Coercion and Confusion

*


"Uh, Hermione? Why are we hiding in a closet?"

"Shh!"

"Hey! I'm just trying figure out what we're doing!"

"Harry," Hermione sighed, annoyed. "I thought you wanted my help!"

"I do!" Harry exclaimed. "But, this isn't exactly what I had in mind..." Harry shifted slightly but could move little as the closet was fairly small.

Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes. She turned back to the crack in the door and peered out while Harry struggled to find a comfortable position. Harry sighed and gave up moving around.

"Oh, oh! Here he comes!" Hermione whispered, still looking through the crack.

"What's he doing?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Nothing," Hermione said, disappointed. "He's just reading a book."

"What book?"

"I can't see it from here."

Harry sighed again, becoming more depressed by the second. This was the fourth day in a row they had tailed Draco to no avail. He never seemed to do anything that would help Harry in his plight.

Hermione pushed open the closet door and stepped outside. Harry followed slowly, looking disappointed. Hermione turned to him and gave him a sad smile.

"Don't worry, Harry. Something will happen eventually."

Harry nodded slowly and turned away from her, heading towards the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione sighed as she watched him go. She then turned and looked in the direction Draco had departed in.

An odd expression came over her face as she looked on. It was thoughtful and almost calculating. She seemed to make a decision and walked after Draco.

She walked down the stone steps, trying to be quiet. She had never known the way to the Slytherin dorms, not having gone with Harry and Ron in second year.

She turned down another corridor lined with old tapestries. She went cautiously down the hallways, not feeling particularly welcome in this part of the castle. She braced herself and walked boldly forward though.

About halfway down a third corridor she heard voices coming from behind one of the portraits. She crept forward, making sure that she was out of sight on the voices.

"Blaise, this is not the time."

"Aw, come on. We haven't done anything in weeks. It's not Potter, is it?"

"No!" Hermione heard the voice exclaim. She crept further forward and peeked behind the portrait.

There was a rather large room concealed by the picture. It was sparsely furnished with a dark green couch and a few torches on the walls. Draco stood in front of the couch glaring at Blaise who looked completely innocent.

"Why would you say that?" Draco asked, horrified.

"Well, ever since you and him started this... thing of yours, you haven't exactly been interested," Blaise said lightly, picking at his nails casually.

Draco scowled at him as he stood so relaxed in front of him.

"That is not true," Draco growled.

"It is, Draco. Just admit it," Blaise drawled, one eyebrow cocked.

"Fine," Draco said resolutely and moved toward Blaise. "Want me to prove it?"

Hermione gasped quietly as she watched him advance on Blaise. Her eyes were round as Draco moved closer. Blaise made no moves to back away, just stood there, looking kind of interested.

Hermione stood in shock as she watched the scene progress.

"Ahem," came a gruff voice. She squeaked and wheeled around. There was no one behind her. She turned back to the portrait and came face to face with it's occupant that had just arrived. The old wizard looked at her closely and calculatingly.

"Sorry," she squeaked, her heart in her throat.

"You shouldn't be eavesdropping," the portrait said in a deep, low voice. Hermione nodded fervently while backing away.

When she reached the corner she turned and fled back to the common room, having much to think over.

Meanwhile, back inside the room, Blaise stood watching the oncoming Draco. As he neared to less than a foot away, Blaise put out a hand to stop him.

"Stop, Draco," he said softly. Draco stopped and scowled at him.

"What now?" he asked, annoyed. Blaise shook his head and rolled his eyes.

"Coming on to me won't disprove your feelings for Potter."

Draco's mouth fell open in shock and outrage. He snapped it shut a second later and his eyes threw fire at Blaise.

"I do NOT have feelings for Potter!" he yelled. Blaise shrugged and moved past Draco.

"You just keep telling yourself that," he said with a smirk before vanishing behind the portrait. Draco scoffed and glared at the back of the portrait. He pushed it open forcefully and strode down the hallway, but he couldn't help hearing the old wizened wizards musings to himself as he strode away.

"That boy does have a point."

Draco growled to himself and stomped on his way.

***

Hermione came to the common room to find Harry curled up in a chair by the fire. He said nothing as she sat down in the adjacent chair. He merely sighed sadly and continued to watch the flickering flames of the fireplace.

Hermione watched him sadly for a few moment then turned her gaze to the window where snow was falling softly outside. She looked back to Harry when he shifted suddenly.

He was looking at the floor now. Hermione didn't know what to do or say. Her mind was too wrapped up with what she had just heard and seen.

How could Draco feel so little for Harry? She hoped that it wasn't true and Draco had merely been bluffing but she couldn't be sure. She wouldn't dare tell Harry for fear of what it would do to him. She knew how much he seemed to care for Draco when he received so little in return.

"It's not working, Hermione," Harry said, bringing her out of her reverie. She looked at him, concerned.

"What do you mean?" she asked quietly. Harry sighed again as if very tired. He looked at her through sad eyes.

"I mean this. Draco. He doesn't love me," Harry said. Hermione felt so sad as she watched tears building in Harry's eyes.

He looked away from her, wiping them away. He sniffed quietly as his gaze went back to the fire.

"Harry," she said softly. "It'll be okay."

"Okay?" Harry asked, turning to her again. "How can it be okay? He doesn't even really want me."

Hermione was at a loss for what to do. Harry swallowed hard and turned from her once more. Hermione hung her head and stared at her hands in her lap. She felt completely helpless at not being able to help him.

"I'm sorry, Harry," she said finally. Harry nodded, not daring to look at her, to see the pity and the sorrow in her face.

"It's okay," he said in a choked voice. "I knew what this was. I did this."

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said sadly, trying to keep back the tears that were threatening to fall at his depression. Harry shook his head to himself and took a deep breath.

They sat in silence for a while listening to the crackling wood of the fire. Around them other students were busy playing games. The winter break was soon approaching and no one felt much like doing any work.

They were still sitting there when Ron bounced in cheerfully. He spotted them near the fireplace and sat down in the last chair.

"Anybody up for a game of chess?" he asked, looking from Harry to Hermione. Harry sighed morosely and didn't respond. Ron gave him an odd look and turned to Hermione.

He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong but she cut him off.

"I'll play with you, Ron," she said even though she hated the game.

"Okay," he said slowly, still looking at Harry closely.

All the while he set up the board he watched him. They started playing, Hermione immediately losing pieces to Ron. Her mind wasn't entirely on the game anyway. Ron was happy with his winning status and soon forgot about Harry.

He didn't even notice when Harry bid them goodnight and walked slowly up to his dorm. Hermione watched him leave, not seeing as her pawn was crushed and dragged off the board.

Harry walked slowly up the stairs, dragging his feet behind him. He reached the boys dormitory and slipped inside. No one was there, thankfully. He changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed. He drew the curtains around the four-poster, wanting privacy that night.

He stared at the ceiling of the canopy wondering what he had gotten himself into.

'Am I completely crazy? he asked himself. 'I shouldn't have done anything. This would have passed.

'Would it have though?' his inner voice spoke up. Harry groaned and turned over.

"I don't know," he muttered to himself

'Will it now?'

'I don't know.'


~*~


A/N: please review!! :)