"Welcome back Mr Potter- I trust that you are feeling better now? Miss Granger tells me you have been un-well. Did you visit the hospital wing?" Harry shook his head and sat down sheepishly "I didn't think it was necessary to waste Madam Pomphrey's time- it turned out I ingested a puking pastille"
Thankfully they had Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs- it would have looked suspicious if both Harry and Hope turned up late together! Professor McGonagall shook her head disapprovingly muttering something that sounded like "those two!"
"Are they serious?! First day back and we have this much homework already! What do they think we are- House elves?" This particular phrase earned Ron a dark look from Hermione as they made their way to the main hall for lunch.
"I will see you later ok?" Harry had thrown some of the drier food that was on option into a napkin- that he then tucked into his bag while Ron stared at him incredulously "where are you going then?!"
There was an awkward pause as Ginny approached the table, she smiled stiffly at Harry then sat down but Harry held out his hand to her- he could think of only one way to fix the situation "shall we have that picnic?"
Not caring that Ron had gone a strange colour as he watched them Harry walked away with Ginny's hand in his. Hermione muttered to him as they passed her "leave Ron to me ok?"
Ginny seemed a little happier but the feeling that she was still upset plagued Harry "I need to talk to you about Hope…" there was a slight twitch in her hand in response but she didn't let go so Harry continued- hoping that it was safe to do so.
"I am going to meet her now- she wishes to talk to me. Ginny…I don't fancy her. Last night I simply encouraged Ron to speak to her and make sure she was ok that's all!" It didn't help that he couldn't see her face! Did she believe him? Was she mad? Her lack of response was unnerving him!
"Things didn't go to plan- despite his best efforts Ron was only making things worse. He asked me to take over- she got upset and I consoled her- but it was late and we fell asleep!"
Finally she turned to face him with a grin "I'm not the jealous type you know? Truthfully, I knew nothing had happened; I trust you Harry!"
She picked at a loose thread on her sleeve uncomfortably "The real reason I ran off was because I was scared that it was really me who had upset her that much. When no one could find you Ron explained what had happened- that Hope had been crying and you stayed behind to help…I have been unkind to her Harry because she is a Malfoy; but I have been acting no better!"
This was what he loved about Ginny Weasley! She hadn't doubted Harry- as any other girl would have done! Though that didn't change the fact she had doubted herself.
Hope was stood beside the lake as promised, evidently she hadn't expected Harry to bring a guest along but she did not protest "sorry I hope you don't mind me bringing Ginny- we're going to eat together after this"
Before he could say anything else, Ginny stepped forward "it's ok Harry, you talk to her I will just see you later. I just want to say to Hope; I'm sorry for how I have acted- it was unfair for my brother and me to have been so unkind- simply because you are a Malfoy"
Acknowledging Ginny's apology with a nod, Hope offered her hand smiling kindly as she did so "thank you! I hope we can be friends" Ginny agreed with this, then she said her goodbyes and left.
Now that they were alone, Harry wondered what he should say. Thankfully Hope spoke first "thank you for last night Harry, I feel better today. I haven't seen Draco yet though- I will need to speak to him soon…"
Harry considered how best to phrase to her that they couldn't be friends- no matter what he did not wish to cause her anymore pain or sadness but nor did he want for her to come into any harm! He knew that Dumbledore was right- he needed to stay away from her.
"Listen, I don't know how to say this but…" he could not supress the annoyed growl that escaped him as they were once again interrupted "here you are! I have been looking for you everywhere!"
Draco had appeared panting- Harry was surprised to see him alone- it was unusual for other Slytherins to not be accompanying him.
"What do you want Potter?!" Harry was in no mood for Draco Malfoy- he could not erase the image of his face as he gazed lovingly at Hope. Nor could he forgive him for the anguish he was causing in her.
"Funny…I don't recall you being such a cocky git when you were requesting me to help you!" Harry thought he would have to die before Draco Malfoy stopped sneering at him- so when his face lowered in guilt, Harry almost pinched himself to make sure he was awake!
"You are right…I hate to admit it but I owe you one!" The sorry look on his face was pissing Harry off- it seemed so wrong! It just told Harry just how much Malfoy actually cared for Hope. He turned away from them both as he was forced to confront reality.
Slowly he turned around with a grin as he recalled Ron's conversation and without any warning he drew his fist back and punched Draco so hard he fell to the floor!
Unable to shift his grin, Harry leant over him and offered a hand to help him up as he rubbed his face with a scowl "What was that for Potter!?"
Thoroughly enjoying himself Harry shrugged his shoulders laughing "nothing…just make sure you look after Hope okay?" His attention shifted to his other self who was clearly angry with him "what the hell! What is wrong with you?"
Looking into very familiar; albeit angry eyes- Harry smiled coolly at Hope "see you around Malfoy!"
This was for the best he thought, for a moment Draco almost seemed friendly towards Harry! Some people weren't meant to be friends he had told himself and he was right! Somehow the thought of a Hogwarts where Harry and Draco Malfoy were friends was just too bizarre- even to Harry's standards.
Draco turned towards Hope cheerfully as she rushed to him and checked his marked face "what have I told you before? Bloody lunatic isn't he!?"
She chuckled slightly before sitting down in the shade of the tree- it was time to confront him "I'm sorry I ran from you last night. You have always been able to talk to me about anything and yet when you tried to confide in me I panicked and ran away!"
Relieved that she was now willing to listen, he sat beside her however this time he maintained some distance "I should be sorry; I must have scared you. That wasn't my intention though; my intention is to dissolve your loyalty to my family! Hope I want to set you free before they get you caught up in it all!"
He shook his head slightly and looked at the floor disgruntled "you mustn't feel gratitude or loyalty or anything anymore! You already know how I feel about you- but so do my parents! The dark lord will learn of my love for you and will use it to make me join him. Whether you love me back or not is not important- we must escape"
Despite the control he had maintained, he finally gave in and grabbed her hand once more- holding it tightly so she could not flee again "you're no longer a maid- you're not a Malfoy! Be free and just be Hope! I will not manipulate you into loving me…"
She glanced at him curiously, feeling a fearful shadow cast over her body "What do you mean?" With no immediate answer he rose to his feet- refusing to meet her eyes "if you do not want me by your side I will understand- I did not tell you about the dark lord wishing me to join him as a tool to make you mine"
Hope did not need him to say anymore- if he didn't escape the manor he would have no choice but to join The Dark Lord- to defy him meant death. Draco didn't wish to say that if Hope didn't accept him he would have no where else to go- and if he tried to refuse to become a death eater he would die.
"Draco…regardless of how I feel for you, if you say that we need to escape together to stay safe I trust you! I don't have to love you to want to keep you alive. I refuse to let you join The Dark Lord either…if you say I am no longer a maid then that's fine. If you say I am no longer a Malfoy- I don't care. But never consider that I would escape alone and let you die!"
She fought the blush that was surfacing on her face as he tried to lower his lips on her. Why did it feel so wrong? She knew she loved him but strongly wanted to take his hand off her and break it!
Instead she pushed him back gently with a confused frown as his face was shadowed with disappointment "is it because of Potter? I heard that the reason you were late was because the two of you were asleep in the boat house"
Why was she feeling giddy? Why was the tormented look on his face amusing her so much?
"I can't deny that I fell asleep with Harry in the boat house; though it wasn't what it sounds like. I'm not in love with him- I have only known him for the shortest time and yet I feel as though he is someone dear to me. He has turned up when I have been feeling troubled and comforted me"
Draco's face told her he didn't believe her, how could she make him see that despite withdrawing earlier- it was in fact him she loved.
Ignoring the misplaced hostility in the back of her mind, she grabbed Draco and pressed her lips onto his…as soon as this happened; the dormant aggression faded.
Harry shot upright with a pale face, becoming aware that he had fallen asleep under the hot sun. It had been amusing at first; tuning into Hope accidentally so that she was vaguely aware of Harry's disgust and hostility-not knowing that it wasn't her own.
However, watching through her eyes as she kissed him was more than Harry could handle! "Harry? Are you ok?" slowly he shook his head and looked at Hermione, Ginny and Ron as they crowded around him on the grassy floor "NO! I need to learn Occlumency! Where is Professor Snape!"