Secrets

SECRETS

Chapter 10

"Close your ears," Draco said, turning to Harry.

"What?"

"I told you to close your ears. I'd advise you do it now, unless you wish for us to stand out here all day. A warning though, it does tend to get a bit chilly in the evenings."

"Why do you want me to close my ears? And how exactly am I supposed to do that?" Harry asked, shaking his head.

"So you don't hear the password, of course," Draco stated. "Never mind. Just pretend to not hear this."

Draco leaned very close to the wall and softly whispered, "Godrick Gryffindor."

Harry stared at him in wide-eyed amazement. "Your password is what?"

"If you didn't hear it, there's no way I'm repeating it," Draco said haughtily.

"I heard it. I just can't believe it."

Draco grinned.

"Good one, huh? Nobody would expect that to be the password. Although, constantly saying that is making me a bit nauseous. I feel I must wash out my mouth."

Harry scowled.

"You're getting better at that, you know. You do learn from the best," Draco said smugly. "Hey, don't roll your eyes at me."

"So are you planning on actually going into the common room, or are we really going to stand out here all day?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Shush. I'm pacing myself. I have to make a dramatic entrance."

Draco lifted his head in an arrogant manner and marched into the common room with Harry in tow. Draco spun around at the center of the room and spread his arms wide.

"So, what do you think?"

Harry felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. He couldn't very well tell Draco that he had been there before. He glanced around the room, pretending to study everything. His eyes passed over the stone walls and the greenish round lamps that were hanging from the ceiling. He let his eyes linger on the elaborately carved mantelpiece above the fireplace. Then he brought his eyes back to Draco. The other boy watched him in anticipation, studying his reactions.

"It's nice"

Draco didn't seem content with this. An annoyed expression crossed over his face.

"Nice? Nice?! This is more than nice! It's gorgeous," he cried, stomping his foot. A few younger Slytherins glanced over curiously.

"Well, it's a bit dark in here, don't you think? It's kind of depressing," Harry smirked, enjoying aggravating Draco.

"No, it's perfect. Light is too harsh and distracting. It shines over everything in a false attempt to make things cheerful. But it's a lie. It's a botched attempt to simulate sunlight. This is much better. Everything is much more mysterious. And you can't hide anything in the light. The dark acts as a shield, concealing things not meant to be seen. And plus, it's more peaceful. It's easier to relax in a dimly lit room, rather than one where you feel like you're in a spotlight."

A thoughtful expression crossed Harry's face as he considered his words. "Darkness acts as a shield...you have many secrets? Something you're trying to hide?"

Draco gave Harry a genuinely confused look. "Do you want everyone knowing your thoughts?"

"No, but-"

"Well, thoughts are often shown in facial expressions. In your eyes. How tight your mouth and jaw are. Creases in your forehead. Flaring nostrils. Shading of the face. I'm sure you get the point. Facial expressions can really betray your thoughts, whether you realize it or not. And in the light, there really is no hiding anything."

Harry stared at the Slytherin, not quite knowing what to say.

A broad grin crossed Draco's face and he broke the silence.

"So what was so urgent that you needed to speak to me about it?"

Harry felt his mood dampen.

"It's Ron. I think he's planning something. I'm not sure, though."

"He better not hurt himself thinking too hard. What is it that you think he's planning?"

Draco crossed to a chair near the fireplace and plopped down into it. Harry followed, taking a seat across from him.

"I think he wants to turn us against each other."

Draco gave an arrogant, nonchalant wave of his hand.

"Fuck him. There's no way he could do that. First of all, I don't think Weasley has the brains to come up with such a nefarious plot. Secondly, he can't actually ruin our friendship unless there's some doubt on either of our parts," Draco frowned. "I still find it extremely odd. Referring to us as friends."

Harry smiled. "I guess you're right. Whatever he tries to pull, I'll just ignore."

"Good. Now I'm tired of talking about the Weasel. Let's talk about something else."

"Like what?"

Draco grinned. It was almost an evil grin. Harry shifted uncomfortably, not liking the looks of that expression.

"What about girls?"

Harry sighed in relief. He didn't know what he was expecting, but he thought it was going to be much worse.

"What about them?"

"Got your eye on any of them?" Draco asked, an almost hungry expression crossing his face.

"Well, I used to like Cho. But I've been over her for a while now."

Draco looked disappointed. "Is that all?"

"Well, a little while back I had a thing for Hermione," Harry felt his face grow warm at the confession.

The Slytherin's face lit up at the admission.

"Granger! That little mu-know-it-all?"

Harry grinned, "Yeah, but it was short lived. It's always been obvious that she has a thing for Ron."

Draco rubbed his hands together in a devious manner. "This is getting good. Anyone else? What about the Weasel's sister?"

Harry scrunched up his nose in distaste. "I don't think so."

"She fancies you, you know."

"Yeah. I never knew you paid so much attention to the Gryffindors."

Draco rolled his eyes. He turned in his chair so that his legs draped over one of the arms and he rested his head against the other. "It's hard not to notice her fawning all over you. Plus, the drool hanging from her mouth is a dead giveaway."

"Oh please."

"I'm serious! She's cute though. Why don't you start something up with her?"

Harry shifted in his chair. "I don't know. I was just never attracted to her. She's more of a little sister to me."

Draco nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. There anyone else?"

Harry searched his brain for a moment, trying to bring up another name. Finally he shook his head. "No. Nobody else."

The blonde stared in amazement. "You really have been living a sheltered life, huh? So what's the farthest you've gotten?"

Harry blushed, "Oh, I uh..."

"Oh come on. It's not a big deal, really. Just spit it out."

"Well...I've kissed Cho."

"Good for you. She's a hot one. It that the farthest you've gotten?"

"Yes," came the mumbled response.

"Wow. The famous Harry Potter. Still a virgin. That's actually rather surprising," Draco teased.

"What about you?" Harry shot back.

"If you're asking if I'm a virgin, then no, I'm not," Draco put his hands behind his head and grinned at Harry.

"Oh. Well, who have you, uh..."

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Fucked? Done the nasty with? Screwed?"

Harry nodded.

"Yeah...."

"Well, Pansy, as I'm sure you would have guessed. And also this one odd Ravenclaw girl a year younger than us."

Harry stared at Draco.

"Do you mean Luna?"

Draco cringed.

"Yeah, that's her. I have to say it was definitely a lack of judgment on my part. I guess that's what happens when you don't bother to get to know a person before you have sex with them."

"Wow, Malfoy. You are a whore," Harry grinned as he received a glare from the other boy.

"I am not. Malfoys are not whores, thank you very much."

"You just told me you had sex with someone without knowing her."

"Yeah, well, it happens."

"Okay. So is that all? Pansy and Luna?"

Even in the poor lighting, Harry was still able to see Draco's facial expression darken.

"Yes."

"You know, you were right about what you were saying before. Facial expressions can really give away someone's thoughts."

"And?" Draco asked sharply. He fixed his eyes on the dark haired boy and stared intently at him.

"And I think you're lying."

Draco scowled.

"Yeah, well it's none of your business."

"Fine. You're right. It's not.

The two boys sat in silence for a few moments. Harry stared into the fireplace while Draco hadn't removed his gaze from the other boy.

"Can I trust you?"

Harry glanced over at Draco.

"Of course."

Draco glanced around and leaned forward in his chair. Harry mirrored the move and met him halfway.

"When I was younger," Draco murmured so his voice was barely audible, "I had been raped."

Harry blinked, startled. His head snapped back at Draco's words.

"What??"

"Shhh, keep it down," Draco scolded.

"By who?"

"It was...my father."

A look of bewilderment crossed Harry's face as he attempted to understand how somebody could do something so cruel and heartless to their own child.

"I'm so sorry..." he whispered.

Draco shrugged and sat back up in his chair.

"Water under the bridge, I say. Better not to dwell on the past," he said nonchalantly, a fake grin plastered on his face.

If I don't drop it, he'll get pissed at me, Harry thought as he slowly sat up in his chair.

"Right," he replied uncertainly.

Draco blinked a few times, then yawned, not quite managing to make it believable.

"I didn't realize how tired I was. Maybe I should get some rest."

"It's early, though."

"Who asked you? Anyway, I didn't sleep much last night. I suppose I should get caught up."

I can take a hint...

"I guess I should get a bit of studying done before Hermione gets on my case," Harry said standing up.

Draco too, stood up and walked Harry to the exit.

"Well, see you," Draco said.

"Bye," Harry responded as he stepped out into the hallway. Gray stones lined each side and torches charmed to never burn out were placed in intervals along the walls. The air noticeably felt a few degrees cooler out there than in the warm Slytherin common room. There was no mistaking that this was a dungeon.

Harry heard the entrance close behind him and he continued down the path that would lead him back up into the castle.

He couldn't seem to get Draco's confession off his mind. He just couldn't grasp how someone could be so horrible to their own flesh and blood.

I wonder when this happened. Did Lucius rape him when he was still a virgin or after? How old was Draco? It's horrible enough to think about it now, but what if he was just a child when it happened? That fucking bastard. If it ever comes down to me and him dueling, I'm going to make him pay. I'm going to make him wish that he never laid a hand on Draco. He'll wish that he had been a better father and probably husband as well. If he can be abusive to his own son, I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem harming his own wife. What an ass. No more, though. If he does one more thing, I'll go to him my-

"Password?"

Harry's head snapped up as he realized he was standing in front of the portrait of the fat lady. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't even been aware of his surroundings. It was as if he had been moving on autopilot.

"Oh, um, Bertie Bott," he muttered.

The portrait opened and Harry stepped into the common room. Ron and Hermione sat on the couch with school books on the table in front of them. Other than the two, the common room was empty.

When Harry entered the room, Ron's eyes snapped up. He stood up and began walking to Harry.

"Hi," Harry said as Ron came to a stop in front of him.

"Hey. What's up?"

"Oh, not much. You?" Harry replied, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"Me and Hermione were just doing a little bit of studying. We were going to wait for you, but we weren't sure when you were coming back. So, where were you?"

"Oh, I was just with Dr-"

"Draco. Of course you were," Ron said coldly. Hermione stood up from where she had quietly been watching and crossed over so she was standing next to Ron.

"Listen, I-"

"No, you listen. I'm sick and tired of this. You're always with him. When was the last time you hung out with us? Can you even remember that far back? It's like you don't give a damn about us!"

Harry shook his head in protest.

"It's not like-"

"Bullshit it isn't! I just wish you'd make some time for us. All you seem to care about though is being all buddy buddy with the ferret. I feel like I've lost my best friend.

"Ron," Hermione said softly, placing her hand on his shoulder.

He shrugged it off.

"Don't bother," he muttered and spun around, heading up the stairs to the dormitory.

Harry turned to Hermione with a look of bewilderment on his face.

"I can't believe he thinks that! You'll try to talk some sense into him, wont you?"

Hermione didn't answer him, but instead studied him with an expression that one would give another when they are unsure of how to explain something. It's a look much like the one given to a child when one has to explain that a mother or father or loved one won't be coming back because they have passed on.

"You don't think that's true, do you? That I spend too much time with him and not enough with you?"

Hermione gave her friend a sad smile and then turned around without a word. She gathered her books and then walked to the stairs.

Harry watched her, waiting for some type of response, but when she escaped from his view, he knew that he wouldn't get it.

He knew that he had been spending a lot of time with Draco, but he wasn't completely shutting out Ron and Hermione. He couldn't believe this was happening. He was losing his best friends.