Secrets

SECRETS

Chapter One

"Ron, nobody cares," Hermione sighed, trying to shut her best friend

up.

Ron's face dropped. "How can you say that?! Everybody cares about

quidditch! Right Harry?"

"Well, I can't speak for everyone, but I think--oof!" Harry was cut off

by somebody walking into him. He and the other person fell backwards

onto the floor.

Draco cringed as he hit the floor. He grabbed the book he dropped and

stood up, sending Harry a sharp look. "Sorry," he mumbled as he

brushed past Harry, who was getting to his feet.

Harry watched Draco walk away with a look of disbelief on his face.

"Did he--did you hear--?"

"Malfoy just apologized!" Hermione exclaimed.

"It's a trick. What did he do to you? Is there some kind of flesh

eating bacteria on you? That sounds like something he would do," Ron

cried, looking at Harry's robes for any signs of deteriorating cloth.

"No. There's nothing," Harry stated, glancing down. "Hmmm...that was

weird..."

"He's up to something. Sneaky, slimy, good for nothing

greaseball," Ron muttered under his breath.

"Oh please, Ron. Malfoy was obviously distracted," Hermione said,

defending Malfoy.

"So now you're taking sides with him?! Next thing you know you'll be

shagging the evil bastard!" Ron exclaimed.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yeah, okay. You know I'm the last person who

would side with Malfoy, but--"

"You were the first," Ron pointed out.

Hermione continued as if she didn't hear Ron. "He was probably caught

up in the moment. He was reading, if you hadn't noticed. I myself have

bumped into a person or two because I was engaged in a good book. You

know, you should really try that sometime, Ron. You might surprise

yourself and actually enjoy it."

"Bumping into people and falling on my arse?! Whoopee! I don't know

what I've been missing!" Ron let out a fake squeal of delight.

"You know what I meant!"

"Thanks anyway. I don't need to get my jollies from a book. I'll

pass."

"For future reference, please never talk to me about getting your

'jollies.'"

"Why? Getting hot?"

"Oh yes. Hearing you talk like that makes me want to rip off your

clothes and ravage your body."

"Really?"

"Hey, where'd Harry go?" Hermione asked, looking around at the crowded,

Harryless hallway.

"Oh good job, 'Mione. You scared him off by talking about how much you

want me."

"I did not scare him away."

"But you don't deny that you want my sexy body."

"I do too!"

"So you admit it!"

"No, I deny it."

"Oh no. You've already expressed your desires. You can't change your

mind now. It's too late."

Ron and Hermione walked down the hallway, their bickering not faltering

for a moment.

**********************************************************

"Hey, where'd you go to mate?" Ron asked, flopping down into a chair

across from Harry.

"I'm tired of your and Hermione's verbal ping pong. It gets old very

fast," Harry said, staring into the fireplace. "You two should shag and

just get it over with already."

Ron's face turned the color of his hair. "NO! I mean, nothing against

her, but why would--no," Ron babbled. Harry grinned.

"You really like her, don't you?"

"Oh, um...I, uh..."

"Speaking of 'Mione, where is she?"

Ron cleared his throat and appeared relieved at a subject change. "She

went down to the library. She wanted to get a little bit of studying

done before dinner. You know how she is."

"Hey, Ron! Wanna play a game of chess? Dean's a lousy partner.

There's no challenge. He's not very good," Seamus called from across

the common room. Dean smacked him in the back of his head, causing him

to let out an 'oof.'

"Gotta go. Can't say no to a game of chess," Ron said, already halfway across the room.

Harry sat there for a few moments in thought. Then he got up and went

to the sixth year boy's dormitory. He pulled his Firebolt out from

under his bed and then went back downstairs. He exited the common room

without any of his fellow Gryffindors even so much as glancing his

way.

He was walking across the school grounds toward the quidditch pitch

when he noticed Malfoy walking back towards the castle with his broom

in hand.

The blonde boy had a troubled look on his face. He glanced at Harry and

nodded his head in acknowledgment. "Potter," he said quietly as he

passed.

Harry hesitated and then turned to the boy who had not once, in the

past six years, spoken to him without insulting him in one way or

another.

"Malfoy."

The other boy stopped without turning around.

"Is everything alright?"

"What do you care, Potter?"

"Fine. Sorry I asked. It seems like something is wrong, and I was

just wondering if you're okay."

Malfoy slowly turned. Harry could see the pain in his eyes. He looked

as if he was about to say something, but then shook his head.

"I don't need to be saved. I'm fine. Just leave me alone."

As he spoke he began shaking violently. His legs gave out and he fell

to the floor. He kneeled in the grass with his head bowed. He grabbed

handfuls of grass on either side of him, breathing heavily.

Harry ran over and fell next to the boy. "Malfoy! Are you okay?!"

Malfoy took a few deep, labored breaths and then he jumped up to his

feet. "I said I'm fine," he said harshly and then quickly walked off.

Harry watched the boy until he disappeared into the castle. He sat

there watching the doors long after Draco had entered the building,

with a look of confusion on his face.

Something was definitely wrong with Malfoy.