August 8th 1995
5.45am
Draco grumbled, "This is inhuman."
He and Ron were getting dressed in the semi-darkness. A single candle burned in the corner of the room. Harry was still sacked out in bed. Ron was struggling with his shirt, managing to put his head through the sleeve. Draco had donned Ron's outgrown jeans. Even though he was a lot thinner, they were still pretty tight.
Ron said, "Malfoy, quit complaining. If you don't like the situation, do something instead of whining."
Draco hissed (quietly), "Fine! What I am going to do is get back in bed." He lay down on his spot on the floor, pulled the cloth over his body, then leaped up, exclaiming, "Fuck, it's cold down there."
Before Ron could suggest that he put on a shirt, Draco had taken two steps and slid under the duvet with Harry.
Harry woke up with a shock as Draco's naked back snuggled against his side, and rested there. He sat up. "What the…?"
Draco mumbled, "Don't move, Potter. You're very warm and I'm frozen."
"Urgh!" Harry gasped, edging as far away as possible. "Malfoy, get lost!"
Draco moved closer, towards the middle, and said, "What, like you've never slept with a boy before, Potter."
"Malfoy, I AM NOT GAY!!" Harry yelled… well, not really yelled, since his voice was lowered to a whisper. But you get the idea.
"Yes, and I'm a Mudblood."
Angrily, Harry shoved Draco out of the bed, where he landed on the floor with a muffled, "Oof!" Then, "You bastard!"
Ron growled, "For the record, Malfoy, I'm not gay either."
Eventually Harry was asleep again and Draco and Ron were downstairs, eating. Draco said, "I don't understand why the fuck you can't just tell your parents I'm here and let that be done. Then at least we could get some sleep."
Ron said, "Malfoy, if I told my parents you were here, heads would roll. Mine, yours, or both."
"Tell them why. They'll be glad for information about Lord Fucking Wanker, then they won't be pissed. You know, Death Eater reforming and all that."
"I wouldn't call you reformed, Malfoy."
Ginny, rubbing her eyes, joined them at the table and tried not to stare at Draco's bare chest, face, or legs. Damn, he's hot, she thought. Pity he's an arrogant prick.
Draco said, "I am NOT!"
Ron as staring at Ginny in horror. "I can't believe you just said Malfoy was hot."
Ginny said, "What?"
"I think that was supposed to be a private thought, but for some reason you said it out loud," demurred Draco. "And good morning to you too, Miss Weasley."
Hermione said from behind Ginny's shoulder, "What's going on?"
"Miss Weasley was just commenting on how fabulous I look, Granger. Nothing for you to worry about."
"Someone's ego has bounced back from living in the Forbidden Forest, I see," retaliated Hermione.
Ron interrupted with, "Malfoy was saying that we should tell everyone he's here."
Hermione stared, and said, "Are you mad? I mean, it's your choice if you want to be burnt at the stake, and decapitated, and eviscerated, and hung, drawn, and quartered, and put in the stocks to die a miserable death of dehydration, but…"
Draco, who had lost her halfway but got the gist, said in a small voice, "Does everyone really hate me that much?"
Ginny said, "No, of course not." At the same time, Ron said, "Now there's a question. If it wasn't for Harry's sake, would I take pleasure in beating you to a pulp right now Malfoy?"
Draco had kind of sunk down in his chair, and said, "Oh."
He would have stayed in that mood, subdued and woeful, had Ron not pushed his luck. "Malfoy, everyone despises you. I bet even your two bodyguards bitch about you behind your back."
Draco sat up again, eyes flashing in anger, which concealed how much he cared. He put his hand over his heart in mock despair. "Weasley, you sting me. You really do. I might go kill myself now." Even to his ears, it sounded lame.
Hermione gritted her teeth and grated, "We don't have much time. Malfoy, finish eating and get upstairs. You were fine yesterday, let's see if you can do that until September first."
Draco said forcefully, "I still don't see what the fu- … er, I mean, er, I still don't see why there is a problem." As he said this, he glanced sideways at Ginny, who was pretending not to notice.
Ron, discreet as usual, said into the astonished silence, "What's the matter, Malfoy, extended your vocabulary beyond cuss words?"
Ah, if looks could kill…
Draco gritted his teeth and retorted, "If I had, I would be one step better than you, Weasley. Truly though, I was brought up to be polite and not to swear in front of ladies." Another glance at Ginny.
Hermione, affronted, stated, "You didn't seem to have any such scruples at the Quidditch World Cup, when your father and his gang were dressing up in their poncy costumes and mucking about."
Draco didn't flush, but his jaw tightened and he grated, "My father's not a…" then, with an expression of surprise, "Oh, fuck, I already said he was, didn't I?" As an afterthought, "Sorry, Weasley."
Ginny said, "Which one?" and "It's quite alright, I hear enough of that from Ron." In the same breath. She looked at Draco coyly before turning back to her buttered toast, a look that the others did not miss.
Hermione said slowly, "Ginny, can I talk to you?" The two of them withdrew upstairs, leaving Ron and Draco alone.
Draco said succintly, "I think she likes me."
"I think she has better taste than that."
"I think you like me."
Ron stood up and said flatly, "For the last time, Malfoy, I'm not gay. Now get upstairs."
Draco remained where he was. "I like how you say my name. Malfoy. Very sexy, don't you think?" Before Ron could respond, he stood up and breathed into his ear, "You don't have to be shy. I can tell."
As Ron followed him up the stairs, he said, "That's bullcrap and you know it, Malfoy. But maybe… is it a case of takes one to know one?"
Draco turned, one hand on the door. He smiled maliciously. "Perhaps. You never can tell, with me."
--End Chapter Six--
Thanks to my reviewers!