Chapter 6: In The Heat Of The Moment
When Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room for one of her, now regular, visits she found Ron, Harry and Ginny talking very secretly, sitting in the comfort of the fire. Wondering what was going on she walked over to them, passing Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan talking about how good the Gryffindor Quidditch Team was.
"Hey…Hermione" said Ginny who had turned her head just in time to see Hermione approaching and warn the boys to be quiet by saying her name.
"Hello Ginny" Hermione said brightly and then added "Ron, Harry" nodding her greeting to the boys.
"When did you get back?" Ginny asked trying to hide her surprised but not doing a very good job.
"Oh, early this morning. Went up to my room, Draco wasn't awake yet so I decided to come up here and see if you guys were" replied Hermione.
"Well, as you can see we are wide awake, but we haven't been to have breakfast yet, so do you want to come down with us? We were just about to leave." Ginny spoke quickly, not want Hermione to ask about what they had been doing before she came.
They had been talking about a couple of rumours that had spread about her while she was away. Ginny hadn't meant for anyone to hear her when she had come back up to the castle. She had been a little upset at not being able to meet Luke and having to wait until Christmas to do so. A few people had over heard her mumblings about Hermione getting special privileges of being able to go out of the school grounds to see her older boyfriend and not having to spend that night at Hogwarts.
Those people had just happened to be Lavender Brown, Parvati and Padma Patil, and Luna Lovegood. They had come out of the Great Hall after having dinner and were chatting away when Luna had spotted Ginny. They saw she wasn't exactly in a good mood, and thriving on gossip, as girls often do, wanted to know why. They let her get in front of them and then followed her back to the Gryffindor common room, keeping quiet as so not to be noticed. Ginny had entered the common room too worked up about not meeting Luke that she hadn't noticed the girls giggling behind her.
Luna hadn't really liked the idea of eavesdropping on what her friend was mumbling but the other girls had finally grown a little to except her and she didn't want to ruin that, so she keep her mouth shut. After Ginny had disappeared behind the portrait she had tried to tell the others not to mention what they had heard to anyone else and just keep it to themselves but it had no effect.
Lavender had practically told anyone that would listen that Hermione was dating an older bloke and was getting special treatment from Dumbledore. Ginny had heard her being called 'The Bee's Princess' and a few other names she had not wanted to repeat to the boys, worried that they might agree with them. They had been trying to figure out a way to squash the rumours before Hermione came back but had only thought of either erasing memories or threatening violence, neither of which Ginny or Harry had approved (Ron's ideas were always never thought through, even after he discovered his gay side. He would always have his thick head).
"Sure…I am kinda hungry after my long night." Hermione had said this loud enough for Dean to hear, and as he was Lavender's guy he had hear all about the night before. He started whispering loudly to Seamus. "Oh, look who's back from her nice trip… Bumble Bee's Princess."
"What is he talking about?" asked Hermione totally confused
"Aaahh…never mind Hermione…" said Harry getting up from his seat and pulling Ron along with him.
"Yeah, we better head down to the Great Hall if we want to eat. And I said I'd meet Blaise down there about fifteen minutes ago" Ron chipped in.
"Yeah, I gotta meet Draco too" added Harry.
"That's if he hasn't forgotten and has actually gotten out of bed" said Hermione.
"The princess is still here…thought she would rather her own private common room…" Dean was still whispering loudly.
Ginny didn't want Hermione to hear anymore. "Well, we better go then" and she grabbed Hermione's hand tight, pulled her across the common room and out into the corridor, closely followed by Ron and Harry.
Once in the Great Hall they found that Draco had in fact woken up and come down to see Harry. Blaise was also awake and sitting next to Draco. Blaise gestured for them to join them on the Slytherin table but Hermione thought it would be just a tad too weird, so they found seats across the hall facing each other. Ron told Blaise he would meet up with him after they had eaten.
Ron started piling food onto his plate almost as soon as he sat down. Harry had focused his eyes on Draco as if they were sending unspoken messages to each other. Hermione was talking to Ginny about what she and Luke had done the night before when Dean, Lavender and Seamus walked through the doors of the Great Hall.
They walk straight over to the boys, Hermione and Ginny. Dean and Lavender sat opposite Ron and Hermione, while Seamus in the middle of the two lovebirds opposite Harry. Ginny saw Lavender lower her jaw to speak, but before she could get a sound out "Don't even think about it Lavender! You know you were never supposed to hear what I said! Just give it a break! Hermione has done nothing to you to deserve the stupid rumours you have been spreading! Hermione is the best Head Girl this school has seen in a long time and she deserves to get a few privileges! I don't see you doing as much work as her! You have probably never done as much work as Hermione does in week! So just shut your hole and tell everyone else you told to shut it too!" Ginny had erupted, not able to take them dishing out the shit anymore.
Lavender was taken back. She didn't know what to think. She thought about what Ginny had said for a few seconds before responding as calmly as she could. "Okay Ginny. I know I probably shouldn't have told anyone and that it was a bit harsh of me…"
Ginny wanted to scream 'a bit' but Ron and Harry restrained her with their glares. But that time at least a quarter of the school was looking in their direction. Lavender continued "…I just want to say that I wasn't going to say anything about that and just wanted to ask you to pass the toast."
"Oooh…" Ginny felt a little silly now. Seeing there was nothing really going on the people who had been watching returned back to their own breakfast conversations.
"But I'm glad you did speak up," Lavender continued, "I know Hermione is a great person and I will take your advice…maybe spread a few good vibes."
"I'm glad to hear that," said Ginny, who had now calmed right down.
For the whole time Lavender and Ginny had been talking Hermione had been very confused. "Ummm…is someone going to tell me what is going on?"
Ginny turned to her, she had nearly forgot her presents with them "oh, yeah…Hermione…you see…"
"Don't worry about it Hermione. You don't want to know, trust me" said Seamus giving her a wink.
"Alright… I guess I don't," concluded Hermione still confused and they all cracked up laughing.
"Hey, why don't we all go down to the lake this afternoon?" suggested Lavender.
"Yeah, why not" said Hermione "and I can tell you girls everything that happened last night" Ginny and Lavender just looked at each other and started laughing again.
While all that was happening Harry was having a silent conversation with Draco by thinking what they wanted to say.
Hey Draco, I was just thinking… Harry thought to Draco cross the hall.
Well der, you were just thinking thought Draco.
Smart-ass!
Why thank you. I now I am. And that you think I'm a sexy one at that.
Harry smiled you never cease to amaze me with your unbelievable wit. Anyway, getting back to what I was thinking earlier
Yes Harry Draco thought brightly, paying full attention to Harry.
I just wanted to know if you would like to have lunch by the lake today. You know, under that tree
Oh Harry, that's a fantastic thought.
I'd thought you'd like itThey both smiled. Meet me down at the tree at 1 o'clock okay? Harry added the thought.
1 o'clock. Got it. I'll see you then, I'm going to do some homework, I suggest you get some in too.
Just for you Draco and then Draco got up and walked out of the Great Hall. Harry stayed another five minutes for the other to finish and then went back up to Gryffindor tower with them, Ron disappeared somewhere with Blaise.
1 o'clock came and went with Harry down under the tree by the lake. He had had Dobby make them a few hamburgers and rustle up a couple of butterbeer but Draco had not turned up yet.
It was now quarter past and there was still now sign of Draco. Harry was just about the wave his wand to pack the food up when he felt a couple of cold hands cover his eyes.
"Guess who?" came the mysterious voice breathing in his ear.
"Draco…" Harry put his wand down and pulled Draco's hands from over his eyes. "Why are you so late? You're hardly ever late…"
"Sorry Harry, but I got a bit distracted," uttered Draco.
"Distracted?" Harry asked confused. "What you mean lost track of the time?"
"Yeah, you see I was doing my potions essay and then something triggered the memory of the first time I knew I was gay," said Draco moving so that he was sitting in front of Harry.
"Oh…really?" Harry was intrigued
"Yeah! You know it was you who made me realise it," Draco continued with his story with Harry listening intently to every word. "When you caught that snitch and the bludger broke your arm all I could think about was whether you were okay. I only pretended to be hurt so that I could see whether you would be okay or not. Of course I told everyone else it was to make sure you had been hurt good and proper, but that's beside the point."
"Yes, quite" Harry was very interested to know where this story would lead and edged closer to Draco.
"Well, with every passing year you gained more courage and faced greater and more life threatening challenges. And with each passing year I grew more worried that you would never know my true feelings towards you. Frankly, without the help of Granger I don't think I would have ever have had the courage to find out whether you felt the same for me as I did for you" Draco finished with a smirk.
"Okay Draco, you can stop with the act, what really distracted you?" asked Harry who had been about to plant his lips on Draco's before he saw the smirk. He was now straight backed and had a serious face, eyes glaring at Draco. Why was Draco lying to him? It was a good story and most probably true, but it wasn't what had made Draco lose track of the time.
"What?" Draco expressed with fake outraged, which Harry saw right passed. Harry gave Draco another stern look and then Draco started to confess. "Alright, alright, I was working on a new potion I invented. It was supposed to be a surprise and it took me a few more minutes than I thought it would…"
"Now don't you feel better that you're still not telling me the truth?" Harry was starting to get impatient with Draco.
"Fine Harry, you may as well read my mind."
And miss watching you try and get out of telling the truth…nah, I don't think so.
Ha. Ha. Very funny! But Draco wasn't laughing
"Well, I've waited this long. Please, don't keep me waiting any longer," teased Harry. Why was Draco avoiding the truth?
"Fine, I fell asleep," announced Draco, finally telling the truth. "Are you happy now? Can we eat lunch? I'm starved"
"Quite happy and I don't see why this food should wait any longer to be devoured" answered Harry and he leaned over to give Draco a well earnt kiss.
"I don't see why you did just say that you fell asleep," said Harry after taking a bite out his second hamburger.
"Well…" Draco was deciding whether to tell Harry the truth or not.
I'll just get it out of you; you may as well came Harry's voice inside Draco's head.
"I was kinda ashamed," uttered Draco.
"Well you shouldn't be. You only fell asleep, its not like you did it on purpose. What, were you doing Snape's essay?" Harry joked.
"Ah…no Harry. I was actually…" Draco paused. Harry waited, looking Draco straight in the eye. "…tried. And I didn't want to seem like I didn't want to be with you if I came down drowsy, so I took a shower and then lost track of time."
"Oh, that's okay Draco," said Harry just glad that Draco was being truthful with him. "You know you can be very sweet when you want to be." They shared a warm embrace.
It was around 3 o'clock when Harry and Draco decided to go back up to Draco's room for a hot cup of tea. Around that same time Hermione, Seamus, Dean, Lavender and Ginny were coming down for a stroll around the lake.
Naturally wanting to keep their relationship as distinctly friends to the rest of Hogwarts, only Hermione, Ron, Blaise and Ginny knew of Draco and Harry's further relationship. So when Seamus saw them coming up to the castle from behind the greenhouses he didn't think much of it. Two friends in the schoolyard, nothing out of the ordinary.
But then Seamus saw Draco and Harry do something he thought to be very strange for two people that were just friends. Draco had all of a sudden pushed Harry against one of the greenhouses and locked jaws with him. Seamus waited for Harry to push Draco off, but it never happened. It looked to Seamus as if Harry was enjoying whatever Draco was doing to him.
"Seamus, are you coming?" called Dean from fifty metres in front of him.
Seamus hadn't even realised that he had stopped. "Yeah" was all he managed to say turning from the scene he had just witnessed. He shock his head, telling himself he had imagined it and continued to walk down the path to catch up with the others.
Later that same night Seamus was in the boys dormitory putting away his books for the night and getting read to go to bed for an early night when Harry walked in without a word. He walked over to his trunk and started to get changed into his pyjamas when Seamus remember what he saw that afternoon.
"Harry, do you remember when you told me you were gay?" asked Seamus as if it were just a friendly greeting.
A little confused Harry answered "Err, yeah Seamus…what about it?"
"Do you remember how you told me that I was the first person you had told and not even Ron knew?"
"Yeah, but Seamus…" Harry was still very much confused about why Seamus was bringing this up all of a suddenly. They hadn't spoken about this topic in at least a year.
"You told me that you had a crush on someone in the school but if that person ever found out that you would be the laughing stock of the whole school. Yet you never told me who that person was."
"Okay Seamus, does this have a point? Cos I'm really tired and I would like to get some sleep some time tonight."
"Oh there is a point, don't you worry bout that." Seamus assured Harry. "You also told me that came to me because you didn't think Ron would handle it so well. What you did know at the time was that Ron had come to me a week earlier telling me that he was gay and that he didn't think you would be able to understand the news.
Well, after you came to me I thought it might have all been a joke. But then a week later you told me that you had found a boyfriend. I didn't know what to believe until I saw you with him in this very room."
"So it was you who closed to door?" Harry had always known there had been someone there that time with Davis.
"Yeah, it was me. Well, you never did go serious with anyone. And I always felt you were waiting for someone."
"What are you talking about Seamus?"
"I never forgot about the crush that would make you the laugh stock of the school. I was always trying to figure out who it was and I never quite find out, until today" Seamus paused to see Harry's reaction.
"Err, Seamus are you alright…you sure you haven't got a wire loose?" asked Harry worried
"Oh, I'm quite sure Harry. It was Draco," Seamus exclaimed. "Wasn't it?"
"Wasn't what?" asked Harry who was totally confused and had no idea what Seamus was trying to say
"The person you first had a crush on" Seamus was acting like a mad scientist (however they acted) "I saw you two behind the greenhouse today. I'm not blind Harry."
"Oh, now I see," declared Harry finally catching on to what Seamus was trying to say. "Your saying that you saw me and Draco kissing behind the greenhouses and that you believe that he was the person that could have made m the laughing stock of the whole school if he had found out that I had a crush on him."
"That's exactly what I said," stated Seamus.
"No it wasn't, you were talking about something back in first year" said Harry sleepily while climbing into bed. "Anyway, is that all you wanted to say cos I'm really tried and would like to go to sleep."
"NO! That is not all Harry! You cannot go to sleep! We need to talk about this!" Seamus shouted.
"Ok, ok," yawned Harry "no need to shout." He sat on the side off his bed, facing Seamus, who was standing in the middle of the room.
"Harry, this is your first major relationship with a guy, is it not?" Seamus asked.
"Yeah, I would say it is major" replied Harry, not having thought about how serious his and Draco's relationship was until that point.
"And you're quite happy that it is your former arch nemesis?" inquired Seamus trying to figure out how Harry's brain worked.
"Well, why wouldn't I be? You said yourself that I have had a soft spot for him ever since our second year" stated Harry, not seeing a problem.
"But Harry, this is Draco we are talking about." Seamus insisted, "The guy who used to beat on you every chance he got"
"Seriously Seamus, what is your point?" Harry still couldn't see a problem "Draco only beat on me because if he didn't his father would have beat him" as if this was totally obvious and didn't need to be explained.
"But Harry, how can you be sure he is not just acting now? How can you trust him?"
"That's easy," declared Harry " I trust him because I love him and if I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were jealous of that"
Seamus was shocked by Harry's statement. How could I be jealous? I don't have anything to be jealous of. "Well it's a good thing you know better, cos I'm not gay" was all Seamus managed to voice before Dean walked into the room
"Of course you not gay, Seamus" articulated Dean as if he had been in the conversation the whole time.
"Dean, do you mind? We are having a private conversation here," verbalized Harry angrily.
"Oh, don't mind me," replied Dean. "So what you talking about? How gays should be killed or something"
Harry was shocked at that statement. "How can you say something like that?"
"Easy, I just did, didn't I?" said Dean seeming quite claim.
"You can't believe that Dean…seriously, gay people have as much rite as you or me to be alive." Seamus said defensively. "I know a few…"
Dean cut him off. "You know homos? You never told me! I'll go have them killed for you"
"Dean!" shouted Seamus not believing the words coming out of his friend's mouth.
"What?" replied Dean not seeing anything wrong with what he had just said.
"What do you mean 'what?'?" shouted Seamus outraged be Dean's words. "You just said you wanted to kill people because of their sexuality. What do you have against gay people anyway?"
"Well…nothing really. Just never liked them," stated Dean as if they were talk about why he didn't eat bustle sprouts.
"Well maybe you should learn to. Some of your friends that you may think are straight are actually homosexual" pronounced Seamus.
"Nah, all the guys I know are straight. What you talking about?" Dean said thinking Seamus was off his rocker.
"Well, as a matter of fact Dean, I'm gay" Harry piped up.
"You?…the Harry Potter?…gay? I don't believe it!"
"Well, you better believe it Dean, cos its true" said Seamus.
"Okay, you guys are both nuts. Tell me when you guys are back to normal" and he walked right out of the room. Harry and Seamus were both standing looking at the door close behind him. Then Seamus turn to face Harry.
"Well, back to the subject of you and Draco" Seamus continued as if nothing had interrupted them. Harry turned to meet his face.
"What about it? We are happy together and nothing is going to change that"
"But I don't trust him. I don't think you should be seeing him"
"And who's going to stop me? You!" Harry was right in Seamus face now. He towered over the short Irish boy of course.
Both boys were red with anger. Seamus because Dean being the stupid git that he was and because Harry wouldn't listen to him about Draco being untrustworthy. He had been Harry's enemy for 6 long years and now all of a sudden he loved the guy. It just wasn't right. And he knew he was certainly not jealous! Harry was anger at Seamus because he had always given him good advice of relationships and had always been so understanding, such a good friend. Now he totally had the wrong idea about his and Draco's relationship. He had known he should have told him sooner about it.
"Yeah! If that's what it is going to take to stop you" Seamus stuck out his chest and tried to stand his ground against Harry. Harry still looked down on him and wasn't going to give up to Irish boy that easily.
"And what are you going to do?" Harry came back, looking him straight in the eye.
"I don't know yet," Seamus confused looking straight back "but I'll find a way, don't you wor…"
Out of nowhere Harry had descended onto Seamus lips with his own and was moving gently over them. Seamus didn't know what to do. At first he went along with Harry's gentle touch, but then found his head and push Harry off of him.
Harry lost his balance through the force of Seamus' push and fell to the ground. He didn't know what had come over him and sat in stunned silence, looking up at Seamus, who was as equally stunned.
Author's Note: well, I hope you all enjoyed that and you will review. I would love to hear what you think of my work. Oh, and thanks to all the people that have reviewed, especially my friends, you guys are the best!