There Is A Thin Line Between Hate And Love

Disclaimer: Not mine. Please don‘t sue I don‘t have any money
Pairing: (We are getting there I promise) Harry/Draco
Author: Catium
Beta: Moi
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 4.812
Genre: Romance/ Drama.
Status: In Progress.
Warnings: Language. Smut.
Summary: What happens when that thin line between hate and love starts to disappear? Starts in the Half Blood Prince then moves on to year 7. The Deathly Hallows never happened.

Hermione is always the know it all.

Author’s note: First of all I want to say to Veracityrules; I am really happy you have been following the story from the beginning. I am not mad at you for not reviewing sooner... you are forgiven. And thank you so much for the compliment I rather hope the plots are good since I’ve been thinking about this story for four years. Thanks for reading and reviewing
Second thrnbrooke; I love that you are getting emotional about the story. That is so much fun for me I love getting a reaction out of my readers. Like always super special thanks for the loyal reading and reviewing.
Thirdly: Thanks to everyone that have read and/or reviewed.

Chapter 14 – I Know

When people talk about that story repeats itself they usually don’t mean with such a short period of time between two cases. But in the case of Harry and Draco that is just what happened. After they’re fight in front of the library they stopped talking to each other for the second time in a less than a month. They didn’t talk or acknowledge each other for 10 days. Harry told Ron and Hermione they would have to “babysit” Draco and took no arguments about it. He started to sit, walk between classes, and hang around with Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas.

Draco kept on being the good little boy and allowed Hermione and Ron to “babysit” him ignoring Harry as much as Harry ignored him.

Despite having cut Draco out and being supposedly ignoring him Harry couldn’t stop looking at him when he no one was looking and he couldn’t stop thinking about him either. Spending almost every waking moment wondering if he had been too harsh on him. Wondering if he should apologize and tell Draco his decision, that he had been planning to tell him that day in the library. Then his stubbornness took over.

“I shouldn’t apologize. I didn’t do anything. He should apologize to me. I’m going to ignore him until he does. Yes that is what I’m going to do.”

Then he would keep on thinking about Draco.
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Draco was also thinking about and watching Harry too. All the time. Supposedly ignoring him. He thought about that day at the library too. Wondering if maybe he shouldn’t have done this thing with Blaise. That maybe he shouldn’t have told Harry they were over before they began. That he should apologize to him. Tell Harry he was right, being horny wasn’t an excuse. Then he would get stubborn too.

“Nothing really happened and we were not a couple when this little thing between me and Blaise happened. We are not a couple. He has no right getting so angry with me. I did not tell Blaise anything that matters. And Blaise will not say anything. Harry overreacted and he should apologize to me. I’m not apologizing to him. I’m going to ignore him back until he does. That is what I am going to do.”

Then he would keep on thinking about Harry.
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On the 20’th of December Draco was sitting at the Gryffindor table during breakfast with Ron and Hermione. He hadn’t slept well the night before, constantly thinking about the fight between him and Harry and that had robbed him of his sleep. Draco yawned widely which drew Ron and Hermione’s attention.

“You tired?” Hermione asked

“Yeah you look like crap, you got bags under your eyes you know?” Ron added.

“WHAT?” Draco half screamed and drew up a mirror he had in his schoolbag looking at himself.
“Oh bugger that.” Draco claimed when seeing the blue bags he had under his eyes. He drew up his wand and casted a glamour under his eyes which made the bags disappear.

“Better?” He asked Ron and Hermione.

“Now I know for sure you gay.” Ron said. “No straight guy would ever get this worked up over bags under their eyes or carry a mirror in his bag for no apparent reason.”

“You telling me you were not sure?” Draco asked. “It was not enough for you that I spend fortunes in nice looking clothes, then wear them or that I spend at least 15 minutes in the shower every day, fix me hair every change that I get and stare after hot guys?”

“Yes but this was the ultimate proof.” Ron said stupidly.

Hermione had been looking at Ron and Draco during their conversation and now she shook her head.

“Anyway.” She said. “How come you are so tired Draco? Are you not getting enough sleep? Is something wrong?”

“No Hermione I am...” Draco sighed and then decided to stop pretending. “I have not been sleeping well since that fight with Harry. I keep going over and over the things that I said, what he said, what I should and shouldn’t had said and it’s driving me half crazy. Why can I not just let this go?” He asked and looked at Ron and Hermione with pleading in his eyes.

“I know what is wrong with you.” Ron said to Draco sounding awfully smug. “You have a case of what we humans that experience emotions call a guilty conscience.”

“I should not have that against Harry.” Draco said defensively. “I did not do anything to Harry.”

“What did you do?” Hermione asked cutting Draco off. “What happened?”

Draco sighed and then he thought.

“A leap of faith. If they hate me too I will know I did something utterly wrong and apologize to Harry.”

“Remember I told you I was going to go look for a book?

“Yes.” Hermione and Ron said in unison.

“Well I wasn’t. I saw my ex between the shelves and wanted to meet him in private.”

“You mean Zabini?” Hermione asked.

“Yes I was...well quite frankly I was horny and thought he might be able to help me.”

Ron had been taking a sip of his pumpkin juice and upon hearing that he gulped on the juice coughing violently. Hermione slammed Ron in the back and when Ron had recovered a bit she asked the obvious question.

“You know Draco that you can... well you know...take care of that kind of situation...without help.”

“I know Hermione I am not stupid.” Draco snapped “I have got the second highest grades in our year after you of course. And do tell Hermione when was I exactly supposed to be able to take care of myself? In case you have not realised I am kind of closely watched these days.”

Hermione stared at him and then seemed to realise what he was saying. She blushed scarlet red and simply said “Oh.”

“Yes Hermione...oh...watched day and night 24 bloody 7. I barely get five minutes alone in the shower.”

“I can’t believe we are talking about this.” Ron said and then he looked like he had decided to play along and asked “What about during the nights?”

“During the nights I sleep Ronald. I have a tendency to look rather bad if I do not get enough sleep.” Draco said pointing at his glamoured bags “Besides McGonagall forbade me to do any silencing charms and stuff like that around my bed. She put up some defence charms around it that alarm her if I get attacked. Silencing charms mess it up.”

“Oh” Ron said.

“Yeah oh” Draco added sarcastically. “Anyway I went to Blaise and inclined I needed some...help. He was not too eager to give it but in order to get him more eager I told him I was not part of You-Know-How’s team anymore. Blaise gave in and he was...helping me when Harry walked in on us and he got mad that I was...communicating with Blaise. Harry ran out of the library I followed him and we had a fight. I accidently told him what I have told Blaise and that got him madder. We fought some more and then he went away. I came back into the library and joined you. End of story.”

Ron and Hermione stared at him open mouth.

“You told him?” Hermione asked.

“Yes but it was not anything important it was only about me nothing else. I did not mention...” Draco dropped his voice “I did not tell him about the plan or Snape. Besided Blaise is neutral he will not tell anyone about this.”

“What if someone makes him?” Ron asked.

“Well worst case I will get killed.” Draco said “Honestly I am not really having high hopes of surviving this war anyway. I will not matter if I die now or after couple of years.”

“All right then.” Hermione said a bit surprised at Draco’s forwardness. “I understand you and Harry having a fight about this, but not that you haven’t made up already. Like you said you did not even tell Blaise anything that will harm the Order, only yourself.”

“I understand.” Ron said “Harry can be really stubborn. He wants you to make the first step and apologize to him.”

“Well I won’t.” Draco said. “Let’s go we are late for class.” Draco said standing up.

“Ehh... Draco. The last classes before Christmas break were yesterday. Everyone is leaving for the holidays in about half an hour.” Hermione said.

“And she means everyone. The only people staying behind these Christmas are me, Hermione, you, Harry, Ginny and Claudia. Well and of course the teachers and your mother. McGongall talked to Harry yesterday and he told us she reckons the Headquarters aren’t save enough right now for us to stay there over Christmas. But mom insisted we came on Christmas day for lunch and McGonagall agreed to that. And you, Claudia and your mother are invited.” Ron said.

“Thanks Ronald we will be there.” Draco said. “But why is everyone leaving?”

“The parents want their children home over Christmas. The Wizarding world is at war. They want to see their kids because they might be dead before they see them next. The family reunited for maybe the last time.” Hermione said.

“So why aren’t you two going then?” Draco asked.

“Our place is next to Harry. That is what we chose when we became his friends.” Ron told him.

“That is...really nice of you both.” Draco said. “I have never had such loyal friends.”

“You said it yourself your friends weren’t really your friends.” Hermione said.

“Yes that is true.” Draco said then a thought struck him. “Wait a second. Hermione you said everyone is leaving? The only people staying behind are me, you, Ronald, Harry, Claudia and Ginny. Except for mother who kind of lives here and the teachers?”

“Yes.” Hermione said. “And it’s only the teachers that don’t have anywhere else to go. McGonagall, Remus and Snape are staying but they are going to be away half the time working on some stuff for the Order, Harry told us. Trealwney is staying but she barely comes out of her tower. Hagrid is of course staying in his hut and Filch is staying but Harry said McGonagall asked him to leave us alone as long as we aren’t breaking any rules.

“No one else is staying then? Are you sure?” Draco asked.

During their conversation the Hall had started emptying, students going to pick up their stuff and leaving for the Hogwarts Express. Now the last student’s were going, since the train was leaving at nine. Seamus and Dean where among the last one’s to stand up saying their goodbyes to Harry and doing the same as they walked past Ron, Hermione and Draco.

“Marry Christmas you three.” Dean said.

“And Happy New Year. See you all January 6’Th.” Seamus added.

When they left the Hall it was empty except for Harry who stood up and walked towards them and the last of the teachers who left around the same time. Draco smirked and looked for a minute so much like his old self that Hermione got chills all over.

“So no one is staying here but us?” Draco asked again.

“That is what Hermione said are you daft Draco?” Ron asked.

“That means.” Draco said still smirking and looking at them both. “That there is not going to be anyone here during the Christmas break that might...let’s say try and kill me or harm me in any way if You-Know- Who and his followers were to find out that I had switched teams. That means that I will not need any babysitters during Christmas. Because they are only watching out for me because I might be at risk of getting harmed. Which is not happening since there is no one at school right now that might harm me. That means that...”

At that moment Harry came up to them.

“He guys what’s up?” he asked.

Draco turned around and started Harry straight into the eyes.

“That means...” he repeated. “That until January 6’Th I am free.” Then Draco grabbed his schoolbag and ran out of the Great Hall.

“He can’t do that.” Harry said a bit upset. “We have to go after him.”

“Leave him!” McGonagall strong voice all of sudden rang through the air. The Trio looked at her, where she Snape and Lupin were the only teacher still sitting at the teachers table, but were getting ready to leave. “I overheard what you were saying and Mr Malfoy is right. There is no one staying in this school during the Holidays that might harm him if they found out the truth. Therefore you do not need to follow my orders that I gave you September 1’st until the rest of the student population returns after the Christmas break. Repeating Mr Malfoy’s words you are all free of having to spend every waking moment keeping an eye on him.” Then she stood. “Me, Severus and Remus are going to be tending Order business all day. You already know you needn’t worry about Filch. Trealwney is like usual in her tower and Hagrid is going to check in on you once or twice. So you are basically free as long as you do not break any rules. Try and behave I trust you are old enough.”

The Trio nodded their heads and McGonagall left the Hall quickly followed by Snape and Remus that waved them bye.

They waved back and then Ron said.

“We are teacher free, enemy free and Draco free. It’s just the three of us like the good old days. What do you guys wanna do?”
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2 hours later found them in the Gryffindor tower. Harry and Ron were in a middle of exciting chess game and Hermione was reading Hogwarts: A History for the millionth time according to Ron.

Draco came bursting into the tower carrying besides his school bag a big plastic bag.

Hermione closed her book and looked strictly at Draco.

“Where’ve you been?” She asked.

“Enjoying my freedom.” Draco said. “Danced through almost every hallway in Hogwarts and broke into Slytherin getting some stuff that I hid there last year. Did you know they gave someone else my private room?”

“YOU WHAT?” Both Harry and Ron asked, rushing to Draco where he was sitting down on one of the couches next to a table, looking really smug with himself.

“Draco why on earth?” Hermione asked.

“My house. Remember. Besides it was not really a burglary when I got Blaise to tell me the password. And I was getting MY stuff.”

“What were you getting?” Ron asked curious.

“Let us see Ronald.” Draco said and opened the bag. He first pulled out a big glass bottle filled with brown fluid.

“Ogden’s Old Finest Firewhiskey” he said putting the bottle on the table. Then he pulled another glass bottle which had a clear fluid in it.

“Wizard’s Vodka?” Ron asked.

“Yes, right you are.” Draco said and pulled what looked like a six pack of...

“Mead?” Harry asked.

“Yes the actually come in other things than big brown mug’s” Draco said referring to when Hagrid drank mead. Then he continued dragging out the contents of the bag that had seemed big first but now seemed too small for all this alcohol. “Six pack of butterbeer, a carton (10 packs) of Marlboro and...that is it” Draco said finishing the list a little too quickly. Harry and the others could see that there was something at the bottom.

“No it is not.” Hermione said. “There is something at the bottom that looks like three or four things.

“Oh damn it I keep forgetting they are not Slytherin’s they are going to be less than pleased by this.” “Yes there is but I didn’t buy it.” Draco started to say sounding defensive “Crabbe and Goyle did during the last Christmas break. They gave it to me because I had been so stressed out. They were trying to calm me down, loosen up a bit, the smoking were only doing so little. I only took it maybe five or six times, I drank a lot more...I swear...please...do not get mad.” Draco begged sounding desperate.

Harry remembered that time when he saw Draco crying in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom during last year, asked him calmly.

“What is in the bag Draco?” Receiving from Draco surprised stare since this was the first time for ten days that he talked to him directly.

“It is...” Draco stopped swallowing the lump in his throat. “...muggle drugs.” Draco quickly took out the rest of the bags contents. First he dragged out a box that had something that looked like 7 home made cigarettes in it. “Pot”, small bag containing three even smaller bags with white powder like stuff. “Coce.” Then another small bag with seven or eight little pills that had smile faces on them. “E’s. I only smoked three of those...” He pointed at the marijuana.”...took two of those...” He pointed at the E’s “...and had one line of this. They made me feel...” He paused looking for a way to describe the effects “ ...great... like I didn’t have a care in the world, and getting a blow job or something during the high...whow...but then it wore off I felt ill and looked like shit. And while under it I did not get any job down so I stashed them away.”

“But you wanted more?” Hermione asked.

“Yes the first days were hell. All I wanted to do was to get that...high again...to not feel a thing. But I didn’t give in since I had a job to do.”

“Good for you Draco. Those things are addictive and you can’t get rid of the addiction with some spells like with the Wizard’s drugs.”

Draco snorted. “Wizard’s drugs are shit. You can get higher on breathing fresh air.”

“So I guess you received that blow job while high from Zabini?” Harry all of sudden grabbed into the conversation sounding jealous.

“I cannot believe he is bringing this up now.” Draco thought furious.

“Yes I did get it from Blaise, just like the hand job last week.”

“And what did you have to tell him that time?”

“Nothing. I did not HAVE to tell him anything. I was horny Harry I was not getting any and someone was not willing to give it so I looked for it from someone that was willing to. I did not mean to tell him anything it dropped out when he was trying to turn me down, because I was desperate. For the second time I am sorry Harry. I made a mistake. I am just a man.”

“You could have waited.”

“Waited for what Harry? You? Believe me I wanted to but I was not getting any from you. Not any answers...and certainly not a hand job.”

“I was...” Harry started but then he seemed to realise they had an audience. Hermione and Ron were staring at them. Ron mouth a bit open and with a confuse look on his face clearly not getting what was going on. Hermione with that look on her face like her suspicions had been confirmed.

“What? Cat got your tongue Harry?” Draco said sarcastically. Then he noticed the audience too. “Oh bloody hell.” He muttered. “Harry I for...” he started to say but Harry looked at him, Ron and Hermione all in turns and shook his head like trying to deny what had just happened. Because you would have to be really thick to not get what their fight had been about. Then Harry turned on his heels and ran up to the boy’s dormitory.

“Oh my Merlin.” Hermione stuttered out. “I knew there was something weird going on and I had some options in mind but this one was among...”

“Don’t...” Draco said his voice sounded broken. “Hermione you...you both do not have a clue how worried...” Then he stopped unable to say more and started to walk towards the hole to get out of the tower. Before going through he said over his shoulder. “Hermione could you get rid of the stuff for me. I do not want this anymore. I do not feel any need for those drugs anymore and that alcohol is no good for me.”

Hermione waved her wand wordlessly and the cigarettes, alcohol and drugs vanished.

“Thank you.” Draco said and then he left.
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Hermione stared at the back of the painting where Draco had just exited through.

“Hermione. What was that about?” Ron asked sounding lost. “If I didn’t know any better I would swear that it sounded like Harry and Draco have a...thing for each other.”

“They do.” Hermione said in a flat tone. “And clearly Harry has been denying his feelings towards Draco because he is afraid of our opinion. He’s afraid we will stop being his friends if he comes out and starts dating Draco on top of that...our used to be arch enemy and torturer.”

Ron looked both terrified and angry of the thought of Harry being gay and fancying Draco. But before he could say anything Hermione had seen the look and his face and hissed at him.

“Ronald Weasley don’t you dare! Don’t you dare being such a selfless, emotionless bastard that you are going to stop being Harry’s friend if he...for the first time in his live...does something that would finally make him happy. Despite what others thing. If he does this he’s going to get a lot of shit from the press and the public. The least we can do for him is to be supportive of him. We are his friends...his family. We are not going to stop being that just because he likes other boys. You don’t need to worry I know he doesn’t fancy you one bit. And if he wants to date Draco then...well Draco is a lot better person than we thought he was and he’s getting better every day and honestly I think Harry can do worse.” Hermione stopped to take a deep breath and was clearly going to keep on with her arguing but Ron caught her off.

“Hermione stop. I was going to get a little angry and well kind of terrified of the notion of Harry being gay and liking Draco on top of that. But I still have a tendency of thinking of the old Draco...the few times I thing about him...the new Draco surprises me every day. Sure he’s still a prick and his newest gig...getting it on in the library with Blaise proves that. He really is getting better at being a nice guy every day. And I...well...I honestly thing too that Harry could do a lot worse...he could decide to date Justin Finch-Fletchley. But what I really wanted to say is that I kind of saw this coming. Draco and Harry... they’ve always been able to push each other’s buttons way more than is normal for typical arch nemeses relationship. I think that they knew everyone expected them to hate each other and when somewhere deep down they realised they didn’t...then they took the show to the extreme to proof to both them just like everyone else that they did in fact hate each other. Only they never really did. But for years they even managed to fool themselves. When Draco came in August I saw the looks he gave Harry when he thought no one was looking. And in October I started noticing the same with Harry. Then they got all weird with each other after Halloween and that just proofed my suspicion. Then there is the Harry is gay deal. I’ve known that since third year. He couldn’t stop staring at Oliver Wood’s arse in the showers after Quidditch practises when he thought no one was looking. I allowed him to date Ginny because I knew he would have to date a girl in order to realise this and Ginny needed to get him out of her system. So here you are Hermione. Please don’t start yelling at me again And what I want to say at the end that if it makes Harry happy...who cares... he deserves it.”

Hermione started at Ron amazed and Ron snorted a bit sounding amused.

“And you say I have the emotional range of a teaspoon.”

Hermione still wordless walked up at Ron with a weird look on her face. Ron looked at her like she was carrying something infective.

“Hermione what...” but before he could get any further Hermione had grabbed him and given him the biggest kiss he had ever had. She finally let him go after a minute and Ron couldn’t do anything else but stare at her.
Hermione looked at him smiling and was a bit out of breath. “Ron I love you.” She said seriously.

“I...I love you too Hermione...have for years in fact. But why now?”

“No time Ron. We will talk about us later. Right now why need to get Harry and Draco together because they never will on their own. I will go talk to Harry and you find Draco.

“Why do I get Draco?” Ron asked shocked.

“Cause you two need to make peace with each other.” Hermione said and ran up the stairs.

Ron went out through the painting of the Fat Lady to look for Draco.
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Harry was sitting on his bed, his thoughts whirling around in his head like it was a Penesive, when Hermione came bursting through the door.

“Stop it Harry.” She said.

“Hermione what...?”

“I want you to stop being a stubborn arse and just admit your feelings and who you are.” She said sternly. “Well...?” she asked. “Don’t you have something to tell me?”

“She knows.” Harry thought “And I think she is all right with it otherwise I don’t think she would act like this. She wants her to tell her...fine then I will.”

“Hermione I’m gay.” Harry said and took a deep breath adding. “And I like Draco...a lot.”

“We’re fine Harry.” She simply said back to him.

“What do you..?”

“Me and Ron...we don’t mind. If it makes you happy then you deserve it. And we both thing you could do a lot worse than Draco. So go get him.”

Harry felt to his horror that he had tears in his eyes.

“You...both...Ron?”

“Yes. Now go and find Draco and tell him you like him a lot. Because of the four of us he’s the only one that doesn’t know.”

That was the only encouragement Harry needed. He got of his bed and left the room quickly.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ron came out through the hole behind the painting of the Fat Lady and found Draco sitting against the wall only a couple of feet away supporting his head against his hands.

“Draco.” He said carefully.

Draco looked up and when seeing only Ron went back to the same position.

“What do you want Ronald?” he asked.

“I wanted to tell you...that we know what has been going on with you and Harry.”

“I kind of figured that out.”

“But can I ask you something?” Ron asked.

“Be my guest Ronald.”

“I thought that when a Malfoy wanted something or someone they would just take it. So why haven’t you?”

“I am trying to change. Besides you can’t just take a person you want. That is rape you know? ”

“Would it change anything if that person wants you...like you want him? And that his friends are O.K. with it?”

Draco looked up again and stared at Ron for a moment his silver eyes showing hope and gratitude like nothing Ron had ever seen before. Ron smiled a bit.

“You’re a Malfoy, Draco. Go get him.”

Draco scrambled up and rushed towards Ron. He held out his hand and Ron took it a little confused again.

“Thank you...Ron.” Draco said.

“You’re welcome Draco.”

Then Draco took off back inside Gryffindor tower.
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Harry ran down the stairs.

Draco came into the Common room and went running up the stairs.

Halfway through the staircase up to the boy’s dormitory, Harry and Draco saw each other. Harry immediately jumped at Draco, pushed him against the wall, only this time less violently than before, and gave him the most head spinning kiss Draco had ever received. After at least minute Harry broke the contact of their lips and whispered ever so softly into Draco’s ear.

“I know.”

Draco for the first time in his life was at lost for words and simply looked at Harry smile and affection showing in his eyes, and Harry leaned in for another kiss.

Hermione and Ron both came from different directions at the same time and upon seeing them kiss Hermione worded Draco’s thoughts.

“It was about bloody time”

TBC
I finally got the boys together. I don‘t know about you but I think that deserves a review.