Losing Pain

Chapter Ten

N.E.W.T.S. were what scared most of the kids at Hogwarts. If at least half of your N.E.W.T.S. weren't more than average, your job probably wouldn't be the greatest. But that was the reason for studying and why most classes were cancelled a week before.

Harry and Draco took the time to be together more often. Neither of them needed to study. Both of them knew more things than they needed to and remembering wasn't much of a problem. The only thing that was a problem was getting back to their rooms by curfew.

"Harry, you're late again." Neville looked up from the book he was reading by candlelight. He was always up much later than everyone else, studying like crazy. Harry had asked why he did it, but Neville had explained for about an hour about how his grandmother would be very disappointed if he didn't pass everything. Harry knew his grandmother was always on him about his grades and Neville loved her too much to let her get disappointed.

"I know. I'm trying to get back on time, but I haven't been getting much better at it."

Neville laughed. "It's alright. When you find someone, it's extremely difficult to get away from them."

Harry nodded sheepishly. He knew Neville had finally asked Luna Lovegood out and they were perfectly happy together. Luckily though, they both needed to study and knew they couldn't see each other that much until their exams were done. Neither Harry nor Draco had an excuse. "Thanks for being so understanding, Neville. I don't know what I'd do without you, seriously."

Neville smiled politely. "It's no problem. You've always been there for me. I'm not just gonna back down on you now."

Harry smiled and left the boy to his studies. He went up to his room, changed into his pajamas, and got into his bed. Right before he was able to fall asleep though, he heard the sound of whispering. Staying as still as he could, pretending to be asleep, Harry tried his best to listen to the conversation.

"He just thinks he's all that, never having to study." the voice of the Weasley was easily distinguishable.

"He was studying nonstop practically all year, Ron. I think the kid deserves a break." a voice that seemed to be Seamus Finnigan. He never really seemed to dislike Harry anymore than he did before either.

"But, Seamus, what he does with his spare time is what bugs me." Ron spoke again.

"I'd have to agree with Ron here, Seamus. Being with Malfoy is a bit strange, don't you think?" the voice of Dean Thomas asked.

There was a moment of silence and then a clearly over exaggerated shudder. "I still want to figure out how that ferret got Harry to believe all that nonsense. Never caring. Psh, Ferret Boy is the one that doesn't care. Harry's got a reputation to hold up and Malfoy's just ruining it. I bet he told Harry to yell at Hermione that one day." Ron said. "If it wasn't for that Slytherin, everything would be the same as always."

"Are you sure about that, Ron?" Seamus asked. "Harry didn't seem to be with Malfoy the first time he got put in the hospital wing."

Harry heard a scoff. It was most likely Ron.

"They were probably seeing each other in secret. Who knows how long this thing has been going on? But I do know one thing. It needs to end now." Ron told them.

There was another long pause, the shuffling of people getting under their covers, and then the sound of the door opening and closing. Neville had most likely just finished with his studying. Harry moved around a bit, trying to get more comfortable, then finally fell asleep completely.

***

When Harry woke up the next morning, he wasn't exactly in the greatest of moods. The conversation he had heard between Ron, Seamus, and Dean was part of the problem. But, the dreams he'd had afterward didn't help at all either. He'd had three different dreams, but they all had been different scenarios of Draco leaving him. In one of them, he had died right before his eyes. In another, Draco had just left him without warning. But the third one had been the worst. Draco and him had been back up on the top of the Astronomy Tower. They were lying on a blanket, looking up at the stars. They were having a simple conversation until something Harry had said made the blonde angry. Draco sat up, looked down at Harry and told him straight out, 'I give up, Harry. Anything I try to do doesn't help, so I just give up. I hope you're happy now because this is where you got yourself.' Harry just stared at him shocked and watched the teen leave him.

Before any of the other boys woke, Harry dressed and went down to breakfast. He put food on his plate, but didn't eat it. Instead he stared at it and pushed it around with his fork. Usually he felt at least a little hungry, but this time he just felt sick. Once in awhile he'd look across the room at Draco, but the teen was never looking in his direction at the time. Instead, he was either eating and reading the day's Daily Prophet or he was in a conversation with one of his Slytherin friends.

Harry sighed. He wished he had someone else to talk to. Neville was a friend, but he never felt like he could tell him anything like he did Draco. Hermione and Ron were too long gone for him to talk to them either. Bored, he stood up and left the Great Hall to go walk around. It was something to do since there didn't seem to be anything else.

In the middle of the hall though, he met Ron and Hermione. They had been talking quietly to each other, but, once they saw Harry, they became silent almost immediately. Harry didn't mind. He was too used to it.

"Hi, Harry." Hermione spoke softly. Harry stopped walking. He didn't think either of them would try to talk to him ever again after yelling at them.

"Uh, hi." Harry replied. He didn't really know what to say.

"How have you been? We haven't really talked lately."

Harry was curious to why she was starting to. After his little outburst only a month ago, she didn't seem to have any intention to talk to him again. "I'm fine. How about you two?" He asked, being polite.

"We're studying hard." Hermione answered for the both of them. Ron just seemed to be looking at Harry. It made the raven haired boy a little uncomfortable. "Right now I'm a little jealous that you don't have to. I mean, it probably wouldn't hurt for you to stay in the common room with the rest of us and study once, but it's your choice."

Harry wanted to smile and laugh. That was why she was talking to him. Ron had probably talked to her about trying to get him away from Draco. Both of them wanted him back to help them. Draco was the only setback.

"Oh, I've been studying. Draco and I are making sure we know what we're doing." I told her. "He's been a really big help."

A frown formed on both of their faces. Ron's was more prominent though. "Oh." Hermione said. "Well, maybe you could skip a day with him to just hang out with us. We've really missed you, Harry, and we don't really trust Malfoy. Don't you remember all of the things he did to us in the past?"

"Yes." Harry answered. He didn't really know what else to say.

"So why are you with him now?" Ron finally spoke out.

"Because he seems to be the only one who knows what's best." A voice spoke behind Harry.

Harry spun around and found Draco glaring over him at Hermione and Ron. He walked to the side of Harry and took his hand, holding it tightly.

"How could you possibly know what's best for Harry?" Ron asked. "You haven't known him for as long as us."

Draco laughed. "I know him a lot better than you do."

Hermione and Ron both glared at the blonde. Ron's hand slowly traveled to his robe's pocket. Both Harry and Draco noticed this, but Draco was the first one to react. With a simple flick of his wrist, he had Ron sailing through the air until he hit the stone wall behind him and slid down.

During this time, Hermione got her own wand out and had it pointed at the Slytherin. "I'd advise you to step away from Harry, Malfoy. Just because you seem to know more than me, doesn't mean that I can't hurt you."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that, Granger. You don't know half of the things that Harry and I know. Either of us could have ten spells on you before you even speak a word."

"Try me." Hermione said coldly.

Draco smirked and replied. "With pleasure."

Hermione started to say some spell as quickly as she could, but Draco was quicker by doing the same thing he did to Ron. Only then did he take out his wand to tie her and Ron up. After a quick pause, he took their wands away and stuck them to the ceiling, turned both of their hair a bright green and knotted them together, gave them enough boils to last a lifetime, cut their clothes to shreds, turned their skin blue, and drenched them in a disgusting looking yellow goo. Once Draco was finished, the two Gryffindors finally got the courage to yell, but Harry quickly silenced them with a flick of his hand.

"I think I did pretty good, don't you?" Draco turned to Harry with a smirk on his face. Harry looked back at the two who were now struggling to speak and escape their bonds. He frowned, took out his wand, and pointed it at the two separately. Suddenly looks of sheer horror came upon them. After another flick of his wand, Harry turned back to Draco, took his hand, and they walked away.

"I think they'll understand now that I'm never leaving you." Harry finally spoke once the two were safe in the Room of Requirement.

Draco looked at Harry confused. "What did you do to them exactly?"

Harry laughed and sat down on the couch that they had formed. "Oh, I just messed with their minds a bit. They think they're seeing what they're afraid of the most. Ron thinks spiders are crawling all over him while Hermione thinks she has just found out she failed each and every one of her N.E.W.T.S. But neither of them can prove it to anyone."

"You used a secrecy spell?" Draco asked, sitting next to him.

"Yes, but it isn't the simple ones they taught us here. I found quite a few interesting books in Knockturn Alley. They'll probably end up figuring out how to cancel the spell, but it'll take them a lot longer than one year." Harry explained.

Draco smiled and shook his head as he looked at Harry. He kissed the boy then spoke. "You really should have been in Slytherin."

"I know." Harry said before he grinned back and kissed him again, this time more passionately.

A/N: There's the tenth chapter. I wasn't about to post it because I seriously feel like crap and get majorly dizzy when I try to move, but that just proves how much I enjoy your reading my story! Thanks again!