I Can't Make You Love Me

by Zadia Grey

The Snake and the Snoop

Ron kept replaying parts of last night in his head. Maybe he could have gone farther with Harry if he had played a few moves. His hand was in plain view, why didn't he take it? That was all it took! Ron knew the reasons he had for not doing it. Harry may have pulled away in disgust, but then he could have held his hand tighter and rested his head on Ron's shoulder. . . Ron's eyes misted over at the thought of holding the raven-haired wizard in his arms. . .

"Did anything happen with you and Harry last night?"

Ron jumped at Hermione's voice. "When did you get here?"

"Never mind that. Did anything happen?"

"Like what?" He felt his heart start to race. Had Hermione actually figured it out?

The girl rolled her eyes. "Do I really need to say it?"

Yep, she had figured it out.

"So you know my deep dark secret, hm? As much as I wish something did happen, no nothing happened."

Both fell silent for a few agonizing moments.

"When did you figure out that I was in love with him?" Ron asked softly.

"Fourth year."

"Funny. . .That's the year I fell for him."

"Why?"

"He saved me from the merpeople, remember? I realized how much I meant to him that year and I guess I took it personally. Turns out he'll do that for anyone, have you noticed?"

"But they chose you to capture, Ron. You were the person that meant the most to him, who he would miss the most if you left. Doesn't that mean something?"

Ron's heart seamed to skip a beat or two when she said this. "You mean he could feel the same way for me?"

Hermione bowed her head. "It's a theory. . ."

Harry stood by the lake with Hedwig on his shoulder. When he had talked Remus into teaching him the Patronus they had stood out there, Harry remembered. Remus would always be the best Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher they had ever had in his eyes. Moody was a great one also, but then he ended up being a fake so he didn't really count. . .

"Are you dreaming about your boyfriend, Potter?"

Harry turned around to see Draco Malfoy leaning against one of the trees. "I wouldn't be throwing insults without those goons of yours, Malfoy."

"Who said I needed them for protection?"

"Who said I was gay?"

Malfoy frowned. "Don't tell me you are trying to deny it?"

Harry looked back out onto the lake. Remus came into his mind again. Maybe he was. . . Just a little. It only came to certain people . . . certain men. . . Sirius, Remus. . . Ron. . . Not Malfoy. Sure, he was good looking, but he would never think of him in that way. Remus and Sirius were really just crushes, Ron was. . .

"What? No answer?"

Harry turned back to Malfoy. "I haven't got a boyfriend, Malfoy."

"Really? How about that old Dark Arts teacher? The wolf-man?"

"Hardly." I wish.

"The escaped prisoner that died last year?"

Harry whipped around with his wand at ready. "Don't you dare talk about Sirius in my presence!" He pressed his wand against Malfoy's neck in a similar fashion that Snape had used on Sirius in third year. Malfoy didn't seam fazed by the wand at his throat. On the contrary, he seamed to enjoy pushing Harry's buttons. It had always been his favorite thing to do.

"Ah, seams I've hit a soft spot."

Harry growled deep in his throat. No one ever tried to speak with him over Sirius's death. Not since Dumbledore and he talked just after the incident in the Department of Mysteries.

"You really need to move on, Potter. But, just so you won't curse me into oblivion, I wanted to tell you I haven't got anyone either."

Harry arched his eyebrows. "Why should I care?"

"There's someone I want. . . That's why I followed you up here."

He lowered the wand. "Don't even think about it."

Malfoy grimaced as if that sentence put a bad taste in his mouth. "Not you! That other guy. . . What was his first name again?"

"You don't even know his first name?" Harry chuckled.

Malfoy sneered at The Golden Boy. "Ron. That's his name. Ron Weasley."

Harry's eyes widened in shock. "Ron? My Ron?"

"He's hardly yours, is he?"

Harry blushed slightly. "No, but. . . You know what I mean."

Malfoy's lip curled. "Oh, I see you want him also. I wasn't sure at first, but. . . Don't think I won't give up. In fact, how about we see who can lay him first? A little wager, I suppose?"

Harry began to fume again. The thought of Ron being used was even worse than the thought of him going out with Malfoy in the first place. "I should have known. All you want out of him is sex."

"What? Are you surprised?"

Harry's wand came back in contact with Malfoy's neck. "You go near him and I swear to Merlin I will turn you into a ferret."

This time the Slytherin boy stumbled backwards into a tree. Harry could see the flashbacks of fourth year in Malfoy's grey eyes, but it didn't take long for him to regain composure. "If you're too chicken to take action yourself, Potter, I suggest you give it up."

"I'll take action when I damn well feel like it, Malfoy."

AN: Oooo. . . . Two boys after one sweet little red-head. Isn't it sweet? Short, yes, but the next should be longer. Promise. I hope you enjoyed it all the same and I hope to see you next chapter. Ta!