Romeo and.... Julius?

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy and all related characters and locations are the property of JK Rowling, her agents etc. I'm just borrowing them though I dearly wish I didn't have to give Draco back. The plot belongs to the bard eternal - William Shakespeare. I've borrowed quite heavily from the text of Romeo and Juliet for this, but as some of the words have been changed I haven't put the excerpts in italics. Sorry. I know several of you will look at this in horror but it's really for my own pleasure, so....

Warnings: This is Slash fiction, m/m love etc. Don't like, don't read.

Scene 1 - fights and confessions

The day started like any other Hogwarts day. Ron and Hermione had eaten breakfast... and Harry had avoided it all together. The raven-haired Gryffindor was still moping and neither of his friends seemed able to break the mood or understand why he was so unhappy. They were quietly discussing what to do about it on their way back to the Gryffindor common room when they noticed something...

Dean and Seamus were never the most subtle people on the planet. And the two had found Crabbe and Goyle easy targets. Without Draco to rein them in and curb their violent tendancies what had started out as a simple name calling by Seamus was rapidly descending into an all-out fist fight with the four boys in the Great Hall.

Hermione was horrified, and pulling out her wand had hurried over to try and stop them. "Stop it, you fools!"

Ron had hurried behind her, not really wanting to stop the fight but not much wanting to annoy Hermione either.

Of course Draco chose that moment to saunter in. "Causing fights again, mudblood?" the blond drawled in his trademark condescending tone of voice "Turn around and look at a real wizard." he drew his own wand out of his sleeve and pointed it at her.

Hermione did not turn, merely kept looking at the fighting boys, trying to decide who to hex first. "I'm only trying to stop them, Malfoy!"

Ron was going at shade of red at the sight of Draco pointing his wand at Hermione "Put you wand away unless you are intending to help her!"

"What? Drawn and talk of peace?" Draco raised a single, perfect eyebrow and looked irectly at Ron "I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Gryffindor's, and thee. Bring it on, Weasel!"

That was too much for Ron. Ignoring the Slytherins wand he tackled the boy and started to try and pound him senseless. Hermione shot both of them a flithy look "Stop it, Ron!"

"Petrificus totalus." suddenly all the brawling students found themselves immobilised, and Dumbledore was standing on the staircase looking at them with an unreadable expression. "I have had quite enough of this." the headmaster said softly "This is the third time this week I have caught Gryffindor and Slytherin students brawling. Next time I will expel all those involved - understood? Now get to your lessons." with another wave of his wand the students were released, and Dumbledore had disappered.

Grumbling to themselves everyone started to make their way to class, leaving Ron and Hermione to go and find Harry.

He didn't take much finding, though, for at that moment the golden-boy himself walked down the stairs and into the Hall. "Good morning, Harry!" Ron called out to him.

"Is the day so young?" Harry asked, looking like he'd not slept at all the past night.

"It's only just gone nine." Hermione pointed to her watch "And we have lesosns...."

Harry ignored the lessons part and sighed "Ahh, sad hours seem long."

"And what makes them so long, mate?" Ron asked

"Not having that, which, having, makes them short."

Ron looked confused, but Hewrmione seemed to understand what he was saying. "In love?"

"Out."

"Of love?" Ron still wasn't getting it.

"Of her favour where I am in love." Harry sighed, nothing ever seemed to go his way, and since Cedric had died he *knew* he didn't stand a chance with Cho.

"Ahh. Cho. Forget her Harry, move on." Ron gave him a sympathetic look.

"We have lessons." Hermione repeated, starting to move the boys in the direction of the stairs to the dungeons.

Harry noticed some blood on the floor from where Goyle had given Dean a nose-bleed "Oh no! There was a fight here?" Ron opened his mouth to talk but Harry cut him of. "No, don't tell me! Here's much to do with hate, but more with love. Why then o brawling love, oh loving hate, o anything of nothing first create..."

Ron gave him an odd look again "You really need to get out more, Harry. This moping is getting to your brain."

Hermione was unimpressed "He's quoting Shakespeare, Ron. Harry we really need to get to class , Snape will be furious if we're late for potions."

That put a spring into their steps and the two lads were off like a shot - not wanting more points deducted from Gryffindor. "I'll have to get you to look at other girls, Harry. That Shakespeare stuff is weird!"