Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. This would be more brilliantly written if this was JK Rowling's work.

A/N: Sorry for making you guys wait so long for an update... And, I don't think this chapter ismy bestbecause I was in a weird writer's funk when I wrote it, but I think it's worthy enough to be put on here.

Chapter 5: Decaying Rose

Harry felt like an absolute idiot. As of now, he was standing in front of the Charms classroom holding a single white rose. He was here ditching Herbology, and he hoped Draco appreciated it. Of course, he knew Hermione's probably right that underneath everything, Draco was a romantic. Well, maybe he wasn't, but she did say that people like to be swept off their feet, and why should Draco be any different? Hermione actually let him skip class to do this.

Students started filing out of the classroom, and eyed him and his white rose curiously as they passed him. Heat rose in Harry's cheeks as he thought how embarrassing it would be if Draco rejected him after this effort. So what if it wasn't a huge effort? It's still humiliating! He's risking his reputation as a straight guy. That has to mean something to Draco… Right?

When Draco came out and saw Harry, there was some strange look in his eye, like he was going to jump on Harry and strangle him, but like all Malfoys, he remained cool and collected, and just walked away.

"Draco… Wait," Harry said, causing some people to turn around, wondering what was going on. How often do you hear the Boy Wonder call his arch-nemesis by his first name?

Draco slowly turned around to face him. "The rose is for you," he said, his voice barely audible.

As slow as you please, Draco walked up to him. "I don't swing that way, Potter," he whispered loud enough for everyone to hear as he took the rose, dropped it to the floor, and stomped on it. With another glare at Harry, he walked away.

People kept looking from Draco, who was quickly disappearing down the hallway, to Harry. Finally, Seamus came up to Harry, and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I didn't know you fancied us guys, Harry," he said. "But, if you want a good time…" Seamus winked and left the rest up to Harry's imagination.

Harry ignored him and rested his back against the stone wall behind him, and slumped to the floor. He hated how everyone was still milling about, watching him as if he was an insect inside a glass jar that was performing a disgusting circus trick.

"I can't believe he's gay," he heard someone whisper as they passed him.

"So, I now have no fecking chance with him? Great… Wait till mum hears about this."

And, then it hit him. Ron was going to find out. Not from him, but from someone else. Oh, Gods, he'll be mad.

His stomach burned with the upcoming dread, and the horror that has already happened. Draco rejected him, stomped on his rose, and walked away. Oh, Gods, Hogwarts was going to be hell for the next few weeks. Everyone would know his sexuality come tomorrow. Everyone would know who he's pining for. But what makes it worse is that he couldn't be with Draco through all of this because it would make him seem all that much better if everyone knew he got who he wanted. Except… Everyone knows he didn't get who he wanted. Harry was all alone.

"Harry?" someone asked. Harry's mind registered the speaker as Hermione. "Harry, are you okay?"

He slowly raised his eyes to meet hers, and thankfully noticed Ron wasn't with her. "He stomped on my rose," he said solemnly as he picked it up. The rose was in horrible shape. Leaves had fallen off, the petals were crushed, and decay was edging around the corners. "Look at my rose."

Hermione sat beside him and placed an arm around his shoulders. "You can still get him, Harry."

"And humiliate myself again? I don't think so. He doesn't want me." Harry laid his head on Hermione's shoulders, willing himself not to cry. "Everyone's disgusted at me."

"They don't matter, Harry. They're not the ones trying to win Draco back. You are," she said gently.

"How can I win him back, Hermione! You didn't see the way he looked at me today! He looked like he wanted to place his hands around my throat and choke me. He wanted to choke me…" Harry bit his lip. "How can he hate me? Everything was his fault, anyway…"

"I don't think he knows how to show his feelings, Harry. I think, before, he liked you, but he didn't know how to say how he felt. Everything was physical because he didn't know how to talk to you. Wasn't used to someone who's not Pansy or Blaise caring. You've got to pick up the pieces because he doesn't know how."

"Then, why did he look like he wanted to choke me?"

"Because… I don't know… I suppose he's just angry. Give it some time. Next time, we'll think of something bigger. The more you put yourself out there, the more he'll appreciate it, I think."

"Why should I put myself out there? To risk embarrassment, again?"

"People like to be chased. It makes them feel special. I see no reason why Malfoy's different."

Harry remained silent for awhile, letting his mind run over her words. Did he really want to put himself out there? To let Draco ridicule him in front of the whole school? Did he really? Could Harry live with himself if he didn't even try to get Draco back? Honestly, everyone knew Harry wanted Draco. It couldn't get much worse than this, so he might as well give it all he's got. Otherwise, today would've been pointless.

"What should I do next?" he asked.

"I'm thinking fireworks," she said mischievously. "But for now, I think you need to talk to Ron."

"Yeah, but what about the fireworks?" Harry asked, letting his natural curiously shine through. "What do you mean by them?"

"I'll tell you soon enough, but you have to talk to Ron first."

"But, Mione!"

"He's in the Room of Requirement. I told him I'd send you down once I was done with you, and I am. Now go!"

"Fine," Harry mumbled as he allowed Hermione to push him in the direction of his favorite room.

When Harry reached it, he thought about turning back. He didn't have to talk to Ron tonight, did he? What kept him from turning back, however, was the idea that Hermione wouldn't help him anymore unless he turned that silver doorknob and went inside.

"Ron?" he asked cautiously as he stepped inside the dark room. He had no idea what to expect from him. Every time they saw a homosexual couple hand in hand, or doing something else, Ron would joke about them, but Harry couldn't tell whether or not it was because he didn't like the idea of two people of the same gender together, or if he just liked to make fun of homosexuals. If Ron was really here, then Harry would find out where he stood on the homosexual issue tonight, whether Harry wanted to or not.

"Hi, Harry," said Ron as he came out of the shadows and into the dim lighting of the moon shining through the windows. On any other night, Harry would've marveled at his ability to be unnoticed until then, but he was too nervous to think about it. "How you doing, mate?"

"I'm… I'll be okay," he answered, not bothering to give a more truthful explanation since they weren't here to talk about Harry's feelings. In fact, Harry wasn't sure what they were about to talk about.

"I'm glad you're okay… Despite everything… Why didn't you tell me what was going on? I thought I was your best mate." To Harry's dismay, he could hear the hurt in Ron's voice, and it made his stomach churn in guilt.

"You are… I just thought you wouldn't like me anymore if I told you all of this. You were never really gay-friendly."

"Those were just jokes, Harry! I never meant any of it! Honestly, I didn't! I didn't even know you were gay. I wouldn't have made the jokes if I knew."

The two stared at each other awkwardly for a moment before Ron continued. "Look, how about we talk about this tomorrow? I don't think you're up for it now, considering what's happened…"

"You're not grossed out?"

"It's a little… dodgy, I guess. I just need to get used to it, is all."

"So… Everything's okay?"

"We'll talk about you keeping secrets from me another day. Right now, I think you need to take your mind off things."

"Thanks, Ron," he said before he embraced the redhead in a hug. Soon, well, very soon, the two pulled out. "Sorry about that, mate," Harry said, scratching his head, and looking at an interesting corner in the room.

"Uh… Yeah… So, Hermione said something about fireworks?" Interesting way to change the topic, Harry noted.

"Yeah, she did," Harry replied as the two guys walked out of the room, talking more animatedly than they have before in the last few weeks as they made their way towards the Gryffindor Tower.

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