Title: Neither Good nor Evil
Rating: PG – 13
Pairing: Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy; Ron Weasley/Hermione Granger
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series or any of its characters.
Summary: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy have never been friends. They were happy to stay enemies until unwanted thoughts interrupted. Add one of Dumbledore's prophecies and shake well.
Chapter Eleven
Father
"Ronald Weasley, you are the most insufferable git!"
"Oh, really! And you're a lousy know-it-all!"
"Maybe you should go find Lavender! Maybe she wants a complete arse like you around!"
"Maybe I will!" Ron stormed off. Hermione sank into the chair she'd left when Ron had found her in the Library. He had begun complaining about Harry immediately. He was always doing that now. Hermione wasn't sure she could take much more.
She loved them both so much but if Ron couldn't accept Harry… Her thoughts redirected themselves suddenly, She loved Harry like he was her brother but she loved Ron like something so much more. And she was letting him drift away from her. Slowly tears began to find their way down her face. Hermione sniffed pitifully. Is this what she was coming to? A shallow little girl that cried over a boy's lost affections. She didn't notice someone come up to her.
"Hey, Granger? Have you seen Harry around? I need to talk to him about… are you crying?" Hermione looked up at the sound of Draco Malfoy's voice. She wiped at her face, embarrassed.
"No, of course not. I don't cry. What'd you need?" Hermione tried to offer him a smile. She came up a little short.
"Let me guess, Weasley's a jerk." Draco looked down at her, raising a scathing eyebrow. He had broken under Harry's nagging (which the boy was prone to more and more lately and which Draco could not resist) and begun to act 'nicely' around Hermione.
"How'd you guess?" She issued a small wet laugh.
"I've known for quite awhile." Draco rolled his eyes and sat down next to her.
"He doesn't like you. He doesn't like Harry dating you. He doesn't like me accepting Harry dating you." Hermione explained, wiping angrily at the tears that threatened to fall. Draco offered her a handkerchief.
"I didn't expect him to." Draco told her shortly.
"I did. He can be open-minded… sometimes…" Hermione dabbed at her eyes and tried to defend Ron.
"Sure. Except he has homophobia." Draco rolled his eyes again.
"He doesn't mind Harry being gay. He minds that he picked you." Hermione shrugged and handed back the handkerchief.
"Didn't really have a choice, did he? You heard about the prophecy, right? We sort of got the long end of the pole… I think that's what the muggles say." Draco slipped the handkerchief back into his pocked with a small half shrug.
"Ron doesn't know about the… prophecy. Oh…" Realization dawned on the brunette's face, "Thank you, Draco." She stood, kissed him on the cheek and hurried off, leaving a stunned Draco behind.
"You're welcome." He muttered after the girl was long gone. He stood and continued his search for Harry who had disappeared after their little 'chat' earlier.
ZxZxZxZxZxZx
"I mean it, Seamus. It has to be a secret."
"Yeah, of course. But Harry… Malfoy? Is he… well you know, good?"
"What? Uh… um… well, yes."
"I knew it!" Seamus laughed, triumphantly.
"You have to keep it a secret." Harry repeated.
"Sure. You want to get him something special and want my help and want no one to know. Easy." Seamus shrugged grinning.
"You're a gossip." Harry accused.
"Well, only about certain things." Seamus returned, defensively. Harry rolled his eyes at the other boy.
"How's Dean doing, by the way? I haven't seen anyone since I moved." He sat back, assured everything would go well.
"Still going strong and still certain we should keep it a secret." Seamus sighed. It was common knowledge that Seamus was bisexual and that he was head over heels in love with Dean. However, Dean was much better at hiding his emotions.
"I know that feeling but my guy has a reason. Dean on the other hand…" Harry prompted.
"He's worried how people will react. There's too much going on right now and he doesn't want to make a splash." Seamus sighed again.
"Well… if you keep on him," Harry suggested.
"Hopefully. I have class. See you around." Seamus stood up.
"Yeah, say hi to Dean."
"Say hi to Malfoy."
"Call him Draco, would you? At least around me."
"Fine, say hi to Draco." Seamus grinned cheekily and hurried off. Harry laughed softly and ran a hand through his hair. Standing up, he walked off to return to his and Draco's room.
"Draco," He called softly as he entered the room. Draco came rushing out of his room. He grabbed Harry around the middle, hauled the smaller boy over his shoulder and dashed off into Harry's room. He set the boy down on his bed, "What the fuck are you doing?" Harry demanded.
"Hush for a second. My father's coming here, any minute. We have to act like we still hate each other." Draco explained, pacing across the room.
"Why can't I just disappear?" Harry asked, leaning back on his hands and staring up at the flustered boy.
"He'll guess something's up… unless…" Draco trailed off. He paced in silence for several minutes before Harry got fed up.
"Unless… what?" He snapped. Draco stopped pacing and turned to face him. The blond boy grinned.
"Go flying, go hang out with Weasl… uh, Granger, just get out for a while. That should work but don't tell me. Just leave, right now." He shrugged.
"How was that so hard to figure out?" Harry asked, standing up and rubbing at the place where Draco had grabbed him.
"So I get a little flustered when my father comes to visit." Draco returned defensively.
"A little." Harry grumbled under his breath, grabbing his broom.
"Sorry, love. Have a nice time." Draco kissed him deeply for a moment and then hurried off to his room. Harry rolled his eyes and started out of the Dorm, his broom on his shoulder. The portrait swung open before he reached it. Lucius Malfoy stepped in.
"Potter." He sneered.
"Mr. Malfoy." Harry glared at the older man.
"Father." Draco hurried over to them and gave Harry a severe look.
"I have to go. Excuse me. Have a nice day, Mr. Malfoy." Harry pushed past him and ran off down the hall.
Next update in five reviews
Cheers,
Sarcastic Romantic