A/N: It has come to our attention that you, dear readers, have been given nothing of what we described in our summary. So here we have the chapter to finally break into that world completely, not just give hints of it. At last it is time for intrigue, lust, betrayal, jealousy and curiosity…

-CHAPTER TEN-

Corn

Harry woke up on Sunday morning to find the dormitory blazing with winter sunlight and his arm re-boned but very stiff. Seeing that he was awake, Madame Pomfrey came bustling over with a breakfast tray and then began bending and stretching his arm and fingers.

"All in order," she said, as he clumsily fed himself porridge left-handed.

"When you've finished eating, you may leave."

Harry dressed as quickly as he could and hurried off to Gryffindor tower, desperate to tell Ron and Hermione about Dobby, but they weren't there. Harry left to look for them, wondering where they could have got to and feeling slightly hurt that they weren't interested in whether his bones were back or not.

As Harry passed the library, Draco Malfoy walked out, he looked like he'd recovered from the match. Harry looked up and down the corridor- they were alone.

Draco turned and caught sight of him, he also looked around, the air around them softened when he saw no one else was around.

"Hi Harry," he said beckoning from the library's entrance.

Harry walked over and frowned.

"What?" he asked, still pissed that Ron and Hermione hadn't been there to see him.

"Woah, someone's in a bad mood," said Draco laughing.

"Listen Malfoy, I'm having a shit enough day as it is, let alone having to deal with you having one of your mood swings." Harry wished he hadn't said it when he saw Draco's face.

"But it's- it's not like that, Harry," Draco said desperately.

"Oh yeah? One minute you're being nice to me, and the next you're telling me to fuck off! What am I s'posed to think?"

Draco stared in shock; he opened his mouth but stopped when he heard footsteps behind him. He came closer to Harry and whispered in a hurried voice, "Listen, I can't tell you now-"

Harry sighed dramatically- "I know, I know, but I – I will, just um, meet me tonight near the lake 8 o'clock. Please come Harry," he added seeing Harry's look of annoyance, "It's not a trick this time, I promise, just come."

"Harry!" Ron's voice rang out from down the corridor.

"Ah, yeah," said Draco loudly, "You remember that next time, Potter!" his eyes flashed at the sight of Ron, "See ya," he whispered and was gone.

"What the fuck did he want?" demanded Ron. Ron's attitude towards Malfoy was really starting to piss Harry off.

"Well?" said Ron, his eyes glowing with annoyance.

"Oh, I dunno, just being a dickhead as usual, I guess," answered Harry.

"Oh, well that's good to hear. C'mon we're in the toilets with the potion."

The three of them had come up with the idea of making Polyjuice Potion months ago so that they could change into Slytherins and interrogate Malfoy, who was number one on Ron and Hermione's list of whom the heir of Slytherin could be. (A/N: had to be mentioned somewhere)

Ron reached for Harry's hand but Harry pulled it away. Why does he always have to touch me? he thought.

Ron looked into Harry's eyes frowning.

"Ah…my- my sore arm, Ron."

"Oh yeah, sorry," but Ron didn't sound convinced. Harry followed him to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, wondering about Draco and his proposal for tonight. He decided he was going to go.

They arrived at Moaning Myrtle's bathroom two minutes later. Ron opened the door and they entered. The usually peaceful silence however had been disturbed.

There was a pile of robes and clothes in the middle of the floor. Both boys looked at each other. What the fuck was going on? One of the cubicles was shut and strange groaning noises were coming through the solid wood. There were faint soft whispers and giggles, mixed in with heavy breathing and groaning.

Both boys looked at each other completely shocked. Who or what was in there? Whoever it was, they had not heard them come in. The two shocked boys started to quietly edge towards the exit, deciding that whatever was going on in there they weren't supposed to be involved. They were almost at the door when a female voice screamed out, "Oh Ginny!" in a very seductive way.

Ron's face turned instantly red.

"Ginny, is that you?" he screamed out. Gasps came from the cubicle as Ron rammed down the door in a fit of rage.

The door fell to the side to reveal Hermione and Ginny both completely naked and clutching each other in fear.

Both girls' hair was tousled and Hermione was wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

Ron and Harry both just stared with their mouths open, too stunned to speak. It wasn't until Ginny spoke that the awkward silence was broken.

"We…we can explain! It's not how it looks!" she squeaked desperately. Ron's face was going scarlet with rage. Harry was turning pale with shock. Hermione was trying to cover herself up with her hands, she was clearly uncomfortable.

"What the FUCKING HELL is going on here? Ron screamed angrily, veins in his neck popping out with rage.

"Well, what do you expect?" Hermione said tearfully, "With you two getting it off every time you're alone, who am I left with? What was I supposed to do?" she cried into her hands.

"It's not like you can control me Ron! I can make my own decisions! You can hardly talk! Kissing boys! Wait until mum hears about that! Honestly the world does not revolve around you!" Ginny lost it. She pushed past Ron angrily and started putting her clothes back on. Hermione remained in the cubicle still crying into her hands.

"Oh that's just great, isn't it? The whole fucking school knows I'm gay! And now by tomorrow everyone will know my sister's a…a LESBIAN!" Ron said the word with utter disgust.

He then turned on Hermione and spat, "And you… you're supposed to be my friend! How could you have fucking lesbian sex with my sister? I thought you were better than that!"

Hermione let out a hysterical sob, got up fetched her clothes from the floor, hastily put them on and ran out crying.

Ginny took one last glare at Ron before muttering something about homework and slamming the door behind her.

Ron screamed in a fit of rage and kicked at the cubicle door, cleanly cutting it in half.

"FUCKING HELL! MY LIFE CAN'T GET ANY WORSE AT THE MOMENT! HONESTLY!" he yelled before exiting the toilets and running off.

Harry was standing in the middle of the floor, once again in the peaceful silence, still trying to take in what had just happened.

------

Back in the dormitory, Harry lay on his four-poster, Ron hadn't returned. No one had seen him for over two hours.

Harry sat up and looked out the window, he saw the glistening lake, his heart leapt- the meeting with Malfoy, he had almost forgotten. He checked his watch, it was 6.58pm. He picked up a piece of parchment and scrawled:

LAKE: 8 O'CLOCK

He stuck it to his bedpost so he couldn't miss it and forget again. He got up from the bed and checked his watch again: 7.01pm. "Damn," he muttered. He left the dormitory and walked down the stairs, he scanned the common room- no sign of Ron.

"H…Harry," came a quiet voice from the couch. There, red cheeked and puffy eyed, was Hermione sitting under a rug, her legs propped up underneath her.

Harry walked over and sat down next to her.

"Hi," he said tentatively, "How are you holding up?"

She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears, "Do you hate me for it Harry?"

"No," he said, "I understand. Do whatever you want Hermione; don't let us hold you back, especially Ron. I'm sure he didn't mean to get that mad, you know how he over reacts. Don't worry Hermione, I'm here for you."

Hermione smiled, tears falling down onto her cheeks, "Thanks Harry, that means a lot to me."

A cry of corn filled the air, "CORN!" Something warm smashed into Harry's face. He looked down, a cob of corn was nestled in his lap. He glanced around and caught Fred's eye, who winked.

"OI FUCK OFF, FRED!"

Harry heard Fred laugh in the background as he and Hermione stared into the fire.

The flames sent warmth over his body and he was disappointed when he next checked his watch and saw it was five to eight. He rose from the couch and tore himself away from the warmth.

Outside, the chill air nipped at his skin. As he neared the lake he could see a figure sitting, waiting on the bench on the bank.

Harry walked around to the front of it and sat down next to Draco.

"I'm glad you came," said Malfoy, "I've been wanting to explain this for a while." His grey eyes were twinkling in the moonlight as he looked into the depths of the lake. He sighed, not knowing where to start.

"Why is it that whenever people are near us you become such a dickhead?" prompted Harry.

Draco laughed, "Dickhead? Thanks. I…I can't let anyone see me liking you, Harry. I'm a Malfoy, if- if father ever heard word, from- from anyone he would kill me. So I'm sorry but I just-"

"It's okay," said Harry, he felt he had a similar problem between him and Ron.

"But the things I say, you know I don't mean them?"

Harry nodded slowly, "What about the other things you say…?" He swore he saw Draco's cheeks tint slightly in the moonlight.

"Do you mean them?" Harry asked softly. Malfoy didn't answer. He stared straight ahead. Harry hesitantly put his hand on Draco's leg, he felt the muscles tighten inside, but then slowly relax.

The night was so peaceful. Harry could hear Draco's hushed breathing, his own and…was that a third…

He shook his head and turned back to Malfoy.

"Draco?"

"Yes," his voice was faint and delicate.

"Yes- those things are true?" quivered Harry.

Silence once again. Harry cursed in his head but then- "…Yes."

Harry's heart began to beat faster, a wonderful feeling seeping through his body. He didn't know what to do next. Except- no he couldn't, could he?

But Malfoy did it for him…

They pulled apart from the heated kiss, breathing heavily.

"Ah…ah…I…um," faltered Draco, looking down at his feet. "I'm- I'm sorry Harry. Don't worry, it'll never happen again." He looked up and saw Harry, his eyes alive, mouth grinning broadly. Malfoy looked relieved and ran his fingers through his silky blonde hair. "Well then," he said, a naughty look dancing in his eyes, he flashed his teeth, "perhaps it will happen again."

Too right, thought Harry. He stared out over the shimmering lake. The air around them was freezing; a violent shiver ran through his body. Draco looked at him and smiled, removing his coat and wrapping it around Harry's shoulders. After a while Harry felt Draco begin to shiver. He watched as Malfoy bit his lip and pretended he wasn't cold. Harry smiled to himself, he pulled off the coat. Malfoy smiled graciously, Harry looked at his watch. It was 9.30pm. "Shit, we better get back to the castle…"

As they strolled back up the slope, Harry took Malfoy's hand. They reached the staircase up to the Gryffindor common room and Harry thought he felt someone brush past him- there was no one there.

"Until we meet again," winked Malfoy. He let go of Harry's hand and walked away, then stopped and turned, "Oh and Harry, when we're around people-"

"Yeah I know," finished Harry, "You're gunna be a dickhead again. Don't worry I'm fine with it."

They both laughed and Draco waved and walked off.

Harry quietly opened the dormitory door and looked in- it was empty. He entered the room and began undressing. A small cough sounded from Ron's bed. Harry's invisibility cloak lay on the floor at Ron's feet. His face was white; he had never looked angrier in his life.

"Hi Harry, so where have you been? I was starting to get worried," Ron said in a sweet tone.

"Oh…I um…" Harry stuttered.

"You've been out kissing boys again, how awfully sweet," Ron continued pleasantly.

"I don't know what you're talking about…" Harry calmly denied. He knew he was in deep shit.

"Don't deny it Harry, I saw it all…" Ron's voice lowered dangerously.

"I…he…it was a trap!" yelled Harry trying to think of any excuse he could find.

"No Harry, you wanted it this way. You love him, don't you Harry? Admit it." Ron sat on his bed trying to breathe calmly but failing. He put his head in his hands and began to yell at the top of his lungs.

"YOU NEVER LOVED ME HARRY! IT WAS JUST A HUGE LIE! YOU'VE LIKED MALFOY FROM THE START! I SOMETIMES THINK I'D BE BETTER OFF DEAD. I HAVE NO ONE NOW! I'M SO ALONE! I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT! YOU CAN GET ON WITH YOUR PERFECT LIFE AND I'LL GO AND END MINE!" Ron completely lost it.

"But…no Ron, don't, I didn't mean to…but I do love…" Harry was struggling to hold back the tears.

All of a sudden the door opened, Fred poked his head in.

"OI CORN!" he went to throw a corn at them then stopped when he saw Ron was bawling his eyes out.

"Oh sorry boys, not a good time I see, I'll come back later." He made the thumbs up gesture and winked before closing the door behind him. Harry heard him shout out, "Oi George! Don't bring up the rest; bit of a domestic going on up there, we'll pay McGonagall a little visit instead." Then the sound of Fred's footsteps on the stairway grew fainter.

"YOU'RE THE BIGGEST FUCKING BASTARD! ALL I EVER AM IS NICE TO YOU! YOU LED ME ON! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU OF ALL PEOPLE HAVE CHEATED ON ME WITH THAT SCUM MALFOY! HE'S SUCH A LITTLE POOF!" Ron continued to scream as though nothing had ever interrupted them. The last comment about Malfoy tipped Harry over the edge. He'd had enough of Ron's abuse; it was time to tell Ron how he really felt.

"No Ron, I NEVER FUCKING LIKED YOU! YOU WERE THE ONE THAT FORCED ME INTO IT! IF YOU THINK BACK I NEVER SAID I LOVED YOU AND YOU ALWAYS MADE THE FIRST MOVE! I WANTED TO TELL YOU BUT I KNEW YOU WOULD REACT LIKE THIS! I'VE HAD ENOUGH! LAY OFF MALFOY! HE'S GOT HIS OWN PROBLEMS TO WORRY ABOUT NOW! I DON'T EVER WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN! IF YOU WANT TO KILL YOURSELF, GO AHEAD IT'S YOUR CHOICE!" Harry turned his back on Ron and began to frantically search through his trunk for his pyjamas.

"FINE! IF THAT'S THE WAY IT HAS TO BE! SEE YOU IN HELL HARRY!" Ron stormed out of the room. Harry didn't see him again that night.

------

"I'm so happy for you Harry," said Hermione beaming, "I always knew there was something up with Malfoy. He always acted so odd around you. Too bad about Ron though…"

They both stared blankly into space. It was the next morning. The first snow of the season had begun to fall, so everyone was outside. Harry and Hermione were sitting on the same couch as last night in front of the fire in the common room. They had the whole room to themselves. The sound of the portrait swinging open and footsteps on the carpet told them some one was coming, They both turned and waited for someone to come through the entrance. The footsteps stopped and there, his hair messed and his shirt half tucked in, was Ron.

"Hi," he said, his voice hoarse. Both Hermione and Harry stared not knowing what to say.

"Can I sit down?" Ron asked, "I've got something I need to explain."

Hermione nodded, Harry stared blankly.

Ron took an armchair next to their couch and cleared his throat, "Recent events have caused me to stop and think about my life and actions, and how those actions affect those close to me," he looked Harry and Hermione in the eyes individually.

"I admit that those actions might have gone a bit too far at times-" Harry snorted, Hermione elbowed him.

"And I apologise. Harry, I'm- I'm really sorry, I had no idea you felt that way, I – I was just getting too carried away with it all, and Hermione, you-" he stopped closed his eyes tight as though struggling to say whatever came next. "-You can do what ever you want with your life, even (sigh) even if that means (sigh) lesbian screwing my sister, - but that's not the point, the point is that you guys are my best friends and you deserve what's best for you. So please, can you forgive me? Can we go back to being just friends again?"

"Of course!" cried Hermione, running over and throwing her arms around Ron's neck.

"W- what about you, Harry?" asked Ron.

Harry sat staring, his face grave, "You called Malfoy a 'little poof'," he said calmly.

"Harry…" said Hermione, shooting a glare of warning at him.

He laughed, "I'm just kidding!'

"ABOUT TIME!" came a voice from behind the drapes. They all spun around. George appeared holding a basket of corn. "CORN ANYONE?"

Harry felt something warm hit his face, for the second day in a row a cob of corn was nestled in his lap. From behind the couch Fred laughed, "WOO!"