CHAPTER SIX
Disclaimer: Neither the characters or locations are mine; they belong to J. K. Rowling and various affiliated companies. No plagiarism or copyright infringement is intended. All characters will be returned safe and sound with smiles on their faces and food in their bellies. :D
A/N: *yawn*
Harry felt an overwhelming sense of dismay when he entered the astronomy tower for his lesson with Draco only to find Blaise there as well. He gave Draco as dirty a look as he could manage and sat huffily down, opening his text to the page indicated. He found it extremely hard to concentrate with Blaise nibbling at his neck and pushed him away.
'Stop! I need to concentrate.' he snarled.
'But you're so sweet...' Blaise whispered.
Harry cast an imploring gaze at Draco.
'Blaise, leave. If Potty fails he will no longer be in potions with you.' Draco said, wondering what had possessed him.
He had bought Blaise to stop him from doing anything stupid, and now he was sending him away? God damnit Draco, get this under control, he thought to himself as Blaise kissed Harry goodbye and Draco felt himself overcome with envy. Harry sighed, relieved, once he had left.
'So Potter...what's with you and Blaise?' Draco sneered, not wanting to know.
Harry stared at him, anger flashing in his eyes.
'You know Malfoy, I thought you'd be different this year. After you helped us-'
'No. I did not "help" you. What I did was purely for my own satisfaction. Voldemort ruined my life. He killed my mother and stole my father. He deserved no less than death.'
Harry looked at Draco guiltily, who had his eyes closed and nostrils flaring. Much to his surprise a solitary tear slipped out from beneath a shut eye, and then the mask was back up, eyes hard, sneer in place. Harry felt uncomfortable so lashed out.
'You want to know what is "with" Blaise and I?' Harry hissed. 'Nothing! I feel nothing when he touches me, when he kisses me, when he whispers my name. I'm tired of everyone's expectations. My life feels like a big poorly written plot. And I feel nothing!'
With that Harry gathered his things and stalked from the room. Draco couldn't help but feel that Harry had been accusing him of something, and thought back to the time at the lake when he had asked to be hurt...
--
Draco was mad at Harry for reasons he couldn't fully grasp, for they were flitting around in his mind like a snitch on hyperdrive. He thought, perhaps, that it had something to do with the fact that he had allowed the mask to slip. And so, seizing an opportunity, during the Quidditch game the next day he knocked Harry off his broom, sending him hurtling to the ground below. As he circled lazily above, listening to the cheers from his fellow Slytherins (for now they had won, the Gryffindors would have to forfeit), he couldn't help but feel terribly guilty. What if he's seriously injured? he thought aas the unconscious boy was carted off to the hospital wing. Disgusted with the way he was feeling he knew he had to talk with someone. And he knew who.
--
'Granger!' Draco cried.
Hermione looked up from her books, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. Draco knew that Harry was still unconscious and it was killing him.
'I'm not going to speak with you unless you use my first name.' she said defiantly, confused over why he would seek her out in the first place.
Draco sighed heaavily. He didn't know if he could...it had been instilled in him that mudbloods were beneath him. Still...
'H-hermione. May I speak with you?' he asked as graciously as he could.
'Much better.' Hermione responded, indicating for him to take a seat.
'I...I didn't know who else to speak to. Everybody always says you're good at solving problems.'
'Oh, I just point out the obvious.' she told him modestly, but Draco could tell she was pleased.
'Well...I hope you can help me. I'm sure... What I mean to say is... My, er...relationships are not exactly unknown. But I...I've kind of hit a, well, snag. See, there's this guy, right, and I... I don't know. He makes me feel...different. But it is impossible for us to be together.'
'Who is this person?'
I...uh...can't tell you.'
'So let me see if I understand what you are telling me. There's a guy who you won't name that you want and don't want all at the same time. Is that about the gist of it?'
'Can't. I can't want them.'
'Ri-ight. And you want me to help how?'
'I don't know! I just heard you gave good advice...' Draco ran his hands through his hair.
'Well, if you won't tell me who it is I really can't help. Every situation is different.'
'I...won't say his name. But...he would never want me. A single act doesn't undo six years of cruelty.'
Understanding dawned on Hermione's face.
'Oh Draco. But he's dating your best friend.'
'I know. I...told Blaise to date him. I thought if he was with someone I would want him less.'
'For someone so smart you really are quite stupid. Did it work?'
'Er...no. Not really. No.'
'So what now?'
What now indeed? Draco thought to himself, shrugging to Hermione and returning to his room.
A/N: Do not question Draco confiding in Hermione! It's my story and I'll do what I want! :P