Predictable-By Good Charlotte

Something isn't right
I can feel it again feel it again
This isn't the first time
That you left me waiting
Sad excuses and false hopes high
I saw this coming still I don't know why
I let you in

I knew it all along
You're so predictable
I knew something would go wrong (something's always wrong)
So you don't have to call
Or say anything at all
You're so predictable (so predictable)

Secrets

Chapter Eight:

Predictable

Harry was waiting for him when he flicked on the lights, as he escorted a long blonde into his apartment, and poured two glasses of fine wine. He waited as he flirted and kissed the girl passionately, and it wasn't until half of their clothing was discarded and they made their way towards the living room couch that he was noticed.

"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy," Harry said coolly as the blonde was about to sit on him.

Malfoy broke away from the young girl, who immediately covered up her exposed chest.

"Potter," he spat vehemently, "what are you doing in my bloody apartment? How the hell did you get in here? You bastard, get out!"

"I haven't even said anything, Malfoy, and already you're trying to get me out," Harry said, shaking his head.

Malfoy stood there, glaring daggers at Harry while the girl ran around, picking up articles of clothing and rushing out the apartment door.

Harry watched her leave, and turned back to Malfoy.

"How much did you pay for that one, eh?"

Malfoy stepped forward and punched Harry in the eye, who leapt forward off the couch and tackled him. He threw a much at Malfoy's nose, and at the same time Malfoy's fist connected with Harry's jaw. They tumbled around for what seemed like hours, punching and tackling each other until both were bruised and bloody.

Panting, Harry pulled out his wand and muttered under his breath, and ropes sprouted from his wand and wound themselves around Malfoy.

Harry stood there for a few moments, catching his breath, and then wiped blood from his mouth.

"You throw a mean left hook, Malfoy," Harry said, spitting his blood over his shoulder. "But I'm not here to chat about your fighting skills. I'm here about the howler you sent Hermione."

Malfoy looked up at Harry from his spot on the floor, blood dripping from a gash on his temple onto the floor. He lay there, glaring, and finally said,

"If you get me out of these ropes, and let me get cleaned up…I'll tell you everything you want to know. I promise."

Harry bent down to Malfoy's level, staring him in the eye.

"I learned a long time ago not to trust a Malfoy," Harry said quietly.

Malfoy smirked.

"You may think my word is as good as shit, Potter, but I'm a gentleman, and my word is as good as gold."

"Somehow I doubt that," Harry said, "but if you break your promise, I can always turn you into the piece of shit that you are."

He waved his wand, and Malfoy was freed.

A few moments later they were on Malfoy's living room couch, and Harry was thinking of what to ask first.

"Why did you send the howler to Hermione? Why would you tell Ron? What's your motive?"

Malfoy took a sip of wine from the glass he held.

"I sent Granger the howler because I made a deal with Weasley back in Hogwarts," he told Harry. "He was a mess after Granger left Hogwarts. Pathetic. So I stepped in one day after potions, long after he became your worst enemy…worse than me. I told him that I'd find out where you were hiding, what her alias was, where she was. I told him that I'd tell him everything, if he could provide me with something I wanted."

"Which would be…?"

"His sister, Potter. As strange as it may seem to you, I love Ginny, but we can't be together. Our families don't mix. Everyone judges me by my father, and what he did, including her family. So we were together for awhile in Hogwarts, and then we had a fight about our families, and broke it off. I wanted her back, so I came to her brother." Malfoy paused.

"During Christmas break, I signed up for a leave of my own means, getting 'home' on my own. In reality, I followed you. I found out where your portkey was heading, and got one for myself. I followed you by broomstick, and saw where you went. I saw Granger through a window, and remembered the address.

"When the time was right, I wrote a howler, and sent it to her. I thought I'd tell Weasley everything, and then get my girl. But," Malfoy looked away, "The tables have turned. She's engaged now. Weasley has nothing I want. And therefore…Granger and you have nothing to worry about from me."

Harry sat on the couch, speechless.

"Where's Ron now?" Harry asked.

"Playing for the Chudley Cannons," Malfoy said dismissively.

"Is there nothing else that you want, Malfoy? Because I'm gonna make a bargain with you," Harry said, leaning back against the couch.

"Want? Yeah, I want a lot of things, Potter. I want people to know me for me, not my father. I want to settle down and raise a normal family. People think I'm a git from the way I acted at school, but back then I was under the control of my parents, and I wanted to be noticed, so people won't notice how my family was falling apart. But now my family has completely collapsed, and there's no need for any of it. It's all behind closed doors…I'm not a bad guy, Potter. I'm just lonely."

"I'll find you a girl, Malfoy. Someone you can love. Someone besides Ginny, who left you. But you need to do me a favor."

"I'm listening."

"Good. Here's the plan."

Ronald Weasley touched down on the Quidditch Field, sore from practice, and looked up at the few fans who came to watch them in the stands. One happened to be a little girl who was sitting next to a hooded man in a black cloak, pointing towards him and whispering.

A few minutes later the girl rushed towards him, blonde curls bobbing and giggling.

"Excuse me, sir, would you mind signing this for me dad? He's a bit shy since he got cursed by our neighbor," she said, looking over her shoulder at the hooded man.

"Of course, sweetie…and who is this out to?"

"Oh don't bother with a name…your autograph is fine, sir."

"Alright," Ron said, signing the paper.

"Thank you!" The girl squeaked, and she ran off.

Ron turned around to wave goodbye to his teammates, and then looked after the girl, but she and the man were gone.

Ron shook his head, and turned to the locker rooms.

Harry entered the apartment, and closed the door quietly behind him. He knew that Hermione would hex him into the next century for coming home twelve hours later then promised, but he had no other choice.

Sighing, he shrugged off his coat and stumbled into the living room, where the lights suddenly flicked on. Sitting on the couch in a bathrobe sat Hermione, glaring at Harry.

"I promise to be back before noon, love," Hermione mimicked, her eyes like daggers.

"Hermione…let me explain…" Harry said cautiously.

"You do not tell a woman you'll be back at one time and come back thirteen hours late!"

Harry glanced at the clock.

"Twelve, love."

Hermione's face flushed with anger.

Harry walked up to her and pecked her on the cheek, and immediately her anger subsided, and she became emotional.

"I thought something terrible happened, Harry!"

"Nothing terrible happened," Harry said.

Hermione reached up to caress his cheek, and immediately found the gash on his temple."

"Nothing terrible! Harry! How do you explain that?"

Harry rolled his eyes, and collapsed on the couch.

"Alright…I admit…after I saw Neville and chatted with him I went to see Malfoy…and we had a bit of a fight…it's nothing, Hermione. I got the information I wanted out of him."

"Has he told Ron anything?"

"No…he hasn't. But thanks to him we have a little something from Ron."

Hermione paled.

"Harry…"

Harry reached into his pocket and brought out a slip of paper, showing it to Hermione, who gasped.

"He signed away his rights as a parent to your baby, 'Mione," Harry told her. "He's out of your life. He's no longer your baby's father."

Hermione threw her arms around Harry and sobbed into his shoulder.

"Yes," she said quietly.

"Yes what, 'Mione?" Harry asked, rubbing the small of her back.

She pulled back and smiled at him, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Yes, I'll marry you. I accept your proposal."

(A/N) So sorry it took so long to update! Finals at University…quite annoying.

Food for thought: how is Harry going to provide Draco with the girl he promised? When will the baby arrive? And what about their wedding? Please review!