Author's Note: So sorry to keep you all waiting. I've been sick. *pathetic sniffles* Came down with a fever over the weekend and felt quite shitty overall so I was relegated to my bed. Which was good cos my head felt like a pneumatic drill was working its way through to the centre of my brain. I suppose it found what it was looking for and took it because the pain has gone away. I don't know yet how this loss of grey matter has affected my thought processes but I will keep you updated or perhaps you might get clues when reading this new chapter.

In other news, (same news actually -sorry! heh-heh) I've been popping pills like there's no tomorrow.

And it's about this time, that you; fellow readers, realise that I am indeed - a hypochondriac. (I'm also a Virgo, so it's my birthright.) In other news (really it is this time!) Your brilliant, wonderful and most entertaining reviews made me feel a thousand times better. So, thanks!

Back to the story. . .



Chapter 19: And the Truth Shall Tear Them Apart



Harry took in a deep breath as he waited for Ron to say something.

Classes had just ended for the afternoon and they were now seated at a table in a quiet corner of the library.

It was pretty much empty save for the two of them and a few scattered students wandering through the bookshelves and reading quietly at the tables.

Harry took it as a good sign that Ron chose the library to have their little talk. He can't plan on yelling at him in there. Still, he was rather glad that Hermione had told him she'd be waiting for them outside the library.

*Uh-oh, Ron's looking all serious.* Harry observed, with a little apprehension. He still didn't really know what Hermione had told Ron or how she did it.

"So." Ron started, his face grim, his lips pressed into a thin white line on his face.

"So." Harry reciprocated and sighed inwardly.

"Hermione's told me your side of the story." Ron said shortly.

"It's not my *side* of the story. It *is* the story." Harry corrected.

"Whatever." Ron waved a hand in dismissal. "The thing is, I understand now what you're going through and that none of this is your fault."

He paused.

"Or . . . Malfoy's." He finally added grudgingly.

Harry grinned in relief.

At least there's progress.

"Thanks, Ron. That means a lot. I -"

"Now don't get carried away just yet. I'm not saying that I approve of what you've got with Malfoy now."

"Oh." Harry sat back, disappointed.

"What I'm *saying* is . . . I can help you, if you want me to, that is."

Harry eyed him suspiciously. "How, exactly?"

"Well, for starters I can keep his filthy claws away from you. Now, I've drawn up a timetable and I thought together we could sort out how best to avoid crossing paths altogether with that git." He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his robe pocket and pushed it towards Harry, before adding, "For the rest of the semester."

*Omigod.* Harry thought in horror as he stared at the piece of paper on the table. *Nothing's changed!*

"No, Ron! I told you, that's not what I want. " Harry blurted out in frustration and stood up to leave.

Draco was waiting for him.

"Wait, Harry!" Ron tugged at his sleeve.

"What?"

"Look - I know I'm not as smart as Hermione. . . or brave like you, or even have any experience with this sort of thing, but. . ." he bit his lip and looked away "I *worry* about you, Harry, I mean you're my best friend. How can I not?"

Harry's heart softened at this, and he took Ron's hand in his and gave it a squeeze.

"Ron, I -" Harry started apologetically.

"I - I'm not finished."

Harry nodded patiently as he waited.

"He's *going* to hurt you. I know it. For Pete's sake, this is Malfoy we're talking about here." Ron held up a hand to stop Harry's protests, "And when he does, I'm not going to say 'I told you so', Harry. Because that's not what best friends do. I just want you to know that when that happens, when he leaves you; your friends will still be here. That's all I've got to say, really."

Ron shrugged, and looked embarrassed.

He hadn't meant to say so much.

Harry felt two completely conflicting emotions tugging at him now.

On one hand, he felt really touched that Ron cared about him so much to make his little emotional speech; something he knew mustn't be a very easy thing at all for the quick-tempered redhead.

But at the same time he felt that familiar frustration and anger rise in him again at Ron's total lack of trust in Draco. Albeit reasonable given their bad history, but still; can't he trust his own best friend to know better?

Harry took a deep breath and thought quickly. He really wanted Ron's support in this. He wanted things to be the way they were. And that would take time.

He can't hate Draco forever, Harry reasoned. I've just got to give him time to slowly get used to the idea.

So finally, he grabbed Ron's shoulders and looked him right in the eye.

"Ron, I just want you to know that you're the best friend I've ever had. And nobody could ever take your place. Not Draco, or anyone else." He looked meaningfully at his friend. "And thank you for saying what you just said. It means a lot to me."

With that, he planted a kiss firmly on Ron's forehead and smiled brightly at his friend before dashing out of the library in a flurry.

He really was quite late.

Ron just shook his head at his friend and tried not to think about the fact that Harry was running off to be with Draco Malfoy.

Outside, Hermione was still waiting dutifully outside the library when Harry dashed past her, almost knocking her books down in his haste.

"Harry!"

"Oh, sorry, Hermione!" He had completely forgotten that she said she'd be waiting for him.

"How did it go?" she called out.

Harry just smiled and gave her a thumbs-up sign as he continued speedily towards the Infirmary.

+++++++++++++++

He only slowed down to a brisk walk as he reached the hallway.

And as he neared the door, he could hear voices carrying faintly through it.

There was someone else inside with Draco; a male voice. He raised his hand to knock on the door eventhough it had been left slightly open, but he stopped it in mid-air when he heard what was being said.

"I could tell Harry the truth."

Harry's heart skipped a couple of beats at those words.

And though Harry Potter was as honourable as any other Gryffindor, for some reason he simply could not stop himself from listening in on the entire conversation going on inside the room.

He heard Marcus's words about the accident.

*It can't be. It must be a trick.* he thought desperately to himself as he stood outside the door.

Then, as if to answer his silent question; Draco's familiar voice betrayingly rang through the air.

"How? How did you know?"

Harry shook his head numbly in shock and disbelief as he unconsciously took a few steps backwards to slump against the opposite wall, staring horrified at the door.

His mind raced, an unintelligible jumble of thoughts and words had formed in his mind.

He couldn't think straight.

*Ron was right.* he thought defeatedly as the large tears rolled down his cheek.

He didn't bother to wipe them away.

He didn't know exactly how long he had just been standing there like a statue but suddenly he was aware of a faint scuffle.

Someone scrambling towards the door.

Towards him.

So he ran.

And he felt like he would never stop running again.

++++++++++++

(Dinner in the Great hall)

Oliver Wood picked up his chicken leg.

"Hey, what's with Flint?" Angelica said, looking towards the Slytherin table.

Oliver turned his head around to look.

And he dropped the chicken leg with a clatter on his plate.

Flint was *smiling*.

And it wasn't his token ugly sneer or a wicked grin or even a nasty smirk.

The Slytherin Captain looked genuinely happy and pleased with himself.

"*What* is he so happy about?" Oliver wondered out loud.

Fred chuckled. "He looks like he just won the Wizard Lotto or something."

"Or maybe he finally discovered deodorant?" George added.

Laughter.

Oliver just stared at Marcus.

Some of the other Slytherins were giving Flint sidelong glances every once in a while. They waren't used to him being in such a good mood either.

Even Snape was giving Marcus odd looks.

Oliver narrowed his eyes at Marcus as he tried to figure it out.

*Malfoy is missing. Wonder if he has anything to do with this.*

By now Pucey had noticed Oliver's intense stare towards Marcus and clued him onto it.

Marcus glanced up and met Oliver's gaze.

Then he immediately broke out into another wide smile, puckered his lips and blew a kiss towards the Gryffindor.

Oliver immediately snapped back around to face his plate, his cheeks flushing with anger and humiliation.

Behind him he could hear the Slytherin table erupt in raucous laughter.

"I really hate that guy." Oliver said through gritted teeth. Lee gave him a consoling slap on the shoulder.

At the other end of the table, Ron and Hermione were trying not to notice Harry's conspicuous absence.

"I suppose he's still with-" Hermione started awkwardly.

"Yeah, I know, Hermione." Ron said, obviously tense.

Hermione took a deep breath and tried to take a different tack.

"You know, Ron. I haven't told you how proud I am of you. And how well you're dealing with all of this. With Harry's sudden change and all. You've really matured." Hermione said matter-of-factly as she took a sip from her glass.

Ron's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Hermione nodded.

"Uh-huh. I mean, okay . . . so you didn't take the news very well at first," she said, thinking about the whole bondage fiasco related to her by Harry.

"But, af-ter that, you were really supportive and understanding. And I'm surprised that you took the initiative to talk to him like that. That was a really mature of you."

Ron grinned and started to feel a warm glow spread to his face. It wasn't often that he got compliments from Hermione, or from anyone for that matter.

"I guess I *am* growing up." he said wistfully.

She smiled at him warmly from across the table.

Suddenly Ron was wishing that Malfoy was around, just so he could show Hermione just how more mature he could be.

Heck, he'd even shake the guy's hand.

*Bet Harry would be pleased about that too.*

He had felt a little guilty after their talk.

Harry was obviously disappointed and hurt, but he had been great to Ron nonetheless. It was things like that that makes Ron wonder what Harry was doing hanging out with him in the first place.

He wondered briefly where Harry had run off to.

Back at the other end of the table, Oliver Wood was wondering the same thing.

He had tried to catch Harry in the Common Room when classes were over but he wasn't there.

And he's not at dinner now either.

Oliver frowned. He had wanted to tell Harry about the upcoming rematch against Slytherin.

They would have to get back into rigorous practice, and try to make up for all the time lost.

He looked over at Weasley and Granger. Those two should know where Harry would be.

"Oy! Ron!" he called out loudly and leaned forward in his seat to get in their line of sight.

Ron turned to Wood expectantly.

"Where's Potter?"

Ron shrugged his shoulders.

"He went to the Infirmary, Oliver. He could still be there." Hermione answered instead.

"Infirmary? Why? Is he ill?" Oliver asked anxiously.

That would put a damper on their training schedule. They have less than two weeks as it is.

"No." Hermione furrowed her brows and sighed.

Well, everyone's heard the rumours by now anyway, she reasoned.

"Draco Malfoy's there." she said.

A hush fell over the table for a moment.

Then almost immediately Fred started making smooching noises and tried to kiss his brother who was fending him off with his napkin. A couple of the girls cooed and started chattering excitedly about how sweet a couple they make. Seamus immediately went red with jealousy and banged his cup back down on the table rather violently.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

*So this is what it must feel like to live in a circus.*

Meanwhile, Oliver wiped his mouth and threw his napkin down on the table.

He had had enough of this foolishness. It was time to find Harry and knock some sense into him.