Draco and Harry: Escorts

Chapter Six

Draco enjoyed the "pretending to be friends" charade immensely. Far more than Harry had ever intended. Granger's reserve took about three days to crumble like a house of cards. Between the compliments and the never-ending kindness, her trusting Gryffindor nature could not maintain her suspicion. Draco knew he had won the day when she placed a hand on his arm to draw his attention to a key bit of information.

Draco glanced at the hand in amusement and then at Harry, who glared daggers at him. Malfoy grinned. In truth, he was having an excellent time toying with Granger. She really wasn't that bad once she relaxed a bit. And she wasn't bad-looking, either. She still had more hair than a normal woman needed, but she generally kept it pulled back in an attractive clip. Hermione also had an excellent sense of humor, as Draco had discovered back in London the day they had gone upstairs in search of a book. Draco had pointed out one of the runic shapes and made an off-color joke hoping to disturb her, but to his surprise she had burst out laughing and added one of her own... right before Harry had walked in.

While Draco did not encourage Granger's growing friendliness toward him, he did nothing to deflect it, either, which brought the expected reaction from both Ron and Harry. Ron became excruciatingly possessive and forced himself to stay in the library and "help" them even though it was clear the enforced confinement made him want to claw the walls in frustration. Weasley sat close to Hermione at all times and threw evil glares at her whenever she made a friendly comment to Draco.

The suffocation factor was obviously getting to Granger and Malfoy noticed a growing tension between the Weasley couple. Draco supposed he should feel guilty and knew Harry expected him to be mortified at the idea of driving a wedge between Ron and Hermione, but Malfoy felt nothing of the sort.

Frankly, Weasley did not deserve someone of Granger's caliber and if he was too stupid to figure out how to hold onto her, then it certainly wasn't Draco's problem. Of course, trying to explain that to Harry was out of the question. Potter was furious. In fact, he was pacing next to the bed at the moment with both hands pulling agitatedly at his hair.

"I know what you're doing," Harry snapped. "I just don't understand why you're doing it."

"What do you mean?" Draco asked casually from his post near the open double doors that led to the balcony, pretending innocence, which he was quite good at. Of course, it never fooled Harry for a moment.

"Hermione is beginning to like you. And not in a casual friendship sort of way, either. What's worse--we all know it, including Ron."

"I'm simply being nice to her, as you commanded," Draco said dryly.

"Granted. You denied your Slytherin nature and now we have all been duly punished. Please go back to hating her."

"I can't. I rather like Granger now," Draco admitted and managed not to grin at the way Harry's jaw tightened. "She's been bloody useful with this little project of yours--we nearly have a workable solution."

That was completely true, even the liking part. She still annoyed him, but she had been astonishingly valuable with research. Harry had plenty of energy and was excellent at mowing through piles of material to pick out the useful bits, but Harry still expected to find a direct answer; to pull a piece of parchment from the stack labeled "Remedy." Potter's method was to drive headlong into an issue and pummel it into submission, which was an excellent quality when fighting a tangible foe. This problem, however, had to be approached from every angle.

Granger might have been a Gryffindor, but she had the mind of a Ravenclaw. She had come up with ideas that Draco would never have considered.

"I don't care," Harry said adamantly. "I think they should leave."

Draco laughed in delight. Harry was such a typical Gryffindor--always heading straight for the sacrifice. Potter would rather shun the companionship of his friends than suffer them to be emotionally wounded by a wicked Slytherin. Malfoy knew Granger well enough that she would not run along meekly, even for her own welfare. "Good luck convincing Granger of that."

"This is not a game, Draco!" Harry snapped.

"Are you really trying to protect your friends or are you just giving in to this silly jealousy of yours?"

Harry flushed but forged on gamely. "I'm trying to protect Ron and Hermione, of course. I know you are only trifling with them, but they do not know that. At least, Hermione doesn't. You have to stop manipulating her."

The word stung. Draco hated to be called manipulative. Even when it was true. He scowled. "I am not manipulating anyone, Potter."

Harry yanked at his hair again and Draco feared Potter might actually pull out a fistful if he weren't careful.

"The hell you're not! Everything you've done since we got here has been a study in machination! You fixed up the Manor to overwhelm them; you put them in a room fit for a Sultan; you create gourmet meals guaranteed to drive them into culinary orgasm; and now this excess of kindness--you helped Ron put on his cape yesterday, for Merlin's sake! You're carrying this too far. I only wanted an end to the blatant hostility--not for you to take the antagonism to an entirely new level."

"That's hardly fair!" Draco snapped. "I merely wanted to make the Manor presentable. The room they are in is nothing special and I always cook like a bloody gourmet, which you will acknowledge if you stop seeing treachery in my every action. If Granger reads too much into my simple civility--at your request, I might add--then perhaps she is not as in love with Weasley as she ought to be." He raised a hand to halt Harry's outburst and continued, "And if Weasley does not know the proper way to keep a woman, I'm sure as hell not going to enlighten him, nor feel bloody sorry for him!"

Harry sank down onto the bed with a huge sigh.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked and for the first time Draco felt a twinge of guilt. It amused him to torment Granger and Weasley, but he never meant to hurt Harry. Potter would never accept Draco's real motivation. If Malfoy were perfectly honest, he would admit that he had a deep-seated need to sever the ties of eternal friendship that bound the three Gryffindors. While Draco scoffed at Harry's jealousy, he would never admit the depth of his own envy at the easy friendship the three maintained. It had survived years of growing up, several pitched battles with horrific creatures and evil minions, and the deaths of many people close to them. Even now, the unspoken communication between the Gryffindors annoyed the hell out of Draco. He had seen Hermione gesture wordlessly and watched Harry pick up an item she sought without even thinking. Harry and Ron occasionally finished each others' sentences. Draco knew that he would never have that same bond with Potter, no matter how long they were together.

So, yes, Draco was guilty of trying to extract a bit of petty revenge from the Weasels. And if Hermione was the simplest path to achieve that end, then so be it.

Harry stared at him with those earnest green eyes again and Malfoy sighed heavily. Damn Potter, anyway. No one else on the bloody planet could make him feel so repentant so easily. Draco walked over and dropped to his knees before Harry and took both Potter's hands in his own.

"What is really bothering you about this?" Draco asked. "You know I love to torment your little friends--a fact of which they should be well aware. They can't trust me, as I'm certain you've warned them."

Harry's solemn green eyes were still locked on Draco's.

"Well, Hermione does trust you, regardless of my warnings. What will you do when she falls in love with you?" Not if, but when. Draco curled his lip in a patented sneer and added a scoffing noise.

"Granger is too smart to let that happen."

"Damn it, Malfoy, love has nothing to do with intelligence!" Harry burst out. "You can't turn it on and off like a Lumos spell! We don't always get to choose who we fall in love with."

Draco was stymied. He had only been in love once in his entire life and while he hadn't exactly made a conscious decision to fall in love with Harry Potter, he had at least accepted the fact in a somewhat clinical fashion. Draco sat back on his heels and thought about Harry's words for a moment. We don't always get to choose. What would have happened if Draco had rejected the idea? Would he be any less in love with Harry? Hell, probably not. In fact, it would most likely be sheer torture, to see him and be near him, but never touch him... Malfoy let out a breath. Emotional depth was something Gryffindors seemed to take for granted, not realizing that some people had to work at it.

"You're saying if Granger did fall in love with me that she would be completely miserable?" Draco asked. He tried to see a downside to the situation, other than the dismay it obviously provoked in Potter. So Hermione would be unhappy for awhile. At least she would be free of Weasley. She would probably thank Draco later.

"Unless you loved her back," Harry said quietly and it suddenly dropped into place like a missing potion ingredient. Draco laughed softly. The Savior of the Wizarding World could be so bloody insecure at times. Harry actually believed Draco might fall in love with Hermione Granger? Malfoy admired her intelligence but he sure as hell did not want to fall into bed with her--no matter how satisfying it would be to provoke Ron Weasley to that level of rage.

"Potter, you do amuse me," Draco said with a chuckle and pushed himself forward to press a kiss on Harry's sweet lips. Harry scowled.

"I'm not trying to be amusing--I'm serious," Harry said around Draco's kisses, which wasn't easy because Malfoy was starting to warm to the action.

"Point taken, Harry. No more Granger-baiting. Just for you."

ooOoo

Harry's conversation with Malfoy left him less than satisfied. In typical Slytherin fashion, Draco simply seemed unable to grasp the fact that twisting the emotions of others was wrong. Or perhaps he simply wanted Hermione to fall in love with him, regardless of the consequences.

He sighed and gave in to Draco's sensual kisses, hoping Ron and Hermione had a nice, prolonged walk outside. They had all needed a break from the library and Ron had dragged Hermione outside while Harry had escorted Draco upstairs in high dudgeon.

Malfoy had not quite reached the point of extracting the buttons from Harry's shirt when he raised his head with a dissatisfied groan.

"The bloody Weasels are back."

Harry was surprised. "Already? How do you know?"

"I attuned the doors. In a house this size, it pays to know when someone breaches an entrance, particularly when you can't always hear a knock."

Malfoy levered himself off of Harry and went back to his balcony vantage. Harry partially sat up and braced a hand on the bed.

"You know, there is another reason I wouldn't mind them leaving," Harry admitted, earning a seductive grin from Draco.

"Shameless tart," Malfoy said. Harry chuckled and hoisted himself out of Draco's bed. He left the bedroom and went downstairs to find Ron and Hermione in a prime fighting stance at the foot of the stairs. Hermione's fists were clenched and her cheeks were red. Ron was shouting at her.

"What'd you run back in here for? Hoping he'll protect you?"

"You're being ridiculous, Ronald, and I'm not going to argue with you about this any longer, inside or outside!"

Harry made the typical throat-clearing noise reserved for such circumstances and both angry stares snapped up to view him on the staircase. He continued down until he stood on the second to last step.

"I thought you two had largely given up on public shouting matches," Harry commented.

"We save them for rare occasions," Ron snapped. "Such as when Hermione insists on making calf-eyes at Draco fucking Malfoy."

Hermione's glare was livid.

"If you mention that one more time, Ronald, I'll hex you with a silence spell that will leave you mute for a year!"

Ron threw up his hands. "I can't bloody stay here. If you insist on proceeding with this nonsense, you can stay here and..." Hermione raised her wand and Ron visibly switched the direction of his conversation. "...whatever. I'm going home."

Hermione looked as surprised as Harry felt.

"You can't! We need you," she said quickly.

Ron snorted. "You don't bloody need me. Hell, even Harry seems like a third wheel on a cart when you and Malfoy get going. What the hell do you need us for?"

Harry scowled, but had to admit that Ron was right. Lately, Hermione and Draco had been speaking in such a convoluted fashion--discussing runes, ritual magic, and spell theory--that Harry found himself drifting off into a sleepy daze much of the time. It was easy to see why both he and Ron were feeling apprehensive.

"We're nearly ready to test a spell," Hermione said. Harry noticed her eyes shift to a point beyond him and knew Draco was gliding silently down the steps. It was confirmed by the snapping rage in Ron's glare.

"She's right," Malfoy said. "It will take the four of us to control it."

"Where will we test it?" Harry asked, wondering why Draco had not mentioned it upstairs. Then again, Harry had not given him much opportunity. Malfoy's silver eyes fixed on Harry.

"I think we should try that spot outside of London where we..." Draco trailed off in uncomfortable silence and Harry marveled to see the platinum Adonis struggle for words. Draco continued, "The place where the leaves turned purple. There is a small null-flying zone there, remember?"

The place where the leaves turned purple. Harry's eyes lost their focus for a moment and he felt like he was drowning in Draco's silver regard. The mere hint of a smile touched Malfoy's lips. Harry remembered the small grove and the purple leaves raining down on them, fluttering from the trees in the brisk wind and catching in Draco's hair... He grinned at the memory.

"When do we leave?" Ron gritted, breaking the spell.

"Tomorrow morning," Draco said.

"Good." Ron stalked back out the front doors. Hermione threw them an apologetic look and hurried after her husband. Harry looked at Draco accusingly.

"I blame you for that."

"Do you want me to say I'm sorry?" Draco asked mildly.

"Only if you mean it."

"Damn. I knew there was a catch."

Harry sighed. The Slytherin was hopeless.