Title: Catching the Fallen
Rating: PG-13
By: Casserole and Pie
Disclaimer: No we do not own Harry, we do not own Draco, we do not own Ron, we do not own Hermione, we do not own Voldemort, we do not own Anything, except for maybe our word processors. And since we would like to go to college some day maybe you could not sue us?
Ten
Conversation
Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh
It had been two or so days since Draco had been allowed out of the hospital. Hermione could feel the tension as she and Ron entered the house. Draco hadn't told Harry. Harry had tried to understand, tried to help. But it was just getting too much for him. He felt there was something wrong and there was nothing he could do. And Draco wasn't letting him help. So Harry was resentful of almost everything. He was off from work due to some clause about spouses and sickness. Draco just didn't want to talk about it, and it was all Harry wanted to talk about so the two of them were left hanging. Harry would go off and sulk, which he had been doing in the upstairs office, refusing to come down, even for meals. Hermione had been leaving his meals outside the closed door. And Draco was clearly taking a toll from all this. It was just not a very nice situation.
Hermione motioned for Ron to wait at the door. She peered into the living room. Draco had taken it over for his own now that Harry was up stairs and neither of them wanted to be in the bed room.
"So where's Harry?" Hermione asked of Draco, who was petting the cat and staring off into space. Draco's eyes snapped to her and Hermione could see the depth of pain that was being caused there. She tried to suppress an impulse to go out into the corridor and bring Ron in, force him to look in those eyes, see what he had done, and then throttle him.
"Sulking in his room. He won't come out" Draco said bleakly.
Hermione decided to cut to the chase. "I brought Ron." She said. Draco's back stiffened and he sat bolt upright.
"You WHAT?!?!" He looked aghast. "Are you insane?"
"You should at least listen to what he has to say." Draco stared at her as if she'd grown an extra head. "Look, this isn't easy for him either." Draco raised an eyebrow at that. Hermione gave him a small glare "I'm not making excuses- I'm just-"
"Making excuses." He finished with a rye smile. Hermione was glad to see it, though it looked wan and pale on his face. Oh I hope this works out all right she hoped.
"Stop it. Humor is appreciated, but this is important. Get Harry."
"Actually, you should do that." Draco said glumly, his smile fading.
"Why?" Draco gestured towards himself.
"Because, he's not talking to me."
"That bad, huh? Usually he can't keep his eyes off you." Hermione smiled slightly, trying to joke.
"I know." Draco said, grabbing for a dramatic air, trying to make a comedy out of it all. Hermione could see the little bits of mask slipping, but Draco was holding it together better then Hermione might have herself. Draco smirked at her fond expression and proved that he was at least mostly himself on some level, "But I'm taken."
"Shut up. I actually don't want you, you oaf." Hermione pretended to swat at him. He smiled and the smile was more real. Hermione hoped it kept getting better, now to get Harry down here with Draco so everything could be sorted out.
Draco got a mischievous look and Hermione immediately knew she was going to have to keep him from saying the next sentence.
"I know. You want-" she clamped her hand over his mouth, his eyes cackled gleefully at her and his hands waved towards the hall and waiting Ron. Hermione glared at him and hissed,
"Don't you dare, I think he's listening." In fact Ron was listening; he was also quiet red in the face. So Hermione did like someone. He wondered who it could be; he hoped it wasn't too late. He restrained an urge to peek around the corner and look into the living room to see what was going on. It was getting a bit silent. And then Hermione's voice drifted over too him.
"Well I guess I'll go get Harry."
A/N: Draco knows her secret, Draco knows her secret. Always knew he was perceptive like that. Now if he and Harry can only get on the same wave length again, it's just so uncomfortable to have them not together and happy, just doesn't feel right I think. Well hopefully soon. Review please.
