will take care of their million children while he goes to work. You want a career and then later on a kid or two." He shot her a small, understanding smile.
She laughed quietly.
"You have a way with words, Harry." She shoved him playfully.
"How about you? How are you doing?"
"Well.. I think I fancy this particular guy and it's not really going good but you have to promise me not to freak out, okay?" he said insecurely. It felt great admitting this out loud though.
She grinned at him.
"Oh, Harry, that's great! Who is it?"
"Mfley" he mumbled, looking down at the ground.
Hermione wrinkled her brow and tilted her head. "I'm sorry, who?"
Before he could answer he heard Miss Weasley yell that dinner is ready.
"I'll tell you later.." he simply responded, getting up.
Hermione nodded and stood up as well, prodding him in the ribs and smiling.
"You had better, Mr. Potter."
They went to join the rest of the Weasleys in the dining room and in the meantime the rest of the Weasley clan arrived. They sat at the table and unfortunately, Hermione was ushered by Miss Weasley to sit right next to Ron and Harry ended up being seated right by Ginny and on the other side, Charlie, which wasn't so bad. Charlie was the only one who knew Harry was gay and they had a few nice, relaxed talks about it. Charlie was too but he hasn't told his family yet either. In Harry's 5th year, he walked in on Harry 'relieving himself' with a Chudley Canons poster nearby and that's how it all started. Harry actually looked up to Charlie a bit, even though he hasn't told his family, he had a husband back in Romania and he was living his life the way he wanted.
Ginny grinned and scooted her chair closer to Harry's, completely ignoring the look on his face or the tension in his posture.
Hermione watched her and caught Harry's eye, giving him a small sympathetic smile and mouthing, /Sorry./
Harry nodded in return to Hermione's sweet gesture, shooting her a small smile. He tried ignoring Ginny and instead engaging in a conversation with Charlie.
"Charlie, it's lovely to see you. How have you been?" Harry asked smiling.
Charlie smiled at him.
"Doing good, Harry. Got a clutch of eggs due to hatch any day now." He flashed the younger man grin.
"I'm practically a mama. How much longer are you going put off coming to see the reservation? Huh?" He teased. "One little encounter with a grumpy Horntail and you've sworn off dragons completely. Absurd."
Hermione snickered down the table and earned herself more than couple of odd looks.
"I would say that was more than a 'little encounter'."
Harry chuckled at Hermione's remark. "I'd love to come down there, soon. How about I owl you next week and we'll figure out something?" Harry then leaned forward a bit and whispered "How's Benjamin doing?" He shot Charlie a big grin.
Charlie's smile widened as he whispered back.
"He's fantastic. As always. Nearly killed me the other day when I came home covered in burns... I'm still seeking forgiveness for that one. What about you, eh? Find a bloke yet?"
"Kind of. I fancy this one guy, but this isn't the time nor place to talk about it. I'll owl you for advice. Thanks for being there for me, Charlie. It means a lot." Harry said smiling. His face suddenly froze, he felt a hand on his thigh, slowly working it's way up. He turned around with a murderous expression.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked Ginny quietly, removing her hand from his thigh.
Charlie shot a glare at his little sister. He felt bad for Harry. He knew how it felt. His mother was always trying to set him up with witches in the hopes of a wedding and grandbabies.
Ginny rolled her eyes with a small smile before leaning closer.
"Come on, Harry. You know you like it."
Harry moved his chair closer to Charlie and moved her shoulder away.
"Ginny, I do not like you. What part of 'I don't like you and never will', don't you understand?" he asked becoming more and more frustrated.
Ginny sent him a dark glare but it lightened as she noticed how many eyes were on her.
"Fine. But don't think I've given up." She settled back in to her seat, looking rather moody.
Charlie sighed and muttered. "Sorry about her, mate..."
"It's all right, I'm used to it.. Thank though." he shot him a small smile before noticing the meal in front of him. In the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny eyeing him up. He pretended to take a bite of the mashed potatoes and Ginny immediately relaxed. When she started chatting with Bill on her other side, he vanished a part of his food. He caught Hermione looking at him. He mouthed "What's up?"
Hermione glanced at Harry's plate before glancing at Ginny and raising an eyebrow at him in question.
Harry simply nodded. He motioned her to watch him. He glanced over to Ginny and ensured she was still wrapped up in a conversation with Bill. He then faked a bite and at the same time, vanished a bit of his food with his wand. He winked back at Hermione.
Hermione beamed at him. There was the Auror in him. She mouthed,
"You make me proud." Before glancing around the table and then mouthing, "So, who is he?"
Harry blushed for a second. He hesitated for a second, looking around before mouthing. "Draco." he then added "Malfoy."
Hermione immediately choked on the sip of water she had been taking, her eyes flying wide as she coughed. She glanced around the table, all eyes were on her and she flushed, mumbling
"Sorry..." As soon as people looked away again and continued the light chatter, she fixed her eyes on him and mouthed, "Are you sure?"
Harry nodded in return. "Unfortunately." he mouthed.
Hermione chewed her lip and mouthed "Later."
After dinner, she managed to snag Harry and drag him outside. "Harry... Malfoy? Really? I mean, he's a... A..." She shook her head, crossing her arms over her stomach.
"Harry... Harry...Harry!" She finally clamped a hand over his mouth.
"An ex-death eater, mudblood hater, jackass, ferret and not to mention annoying." Harry offered with an amused chuckled.
"I was just going to say that he's kind of a git." She smiled slight.
"Actually, if I think about it, the two of you make sense... You've always been passionate towards each other."
"Passionate Hermione? Seriously? We've been at war since 11 years old, using up every chance we can to hurt each other..."
"That's beside the point. You did have a connection. Opposites attract, no?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yes. Just like you and Ron, Hagrid and Snape and Lavender and Flitwick." Harry said sarcastically before bursting into laughter.
"Ewww!" She cried out before joining him on the ground.
When they calmed down, Hermione asked.
"Does he return your feelings?"
"I'm not really sure. He might be just playing with me.." Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Would it be weird if I told you that only an hour earlier I was talking to Zabini and Draco only in my towel, dripping wet and Zabini was complementing me. Well that was before I insulted Draco and I got threatened." he chuckled slightly trying to lighten the mood.
Hermione's eyebrows shot up.
"Zabini threatened you?" She tilted her head, looking thoughtful.
"Zabini isn't known for his temper. I think, if he really did threaten you, it must have been really important to did he say?"
"He told me if I hurt Draco, he'll hurt me.. Something along those lines." Harry moved to sit on the bench. He lowered his head in his hands.
"I don't know what to do." He looked back up at Hermione.
"One moment he's telling me he likes me and we're snogging in the hallway, and the next he's ignoring me and having a date Zabini."
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"A date? Malfoy and Zabini?" She snorted. "I doubt it. Like I said, I'm pretty sure they're more like brothers than lovers. Malfoy is the only one I never heard rumours about being with Zabini. And everyone knew Zabini, erm, got around."
"Really?" Harry instantly perked up.
"So that means, they're not.." Harry mentally slapped himself. He has been brooding over something that he wasn't even sure about.
"I mean, they may have once or twice during school and kept it quiet... That's always possible. But I highly doubt they're-" her eyes looked over at him.
"Oh, Harry... Please tell me you didn't say anything in jealousy?" Sometimes she really felt like slapping him over the head, with a book.
Harry simply nodded burying his head in his hands once again.
"I'm an idiot." he mumbled.
Hermione sighed and patted his head. "
You are certainly able act like one every now and then." She smiled and then sighed again.
"Well, if you really think you've got something with him, I suggest you apologize."
He looked back at her and smiled.
"Thank you for understanding, you're an amazing friend." His tone was soft and emotional.
"I need to fix this, can you cover for me with the Weasleys? I'll send you an owl soon explaining everything."
Hermione nodded and gave him a tight hug. "I'll just tell them there was a problem with Malfoy. They all know you're working with him at the moment. They'll probably assume the worst." She chuckled.
He shot her a big smile, practically ran those 20 apparation-protected meters and apparated away. He arrived in front of the main gates and started walking towards the Manor. It was already dark and the grounds looked beautiful in the moonlight. He tiptoed back to his room to change into something more comfortable than the dress robe he was currently wearing. He picked out a pair of fairly tight black jeans and a white short sleeved shirt. It was pretty warm outside and he wanted to take a walk later.
Just mere minutes later, the fireplace in the sitting room roared to life, and Blaise and Draco tumbled out, laughing. Blaise had his arms around Draco and Draco was struggling to push him off, giggling like an idiot. "Get off of me, you idiot! I can't believe you got us kicked out!"
Harry started walking down the halls, wondering where Draco could possibly be right now. Just when he decided to check his study first, he heard loud voices and laughing coming from the sitting room. He started walking towards it catching small parts of the conversation.
"-got us kicked out!" was the last thing he heard before entering. He stop dead in shock. There they were. Drunken Zabini and Draco, arms around each other and laughing. His heart skipped a beat and he couldn't make any sound. He just stood there, mouth open, not being able to do anything else, waiting for them to notice him.
Blaise was the first to notice him and he looked up with a lopsided grin.
"Oi! Draco! They sent the Aurors after us."
Draco tilted his head back to look, his eyes widening as he saw Harry.
"It's not Aurors, you dolt. Get off me!" He shoved Blaise off of him so that he could stand. He was unsteady, and wound up on the sofa, but he did and admirable job of keeping himself from falling over.
Blaise rolled his eyes, not even bothering to stand.
"Potter's here. Fun's over."
"I-I should go." Harry mumbled. He turned around and stormed out of the room. His fists were clenched so hard his knuckles were white. Of course he was wrong again. How could he even think that piss poor ferret returned any feelings for him. He was only using him to get what he wants. He was using the poor little naive Potter boy to get the Ministry off his ass. Why would the fancy and rich Malfoy ever want the guy he despised all his life, didn't make sense.
He stormed passed his room and went straight for the main door. He figured a brisk walk might cool him down a bit. His thoughts were racing.
Malfoy is just a guy. He's this.. blond ferret without any compassion or kindness in him. Not for me, at least.
He hates me. He hates my friends. He hates every little thing about me.. so why do I still care?
Why does my heart still race when our eyes meet?
Why do my eyes keep wandering down his perfect body?
Why do I imagine myself in his embrace?
Why..?
Author's note:
I'm a jackass. I'm truly sorry.
The roleplay/writer person position re-taken by the previous owner.
Thank Merlin.