Surprise Mate

Chapter IV


Neither Harry or Hermione even acknowledge Ron's presence the rest of that day or the day that followed. Harry didn’t even care if Ron had any classes with him when they got their schedules Monday morning. He just compared his with Hermione's he had almost every class with her except Arithmancy and Muggle studies and Ancient Runes. He knew his schedule was more like Draco's seeing how the blond had helped him pass most of his class last year when most to the time he was to depressed to care if h passed or not. Everyday he begun to feel a bit more grateful to the blond for being there for him. It took him a while to realize Draco had always been a constant in his life even if they had spent almost five years as enemies. Lately even the thought of Draco seemed to make him blush.

“You must be thinking about your blond?” Hermione asked him smiling as she looked up from her book.

“I don’t know what you are talking about Hermione.” Harry said turning his attention back to his food.

“Really Harry? You've been staring in that direction for the past five minutes.”

“No I haven’t.” then he blushed even harder when he realized that she was telling the truth. “I don’t mean to.” his voice soft slightly embarrassed

“Why don’t you tell him how you feel?”

“Because I don’t want him to be in danger. Besides 'Mione think about it if Voldemort was to find out that I had an interest in him then he might use Draco to get to me I don’t want to put him through that.”

“That is a risk you should let him take Harry. Besides I think Draco could handle his own. Just let go Harry.”

“Not right now 'Mione, maybe when I'm sure he will be safe to be around me.”

“If you wait till then Harry you will never be happy because even when you defeat Voldemort you will still have people after you. Sometimes Harry you need to take care of yourself and that means allowing yourself to be happy every once in a while. No one wants you alone forever Harry. I definitely don’t want you alone forever.”

“I know you don’t 'Mione, but I need to make sure that it is at least a bit safe for him to date me.”

“I wont push you any more,” Hermione told him he was about to thank her when she added. “At the moment.” Hermione said before she placed her timetables in her bag along with the rest of her books. “Come we have double potions.” she said standing from her seat.

They walked to the potions class in silence, Hermione with her hand resting on Harry's forearm so she could lean on him. Harry knew she did this when she was sadden by something. He could curse Ron right now for the hurt he was putting Hermione through. The bastard didn’t deserve her affection. Well as long as Harry lived no one would deserve Hermione's affection, and the bastard that did steal her heart would wish he was never born if he ever hurt Hermione.

When they got to the potions class room Harry and Hermione took their seats in the front of the class since Hermione would die of shame if she ever had a seat in the back of the class, Harry laughed at that thought. He was instantly aware of when Draco entered the room, he didn’t even have to turn around to see Draco take a seat on the other side of the class in the back along with Pansy, Theodore and Blaise. He wasn’t surprise not to see Goyle and Crabbe there those two had brains the size of acorns.

As the rest of the class entered Harry focused on the conversation Hermione had started with Seamus. He rolled his eyes at Seamus attempts to flirt with Hermione. Seamus was Harry's friend and a good one but he didn’t have a chance in hell of getting her. As much as he liked Seamus he wasn’t the one for 'Mione. Hermione was one for intellectual conversations so she wouldn’t bore he just didn’t have it in him. And he also doubted Seamus could keep his goods in his pants, he would sleep with anything that had legs, male or female the kid didn’t care one bit. It had also been rumored he fathered a child their fifth year whether fact or truth, Harry be damned if he brought his friend into his mess.

Harry was slightly grateful for Snape's dramatic appearance to get Seamus to leave Hermione alone, though he knew that he would try to talk to her again sometime today. But even his slight gratitude disappeared as soon as he heard Snape's icy drawl.

“Seeing how there are only twelve of you that managed to pass your owls I will be assigning you all partners for the rest of the year. You will be teaming up with your partner in more than just what happens in this class but also with your joint homework assignments, projects, research, and potion making. And so we are all clear now, your partners are non-negotiable. You even think of arguing with me over this I will make sure the both of you have two months worth of detention and a significant amount of points deducted from you houses. Am I understood?” he said staring at them as if daring them to challenge him.

“Yes sir.” the class said in unison.

“Good.” Snape tapped his wand on the board the list of partners appearing along with their assignment, which was a reading than a joint essay. “Go pair up.”

Harry looked at the board with dread. It wasn’t that he didn’t like who he paired with because it gave them an excuse to be seen together but he knew he would not be able to concentrate long enough to read one word from their thirty page reading. He gathered his things and moved to the back of the room to sit next to Draco. He gave the blond a small smile before sitting down.

“You arranged this didn’t you.”

“Potter, I have no clue to what you are referring to. I mean seriously how can I influence Severus Snape to do anything in my favor?” Draco asked his lips curling up a little on the left side of his face.

“I don’t know it may be that he is your godfather and he absolutely spoils you rotten. So much so in fact that I would think he was your actual father.”

“What I wouldn’t give for that to be true.” Draco said his voice holding adoration for Snape and also sadden at the thought of his actual parents.

“Things still hectic at home?” Harry asked softly pulling out his book and turning to the right page.

“Father is trying to calm mother down, but she is as always being a self-righteous bitch. I can't stand the woman. I wish she would roll over and die to leave me and father in peace.”

“You will have your peace one day Draco I guarantee it. Besides you are already making progress changing over to Light. Even if she is otherwise oblivious to it.”

“And that way she will stay until she is good and gone.”

“It will happen soon Draco. Her time is coming, she will be punished for her crimes.” Harry told Draco, his voice was so serious that it nearly startled Draco. To Draco it almost sounded like a declaration of deeds to be done.

“What do you mean Harry?”

“Soon you will see, Dragon. Soon you and your father will be free.” When Harry said no more on subject Draco turned his attention to his book, slightly distracted by what Harry said.

By the time class ended Draco and Harry managed to get their assignment done though it was mostly Draco's effort, no matter how much Draco tutored Harry he just couldn’t get potions to the point of writing a meter long essay on any potion.

Harry was on the way to Charms with Hermione when they ran into Ron. Harry had to admit that he looked miserable but he wasn’t ready to forgive him just yet, and Hermione was stubborn to a fault she be damn if she would apologize or suck up her wounded pride first. They just walked by him not even acknowledging his presence. He screwed up big time and he knew it. When class was over they headed to Herbology. All the classes were basically the same on their first day, review what they already learn to prepare for the new material. By the time dinner came that night Harry felt as though his brain was in overdrive from trying to remember the five previous years worth of material he didn’t even want to think about how much homework they had multiple chapters to read and several essays on those chapters all about a meter and a half in length.

But for right now homework was the last thing he wanted to think about. When he set next to Hermione he filled his plate with food, he didn’t even notice when Ron sat next to him.

“Harry did you and Malfoy set up a time to start your research paper?”

“Yeah, he told when to meet up before we left Herbology.”

“What are you and Malfoy doing working together?” Ron sneered, he really wasn’t helping himself get back in their good graces.

“Well if someone had pass their O.W.L.s for Potions then they would know, wouldn’t they?” Harry said not even turning to look at Ron. But he knew the red heads face was turning brighter than his hair.

For the rest of dinner Ron was once again ignored by Harry and Hermione several other Gryffindors ignored him as well. The argument he had initiated in the common rooms the other day didn’t sit well with a lot of the Gryffindors. He knew it was because most of what Harry had said to him was true and the other Gryffindors knew it to. He was practically alienated from Neville who was always loyal to Harry and Hermione more so than himself, and Seamus and Dean gave him the cold shoulder. The only person he really had to talk to was Lavender Brown and that was because they mostly snogged and shagged so she was only using him for her own means. But he would take any contact he could get at the moment. He knew soon even that wouldn’t be enough and he would have to suck it up and apologize to Harry and Hermione but the time was not now not while Hermione's wounds were still to fresh, Harry wouldn’t let him within two feet of her.

“Hermione I gotta go, Malfoy is ready to go to the Library. You and Notts coming?”

“Yeah, he just has something to do so we will be there in two hours.”

“Then come with me.” Harry said he could feel Ron getting a little hopeful that he might catch Hermione without him.

“Yeah, just let me pack my things.” she said putting her books in her bag that she had been reading during dinner.

With a smile on his face Harry felt Ron's hope crumble.

“Well it took you long enough Potter.” Draco said keeping up their hatred act that was enough to make both of them cringe inside since there was no hate there, in any aspect.

“Had to wait for 'Mione.” Harry told them as they left the Great Hall.

“What's up with you two and Weasel?” Draco asked them when they were far enough from the Great Hall.

“We had a falling out Saturday when we got back. I'm surprised you didn’t hear about it with the way gossip travels around here.”

“Falling out about what?”

“He thought I was sneaking behind his back with Hermione.” Harry said bitterly

“Seriously? Doesn't he know that she doesn’t have the right bits for you.”

“No, I've told him. With the way he is acting I don’t plan on telling him.”

“Well the Weasel doesn’t deserve the two of you anyway. I wish I had his opportunity to have an open friendship with you two.”

“If that is what you want Draco, than that is what you should do.” Hermione told him as she leaned on Harry's shoulder.

“I don’t want to put Harry in danger, and besides it's still a secret of which side I am really on. I will not only be putting you two in danger but my father and my godfather. I can't risk that.”

“Then we will stay a secret.”

“Well secret or not, we will have our meeting Harry a hour after curfew for forty-five minutes in the old Tranfiguration class room. I will not let you avoid me tonight as you have been doing for the past two days.” when they entered the library walking past Madame Pince.

“I haven't been avoiding you, I have been a bit busy.”

“Busy with what?”

“It's nothing important Draco.” Harry said as they took their seats in the Library.

Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry and reached for Harry's arm, he felt Harry tense then hung his head. Draco pulled up Harry's sleeve and felt his blood run cold. His eyes flashed up to Harry and they screamed bloody murder.

“This is what you have been busy with, Potter?” Draco said his voice cold.

“Please Draco not here.”

“What did you do Harry?” Hermione gasped taking Harry's arm from Draco. “Why?”

“You promised me.”

“I wasn’t trying to kill myself, I swear it Draco. I just wanted to ease some of the pain. I couldn’t take it last nigh or the night before. And it was too late to come find you.”

“Then why not come to me Harry?” Hermione asked him. As she traced some of his scars on his arm.

“Didn’t want you to know. It was bad enough Draco knew. I never wanted you to know.” Harry said pulling his arm back.

“Well now she does. We are definitely talking tonight. And I want to know what caused this tonight Harry, and I want no excuses.”

“I'll make sure he comes Draco. I won't intrude on your meeting because I know he won't tell me.” Hermione said her eyes narrowing when the flashed to Harry. “But next time Harry tell me if you need someone to talk to or to just be with you please. I can't lose you Harry.” She said kissing his cheek

“I will 'Mione.”

“We need to get started on this Potion research but our conversation is far from over, that I promise you Harry James Potter.”