Who Would Have Thought

Author\'s Note: Sorry about the wait everyone. My life is absolutely crazy right now. I\'m working three jobs and start summer classes tomorrow morning bright and early and on top of it all I\'m transfering in the fall but haven\'t been able to make my final descision because both schools I\'m interested in are being slow buttheads about letting me know what they are offering me. Can someone just shoot me? Anyway, I appologize if the chapter is a little short, but I thought a little something now was better than making you all wait who knows how long until I have time to write something more substantial. At least I think this chaper will clear some things up. Let me know what you think.

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CHAPTER TWELVE: Lion in the Serpent’s Lair

Frantically, Draco scrambled into a sitting position against his headboard, never taking his eyes off of Granger who just stood there looking down at him. His sat there for a moment in shock before noticing the amused look on her face as she stared at him. It was only then that he realized his shirt was half undone and that he had managed to tangle himself up in the cord of his CD player. He could only imagine what he must look like and the fact that Granger was standing there being entertained by it really pissed him off.

“What the FUCK do you think you are doing here Granger?”

The Gryffindor girl got a pinched look to her face, “Is that really necessary?”

“Boys talk like boys in the Slytherin dormitory or perhaps you forgot you weren’t with your perfect little Gryffindors,” came the response from behind Pansy. It was only then that Draco realized that Blaise was also in the room. Blaise turned to him, “I’m sorry Draco, we tried to keep her out but she threatened the entire common room with taking away points.”

“What, the noble Gryrffindor abusing her Head Girl powers? I am appalled!” Draco said dramatically as he saw the growing discomfort on Granger’s face.

“I am here because Dumbledore and Snape said I should speak with you,” Granger replied not looking at him.

“I somehow double he meant for you to force your way into our house and assault Draco in his bed!” Blaise spat.

Granger rounded on him, “Oh, because he would have talked to me any other way? This doesn’t concern you Zabini, go and let me talk to Malfoy!”

“I am in the room Granger and I say that Blaise stays. What, do you want him to leave so that later you can start some rumor about how I raped you or something? Forget it!” Draco said as he made his way to the door. He opened it, “In fact I would prefer it if you were the one to leave. You’ve already done quite a lovely job of ruining my year so believe me when I say that your work here is done.”

Granger stood there looking uncertain as she glanced from Blaise to Draco and then the open door. When she spoke it was very softly and her tone gave him pause, “Please Draco, I need to speak with you and I think that once you hear it you’ll be glad we spoke alone.”

She could only have been talking about something that had happened after he stormed out of Dumbledore’s office and despite his anger, Draco couldn’t help feeling slightly curious and extremely worried about what had transpired. Suddenly, all the fight seem to go out of him and as his anger left him he felt as if it was willpower alone that kept him from collapsing in on himself.

“Blaise,” Draco said when he found his voice again. “Please wait outside the door?”

His fellow Slytherin looked at him as if he were crazy, “You’re sure?”

Draco shook his head no, “Please Blaise?”

Blaise finally nodded, but he gave Granger a look before he walked out, “I will be RIGHT outside the door. Draco, call me if you need anything. “

A moment later the door clicked shut and there was silence in the room as the Gryffindor and the Slytherin stood facing each other. Finally, Draco forced himself to move and he made his way to his bed. He pulled over a chair for Granger and motioned to it before taking a seat on the edge of his bed and stuffing his CD player back under his pillow.

“I didn’t realize you liked Muggle music,” Granger spoke, breaking the silence.

“Well I’m just full of surprises and you’re finding your way into far more of then than I ever intended. What do you want?”

Granger sighed as he took her seat but didn’t look at him, “Dumbledore and Snape insisted that I apologize to you and let you know what’s going on.”

“And what exactly would that be?” Draco asked, a little surprised.

“Pansy told us the truth after you stormed out. She said she met a Muggle boy when she was out with her friends and slept with him. Her friends had been drinking and talking with some other students they met up with and so when they saw Pansy leave with this blond Muggle, they somehow associated him with you in their drunken states. When her friends found her getting sick on the train and she told them she thought she was pregnant, they all automatically thought it was yours. Hence, the rumors,” Granger explained calmly.

Some of Draco’s anger resurfaces, “And she just let them think it was true? She knows how my father is right now and she just let people believe it?”

“Look,” Granger said, trying to calm him down, “until the meeting this afternoon she never actually said it was yours. She just didn’t deny it. You know that Mr. Parkinson’s trial is coming up soon right? He’s under magical house arrest until next month.”

“Who doesn’t know?” Draco snapped.

“Pansy knew that when the staff was informed she would be forced to say who the father was. If she said it wasn’t yours she would have to explain about the real father and then Dumbledore would have to tell Pansy’s parents. Knowing what Mr. Parkinson is on trial for, you must know how he would react.”

Draco did know, and it made him scared for the girl he had known as a friend. It made sense now in a horrible, twisted way, but it didn’t mean he forgave Pansy. “So,” Draco began, “She was just going to let it happen and not talk to me about any of it? What now?”

Granger sighed, “She never intended to ruin your life, Malfoy. She didn’t know it was going to go this far and it wouldn’t have if I had minded my own business. If I hadn’t gotten involved it would have remained a rumor that died down in a couple weeks and by the time Pansy started showing enough for the staff to really raise questions Mr. Parkinson would have been in Azkaban and Mrs. Parkinson’s trial date would be underway. I’m sorry, OK? I heard the rumors and automatically thought the worst of you.”

“You don’t even know me,” Draco said icily.

“I’d say that we’re both guilty on that account Malfoy,” Granger replied.

“So, you never said. What now?”

“Pansy has a sympathetic Aunt who lives in Kensington. She’ll hide her pregnancy for as long as possible. If she’s lucky she’ll make it to Halloween, but it will probably only be until shortly after her father’s trial and then she’ll go live with her Aunt. Dumbledore is arranging for her to finish her educations via correspondence. Until then, the staff will do there best to downplay the pregnancy. If Mr. Parkinson finds out about Pansy Dumbledore is afraid of what he would do. He might be under house arrest, but Mrs. Parkinson does everything he tells her to. None of us are supposed to talk about it if we can help it. We can’t tell anyone,” Granger explained.

“So everyone is going to go on believing I’m some asshole?”

Granger snorted, “This might be news to you but that’s what everyone has always thought.”

Draco scowled,\" I’m sorry, but there are people I have got to tell.”

“You can’t! Everyone will find out!”

“They won’t find out and besides, you can’t tell me you weren’t going to tell Weasley and Potter anyway. You three practically share a brain, though you might have gotten the bigger piece.”

Granger looked guilty for a moment before sighing and shaking her head, “Who will you tell?”

“Only two people actually. First there’s Ben.”

“He’s a first year Malfoy do you actually expect him to not talk about this?” Granger asked with scowl.

“Like we’ve already agreed Granger, you don’t know me, I don’t know you and let me tell you now that you definitely do not know Ben. He won’t say anything to anyone if he knows how important it is,” Draco said, making it clear by his tone that there was no room for argument.

Granger sighed, “Fine, who else?”

“My lover,” Draco answered, not looking at her.

Granger nodded, “Understandable. I guess that covers everything then. “

”Not quite,” Draco said, stopping her before she could stand. “No one else here but Ben, Harper, and everyone in Dumbledore’s office today knows anything about my sexuality or the fact that I’m in a relationship with Ben’s brother. Our parents don’t know either. I want to keep it that way and that includes not telling Weasley and Potter. Understood?”

Granger stared at him for a moment, “Fine Malfoy, but I hope you understand that I still don’t like you. I can’t believe I’m keeping your secrets after everything you’ve ever said and done, but I will. It changes nothing though.”

Draco felt his stomach clench as he was reminded of how much bullshit he would still have to put up with, “That’s perfectly fine Granger, because I can tell you I still don’t like you either. Your as much of a know-it-all busybody as ever before and I don’t care to expend the energy necessary to rid myself of that notion.”

Granger looked slightly befuddled at his bluntness, but only nodded. They stood there awkwardly for several moments before the Gryffindor finally excused herself and left. A moment later, Blaise entered, looking at him curiously.

“What was that all about?” Blaise asked.

Draco just shook his head and fell limply back onto his bed.

Blaise stared at him hard, as if he could figure it out by examining him hard enough, “What have you gotten yourself into Malfoy?”

“I don’t know,” Draco answered, before rolling over and feigning sleep until dinner.