Wow. I actually wrote a chapter pretty quickly. If that doesn't warrant a review, I don't know what will. Anyway, in other news, we passed the 200 review mark! That means that I will write another drabble in celebration! I don't have a particular idea, so if you have a request/prompt/suggestion, then put it in a review or PM me if you want and I'll pick my favourite or maybe use others in the future! Without further ado, enjoy...

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Draco was confused. He was glad that he had heard Harry's reasoning from Harry himself, but he couldn't help but feel somewhat unsatisfied with it. His actions showed that the previous animosity between the two of them was dead, but Draco felt like he wanted more. If he did want more, he wasn't completely certain of. The two boys walked back to the Hog's Head in amicable silence. Draco became aware of how close they were standing to each other. He'd only have to move his hand forward an inch or two and they'd be holding hands. He walked with his hands in his pockets the rest of the way to avoid temptation. Harry seemed completely unfazed by this, just walking along in a carefree manner. On the inside, Harry was just as nervous as Draco. He'd made a big step into a friendship with Draco, and his heart was screaming for more. He tried to maintain a cool air as they walked back to the pub, but his hand was twitching towards Draco's, and he couldn't help but sigh with relief when Draco ended the torment by putting his hands in his pocket. They reached the door of the Hog's Head and Harry opened the door for Draco to walk through. Draco smiled graciously in return, and held the door open for Harry once he himself walked through. They made their way back through the pub. Harry wished they hadn't.

...

Ginny stared wide eyed at her brother. She felt like an idiot, and wanted to find Harry and apologise profusely, guessing there was a reason that he hadn't told Ron. Ron had never liked Draco. Even when all three of the trio didn't like him, it was always Ron that took his comments most to heart. Maybe that was because Harry was facing much bigger threats than some childish rivalry, and had a sense of perspective, or maybe it was because Hermione was so calm and rational that she learnt quickly to not be affected by Draco's taunts. But Ron always hated Draco the most of the three, and had taken the most time to warm to Draco after being forced to be in close quarters with him for the past few weeks. He could be civil, sort of, but Ginny was struck with the sense that Ron would not appreciate knowing that he could be forced to spend even more time with Draco.

But it was too late now. The proverbial Kneazle was out of the bag.

"Ginny?" Ron repeated his question.

Hermione touched Ron's shoulder soothingly. "Calm down, Ron."

"So, it's true? And you knew!" Ron accused his girlfriend.

He spotted Pansy and Blaise exchange looks.

"And so do you two!" He pointed at them shakily.

"How long has this been going on for?" Ron asked. "Can someone please tell me something?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I'll tell you. Just calm down. Harry has had feelings for Malfoy for a while. It's true."

Ron's eyes widened. Ginny put her head in her hands. This couldn't possibly get any worse.

Then the door swung open and two people walked in. Ginny groaned. It just got worse.

Blaise and Pansy exchanged shocked glances. Pansy tried valiantly to catch either Harry or Draco's eye, and made frantic shooing motions. Neither of them noticed.

Hermione tried to distract Ron, but he turned around and saw the two of them approaching, and having witnessed the scene at the door, saw them both grinning at each other.

...

As soon as Harry saw Ron's expression, he knew things were about to happen that would not turn out well.

"So, it's true then?" Ron snapped, and he swooped down on Harry.

"What's true?" Harry asked, feigning nonchalance.

"About the two of you?" Ron flapped his hand in the direction of Harry and Draco.

Harry inhaled sharply. Ron knew. Harry could have ran away, but he knew he'd have to tell his best friend eventually.

"Harry, for god's sake, why didn't you tell me you were in love with him?"

With that, any hope of salvaging the situation was gone. Harry looked at his feet. He couldn't bear to see Draco's reaction.

"Oh god," Harry murmured. Hermione immediately got up from her seat and took a shaking Harry in her arms. She really felt for him. What a way for someone to find out about your secret love for them. Having your idiot best friend yell it out in front of them.

"Nice job, Ron," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.

Pansy patted Harry's back consolingly. Even Blaise looked vaguely pitying. Then, everyone except Harry, who had his face pressed against the table and was slowly hitting his face against it, turned to look at Draco.

His face was impassive, but his eyes gave him away. They were looking at the ground, avoiding everyone's gaze. He wasn't sure how to take the news. Shock was all he could register.

"You're in love with me?" he managed to choke out.

Harry froze. He slowly raised his head up from the table and turned to look at Draco. He forced himself to nod.

"Why?" Draco's voice was just above a whisper. Having just been in denial about Harry for the past few days, he didn't know how to react to this shock to his system.

Harry blanched and looked at his feet again. "McGonagall was talking about forgetting the past and moving on. I couldn't help but admire your courage for coming back to school after everything that happened to you. You seemed so unaffected by it, and I admired your ability to not show how you really felt and just get on with things. Then the fascination started. I couldn't quite stop watching you. Not in a stalkery way, before you say anything. I was just enraptured by you. Your eyes, the one thing that you can't cover with a mask. Your smile, it didn't happen often, but when it did, it lit up the room. I just wanted to constantly be around you and make you smile. I can't fully put it into words, but that's the best I can do," Harry said, with a breathy laugh, before seeking out Draco's eyes.

For once, Draco was lost for words. What was there to say when someone you have been in confusion about your feelings towards for a while confesses that they love you and have done for a while? In a cheesy Muggle film, Draco would throw himself at Harry for a passionate kiss and they'd live happily ever after. But this was him and Harry, and they would never have a straight forward relationship.

"I-I need to figure myself out first," Draco stuttered, "I'm sorry."

With that, he quickly turned on his heel and hurried out of the pub. Harry's face planted right back onto the table. Hermione rubbed soothing circles on his back.

"Ronald Weasley, you absolute prat," Pansy hissed, "what the hell is wrong with you? Things were going great with them before you opened your big gob and spilled the beans. Now look what you've done! You may not approve of this could be relationship, but it doesn't mean you have to try to stop it from happening."

Ron gaped. "No, it's not like that."

Harry looked up. "Huh?"

"I don't disapprove. I don't have a problem with you being gay or anything, sure I'd have to ask you Malfoy, Harry? Really? But you're my best friend, and I wouldn't let anything come between us again. Whenever we've fallen out in the past, I was really miserable. You're like family to me, mate. And I'm really sorry if I've screwed things up for you."

"Then why were you so angry?" Harry asked.

"I was just pissed off that you hadn't told me. Hermione knew, Ginny knew, even two bloody Slytherins knew! I was just really pissed off that you hadn't told me, your best friend."

Harry pondered this for a moment. "I think I was just dreading to hear your opinion, since it's the one that would mean the most to me."

Ron beamed. "Come here," he said, and opened his arms. Harry got up and joined him in a Very Manly Hug With Two Claps on the Back and Everything.

Hermione took a sip of her Butterbeer, which had been delivered safely by Blaise.

"Well, that's nice to know that my opinion doesn't matter, isn't it?" she quipped good humouredly.

Harry hugged her as well. "Of course it does."

Blaise groaned. "I hate to interrupt the Gryffindor Love Fest, but I'm going to go after Draco and try to talk him into joining this little coven where Slytherins and Gryffindors get along. Maybe slip in a few good words about Harry, while I'm at it."

"Shit. How you reckon he's taking the news?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out," Blaise replied.

"Should I go as well?"

"No, I think you'd just freak him out more after your little speech."

With that, Blaise followed Draco's path and left the pub.

Ron gave a chuckle.

"What?" Ginny asked, giving him a strange look.

"I don't know what Blaise means by that," Ron replied. He looked at Harry. "Honestly, mate. That speech was so smooth that I fell in love with you a little bit."

"Hello?" Hermione said, waving her hand, "Your girlfriend is sitting right here."

"I know," Ron said, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek. He pulled away and jokingly winked at Harry. Harry punched him in the arm.

"Only one man for you then, eh?" Ron said.

Harry looked wistfully at the door. "Yeah. I just hope he could feel the same way."

The secret is out! Which means we are getting close to Drarry ACTUALLY HAPPENING. Oh, sorry, did I spoil the ending?

Obviously, you all knew it was coming. It's not a big surprise. If you are surprised then I am shocked.

Ok, I have to say Jily. One, Harry Potter wouldn't be alive if it didn't happen. Two, I've read some great stories and seen some amazing fan-art of this pairing that I just can't imagine them with other people. I'm a big Snape fan, and truly respect and admire him and his love for Lily, but I can't fight how I feel for Jily.

Next question! What is your fondest memory of Harry Potter? It can be while reading the books for the first time, watching the films, whatever! Make my heart burst from all the feels!

Until next time, chums!