Change of Hearts

Change of Hearts

Chapter 6

It was Halloween and five Hogwarts students walked a little behind the rest. One a Hufflepuff, one a Slytherin, and three Gryffindor.

They shopped at Zonko's and Honeydukes for all the things the average teenage witch or wizard could possibly want, and then to the 3 Broomsticks for Butterbeers.

Harry sat between Draco and Hermione at their circular table and across Ron, who refused to sit next to Draco, and Ernie Macmillan, the boyfriend Ron revealed he had. He wasn't really into the conversation about whatever the topic was now. It had changed many times in the few minuets Harry spent staring out a nearby window.

He stared in the direction of that cave Sirius had hidden in as the slight breeze blew stray autumn colored leaves down the road.

Talking to Dumbledore that day had helped a lot. Harry took the idea of changing the terms of the relationship so now there was no impending breakup hovering over their heads. It was almost bliss.

But Hermione and Draco were at war constantly. It was a rare occasion indeed when the two took part in a civilized conversation. Harry was sick of it. He didn't understand why they couldn't all just get along.

Low and behold, the bickering started yet again.

"Well, if you hadn't been in love with him, this wouldn't have ever happened!"

"Who are you to say? Are you God? Are you inside my head, knowing my every thought? You don't know the half of it!"

The small pub had grown extremely quiet with their raised voices. Merlin, would it ever stop?

"Stop it," Harry said quietly.

Draco stopped talking in the midst of an insult. Harry knew the possibility of a certain word was sure to emerge should the argument continue. It always did.

"Can't either of you just give it a rest? You're driving me mad."

Harry stood and left them, all of them, to wonder the streets of Hogsmeade alone with his thoughts.

Draco followed him, almost immediately, and caught up with him as he turned a corner, unconsciously headed for the Shrieking Shack.

"We're not--well we'll try not to fight anymore, Harry," he said. "I know she loves you and all, and she knows that we're together, so we'll try to be civil at the least."

"You know she loves me?" Harry asked feigning interest.

"Yeah, I do. I saw you that day, by the lake when I asked you out. When she cried, I saw it all. I thought that maybe she would be part of your brilliant plan."

"I think I used to fancy her too. I wouldn't go as far as to say that I loved her, but I was considering dating her. Everything depended on you, your decision. I don't feel that way about her anymore, it's different now."

*****

Draco returned to the Slytherin common room after the feast--and a few stolen minuets with Harry--to find Pansy.

She was lying on the floor writing something. Before walking over, Draco studied her. Some of the Slytherins found her attractive, he tried to see it, but couldn't. she did look peaceful though. A slight smile on her lips.

He crouched down in front of her and she looked up, hand instinctively covering what she was writing. "Yes," she asked.

"Come with me."

Draco led her out of the common room to an empty classroom and shut the door. She moved closer to him, she thought this was something it wasn't.

"No, Pansy, I want to talk to you," he clarified as her hands traveled close to his midriff.

"What about, Drake?"

Draco winced. Only Pansy could get away with calling him Drake.

"For always being there for me. For doing your best to heal me when my father lost control. For everything you've ever done for me. Have I ever thanked you?"

"No, you never have," she answered sadly.

"I'm sorry, I'm an ass. Thank you, Pansy. For everything."

"Don't thank me, Drake. I did it because I care about you. I didn't do it for your gratitude. Caring for you, tending your wounds, it's my way of telling you just how much I love you. I know you don't love me the same way and I'm okay with that. I just want you to know."

Draco sighted and leaned against the cold stone wall, closing his eyes. Why did she have to love him?

"Why me?" he asked to no one in particular.

"I don't know," she replied. "I didn't choose to fall in love with you, Draco. I just did."

She kissed him on the cheek and left.

*****

Harry had been reading in his dormitory when he heard someone knock on the door. They all looked curiously at the door, wondering who it could be as they were all in the room.

Dean was the one who answered the door, revealing Hermione in the doorway.

"Can I talk to Harry?"

Harry wondered what she wanted to talk about that couldn't wait until morning, as so many other things did. He closed his book and took Dean's place as he went back to whatever task he was in the process of completing before interrupted.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Now that he was this close to her, he could clearly see that she had been crying.

"Remember what I made you promise?"

Harry stepped out onto the landing and shut the door. "Yes," he answered.

"I don't want you to keep that promise." Fresh tears formed and fell and she whipped them away angrily. "And I don't want to keep crying like this! I want you to be happy with Malfoy. I don't want you to worry about my feelings anymore. Forget I ever made you promise. Forget I ever said I loved you. Please?"

Harry stood in stunned silence while her words sunk in. "No," he finally said. "I'm not going to forget, Hermione, because I don't want to. Alright, I wont keep that promise. You obviously don't want me to, but I'm not going to forget. And maybe one day, you'll want me to remember."

She opened her mouth to protest, but Harry was quicker. "No," he insisted. "I'm not forgetting and that's final."

He was sure she was going to say something, but instead she merely nodded and turned to leave.

Harry watched her walk slowly down the staircase before retuning to his dormitory.

"What the fuck was that about?" Ron demanded angrily.

"I don't know," he said distantly. "Something she wants me to forget."

"You know she loves you, don't you?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, Dean, I know," he answered shortly. He didn't want to get into this right now.

"I'll bet it has something to do with you and Malfoy."

Seamus punched Dean in the shoulder as Harry stared at them stunned. He knew that everyone had their suspicions about him and Draco, but no one really knew the truth, save Ron, Hermione, Pansy and Ernie.

"Sorry," Dean muttered. "I shouldn't have said that."

"What do you think you know, Dean," he asked.

"Just rumors. Everyone knows Hermione and Malfoy love you, but nobody knows who you love. Most everyone recons your dating the both of them."

"Well, your half right. I'll leave you to figure out what is true though."