The Closet

Chapter 3: Attempts

Hermione's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. For a minute all she could do was stare at Harry. When she found her voice, she started sputtering, "D-Draco M-Malfoy?"

Harry reddened. "Er, yeah."

Hermione blinked blankly a few more times and then slowly said, "Well, I suppose I can see where the difficulty with Ron is, then."

"Wait. You're not mad?" Harry asked.

Hermione was silent for a moment before meeting Harry's eyes with a serious expression. "Do you trust him?"

"What?"

"Do you trust him?" Harry simply nodded.

"And you forgive him for the things he's said and done in the past?" Harry nodded again.

"Then I suppose I can try to, as well. You must know him better than I do, I suppose, and if you say he's trustworthy then I believe you." After a pause, she added, "But I can see how Ron wouldn't."

"How can I tell him, Hermione?" Harry looked at her so pleadingly that she had trouble figuring out what to say to him.

"Well, you could try breaking it to him gently," she paused, thinking it over. "Um, well, maybe tell him you're gay first and then once he absorbs that, you can...oh, I'm sorry. I'm really rubbish at this. I've actually no idea how to tell him. I mean, I couldn't even figure out how to tell Ron I liked him. He told me he liked me first. I really don't know how to help you." Harry looked crestfallen for minute before her face lit up and she said, "But I do know someone else who can help you."

Harry looked up from his lap and raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Neville."

"Neville? Why would he be able to help me?"

Hermione smiled a little smile. "Oh, I can't tell you that, Harry. It's not for me to say. But trust me, if you just ask Neville who he's been seeing, you'll see how much better he'd be at helping you."

Harry continued to look puzzled as Hermione gathered her books and packed her bag. When she stood up, ready to leave, he stood up as well and returned from his confused daze.

"Are you finished studying, then?"

Hermione nodded. "It's getting a little late, you know. We have to get back to the common room."

Harry nodded and followed her out of the now empty library, pausing only long enough for Hermione to renew one of her books.

When they entered the common room most people were still up and Ron and Ginny were exactly where Harry had left them. Hermione turned to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Ask Neville, Harry. Or just blurt it out to Ron and hope he doesn't have a heart attack. Or he may try to beat your crush out of you." She gave his shoulder a little squeeze. "I'm sure it'll turn out right in the end, Harry. You'll figure out some way to do it."

With that she bid him goodnight and walked over to where Ron and Ginny were still sitting. She said a few things to them, kissed Ron softly on the mouth and went up to the girls' dorms. Harry sighed. I suppose I'll have to figure out this on my own, then, because there's no way I'm going to Neville first.

~*~*~*~*~

Over the next few days, Harry tried time and time again to tell Ron. Most of the attempts were short lived. Usually, he found he couldn't get past Ron's name. The closest he got was after a particularly muddy Quidditch practice when Harry was walking back to the change rooms with Ron. They were the last two still on the field and when the door shut on Andrew Kirke, Harry took one of his many chances.

"Er, Ron?"

Ron stopped and turned to face Harry. "Yeah?"

"There's something you should know."

Ron raised an eyebrow and waited. After a moment, he said, "What is it, Harry?"

"Er...I, ah...I mean, you..." Harry sighed. He couldn't do it. "You, ah, have dirt on your nose."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Well, so do you and I'm not pointing it out, now, am I?"

Harry shook his head. Where's all that Gryffindor courage now? he thought.

"Well, then, let's just go get cleaned up then, shall we?" Ron suggested, sounding irritated.

I should've known not to try this now, Harry thought. Ron hates it when he's muddy. I should've waited until after getting changed. I'm hopeless.

Harry was beginning to think he would never be able to tell Ron and that Draco would leave him. The constant worry and stress was starting to affect his performance in class. He was zoning out more often and the teachers were calling him on his lack of attention. A week and a half after Draco issued his ultimatum, Harry realized he was going to have to take Hermione's advice and talk to Neville. It took Snape removing twenty points from Harry for melting his cauldron because he wasn't paying attention, for Harry to decide. He figured he wouldn't have to tell Neville who he was seeing. He would just ask who Neville was seeing, like Hermione said, and see where things went from there. Maybe he could get advice by saying it was a hypothetical situation. Harry shook his head as he walked away from the dungeons.

Neville may not be the smartest person in school, but he isn't stupid. He'll know it's not hypothetical.

Harry sighed and looked around when they reached the Entrance Hall. Ron and Hermione were right in front of him, bickering about house-elves for the hundredth time. Seamus and Dean were behind him, complaining about Snape. Lavender and Parvati were coming down from a staircase to his right. From the looks on their faces, Harry could tell they'd just been in Advanced Divination. He was quite glad he'd dropped that class after fifth year. A group of Ravenclaws swept between Harry and the girls, blocking them from his view. Harry looked around again. He couldn't see Neville anywhere.

He supposed he'd have to go looking for Neville, and he was ashamed to realize he had no idea where to start looking. He had lived with the boy for seven years and yet knew next to nothing about what Neville did in his spare time. Harry furrowed his brow in thought as he followed Ron and Hermione into the Great Hall. He ate dinner quickly, noticing that Neville wasn't there. When he finished he looked up at Ron and Hermione, noting that they weren't really eating so much as looking at each other fondly. Harry sighed slightly and a pang of regret shot through him as he saw Draco over their shoulders, sitting two tables behind them. The sooner he found Neville, the sooner he might get help and the sooner this mess with Draco would be over. Harry stood up and told Ron and Hermione he was going for a walk, shooting a pointed look at Hermione.

"You might want to try the greenhouses," she said. "Neville told me they're particularly calming at this time of day."

Harry nodded; glad to have somewhere to start looking. "Thanks, I'll try there." He smiled at her gratefully. If Neville knew what the greenhouses were like at this time, he probably went there at this time, so that's where Harry would start.