Harry stepped in his dormitory room. Ron was perched at the foot of his bed, taking off his snow-sodden shoes.
He sighed. " Ron, " he began.
" What-! " Ron said annoyed.
" I'm sorry- "
" Sorry! You just spoiled a good practice out there with your- your arseness! "
Harry smiled after hearing Ron use that term. " Hey, that was new- "
" Don't push it! What's wrong with you, really! I know you want to win bad- this is Malfoy we're talking about, Hufffepuff's got no chance anymore, Ravenclaw's a few points behind Slytherin, We're almost tied with Slytherin- but it doesn't mean! Bloody arse Harry! "
Harry sighed again and sat across Ron on his bed. " I promise mate, I'll tell you- when the time is right-"
" Ah! So you have been hiding things from me-? And Hermione? "
He shook his head. " I'm having issues right now- "
" Right, constipation issues-? If this is about a girl, I'm empathizing, but I won't think twice about kicking your arse if you do that to us again! "
Harry nodded. " I promise, no more of that 'arseness', " he sniggered.
Ron smiled a little. " Keep your promise, you arse. "
He nodded and laughed.
Draco walked back towards the castle, alone, since he had dismissed practice earlier than expected. He was in a foul mood. His entire team could tell. Perhaps he hadn't gotten enough sleep that he had been annoyed by Potter's mere presence and side comment.
He carried his broomstick sloppily on one shoulder, a Firebolt 3000, given by his ever loving father and mother as a birthday gift a few months back. He looked at the castle looming in the backdrop of the twilight sky. The lights were twinkling softly in the many windows and turrets.
And he wondered what Hermione was doing.
He saw her reaction to everything; saw her carefully guarded eyes, despite telling himself not to look at her for more than two seconds. He had felt the anger come easily. Harry Potter and the rest of the Gryffindors annoyed him fast, Hermione once did.
Once.
Funny how time transforms hatred to something else, funny how Hermione was once insignificant, but now she meant everything to him. It seemed like those stories he had read once and laughed at.
He was acting like a child, transfixed at some priceless magic trick.
Hermione was his priceless- What was wrong with him! " I have to treat this maturely- its not like I've never been in a relationship before- well maybe I've- she's my first- serious one- really- " he told himself.
Hermione.
And he smiled, unable to contain what he felt…
" Draco. " A voice.
It shattered his smile, and it quickly turned into a scowl, like he never smiled or thought of her at all.
" Pansy- " he began tiredly. He treated her with some respect; after all she was a pureblood, a family friend, rich- Pansy.
" Practice over before six? "she asked with acid dripping from her girly voice.
He nodded and placed his broom beside him.
" I'll walk together with you to the castle- "
" Fine, " he said shortly.
They were both quiet, something Pansy had never done before. Suddenly it annoyed Draco. Something was up. What the hell was it!
" What are you hiding? "Draco suddenly asked.
Pansy looked at him with innocent looking eyes. She frowned. " I don't know- "
" I know you, " Draco said. " You're hiding something- whatever it is, don't you dare interfere with my business- "
" Or love affairs? " she spat out.
Draco scoffed. " Love affairs? Bullocks. "
" Right, " Pansy said. " Ever since I knew you'd fallen for that mudblood- "
Draco's eyes narrowed.
" Ever since I knew- I wondered when you'd ensnare her, and break her heart, just like all the others- just "
" Like you? " he raised an eyebrow. " Can't you get it through your thick skull that I never asked you out? "
" Draco- you know it's never easy for me to stop loving- "
" Stop it! I don't want to hear it! " he said irritated.
Pansy made a sad face.
He threw up a hand in disgust. " Merlin's boogers! "
" Draco- please! If you only gave me the chance to love you- if you could love me- just for awhile and forget her, she'll never last long- you always quit after a few weeks- but if you just-! "
" Later, " he waved his hand dismissively.
Pansy stared at his retreating figure. He was going to regret.
Ron ate his supper with gusto.
" Where's Hermione? " he asked Harry.
Harry shrugged. " Dunno- "
" You were the last with her right? " he asked.
Harry nodded, unable to lie.
" Well? "
" Well what? "
" Did she get angry at you? Cause we all sure were angry at you- "
Harry had apologized to his team right before dinner, and they grudgingly accepted; but now, they were smiling and laughing over dinner like nothing ever happened.
" Well, she did- she must still be fuming- " Harry began.
Ron nodded drinking some pumpkin juice. " Typical."
Harry shrugged. He felt awful, lying to Ron again. But he felt more awful about Hermione. He couldn't believe he had been that harsh. In all the years they had been friends, he had never been that mean to her. Sure they had fights, but it was because of petty reasons and arguments about Voldemort and all those other things related to Quidditch and his scar. He had never been angry at her because he felt differently.
Well, now he was.
" Hey Ron- " he began. " I forgot something- I'll be right back- "
Ron looked up and nodded. " Don't take too long. "
Harry sprinted out of the Great Hall, all thoughts on Hermione.
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