Breakfast had come to a close and Harry, Draco, Hermione, Ron, and Blaise were stood just outside the Great hall engaged in a deep discussion.
"We are NOT going to get anywhere if you don't shut up Ron." Bellowed Hermione as she glared at Ron, who looked rather shocked.
"Well sorry. It's not my fault that I am having trouble putting behind god knows how many years of bad feelings towards Mal-sorry, I mean Draco." He spat at Hermione.
"Do not talk to me like that Ronald Weasley." She hissed. Ron looked at her apologetically, but he didn't actually have time to say sorry as Hermione was talking again. "Listen Draco. I understand that you want to help out but I honestly don't want you to get too worked up in trying to figure it out. Please just let me and Blaise sort it out." She pleaded. Blaise nodded in agreement while Draco just groaned.
"I have to do something. I can't just sit around and wait for you all to find a lead." He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.
"You will be doing something you idiot. You will be trying to get to know Harry. If we fail in finding out who did this, then there is always the back-up plan of you two falling in love. You still need to work on that in case we can't find out who did it." Said Blaise. "Now for goodness sake shut up and let me and Hermione go to the library to brain storm." He grabbed Hermione by the arm and marched off in the direction of the library. Hermione stopped quickly.
"Two seconds." She whispered to Blaise, who looked at her questionably. She turned around and ran up to Harry. She pulled him aside from the small group and whispered in his ear.
"Don't forget to find out about his relationship with his father Harry. I really don't want to worry." She pulled away from his ear and smiled. With a quick nod to Draco and Ron, she turned around and walked off to the library with Blaise.
Ron looked at Harry and Draco and noticed instantly the way they looked at each other. It was as if they were both constantly worrying about the other. He sighed heavily.
"Well I'm going to find Seamus. You guys should probably go and find somewhere to talk." Ron went to walk away when he stopped and looked over his shoulder. "And when I say talk, I defiantly mean talk." He glared at Draco and then carried on walking. Draco groaned and turned to face Harry.
"Well I guess I had better get to know my…my…husband." He almost spat out the last word. Harry rolled his eyes and started to walk. He was sure that Draco was going to pull his usually routine of, where are you going? But he didn't. He just followed him silently.
Harry made his way to the quidditch pitch and he and Draco sat in the Slytherin stands. Ready to sit and talk.
"Right, well I'm going to go first because I have an important question to ask." Announced Harry as he cut off Draco who was clearly about to speak. Draco nodded in agreement and let him carry on.
"Would you kill me?" Draco gasped and clutched onto his robes.
"Wha-what?" he stuttered.
"I hardly think that was a confusing question Draco. Now answer it. If you were asked to kill me, would you do it? Because let's face it Draco, that might happen." Draco's face was a picture. He looked somewhat shocked at Harry's question but also rather saddened.
"Shut up Harry. No I bloody well would not. How dare you even ask that? That will never happen because I will never join them. No matter what you think. And I don't mean to worry you Harry, but you know as much as I do, that you-know-who wants you for himself." Draco squirmed slightly. "Now shut up. I don't want to talk about that." He snapped as he looked around the quidditch pitch to avoid looking anywhere but at Harry. Harry just sighed.
"What will happen when they find out you don't want to join them?" Harry asked quietly. He cursed himself under his breath. This was not what Hermione meant. She meant to find out casually what might happen, without Draco knowing. Not just out right ask him. Of course it was something Draco did not want to talk about. That was obvious. Harry felt a pang on guilt as he looked at Draco's sorrow face. He had never really thought about how much pressure Draco must be under. Feeling like you have to agree with something you didn't must have been awful. The pressure to be something you are not. The pressure to make damn sure everyone at Hogwarts respected you, and damn the consequences, such as not having many friends, and people, much like Harry, thinking he was just plain evil. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that if you don't want to. I just would really like to know." Did Draco just give Harry a smile?
"It's ok Harry. I quite like that you have asked. It shows me that you are quite clearly out of your mind with worry about what is going to happen to your god damn sexy husband." Harry rolled his eyes. Trust Draco to make this into some sort of joke. "Listen, I will be fine."
"You had better be. I don't want to have to do my hero act, and have to rescue your bony arse. Talking of which, do you even eat?" he poked Draco's stomach, which was seriously just skin and bone.
"Yes, of course I eat. In fact, I eat an awful lot. No matter how much I eat my weight barley changes. And you are not one to talk. You are practically wasting away. Which is surprising considering you were probably doted on hand and foot where you lived. The famous Harry Potter and all." Draco sighed. Harry laughed.
"Don't be stupid Draco. I bloody well was not." He lifted up his t-shirt slightly and revealed his stomach. "Do I really look like I'm wasting away?" he asked as he worried about his own health. Draco stared at his stomach and then nodded. Harry sighed. "Yeah well, I was only ever really given the bare minimum of what I needed with my Aunt and Uncle."
"What do you mean?" asked Draco as he raised his eyebrow.
"Well, for god knows how many years, my bedroom consisted of a bed in the cupboard under the stairs. Dust falling onto my face every time Dudley stomped up and down the stairs deliberately to wake me up. I was given what left overs there were that Dudley didn't want. Including his god awful clothes. But other than that I was alright." Harry hadn't even noticed Draco's hands clenching at his sides and the growl that left Draco's mouth.
"They did WHAT?" shouted Draco at the top of his lungs. Harrys head snapped round to look at Draco's. Harry felt a slight pain in his chest, as he thought about Draco getting this angry over his mistreatment. He had to admit, he defiantly liked it. "Wait until I meet them Harry. I will show them who should be locked in a cupboard under the stairs. Who on earth do they think they are?" Harry let a smile appear on his face as he saw the anger rising and rising in Draco. "I will show that Dudley that he can't mess you around anymore. Mark my words. I will stomp on his head for every time he stomped up the stairs giving you a mouthful of disgusting dust." Harry's heart warmed immensely, despite the fact that horrible words were coming out of Draco's mouth. "And as for your Aunt and Uncle. How on earth did they get away with having you all that time and mistreating you? Had I have known I would have told you a few things you could say to them from me. Hell, I would even give you a few presents you could give them." Harry couldn't take it anymore.
"Draco." He laughed as he lunged himself at Draco and wrapped his arms around his neck holding him tight. "Calm down." He whispered. Draco's arms twisted their way around Harry's waist.
"I will NOT calm down Harry. How are you so calm? Does it not hurt you to think that they didn't even care, and treated you so badly?" Harry sighed into Draco's neck.
"Not really. It hurt at the time, but not anymore. I have more important people who care about me. Like Hermione and Ron." Harry pulled his arms away and Draco did the same. 'And Me.' thought Draco. "Well, I wasn't aware you cared for me but if you say so. Then yes. And you." Laughed Harry.
"Shit." Mumbled Draco under his breath as his checks became a nice crimson colour.
"I could have guessed you did by the fact you just got so angry at the thought of someone mistreating me Draco. Thank you for all you said, but I would hope that you wouldn't do all that."
"I bloody well will Harry. Honestly, not feeding you properly is just terrible. You were only a child." Harry could actually feel Draco's anger now. It was growing and growing inside Draco. Harry wasn't sure what he could say or do to calm him down. "Why didn't you tell anyone about it?" He asked as his fist clenched into balls again at his side. "You could have stayed with someone else. Granger or Weasley." Harry smiled and shook his head.
"Well I have told you now. And besides, it got better as time went on. I got my own room eventually. Only because Vernon was scared the wizarding world knew about my mistreatment. Although the room did come with a lock on…" he trailed off when he realised he didn't really want to add more fuel to Draco's burning angry fire. Explaining that he had a lock on the door that was frequently used would most probably set him off again. He decided then, not to mention the bars he used to have on his windows.
"They LOCKED you in your room?" He shouted. Harry sighed and rolled his eyes. From that moment on, Harry realised that he was going to have to stay well clear of this bloody subject in future. Draco clearly had some issues with people mistreating others in this way. "I bloody well wish you would have accepted my friendship. I would have looked out for you. As soon as I am of age and can use magic outside Hogwarts, the first on my to do list is them." Harry shuddered at the thought.
"Draco, this is very touching but please calm down. Right now," Harry sighed. "I think you are a bit of a bigger problem than them at the moment." Draco gasped.
"You think I'm worse than them? You think I would do something like that to you? I'm a bigger problem them then?" Draco stood up abruptly and went to walk away. Harry grabbed him by the arm and yanked him back down. Draco was fuming. How could he? He knew he was a bit of an arse to Harry but to think he was worse than…than…no! His heart sank, maybe he was. Maybe he was worse than them.
"Draco, shut up. No. that is not what I meant at all. I just meant this whole situation is a problem. Not you. I should have worded that better. Sorry." Draco's face softened and then he nodded. Thank Merlin. Draco felt relief poor through him.
Harry could feel the relief that Draco felt. He smiled slightly. "So what was your childhood like then? Better than mine? Were you spoiled rotten?" Laughed Harry. Draco looked suddenly quite ashamed. "Hey, it's ok if you were Draco. Don't be ashamed." Draco nodded.
"Yeah, my mother loves to spoil me, even now. She sends me sweets all the time." A thought suddenly presented its self in Draco's mind. "Hey, I could tell her to start sending me two lots of what she sends me now. Some for me and some for you." Draco's face went crimson again. He had never even offered one of his sweets to someone else before, let alone offer to ask for his mother to send some more for someone else. Draco knew he was in for it, he knew there was just no going back now. He knew that Harry was going to be part of his life until the day he dies, and that is just how he wanted it. "Merlin, if you tell anyone about how I speak to you and the things I say, I will dump you into the lake." Harry's heart once again warmed considerately despite the fact that Draco had actually just threatened him. To think he was the only one who got to see this Draco was quite nice. "It's so embarrassing how when I'm with you I just crumble and things come out of my mouth before I even know I have said them. Like ranting about your bloody past."
"Well I quite like it actually. Much better than the Draco I once knew." Harry smiled. Feeling himself go slightly weak, he placed his hand out and quickly grabbed Draco's hand. Once again the energy filled him and he let go. "Tell me about your childhood. I really want to hear it." Draco suddenly brightened up, as if he had 100 and 1 storied to tell Harry.
"I had a very good childhood actually. Obviously I was scared beyond belief of my father, but he was never really around much anyway. It was just usually me and my mother. My mother is the only person in this world who actually probably cares about me."
"Hey, hold on. I do. Do you not remember a few moments ago when I was worried about your safety?" Draco smiled and nodded. "Exactly, so rephrase that please." Pouted Harry.
"Fine, my mother is one of two people who care about me."
"Sorry to interrupt you again darling, but I know someone else who cares about you." He smiled at his own darling comment. He loved calling Draco his husband, his spouse, and calling him darling, it was just too funny.
"What? Who?" Draco asked confused, completely by passing the 'darling' comment.
"Hermione was pretty worried about you." Harry didn't miss the shock on Draco's face, and he certainly didn't miss Draco's face soften instantly.
"Tell me about your mother Draco." Harry positioned himself differently to get comfortable. Sitting in the stands was not the most comfortable place to be.
"She would never let anything happen to me. She always is telling me how I have to act on my own thoughts and not others. How I am quite entitled to believe in what I want to believe in and not what others believe in. All in all, that was her way of telling me that if I become and ghastly death eater that she would probably cry herself to sleep for years." Draco shifted slightly. "But of course I'm not doing it because of her." The words left his mouth before he could even stop himself. He smacked his hand over his mouth and his eyes went wide. "I mean-uhhh- because…well… I'm doing it for myself obviously." He said quickly. Harry just smirked at him and raised one eyebrow.
"Yeah…sure Draco." Harry looked over Draco's face taking in every emotion that he could feel. "You aren't really just doing it because of me are you?" Harry couldn't quite believe it when he heard Draco say that earlier. It was quite a shock. After all the horrible things Draco had said and done, it was quite hard to believe that he didn't want to become a death eater just because of Harry. The most boring person on this planet.
Draco could feel his checks burning fiercely. Why did he always have to open his mouth? He felt absolutely mortified with the fact that he was doing it for Harry, but to actually have Harry know it was because of him was just far too embarrassing.
"Yes ok. Yes. We have already been over this. Can we please not go over it again." He asked desperately. He could see Harry's lips curve up into a nice looking smirk. Yes, a very nice looking smirk on a very nice looking face. Draco's heart pounded out of his chest as the thought that Harry bloody Potter had a nice face entered his mind.
"I think not Draco. Come on. Talk to me. Why?" he asked. Draco once again grabbed a fist full of his robe, it was a nervous habit. One he had seen that Harry had as well.
"Fine. I will tell you. It's because you-know-who doesn't seem to even care about why he is fighting anymore. He has let power get to his head. He doesn't even care about the wizard world. All he cares about it killing you. It's not even about muggles and muggle borns anymore. It is all about hunting you down and killing you. And believe it or not, I don't want you to die. That's why I don't want to join them anymore. I don't want to take part in the killing of the one person who can sort this mess out." 'The one person who I actually mind numbingly care about' went unsaid. Draco didn't think that one would go to well with his ego. Draco paused for a moment before carrying on. "Plus, there is this war coming. It would mean I would be fighting against and hurting everyone here. People I have grown up with. Even If I do hate them, I don't wish for them to be dead Harry." Harry nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, Hermione said that." He said quietly. Draco let his lips turn into a smirk.
"I knew you were all talking about Me." he laughed. "Granger is a wise one." Draco looked at Harry and examined his face. Draco had never even noticed how bright Harry's eyes were. He found himself staring at them for longer than he really should.
"What?" asked Harry as he scowled. "Stop that. It's like you are looking into my soul." Draco just kept staring into those god damn green eyes. What was happening? Why couldn't he look away? He concluded that Harry was quite clearly casting some kind of spell on him. "Stop staring at me like that." Draco smiled, but just kept staring. Harry stood up abruptly, ready to walk away. He was clearly very uncomfortable. Draco stood up too, finally taking his gaze away from those blasted eyes, and stood in his path so he couldn't get passed.
"Ah-ah. Not so fast potty. I will let you go on one condition." Smirked Draco. Harry narrowed his eyes.
"What?" he asked. Crossing his arms over his chest.
"You kiss me." Harry's eyes widened considerately and he looked at Draco in utter shock.
"Don't be ridiculous. Move out the way." Harry demanded as he tried to step past Draco, but he just moved back into Harry's path.
"Well then, we are going to be up here for an awfully long time." He was still smirking widely.
"Wha- why do you want to kiss me Draco?" he asked completely confused as to why on earth Draco Malfoy wanted a kiss from him. HIM. The fact that he thought he was probably the most unattractive wizard in their year might have had something to do with the fact he couldn't believe Draco wanted to kiss him.
"Surely we should kiss and see how it feels?" Draco stepped closer to Harry until you couldn't even fit a piece of paper between them. "Now are you going to kiss me or are we going to stand here all day?" Harry finally closed his mouth that was hanging open from shock. Before he could even think, let alone answer the question, he moved his head forward quickly and smashed his lips against Draco's. They stood like that for a good few seconds before Draco opened his mouth and let Harry's tongue in. One hand found its way into Harry's hair while the other snaked around Harry's waist, desperately trying to pull him closer. Harry rested his hands on Draco's hips, trying to pull him close. Their lips moved in sync together and their tongues collided, twisting around each other. Draco could already feel his legs going from underneath him; his heart was pounding so hard that he thought it would burst right out of his chest. He had never wanted to kiss someone so bad.
Harry was feeling a very similar sensation. He too was feeling his heart pounding hard. He didn't want it to end at all. His stomach and chest twisted as he thought about who he was kissing. He was kissing Draco, Draco flipping Malfoy, and was bloody loving it.
It was over within a few minutes but it felt like forever to Draco. He felt like the world had just stopped apart from him and Harry. Draco had pulled away to looked at Harry. He was shocked, completely shocked. He was certain that this kiss would just prove to him that there was no attraction there between the two of them. God how he was wrong. The kiss lasted a matter of seconds, it wasn't the longest kiss he had ever had, but it was certainly the best. He wasn't sure why he pulled away; it certainly wasn't because he wanted to. In fact, he was trying very hard to resist the urge to pull Harry close and kiss him again and again.
Harry was having very similar thoughts. He also thought that the kiss would prove that he would not enjoy kissing Draco and that it would feel disgusting and awkward. Yet Harry couldn't stop the thought, that it was absolutely bloody amazing, coming into his head.
"Now please give me the address to your aunt and uncles house." Draco pleaded. Harry scowled at him. Draco just couldn't stop thinking about those awful people hurting Harry, and as soon as he stopped thinking about how great the kiss was, the thoughts were in his head again.
"I just basically sucked your face off, and that's what you say?" Draco smirked and raised his eyebrow.
"Oh I do apologise. That was rather nice Harry. We should do it again sometime." his facial expression dropped instantly to a serious expression when he said; "Now bloody well tell me where they live."
Once again the annoying heart-warming feel found its way into Harry's chest. Despite the fact that Draco was practically shouting at him in a quite angry tone, he still felt the warm feeling. It must just be the way Draco is. Harry couldn't shift the thought that maybe the kiss didn't mean as much to Draco as it did to Harry. The kiss was the best kiss he had ever had, not that he had kissed a lot of people. He was surprisingly gutted to think that Draco didn't really like the kiss that much and just thought it was an average kiss. He soon banished those thoughts out of his head. Draco's face softened slightly, but straight away went back to its angry expression when Harry shook his head.
"Harry James Potter. Tell me where they live NOW, or so help me I will, I will, oh I don't know. But I will do something horrible." Harry shook his head again, but Draco's face only softened, it didn't get any angrier. "Please Harry." Harry shook his head again. "Right that's it. I'm divorcing you this instant. I don't even care if that isn't possible. We are divorced. You are a terrible husband not letting me go and beat the crap out of people who hurt you." Harry smiled.
"Please don't divorce me Draco. Give me one more chance, I promise I will be a better husband." He mock pleaded, pretending to beg. Draco turned his nose up at Harry and turned away.
"Not until you tell me where they live." he looked at Harry and couldn't hold it in any more, he laughed. "Harry, I promise I won't hurt them. I just want to talk to them. Please Harry." Harry sighed deeply.
"Draco, even if I give you their address, how are you going to get there?" he asked. Draco put his finger to his chin as he thought about that small problem.
"Well, I will write to them then. Or I will go tomorrow as it is Sunday after all. I will ask Snape to take me." Harry laughed.
"Would Snape really take you?" Harry asked surprised.
"Yes. He takes me places all the time. That settles it. I'm going tomorrow. Now tell me the bloody address or I will seriously pound you into the ground."
"Its Private drive. But that's all you are getting. You will have to work out the house number yourself." Draco smiled smugly.
"Brilliant. Thanks very much Harry. You know, you could come if you like." Harry snorted.
"Don't be stupid. Snape wouldn't take me." Draco shook his head to that comment.
"I'm pretty sure he would take my friend if we asked him nicely." Smiled Draco. "Now please say you will come. Please." Harry sighed. Harry couldn't ignore that fact Draco had just called him his friend. Harry hadn't been so happy to know he was someone's friend in such a long time. He was Draco Malfoy's friend.
"Fine. I will come. But if you do anything stupid I will seriously kill you."
In the library Hermione and Blaise were not making very much progress at all.
"Are you sure there isn't anyone who has it in for Harry at Hogwarts?" asked Blaise, who was sat opposite Hermione at a table.
"Blaise, I am pretty sure there are loads of people who have it in for Harry, for many different reasons of course." She tapped her foot patiently against the floor.
"Very true Hermione, very true." Hermione rested her chin on her hand. "You don't think it's worth getting Professor Dumbledore to check everyone's wands do you? To see who cast the spell." Hermione let out a little giggle.
"Do you not think Dumbledore already thought of that? I don't think that would work. Whoever it was has probably already found a way to clear the spell from the wands history. Not to mention the fact that once Dumbledore starts checking the wands, the word will get around and whoever it is will then clear their wand. But it was a good try Blaise." She smiled at him politely and Blaise let out a small "Ah of course." They had been round and round in circles trying to figure out who might have done this.
"How about we announce at dinner time that we know who it was?" said Hermione thoughtfully. "I know it's a rubbish plan and certainly a stab in the dark, but maybe if we watch carefully at people's reactions we will see who is acting suspiciously." Blaise nodded in agreement.
"You are right Hermione that really is a rubbish plan." He laughed. Hermione pouted and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well you haven't come up with anything better." Blaise just sighed loudly.
"Fine. How about instead, we ask around. See if anyone saw anyone acting strange around the time? It's our best bet." Hermione nodded her head.
"Yes Blaise. I agree. At dinner time we will go up to the head table and ask if it is ok for us to make an announcement." She stood up from her chair and blew a wisp of hair out of her face. "Well Blaise, it was lovely talking with you but we only have about half an hour until dinner and I need to get ready." Blaise smiled and stood up.
"I can't believe we missed lunch. I'm absolutely starving. The things we do for the people we care about hey?" he laughed.
"Oh goodness me Blaise. Having a nice date with this mudblood here?" Hermione and Blaise instantly snapped their heads into the direction the sound came from. Pansy was stood there laughing.
"Do not call her that Pansy." Snapped Blaise. Hermione felt her checks go red. How nice it was of Him to stand up for her.
"I will call her whatever I like. Mudblood, mudblood, mudblood." She walked closer to them with every word and got right up in Hermione's face. She grabbed a handful of Hermione's robes. "I suggest you stay away from my friends Granger." She stepped back slightly and walked away. Before she left she turned her head slightly to the side and added; "And tell Potter to stay away from Draco." She snarled at her and left the library.
"Well," Said Hermione as she adjusted her robes. "I think we might have found suspect number one." She let a smile appear on her Face.
"She just threatened you and you smile Hermione? You strange being." He laughed.
"I have come across much worse than Pansy. I can handle myself fine." Blaise smiled and shook his head.
"Well, rather you than me" He laughed. "Come on, I will walk you back to the tower." He held out his arm and Hermione linked her arm through his.
"Oh how very kind of you." winked Hermione.
Later that day Harry, Ron and Hermione were sat at their table eating. Hermione kept glancing over to Blaise worriedly. He would smile at her, and she would smile back then look away. This process was repeated about 20 times, and quite frankly, Harry was getting annoyed.
"Hermione." He snapped, as she looked over to Blaise yet again. "Stop doing that." She turned her attention to Harry and smiled.
"Sorry Harry, just me and Blaise have something planned and to be honest, I'm rather nervous."
"I am not even going to ask." Mumbled Harry. Hermione smiled brightly and went back to her dinner.
"Did you manage to find out what Draco's family might think of the situation? I haven't been able to rest at all." Harry nodded as he shoved some food in his mouth before swallowing hard.
"He talked about his mother, and I believe that she wouldn't care as long as he is happy. As for his father, well, I have no idea. He did say that he thought he would be alright. For our sanity's sake, I suggest we believe him." His stomach dropped as he thought about Draco in danger. He tried not to picture Draco in pain, and on the wrong end of some horrible curses. But the images just kept falling into his head. He swallowed past the lump forming in his throat. Oh merlin. I hope to god nothing happens to him, Harry thought.
"He will be fine. He can look after himself, and if he can't then he has us to look after him." She smiled brightly. Harry returned the smile. "Who better to keep him safe than the-boy-who-lived" she joked. "Although, you are currently being the-boy-who-needs-to-eat-more. So eat up, and put on some weight." She laughed.
"Got to agree mate. Draco isn't going to want you if you are all skin and bones now is he?" Ron laughed at his own joke, while Harry blushed fiercely.
"Oh Ron. I am so proud of you. You just called him Draco." She looked from Ron to Harry and noticed his blush. "And do not worry Harry. Draco will want you just the way you are." She smirked slightly.
"You don't want him though do you mate?" Ron asked carefully. Harry felt a tingle in the pit of his stomach. Yes he bloody well did want Draco. God, what was the world coming to?
"Merlin yes." Harry breathed out. Hermione let out an excited squeal and Ron groaned loudly.
"Bloody hell Harry. Fine, if that is what you want. But Merlin." Ron couldn't help a smile appear on his face.
"So? How was your chat with Harry then?" Blaise asked curiously, as he lifted his cup to his mouth. Draco blushed when he remembered that amazing kiss.
"Was good." He Mumbled.
"Mm…Really? Did you just chat then?" Blaise asked. He went for his cup again and took a large gulp in a desperate attempt to stop himself from laughing. Draco narrowed his eyes. "Ok fine. So I was snooping. I was coming to talk to you both, but decided against it when I saw you two snogging. Wouldn't want to intrude." He smirked widely.
"Merlin Blaise." He whined. "Why did you have to bloody see that?" Draco didn't think his cheeks could get much redder.
"I tell you what, that looked like one hell of a snog. If you don't snap him up, I will." Blaise was only joking, Draco knew that. But the jealous feeling still found its way through.
"We are already bonded. So if you would kindly wait until we are not then that would be appreciated." He snapped.
"God, sorry. I was only joking. I have my eye set on someone else anyway. Christ Draco, talk about being possessive and jealous. Which you certainly are towards Harry." Blaise lifted an eyebrow. "A trait I haven't seen in you before. I like it." decided Blaise. "So I take it you want him then?" he laughed. That question did nothing for Draco's blush. He groaned loudly.
"God yes." He wailed. Blaise laughed happily.
Hermione had sat and watched the whole conversation. She was excellent at lip reading, and as soon as she saw Draco say the word yes, her heart warmed considerably. Maybe she wouldn't need to find out who cast the spell. Maybe these two stubborn idiots, who clearly wanted each other, would find a way to love each other. She could only hope.
Hermione looked back over to Blaise and lifted her hand. She beckoned him to come over with one quick motion of her hand.
Blaise went to stand up but Draco caught his arm.
"And where do you think you are going?" he asked in a dangerously low voice. Blaise just smirked down at him.
"You will see." He pulled his arm out of Draco's grasp and walked over to the Gryffindor table. God that boy is strange, Thought Draco.
Hermione's smile grew even bigger as Blaise plopped down on the bench next to her.
"Are you ready then?" he asked. Hermione only nodded once and then stood.
"Let's go then." She said as she took hold of Blaise's arm and dragged him to the head table. Hermione shuffled up to Dumbledore and cleared her throat.
"Professor Dumbledore. Me and Blaise have been working on Harry and Draco's bonding case and we would very much like to find out who did it so that we are able to reverse the spell." She leaned in closer to Dumbledore. "What I don't understand is, why didn't you tell Harry and Draco about this? Why was it the first they heard of it when Blaise told them about the solution?" Dumbledore smiled at them politely.
"Miss Granger, you are a very smart young lady. Why do you believe we didn't tell them?" Hermione looked puzzled for a short while.
"I don't know Professor." She said as she studied his face.
"Myself and Madame Pomfrey thought it best not to tell them about the solution in case they decided not to try and get to know each other, and then of course if we couldn't find out who had cast the curse it would be too late for them to try and get to know each other. But as I see, our plan hasn't worked too well considering you two smart children have worked it out and informed them." Hermione smiled at the compliment.
"They are still trying Professor. You do not need to worry about that. We," she said as she waved her hand between herself and Blaise. "Have made it very clear they still need to work on getting to know each other." Dumbledore smiled at her again, his eyes twinkling. Hermione decided to leave out the small fact that she knew they were both falling for each other, even if they were not quite there yet.
"Very well Miss Granger. That was a very smart thing to do." She blushed slightly and turned her attention to Blaise who was glaring at her, obviously trying to tell her to get back on track. She cleared her throat and looked back at Dumbledore.
"Professor, we were wondering if it was at all possible to announce to the students now, that we are working on the case, and that we will be asking students about the incident." She bit her lip nervously. She wasn't sure if he was going to agree or not. His smile widened and he nodded.
"Very well Miss Granger, you may make your announcement." Hermione went to turn around when Dumbledore spoke again. "But please keep in mind that this will be new news to the students as they are not aware of the bond. Out of the safety of the two young boys, maybe it would be better if it stayed that way." Hermione nodded and turned around. Blaise and Hermione stood in front of the head table and looked out nervously at all the smiling faces they saw.
Professor Dumbledore stood behind them and cleared his throat.
"Students. Please be silent as your very own Hermione Granger has an announcement to make." The hall felt silent and Hermione felt her stomach twist and turn. She received one last encouraging look from Blaise and lunged into her speech.
"As I am sure you are aware. Someone broke into the Gryffindor tower not that long ago. While the person was in the tower, they cast a very dangerous spell onto none other than Harry potter." The crowd of students all broke out into an outraged conversation. "I will not tell you what the spell was, but it was rather dangerous. The spell cannot be removed unless we find out what horrible person cast it. Therefore, I am standing in front of you today, to ask you nicely, that anyone who knows anything at all, to please come and see either me, Blaise or Professor Dumbledore immediately. Myself and Blaise have both volunteered to help Harry. We will both stay exactly at this spot for a short while after dinner and if you would like to come and tell us what you know, then we would be very grateful. And I'm sure Harry will be too. I must stress that if you do know something, it is very important that you tell someone instantly." She looked over at Harry who was sat in shock. "Well, thank you for listening." She smiled and stepped over to where Blaise was stood at the side.
"How was that?" she whispered into his ear. He smiled at her brightly.
"That was fantastic." He replied excitedly.
Blaise let his attention fall back onto the person he had been watching the whole time. He scowled hard when he saw her looking back at him with an extremely concerned face. Pansy tore her gaze away from Blaise. He felt like walking up to her right now and demanding to talk to her, but he knew that no matter how many times he tried to talk to her, she would always direct the conversation somewhere else, or just plainly walk away. He turned back to Hermione and smiled brightly.
Now all they had to do was stand and wait. Wait for someone, anyone, to come and tell them some small information that would give them somewhere to start.