I Hate That I Love You (Harco/Drarry)

Chapter 7

A few days had passed and Harry had thought hard about the conversation
between him and Malfoy. He hadn’t told Ron and Hermione and he hadn’t spoken to Malfoy since that day. But he did notice Malfoy more often. Malfoy never saw Harry watching him. But maybe he was avoiding his gaze on purpose.

“Harry!”

“What?” Harry jumped and turned to look at Ron who was glaring at him.

“Are you listening?” Ron asked.

“No, sorry, Mate,” Harry said. He had, again, been thinking about Malfoy and the conversation between them.

Ron didn’t say anything and they continued walking to their next class. But then, Ron suddenly stopped walking. Harry looked at Ron and saw him staring straight ahead, a surprised and angry expression on his face. Harry turned and saw what Ron was looking at.

Hermione was standing at the end of the corridor talking to Pansy Parkinson. Harry looked at Ron and then back at Hermione and Pansy. But then, Ron suddenly knocked Harry aside as he walked as fast as he could, without running, to the two girls.

“What are you doing?” Ron shouted, advancing on Hermione. She jumped a foot in the air when she saw Ron.

Harry ran after Ron and stopped beside him as he continued to shout. “Why are you talking to Parkinson!” He yelled, clenching his fists. He was about a foot taller than Hermione so Harry didn’t blame her for backing away against the wall.

Harry grabbed Ron’s arm and he struggled to get away, still yelling. “Pansy is a death eater! Are you really that stupid?”

“Ron,” Harry shouted. “That’s out of order, Mate.”

Ron ignored him but he didn’t shout. Hermione was cowering against the wall, tears streaming down her face. Pansy stood in front of her glaring at Ron. Harry let go of Ron’s arms and they dropped to his side.

“Hermione I-”

“Go away, Ron,” Hermione cried, her face in her hands.

Ron hesitated for a moment before we took off in the other direction. Pansy
hugged Hermione and Harry went over to help her off the floor. “Are you alright, ‘Mione?” Harry asked, as he pulled Hermione up by her arm.

She nodded but didn’t say a word, breathing heavily. Then Malfoy came down the corridor and stopped in front of them. The three people least likely to be standing in the corridor together. Malfoy seemed to be thinking the same thing.

“Pansy, what are you doing here with Potter and Granger,” Malfoy drawled in a bored voice. He looked from Hermione, who had tears still streaming down her face and then to Pansy and Harry, who were trying to comfort her.

Malfoy watched the three of them suspiciously before he said, “Pansy, is this about what you told me a few days ago?”

Pansy hesitated for a moment and then nodded. Malfoy continued standing there watching Pansy. But after a few moments of silence he shrugged and walked back down the corridor.

Pansy let go of Hermione. “Are you alright?” Pansy asked again, in a soft voice, Harry had never heard her use. Hermione was still for a moment but then she nodded.and straightened up, wiping her eyes.

This reassurance from Hermione seemed to trigger Pansy’s anger at Ron. “I swear I’m going to kill him!” She burst out, savagely.

She continued raving about Ron until Hermione said, “Pansy, calm down.” She grabbed her arm and Pansy immediately stopped yelling.

The three of them stood in the corridor for a while, an awkward silence between them. Then Hermione said in a shaky voice, “Well I…I better be off.”

She scurried off down the hall and Harry and Pansy watched her go. Then they caught each other's eye and hurried off in opposite directions.