Disclaimer: I am but a very poor, very nerdy fan of the Harry Potter series, and in my attempt to worship it, I have written a fanfic. I can only pray that I do not get sued by JK Rowling and others, else I become poorer and perhaps even nerdier.

What I'm trying to say is, I own nothing. Don't sue. Thanks! :]

Notes?: Uh, well, thanks for reading I guess. :] I appreciate it a lot and I hope you like it.

Chapter 2

Harry awoke to Ron's "Oi! It's morning, you lazy lump. Coming to breakfast?" Harry groaned at Ron's incredibly wolfish smile, and Harry said, "Every day, you're looking more and more like Lupin, you know that?"

"Yeah, well, Hermione should be done being mad at me for that Fleur outburst by now." said Ron, turning slightly red. That summer, on the day of Bill and Fleur's wedding, Ron had said in his congratulations speech something that went like "I don't know how Bill could get with the prettiest girl in the room." Fleur had nodded knowingly, Bill had blushed brightly, and the rest of the brothers had laughed heartily.

Hermione, on the other hand, grew silent and glared at Ron, who noticed nothing, toasted to the couple, and stepped down. It had been a month since Hermione had last talked to him, and every morning Ron's hopeful cheers were shot down by a furious Hermione.

"You go on ahead." said Harry, rolling out of bed, sick of nursing Ron's hurt feelings every morning when Hermione refused to speak to him. "I'm going to wash up first." Ron nodded and practically skipped out of the room, which caused Dean and Seamus to snicker.

"Yeah, well, that's what happens when you're whipped," said Harry to the two, who were now roaring with laughter at a joke they had made.

After taking a warm shower, Harry strolled out of the portrait and headed for the Great Hall. As he walked past the Slytherin table, he dared a glance at Draco who was eating his bacon half-heartedly and looking terrorized by an enthusiastic Pansy Parkinson.

"Draco!" he heard Pansy squeal. "Draco, you can't skip Hogsmeade! Remember when you promised to take me to Madam Puddifoot's? Draco!"

Harry had forgotten there was Hogsmeade today, and he swore under his breath when he realized that he couldn't go. Harry was determined to stick to the promise he made with Dumbledore to not wander around and leaving the Hogwarts castle would be a bad idea, especially with Voldemort rising to the height of his power.

When Harry reached the table, he noticed that Hermione had finally consented in talking to Ron again, who beamed at Harry when he sat down.

"Told you." Ron whispered.

Harry just shrugged and was about to say something when Hermione, who had heard nothing, interrupted.

"Harry, are you going to Hogsmeade today?" asked Hermione.

"Uhm, no, I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't be wandering around." Harry replied.

Hermione looked slightly uncomfortable at the mention of their last headmaster's name and said consolingly, "Well, would you like Ron and I to stay?" Ron, whose mouth was open to argue, quickly shut it at the menacing glance Hermione had shot him.

"Yeah..." Ron said feebly, looking slightly abashed. "We could... keep you company." Harry looked at Ron with an amused expression, and told the pair, "No, you guys go. Just because I made a promise doesn't mean you guys did. I don't want to spoil your fun."

"Are you sure? I don't want to leave you here." said Ron, who looked positively thrilled he had a chance to go to Hogsmeade with just Hermione.

"Yeah, you guys go and have fun. Just bring me back some Chocolate Frogs." Harry said with a grin.

"Great!" Ron exclaimed, raising from his seat. "C'mon Hermione. Let's go!" Grabbing hold of her wrist, Ron yanked Hermione, who looked scandalized, off of her seat and began dragging her to the exit.

"Bye Harry! We'll be back in a bit!" Hermione said, waving sheepishly. Ron nodded, not looking back, and they were soon out of sight.

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, took a bite out of a large piece of toast, and reflected on what happened yesterday night.

You know, Draco looked amazing yesterday. thought Harry. His hair was so perfect. If I could just run my fingers through them... Harry stopped himself from finishing the thought, and shivered. Him being turned on by Malfoy? That was one step too ridiculous. Harry rose from his seat and noticed that no one but the first and second years were still in the Great Hall.

Where had Malfoy gone to? NO! No more thoughts about Malfoy! Harry quickly tried to distract himself by wondering how his best friends were faring in the already cold weather outside. He felt a stab of envy and wished he too could have gone to Hogsmeade, which reminded him. Why was Draco staying?

"Why was I what, Potter?" Harry snapped out of his deliberations and realized that he had exited the Great Hall and was speaking to himself when he came across Draco.

"Oh, uhm, nothing." said Harry distractedly, feeling incredibly embarrassed. He eyed Draco curiously. He was wearing Muggle clothes, a silver polo with a green cashmere on top and khaki pants, which outlined his lithe figure.

Draco's blonde eyebrow quirked upward, and he said quietly, "If you were wondering why I'm not going to Hogsmeade, its so I don't have to be dragged around by Pansy all day."

Harry, whose eyes were glued to his feet, shot upward, and before he could stop himself, blurted out, "How come? I thought you two liked each other."

Draco's mouth formed a familiar sneer and said, "I thought I told you yesterday night Potter, mind your own business." He paused, his sneer disappearing to be replaced by a frown. "Wait a minute. Something is wrong with this picture. Where are your sidekicks?"

Harry, who expected himself to bristle and defend his friends, just shrugged and said, "I didn't want to feel like a third wheel, and anyways, I made a promise to someone." Draco shrugged, and said, "Alrighty then. See ya." He began to stalk off when Harry called out "Wait!", which startled both of them.

Draco stopped in his tracks and without turning, said, "What?"

"Erm, well, uh..." Harry realized what a horrible idea this was, when a stroke of inspiration hit him. "Well, I've got nothing to do. Want to go play some Quidditch?" he asked eagerly to a skeptical Draco.

"Well..." Draco sounded doubtful and contemplated. Seconds that felt like hours ticked by and Harry began to sorely regret his offer. This is uncomfortable he thought to himself. What the hell was I thinking, inviting Draco to play with me? We hate each other!

"Sure." Draco said, finally deciding.

"Oh, I get it, I can't force you if you don't want to." Harry replied, a bit crestfallen.

"But I do...?" Draco answered, obviously confused.

"No, no need to apologize, what in seventh year with all this homework-- wait a second. What?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Well, I had agreed to some Quidditch, but its feeling a lot like a cruel joke now."

"Y-yes, I mean, no, no!" Harry stuttered. "Sorry." he finished lamely. "I would really like to play Quidditch with you."

"Okay, then. Just give me an hour to finish an essay I owe Flitwick." Draco let a small smile slip. "See you down at the fields."

"Yeah, see you." Harry watched Draco leave, feeling like an idiot, but elated nonetheless. Was this a date then? Harry asked himself as he walked back to the common room, feeling a blush creep into his cheeks. NO! said his conscience who was, apparently, not over Dumbledore's death. This is just something to defeat the incredible boredom you're bound to feel with your friends gone. Harry agreed with himself, reminding him that even if it was a date, Draco didn't see it like that anyways.

Good.

Perfect.

Cause that's how he wanted it.

....

"Shit!" Harry shouted, causing two Hufflepuff first years to jump and scurry away, frightened.

Harry was not attracted to Malfoy and that is the end of that!