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Chapter 10- Conflict

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Draco lay in bed, restless. He couldn't help but think about what had happened only a few short moments ago. Draco had pulled Hermione back to him. It bothered him that her company didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. They hadn't even really spent time together. Was he going to far already? Draco shook his head. This lack of sleep had him reeling. Why wasn't she bothering him? Why was it bothering him that she wasn't bothering him? And why did she smell so damn good? Draco rolled over onto his side in frustration. This was not good. He shouldn't be smelling her in the first place.

Harry looked at Ron in confusion. "You?"

Ron looked around nervously. "You're dating my sister…by the way that's just wrong."

"Well yea but…hey wait what? Why is it wrong?"

"She's my little sister!"

"Alex is my twin!"

"But I thought she was a lesbian!" Seamus threw in.

"Give it up Seamus!" Harry and Ron shouted together. Seamus shrunk back onto his bed.

"Ok let's think rationally here." Harry said, pacing.

"Rational, that's good." Ron agreed.

"You can date Alex if you don't kiss her, hug her, hold her hand, or touch her in general."

"Gee thanks." Ron said sarcastically.

"Why are you dating Alex?" Dean asked.

"Well, she's like my best friend, we have good times together and I guess I'm sort of attracted to her."

"Sort of?" Harry blurted. "What do you mean sort of?"

"Harry just get over it. If they like each other, why interfere?" Dean suggested casually.

Ron sighed in relief; that would have been hard to explain.

"So what about Harry dating Ginny?" Seamus asked. He and Dean were getting into the conversation a little more than they should.

"It's just so gross." Ron whined.

"What and dating Alex isn't?" Harry pointed out.

"Ok we have to agree on something Harry." Ron said with a sigh.

"Ok fine. You don't date my sister. I agree on that."

"Harry be reasonable." To everyone's surprise it was Neville. "Really, Alex is seventeen too, I mean really, she's her own person. You shouldn't be deciding who she dates. Same with you Ron. Ginny is old enough to decide for herself. Do you really think either of them would agree with your decisions for them?"

Ron and Harry looked at their feet. "No." They muttered together.

"Well then what is all this complaining about?" Neville looked around the room.

Harry and Ron shrugged.

"Good, now shut up and go to sleep." With that Neville lie back onto his pillow and shut his eyes.

"Just don't kiss her in front of me." Ron said as he lay in his bed.

"Same." Harry said curtly.

"Well isn't that nice, everything is settled." Dean said happily.

"Shut up." Seamus said as he shook his head.

The next morning Draco found it hard to get out of bed. He had finally drifted into a restless sleep late in the night and couldn't seem to get comfortable. He dragged himself out of bed to realize he was the only one in the dorm. Looking at his clock he dashed around the room to pull on his clothes. Breakfast was almost over.

He ran down the stairs and went straight to his regular seat with Crabbe and Goyle.

They looked at him oddly but decided it would be better not to say anything. Draco stuffed what food he could into his mouth just in time.

"Did you even taste that?" Pansy asked, sickened by the way he had barely swallowed his food.

He glared at her. "I'm not having a good morning."

"I can see that."

As he got up to follow his fellow seventh years to Herbology, Professor Snape grabbed his elbow and led him over to a far corner in the room.

"What is the meaning of this?" He snapped.

"I was just eating sir; I didn't think it would get in the way of anything." Draco said sarcastically.

"You know what in bloody hell I'm talking about boy, don't be stupid."

"What the muggle girl?" Draco looked across the room; Hermione had looked over at him and quickly turned away. He smiled.

"She's not just a muggle girl you nit, she's Hermione Granger! Have you gone mad?" Snape was trying his hardest to keep his voice down.

"I'm dating her, big deal."

"It is a very big deal! What is your father going to say about this?"

"Nothing, because we aren't telling him." Draco said in fair warning.

"I swear Draco if you go through with this little…fling, I'm going to tell him!"

Draco hardened his stare. "You wouldn't."

Snape's thin lips coiled into a threatening smile. "I would. This is beyond anything I could have imagined from you Draco." His voice lowered into a soft whisper. "He who must not be named would think you were a traitor."

"And how would you know?" Draco sneered.

Snape straightened his posture. "Think about what you're doing, and make sure you do the right thing." He began walking away.

"You won't tell my father." Draco warned.

Snape turned. "Only if I have to."

Draco stood there staring after him. Not good. Not good at all.

Dumbledore sat at his table smiling to himself. He watched as Professor Snape pulled Draco into a corner and bicker with him. Turning his gaze to the Gryffindor side he saw Hermione leave for Transfiguration, her eyes were on Draco.

With his knowing gaze he looked upon the two students with wonder. Smiling he got up to leave just as Professor McGonagall came to greet him.

"Sir, are they still…?"

He nodded.

"And this isn't concerning to you?" She asked carefully as she followed his gaze from Hermione to Draco.

"Should it?" He asked her as he turned to face her.

McGonagall was taken aback. "It just seems a bit strange doesn't it?"

"Indeed. It does." He said with a smile.