Talk is Cheap

CHAPTER 2

"In conclusion, one can safely say that the whole of modern charms work can be attributed to Madoc's innovative hybrid of the theory of elements and Muggle physics." Short bow. "Thank you."

Loud clapping.

"I'm impressed, boys. Very impressed."

"Thank you, Professor." Smirk.

"A hundred and ten percent for both of you."

Ringing of a bell. Scraping of chairs. Laughter.

Shuffling of feet.

"Probably the first good grade I've had in the class all term."

"Probably because you weren't asleep for once."

Blush. "You noticed?"

Snicker. "You snore."

More blushing.

"See you around, Potter."

"Yeah. Later, Malfoy."

~~~~~~~

"I'm impressed."

"That Malfoy and I didn't kill each other?"

"I was talking about your mark, but that too."

"Why, thank you, Hermione."

"Going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

"Look! There is such a thing as a stupid question! And from the resident genius at that!"

"Shut up, Ron!"

"Yes, we're going to Hogsmeade tomorrow. I need new Quidditch gloves."

"Didn't you just get a pair before summer break?"

"Ye-es..."

"How do you wear them out so fast?"

"Seekers play rough."

"...right."

"Ignore her, Harry. Woman have no true appreciation of Quidditch."

"Ron... run."

"What? Why?"

"Because Ginny and half the other Sixth Year girls heard that last comment of yours. And now they've got that bloodthirsty look in their eyes...."

"Running." Clatter of shoes.

"I think that's because they were looking at you."

"That's even more disturbing." Shudder. "Giggling Sixth Years. A horror unmatched by anything except, perhaps, giggling Fifth Years."

"Personally I find this year's Third Years particularly loathsome."

"That's just because they rigged the Prefect's bathroom last week. I thought it was rather clever, myself."

"You didn't get hit with Dungbombs, now, did you?"

"... I feel a sort of kinship with them, almost. That Kleypas girl reminds me of you."

Squeak. "That... that insufferable know it all? You must be joking! She actually corrected me the other day! Do you believe it?! Right in the middle of a conversation!"

Snicker. "How rude."

"Exactly! I...." Pause. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Oh, no. Of course not."

~~~~~~~

Tapping of a quill. "Think we're ever going to get a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

Shrug. "Nope. Don't really care either. Having a free period is great."

"Ron! What about our N.E.W.T.s? We'll have no knowledge of Seventh Year material! How can we - !"

"Hermione. Breathe. Dumbledore will get us a teacher. Whether he is or isn't evil or whether he will actually know anything remains to be seen. But we will have a teacher."

Deep breath. "O-okay. I'm okay. I'm fine. Totally calm."

"You sure?"

"Uh huh. Nothing to be worried about. After all, our N.E.W.T.s only determine whether we graduated, what jobs we get, our whole future..." Choking noise.

"Hermione! Breathe!"

~~~~~~~

"Trelawney has finally lost it. How the hell are you supposed to read the future in fucking tree roots? Tree roots!"

"The same way we always do, Ron. Make it up."

"It's getting rather difficult, I'll have you know. There are only so many horrible things that can happen to a person. I mean, how many bloody times can a person be mauled by a hippogriff?! Honestly. And I'd rather not chance things by predicting your death. No offense."

"None taken. I'd rather you not chance it either."

"But Divination... Don't tell Hermione, but I really wish we'd walked out that day way back in Third Year with her. Taken Arithmancy or something. All the homework would almost be worth it."

"You really do hate Divination if you're thinking about willingly taking on work. Are you sure you're feeling all right?"

"I'm fine."

"Uh huh. You're sure there's nothing you want to talk about?"

Silence.

"Ron? Looking absolutely miserable doesn't help your case."

"Well, it's just - "

"Oy! Ron! Harry!"

"What do you want, Dean?"

"You going to the game or what?"

"Huh?"

"You've only got about ten minutes to get into your Quidditch robes and onto the pitch. I suggest you hurry up, or McGonagall'll have your head."

~~~~~~~

"Ouch. That looked like it hurt."

"ABSOLUTELY BRILLIAN TURN!"

Sigh. "Harry Potter. God, he's such a hunk. Absolutely gorgeous."

"Careful, Lyra, you're drooling."

"He has to be the most popular boy in the whole school."

"And the cutest."

Mad giggling.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

"You're just jealous, Seamus."

"GROGG TO MAYSE, FROM MAYSE TO ZABI- NO! INTERCEPTED BY GRYFFINDOR'S EGEN! HE PASSES TO RUMARK, BUT - OH, NASTY HIT WITH A BLUDGER. FOUL! ARE YOU SURE THAT'S LEGAL?"

"Quite."

"ALL RIGHT, APPARENTLY IT'S LEGAL. STILL QUITE NASTY. SCORE IS LOCKED AT 190 TO 190, AND THE SNITCH HAS COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. SLYTHERIN HAS PICKED THE QUAFFLE BACK UP AND MAYSE IS ZOOMING TOWARDS THE GRYFFINDOR END..."

"C'mon, Harry. He's got to find it. We're horribly behind in the House Cup this year..."

" 'Mione, you need to calm... since when do you bite your nails?"

Sigh. "Nervous habit."

"Well, stop worrying. Besides certain extreme circumstances, had he ever not caught the Snitch?"

"No."

"Then, logically, should you be worrying?"

"No."

"So. Watch the game, enjoy, and be prepared to rub it in the Slytherins' faces tomorrow." Grin.

"BLOCKED BY RON WEASLEY. THE QUAFFLE IS BACK TO RUMARK, AND NOW TO EGAN. PASSED TO OUR FEMALE WEASLEY - NO! SHE'S DROPPED IT! ZABINI AGAIN TAKES POSSESSION AND - OUCH. BLUDGER TO THE HEAD. I'M WILLING TO BET SHE'LL FEEL THAT FOR A WEEK. ZABINI CLINGS TO HER BROOM, BARELY, AND THE QUAFFLE IS AGAIN IN GRYFINDOR POSSESION."

Kiss. "Stop worrying."

"I'm not worrying."

"You're worrying. I can tell."

"I'm not - " Sigh. "Oh all right, I'm worrying. I can't help it. They're both going to break their ruddy necks."

Laughter. "I knew it wasn't the House Cup that had you so upset. You don't give a damn about that thing."

"Well, I do 'give a damn' but not to that extent. I'm very worried about Harry hurting himself."

"He'll be fine, 'Mione."

"But it's practically law that he has to fatally injure himself at least once a year. Usually twice. We're about a month into term now, so I'm waiting for something dreadful to happen to him any second now."

"Hermione, you're not his mother..."

"I know that!" Pause. "Do you really think...?"

"No. But you do worry too much."

"Well, that you tell me all the time."

"That's because it's true. You'll burn yourself out by midterms at this rate."

"I won't. I... Midterms! I should start studying for those!"

Groan. "Hermione!"

Nervous giggle. "... sorry."

"AND IT LOOKS LIKE POTTER HAS SEEN THE SNITCH! SLYTHERIN'S MALFOY IS IN FAST PURSUIT, THEIR FIREBOLTS EVENLY MATCHED. THE SNITCH IS COMPLETELY ERRATIC TODAY. THE SCORE IS 220 TO 200, FAVOR OF GRYFFINDOR. THIS IS ANYONE'S GAME, FOLKS!"

"Severus?"

"Yes, Headmaster?"

"How has young Master Malfoy been doing?"

"His grades this past term have been excellent."

"That's not what I asked."

Sigh. "I know."

Silence.

"I want to help him, Albus, I really do... but I don't know how far I can afford to stick my neck out."

"Do only what you can, Severus. Come to my office later, where we can talk more readily."

"After dinner?"

"Perfect." Pause. "Both teams are playing rather well today."

"Yes, quite. Zabini seems to have recovered from her fall rather well."

"OVER IN THE GRYFFINDOR 'STANDS... IT'S HEATING UP!"

"It's going to be rather close."

"Isn't it always? It's Gryffindor and Slytherin, after all."

"AND IS THAT...? YES! HARRY POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS, 380 TO 200!"

Giggle. "And Draco was so close, too!"

"Now there is a good looking guy."

"I heard he's going out with Parkinson. Or they were last year."

"Really?"

"I'm going to go ask."

"Wait!"

"Is she nuts?"

"Um, Parkinson?"

"Oh. Mulverhill. What do you want?"

"Is it true that you and Draco are going out?"

"No. I've been keeping rather far away from Draco these days. And you should too." Pause. "If you know what's good for you."

"But you said..."

"Oh, he's not mine. I won't hurt you." Small laugh. "But I'd stay away from just the same." Pause. "Come on Crabbe, Goyle. Let's see if we can't catch some First Years Gryffindorks before they head back to their common room."

~~~~~~~

Loud cheers. Whooping noise.

"Yes! We won!"

"Kicked some more Slytherin ass!"

"Remember when Mayse almost ran into the pole? Hilarious. I'd pay money to see that again."

"Did you see when Zabini was hit with the Bludger? I honestly thought she was going to faint!"

"Probably have a bruise too. Too bloody bad. She's a looker."

"For a Slytherin."

"For anyone!" Laughter. "Now, Weissman, on the other hand..."

"Jessica Weissman?"

"Brunette, blue eyes?

"The girl with the huge...?"

"Mhmmm."

"What about her?"

"I'm asking her out tomorrow."

"No way."

"Yeah."

"You're honestly going to ask her out?" Laughter. "She'll turn you down flat!"

"She just broke up with her boyfriend, right? That Hufflepuff."

"That's why she'll say no."

"That's why she'll say yes. She's on the rebound."

"It doesn't matter. She won't go out with you. You're too ugly, Egan. Now me, on the other hand..."

"Oh, please."

"What's the matter with you, Petey boy? Want her for yourself?"

"I don't need a girl, thanks. I've got one of my own."

"Since when?"

"Remember when we were in Honeydukes last weekend?"

"Yeah." Pause. "No way! That girl by the door? The one with the black hair?"

"Mhmm."

"Who?"

"Oh, gimme a second... Sara?"

"Saria."

"Yeah, that's the one."

"So, you guys been to the Tower yet?"

"Yesterday."

"And...?"

Pause.

"She screams like a banshee." Burst of laughter. "McGonagall almost caught us."

"Please."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. I just don't believe the lot of you sometimes."

"What about you, Harry? You haven't said a word this whole time."

Short silence.

"Oh, you know him. Not one to kiss and tell."

"Would you know then, Ron?"

"Me? Hell no! But... well. Never mind."

"What? Tell us, you git."

"Sorry lads, but we seem to be all ready quite late for a smashing party."

"Oy! Victory Party!"

"See you back in the Tower."

~~~~~~~

"Just ignore them, Harry. They're being gits."

"No, they're just being themselves."

"Gits."

"Honestly, Ron, it doesn't bug me."

"But you bug them, and that's not fair. It's not fair at all, actually. It's not like you're going to jump them in the showers or something..."

"They're trying Ron. That's all I'm asking. They're not insulting me or calling me names. They're trying to be themselves. That's what I want."

"But it's... it's not the same."

"You think I don't know that?" Sigh. "I knew telling everyone would change things."

"What? Telling them you liked guys and girls? Just because you don't join in on the guy talk doesn't mean anything. Just because you haven't gone out with a girl lately doesn't mean..."

"You haven't gone out with anyone lately either." Pause. "Not since school started, in fact. And not during the summer either."

Shuffling noise. "Hermione and me... I'm still a little raw, I guess. Besides, there's no one I really like anyway. So it's not a big deal, you know?"

"Just need some time?"

"Yeah." Shrug. "Not too much to pick from around here anyway."

"Oh, I don't know. That Saria girl sounded promising..."

"Harry!"

~~~~~~~

"There you are. I've been looking all over for you. Great game, by the way."

Silence.

"All right, what's wrong with you?"

Longer silence.

"Harry?"

"It's... Malfoy."

"What's he done now?"

"Well, it's partly what he's done and partly what he hasn't done."

Sigh. "So... what hasn't he done?"

"He hasn't pulled any of his nasty tricks, or gotten me detention, or insulted Ron. He hasn't done any of that at all."

"So what has he done?"

"Kind of... normal things. Acknowledging me in the hall. We've worked on another project together. And when I caught the Snitch today, the only thing he said was 'Good game'." Pause. "I'm confused."

Chuckle. "Isn't it obvious? You were right, Harry. Something must have happened to him over summer break that got him to switch sides. He's against Voldemort and his House knows it. They've cast him out. Remember when most of the school thought you were Slytherin's heir and ignored you? That's what Malfoy must be going through. The Slytherins want nothing to do with him and he long ago isolated the rest of the school. He's lonely, or at the very least he's alone."

Another sigh. "I... I guess. I mean..." Pause. "Didn't think of it that way."

"My question is, what are you going to do about it?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"Me? What am I supposed to do?"

"Try to be his friend, maybe? I suppose I could, but really, what do we have in common? At the very least the both of you have Quidditch."

"I don't think Malfoy really wants a friend, Hermione."

"I don't think he does either. But even he needs someone to talk to now and again." Shrug. "Maybe I'm off base, but... Malfoy isn't a loner by nature. I think he'd appreciate it."

"But he's so..."

"Intimidating?"

"... Annoying. And when did you get so forgiving? This is the Malfoy of 'Mudblood' and the teeth growing curse and many a detention, don't forget."

"He was a prat. I can admit that. I'm willing to bet he can admit that. But a prat does not a Death Eater make. So when it comes down to it... before this, we were children playing childish games. Saying and doing stupid things. Sometimes dangerous things, but still stupid. We're older now, and we're actually looking at how what we do affects things. Affects other people. I don't think Malfoy should just get a clean slate, but I don't think we can immaturely ignore him and... and hate him."

"First forgiving, now mature. Seventeen-year-olds aren't allowed to be that serious. We're supposed to do stupid things!"

"Let's cut down on the vitriol, shall we? I believe Seventh Years tend to do stupid things under the influence of firewhiskey. And you, if I don't miss my guess, are stone cold sober. Surprising, considering your rather smashing defeat over Slytherin and the boisterous party down in the common room."

"I don't feel up to it right now."

Slight pause. "Oh, Harry..."

"Three more Muggle attacks this week. Three, Hermione. Twenty dead Muggles. Five of them were children. And any one of them could have been me. Should have been me."

"Bollocks. Stop that. You didn't die that day because your mother loved you. And there is nothing wrong with that. If you had died, and Voldemort had kept on living, the world would be in far worse shape than it is now. This... it isn't perfect right now, by any measure, but it's not Voldemort's world. Not yet. And it won't be. Not when we keep on fighting."

Silence.

"You can't blame me for not liking it."

"No. I can't. And I know people see you as a sign, a hero, and you don't like it. The fact remains that you are the most powerful wizard this school has seen in years. The fact remains that you defeated Voldemort, if only temporarily. You've survived Death Eaters, swarms of Dementors, abusive relatives, a basilisk, giant spiders, and escaped the Department of Mysteries more or less unscathed. You had a convicted murderer as a godfather. You're a Parseltongue, the winner of the Triwizard Cup, the youngest Hogwarts Seeker in a hundred years. You're a legend. You're bloody incredible, Harry. I suggest you get used to it."

"Well. You really put it in perspective."

"Oh, shut up. I can't help that it's all ruddy true. Want some real advice? Kill the ruddy bastard and be done with it. Then disappear. That's the only thing that will ever get you out of the limelight."

Stomping feet.

"Kill the ruddy bastard. If only it were that easy."

~~~~~~~

"Harry? I'm... I'm sorry for yesterday. I blew up at you for no reason. I'm just... I'm a little stressed." Pause. "Sorry."

"It's all right. It was my fault. I was playing the martyr again, and... I'm glad you snapped me out of it."

"We're all right then?"

"Yeah. C'mon, let's go get some breakfast before Neville sets it on fire again, or turns it into tadpoles or something."

"First you have to go drag Ron out of the boy's bathroom. He's been in there awhile, and the retching noises are pretty self-explanatory."

"Oh, bloody hell."

"Exactly."

"You wouldn't happen to have a hangover potion on you, would you?"

"Right here."

"You're a goddess. I'll be back - with Ron - in a minute."

~~~~~~~

"Ron? Are you in here?"

"... Harry?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"Kill me. Please."

"Now, now, don't be so hasty." Pause. "Whoa. How much did you drink last night?"

"Dunno. Did shots with Ginny and her friends."

"Shots of what?" Sniffing noise. "You smell like battery acid."

"What?"

"Never mind. What were you drinking?"

"Some Muggle thing. Tec - Tec-something."

"Tequila?"

"That's it..."

"You guys drank tequila?" Snort. "You drank tequila. No wonder you feel like shit." Sigh. "Here, drink this. Hangover-B-Gone."

"Thanks."

~~~~~~~

"Better?"

"The light! It burns!" Hissing noise.

"No more Muggle horror movies for you."

"Aw, but the sheer campiness and rampant inaccuracy is so much fun!"

"Guess you are feeling better then."

"Mhmm."

"But you still stink. Get in the shower, man!"

"What time is it anyway?"

"Half way through breakfast. If you hurry, you might make it to DADA on time."

"Oh joy." Pause. "Go save me a bagel or something."

"Can I trust you to get your head out of that toilet and into the shower?"

Hand wave. "Yeah, yeah, just go."

"All right. See you in class."

"A bagel! Remember!"

"I'll remember! Get in the shower!"

~~~~~~~

"He is my best friend, but I honestly don't know how you went out with him for as long as you did."

Silence.

"I handled it because I loved him, and in a way, I still do."

"He isn't over you, you know. Not really."

"I'm not exactly over him either. But you saw us, Harry. We tore each other apart. And you've met his mum. You've met my dad! Our tempers aren't going to cool down as we get older. If we stayed together we would have bickered until we killed each other."

"I don't think it would have been that bad. But at the same time... I guess I do see what you mean. You wouldn't have been happy."

Silence.

"I... I think we could have been happy. But it would be such a roller coaster ride. You know? All highs and lows and no time to rest between them. You... you know? You understand why I did it?"

"Yeah. I understand." Hug. "You did what you felt you had to do. I know how that feels."