Here's a chapter to hold you guys down until I get back from D.C. So now, you, dear readers, must put up with my randomness…
Draco flipped through the pages of Teen People scanning the magazine rather quickly. But he made an abrupt stop on one of the pages as he gazed at it intently. A very handsome boy was flashing a charming smile up at him and his eyes seemed to shine with happiness.
"He's amazing…" Draco breathed. He glanced at the bottom of the page to see what the mysterious boy's name was. "Tom Felton…" he read the boy's name aloud. "He seems like a good catch."
-End of my Randomness-
These days, Draco just swept by Harry in the halls without even bothering to make eye contact. He even put a halt to his usual snide remarks. Harry, although expecting this, would have preferred it if Draco spoke to him; even if he spoke rudely. But not speaking at all was a bit depressing.
"Amazing. He's not saying a word…" Ron whispered. He had just hit into Draco purposely. "I would've expected a, 'Watch where you're going, Weasel-bee.' Or something."
"Maybe he's beginning to see the error of his ways," Hermione said purposely. "What do you think, Harry?"
Harry just stared off distantly, "Yeah, error of his ways," he muttered.
Ron shot a look at Hermione then turned back to Harry, "Hey, Harry. I love wearing frilly ballerina skirts. Want to join me?"
"Yeah… skirts," Harry said vaguely, watching Draco walk into the library.
Ron and Hermione looked to where Harry was intently focusing his gaze…Why was he staring so fixedly at Malfoy of all people?
"Um, Harry," Ron began again, looking at his friend with utmost curiosity. "Why don't we put on those skirts now? We can go… and skip around in Snape's office, if you like."
"Later, Ron," Harry said quickly. "I just remembered I had to… look up something in the library. I'll catch up with you two soon." With that, he rushed off.
Ron, with his mouth open, watched Harry disappear into the library. He snorted and turned to Hermione, "Did you see that? He was so out of it, he probably would've agreed if I told him to go into Snape's office wearing nothing but his knickers."
There was a strange look on Hermione's face, as if something dawned upon her. A hint of blush appeared on her cheeks as she clamped a hand over her mouth and gasped, "Oh!"
"What?" Ron looked at her.
She debated whether to tell Ron what she just thought. How would he take it? Not too lightly, she supposed.
"It's nothing. I just remembered I had to look something up in the library and I completely forgot. Silly me," Hermione flashed him a grin. "Meet you up in the common room later, okay?"
"Okay…" Ron gave her a questioning stare but obeyed her anyway. The second Ron rounded the corner, Hermione bounded into the library. She ducked around the tables hoping to not be seen by either Harry or Draco. She spotted Draco over towards some shelves, looking quite distressed and picking up some books while Harry stood a good distance away from him, looking as if he were trying to make up his mind whether to approach to him or not. In the end, Harry slowly made his way towards the preoccupied Slytherin. Hermione discreetly hid behind some books, making sure the two boys were within hearing range.
Harry pretended to be very interested in the books in front of him, so not to look as if he was there to stalk Draco. Draco on the other hand, knew exactly why Harry was there.
"So how's the bruise?" Draco asked.
"Huh, what?" Harry faked being startled.
"You know," Draco motioned to his cheek. "The bruise I gave you."
"Oh," Harry's hand self-consciously drifted up to his face. "It's all right. Er… thanks for the icepack."
Draco shrugged and picked out two more books titled The Rise and Fall of Dark Wizards and Magic of the Darkness. "Well, I'm off," he muttered.
"Malfoy," Harry called out tentatively.
Draco ignored him.
"Malfoy!" Harry called louder.
Draco continued to ignore him.
"Will you just—" Harry began to say but was abruptly silenced by Madame Pince who shot him a death glare. He immediately shut up. Harry let out a huge sigh of distress as he slumped against the bookshelves. At times like these, he was glad he had Ron and Hermione. He would talk to them, not now, but soon. He would tell them everything…
Hermione blinked as she wrung her fingers together. Poor Harry… She thought. And stupid Malfoy… how dare he cause Harry this distress. But she knew it was none of her business. Ron was right. Harry ought to ride this one out on his own. Feeling defeated, she pushed herself from off the floor and sauntered her way towards the direction of the Gryffindor common room, determined to keep quiet until Harry was the first to mention it.
Draco had left one afternoon during Potions. A student messenger had said that Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, was waiting for him. Draco didn't look surprised at all as he swept up his belongings and walked out of the dungeon without even a backwards glance. Harry noticed that Snape fumbled a bit with his wand with a slightly troubled expression across his face.
A month and a half passed since Draco was last seen at Hogwarts. Rumors spread that he had been transferred to Durmstrang. Ron heard this and was elated. Hermione looked a bit anxious. Harry felt sick to his stomach.
"Can students transfer just like that?" Hermione asked.
"In Malfoy's case, why not?" Ron replied happily. "His family is loaded after all. They can do anything. Stupid prats."
"Maybe it was just a family emergency," Harry said hopefully. "He'll come back."
Ron made a face, "He better not! Life is great without that git contaminating the halls."
Hermione shot Ron an anxious look as she elbowed him in the ribs, "Ouch! What?"
"Shut up," Hermione muttered through the corner of her mouth. She was relieved that Harry didn't take notice of their brief antics. He was too busy staring into space, "Harry, are you all right?"
He didn't turn to look at them. Instead he murmured in a dreamy voice, "When do you think Draco is coming back?"
It was Ron's turn to shoot a look at Hermione. They both stared at each other for a while before averting their gazes at Harry. Harry looked at them and blinked.
"What?"
Ron gave Harry an incredulous look, "I don't know if you're aware of it."
Harry was apparently confused, "Aware of what?"
"Well… you just kinda called Malfoy 'Draco'." Ron uttered the name as if it were a swear-word. "Gone soft on him or what— OUCH, will you stop that?" Hermione had jabbed her elbow sharply into his ribs yet again.
Harry felt his face flush. He didn't mean to say Draco's name out loud. "Er, it just slipped— It was nothing." Harry looked up at the two of them, expecting a look of annoyance. But he didn't expect them to look… hurt.
"All right," Ron said with a bit of soreness to his voice. "I guess if you don't wanna let us in on it. I mean, it's not like we'll do anything to help…"
Harry stared at them, couldn't help but feel a bit defeated. He sighed and gave up. He was going to tell them sooner or later…
He took a deep breath, "I need to talk to you two."
Harry told them about their first night in the Room. He told them about the pillow fights and the Potions essay. He told Ron and Hermione about his long talks with Draco about the status of their relationship and how the Slytherin refused to continue the friendship once they left the Room. Then came the hardest part… Harry had to tell his friends the strange feelings he had been having towards Draco. The feelings he felt were a step higher than friendship. Harry told them this all in one breath and didn't look up at them once he finished.
Hermione was the first to speak, "I had an idea about that a while ago," she said softly. "At first, I didn't want to say anything. I didn't want to jump to conclusions."
"So what do you think?" Harry asked tentatively.
"I'm will always be your friend, Harry," Hermione said firmly. "I love you and I still think of you the same way."
Harry cast a hesitant look at Ron. From Ron, he expected an expression of surprise or disgust… Instead, a smile spread across Ron's face.
"I'm here for you too, mate," he said, continuing to smile. "But there's something I still don't get…"
"What?"
"Why Malfoy?" Ron sputtered. "He's not even that good-looking!"
Hermione slapped Ron on the shoulder, "It's not always about looks, Ronald! I didn't go out with you because of your looks, you know—"
"What's that suppose to mean!" Ron asked indignantly.
Harry watched them squabble with amusement. He thanked his lucky stars that he had best friends like Ron and Hermione. He wouldn't know what to do if they weren't there… somehow that made things better, with Draco being gone and all. Harry couldn't help but hope that the blonde would show up tomorrow… or maybe the day after tomorrow… Anytime, as long as he came back.
The day at Hogsmeade came and went in a flash. Harry, Ron and Hermione had their pockets bulging with various things and were more than ready to go back to Hogwarts to indulge in sweets from Honeydukes and joke contraptions from Zonko's. Harry just made a final stop back at Honeydukes to buy another handful of Chocolate Frogs. While he was there, he decided to load up on Bertie Botts Every-Flavored Bean and Droobles Blowing Gum just so it would last him and his friends until the next Hogsmeade weekend. He hurried back out into the street, expecting Ron and Hermione waiting for him. But they weren't there. Probably went off already, he thought. He'll meet up with them later.
He arrived back at Hogwarts and still, Ron and Hermione were no where in sight. Harry searched the library, the common room, and the Great Hall. He scoured the hallways and asked around. Nobody had seen them.
Harry sat up late in the common room. It was past 1:30 in the morning and still no sign of them. He had checked the Marauder's Map countless times but there was nothing. This was it… he knew he had to check with the Headmaster. Harry didn't bother using the Invisibility Cloak. This was an emergency and he had every right to know where his best friends were.
He sped across the halls towards the statue of the gargoyle that stood guard in front of Dumbledore's office. Harry shouted the password and rushed in, standing on the swirling stairs as they led him up to the Headmaster's office. Harry was about to charge in but he stopped when he heard voices. It was Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and… Arthur and Molly Weasley.
"My son!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked. "How could he have just gone— just like that? Him and Hermione?"
"They may have been taken while at Hogsmeade," Professor McGonagall's voice was shaky. "There should have been more security!"
"They've been taken to the Malfoy Mansion, have they?" Mr. Weasley sounded faint. "Who would take them? Who!"
"Death Eaters, most likely," came Professor McGonagall's furious reply. "We all know who the Malfoys side with…"
"We will send the best Aurors to retrieve Ron and Hermione," came Dumbledore's voice. "The Ministry has already been alerted—"
Harry didn't remember bursting in and shouting, "I'll get them! I'll get them myself!" he felt rage he had never felt before. "I'll be the one to do it! I will—" Before Dumbledore and the rest could stop him, he grabbed some Floo Powder from the desk and through it into the fire, "MALFOY MANSION!" he said loud and clear. He watched with watery eyes as Dumbledore's office quickly shrunk from view.
He didn't know why he had done such a spontaneous thing. He should've thought things over… let the Ministry take care of it… I guess love for Ron and Hermione can make me do crazy things… He felt the swirling abruptly stop as he stumbled forward and fell on a cold marble floor.
Everything was dark except for the flicker of several candles that were scattered all over the large room. Harry didn't look up until he heard footsteps scurry over towards him and come to a halt. He staggered to his feet and came face to face with about a dozen hooded figures.
Death Eaters, Harry thought with disgust.
"Give me Ron and Hermione!" he shouted.
Snickers rose from beneath the hoods as they turned to each other and whispered amongst themselves.
"Give them back!" he continued to rage on.
"Calm yourself, Potter," a voice drawled from beneath one of the hoods. A solitary figure stepped forward and slowly walked towards Harry. The Death Eater seemed to glide as he made his way across the room, coming to a stop directly in front of Harry.
"Give… them… back," the Gryffindor's eyes seemed to glow with fury.
"Patience, Potter," said the voice beneath the hood. "You know, I warned you. I warned you countless times…"
Harry felt his stomach jump and his breathing stopped.
The Death Eater threw his head back to reveal those familiar stormy gray eyes, pale blonde hair, and trademark smirk.
Draco Malfoy.
