Title:
Like A Fairytale
Author: Stardrops
Genre:
Romance
Rating: PG 13: Some violence and slash, precautions
only.
Summary: Faced with difficult decisions about his
future, Draco forms some unlikely friendships. A passionate romance
is sparked – but is not as secret as he supposed. Someone is
stalking Draco at Hogwarts – suddenly, keeping himself and Harry
safe is more complicated than he imagined.
Chapter Eleven: Cruel To Be Kind
Harry sat at the Gryffindor table the next morning in the Great Hall with Hermione and Ron. He'd slept remarkably well the previous night, but it looked like he was the only one who had. Hermione had large dark circles under her eyes and looked immensely grumpy, whereas Ron just looked pale but remarkably relaxed. Harry laughed at the sight of them both.
"What on earth were you two doing last night?" he asked.
Hermione groaned and rested her head on the table beside her bowl of porridge. "I was so cold last night – the weather was freezing! I got up and read for a while and got really into my book. And when I looked at the time, I sort of realized that it was morning."
Harry snorted. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"
Hermione glared at Ron. "Why are you so tired?"
Ron started and looked around, as though startled to see himself surrounded by people. He returned his confused gaze to Hermione. "Huh? What did you say?"
Hermione frowned and pursed her lips. "You look tired. Why? What were you doing all last night?
"Tired? I'm not tired. I actually slept really well last night."
Harry thought for a moment. "I don't actually remember seeing you in the dormitory last night."
"No, I went to bed after you'd fallen asleep," Ron said, picking up a piece of toast.
Hermione watched him with narrowed eyes. "Where were you before then? You can't have walked past me in the common room, I didn't see anyone go past."
Ron shrugged. "Well, I did go out for a bit, so you must just have been involved in your book." He got up and clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'm going to go have a shower, okay? See you both later."
Hermione watched him leave, her lips pursed and her eyes furiously searching for clues about the way he was walking. She turned to Harry. "Does he seem strange to you?" she asked, her voice accusing and angry.
Harry looked up and studied Ron's retreating back. "Yeah, he's probably just tired but doesn't want to admit it."
Hermione glanced around the Hall, her eyes narrowed and accusing as she glared at every female in sight. "Do you think he's – maybe – seeing someone?" She sounded remarkably strained. Harry tried to suppress a smile.
"No, I'm pretty sure he's still single Hermione. You and I would be the first ones to know if he wasn't."
Hermione stirred her porridge around her bowl glumly before letting the spoon fall with a clatter. She pushed back her chair and stood. "I'm going to go find him and ask what is going on."
"Hermione – he doesn't need a mother at Hogwarts!" Harry called out, but she was already on her way, determined and resolute. He shook his head and continued to munch on his porridge.
His gaze fell on the Slytherin table as it so often had the last few weeks. Draco was sitting between Blaise and Pansy, but he seemed restless. He was fidgeting with his spoon instead of eating, and his eyes kept darting around the Slytherin table. Harry frowned, wondering what was wrong. Blaise said something to Draco and he very visibly started. Blaise looked across the hall towards Harry and saw him looking at them. For only a few seconds, he held a gaze with Blaise which confused him. There was something about the way lines creased on Blaise's face that made Harry wonder if something was wrong. His gaze turned to Draco, and as he stared he realised there was no doubt. He watched as Draco stared down at his plate and Harry noticed that the spoon was trembling. There was definitely something wrong with Draco.
Blaise, however, was looking from Draco to Harry and back. Harry watched Draco mutter something to Blaise and the pair got up from the table and left the hall. Harry took a last spoonful of porridge and followed them. They were heading up towards the Slytherin common room, and Harry soon lost them. As he stood in the dark corridor, his breathing slightly out, wondering where they'd turned and debating whether or not to go back to the Gryffindor common room and prevent Hermione and Ron from killing each other, he heard a voice behind him.
"Potter."
Harry whipped around to see Draco standing alone behind him. His face broke out into a smile. "Hey! What was wrong at breakfast?" he asked, his expression swiftly changing to one of concern as he reached out to hug Draco.
Draco however, stepped quickly away from Harry as though there was someone watching. Harry looked all around and upon seeing no one, looked back in confusion. "What's going on?" he asked.
Draco looked levelly at Harry, his longish blonde hair falling back softly over his ears. "Look, its over, Potter, ok? Its over." His voice dropped as he turned away. "It was just a dream..."
Harry looked at him in confusion. "What? I don't understand."
Draco spun back to face him, his face twisted in a snarl. "It's pretty simple, Potter! It's over, whatever we had, its done!"
"No, I mean... why are you saying this? You mean that yesterday you were willing to recreate Narnia for me, and now... now you're saying I should just forget this ever happened?"
"Yeah... yes, Potter, that's exactly what I'm saying. Forget it. It never happened." Again, Draco turned. Harry watched, feeling numb, hurt and confused all at once, as the other boy began to walk away.
Harry sighed in irritation before sprinting the few feet to him and grabbing his arms, spinning the boy to face him. "Draco, just look at me, dammit! Why are you doing this? You're acting like a prick!" His face softened to an expression of concern that made Draco want to cry.
"Just leave me alone. I don't like you," Draco spat, fighting to keep emotion from displaying. He wrenched his arms from Harry's grip.
Harry's mouth dropped open as he watched Draco turn to leave. "You don't mean that," he said quietly.
Draco snorted. "Oh, come on Potter. It was just a bit of fun. Leave it now, pretend it never happened." It was painful to watch the saddened expression on Harry's face, and he knew he was cutting Harry deeply. He hated it – but he would hate it more if somehow he was used in the war to hurt Harry.
"But –" Harry began, his voice disbelieving and hurt. Draco interrupted.
"Nothing lasts forever, Potter." He couldn't believe how cruel he was being, how cruel he had to be.
"Why are you saying this? What are you afraid of?"
Draco stared back at Harry for a moment, feeling that if the other touched him for much longer he would burst into tears. He had to do this, to save Harry, but each second brought a pain in his heart worse than the last. Harry gently placed a hand on Draco's arm, but Draco simply pulled free of Harry's grasp and backed slowly away. "What makes you think that I'm afraid of anything?" he managed, his agony almost obvious. For a moment he held Harry's gaze, before he turned away again.
Harry couldn't understand what was happening. The person he cared about so much, was saying that he meant nothing, was walking away from him. "Because I know you want this as much as I do," he called at last. "You wouldn't walk away. Not like this. Not without a reason."
Draco heard Harry's words, feeling like he had been shot. The fact that what the boy said was true burned him more than fire. This time a tear escaped, sliding down his pale cheek, and he knew if Harry saw him cry he'd never be able to go through with this. This time, he couldn't face Harry when he spoke.
"If it makes you feel better, believe that. But I don't want to see you again."
And with that Draco walked off down the corridor, leaving Harry alone.
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He entered the Gryffindor common room to see Hermione and Ron sitting on a sofa in the corner, arms crossed and both looking slightly grumpy. Harry supposed they must have been arguing before he'd come in.
As he entered, they both looked up.
"Harry? Is everything all right?" Hermione asked, her irritated expression melting to be replaced by concern.
He simply looked at her before retreating up the stairs.
"Mate?" he heard Ron call out hesitatingly after him. He just ignored them. All he wanted was space and time to himself.
He really didn't feel like talking to anyone right now.
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A/N: Yes, this is abysmally short and for that I apologise. I just wanted to get it up quickly as a sorta apology for taking so long with the last chapter. Anyways, hope this is up to everyone's standards, and the next chapter should be on its way soon, but don't get your hopes up. I'd say a week or two at the earliest.
Angel Wings6: Thanks! Here's more angst for you :P Your compliments swell my head so much...thank you incredibly! :)
RoschLupin-Black: Yeah, he's a real evil character. But that's what makes him so much fun to write! :P
Kazillion: Wow, and I thought I was protective of Draco. I like your thinking though. Brings many evil plans for my enemies to mind. grins evilly Your suggestions are brilliant and they're helping my plan the rest of my story so keep giving them k gorgeous? Luv ya
Fenix Riviere: Well, everyone says silver blonde, so maybe I should as well lol. Oh well, next time. Three reviews from you. I like you! The romantic stuff is so much fun to write, it makes you feel all warm to imagine. :)
Dying Angel 83: Shhhh...No one else noticed! :P I'm too lazy to figure that out, so I'll just leave it and it can be our little secret. Anyway, this is what happens next, and what happens after is likely to be angsty and dramatic as well. :)
Evil Pilgrim: Well, thank you for pointing that out. I would go back and fix it but I really can't be bothered. :P Of course he's clever, the evil ones are always clever.
Princess Of Mirrors: Thanks for your review. I love your username too! Draco is pretty girly, hey. I should make him more masculine. But he's so cute when he's girly. :P You'll have to wait and find out who the stalker is I'm afraid.
Jinn: Thank you!!!!!
Piper13: Yay! My wonderful reviewer is back! Hope this is still up to your standards darlz. Thanks, I'm much better now. :) XX
Please review – they make me feel like my story is worth actually updating. Please?
