How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days

Chapter Three - Friday - Day Two

I'm Not In Love
It's Just A Phase That I'm Going Through
I'm Always Looking For Something New
But Don't Go Running Away
Oh I'm Not In Love
I Try To Tell Myself All The Time
I Just Can't Help How I Feel Tonight
So Don't Go Running Away

~I'm Not In Love, Enrique Iglesias

Draco didn't think it would be fair on Potter if he went out and interrupted Potter's flying session for the second day running. So instead he crept out to the quidditch field and hid himself high in the Gryffindor Seating Tower and lying low, he watched the boy fly. He hated to think that he was actually admiring the way the boy flew but it was just so natural and beautiful that he found it impossible to take his eyes of Harry.

He groaned mentally but chose not to correct himself. He liked the name Harry and he kinda liked the way that it rolled so easily off his tongue.

He continued to lay in silence long after Harry had finished flying and gone back indoors.

* * *

How was it that gossip spread so fast? Harry thought as he cradled his head in his hands at breakfast. Everyone was talking about him and his mysterious boyfriend. He had been annoyed that everyone had assumed it was a male. He didn't mind if it was male or female, but seeing as he had actually been studying with Malfoy, he would have preferred that his mysterious boyfriend was a mysterious girlfriend. That way, when Malfoy heard about the library and Harry snogging in it, he wouldn't think that he had spread the rumour. Ginny wasn't speaking to him. She normally sat with them for breakfast but today she had blanked him and sat with some other Gryffindors. They had broken up on good terms, just over a month ago. She seemed to be thinking now that this mysterious boyfriend was the reason he had broken things off between them. Harry was fed up with telling people he hadn't been kissing anyone in the library, but no one seemed to want to listen and he could hear people guessing about it all down the Gryffindor Table.

Hermione grinned across at him as she heard him for the hundredth time tell Seamus that, no, he had not been kissing Justin Finch-Fletchley in the library.

"Just face it, Harry," she told him across the table, "you kissing someone in the library is far more exciting than you doing actual work in the library."

"Thanks, that's made my day so better."

"What is this that I keep hearing about, Potter?"

Harry groaned and fought the urge to bang his head against the table. He finally forced himself to look up at Malfoy.

"What is what that you keep hearing about?" he asked wearily.

"Well, news has it that you've been snogging some mysterious boyfriend in the Library."

"We're getting a bet going, Malfoy." Seamus spun round in his seat to face the blond Slytherin. "Add a Galleon to the draw and guess who it might be. When we discover who he is, the person who guessed correctly wins the prize."

Malfoy's eyes twinkled. "Really, that sounds interesting."

"So, you want to guess?"

"Sure, why not."

Hermione grinned over at Malfoy, "See, this is what we need. Something that will reunite the houses."

Harry glared at her, "And my love life is going to be the cause of this?!"

Hermione gave a shrug and giggled. Harry groaned and banged his head on the table, hard.

* * *

"You know, I was looking over that list with Finnigan and already about seven people have all suggested that I'm your mysterious boyfriend."

Harry looked up, and glared at Draco with a glare that if looks could kill then Draco would be six feet under.

"Can we get this over with? I don't want people seeing us together in case they start to talk."

"Embarrassed to be seen with me?" Draco laughed as he sat down opposite Harry.

"Yes, Lions do not mix with Snakes."

"Well..."

"Lets just get on with this. Now," Harry opened a heavy brown leather book, "there are fives rules that you need to know and obey by when..."

The time flew by as the two boys lent over the book. People barely glanced their way as the boys had hidden themselves deep at the back of the library. Harry talked the most, explaining the rules that Draco needed to learn off by heart. He explained the way you had to be calm and completely relaxed and in the right state of mind before you even tried to change your form. He grossed Draco out by telling him everything thing that could go wrong and everything that had gone wrong in previous attempts made by different people. By the time the bell went signalling lunch, Draco knew almost everything about the background of Animagus. But as they packed away their things there was still one thing that Draco didn't know that he wanted too.

"Oy, Harry?"

Harry looked over from where he was replacing the large brown leather book back in its place on a nearby shelf.

"What do you turn into?"

Harry's back straighten rigid as he stood up.

"That's none of your business."

Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry, who kept his back turned.

"I'll see it one day, since you are going to have to show me how to transform."

"Yeah, I guess, and you will have to wait till then. Good bye." Draco watched as Harry stormed out of the library, leaving Draco feeling slightly confused.

* * *

Harry grabbed himself a couple of sandwiches and left the Great Hall, planning on eating peacefully outside by the lake. But as he exited the hall and stepped out into the bright sunlight, he saw that he was not the only one with the idea of eating lunch by the lake. So, turning away from the crowd of people sitting by the lake, Harry strolled towards the Quidditch Pitch. He climbed up the nearest Gryffindor Support Stand and sat down on the backbenchers. Up here, it was peaceful, quiet and very much alone, just how he wanted it.

Well, that's what he had planned to happen. But just as he took a bite of his sandwich, a certain Slytherin joined him.

"What do you think you are doing?" Harry grounded out as the blond made himself comfortable beside Harry.

"This is my favourite spot, Potter, I always eat lunch here."

"It's a Gryffindor pitch."

"So?"

"I thought you were in Slytherin."

"I can sit, Potter, where I like when I like."

Harry huffed slightly and decided he should ignore the blond and he finished eating his sandwich.

"Its very peaceful up here," Draco sighed, stretching his legs out.

"I guess," Harry mumbled, feeling it was too hot to think up a witty retort.

"Kind of romantic."

Harry turned and glanced at Draco, his green eyes wide in surprise.

"Pardon?"

"Well, the heat, the quiet of the moment, the food, and the fact it's just me and you up here, very much alone. It's kind of romantic."

"Listen, Malfoy, I don't think you should ideas above your station."

"What do you mean by that?!" he snapped at the Gryffindor.

"Just because I'm helping you learn how to be an Animagus, doesn't mean I like you. I don't even like guys in that way, so don't get the wrong idea." Harry wondered briefly if Draco was able to tell he was lying. Hermione always knew when he lied, could Draco tell too? Harry frowned at the thought. Draco? Draco? When had Malfoy ever been anything other than Malfoy?

Draco gave a secret knowing smirk at Harry and crooked his head a little to the side, looking as if he knew exactly what was going through Harry's head.

"You don't know what you want."

Harry's mouth opened and shut a couple of times before he managed to get out.

"I've asked you before, and I'm going to ask you again, and again until you give me a decent answer, what the fuck do you want from me?!"

"I told you, I don't want to leave Hogwarts knowing that you hate me."

"But it's ok for you to hate me?" Harry spat back.

"I haven't hated you for a long time."

Silence met Draco's confession and Harry sat perfectly still, hardly daring to breath in case he had misheard Draco's words.

Draco took the silence as a signal for his next move.

Harry didn't see Draco move until it was too late.

His breath caught at the smallest, simplest brush of lip against lip. He blinked and it was gone. He stared with wonder at Draco who suddenly stood up.

"I'm sorry." Draco shrugged and he took a step towards the stairs, "I know you are not interested and that you don't want me to get the wrong idea..." Harry stared up at Draco, his green eyes filled with confusion. "Oh but god Harry, you have no idea how hard it is to resist you." And without another word, Draco fled down the stairs.

He slowed after the first flight and continued down them, silently counting in his head. By the time he had reached the edge of the green quidditch pitch, he had reached thirty and there was a yell behind him. He grinned a satisfied smirk and wiped it blank as he turned to face Harry.

"Yes?" he asked innocently.

"What did you mean?"

Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry.

"That kiss? What did you mean by it?"

"I thought that would have been obvious, even for an Gryffindor."

"It was, but I want to hear it for you."

Draco smiled. "I like you, Potter."

"Is that all? Like?"

"Its not possible to love someone who hates you."

"I don't."

"Don't what?"

"I don't hate you."

"That's nice for you." Draco turned to go again.

"Wait."

Draco paused, smirking, his back facing Harry.

"What I'm trying to say is that I agree- I don't want to leave with us hating each other."

Draco threw a look over his shoulder at Harry, "Glad you feel that way." Before he strolled away, leaving Harry alone, like he had originally asked for.

* * *

"You did what?!"

"Please, please, keep your voice down."

Hermione flopped backwards in her chair and sighed loudly.

"Dear god Harry, how do you get yourselves into these messes?"

"I don't!"

She fixed the green-eyed boy with a cold look.

"So, explain to me again, how it was that you ended up snogging Malfoy?!"

"It wasn't a snog, barely even a kiss but I came to you for help!"

Harry had rushed to see Hermione soon after Draco had left him on the pitch. He needed to talk to someone and he knew that Ron would not take kindly to being told what he had just told Hermione.

"I don't think I can help you! You need the men in white coats."

"That's not helpful," Harry groaned.

"I know that it was me who said that I didn't want to leave Hogwarts hating Malfoy, but I sure as hell don't want to leave knowing that him and you are..."

"We are nothing! It was a peck but he confessed..."

"To what? He didn't name what it was that he was confessing to. Listen. I can't tell you what is right and what is wrong, listen to your own heart, and I only hope that he doesn't break it."

* * *

"You don't actually like him, do you?"

Draco started. He had been staring at the fire in the Slytherin Common Room without realising it. He had been lost deep in thought over the smallest of kisses that he had shared with Harry. But Millicent had interrupted him.

"Pardon?"

"Harry Potter, do you actually like him, or is this just you acting to get him to like you?"

"Millie, Potter is... how do you say, fuckable. But his personality lacks. I would rather a date a fish than Potter, it would defiantly be more interesting."

"So, its all an act?"

"Yes."

Millicent gave a nod, satisfied with his answer and she left, leaving Draco to return to staring at the blazing fire.

* * *

"I'm sorry its late notice, can you make it?"

The head boy gave a nod and Hermione turned and walked away, grinning. Everyone was able to make it, well almost; she had yet to inform Malfoy of the meeting.

Oxford had sent her a letter on Monday. Students hoping to continue their education would be going to Oxford to spend two days there.

She was calling an urgent meeting for all those going.

It was on her way towards her office that she ran into Malfoy.

"Granger." He passed her with a polite nod and she turned.

"Draco Malfoy."

He turned, his lips in a sneer and he opened his mouth to say something. Hermione prepared herself for his snide comment but was surprised when his mouth shut.

"I need to talk to you."

He shrugged. "Go ahead."

"We've been invited on a trip to Oxford on Monday and Tuesday. Are you interested in coming?"

"Sure."

"There's a meeting about it tonight, after dinner, in my office. Can you come?"

"Keep asking me that and I might think that you are no longer interested in your boyfriend."

"Haha," she said sarcastically, "Can you make it to the meeting?"

"Sure."

"And, about the cum business, I thought you were gay?"

She grinned at the sight her sentence caused. Draco's grey eyes immediately became guarded and he glared at her with an intense hatred.

"What makes you say that?"

"Just something someone said to me."

"Watch your back, Mudblood," Draco spat, forgetting his promise to Harry. "Say something like that again and you wont look so pretty any more." And with that Draco spun on his heel and stormed off.

"Did I hit a sore spot?" she called after him softly.

He didn't turn back.

* * *

Harry loved Hermione's office; it was always warm and was painted a gentle red, which made you feel welcome. He had settled himself down in his favourite chair, the large fluffy armchair by the fire, that he sank into when he sat down. His legs were curled beneath him and a book lay open on his lap. Both him and Hermione had said goodbye to Ron and made their way straight to Hermione's office after dinner. He had stolen the book from Snape a few months ago and had never bothered to return it. He found it to be interesting and made Advanced Potions seem like a half decent subject when it wasn't Snape who was teaching it.

Hermione was at her desk; her hand paused over something she had been writing. She was watching Harry lovingly. She had never had a brother before and that was exactly what Harry was to her. Since the Christmas holidays, Harry had become very withdrawn and guarded. He had been deeply disturbed by what had happened between him and Voldemort, and had forbidden himself to ever talk about it. Neither Hermione nor Ron pushed the subject and were keen to avoid it since it normally made Harry very mad at them. But watching him, read his book, in an armchair that seem ten times too big for the boy, brought a smile to Hermione's lips. He looked so peaceful and, she had to admit, very handsome and charming. He was so deeply absorbed in his book that he never heard the knock on the door.

"It's open."

The door swung open to reveal Malfoy, but the boy didn't seem to notice Hermione. His eyes fell start away on the boy reading, curled up in her armchair.

Hermione didn't know what to make of it. She could swear there was something different in Malfoy's eyes as he gazed at Harry, but she didn't want to believe... she shook her head and stood up. Her movement made both boys look up at her.

"Glad you could make it," she greeted Malfoy. "Please take a seat."

Malfoy lowered himself into a nearby chair; Hermione noticed that he had chosen the one directly across from where Harry was sitting.

Just seconds after Malfoy sat down, the others began to arrive.

Hermione greeted them all in turn. Terry Boot, a Ravenclaw with a very shape clever mind, also Head Boy. Blaise Zabini, who gave Hermione a cold sneer and sat beside Malfoy, the other Slytherin looking surprised to see him. Neville entered the room looking very nervous; he sat beside Harry who put his book down to greet the other Gryffindor. Hermione noticed the icy gaze that was sent to Neville from across the room. And finally the last to arrive was Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff, dressed all in pink. Hannah was interested in Muggle Law and was going to Oxford as a muggle.

"I'm glad you are all here," Hermione began and everyone looked at her. "As I told all you briefly, I received a letter today from Oxford University stating that they had two open days next week and we have been invited to attend. We'll be leaving here on Monday Morning and arriving back Wednesday Morning. For that time, my fireplace will be linked to the Floo Network. If any of you feel that you don't want to remain at Oxford, you can return when you like."

She smiled widely at them all and handed out a copy of the letter to each of them.

"As you can see, each of you will have to form your own day plans. We will be sharing a small dormitory between the seven of us, unless of course you feel like you need to return here to sleep. The house elves at Oxford will provide us with food, drink and anything you feel that you might need."

"We'll be sharing a dorm with boys?" Hannah asked, her hand waving slightly in the air.

"Yes but these dorms are not like the ones here. Each of the dorms at Oxford is shared between ten students. You don't have to worry though. We will all have our own rooms but will have to share a common living room, a kitchen and two bathrooms."

The group mumbled and agreed to the plans that Hermione set for them.

"Well, that's everything," she said cheerfully. "If you can arrive here on Monday for eight o'clock, that would be great. Good night."

Terry waved a silent goodbye and left with Hannah trailing behind him. Harry yawned widely and Hermione glared at him.

"Not that boring am I?" she asked him.

"Only a little," he replied as he stood.

"Only a little? I nearly fell asleep. I only hope the University is exciting or I may have to leave. Imagine, a Slytherin sharing a dorm with a Mudblood."

All three of the Gryffindors turned to look at the two Slytherins.

"You have a problem, Zabini?" Harry asked him, his eyes cold and hard.

"Yes, I do. It's not fit for..."

"Don't even say it!" Harry hissed. "There is nothing dirty in this room other than you!"

"Of course, the famous Potter, nothing can break him, not even the Great Lord Voldemort."

Draco knew the boy had taken it all a step too far. Both Hermione and Neville pulled out their wands and pointed them at him. Harry simple took a step forward, his voice shaking as he whispered.

"If your Lord was so great, how is it that a seventeen year old boy was able to kill him with nothing more than his bare hands?!"

"Well..."

"Be quiet," Draco ordered Zabini and the Slytherin looked at him.

"What?"

"I said be quiet," he snapped at him. "You are a foolish idiot. I suggest you leave before I let Potter and his friends here curse you into a million pieces. I very well may help them do it."

The Slytherin student took a long hard look at the Slytherin Prince before he strolled out of the room.

"Get out, Malfoy," Hermione ordered and he turned to leave.

"I'm sorry," he said as he left.

Harry watched the blond leave. Hermione lowered her wand and Neville copied her.

"Harry, I..." Hermione was cut off as the boy suddenly shot out of her office. Neville looked puzzled.

"What just happened?" he asked as Hermione flopped downwards on to her chair.

"Harry just took the first step into getting his heart destroyed."

But Neville didn't understand.

* * *

"DRACO!"

Draco kept walking.

"Wait, DRACO!"

He turned and looked round as Harry skidded to a stop before him.

"What?"

Harry was lost for words; he struggled to find something to say.

"I... um... we... Thank You."

Draco gave the sadist smile before he turned and continued on his way.

"That's it?"

Draco stopped and for the second time that day, Harry found himself trying to find a reason to get Draco to stay.

"That's what?"

"All you have to say, nothing?"

"I guess so."

"Than why did you do it?"

"Gryffindors are loyal to their friends. I saw it there, when Granger and Longbottom were willing to risk breaking rules and hurting people just to defend you."

"Slytherins can be like that too. Loyalty is not a Gryffindor thing, everyone can be loyal."

"No, Slytherins are not loyal. We cheat, we steal and we lie. We use any means to get what we want."

"And you want me?"

Draco's back stiffen.

"I saw you watching me earlier when I was reading my book. I saw the jealous look you gave to Neville when I talked to him and not you. I saw the way you defend me just then, like my loyal friends did."

Draco turned slowly.

"I told you earlier, Potter, that I want you. The question is more of you. What do you want?"

"I don't really know."

"Well, when you do know, you know where you can find me."

And for the second time that day, Draco walked off, leaving Harry alone and confused.

Tbc...