Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. Please read and review thanks love Hermione xxx
Draco had often been a jackass and Dumbledore had often made poor choices. Harry had considered Hagrid a friend but he would have never said he'd be a good teacher. He just wasn't sensible enough. He just never seemed to understand that they were always going to be much smaller than him and therefore anything he found small they would find massive. Now Hagrid shouldn't have been hired and Draco was right that he was useless but he could have been more tactful about how he said it. Whether anyone liked it or not Harry would be demanding a resorting when he went to school along with Draco who would be getting one due to his name change. He simply couldn't be in Gryffindor anymore when Dumbledore didn't even try to hide how much he absolutely favoured his old house above all other houses. It was quite frankly ridiculous.
Also Dumbledore might have been right in that he had often given Minerva too much to do but that did not excuse her ridiculous conduct. If she knew she had too much on her plate she had a responsibility to send her students to any other head of house for help. I mean Filius had asked him to come to him always now with anything he may have as he knew Minerva couldn't be trusted. She just couldn't help but be irresponsible despite all she said about fairness and so on. Also Severus was a jackass plain and simple. He didn't teach his classes fairly and actually damaged his own snakes more than he helped them. By teaching his classes poorly he insured that people had accidents and what with his snakes putting things into other people's potions without them seeing it, it insured that they exploded all over everyone not just the lions. It was a catastrophe and it was extremely dangerous. He couldn't count the amount of times that Crabbe and Goyle had hurt themselves and others near them because of his awful teaching.
At least Charms and Herbology were taught fairly. If you sucked in those classes no matter your house you were often told plain and simple that it wasn't good enough. The only thing about Draco which had truly annoyed Harry was how much he complained about things instead of stately plainly why it was wrong in the first place. They all knew whatever it was, was more than likely wrong but did he really need to complain so much? Harry certainly didn't think so. He decided to tell Draco that. He entered the kitchen smiling as Lola was baking a cake while Draco talked with her about all she was doing. He was very interested and she was thrilled to have a new student even if it was her master.
"And this sir is why we do this step now otherwise it sticks. Also if you use oil it is better in case someone is allergic to dairy but I usually ask beforehand. Hello Harry sir do you want to help?" she said turning to face him and he had to smile. She had on a small apron and was perched on a kitchen chair cooking. She looked so beautiful and carefree in that moment. He caught Dobby staring who looked a bit zoned out and smiled to himself.
"No thank you Lola but maybe Dobby might like to try some of the cake with you when it's done. Draco we need to talk and this is important ok. Look I realise what those hatred potions were designed to do but they backfired on me. You see when he gave it to me he thought I'd hate you which I did but what he didn't realise was the fact that I hated myself so much for hating you and constantly wondered why hating you felt so off. In light of us now being free of them was there anything I did which truly annoyed you?" he asked as Draco chuckled slightly and thought seriously about it for a while. He had not been expecting to ever be asked this question so had to think of how to phrase his answer.
"To be quite honest sometimes I wondered how much abuse you were going to continue to take from Weasley when he never apologised and I know it because Granger was always thinking she would be telling him to apologise quietly. Nothing that fool says is ever quiet. Why did you keep on taking him back? Did you not think you deserved better? I mean everyone in Slytherin would always hear her ordering him to apologise to you and always wondered why you took it all the time" he said as Lola handed him a glass of wine and gave one to Harry who thanked her and took a sip loving the light and fruity taste of the rose liquid. He thought long and hard about his answer. This would be very tough indeed as he didn't usually speak about things like this to anyone but Draco would soon be his husband for a reason and so he'd need to learn to be vulnerable with him.
"To be honest Draco growing up the Dursleys had always insured I never had any friends or knew friendship from anyone. Anyone who was interested in being my friend was told whatever it took to insure I never had any friends. Ronald was the second person in our world I met the first bring Hagrid. Hagrid is my friend but he'll never know enough to be much help to anyone and that's the plain truth. When I met Ron he was my first friend. No one was there to dissuade him and I was happy and delighted that he appeared to like me for me. I know that's not true now of course. For years I kept hoping he'd get better on his own. I didn't know what he was doing was bad initially because I had no friends before him. I thought he was normal and was heartbroken to discover he wasn't!" he said a tear slipping from his eye as Lola rushed over and patted his knee in a soothing way.
"Soon Harry sir we'll have cake and cake makes everything better! Don't you worry now Lola will make everything better" she said jumping for joy and making him smile. She was so innocent and beautiful in that moment. She was everything he'd ever needed. Almost like a mother he didn't have. I mean no one had ever truly comforted him in such an effortless way before and with cake to boot. To say he felt very loved right now would be an understatement. It was all so much to process. He'd thought Ron would always be there for him and they'd grow old together with separate partners but meeting up all the time. He was truly devastated and more so that he'd not seen it coming. It was this that made him feel so foolish. Once it had been pointed out to him he couldn't but see it. It was like a glaring beacon then. It was quite disgusting to him that even Neville who was awful at magic was better than Ron. I mean that truly didn't say much about Ron did it! He might see if he could get Neville to ask for a resorting himself. He really did like Neville and knew for a fact that with a new wand and everything he'd be returning to school a new man. He was so excited to see that play out.
"I'm so sorry my love I didn't know that. At least you know it now and don't worry I'll never let that scumbag hurt you again if I can help it! Tell me did I do anything to truly annoy you myself?" he said as Harry chuckled. Draco then wondered if he'd been sensible to ask him that question. Maybe he'd get more than one answer and cringed internally. He was almost shaking with nerves which he couldn't seem to shake pardon the pun.
"I know you won't. I love you. Well yes you were always such a bloody moaner it drove me mad. I always thought if you spent less time whining and more time logically explaining why whatever it was, was wrong then it would have been better. You were usually right that whatever it happened to be sucked but your moaning used to drive me crazy. I must ask did you think people feared your father or something. You would always tell everyone to wait until he heard about it!" he said as Draco looked around awkwardly. He wasn't sure how to answer that one. I mean he'd been so insecure. When he was raised he was never told he was loved by his parents. They had always said having him was a blessing and that he made them happy but he would have liked to be told they loved him at least once. It never happened though. They just couldn't let their emotional walls down and let him in. He never truly saw them.
"In my house growing up my parents would tell me all the time they were blessed to have me but never once said they loved me. I grew up being told that when I went to school anyone I should ever ask to be my friend would automatically do it simply because of who I was. It was a big lie to tell and very wrong indeed. When I went to school let's face it no one gave a fuck who I was and those who did know just thought I was normal and nothing extraordinary. I started to deflect my confused and hurt feelings outwards by threatening to tell my father everything bad because I couldn't process my own emotions. I love you Harry and I'll make sure I tell you as often as I can. We didn't have it growing up but we'll have it from now on!" he said smiling as he leaned in a kissed Harry who felt all emotions of sadness leaving him immediately. Suddenly there was movement in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place and they noticed all the kids were meeting in there and had asked for privacy which the adults had kindly given them. Saying hello the mirror came to life and they watched the scene before them happily whilst munching on the Victoria Sponge cake Lola had made them. Dobby and Lola were blushing and sharing a piece which was cute as hell.
Fred, George, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were sitting at the table.
"Ginny you wanted to talk to us all. We also have some news!" Fred said in excitement. Ginny cleared her throat and closed her eyes to centre herself as everyone watched her closely. She seemed to be getting her bearings or something which looked like that.
"Yes I took a familial test the other day and I am an empath. I can however choose to turn my abilities on and off. I couldn't do this before which is why I spent all my time locked away crying. Mums emotions are enough to kill even the strongest person. I just couldn't handle all her extreme worry and sadness. It was literally killing me inside every day. Thankfully dad had the right potion to help me out and I am fine now. I just um thought you should know why I behaved so erratically before!" she said as they all agreed that it was fine and that they were happy for her. At least she was better now and looked visibly better too. The twins had been worried about her when she looked so awful before.
"We have an announcement. At the end of the Triwizard Tournament Harry gave us the thousand galleons to help us start up our business Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. I present to you our skiving snack box!" Fred said unveiling the product to them. Everyone but Hermione was stunned as they all handled and opened the box revealing all the cool contents and sweets inside it. Ron looked totally stunned that they had been sensible enough to create this. He truly hadn't thought they'd have it in them.
"This is an outrage! It's totally counter-productive and I will be telling Molly about it. I'm sure she'll be so proud of you. How irresponsible of Harry to give that money to you just like that. More than likely he told you to do it. I know about the marauders. He thinks it's so cool doesn't he? You better get top grades in school. If you don't I'm telling your mum about this!" Hermione snapped furiously as Draco's eyebrows rose in surprise. He'd not expected this level of hatred from her of all people. He knew she wouldn't likely like it but he didn't expect her to be so vile about it.
"Actually Granger mum knows about it already and is happy about it. She told me just yesterday that more people need a laugh now than they ever have. You can't blackmail us like that. What do you all think of Harry's announcement that he's gay and who do you think he'll end up with?" Fred asked as Hermione fumed internally. It wasn't supposed to be this way.
"Oh for goodness sakes knowing him he'll date Blake Zorin or someone ridiculous like that!" she snapped as Draco looked highly confused who the hell was that? He really wanted to know. Was this Blake guy a muggle celebrity or something because that might not surprise him?
"Who's Blake Zorin?" he asked Harry who blushed deeply.
"You know damn well who that is!" he said still blushing wildly but stopped a she saw Draco looked genuinely stumped.
"Come on Blake Zorin that cute Italian guy in your house!" he said as Draco laughed his head off.
"His name is Blaise Zabini and he's my best friend. His family are thankfully part of neutral faction. I'll tell him you thought that was his name!" he said chuckling loudly.
"Well to be honest so long as he doesn't date me we'll be fine. That would be creepy as hell and I'd have to say yes to him wouldn't I? I mean if I said no he'd likely rape me or something and the public wouldn't like it at all. I like vagina's and boobs thank you very much. I intend to get a girlfriend soon anyway so he can fuck off!" Ron snapped as Harry's head suddenly snapped up from its position where he had been looking at the cake as he got another slice and brought it to his plate. It didn't even reach his mouth as it hung open in horror.
"I mean seriously! Even he was to say no to me in some weird world where I actually liked him I'd never rape him. I mean that is too horrific for words honey. Does he really think I'd rape him?" he said tears streaming from his eyes in awe. He looked so defeated in that moment that Draco scooped him up into his arms and held him closely. He went to reply but Fred got there first.
"What the fuck Ron? I realise we like a joke but there's nothing funny about anything you just said. Get the fuck over yourself. I'm sure he has better taste and to say that someone as wonderful as him would ever rape anyone is so disgusting it doesn't bare thinking of. I mean do you kiss mum with that mouth. My hope for him is that he finds someone beautiful to love who will love him in turn and let that be the end of it!" he snapped as Harry smiled slightly his tears drying up. He snuggled into Draco a bit more feeling truly relaxed again but then Hermione just had to open her damn mouth again didn't she?
"Well I think it's ridiculous. Look I have never fancied him and don't actually care that he's gay but he wasn't thinking of how I will look was he? I mean people actually thought we were dating last year and sent me poison letters for this reason. How the hell am I going to look now? I was damn ugly Harry Potter is now gay! I will blamed by everyone for his decision to become which I hate so much. It's not a problem that he's gay but it is a problem that I will be blamed for it!" she snapped as Harry looked stunned once more. It was then the turn of George to speak.
"Look Hermione anyone who thinks that you turned him gay is a fool. You cannot turn someone gay. It is how they are born. He likely didn't even realise it until recently. I mean he had that date last year with what's her name and freaked out when she kissed him. He told me it felt all wrong and that he couldn't do it. He said sorry to her and said they couldn't ever date and she was actually fine with it when he told her why. Did you know she told him he was brave for telling her and became a good friend to him because of it!" he said as she looked highly alarmed.
"Who was it? Did she even truly know him at all? How do any of us know this isn't some elaborate and foolish prank? I won't date him because my eyes are elsewhere and so in retaliation for it he says he gay. I mean his father was one of the marauders whose to say anything he ever says is serious really?" she questioned as everyone thought about it. They eventually agreed without Hermione that no one who was pranking anyone would tell people they were gay in a letter which they likely knew would be read aloud to many people. That just wouldn't be a funny prank at all and would look highly silly. Harry and Draco had an appointment for their marriage suits tomorrow and headed to bed for an early night. To think in two days' time they'd be married. What a whirlwind of joy to be in.