Disclaimer: Do not own anything you recognize- those belong to the ever- radical genius JKR! You dig? Don't sue.

Summary: 6th year trials for Harry. Most have secrets and not all is as it seems. Eventual HP/DM. Slash galore. Don't get your panties in a twist, you have been warned. Happy reading!



To Those Who Reviewed:

Lady Malfoy II: Dearest Lady, I much appreciate both the email and all your reviews thus far. *giggles insanely* Don't worry, I do not belong in St. Mungo's, but it is 1:20 and I am on a little sugar high! Sorry about the delay on the chapter, it wasn't my fault! Please, please, don't set the little, green Martian bunnies on me! I'll work harder, honest! Please email for more information about Beta. I have both good news and bad news. Cheers!

Val Mora: Thanks, I hope you like this chapter, for we have even more Harry naiveties, and Malfoy does more goldfishing. Goodness all around, don't you agree?

Shinigami: My ever faithful reviewer! Hope you like this chapter. Rumors at Hogwarts are certainly dangerous, luckily Hermione has Rita under her thumb. 3rd degree? Sounds good to me! Oh, it'll be fun! *cackles evilly*

Avalon Princess: Lol, yeah, Harry depressed is so...I dunno, depressing, for lack of a better word. I like him happy, personally.

Moonchild Lost: Thanks for the emails, they've really helped a lot. Much thanks.

Aurora: Thanks! I try.

HerDarkMaterials: I'm not sure. I'm leaning towards Ron, but Blaise is also an option. I haven't decided. Moldy Voldie until we meet again!

Thanks again to all who reviewed.



Just in case it all gets confusing, which I'm sure it will:

'...' is Draco's normal thoughts.

... is subconscious know it all Draco.

*...* is Harry's normal thoughts. (** can also be used to stress a word during speech)

~...~ is Harry dearest's alter ego, or blunt inner Harry.

/.../ is Hermione thinking.

(This is getting difficult, huh?)



And now, the long awaited:



Chapter 4: More Confusion and Madness Ensues



As Harry made towards the front with his book, Draco turned to stare at Hermione. "Did what I think happened really happen?" he wondered aloud.

"I never knew you went for the 'brave but stupid', Draco," Blaise chipped in helpfully, grin back in place.

"He's not stupid, just incredibly... oblivious," Hermione decided, gazing helplessly after her friend.

"Well at least he didn't overhear you two morons with your stupid theories," Draco pouted, giving Hermione a betrayed look.

"What? It's based on pure fact." Tossing her hair, she continued. "Anyway, that's not your real problem, Draco. Your problem is that when you do come to your senses, he'll believe you're unavailable."

"When? You mean if," Blaise sniggered.

"Blaise! Not helping," she reprimanded, focusing on Draco as he stood stock still, shock and anger covering his features.

"I am not bloody in love with Harry fucking Potter and that's final!"

"I know Harry, Blaise," Hermione continued, not hearing a word. "And he'd never even look in the direction of one of my exs, especially not in a romantic way. He'd think it'd be, like, betrayal or something. I'll go with Harry to pick up his new dog, and I'll straighten this out for you Draco."

"For me?" Draco squeaked, eyes bulging with repressed anger.

"You can thank me later. Meet you later tonight outside the pub for drinks?"

"Sure, no problem," Blaise said, while Draco grumbled in the background, very unhappy with his friends.

"Talk some sense into him while I'm gone," Hermione whispered to Blaise as she sauntered past him. Then, louder, "Bye Draco, later Blaise."

Blaise watched as she disappeared around the corner, sighing heavily. He turned to talk to Draco, only to find the boy had slunk off. "Oh, bugger," Blaise moaned, not at all happy about having to hunt down Draco. "It's not like he'll listen, anyway."



::-::



"Harry!" Hermione called to the figure heading down to the Great Hall. "Harry, wait up!"

Harry turned slowly and grinned when he saw his friend. "Why, hello, Hermione, what are you doing here? Were you finished, oh, what's the word? Working up- er, on- I mean, with," he amended hastily at her horrified face. "Malfoy? Oh, dear, I suppose I'll have to call him Draco now? It'll take some getting used to, but it can be done!" he promised confidently.

"Harry, why aren't you upset?" she asked, curious why he was being so candid when he believed she was dating and snogging his rival. /Not to mention that he should be jealous if all the heated arguments they have together are really a part of sexual tension, as is my theory./

"Angry? Hermione, if you're happy with him, then that's good enough for me. Ron, on the other hand, will definitely be furious, I can promise you that. He'll kill Malfoy with his bare hands, as soon as he finds out. Funny, I always thought you two'd end up together. All signs pointed to yes, but maybe I was mistaken about your affections. Poor Ron, that sot was smitten with you, but- but I'm guessing you didn't know that and maybe I should shut up now," he gulped hastily at the flush coming across Hermione's face.

"He- he fancies me?" she demanded.

Harry realized he'd definitely said too much. "What? Who?" he asked, feigning innocence.

Hermione grabbed his shoulders and shook him so hard he nearly got whiplash. "Ron! Ron! Ronald J. Weasley, you great prat!"

"Hermione! I had no idea snoggage had this effect on you. First you act as though you'd lost all your brain cells and then you get physical with every guy you see," Harry teased, trying to draw away her attention from his slip up. Ron was going to kill him!

"Snoggage?!" she hissed. "Harry, despite what you use the library for, I do not frequent it in order to mack!"

"Whoo-hoo!" Harry crowed, grinning wildly. "Hermie said 'mack'. Damn, I had no idea that word was in your vocabulary."

"Oh, go fuck a duck, Harry James!" Hermione snapped.

"Find me one and I'll consider the notion. I am 'Try', you know."

" 'Tri'!" the girl shrieked at this new revelation. "What are you talking about?"

"You know, my sexuality," he stated calmly, as though commenting on the weather, as he sat down at the near empty Gryffindor table. Hermione plopped down next to him as she listened closely. "Trust me, Hermione, when you're Try, you don't judge other peoples love affairs. You willingly accept them as a part of that person."

Hermione nearly fainted. "Sexuality? Harry, what are you saying? Are you trying to tell me you're not a hetero?"

"Oh bloody hell, I've done it! I've finally done it," Harry proclaimed in awe.

"Done what?" Hermione demanded, desperately and frustratingly confused by the whole conversation.

"I've stumped Hermione the All-Knowing! I've impaled Hermione the walking dictionary! I've gone where no man has gone before, although many have tried," Harry added the last bit thoughtfully, already making a list of people he could gloat his triumph to. Harry never bragged about anything, but this was stupid enough, and normal enough, for him to feel comfortable doing so. I mean, really, how many 16-year-old wizards strut around saying, 'Oh! Guess what? I am such a bad ass, I've whipped an evil, demented, dictator seeking power five times already and he's at least three times my age!' Come on, what kind of a normal kid would he get to be then? But stumping Hermione? Priceless bragging material he wasn't afraid to use.



"Harry! Harry! I get it, I do, hurrah for you and all that bully. Now, tell me what you mean, exactly?" she half asked, half whined.

"Well, Herm, to tell you the truth, Try means I'm- how do I put this delicately? I'm willing to 'try' anything once, if you follow my meaning."

"You mean, anyone?"

"Anyone, anything. Whatever. I don't discriminate."

"Whoa, Harry. How come I never knew this about you?"

"You never asked."

/This certainly makes him more open to any advances from Draco,/ she thought, still slightly in shock. Shaking her head, she beamed at Harry, who at first had been very confident but now seemed a little nervous about her reaction. Not ashamed, just nervous. "Well, Harry, you'll get nothing but support from me. Why share this now?"

"It just seemed like a good time, with you all embarrassed and ashamed of your feelings for Malfoy, I just wanted to let you know I wasn't going to bail on you or anything because of it."

"Ashamed? Oh, no! Harry, in the library, you misunderstood, we were just-"

"You don't have to hide this from me. It's okay, honestly."

"But you don't-"

"I am a little worried, though, about Malfoy's intentions. Oops, sorry, I mean, Draco's intentions. Are you in love with him? Is he just using you because he thinks he can? Is this some elaborate plot? Is he just messing with your mind? No offense Hermione, I'm not saying you're unattractive or not worth him or anything. That's just it, you are. You're more than worth him. I just don't trust Mal-Draco. If he is, if he breaks your heart, I'll kill him. I'll break every bone in his body. You know what, I think I'm going to go have a talk with this young man, see if I can get a feel for his intentions," he stated, standing from his seat next to her, gaze landing immediately on the blond sitting a couple tables away.

Hermione grabbed frantically at his arm, trying to make him sit back down. "No! Harry, you can't! Please, don't."

"Don't worry, Herm," he reassured, tugging his arm gently but firmly from her grasp, "I promise not to make an ass of him, or of myself on your behalf." Without another word, he strode confidently across the hall, while Hermione put her head in her hands. She was suddenly plagued with the many images of just how wrong this little 'interrogation' could go and sprang up to follow Harry, who was already nearing the silver-eyed Slytherin's side.

"Draco." He stated calmly, nodding briskly to his shocked foe.

"Um, Harry. Since when are we on first name basis?" A panicked look flitted across his features momentarily. "And if Hermione's shared any dimwitted theories with you, they're not true!"

"I wasn't aware that any theory Hermione had thought up could ever be classified as dimwitted," Harry scowled, raising an eyebrow and crossing his strong, muscled arms across his chest, making him look all the more menacing. And outrageously sexy. 'Would you stop?!' "I was under the impression that as a true, trustworthy suitor, you're supposed to support your girlfriend and stand by her, not devalue her intrinsic worth."

Draco goldfished. "Girl- girlfriend?" he stuttered.

"Yes, yes, Hermione can't hide anything from me, try as she might to deny it. I am here, however, to gage your intentions and loyalties for one of my very best friends, who is also practically family. I would consider it amiss if anyone played with her heart carelessly and foolishly broke it. Now, what do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Malfoy? Are your intentions honorable?"

By now, Draco's shocked face had been replaced by a look much akin to one a person gets while experiencing extreme seasickness. "My intentions?" he asked weakly, thinking that this whole episode had to be some horrible nightmare.

"Your intentions," Harry repeated firmly, trying hard to not lose his temper. Malfoy's mock confusion was starting to grate on his nerves.

"Harry! Harry! Stop it, don't, you've got it all wrong!" she exclaimed, grabbing both boys by the back of their robes. Dragging them out of the Great Hall, she continued to tug them along until she reached Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. After glancing around quickly, she ducked into said girl's room, much to Draco's horrified disbelief.

As she released them, Draco eyes widened in a panicked fashion as he tried to look anywhere but at the stalls. However, his luck ran out as Hermione followed Harry over to the last, and largest stall in the back. "Why am I in a girl's toilet?" he hissed, darting embarrassed glances around, hoping it was empty. It wasn't.

"Harry! Harry, where have you been?" a feminine voice scolded. Draco's first reaction was to bristle in jealously, until he saw exactly who it was that was speaking.

"Sorry I haven't been to see you this week, Myrtle, but I've been a bit preoccupied lately. I just couldn't get away." Draco gaped.

"That's okay," the girl said gloomily.

Harry frowned at the down voice. "I thought we'd been through this, Myr. I thought you were getting over your depression and low self-esteem."

"Oh, I am! Today's just been a bad day. For the first time in my life, I actually got caught in the prefects bathroom while I was watching that cute Ravenclaw, Terry, shower."

"Oh, did you now?" Hermione queried jokingly, long over her original appalled response. "Get any pictures?"



The ghost grinned wickedly. "Nope, sorry. Maybe next time, huh?"

"Herm! You're such a bad influence," Harry said mockingly, eyes glowing with mischief.

"Oh yeah, I know it, Pronglet. I am such a bad ass, let me tell you," she said sarcastically, grinning at the indignant look on his face at the nickname. "Oh, come on, you know he is rather yummy."

"Herm!" Harry gasped, motioning to Draco. "Your boyfriend is right here, you know! You could be a bit more discreet!" Suddenly recalling his presence, Hermione glanced over at Draco and nearly doubled over with laughter at what she found there, while Harry frowned sternly at her. The look on Draco's face was priceless, and with good reason after all the things that he'd just witnessed- Harry, however, hadn't spotted it and began to lecture Hermione some more. "Oh, for Pads and Moony's sake! Herm, pull yourself together, girl. Maybe I should be inquiring after your intentions, the way you're carrying on in front of the poor bloke," Harry scolded, sending a concerned look towards Draco, who had regained his normal unruffled expression quickly.

Draco recognized the worry in the emerald green gaze, a look he'd never imagined would be aimed at him, and he felt a warm sensation erupt in his stomach like fireworks, making him feel all warm and fuzzy and lighthearted inside. A nice feeling. A feeling that made him frown darkly. Malfoys were not warm and fuzzy! They just weren't. Malfoys also didn't find Potters remotely attractive either, though, so it would seem Draco was breaking the mold. "Potter, I do believe you have misinterpreted the relationship between Mione and myself."

"Misinterpreted?" Harry looked horrified. "You mean, your relationship is based purely on sexual manifestation?"

"What?" Draco yelped.

Hermione, meanwhile, smiled. "Harry, since when have you swallowed a dictionary? I've never been prouder. Anyway, Harry, what Draco is trying to say, and what I've been saying all along, is that we're just friends."

"Oh. Oh!" he exclaimed, suddenly understanding. Feeling a blush heat up his face, he mumbled slightly. "You two just let me go on and on like a prat, didn't you?"

"I tried to tell you," she began, put out, but he just smiled slightly and waved her off.

"I know, I know. I guess I didn't really let you get a word in edgewise, eh?" Suddenly, he had an idea. "You know what?" he asked her, grin widening, "You should tell Ron this way. He'll be so relieved you're not dating that he won't care you're friends."

Hermione began to giggle madly while Draco scrutinized Harry cautiously. "You're not angry? That we're friends and all?" he wondered.

"Why should I be?"

"You hate me," he stated flatly.

"I never hated you. Ron, now, no argument there. But me? To me, you were someone who was always there, a comfortable constant, someone who made things interesting. And I'd trust my life to you as much as I would to Ron or Herm."

"What?" Draco asked, blinking disbelievingly. "Why?"

"Because, I'm *your* archenemy, *your* nemesis, and no one else's. Did you honestly think I'd believe you'd share me with someone else, you spoiled brat?" he teased, grinning lopsidedly at Draco like he was a close, coveted friend who he shared countless secrets with. The way Draco used to dream he would.

Meanwhile, Draco could only stare at Harry wide eyed and flabbergasted. 'Had I really thought I'd share?' he wondered to himself. No! Mine. came the other voice, the spokesperson for his innermost thoughts and feelings. Harry's eyes locked intensely with his own, daring him to look away. "You're Herrmione's spy, aren't you?" Draco's growing distress only proved Harry's guess. "Makes sense," he continued, while Hermione looked on with mixed shock and satisfaction.

-Come on, had I really believed I'd pulled the wool over his eyes with all the information I've been getting? Of course not! Oh, look at them! Progress!-

Harry continued speaking, eyes still trained on Draco's. "I mean, who else would be sly enough, daring enough, *rebellious* enough to do it? You don't want to lose me to Voldemort, because you want to beat me yourself. Not him. You. I'm yours. Your sworn rival. You want to be the one to shatter the 'Great' Harry Potter. And you know why? Because I make *your* life as interesting as you make *mine*."

"Hermione?" a voice called, shattering the heated sexual tension that was hanging heavily in the air. -It is so obvious they love each other- Hermione thought with a smirk. "Harry?" It asked again. They both looked up, and their eyes locked together. Ron. Definitely Ron. "What are you guys doing in here?" he asked, sounding completely confused. He stopped dead when he spotted Draco Malfoy. "And why-" he grit out, "-is he here?"



::-::



Hey all! Sorry it took me so long to post this chappie! I've been cooped up, denied of all computer privileges. *Shudders* Awful, I know. I can't promise when the next chapter will be up, but I promise it will be...someday. Hard to tell, as school starts Tuesday, but I will not abandon this fic!

Sorry about the lack of Blaise in this one, for all you Zabini fans. He'll be in the next one, promise.

Again, thanks to all who choose to review! Let me know what you think of the chapter.

::Ri::