It took a lot of thought process to complete this, so enjoy… (LJ:Maiwiz) {Approx. a week later}

Chapter 13: Bitter Revelations

Draco sat his tea down with a clunk. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. And no, he was not talking about the sub-par teachings of Herbology in the cramped and smelly greenhouse, he was talking about the ripped-out portion of notebook paper that had told Draco Lucius Malfoy that Ginevra, the weaselette herself, was going to come to 'cheer on' Potter half-quarter exams for the week.

Who knew how she had even managed that, but Draco didn't care about that right now. Right now, he was wondering why he even gave a fuck about this in the first place, and why he felt like vomiting every time he heard 'Ginny's' name. He knew that the relationship was doomed, why did he insist on making it happen anyway? Draco couldn't help that he was feeling protective of the bastard now that he considered himself at least closer to friends, and the girl was just not it.

Now, the reason behind this protectiveness was something that Draco did NOT like to think about, so he tried in vain to focus on this stupid Herbology assignment. The muggleborn that had given it out was going on that disturbing hippie trend that was plaguing the muggles, so Mr. 'Cool'burns had assigned to them a tropical plant that had rainbow leaves. He sloppily rained on the plant, so that the leaves would puff out like it was supposed to.

"DRACO! I've been saying your name for like ten minutes!" Pansy screeched, and Draco sighed. It had probably only been two minutes, but Pansy loved to exaggerate, and this case was one of them. "What is it, love?" He asked, using a fake smile that he knew Pansy wanted to see. Pansy keened. "Oh, you don't have to call me that!" She batted him and sat back in her seat. "I was just going to ask why you are so interested in that dear parchment of yours." She smiled that knowing grin and Draco groaned.

"It's nothing." He vanished the paper and Pansy pouted but nevertheless carried on. "Draco, you shouldn't pine. It's unbecoming." Draco guffawed but Pansy wouldn't shake. "Pansy, if you don't tell me what the hell you mean I'm going to hex you." Pansy sighed loudly and whirled around. "I mean Potter, you big git! You obviously have feelings for him! And pretending to be friends isn't helping any!"

Draco put his wand down with a thud. "Pansy, I do not like him. I am a Malfoy." Pansy looked close to boiling. "Do not start that with me! I see how you act when we're around hot men, Draco! I know because I spent a year with a crush on you, remember!" Draco knew he was making his own burial, but he couldn't not roll his eyes. That was an exaggeration. Pansy put on a speech bubble and let out her screaming.

"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY, I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS GROSS LYING OF YOURS. IT HAS GOT TO STOP NOW! I KNOW YOU ARE INFATUATED WITH HARRY JAMES POTTER, SO DO NOT DENY IT! PRETENDING TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT ISN'T ROMANTIC ISN'T WORKING FOR YOU, DRACO, AND I CAN TELL BY YOUR MENTAL STATUS. IF YOU WANT HIM TO LIKE YOU, STOP ACTING LIKE A BIG GIT!"

Message received loud and clear.

~.~.~.~.

Harry sat nervously twiddling with his quill on one of the benches in Care of the Magical Creatures. He had dreaded answering the letter from Ginny, but he knew that he had to let his roommate know if Ginny dropped by suddenly, which she probably would. Harry didn't even want to think about the possibility of her staying the night, it made his insides whirl.

Some might call him a masochist for being a relationship he obviously didn't want. But besides from the voices inside his head, no one exactly knew how his relationship with Ginny was really faring. Malfoy had loved to guess multiple times, but his answer didn't quite hit the mark. He loved Ginny, he did, really. But something was always missing and It was nothing like any romance film he had ever seen.

Everything was always calm and simple, like they were friends instead of a relationship. Friends who would kiss sometimes but never more. He knew what Seamus and often Dean would get up to, he wasn't an idiot. And he didn't want to think about what Hermione and Ron would do together. He wasn't a bloke that needed the PDA, he never was. But the thought of doing anything with Ginny made him anxious.

Hermione had told him that it was fine to wait, that he didn't have to go there or even the next step if he didn't want to. But that didn't mean it was normal. And it didn't stop him from thinking about what Malfoy had said that one time. It was tearing him apart and he didn't even think that Malfoy meant it as more than a jest. It made him want to scream that Malfoy could still get to him even though they were now 'friends.'

But the fact remained that Ginny was going to join him while he studied, with Malfoy, (which would be a disaster) and wait outside as he tested, probably with Malfoy as well, and she would stay even after the test was over on Monday. And it wouldn't help that his partner was now looking at him oddly for making weird faces on the bench when they were supposed to be working with Centaurs. "Er, sorry Lily."

It bothered Harry that the girl had the same name as his mother, but he felt wise not to comment on it. Lily Moon was one of Luna's friends, which Ron had already picked fun of the names. She was a Gryffindor that Harry had studiously ignored that he had just now realized. He was trying his best try to be more social, even though it was Malfoy's advice to notice people in the first place.

Lily was quiet and observant like Luna too, and Harry found himself missing her. They barely talked since Luna was a year behind Harry, something Harry often forgot. "Don't brush my mane like that, you'll tangle it." The Centaur groaned and Harry hurriedly changed the brushing pattern. Lily was busy polishing his hooves, and the Centaur, with its lovely white horse body and arrogant streak, reminded Harry very much of Malfoy. His name was Zeke, which helped.

"Zeke, would you like a silver shine or a gold one?" Lily asked, referring to his hooves. Zeke snorted and flipped his long mane. "Gold, of course, I'm a Centaur not a plebian." Harry snorted. Definitely Malfoy.