How Awful

A/N: this one is a bitstrange but it gets better from here!

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Chap 2: Watching the Dragon, Phase One

Harry had made it back to the entrance of the tower without running into more than four suits of armor, walking through seven ghosts, and running into (and consequently pushing over) two professors. Luckily they were all so stunned by his cheerful gaze and his jovial walk that none of them cared to say or do anything other than watch him continue on.

Harry came to an abrupt stop in front of the fat lady and screwed his face up in concentration a moment. "The password is… I should screw Draco Malfoy?"

She shook her head, no.

"Err… Malfoy is a-"

Harry was cut off by Ron coming up behind him, "Where have you been, mate? I was about to venture into the library before I came to my senses, you'd commit suicide before going in there. Right? Right? Harry, can you hear me?" He waved his hands in front of his best friend's face for a moment before running out of patience and smacking him upside the head.

"Wha- Sorry, Ron. I'm in Heaven right now." He grinned dreamily.

Ron could see that he was about to lose him once more so he smacked him once again. "I'll send you to Hell if you don't stop acting like a girl!"

"Wait, you can do that?" Harry looked thoroughly confused and Ron could tell he was not in a state of mind to get jokes right then.

"Pink Poufs." The portrait swung open and he dragged Harry inside and pulled him down onto a couch.

Hermione came running in just a few seconds after them. "Oh Ron! Did you find him?"

The redhead nodded. "Yeah, and I think he's high or something…"

Harry came out of his reverie just in time to catch the last part of Ron's statement. "Hey! You know what? I don't have to take this crap! I'm in LOVE!"

Hermione took a step back. "It's okay, Harry. We… We understand! We were just talking about… Snape… and how he hasn't washed his… hair…" She spoke rather haltingly.

Ron caught on, "Yeah, yeah. And how he has never understood how to make a shumpop potion…"

Harry laughed, "Do you mean shampoo?"

Ron turned red. "That's the one…" He paused before changing the subject noticeably quickly, "So, who're you in love with?"

Harry grinned, resembling a demented, well, teenager. "Draco Malfoy. We're soul mates."

Ron shot a look at Hermione that clearly said, 'You're a girl! Talk him out of it!' before making a swift James Bond exit.

Hermione lowered herself down on the couch next to Harry. "Draco, did you say?" Harry nodded, and she continued, "Oh, well, Harry. I'm glad you're happy, but why him?"

The dark-haired boy glared at her. Really glared.

Hastily, Hermione added, "It's great though! Truly great! I'm glad that you two could get over your differences and make -something- of it!"

Harry grinned. "Yeah. Thanks for the support, 'Mione!" He checked his watch. "Sorry I've got to go, I've got Quidditch practice! See you later!"

Hermione watched his retreating form with a frown. Why did Malfoy have to come in and complicate his life even more?

X

Harry woke up only to find the dormitory still shrouded in darkness. He yawned; the weekend had been very nice. He had played Quidditch until his bum was numb and then spent the rest of the time thinking about how to get Malfoy to admit his love.

He attempted to stand up but ended up crashing onto the floor with a groan. "Goddamn Mondays." He didn't bother trying to be quiet, his roommates were like zombies.

He managed to get to a standing position and pull some clothes on. In his past experiences, Draco had always gotten to breakfast early and then left soon after Harry himself got there.

The plan was to go Draco Watching. It was faultless; he just had to observe the Slytherin whenever he could, especially during classes. He couldn't be surrounded by his cronies all of the time, could he?

X

Turns out he could. Harry watched him all through the day and at dinner, sat, frustrated. They even crowded the love of his life in classes. And he had been caught staring, not that it embarrassed him, but he was worried that Ron and Hermione were going to be violently sick and projectile vomit on him if he even mentioned the word 'Draco' or something related under his breath.

He would have to keep this project to himself.

X

It was now Thursday, and Harry was at a loss. It seemed that the only time Draco had ever been alone was when they had run into each other a few days ago. Now he sat glumly in Charms, in the back like usual, with his head resting on his hands and his emerald orbs focused the blonde that sat on the other side of the room from him.

"Shit, Hermione. Won't you just hex the two of them?" She shook her head. "Please? I'll be extra special goody good! I promise!"

She frowned at him. "I'm trying to work." He opened his mouth, but she cut him off, "NO. For the last time, no! I'm not going to break rules for your love life, Harry."

He pouted for the rest of the lesson, ignoring Flitwick.

As they exited the classroom, Harry turned to his friends: Ron looked sleepy and Hermione frustrated. Obviously she had had to wake the redhead up again.

"I'll catch you two later, I've got to… Er, go and see a man about a dog."

He turned and walked to the nearest bathroom, fully intending to splash some water on his face and formulate a plan for the afternoon's session of Malfoy Surveillance. He was stopped, though, by an arm thrown out in front of him. Another joined it and he was dragged into and empty classroom by none other than the point of his adorations himself.

"Afternoon, Draco, what can I do for you?" he asked casually, seating himself on a desk and offhandedly watching the blonde.

"What the Hell are you playing at, Potter!" Draco looked more frightened than angry, though he was trying to mask it.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Whatever could you mean, Muffin?"

"Don't call me that! Don't call me anything!" Malfoy turned away from Harry. "Stop staring at me you... You... Freak show!" He turned and started towards the door.

Harry jumped up. "Wait! I love you!"

Draco shot him a disgusted look, "Sod off, perv," and he left in a swirl of his cloak.

X

Harry sat on a couch in the Gryffindor common room, Ron on one side of him and Hermione on the other. They had found him in the same classroom that he had talked to Draco in and had hauled him back up here.

"Harry, just tell us what happened!" Hermione had been saying this every thirty seconds for the last ten minutes.

He just shook his head; they would never understand, they had never been in love. In love and shot down. "I need to get drunk…" he muttered.

"What was that, Harry?"

Ignoring Hermione, Harry stood and left the common room through the portrait hole.

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A/N:

Thanks a MILLION to my reviewers . made my day, that did!

Next chapter: An Excessive Use Of Capitals!

Till next time- sing a little… dance a little… make a little noise… get down tonight!