The Nature Of A Man

Disclaimer: The usual. The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling and this work represents a poor fumbling attempt at a Harry Potter story. I really wasn't sure where the story was going but it's rated PG-13 just in case. Read and review. You like it or you don't, just drop me a line at jadewing@hotmail.com if you want to rant or praise longer. Review and let me know what you think? Hey, who do you guys wanna see next? I'm going to start a new story and I have two people in mind but I'd like some suggestions as well. So, anybody has any idea on who should be in the next story?

Instantly, they were all awake, asking where he had been and what he had been doing the whole night. All Harry did was turn redder and redder. He really didn't know how to answer them. Dean noticed the blush and nudged Seamus in the ribs. Then, the both of them let out a loud howl of laughter. Ron was giving him a dark look and Neville just looked confused.

"Harry, you old dog! I never thought you would be the first!" Seamus was crowing. Dean snickered.

"What? What? I don't get it," Neville fretted.

Neither do I, Harry thought sourly to himself.

"Neville, Harry has been with a girl last night. The whole night. What do you think that means?" Dean laughed again, pounding Harry on the back.

Even Neville finally got the gist and he had a half-embarrassed, half-laughing look on his face. "Good one, Harry." They continued making jokes and laughing, pounding Harry on the back. Harry gritted his teeth and just smiled at them with clenched teeth.

Eventually, they stopped, muttering something about going down for breakfast. The other three gave Harry more leers and suggestive winks before disappearing downstairs. Leaving him alone with Ron who now looked as dark as a thundercloud. Harry didn't look at him as he began changing his robes. I'll do the clothes later, he decided. Even with his back turned though, he could feel the weight of Ron's stare on him. Like a burning scalpel down his spine. Finally with a sigh, he turned around to face Ron, sitting down on his bed, as Ron scowled at him, arms folded across his chest.

"So … how did it go last night?" Harry asked him glibly.

"Where were you last night? Did you know I was worried? You're lucky that I stopped Hermione from telling McGonagall that you were missing." Harry grinned a little uneasily at that. If McGonagall had searched and she had found him (and she would have eventually), what she saw would not have been very good for him or for Draco.

Harry stood up and went downstairs, followed closely by Ron. "I have to thank you then, Ron. Come on, let's go down for breakfast. I'm famished."

Hermione was waiting for them. Her face was dark as well but she had this "I'll-try-to-patient" look on her face. "Morning, Harry."

"Er, hi, Hermione."

Ron walked over to stand next to Hermione. They had both their arms folded across their chest, staring at him with a scowl on their face now. "Is that all, Harry? A 'hi' and that's it?" Hermione asked him acidly. "When the both of us were worried nuts about you the whole night?"

"I just didn't realize the time and I fell asleep …" Harry bit off his words abruptly. His face flamed.

Ron took one look and exploded. "So, I was right! That story that Dean was talking about – I fed them that bullshit!" He ignored Hermione's "language, Ron" and frowned at Harry. "You were with Malfoy last night, weren't you?"

"So, what if I was?" Harry said angrily. "You have to control who I hang out with now?"

"When it's our enemy, yes!"

"I don't want to hear this!" Harry stormed out of the common room but Ron ran out after him, grabbing him by his arm.

"Ron, don't be so rough!" Hermione scolded but Ron was on a run and he wasn't going to stop.

"Not so fast! We're going to talk this through." He took a deep breath. "You can ignore the fact that you were plain inconsiderate about last night but you have an obligation to tell us if you're hanging out with Malfoy!"

"And why is that?" Harry replied. It took him awhile to realize that he was shouting.

"Because he's our enemy!" came Ron's own shouted reply.

"Not mine, he isn't!"

"Oh yes, Harry and Malfoy are such close friends now. So good friends that he can't spend time with us, his real friends!" Ron sneered.

"Ron, you're going overboard," Hermione told him worriedly, glancing at the both of them.

"Oh, you're such good friends, are you? How about running off just the two of you, leaving me alone?"

Ron's face was flushed. "You said you were OK with that! What about you and Malfoy? You're becoming closer and closer, aren't you? I thought you were just being friends with him to pump him for information?!"

There was a "meep" from Hermione and then Harry turned around, following her eyes. A pale Draco was standing there, a watch in his hand. Harry's watch. The one he had left behind. Harry looked into Draco's face but it was blank. All the color had drained out of his face, leaving it even paler than usual. And, his eyes … They burned with a pain, with the hurt that Harry had caused. Harry took a step forward and those eyes instantly shuttered, becoming blank.

"I brought your watch, Potter," Draco said in an emotionless voice. Harry flinched. Draco tossed him his watch.

"Draco," Harry said pleadingly.

The Slytherin looked at him furiously. "My name is Malfoy to you, Potter!" He bit off each word angrily and then started running. Harry closed his eyes against the tears that threatened to overwhelm him.

"Harry, are you all right?" Hermione's voice was soft and gentle.

Harry couldn't help it. He sank to his knees, pressed against the wall, his face in his hands. And he began sobbing.