Hermione burst into the empty Gryffindor common room, well the almost empty room. Ron stood up, wary of the tears in her eyes.
" Hermione…" he began. " Who made you cry? "
She shook her head as Ron held her shoulder and gently steered her to a couch.
" Talk to me- well, take a deep breath and tell me what happened, " he said gently.
She shuddered. " Ron- I don't know what to-how to- you might get angry- "
Ron raised an eyebrow and sighed. " Tell me the horrible news first? "
" I've been going out with Draco Malfoy for 2 months now- " she said quietly.
" Draco Malfoy! " he repeated. " 2 months! Does Harry know? "
She nodded. " The bad part is- before I came here- we had a row, near the lake- it was awful- "
" I bet…" he muttered.
" Ron, you don't get the whole picture- Harry's been- conspiring with Pansy- to break me and Draco apart- "
" Come on Mione! Well…it is Draco- Harry? " Ron eyed her. She was dead serious. " You're not- this isn't a joke? Did he admit it? "
She shook her head. " None of them would- I don't know who to believe anymore- really- I bet Pansy's been contriving this all- but- I don't know who to believe anymore- "
" Well, thank Merlin she didn't get to me- "
" Draco claims Harry's been- that Harry's liked me for quite some time now- that's why Harry was forced to work with Parkinson- "
Ron's jaw clenched. " What! " Ron didn't know what to do. Hermione wouldn't have any ulterior motives to lie about Harry now would she? And about Draco Malfoy…well what the hell was he to say? To think! A Malfoy was a Malfoy, and Ron saw Draco as a finer copy of his father, cunning, slick…a Slytherin! Ron ran a hand over his hair, trying to keep the information in, trying to keep himself from losing his temper.
Harry glared at Draco and Draco glared at Harry.
" You son-of-a- you arsehole! " Harry spat out, clenching a fist.
" Ah, putting the blame on me now, you imbecile! " Draco shot back. " You caused all this! If you hadn't cavorted with Pansy- this-! This wouldn't have happened! "
" I cavorted with Pansy now! Like you never did! And you-! You were destined to break her heart! Who the fuck did you think you were to come into her life like that! She doesn't deserve a low life like you! "
" Like me? Merlin's hemorrhoids! And you think you're the man for her! You're just her-her best friend! "
" Better a friend than a snake! "
" Such simple insults, Potter! You need more bloody practice! " And Draco moved in to punch Harry's cheek.
" You! " Harry reeled back but retaliated with a good blow on Draco's chest. At that moment, they both took out their wands.
" That's right, Potter- give me your best shot- like you have any…" he sneered.
" You sucked the last time I dueled with you! "
" Well the man that sucks to you has been sucking the lips out of your lady love! " Draco yelled, a vein visible on his neck.
Harry looked stunned. Then he raised his wand. " Aguamenti! "
A burst of water shot from Harry's wand, hitting Draco squarely in the chest, sending him reeling a few feet away.
" Flagrate! " Draco shouted. Lines of fire appeared, setting Harry's robe on fire.
" You-! " Harry yelled, quickly extinguishing the fire.
" Stop it! " another voice shouted out.
" Weasel! " Draco said annoyed. He raised his wand again.
" You stop right there, Malfoy! " a voice rang out.
" Oh god, what the fuck is this now! " Draco asked.
" Hermione- " Ron responded heavily.
Draco immediately put down his wand. " What about her? " he asked, still eyeing Harry warily with both gray eyes and clutching his wand tightly.
" I know, " Ron said.
" Great, everyone knows now? " Draco spat out.
Harry looked at Ron. " I'm sorry mate, I should've told you everything- "
" Yes, you bloody should have- " Ron eyed Harry for a moment. Harry's shoulders dropped and his expression changed from that of a young, angry man, to a suddenly wiser lad.
" It was stupid, " Harry said.
Draco raised an eyebrow. He was admitting his stupidity now? Oh, this was rich! But then, Ron turned to face him.
" Stay away from Hermione, " Ron uttered.
" Make me- " Draco said.
" I don't need to make you- she told me herself- she never wants to see you again, and I intend to keep it that way, " Ron said menacingly.
" Keep it that way? Suddenly, everyone wants to be her mother now! " Draco snapped.
" I want her unhurt! " Ron said.
" Too late! " Draco shot back. " If you- " he pointed to Harry. " If you hadn't butted in, it would've been fine- but you just had to be your bloody heroic self! "
" I'm the bad guy now? " Harry's temper flared once more.
" Stop it! Both of you! "
Harry and Draco glared at Ron, whose face was now as red as his hair.
" I don't know the whole story- but I hate to see Hermione like that, I hate knowing you didn't tell me a thing Harry, and I especially despise you-Malfoy- being Hermione's- " he paused. He shook his head. " Will someone please tell me the truth? "
" I will, " Draco finally said, and heavily. " The whole bloody fucking truth- " he took a deep breath. " I fell in love with her for quite some time now- even if I still pretended to hate her- and one day- I- because of Veritaserum gone awry- I took it- we were partners, and she started asking me silly questions, and I ended up telling her the truth, I kissed her, without her approval- "
Harry's eyes shot a glare at him, but Draco continued.
" After that, I grew- considerably soft around her, and I finally told her I liked her, more than the usual like, I saved her at the lake, when you chaps arrived, I told her there. The Yule ball came, and I knew I couldn't keep it in much longer, so I danced with her, in disguise- "
" That Hufflepuff was you? " Harry asked with a raised brow. " The one who dyed his hair black? "
Draco nodded and gave a sly smile. " Why, yes. "
" So you've been going out for two months now, without me and Harry knowing, and you got tired of Hermione, so you used Pansy's help to finish it? " Ron asked accusingly.
Draco's eyes glared. " I did not use Pansy- unlike someone else here! I loved Hermione; it was real enough for me- why would I hurt someone who means so much to me? I spent the last two months trying to change for her, I've been smiling and laughing more than ever in the last tow months because of her, and you tell me I'd hurt her on purpose! "
Ron and Harry looked at him quietly, as if assessing the truth in what he had said.
And then, out of the blue, Harry sighed and slapped his forehead. " Take care of her, " he finally said and slowly.
Ron eyed Harry with wide eyes. " What? You're just going to- "
Draco nodded. " I will, you have my word. "
" It better be good, " Harry said with a low tone. " Or else. "
" It already is, " Draco stepped forward and did the unthinkable.
He shook Harry's hand.
A/N: well? hey, can i ask a favor from you guys? i'll be uploading another story soon (harry potter related again!), and i was wondering if you guys would be willing to read it? ehehe enough of that! review?