SECRETS

Chapter One

"Ron, nobody cares," Hermione sighed, trying to shut her best friend up.

Ron's face dropped. "How can you say that?! Everybody cares about quidditch! Right Harry?"

"Well, I can't speak for everyone, but I think--oof!" Harry was cut off by somebody walking into him. He and the other person fell backwards onto the floor.

Draco cringed as he hit the floor. He grabbed the book he dropped and stood up, sending Harry a sharp look. "Sorry," he mumbled as he brushed past Harry, who was getting to his feet.

Harry watched Draco walk away with a look of disbelief on his face. "Did he--did you hear--?"

"Malfoy just apologized!" Hermione exclaimed.

"It's a trick. What did he do to you? Is there some kind of flesh eating bacteria on you? That sounds like something he would do," Ron cried, looking at Harry's robes for any signs of deteriorating cloth.

"No. There's nothing," Harry stated, glancing down. "Hmmm...that was weird..."

"He's up to something. Sneaky, slimy, good for nothing greaseball," Ron muttered under his breath.

"Oh please, Ron. Malfoy was obviously distracted," Hermione said, defending Malfoy.

"So now you're taking sides with him?! Next thing you know you'll be shagging the evil bastard!" Ron exclaimed.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yeah, okay. You know I'm the last person who would side with Malfoy, but--"

"You were the first," Ron pointed out.

Hermione continued as if she didn't hear Ron. "He was probably caught up in the moment. He was reading, if you hadn't noticed. I myself have bumped into a person or two because I was engaged in a good book. You know, you should really try that sometime, Ron. You might surprise yourself and actually enjoy it."

"Bumping into people and falling on my arse?! Whoopee! I don't know what I've been missing!" Ron let out a fake squeal of delight.

"You know what I meant!"

"Thanks anyway. I don't need to get my jollies from a book. I'll pass."

"For future reference, please never talk to me about getting your 'jollies.'"

"Why? Getting hot?"

"Oh yes. Hearing you talk like that makes me want to rip off your clothes and ravage your body."

"Really?"

"Hey, where'd Harry go?" Hermione asked, looking around at the crowded, Harryless hallway.

"Oh good job, 'Mione. You scared him off by talking about how much you want me."

"I did not scare him away."

"But you don't deny that you want my sexy body."

"I do too!"

"So you admit it!"

"No, I deny it."

"Oh no. You've already expressed your desires. You can't change your mind now. It's too late."

Ron and Hermione walked down the hallway, their bickering not faltering for a moment.

"Hey, where'd you go to mate?" Ron asked, flopping down into a chair across from Harry.

"I'm tired of your and Hermione's verbal ping pong. It gets old very fast," Harry said, staring into the fireplace. "You two should shag and just get it over with already."

Ron's face turned the color of his hair. "NO! I mean, nothing against her, but why would--no," Ron babbled. Harry grinned.

"You really like her, don't you?"

"Oh, um...I, uh..."

"Speaking of 'Mione, where is she?"

Ron cleared his throat and appeared relieved at a subject change. "She went down to the library. She wanted to get a little bit of studying done before dinner. You know how she is."

"Hey, Ron! Wanna play a game of chess? Dean's a lousy partner. There's no challenge. He's not very good," Seamus called from across the common room. Dean smacked him in the back of his head, causing him to let out an 'oof.'

"Gotta go. Can't say no to a game of chess," Ron said, already halfway across the room.

Harry sat there for a few moments in thought. Then he got up and went to the sixth year boy's dormitory. He pulled his Firebolt out from under his bed and then went back downstairs. He exited the common room without any of his fellow Gryffindors even so much as glancing his way.

He was walking across the school grounds toward the quidditch pitch when he noticed Malfoy walking back towards the castle with his broom in hand.

The blonde boy had a troubled look on his face. He glanced at Harry and nodded his head in acknowledgment. "Potter," he said quietly as he passed.

Harry hesitated and then turned to the boy who had not once, in the past six years, spoken to him without insulting him in one way or another.

"Malfoy."

The other boy stopped without turning around.

"Is everything alright?"

"What do you care, Potter?"

"Fine. Sorry I asked. It seems like something is wrong, and I was just wondering if you're okay."

Malfoy slowly turned. Harry could see the pain in his eyes. He looked as if he was about to say something, but then shook his head.

"I don't need to be saved. I'm fine. Just leave me alone."

As he spoke he began shaking violently. His legs gave out and he fell to the floor. He kneeled in the grass with his head bowed. He grabbed handfuls of grass on either side of him, breathing heavily.

Harry ran over and fell next to the boy. "Malfoy! Are you okay?!"

Malfoy took a few deep, labored breaths and then he jumped up to his feet. "I said I'm fine," he said harshly and then quickly walked off.

Harry watched the boy until he disappeared into the castle. He sat there watching the doors long after Draco had entered the building, with a look of confusion on his face.

Something was definitely wrong with Malfoy.