Chapter 8:: Nothing Ever Remains Perfect
At the same moment that Ron and Melissa's lips touched, so did Draco and Pansy's. Harry and Hermione stopped dancing at once and the immense amount of anger started to show on both of their faces. Hermione dropped Harry's hand and stalked towards Ron and Melissa. She stood beside them until Ron opened his eyes and ended the kiss. He stood there staring straight ahead with huge eyes. Melissa looked to her left and right into the eyes of a very furious girlfriend. Melissa had barley the time to duck before Hermione's fist was swinging through the air – aiming for Ron's face. Melissa lost her balance and landed on the floor.
The entire room was quiet as Hermione's fist landed on Ron's face. Hermione had broken Ron's nose. He was bent over holding his nose – he cried out with pain.
"RONALD WEASLEY! JUST WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?" If it were possible, daggers would be shooting out of her eyes. Melissa didn't want to wait a moment more and receive the same fate Ron did, so as Hermione turned to look at her, she got up and backed away, quickly making her way through the crowd.
Ron looked up at Hermione; his eyes were full of tears – but also completely shrouded with anger. The entire front of his toga was covered with his blood, as was his face. His hands were balled into fists as he responded to her, "What was I doing? Couldn't you figure that out for yourself book smarts? I was kissing a girl who wasn't you! WHY HERMIONE? Because you are a stuck up prissy little girl who never allows me to have any sort of fun, or act my bloody age!" Ron was screaming at her. "I can't be myself around you – not without suffering some kind of smack." He spat blood at Hermione as he spoke. "Hermione – If you ever touch me again, believe me – you will not come out of that encounter in a simple crying fit!" Ron wheeled around and looked at the crowd that had gathered around them. "WHAT? Haven't you ever seen a couple break up before? Get out of my bloody way!"
The music had stopped, and Dumbledore had run into the room. Harry stood with a deadly glare on his face as he made eye contact with Draco. His cheeks were bright red with anger as he turned and walked out of the room, crashing his heals down as he went.
Draco stood for a moment longer beside Pansy and watched Harry storm out of the room. Pansy leaned over and whispered in Draco's ear.
"I never suspected that our deal would have such a profound effect on the Golden Boy." She started to snicker.
Draco turned towards Pansy and gritted his teeth. "Don't follow me." He growled at her.
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -
Harry was making his way down to the lake. He was freely crying with anger as he slashed every branch that came within his reach. He hadn't noticed Draco come up behind him.
"Harry!"
Harry wheeled around with tears still in his eyes, burning with rage. He had his wand at Draco's throat. Draco's eyes suddenly went wide with shock and he put up his arms. "Get out of my sight. NOW!" Harry roared, his voice was shrouded with resentment.
"Harry – I need to talk to you, please put the wand down... Harry – please ju-"
"DON'T CALL ME HARRY! ONLY MY FRIENDS RECEIVE THE PRIVILEDGE OF CALLING ME HARRY!" Harry surprised himself with how loud his voice had become. He didn't realize that he was capable of showing such anger towards one individual.
"Ha-.... Please, put the bloody wand down!"
Harry left the wand at Draco's neck for a moment longer. His breathing was quick and shallow. He was gritting his teeth. Harry lowered his arm and turned to walk away. "Get away from me Malfoy..." he muttered as he walked.
"At least let me explain you insolent prat!"
Harry kept walking.
"HARRY. For Christ's sake! The only reason I was with Pansy at the dance was because she saw us kiss! Harry... Jesus..." Draco watched Harry get farther and farther away. "HARRY... I'M SORRY!"
Harry stopped walking and stood with his back towards Draco. He had apologized. Harry turned around to face Draco to see if he was just saying that he was sorry in order to get Harry to stop walking. Draco's eyebrows were knitted, and he looked as if he genuinely meant it. The way Draco stood was unlike any way he had ever seen him stand before. He was in a submissive like position. Harry began to walk towards Draco. He stopped when he was 4 feet away from him.
Harry took a deep breath and looked into Draco's eyes. "You kissed her..." Harry's lips began to quiver and more tears escaped from his eyes. His face was one that emitted pain.
"I..." Draco began to walk towards Harry. He started to step backwards. Harry was backing away from him like he was a foul beast.
"It meant nothing to you did it?" Harry was breathing quite unevenly and tears were freely running down his cheeks. Harry repeated what he had said but instead, he screamed it at Draco. "IT MEANT NOTHING TO YOU DID IT?!"
Draco sat down on the shoreline. "It did mean something to me Harry. It meant everything to me. The only reason I went to the dance with Parkinson was because she... she blackmailed me. She caught us kissing – she threatened to tell the whole school that I was gay if I didn't go to the dance with her. I can't risk that Harry!" Draco looked up at Harry with tears in his eyes.
"Then why did you kiss her?"
"One of her conditions was that I was to kiss her."
"So... it's okay that everyone knows that I'm gay, but it's what... a, a sin if they know you're gay? Oh, but it's going to ruin your perfect reputation isn't it, Malfoy? Your mother is dead; your father is as good as dead. Who are you trying to impress?"
Draco's eyes hardened as Harry mentioned his mother. Draco stood up and walked heavily over towards Harry stopping just infront of him. "You've gone to far Potter."
"And you haven't?"
The boys stood in silence for a minute- both of their faces were skewed with anger.
"Why do you care about what I do Potter? Why does it kill you to know that I kissed someone other than you?" Draco whispered menacingly at Harry.
"Because I love you!" Harry froze; he had spoken before he thought. Draco's eyes went wide and he backed away.
"You what?"
Harry regained his strength and looked Draco in the eyes with fierce certainty, though he spoke in a whisper. "I love you."