...sorry.
I meant to update sooner, really I did. But then I ran out of ideas. Any that you have will very appreciated, just to get the creative juices flowing!
Anyway, I slaved away until the early hours of the morning to get this written in time for...HALLOWEEN! Happy Halloween everybody, even if it is only 1am on Halloween as I type this...
I'll try to update soon, but I can't promise anything. I have homework to do...I might write a drabble to get me through it, so if you have any suggestions for that, feel free to put them in a review!
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
It was Sunday morning, the day after the Quidditch match, and a day when students were permitted to go to Hogsmeade. The sun was shining, and there was a pleasant breeze in the air. It was, in theory, supposed to be a good day. However, Blaise Zabini was not a happy camper. Not that he was the sort to go camping, in fact, his hatred of the idea of sleeping outside in the wilderness was only surpassed by that of Draco.
Blaise's murderous mood was caused by the outcome of yesterdays Quidditch match, in which Harry had suddenly gone all noble and let Draco finally catch the Snitch. Blaise, for the umpteenth time since his arrival at Hogwarts, cursed Gryffindors and all that they stood for. He was all for chivalry, the act of being chivalrous had helped him score with many a female Hogwarts student, but to be so chivalrous as to sacrifice a Quidditch match that could determine how you place for your final year at school for the object of your affection? It was madness.
Blaise had wondered about Harry's true intentions about letting Draco win. Maybe he had done it on purpose to make sure that Gryffindor did win the Quidditch Cup, and making sure that his image of Best Seeker Ever didn't falter. Of course, having got to know Harry the last few weeks, Blaise had discovered that Harry couldn't care less about image, and seeing the way he looked at Draco when he thought no-one was watching (which basically everybody but Draco saw, Draco being the most annoyingly oblivious person to Harry's interest in him, compared to his perceptiveness of everything else) he came to the conclusion that the boy was simply head over heels in love, and would do anything to improve his chances.
Blaise was extremely peeved.
He was currently sat at the breakfast table, boring holes into Harry's head with the force of his glare. Harry was sitting opposite him, next to Pansy, and the pair of them were glancing at Blaise with concern. Pansy waved her hand in front of Blaise's face. He didn't even blink. Pansy whispered something in Harry's ear which made him laugh. Blaise's glare intensified. How dare Harry show mirth when he had caused him so much pain!
Pansy excused herself from the table to get herself ready for the Hogsmeade visit, and Harry quickly followed her after the prospect of being left alone with a livid Blaise proved too daunting. Eventually, after he had leisurely finished his breakfast, Blaise went to get himself ready for the day ahead as well.
...
Ron usually loved Hogsmeade visits. He was walking along the street holding hands with Hermione with Draco plodding along behind them sullenly. Draco wasn't disturbing him outright, but Ron was acutely aware of his presence and the way he seemed to analysing every move that Ron and Hermione were making. Ron tried his best to ignore him, instead focusing on his girlfriend. They had arranged to meet up with Ginny, Harry, Blaise and Pansy in Hogsmeade and trade Harry for Draco. Hermione pushed open the door to the Hog's Head. They spotted the rest of their group already sitting at a table. Pansy and Harry were deep in conversation while Blaise and Ginny were flirting, and Blaise occasionally shot poisonous glances at Harry.
Hermione slipped into the seat next to Ginny, and Ron sat next to her. Draco awkwardly sat down next to Harry. They hadn't spoken since the Quidditch match the day before. None of the group said anything for a few beats.
"Harry?" Draco said, his voice sounding somewhat hoarse. The eyes of everybody else at the table snapped on to him. Everyone at the table knew about Harry's feelings and were suddenly intrigued. Except for Ron, he was wondering why Draco had used Harry's first name. And if the Hog's Head served food.
"Yes?" Harry replied as smoothly as he could.
"Do you mind if we go somewhere and talk?"
Harry was shocked. "Er, no. I-I mean, no, I don't mind. Do any of you mind?" he quickly took the focus off of himself by asking the others.
"It's fine," Hermione said, smiling encouragingly.
The others nodded vaguely. Harry and Draco got up out of their chairs. Draco started to leave the pub, Ginny shot Harry a look that clearly said: Harry James Potter, if you don't tell me everything that Draco says to you when you get back, I will murder you in your sleep.
Harry shot a weak smile in response before following Draco.
The girls at the table shared a look between them. Blaise couldn't have been more interested, and Ron was suddenly daydreaming about roast chicken.
"Blaise, honey?" Ginny said, "Can you go and get drinks for us, please?"
"But there's a queue," Blaise protested.
"Please? It's really not that long a queue."Ginny batted her eyelashes.
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Fine, but I need someone to help me with the bottles. Everyone wants a Butterbeer, yeah?"
"Ron, you can go with him," Hermione said quickly.
Ron shot her an indignant look, which she quickly quelled with a swift kiss to his cheek.
"I love you," she said, grinning.
Ron shook his head good-naturedly. "I love you too."
Blaise and Ron went to queue to get drinks, and the girls made sure they were out of hearing distance before they leaned closer to each other.
"So, what do you reckon Draco wants to talk to Harry about?" Pansy began.
...
"So, what do you want to talk about?" Harry asked, when he had followed Draco to outside the Shrieking Shack. Draco explained on the way that he didn't want to be overheard.
"You really can't figure it out?" Draco replied, regarding Harry curiously.
Harry shook his head, and began to panic.
"The Quidditch match yesterday. You let me win. Why?"
Harry paused, considering what he should say. He opted for a complete lie.
"You're me at the moment. If you caught the Snitch it would mean that Gryffindor would win. That's all."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "You and me both know that's a load of crap. Really, why?"
"That is why!" Harry protested.
"You are pathetic at lying."
"I'm telling the truth!"
Draco snapped. He forcefully shoved Harry against the fence.
"Bullshit! You are far too noble and idiotic and Gryffindor for simply that, so can you please tell me the whole bloody truth so I can figure myself out?"
Harry swallowed, nervously. "Figure yourself out?"
"FOR MERLIN'S SAKE, HARRY! TELL ME WHY YOU LET ME WIN," Draco yelled.
"Alright! Stop yelling," Harry said, "and let go of me," he added.
Draco released the grip that he had on Harry's collar, and he moved back a few steps so that Harry was no longer backed up against the fence.
"I let you win," Harry began, "because I felt that you deserved to win something for once."
"I don't need your pity," Draco sneered.
"Let me finish explaining!" Harry snapped.
Draco made a sign for him to continue.
"Every since we were kids, we fought. You were a constant in my life, even though I pretty much hated your guts. So when people I loved were dying, friends turned on me and I was being forced into all of these life threatening situations, and supposedly fulfilling my destiny, you were always there, and you hated me no matter what I did. You didn't waver in your hatred. When people were calling me crazy, calling me evil, making me feel like shit, you were always around, and you had always been against me."
Draco smiled wryly. "How does this relate to you letting me win?"
"I'm getting to that. It seemed that in all of our disputes, I always came out as the winner."
"Excuse me?" Draco interrupted.
"Oh, please. You know it's true. I used to beat you at Quidditch, duels, fights. Anyway, I had an epiphany as we were both diving for the Snitch yesterday. I have all the glory I will ever want or need. You? You've suffered through so much. You spent more time with Voldemort, and saw the extent of his cruelty firsthand. You didn't have a choice, and the things that you were forced to do, you will forever be judged for. I thought I could make you feel better by letting you have one small personal victory. I'm sorry if that made you feel small, but it was done with the noblest of intentions," Harry's mouth quirked up into a smile at the last statement.
Draco's face suddenly split into a huge grin. "You, are such a bloody Gryffindor it's not even funny."
"That's odd. The Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin."
Draco tilted his head in confusion.
"Long story. Maybe I'll tell you sometime."
Draco gave a brief, sharp laugh. "You'll always be a stupid Gryffindor to me. You and your bloody hero complex."
"You're welcome," Harry said sarcastically.
Draco suddenly had a burst of courage and suddenly flung his arms around Harry's neck and enveloped him in a fierce hug. Harry was shocked, before letting his hands land on Draco's back. When Draco pulled away, he beamed.
"Tell anyone about that hug, and you'll die a most painful death."
"I wouldn't dream of telling a soul," Harry lied.
...
"Do you reckon they've gone off to snog?" Ginny mused.
Hermione flicked her. "They went to talk, Ginny."
"Well, that's what they said they'd be doing," Ginny countered.
"I really don't think they'd be kissing right now, they're still-"
"Oi! Gryffindors!" Pansy interrupted. "Stop with the bickering?"
"Sorry," Hermione said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Back to the discussion at hand. Draco and Potter. Will it happen or not?" Pansy said.
"I think it has a chance, so long as they stop being idiots to each other," Hermione said.
"Imagine how good they'd look together!" Ginny exclaimed.
Pansy hummed her agreement. Hermione simply smiled.
"How long are they in each other's bodies for?" Pansy asked.
"Well, it lasts two months overall, and it's been quite a while. Only a couple of weeks to go, if I remember rightly," Hermione replied, counting on her fingers.
"Shall we take bets on how long it will take them to get together?" Ginny asked.
"How long it will take for who to get together?" someone else asked.
"Harry and Draco," Ginny replied without thinking.
"What?" There was a crash, and the sound of glass smashing.
The three girls turned around to see the speaker. It was Ron, and there were shards of glass around his feet and a puddle of Butterbeer, clearly having been dropped. Blaise looked amused, and happier than he had since yesterday.
"Ginny? What the hell did you just say?" Ron asked again.
Sorry. I had to end it there so I have somewhere to go with the next chapter!
So, my Quidditch position...well, I know I would be awful as a Chaser. Beater, I don't think I have enough power! Seeker, it's an important job, but I think because you basically just focus on the Snitch and not falling off your broom, I could handle it. Keeper, I would just end up getting hit in the face with the Quaffle. A lot. So, Seeker. But most likely, cheering in the stands. I am horrendously uncoordinated.
Next question!
Well, first of all, suggestions for this fic and some drabbles would be very appreciated...
An actual question...erm...oh! James&Lily or Snape&Lily? Why?
Seeing as this is one of my longest chapters, maybe leave a(n extra long) review?