Secrets

Secrets

Chapter Six

"Well, let's have it. Where have you been?" Ron asked.

Who does he think he is? Harry thought, growing angry.

"Why do I have to explain myself to you?"

Ron looked momentarily thrown off, as if he had just expected Harry to come right out and say where he had been.

"Because we always do this kind of stuff together," Ron whined.

"Well, maybe I just wanted to be by myself."

Ron gasped, his face lighting up as he realized what was going on.

"It's a girl! You met someone and now you're sneaking out to meet up with her! Good job!"

"Ron, I'm not meeting some girl."

Ron's eyes grew wide, "Harry...is it a bloke?"

"Well...yeah."

Ron's face grew a little green. "Well...uh, good for you. How come you never told me you were gay?"

"Gay? I never said anything about...oh! No! I didn't mean that!"

Ron sighed in relief.

"Oh, good. You scared me there for a moment. So, what's going on?"

"Well...somebody came to me asking for help. He's having a lot of...family problems."

Ron considered that for a moment.

"Oh. Well, who is it?"

"Um..."

"Oh come on Harry. You at least owe me that much."

I don't owe you anything, Harry thought. I don't want to start anything though. Not now.

"It's Malfoy."

"MALFOY?!"

Seamus groaned over from his bed. "Would you two shut up? I'm trying to sleep."

"Sorry," Harry whispered. Seamus mumbled an inaudible response, rolling back over.

"Harry...Malfoy?" Ron whispered.

"I'll explain in the morning. Let's just get some sleep."

"No! I want--OOF!" Ron yelled, until he was hit on the head with a pillow from Seamus's bed.

Ron let out a growl and then spun around and stomped off to his bed. As he climbed in, he shot Harry a venomous look.

Harry sighed, climbing into bed, dreading the next morning.

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

Sunlight poured through the open window of the boys' dormitory.

Harry groaned and rolled over, putting his pillow over his head to block out the offending light.

A brief flash of the night before crossed Harry's mind and he sighed, knowing he couldn't hide in his bed forever. Eventually he would have to face his best friend.

Which is exactly what Ron was thinking as he pulled the covers off of Harry's resting form.

Harry rolled over, knocking the pillow off his head. He glared at Ron.

"I'm trying to sleep."

"Maybe you shouldn't have got in so late. Besides, I think you've slept enough. Everybody has already started making their way to the Great Hall."

"No one to hear my screams," Harry muttered, looking at his very angry friend.

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

"Well, stop stalling and tell me why you're meeting Malfoy in the middle of the night if it isn't to shag him."

Harry groaned and put his face in his hands.

"Thank you, Ron, for that mental picture that you have permanently embedded into my brain."

Ron paused, thinking about what he said. The shudder that ran through his body made it apparent that he realized what he had said.

When he recovered, he made a noise of frustration deep in his throat.

"Fine! If you have no intention of telling me, I'll just be on my way."

He spun around and stormed halfway across the room before Harry called out to him.

"Wait--Ron."

The boy froze.

"I went to Malfoy because I knew something was wrong. At first he wouldn't talk to me, but then I guess he realized he had nobody else to talk to. His father is a really bad man and he doesn't want to be anything like him. He asked me for help. I guess sometimes I just feel like I have to live up to my name."

"But it's Malfoy!"

"Ron, please just understand. He's going through a lot right now. And don't worry," Harry smiled, "he's not going to replace you."

Ron crossed his arms and pouted.

"I don't trust him for a moment. I trust that git about as far as I can throw him."

"Then trust me."

"Fine. But I don't have to like it."

"Thank you."

"And don't expect me to be friends with him all of a sudden. Because I won't."

Harry chuckled.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of asking you to do that. I don't need either of you to kill each other."

"Good. Now let's go. Hermione's waiting for us in the Great Hall."

"Listen, let me tell her, all right?"

"Yeah, okay. No problem."

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

"Hey. What took you so long?" Hermione asked as the two walked up to the table.

"Harry is all buddy-buddy with the ferret," Ron said pointedly.

"Huh?"

Harry glared at Ron.

"Nice."

"Oh. Sorry. I had to tell someone! It was killing me!"

"Ron, I told you five minutes ago."

"Yeah...well, I'm good now."

"Could somebody please tell me what's going on? You're friends with Malfoy?" Hermione cut in, looking completely lost.

Harry sat down across from her and leaned forward so he could speak quietly.

"I'm just helping him. He's having problems. It's not like we're suddenly best friends. I can honestly say I'm not even sure if we get along. We always wind up arguing."

"Oh...well, how long have you two been on speaking terms?"

Harry laughed.

"Two days."

Hermione looked relieved.

"Ron makes it sound like you two have been friends for months," she replied, joining Harry's laughter.

"Well, I'm glad you two have just suddenly forgotten all the rotten stuff Malfoy has said and done to us," Ron muttered.

Hermione grew serious.

"I haven't forgotten. I just trust Harry's judgment. If he says Malfoy is different, then I believe him."

"He is," Harry replied. "Haven't you two noticed? He's so quiet and he keeps to himself now. He doesn't go out of his way to insult us anymore. Am I the only one who has realized that?"

"Now that you mention it, I see what you're saying. He has been acting odd. I guess I don't give Malfoy too much thought," Hermione replied, with a thoughtful look on her face.

"I don't give him any thought. He's bad news and I want nothing to do with him."

Harry sighed, knowing there would be no way to change his friend's mind.

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

The trio walked across the school grounds as Harry explained what was going on. Hermione seemed very focused on his every word, while Ron looked as if he'd rather be elsewhere.

As they neared the lake, Ron looked up and saw Draco sitting under a tree, staring out at the water. He glanced at his two friends and realized neither of them had noticed the boy by the lake. When they got a little bit closer Ron quickened his pace, leaving the other two behind.

"Oy! You!"

Draco looked up, startled.

"Where's your bodyguards at? Can't even keep those two oafs around? I knew you were crummy company, but you can't even keep those two around? Pathetic."

"Whatever, Weasel. I don't want to start," Draco grumbled as he stood up.

"Ron! Wait!" Harry said as he ran up to his friend's side.

"You're nothing without those two, are you? You're just weak," Ron spat out.

"At least I'm not just a pathetic excuse for a wizard like some people around here."

"At least my family cares about me."

Draco glanced at Harry, then looked back to the fiery redhead.

"Fuck you."

He pushed by Harry and began walking towards the Forbidden Forest.

"Stay here," Harry growled. He ran after Draco and caught up with him about halfway to the forest.

Draco spun around, his eyes filled with rage.

"You told them, didn't you?"

"Yeah..."

"I told you and I trusted you and you can't keep your goddamn mouth shut."

"Ron was awake when I got back last night. He was pissed at me and wanted to know whe--"

"So you fucking told him? It's called lying, Potter. It can be a helpful thing sometimes. You're a bloody coward. You sure the Sorting Hat put you in the right house? You should be in Hufflepuff."

Harry smiled slightly. "Actually, it told me I should be in Slytherin."

Draco scoffed at him. "You don't have what it takes to be in Slytherin."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment, Potter. Arg, no, you're changing the subject!"

"Is it working?"

Draco started to smirk, but then stopped himself.

"This is serious. Now that the Weasel is going to go tell all these people, all this shit is going to hit the fan and then I'll have everybody pitying me. That's just great, Potter."

"Don't worry. I know Ron. He may not like this, but he won't tell anybody."

At least I hope not.