Secret Meetings by the Lake
Disclaimer: No, I do not own any of these Characters; they are JK Rowling's…not mine.
Chapter 1
When he finally woke up he sat up, and was about to put on a bathing suit but smiled and changed his mind. He enjoyed teasing Draco, that boy really needed to loosen up. He only seemed wild in order to cover up his insecurities. Harry smiled, glad he knew this while no one else did. Crabbe didn't know. Goyle didn't know. His parents didn't know. Harry, his long resented enemy, knew. Harry grabbed a towel and headed down to the lake.
Chapter 2: Down at the lake again
Harry glanced over the hill and saw Draco down by the waters edge, carefully testing the temperature with his toes. Harry chuckled to himself, thinking 'Heir of Slytherin my ass'.
"Hey!" Harry shouted, and Draco instantly straightened as Harry began walking down to meet Draco, "Ready to go swimming, mate?" Saying it was odd, but it just slipped from his mouth and neither one decided to mention it. Both found it too awkward.
"Just hang on a minute ok? Come on down here Harry." Draco shouted back up the hill. "I've got to talk to you for a minute."
Harry shrugged and trudged down the hill abandoning his things under a tree. "What's up Draco?" He asked. Not knowing what to expect, he sat down next to him, and soon Draco caught on and took a seat.
"Umm, I don't really know how to ask this…" Draco started, nervously running his hand along the back of his neck and looking questioningly into space, "But, like, are you really going out with Hermione, or are those just rumors?"
Harry was surprised, but he replied "No…and you know that!" He laughed punching his arm slightly. Draco however remained solemn. "Hey" Harry said, serious again "What's up? What's such the big deal?"
"Well" Draco stared at his feet "I've had my eye on her for a while now, and I was wondering if you could set the two of us, just as a favor?" He turned his head to look at Harry.
Harry's heart jumped a beat in his chest. A million thoughts ran rampant in his mind this isn't right, Hermione and Draco of all people and It was just our friendship, now what is going to happen to us? Harry remained silent, and stared at the boy.
"Never mind" Draco muttered, "It was a stupid idea, it will never work."
"I'm sorry Draco; I just don't know how that can work out. I mean you've had a pretty bad past with her and a pretty bad public life with me." Harry muttered almost as soft.
"Yeah well I'm sick of it!" Draco screamed, "I'm sick of being a Slytherin, I'm sick of having to hide our friendship, and I just want to be friends with you Harry, normal everyday friends. I don't want to have to hex you in the hallways every day just to keep up my public image, and I'm tired of you calling me Malfoy in the hallways. I'm Draco, not Malfoy, just Draco!" He beat the ground with a shaking fist and went to go grab his towel.
"It's alright Draco" Harry soothed "Lets take a walk huh?"
Draco nodded his consent and Harry down around the edge of the lake. The two walked in silence for a few moments, while Draco's breath grew calmer. They began talking about simple things like classes, friends, and practical jokes until Draco laughed again. They threw rocks at a few extremely harried tanning mermaids, who glared at the two boys and then sank back into the water.
The two arrived back on the shore where they found their things untouched and then sat down in the shade of the tree. Harry glanced at his watch; it was already 12:45, and almost time to go. Draco leaned over and looked at his watch, and sighed disappointedly. The two got up and dusted off, grabbed their towels, and headed up to the castle. The two walked dejectedly up the hill, both hoping the other would ask to meet the other that night. Draco spoke first, laughing bitterly he asked Harry "So mate, should I punch you at 2:00 or just hex you at 3:00 and then make fun of you at dinner?" Harry also laughed bitterly, at the hopelessness of their situation; he then mentioned their meetings by the lake. Draco smiled.
"I'll see you at 10:00 Harry, you better be there."
"No Problem" Harry smiled, sunlight lighting up his eyes.
"Well Bye then I guess" Draco said awkwardly, but smirking over everything. Harry laughed to himself; Draco's smirk doesn't change a whole lot.
"See you later then."
Harry takes his time walking up to his dormitory, as he would have nothing better to occupy his time with anyway. He walked so slowly that the pictures whispered concern amongst themselves over the boy, and one loud rather strident Knight chided him for wasting time. When he finally reached his dormitory, he flopped down on his bed and glanced mindlessly at the window, surprised to see a tawny brown owl perched on the sill, with a letter dangling from her claw.
The letter smelled highly feminine and Harry knew in a moment who it was from, and let out a small chuckle. He untied the scroll and opened it-
Dear Harry,
Oh I know this is so stupid…writing to you from the train and all. Well anyway, I borrowed this Owl from the owlery. It was a special favor from Dumbledore for over the Vacation. I'm tired and don't like to rant in notes, I just wanted to show you the owl I'll be using and let you know that I didn't miss the coach! It was pure luck though, there was only one left all together. I'm usually the first one out the door. Either way, have fun over the holidays, and be careful.
Love, Love, Love, Love, Love,
Hermione
Harry smiled and turned over the scroll, trying to think of something to write. He decided he wouldn't mention Draco, not yet anyway, Harry didn't want Hermione worrying herself over that all vacation, so he decided to wait until a better chance came up. He instead just wrote back a short and to-the-point response as was customary with him.
Dear Hermione,
Hey Hermione, How's it going? Wow! You made to the train this time, what was it last time, Halfway down the hallway right? Just Kidding. Well, things are fine, everyone's fine. It's just sort-of boring here. Write me back.
Much Love,
Harry
He tied the scroll to the owls leg, who in a very business like manner took flight immediately not doting on treats and water. Harry stared at the clock; it read twelve fifteen. At that moment Harry questioned whether he would be able to survive another two weeks of torment, then friendship, then boredom, then torment in his life. He and Draco had some major issues to work out.
He slowly stood up, stretched his arms above his head and walked silently to the library with a Quidditch book in hand that he had meant to return a week or so ago. He jumped down the staircase two at a time and landed with a thump at the bottom.
"Eh…Harry…not so loud mind you." Seamus whispered turning to face him. His eyes were half closed, he stared at him through two swollen eyes, and he had a huge lump on his head, which he was holding an ice pack to.
"Merlin Seamus, what's wrong with you?" Harry asked, genuinely concerned. He walked over to his armchair and looked closer at his injuries.
"No Harry I'm perfectly fine. Seriously, this is nothing…" Seamus said, quite unbelievably, as his voice was shaking and his eyes were ride with fear.
"Yeah sure…who did this to you?" Harry asked.
At this Seamus's expression changed something horrible. He looked lost and frightened, as you would expect a puppy to behave. His hands shook a little and he looked down at his feet, suddenly losing all confidence.
"Seamus?" Harry said softly, "Who did this to you?" He bent down to look him in the eyes.
"Dobby" Seamus muttered.
Harry had a sudden urge to laugh, for lack of a better emotion. "Why?" Harry asked simply, barely managing to maintain posture.
"Harry" Seamus looked up, his voice instantly stopped shaking "Harry you sent him on me you sick bastard."
Ahh…another short chapter. I'm just too ADD to maintain a train of thought for more than an hour at a time any more. I'll try harder :Crosses Heart:
