this is the penultimate chapter! please review etc + merry christmas!

Chapter 18: Harry Potter

'Can we talk?'

Draco looked up from his homework. It was during his revision period, and with exams coming up, he needed to study hard. For a split second he had hoped that it was Hermione, and his heart gave a funny jolt when he saw Harry Potter standing in front of him. 'What do you want?'

'Hermione told me what happened.' Harry said. 'What were you thinking?'

'I wasn't.' Draco snapped. 'Leave me alone if you're gonna get angry, okay?'

'Sorry. Look- I- argh.' Harry rolled his eyes. 'I'm not good at this.'

Draco frowned. 'What is it?'

Harry shrugged. 'I know that Hermione is really torn up about what happened. And as her best friend, I thought it was my duty to help her out.'

'Help her out how?' He said sourly.

'She doesn't know that I'm talking to you,' Harry said quickly. 'Shall we- er- go for a walk on the grounds?'

Draco shrugged. 'I'll follow you.'

'Do you think that you can talk to her?' Harry asked as they set off. 'It would help massively.'

Draco laughed coldly. 'There's not much that I can do now to change my situation.'

'You can talk to her,' Harry pestered. 'She's in love with you.'

'Nah,' Draco mumbled. 'Not after this.'

'Yes, Malfoy, after this. Believe me, if you're the last person that I would want her to like. But she does, so I'm here to talk to you.'

'No.'

'She loves you.' Harry said. 'When her and Ron were together- well. Hermione loves Ron, I know she does. But not in that way. She never looked at Ron the way she does towards you.

'She loved me.'

'Loves.' Harry corrected. 'What do you mean, loved?'

Draco scowled at him. 'Because I've caused nothing but pain for her. Up until last year I tormented her, and this whole year I've been playing with her feelings. Even as we've been closer to each other, I've managed to upset her even more. The whole year's been full of ups and downs. I mean... It's probably better this way, anyway.'

Harry ran his hand through his dark hair in an attempt to tame it. Briefly, Draco wondered why he did this- if anything, it made his hair stick up more. 'Better what way?'

'It's over.' He said dully. 'I won. The Unbreakable Vow has been broken. Hermione loved me. But she doesn't need to anymore, so- this on-off relationship can end.'

'I know Hermione.' Harry retorted.

'So do I!' Draco yelled suddenly. In defense, Harry raised his wand. 'I love her! I would die for Hermione!'

'Then do it.' Harry said softly. 'If Hermione doesn't love you, then the Unbreakable Vow should kill you.'

There was silence. Only the whistling wind could be heard. 'I'm sorry. I- I'm really- Merlin. Potter, I'm sorry I didn't mean to get angry.'

Harry shook his head, withdrawing his wand. 'Don't worry about it.'

'I'm just so... angry.'

'At Hermione?'

'Nah.' He kicked a rock as they continued walking. 'At the world, I guess.'

'Hey, Potter?'

'Yeah?'

'Er- thanks.'

Harry grinned. 'Talk to her, Malfoy. That's the only advice I can give to you. Talk to her.'