A/N
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! It means a lot, honestly! And a BIG thanks to CaramelAriana who has been a wonderful Beta-reader! It's always nice to receive fresh eyes.
Happy reading!
"I'm in love with a Mudblood."
Chapter Five: "Hermmmner"
Harry kept to his word, and spent his time away from the Trio's extra study partner in the Owlery overlooking Malfoy's journal.
The Boy-Who-Lived had discovered a number of different things about the blond, and if he was completely honest, he felt bad for putting the Slytherin under so much stress by keeping the diary, but his curiosity was far too great for him to just hand the book back – besides, he only had a few more pages of the snake's secrets left to read!
The biggest thing which bothered Harry the most was that he LIKED the Malfoy he read about; how open and sincere he was – sure, the dark haired teen had come across very colourful insults about himself and his friends, but he didn't see it as so bad after discovering so much of his rival.
I can't go on with this charade much longer – it kills me to reject Pansy every time without giving her much more than "I'm just not interested" – she's a good friend, and she deserves to know more – maybe I could just tell her that I know someone else fancies her and that's why I won't accept her as a partner – it's not exactly lying seeing as Blaise has FINALLY said that he has a "thing" for her… also I'm beginning to think that Gregory isn't as dumb as we all think he is – last night he asked me why I've never had a girlfriend – I told him it's because all the witches here aren't good enough for me and that I'm waiting out for a ten to produce my heir. Thankfully he believed me, but I might have to be wary of him, I know that he'll never be cruel about it because of all the secrets I've kept for him, but I can't risk him foolishly letting this slip out.
Harry frowned – what exactly was Malfoy hiding from everyone? By what was written, he had come to terms with this secret, but wasn't yet comfortable with it being outed – but it involved girls so it can't be THAT bad…
I completed my experiments and as I expected, they've opened a flood cage (or whatever the Muggle term is – Blaise said it and I still don't understand how a cage can hold water – stupid Muggles).
The silver ferret wasn't a practical joke being played on me – though I still feel as if it is considering it's a Patronus, but not only that – it's MY Patronus. How humiliating is that? I don't think I could admit it out loud to anyone, I could barely admit it in handwriting!
However this isn't the worst of it – what allows me to conjure the Patronus – my "happiest" of thoughts is something I'm even more afraid to admit... it involves that annoying Gryffindor!
Harry's heart pounded heavily in his chest.
And of course with this realisation my fears have come to light – the truth of all this. Maybe I should talk to someone about it – it is kind of a big deal after all… but there isn't anyone I could really trust with this information – all of my friends would most likely humiliate me to no end.
Who would keep this completely confidential?
I have to make this quick; Pansy is being distracting and trying to read over my shoulder again – but the thing is though – I'm not all that surprised – I've always been (for lack of a better word) obsessed with the lion. It's just instead of wanting to hex the pants off the insufferable git for humiliation – I want to do it for my own personal entertainment.
But it's not just that – I want to stroke those dark locks, touch every inch of tanned skin, and kiss any smart ass comments from those lips until the idiot is left dazed!
And I'd love to just charge right up to the nose-browning Gryffindor and do all those things! But it wouldn't be very clever of me – let alone that I admit to everyone that I think I might be in love with Hermmmner – no, I'm in love with a Mudblood.
Harry hadn't realised he was holding his breath until he dropped the journal, shaking from lack of oxygen. He stared at the last sentence "Her-scribble-er"… "Mudblood"… Malfoy was in love with Hermione.
Harry took a shaky breath through his nose, which sounded oddly like a sniff – Malfoy and Hermione – the Boy-Who-Lived closed his sweaty fingers around the journal to read the last sentence again – Malfoy loved Hermione. Harry turned the page over, and the next, and the one after until he flipped the pages right to the end, but there was nothing more to read.
Harry threw the diary at an unsuspecting owl, which screeched angrily at the abuse. The famous boy struggled to retrieve his wand from inside his robes and tripped over a bucket of feed before finally standing over the journal, wand raised.
'Incend –'
'Harry, there you are mate, I've been… what are you doing?' Ron looked from Harry to the book and the abused owl from earlier took off, leaving a nice white splodge on the cover.
Harry picked up the diary and brandished it – bird poop and all – at his best friend, opened his mouth, looked torn between something then shoved it under his arm. '… nothing – don't worry 'bout it.'
'Is that Malfoy's diary?' Ron smirked. 'You were supposed to return it – what did you find?' The youngest Weasley boy turned over the bucket of feed and sat.
'It's nothing.'
'You're all worked up, mate,' the boy said, folding his arms. 'Come on – tell me.'
Harry scowled and flipped open the journal to the last entry and pointed. 'Malfoy's in love with Hermione!'
'What?' Ron matched the Chosen One's expression and grabbed the diary, forgetting all about his theory on Pixie Pox. "… I think I might be in love with…" Ron squinted and turned the book this way and that. 'Are you sure that's Hermione's name?'
'Of course it is!' Harry pressed his finger so hard against the page it turned white. 'H, e, r – '
'That doesn't look like an E, mate…' Ron pulled the page closer.
'Of course it is! And "Mudblood", Malfoy only calls Hermione that!' Harry folds his arms and glared.
'Yeah… this is true… well, brilliant.' the youngest Weasley boy sat back and smirked at the book.
'Bril – have you gone mental?' He snatched the journal. 'How is this in any way brilliant?'
'Well,' Ron's smirk widened in a way that would make his twin brothers proud, 'it's the perfect opportunity for humiliation! I left Hermione with the ferret in the library just now! Come on.'
Harry followed Ron down the stone steps and towards the castle. He couldn't understand why he was so angry or why Ron was so happy about this, considering he very obviously had a crush on their female friend for years.
With a huff, the dark haired teen took the journal from his friend's hands and sped up to steal the lead to the library.
He shoved past students, knocking a second year to the floor before the pair finally made it to the back of shelves where Hermione stood over Malfoy, pointing out a mistake in his essay.
Ron opened his mouth, cheeks red with holding the same smirk, ready to declare his findings when Harry shoved him to the side, throwing the book on the table, tipping a bottle of ink.
Hermione frowned and Malfoy looked confused, he hesitantly looked down and his eyes bulged, 'Where did you get this?' the snake asked, saving his diary from being covered in ink.
'You're in love with Hermione!' Harry nearly screamed, and the library went silent.
Hermione blushed furiously, and tripped trying to escape everyone's stares and clasping a hand to her mouth dramatically.
'What?' Malfoy smirked at Harry. 'Obviously you can't read –' His face then dropped. 'Wait – you read my private thoughts?'
Hermione looked confused. 'Harry – you were supposed to return that!'
'Well, he obviously didn't,' hissed the blond, and stepped right under Harry's nose. 'I'll make sure you'll be expelled for stealing my property, Potter.' He turned to collect his things and made to leave, but stopped near the centre of the room, nose in the air. 'Better start packing your things.' And he left.
Pansy and Blaise near the back of the room burst out laughing and everyone stared.
'Draco – in love with her!' screeched Pansy, clutching her side and wiping imaginary tears from her eyes. Even Crabbe and Goyle were laughing as if they got a joke which no one else understood.
Hermione blushed furiously. 'Why not?' she demanded, clearly hurt.
'Oh honey,' the words dripped with sarcastic sympathy, 'he could never be in love with you.'
~DMHPDMHPDMHP~
'As amusing as you probably thought it was, I'm very disappointed in you, Harry.'
The boy legend stared at his sneakers and Malfoy smirked.
'As punishment, I'm taking 20 points from Gryffindor and you will spend every Sunday up until Christmas with Mr. Filch in detention.' The Headmaster shook his head. 'A diary is a very private thing, Harry –'
'- Journal,' corrected Malfoy, frowning and Dumbledore smiled.
'As you wish, Draco – I even have a journal, I find it very important to record my most precious and innocent of thoughts within it when I feel that there is no one else to turn to for fear of revealing too much or perhaps battle with future plans and ideas which I believe no one would agree too.' His eyes sparkled knowingly at Malfoy, who only frowned in confusion. 'Do you understand this, Harry?'
'Yes Professor,' Harry mumbled.
'Good, you may both go.' The blue eyed man waved the boys towards the door gently and they left without saying a word.
When both boys walked off the last step and the staircase revolved away, Pansy jumped from around the corner to grab Malfoy under the arm.
'Come on darling,' she cooed, 'I have to discuss something with you.' She sent a wink over at Harry before they left, leaving the Chosen One confused and alone.
A/N
Sadly, I think I might wrap this fic up pretty soon – I have a guideline of what I'd like to see in this and I'm running out of ideas – so unless there is anything in particular which you'd like to see happen next, I'm afraid the next chapter will probably be the last.
Mister Jackkkk. ^_^