Author's Note: I'd really like to thank all of those who waited patiently for my previous chapter and then reviewed it most favorably! I hope you review this one with as much love as you did the other one ). Especially because you didn't have to wait so long for it ;)! It's much shorter than my last three chapters, but still longer than the first chapter!

Chapter 5: The Way Things Are

"And that's all there was to it," Harry said, shrugging his shoulders, looking nonchalant.

He had just finished telling Hermione and Ginny about his brief affair with the infamous Draco Malfoy last year, during the Christmas holidays. He'd left out quite a few details, specifically the ones about him being in love with someone, and Malfoy being a good guy.

They probably couldn't handle that thought Harry.

"That's incredible!" shouted Ginny, bubbling with excitement. "I can't believe it. Does anyone else know?"

Harry looked a bit uncomfortable for a second, before admitting quietly, "Fred and George know."

Ginny looked a bit startled at that. "So you and the twins did become pretty close over the summer. Ron was right after all."

Harry looked so shocked and so ready to burst out of his skin, that she took a slight step backwards.

"Oy, Harry, are you alright? Ron and I both didn't mean like that!" Ginny said desperately, trying to calm Harry down.

Harry shook his head, brushing it off. "No!…No. Don't worry about it Gin, I was thinking about…something else." Harry smiled reassuringly. Ginny didn't look convinced.

After hearing the story, Hermione was feeling slightly confused. And upset. And she couldn't seem to figure out why.

"Are you two still seeing each other then?" asked Hermione, looking troubled.

"No, of course not. We ended it on mutual grounds…one of those grounds being that Draco isn't actually gay."

"What do you mean he isn't gay?" Ginny asked, confused. "How does that make any sense? Unless…you're a girl, Harry…"

Harry looked offended. "I most certainly am not!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It makes perfect sense, Ginny. Malfoy must be bisexual. Right Harry?"

"Not quite," replied Harry. "We concluded that he was just having a sexuality crisis."

"A what?" exclaimed Ginny, her eyes wide.

"Harry means that he wasn't exactly sure what he was attracted to. But I guess Harry sort of…encouraged him in the right direction. I mean! Right direction for him, Harry."

Harry laughed and shrugged. "I know what you mean, Hermione. And it's fine…nothing wrong with being straight either." Harry winked at them.

Ginny scoffed. "Right. Malfoy sounds a bit fucked up, if you ask me."

"He isn't!" scolded Hermione and Harry at the same time. Both of them immediately looked embarrassed.

Ginny whistled. "Uh…seems to me that you're both rather fond of him."

Harry shook his head immediately. "Nope, I just think we're actually on good terms now. As friends. He really isn't so bad. And besides…" Harry trailed off, but caught himself. He had just been about to say that he was interested in someone else. "Malfoy's probably figured out what he wants now."

"What? WHO!" Hermione said, almost bouncing up and down. Harry narrowed his eyes.

"I never said who, Hermione. I said 'what', and why do you want to know anyway? I would have thought that lipstick had worn off by now…"

"It has!" Hermione said quickly, looking flustered. "I was just curious! I mean, you two were so close, and now he seems to be interested in someone else…well, it just seemed a bit mean."

Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "Believe me, Hermione; I'm not interested in Malfoy anymore in the slightest. I've got my own problems to deal with."

"Meaning you like someone else too?" Ginny said, grinning at him coyly. Harry looked at her, horrified.

"Bugger off Ginny!" he exclaimed, turning around abruptly, heading towards the portrait.

"Oy! Where do you think you're going?" shouted Ginny after him.

Harry turned around to look at them. "Actually, to find Malfoy. We've got a few things we need to discuss."

"Ohhhh…have fun, Harry!" Ginny teased, waving at him exuberantly. Harry made a face at her and left.

Hermione stood silently as she listened to Ginny's giggling about two ridiculously good looking boys getting together.

"Don't you think so Hermione?"

But Hermione didn't answer. She was already heading out the portrait hole.

I've got to figure out what's wrong with me, she thought, making a beeline for the library.

---------------------------

With only an hour before curfew, Harry headed towards the dungeons, intent on finding Malfoy and explaining to him that there was no way in hell he'd allow him to go anywhere near Hermione.

His anger had started to build on the way down there and as he turned a sharp corner he let out a vicious curse as he collided with a hard body and toppled to the floor.

When he opened his eyes, he was staring down into liquid grey eyes.

"For fuck sakes, Malfoy," Harry grunted, immediately scrambling off him and standing up. Malfoy sat up and began to dust his robes off, glaring up at Harry.

"Maybe if you'd watch where you're going, Potter, that wouldn't have happened."

"Don't, I'm not here to argue with you about pointless things. I need to talk to you about Hermione."

"If you think I'm going just going to stop pursuing her because you have a problem—"

"I can't fucking stop you, Malfoy. But Ron's my best friend, he obviously wants her. You can't just go after someone when they're practically with someone else!"

"Practically doesn't cut it for me, Potter. Granger seemed rather taken with me."

"You idiot," Harry said angrily, grabbing onto the front of Malfoy's robes, and slamming him against the stone wall. "She was under a bloody spell. Fred and George gave her some god awful lipstick on the train, and it messed with her personality and turned her into this…this—"

"Sex crazed maniac?" supplied Draco helpfully, looking amused. Harry grimaced.

"Shut up! She couldn't control what she was doing, okay? She kissed me for crying out loud."

"She WHAT!" Draco yelled loudly, looking upset. "What do you mean she kissed you?"

Harry took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "I told you," he gritted out, "she couldn't control what she was doing. Except we were lucky—the lipstick should have caused her to go after every guy…instead, she only went after Ron and me."

Draco looked at him incredulously. "She didn't tell you she kissed me?"

Harry looked at him blankly.

"No."

"I see."

There was a few moments pause before,

"That's why you're interested then. Because she reeled you in."

"No one reels me in, Potter," Draco said aggressively. However, Harry could hear the hurt in his voice.

"Look, Malfoy…" Harry couldn't believe he was actually about to suggest this, "The spell seemed only intent on hitting the three of us…it must mean something. Maybe…since you're not one of her best friends like Ron and I…it must mean something more. Do you…want me to talk to her? Maybe she—"

"If you think I need your pity Potter—"

"For fuck sakes Malfoy, I don't pity you! I was just trying to be helpful!"

Draco looked at him in surprise.

"You want to help me? But just five minutes ago you were ready to hex my balls off because I told you I wanted to pursue Hermione."

"Yah but you seemed really upset about it, I—" Harry paused, blinking. "Did you just call her "Hermione"?"

Draco flushed. Harry's eyes widened.

"You are serious about her."

"As if it's any concern of yours. I was serious about you, but you turned me down like I was nothing more than a good fuck."

"You were a good fuck, Malfoy."

Draco would have slapped him, if Harry had said that statement any other way. But Harry was looking at him with something akin to affection and slight concern. He shifted uncomfortably on his feet.

A Malfoy never did that.

"Well don't…think too much on it. I was having a sexuality crisis after all," Draco said, trying to sound confident. Harry nodded slowly.

"You know Potter— you play your part rather well. Sticking up for Granger, I mean. The rest of the school's been talking about you, her and the Weasel all shacking up rather cozily together. It's enough to make me laugh. And vomit."

Harry shrugged. "I don't care what they think."

"No, I suppose you don't. But I know that you're not interested in Granger. You're in love with some nameless male. Have you told anyone about him?"

"Only one."

Despite himself, Draco looked surprised. And slightly offended.

"Who the fuck have you told, Potter?"

"Fred," was the quick, deadpanned reply.

A slow grin formed on Draco's mouth as he regarded the green-eyed boy in front of him. Draco recalled the twins sitting at the staff table in the Great Hall, that night at dinner. He had seen one of them wink at Harry.

Perhaps I'm not in the dark as I had originally thought…

"Well. That is interesting, Potter, I must say. I mean, I always figured it'd be a Weasley; it was just narrowing it down to which one. Or should I say two? Do you fuck them one at a time, or are you more of a ménage kind of guy?"

"Stop trying to figure me out, Malfoy. I told you I'd never tell you. Leave it."

"And if I choose not to?" Draco asked, looking like the cat that had just caught the canary.

Harry's mouth twisted into a resemblance of Snape's. "Then I'll go straight to Dumbledore with your secret, Malfoy. I'm sure your daddy will be thrilled with the job you've done. And I'm sure it'll come out that you were my personal fuck toy. What will everyone say to that? Unlike you, I don't mind. Everyone will just think I was trying to seduce you to my side."

Draco's hands curled into a fist, and his entire arm shook violently. He took a step closer to Harry and said, in a very controlled voice, "My dear Wonder Boy, I gave you my word. And a Malfoy's word is sacred."

"Yah, just like your own skin, eh Malfoy?" Harry scoffed, eyeing Draco's now closer figure. When Harry had attacked Malfoy earlier that day, he had felt nothing but blinding hot anger. Now…he was not so sure. He felt as if his nerves were on fire.

"Of course, Potter. A Malfoy's word is as sacred as their own life. But, changing the subject back to you, why are you so obsessed with keeping Granger away from me? Afraid the Weasel will blame you if she chooses me?"

"You haven't got a fucking clue, Malfoy. And I don't see how it's any of your concern," Harry growled, glaring at the blond.

"You don't seem to focus on much else these days," Draco stated softly, his smile only half mocking.

"Jealous Malfoy?" Harry grinned cruelly at Draco and Draco narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"Don't toy with me Potter, I'm in no mood for your games."

"You didn't seem to have a problem with it last year when you asked me to bring a pair of handcuffs."

"How sweet of you to remember, Scarhead."

"You can't say truthfully you haven't thought about it, either, Ferret Face."

"You're right. I can't."

They stared at each other intently. Harry sighed, moving towards the wall and slumped tiredly against it, his head in his hands and mumbled something quietly.

Draco's body stiffened. "What was a mistake Potter? You coming here or what happened last year?" Draco drawled.

Harry lifted his head, and his face showed that it seemed to pain him a great deal. He shrugged a shoulder, as though he wasn't sure of his answer. "Both…neither…god, I have no clue anymore."

The blond looked at Harry helplessly, as he too lacked any answer.

"I'm sorry then," he murmured as Harry's bright eyes turned to him in surprise.

"You don't have anything to be sorry about, Malfoy. It was my fault anyway."

Draco made a revolted sound at the back of his throat and stepped into Harry's personal space.

"What is it with you, Potter? Do you have to be the goddamn hero all the time?"

"Excuse me for being honest!" Harry spat angrily, standing up to his full height against the wall.

"No. No more fighting," Draco said, putting up his hands in surrender, the anger fading from his voice. "I want to know the real reason why you're so uptight about me being interested in Granger. I already know you're not interested in girls, so don't try that excuse."

Harry frowned at him. "I wasn't going to, Draco."

Draco laughed loudly. "Don't pout, Harry, your lips are already delicious enough as it is." Draco cooed dramatically, leering at him.

Draco was surprised at how much Harry's grimace pierced through him painfully. He pushed it aside immediately.

"I'll ask Hermione if she's interested in you Malfoy. But if she isn't…I want you to leave her alone. I'm sure you can find another enemy around here to fuck around with."

Draco's eyes turned icy as they gazed upon Harry's face.

"I wanted you, but you're in love with someone else," Draco said sarcastically. Harry looked as though he were trying his best not to cry.

"I don't know how much longer I can pretend like all of this doesn't affect me…" Harry trailed off, his eyes closing. When he opened them, he said softly, "I never meant to hurt you."

Draco forgave Harry everything then and swore that he'd kill the man who was too much of a prat to realize how much Harry loved him.

"Harry…if you'd just tell him—"

"NO!" Harry screamed, his voice carrying off the walls as he shoved Draco away from him and ran as fast as he could away from the dungeons. Draco had half a mind to go after him, to talk some sense into the boy…but it was no use. Draco had never had any right, or claim to Harry Potter.

But, Draco thought, in bitter amusement, he would have a better friendship with him. One day.

After this bloody war was over.

Draco made his way back to his dorms, his face thoughtful as he wondered what Hermione (the one who was not spell-induced) actually thought of him. He had always wondered what lay behind all that bookishness. He wondered if that spell had only brought out what was hiding, so eagerly, underneath.

Without looking where he was going, Draco was a close second from walking head first into Professor Snape. The Professor had watched his slow walk and had immediately shot out his arm to prevent the boy from walking into him. Draco looked up at the man, his eyes not really registering his Potions' Professor, and Godfather.

"Hullo Severus," Draco said dully, with a hint of exhaustion in his voice.

"Come," Severus said, steering Draco into his private chambers. "We have much to discuss."

This isn't really a 'cliffy', but it's as close to one as I've gotten since the third chapter, when you all waited to see what would happen after Hermione had the wine.

Did Snape hear everything?? Is he going to tell Draco's father?? What does he think about Draco messing around with the student who's given him the most grief for so many years??

Find out…soon! I've already written the next chapter ;). But I'm waiting on YOUR REVIEWS!

Madi Black