The Trouble With Harry

The Trouble with Harry

Chapter 11: Things get Harry

Harry ran down the hall, late for his transfiguration class. He had been finishing off the homework, which he'd forgotten about until Hermione had so kindly reminded him ten minutes before they needed to leave for class. The scroll contained a generous amount of errors but at least it was done. "No thanks to you Hermione," he mumbled to himself as he raced up a flight of stairs. McGonagall would kill him.

This was the fifth time he had been late for her class. She would give him detention for sure. He looked quickly at his watch turning left down a dimly lit corridor. Seven minutes over. "Shit, oh shitohshitohshitohshitoh...OOF!"

Harry blinked, looking around him where he was sprawled on the floor. Everything in his sites was blurred and he couldn't seem to find his scroll anywhere. He patted around with his hand on the ground, looking for his glasses.

"Would you mind terribly getting the fuck off Potter?"

Harry started. "Malfoy?"

"Yes. Now get your bony arse off of me."

Harry had been so busy looking for his glasses and worrying about his imminent detention that it hadn't quite registered in his mind that he had fallen on someone, the reason for his spill in the first place. He quickly scooted off of Draco and sat on the floor next to him, blinking owlishly.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Here."

"What?"

"Here. Your glasses." He took Harry's hand and placed the glasses gently in his palm and stood up, dusting off his robes.

Harry put the frames on and sighed as his vision cleared to find Draco scowling down at him, his arms crossed dejectedly over his chest.

"Um...thanks Malfoy."

Draco's scowl twisted deeper.

"Alright...well...erm, I need to go bye." Harry pushed himself off the floor and turned to leave but stopped as Draco grabbed the cuff of his sleeve.

Harry turned to face him, frowning slightly. "What is it Malfoy?"

"You didn't apologize."

"Oh. Okay then. Sorry. I'll pay closer attention to where I'm going next time."

Draco's lips quirked slightly. "That's not what I meant."

Harry feigned ignorance and tried to look puzzled. "What did you mean then?" he asked innocently.

"You know what I meant. You've been avoiding me."

Harry frowned. "Not any more than you've been avoiding me. What do we have to say to each other anyway?" he snapped defensively. But then his face softened and his lips turned up in a small smile. "Look if it makes you feel any better, I apologize for that night. I really am sorry."

Draco leveled his unrelenting glare at the boy, struggling to keep from punching him or worse, kissing him. He couldn't give in like that and do it again, no matter how much he wanted to. Not after what Harry had done. "You pushed me away," he ground out through clenched jaw.

"I had to go after Ron."

"You left me there."

"Malfoy..."

Draco could feel the anger building up.

"You just fucking left me there!"

"Draco..."

Harry's suddenly softened features, his soothing voice, such innocence, such earnestness, crying, 'trust me, I care, trust me.' It made Draco so mad. He wanted to tear that boy apart and hold all those lovely pieces in his hand and hit him and hurt him and squeeze him and love him and...

"Aaargh!" He threw himself at Harry and captured the other boy's lips with his own. Harry gasped in surprise and struggled a minute against the cold stone floor where they had fallen. He soon found himself giving up and relaxing against the slab as Draco wrapped his arms around his neck and buried his hands in his hair, pressing his warm lips softly against him, just as he had that night on the pitch.

Harry kissed him back with passion, tasting him for the second time in his life, and it was sweet. He let his lips glide sensuously against Draco's as the Slytherin's tongue caressed his own with a gentle persistence. Draco moaned as Harry reached up and slid his hands down his side and around his back grabbing him and holding him closer. Draco tugged playfully at Harry's lip and ran his tongue over it as his own hands wandered under the other boy's robes. He ran his fingers over the Gryffindor's chest and found his way to his jeans, undoing the single button at the top and unzipping them with ease. He grabbed the waistband of Harry's boxers and slipped his hand down.

"No!" Harry jumped as if he'd had an electric eel down his pants and quickly shot up off the floor, knocking Draco off of him.

Draco frowned and closed his eyes tightly. That's three.

He opened them again to stare up at Harry with an angry current sparking dangerously in his cold glare.

Harry shook his head as he did up his jeans. "I--I can't. I shouldn't have. Oh god, I'm sorry...this is wrong."

Draco's frown deepened as he got up and stood stiffly, clenching the sides of his robes angrily in his fists. "Weasley."

"No! No it's not like that. You don't understand I--."

"Fuck you Potter." Draco turned and ran down the hall and out of sight around a corner.

Harry stared after him a moment, finally turning away as he spotted his scroll on the ground. It was obvious they had landed on it during their encounter, as it was not in particularly good shape. In fact it was completely demolished. He bent and picked it up frowning. Detention plus a lowered Transfiguration grade. He looked down the way Draco had disappeared once more and sighed dejectedly. "Shit."

***

Draco was getting fed up with the mess. No one was doing a damn thing to rectify the situation. After the incident in the hall, Harry had just gone back to ignoring him. The situation with Weasley didn't change much either. Ron still hadn't made a move to justify Draco making a counter one. The Slytherin couldn't even amuse himself with fighting Weasley because the redhead wasn't doing anything. The path seemed clear to get what he wanted but for the doubt he felt...he could find Harry alone and try to talk to him again. But what if he got pushed away. That would be the fourth rejection and he didn't know whether he could tolerate it.

It was a special kind of torture to be so close to his goal, with nothing impeding him but his own fear and apprehension. But it was something he just couldn't get over. Draco would not be rejected again. He would not let himself be hurt like that once more. And by Harry Potter no less. But then who else could hurt him like that? He still resented that fact. He really had trusted Harry too much. And now Draco was losing hope quickly. All he could do, what he had resigned himself to doing, was to watch. Watch and see and take a chance when allowed or stay away when he could. And that was not often.

***

On the last day of the interminable week Draco found himself once more wandering the halls looking for the object of his obsession. But it happened that this day he couldn't find Harry, though he did spot Ron sauntering down the hall, swinging his gangly arms out of time with the pace of his long legged stride. Draco followed, naturally, to make sure the boy wasn't up to anything. When Ron reached the portrait hole, Draco stepped behind a near by suit of armor to watch as the Gryffindor mumbled a password.

The portrait swung opened and before Ron could enter, Hermione stepped out blocking his path.

"Oh hello Ron." She said pleasantly. "Where are you going?"

"I was just going to go to see if I could find Harry. Have you seen him?"

Hermione frowned slightly. "I know this isn't really my business, and you've snapped at me enough times for it, but why are you looking for Harry? You two aren't talking."

Ron looked at her somewhat surprised. Draco sniggered to himself in his hiding place.

She smiled at him sadly, "Really Ron, don't tell me you didn't expect anyone to notice. Everyone knows you and Harry have been...distant lately. Why are you looking for him? Please say you're finally going to talk to him and fix this whole mess."

Draco frowned as a low growl rumbled from his throat. Don't you encourage him, meddlesome she-devil.

"I umm...I wasn't going to talk to him...I mean I was just going to...erm." Ron swallowed and looked away under her scrutinizing gaze.

"Save it Ron. I know what you were going to do. You were going to find him and sit across the room making eyes at him all evening long weren't you?"

"How did you...I wasn't...but I--," Ron spluttered as Draco cupped a hand over his mouth to keep his chuckles from escaping into the hall.

"Oh it was quite obvious from the very beginning Ron. I've known all along. Well it was obvious for most people I think. Harry didn't know though. He thought you were in love with Malfoy, if you can believe that."

Draco blanched and Ron nearly choked on his shock. "What?! That prick? Why would I like him?"

"How should I know how Harry's mind works? It was partly your fault though Ron. You really should have just been upfront with him from the beginning," she scolded.

"But I kissed him..."

"I don't know what to tell you Ron. You know Harry. He can be a bit odd at times."

"And you knew all the time? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell him? Why are you telling me now?" Ron cried in exasperation.

"I can not believe this. The one time I stay out of it and everyone's all over me. If I had interfered, you would end up mad at me. I know it. So don't you put this on my shoulders Ron Weasley, because Harry's already tried that and it didn't work."

"Wait, so you told Harry?"

"Well I got a bit impatient. You really have no idea how dense that boy can be. Well, actually I suppose you would have some idea wouldn't you. I'm really sorry about all this Ron. I know you love him."

Ron blushed with embarrassment as Draco flushed in anger behind his armor.

"So Harry thought I was in love with Malfoy all that time. This explains everything! And now he knows I'm not in love with that git?"

Hermione nodded.

"Hermione, where is he?"

"He's down by the lake I think. He wanted to have some time outside while there was still light. But Ron, don't bother him right now."

"But I need to talk to him."

"Ron I'm telling you, he didn't want to be bothered. Don't go down there--."

Draco sat stunned. What Hermione said had turned his head upside down, and his thoughts inside out. Harry thought he and Weasley...god it was too horrible to even repeat. And he was down by the lake now. Down by the lake alone. Draco smiled to himself. He didn't bother with stealth as he dashed down the hall, halting Hermione in her speech and turning the heads of the two Gryffindors.

It took Ron a moment to recognize the hair and the lean body and then another to realize that Malfoy had heard the conversation between him and Hermione. It was quite obvious to where the Slytherin was headed in such a hurry. After all, Hermione had just told him Harry was out by the lake. Alone. Ron gasped and took off after the boy, leaving Hermione to yell her displeasure after him.

***

"Oh no you don't." Ron leapt at the blond and grabbed him around the middle, bringing them both to a grinding halt as they fell to the ground in the middle of the great lawn of the Hogwarts grounds.

"Get off! What the fuck are you doing Weasley!" Draco struggled to get out from under the other boy. Ron let him sit up but stayed within arms reach just in case the Slytherin tried to make a quick getaway.

Draco dusted the dried grass from his robe and glared at Ron. Ron glared back.

"You're going to the lake."

Draco nodded. "Not that it's any of your business."

"To see Harry."

Draco nodded again.

Ron snorted. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

"You had your chance Weasley. He chose me. Deal with it." Draco got up off the grass and crossed his arms.

Ron too rose from his spot. "He didn't choose you. He hasn't chosen anyone yet," he took a step towards the other boy, leaning in menacingly. "I'm giving you a chance Malfoy. Stay away from him. I won't be responsible for what happens if you don't..." he pounded his fist in his palm, "...actually, I will be responsible. I'm telling you, walk away. You don't even really like him. Let it go."

Draco frowned. "And I'm telling you Weasley, fuck off. Who are you to say who I like? You're delusional if you think he'd ever have you Weasley. I thought we'd taken care of this problem a week ago. Maybe you don't remember, but he pushed you away. I saw, I was there. He may think you're good enough to be a sidekick but he'll never want you Weasley. Not like he wants me. You could never give him even a fraction of what I could."

"Oh and what's that, money? So what if you have money? I was going to bloody kill myself for him! What were you going to do, buy him a new broom?"

Draco looked surprised for a moment before scowling at the redhead. "Look Weasley, it's not my fault that you're so fucked up in the head that you'd do something like that. But if it came down to it, yeah I would kill myself for him. I would kill myself a thousand times over. In a very slow and painful manner if it would make him love me."

"Ha! Then you admit it. You admit that he doesn't love you."

"No that's not what I meant! He'd love me before he'd ever look at your ugly pock marked face."

"They're freckles," muttered Ron darkly. "We'll see. We'll see who he chooses. He's down by the lake. We'll see who he chooses right now."

Draco didn't wait for Ron to finish his sentence before he once again took off towards the lake at a run.

"Hey!" Ron ran after him trailing at his heels.

The two slowed as they reached the grove of small trees near the bank. They looked about frantically each trying to spot Harry before the other, neither willing to leave the other's side in fear that their rival would find him first, but the raven-haired Gryffindor was nowhere in sight.

Draco's brow furrowed in frustration and Ron distractedly kicked up the dust in their path as they walked further into the grove. "You know he'd never be with a slimy git like you," said Ron casually to break the odd silence that had fallen between the two as they walked.

"We'll see. It's still not too late for you to turn back Weasley. You know I'm only telling you for your own good. Why put yourself through that kind of rejection twice?"

"Well you don't seem to have any trouble dealing with rejection." Ron smirked at Draco, earning a death glare from the blond. He grinned in satisfaction and crossed his arms casually. "If you can handle it, I sure as hell can. But I won't have to."

"We'll see. But he'll choose me."

"He'll choose me. I'm his friend."

"I'm a better kisser. He'll choose me."

Ron looked scandalized. "I kiss just fine! He can't stand you so he'll obviously pick me you delusional prat!" he swung his arms around dramatically and slowed his pace as they approached a clearing nestled amongst a small grove of birches.

"Well if he can stand you so well why hasn't he been talking to you? I've been watching you know. He doesn't even say a word to you if he can help it. That's why he'll choose--."

"Neville?!" Ron stopped in his tracks causing Draco to walk into him and scowl before what the other boy had said registered in his mind.

"What?!"

"Shhhh." Ron hissed and ducked behind a bush, pulling the Slytherin down after him. He pointed to the clearing up ahead. The blood drained from Draco's face as his eyes followed Ron's finger.

They crouched there and watched as Harry and someone who indeed resembled a very flushed Neville Longbottom stood in the middle of the clearing, wrapped in each other's arms.

Draco made a strangled sound in his throat. "M-maybe they're just friends."

Harry leaned over and placed a sweet kiss on Neville's lips and pulled him closer.

"Friends don't kiss like that," said Ron in a whisper. Draco arched an eyebrow and smirked at him causing an embarrassed flush to stain Ron's cheeks. "What I meant was...er...just friends don't kiss like that."

"Right Weasley. Please, by all means, keep deluding yourself. Stupid ponce. You know this is all your fault."

"My fault? How's this my fault? You're the one who messed with him. He went to Neville after you kissed him. You obviously turned him off to us."

Harry looked towards their direction. "Did you hear something Neville?"

Ron and Draco paused in the middle of their bickering and tensed behind the bush.

Neville shook his head as he looked around. Harry shrugged. "Let's go in. We've been out here long enough." The couple left and the two boys hidden in the underbrush slumped down onto the ground.

Ron held his head in his hands and groaned softly. Draco sat beside him, staring blankly at the dirt.

"Every time. Everytime I almost had him you'd interrupt. He would have been mine if it weren't for you." Ron lifted his face and glared at Draco. The blond snapped out of his shock to return the glare.

"You weren't meant to be with him you idiot. He was meant to be with me! You're the one who kept beating me up and turning him against me. He realized he couldn't be with me with you around and ran into the arms of that halfwit Longbottom! This is all your fucking fault!"

"He'd never have an evil git like you. He was mine!"

"No he was mine!"

"He was mine!" screeched Ron grabbing at Draco's throat but only managing to snag the front of his robes. "All your fault...he was mine...your fault," he shook the other boy violently where he held him. "MINE!"

Draco scowled up at him, clawing frantically at the Gryffindor's hands, "NO! He was--."

"Neither of yours!"

Ron and Draco halted their struggles and looked up to find Hermione glaring down at them, her hands poised sternly on her hips.

"I told you not to come down here didn't I? God you two are incredibly thick. It's no wonder Harry wouldn't have EITHER ONE OF YOU!" she yelled enraged.

Ron looked up at her in shock. "You knew?!"

Hermione nodded, rolling her eyes. "Of course I knew! You would have too if you'd actually stopped being so arrogantly stubborn and selfish and actually talked to your friend every once in a while. And I thought Harry was daft..."

Draco scowled. "How long?"

She sighed and thought for a moment. "Well, the past week officially, but I think it was pretty much two weeks in the making."

Draco crossed his arms over his chest in a huff. "I can't believe this. He was cheating on me!"

Ron snorted. "Oh come off it. You were never going out. All you did was kiss him one measly time. Twat."

"Shut up you! I'll have you know I kissed him two times. That's twice as many times as you--oof." Draco gasped as Ron gave him another harsh shake.

"Liar! You did not kiss him twice. I'll kill--."

"ARRGH! Stupid boys and their stupid problems! Get it in your puny minds that Harry doesn't want either one of you! Don't you even care about how you've hurt him in the past two weeks? Don't you even care that he's happy now?!" Hermione threw them each a look of disgust as they paused, distracted from their murderous intentions by her rage. "You know what? You two deserve each other." She sniffed regally and stomped back towards the castle leaving the stunned boys staring after her.

Draco turned his eyes back to Ron. "Touchy."

Ron shrugged and nodded releasing his grip on Draco's robes. He and got up off the ground and dusted the debris from his robes. Draco too rose and threw a disconcerted look at Ron. The agreement hung silently between them that it had been enough for today. It was getting late. And love was an exhausting business.

The two boys turned and trailed Hermione in silence, finally too tired to do each other any more damage tonight and ready to retreat to their four-posters, to take refuge once again from yet another Harry-less day.

A/N#2: So would you like to kill me now or wait until the last chapter? Just because of this odd need I feel to explain myself I have to tell you that this is not completely my fault. I am actually writing this for someone, therefore they get to choose pairings. Thus you have Harry and Neville. This really is kind of a cop out I know, especially in terms of the Harry, Ron tensions. If anyone wants to write an alternate H/D ending please, by all means do. But I'm way too busy right now to do it myself. Maybe I'll get around to it someday. Kinda like this though. Actually one of my favorite chapters despite the result. And you know what's coming next don't you? Chapter 12 wraps things up. Yes it does contain making out of various degrees. And a talk between Ron and Harry and Harry and Draco and Ron and Draco. Fun shit huh? If anyone was waiting for this, I apologize for the delay. Harry n' Draco forever, but not here L.