call me by your name ✔

chapter nine

"Havu, you're alive!" Donel exclaimed.

"Of course, my love, I was alive all along..."

Harry felt sad reading the joyous ending of Call Me By Your Name. It seemed like only yesterday he had opened the book yesterday to read it. Other commenters were feeling the same, by the looks of it.

Not having the heart to leave a comment, he merely closed his phone.

"What happened, Harry?"

He jolted back to reality, in the Potions classroom. Ron was waving a hand in front of his face looking more than a little annoyed. "You're on your phone again! It's becoming an addiction!"

"Oh, come on, Ron," Harry said, shoving the offending object into his robe pocket. "You're being dramatic."

"Probably off talking to Damien again," his best mate replied grouchily. "Don't know why you give him the time of day, after he can't even tell you his name. What a coward-"

"How's your potion coming along, Weasel?" Malfoy drawled, strolling up to their desk.

"Just fine, Malfoy," Ron said, eyes narrowing. This was absolutely untrue, as their potion was blue instead of red and smelled like rotten eggs, much unlike the roses it was supposed to replicate.

"Right," Malfoy smirked, looking down his pale nose into their cauldron. Feeling oddly shy, Harry refrained from making a comment.

"Potter." he looked up at the sound of his name. "A word. After class?"

Harry could feel Hermione's eyes on them from the desk behind, and knew she'd have his head if he said no.

"...of course."

"Good," he said approvingly, before walking back to Blaise Zabini, who looked bored and uninterested.

"Why'd you agree?!" Ron said, astonished. Harry then remembered he and Hermione hadn't told Ron about anything that had happened with him and Draco and felt overwhelming guilt wash over him.

"I'll tell you later," Harry promised. Eyebrows furrowing, Ron nodded but didn't push Harry further, worsening his guilt.

***

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

The blonde boy had dragged him into an empty classroom after the lesson had ended, and was now looking expectantly at Harry, who stood with the desk digging into his hip.

"I want an explanation," he said. "Why did you run away after we kissed?"

Harry scratched the back of his head uncomfortably. "Well... I'm actually dating someone.

Draco blanched. "Who?"

"No one you'd know," Harry said, feeling his face go red. He couldn't tell Draco he didn't even know who he was dating.

"Is it Theo?" he asked, jealousy taking over his eyes. "Is that why you were so eager to partner up with him in Potions that day?"

"What?" Harry said, eyebrows furrowing. "No!"

"Really," Draco said, sneering. "Then why is he so taken to you? Always talking about you..."

Eyebrows rising into his hairline, Harry merely stared at Malfoy incredulously. "What are you- what? I've never been aware of this- anyways! It's not Theo Nott!"

Draco looked betrayed still, eyes dropping onto the floor. "Then why did you play around with my feelings, Potter? Why did you lie?"

"I didn't- I mean, I did. But this is a new development," Harry admitted sheepishly. "And I felt godawful about it but-"

"But-! but-!" Draco mocked, looking furious. "When did this new bloody development take place, Potter?"

Harry inhaled deeply to prepare himself for the blonde's response. "A few minutes after we kissed..."

Then Draco went oddly quiet and started laughing after a few moments, like he'd realised something. "Potter, you amaze me sometimes..."

"It's not my fault- I mean, yes, it is, but-"

"It's fine," he waved a hand, looking amused. "I understand."

The blonde boy walked away, chuckling to himself and leaving Harry more confused than ever.

A few minutes afterwards his phone vibrated in his robe pocket.

damien
harry, promise me something

harry
of course

damien
you'll never try find out who i am.
ever.

harry
...
will you ever tell me?

damien
does it matter?

harry
of course it fucking matters!
i want to know who i'm exposing my heart to, damn it!

damien
i'm sorry, i'm just not ready

harry
well, neither was i!
you still figured out who i was!
what are you so scared of, that i won't love you anymore?

damien
you love me?

harry
that is SO not the point.

damien
oh it definitely is now
do you, then?

harry
obviously, you wanker
i wouldn't have said it otherwise

damien
well
i love you too

harry
whatever
i'm still mad at you

damien
of course you are

***
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