All\'s Fair In Love And War

If anyone had asked me last year who I thought Harry would go out with, fall in love with, eventually marry and live happily ever after with, I would have guessed it would be Ginny.

I would have been wrong.

My reasoning was sound, I mean, she’s a Weasley and Harry loves the Weasleys. He envies Ron so much for having such a loving, caring family that I was sure he would want to be a part of it on a permanent basis.

Turns out, he’d be more likely to marry Ron than Ginny. Well, if Ron were gay, and not mine. Then again Ron’s probably not Harry’s type at all. One of the twins would be more likely. They’re the closest thing to Slytherins that the Weasleys have ever produced and Harry seems to have a thing for Slytherins.

He dated Blaise Zabini after all. Yes, I knew of their relationship. I’m not stupid, and let’s face it, Harry is not as clever as he thinks he is. I know him, and I know when he’s in love. He gets this dopey, dreamy expression on his face, he smiles more and if that weren’t enough to tip me off, he’s not the best student in the school when it comes to concealing charms. He’s had more hickeys than Lavender - and that’s saying quite a bit.

I know things ended badly between them and I know it happened just before Christmas. I could tell that Harry was miserable, and I wanted so very badly to talk to him about it but there was Ron.

I love Ron, don’t get me wrong. He’s sweet and caring and he loves me more than anything, but he’s not the most open minded person I ever met. He wouldn’t understand Harry’s preference to date boys. Even if he did, he certainly wouldn’t understand how he could date a Slytherin. To Ron, and to be fair, most of the other Gryffindors, Slytherin equals evil.

I left for the Burrow with Ron and could only hope that Harry would be okay. I agonized over my decision the entire time I was gone. I wish, more than anything, that Harry had felt comfortable enough to tell me what was going on in his life. I vowed to make more of an effort when I came back.

It turned out it was unnecessary. Somehow, over the break, Harry and Malfoy became friends. Close friends.

I’ll admit I was suspicious at first. It seemed highly unlikely that Draco Malfoy would ever be anything even resembling nice to Harry Potter. I was wrong.

I took my suspicions to Dumbledore and he told me that Draco had requested asylum. That he had denounced the Death Eaters, turned over valuable information regarding their plans and had even gone so far as to confirm his own mother’s involvement. In short, he was siding with us in the war.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I haven’t been this surprised by something since I learned magic was real and that I was a witch. I’m still somewhat shocked at times when I watch him with Harry.

Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy. Bane of all Gryffindors, muggleborns, half bloods and Hufflepuffs. He was Lucius Malfoy all over again. Only younger, shorter, and more pointy looking.

But that was before the break. Since coming back to Hogwarts after the hols, Draco has been almost pleasant - in that he mostly ignores me. Trust me when I say I am not offended by this. I only wish he would have done it sooner. It would have saved both Ron and Harry numerous cuts and bruises from defending my honour.

I see the way he looks at Harry, the way his face lights up when Harry enters a room. He’s in love with him. With my best friend. But Harry, clueless as he is, didn't see it. He'd smile and wave at Draco as if it were nothing. As if he weren’t making him happy just by acknowledging his presence.

My poor, naïve, little Harry. Someday he’ll get a clue and see what Draco feels for him. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that, but it’s not my place to interfere. All I can do is keep trying to placate Ron when he starts fuming about Harry and Draco’s friendship and be there to offer my support when he finally tells me what’s going on in his life.

Like I did two weeks ago when I sent Malfoy after Harry when he heard about Pansy and Blaise.

Now that was a shock! Parkinson and Zabini. For some reason, I always thought she was betrothed to Malfoy. Me and everyone else in the school. Turns out we were all wrong. They came back from break and she wasted no time in announcing their engagement.

Seems Pansy noticed the way Harry’s eyes followed Blaise, and how Blaise would always lower his head and avoid eye contact. She obviously felt threatened and so made sure that everyone knew they were to be married.

Harry had to hear it from Millicent and Daphne. I knew it broke his heart but there was nothing I could do for him. Well, nothing I could do personally. That’s why, when I saw Malfoy, I told him what had happened.

I knew he could help Harry. That he was helping Harry. It was obvious that Harry had confided in him, and while I was hurt by this, I knew that eventually Harry would talk to me as well.

And he did.

He came to me last night while Ron was in detention. We snuck out to the lake and after casting a warming charm, sat down by the tree. Harry told me everything. How he and Blaise had started dating. What happened when they broke up. He told me about Blaise taking the Dark Mark and how he’d had to see it through his connection to Voldemort. He told me about Malfoy. About how he’d given him his cloak that first night. How he’d found him crying out here in this very spot and had held him in his arms. He told me how Malfoy had stayed with him in the tower over the break and had taken care of him when the visions hit.

He told me that Malfoy was in love with him. I told him that I already knew that. The look on his face was priceless. Then he asked for my advice.

Harry told me that he’d recently come to the conclusion that he was in love with Draco as well. That after thinking about all the reasons why Draco deserved better than him, he realized he loved him too but he didn’t know what to do about it.

He told me he was afraid, that he trusted Draco, but he didn’t want to be hurt again. I told him that there was always risk of being hurt when you give your heart to someone. That even if they don’t mean to, they can and likely will hurt you. But it doesn’t mean that you won’t get over it. Or that they don’t love you. When you give someone that much power over you, it comes with consequences.

I asked him if Draco was worth the risk. When he told me he was, we came up with a plan.

Valentines day isn’t far off and we decided it was the perfect day for Harry to reveal his feelings for Draco.

I just know that everything will be perfect. Draco will love it and Harry will be happy. And that’s all I ever wanted for him.

To be happy.

Now, if only I could find a way to make Ron accept this.