I kissed a boy (drarry)

Chapter 23: Harry's POV

"I think Harry should probably give him a chance to speak,"  Hermione had whispered in the back seat of the Arithmancy classroom, her voice flat and matter-of-fact. Ron stared at her as if she were a raving lunatic.  "What the fuck, Hermione?"  he hissed, appearing outraged.  "He wrote- he even- he dared to say that about Harry,"  Ron spluttered, struggling to keep his voice down, and earning a reprimanding look from Professor Vance - Professor Vector had taken an early retirement after the events of the war, and Harry couldn't blame her. Hermione simply scribbled something down to her already expanding list of notes, and furrowed her eyebrows at Ron.

"Well, we need to know why he did it, don't we?" replied Hermione, looking thoughtful. "It just doesn't make any sense; at least not in my head. Why would he suddenly go back to his old ways so soon? With no previous warnings, or anything to suggest he had 'gotten tired of pretending to be our friend?' He was so happy around you, Harry. It just doesn't make sense," Harry said nothing, and Ron still had an indignant expression on his face. "Well, he could just be a really good actor. The point is, I don't trust him,"  he said, with an air of finality. Harry had been closely observing Ron and Hermione's exchange, his mind buzzing unpleasantly.

His body was trembling uncontrollably, and his hands were shaking with loss. How could he have been so stupid? How could he ever even think for a moment that things would ever work out between him and Malfoy? It was a moronic, even laughable idea, and it just complicated Harry's life even more. Also, he wasn't even sure if he was gay, bisexual, or something else. But he was sure of one thing: he had never felt such a strong, gratifying desire for anyone else in his life - not even Ginny. Perhaps it wast thrill Malfoy gave him when they kissed, or the way the blond twinkled when he laughed. But as if all that mattered now.

Draco had trodded on whatever he and Harry had between them, and he couldn't even look Harry in the eye. There goes any hope the Chosen One had at happiness. He felt an odd emptiness somewhere in himself, as if a large gap had been left where his heart was meant to be. It was as if all the spark had been unceremoniously vacuumed out of his body. His eyes no longer shone. Hermione shot Harry an anxious glance, tearing herself away from the whisper-screaming match she was having with Ron. "Er- Harry, do you know what we have next?" Harry vaguely registered Hermione, turning to her with a resigned look. "Astronomy, I think," he mumbled, and Ron peered at him.

"Right," the redhead said brightly, clearly attempting at being optimistic. It didn't work - his voice fell flat and tone less, laced with worry. The rest of the lesson passed, and the sky darkened, before Harry even had time to blink, and soon he was being herded to Astronomy by an agitated Hermione, and a stony faced Ron. Harry was positively dreading Astronomy. The Gryffindors seemed to have way too many classes with the Slytherins. As he ascended to the highest level of the Astronomy tower, which was back to normal after the Lunar Ball, Harry immediately noticed a smug Malfoy, and felt his face burn up almost immediately. Holy shit. The blond seemed to recover from their  'break up', or whatever it was - they were barely even dating - incredibly well.

A new kind of smirk was playing on his soft lips now - the kind that made people's skin crawl and their hearts beat faster - and he appeared effortlessly calm, rolling his quill between his fingers, and talking to some nameless Slytherin boy - who's face was very pink. The boy was giggling at everything Malfoy said, and occasionally reached out and  'accidentally'  brushed his arm. Harry felt a stab of savage jealousy, as he glared at the auburn-haired Slytherin with a look of clear dislike. Ron nudged him, and he was jolted back to reality. Still scowling, Harry lead the way to a large empty spot - intentionally choosing one close to Malfoy and the nameless boy, who he wholeheartedly wished death upon.

Harry had barely even registered anything Professor Sinistra had said, and after what seemed like hours of pointless warbling about what Harry vaguely acknowledged as constellations, she left the class with the instructions to stargaze, claiming that she had a quick errand to run. Hermione and Ron quietly took it in turns to sharply poke Harry in the arm every two minutes, for he would often turn his head sideways, and shoot the giggling boy behind him death stares. He was now brushing hair out of Malfoy's face. Hermione sighed. "I thought you hated him, Harry," she said, taking in the star spangled sky. Harry frowned at her, momentarily shifting his gaze from the sight he thoroughly envied, to Hermione. "I do,"  he said distractedly, still shooting daggers at his one-sided enemy.

Ron sniggered silently, but quickly transformed his laughter into a cough when Hermione gave him a reproachful look.  "Mate - you look like you want to rip Malfoy's new lover into shreds,"  he said, still holding back his laughs. Harry, however, did not find the situation amusing.  "I don't care about Malfoy's love life, ok?"  he snapped, flaring up at Ron, who put his hands up in mock surrender (a habit he had learnt from Pansy).  "I'm just saying, Harry, that you just seem a little obsessed with him these days-"   Harry shot him a look almost as bad as the one he gave to the Slytherin boy, who was now eyeing Malfoy rather lustfully.

"I am not obsessed with anyone,"  Harry said loudly, causing those around him to edge away from the trio. Hermione looked from Harry and Ron, seeming anxious.  "No one said you were, Harry," she said soothingly, smiling in an unconvincing manner. Harry turned on her, fighting to suppress his new found rage. "He did," hissed Harry. Ron sighed exasperatedly, massaging the side of his head. "Look, Harry, no one's trying to argue with you. It's fine, you don't need to be mad at us," he muttered, purposefully avoiding Harry's glare. Harry breathed deeply, feeling a dull spark of anger. He felt himself calm down slightly, and began to stare resolutely at the sky, refusing to acknowledge what just happened.

At that moment, Professor Sinistra resurfaced, and announced that the lesson was over. She ushered people off the rooftop of the Astronomy tower, and, Gryffindors and Slytherins alike, descended to the lowest level of the tower, surging towards the shared common room. Harry eyed Malfoy and the nameless boy resentfully. "Go ahead, I'll meet you guys later" he mumbled to Ron and Hermione, to which both of them speed walked, quite happy to leave behind their bad-tempered friend. "Malfoy! Hey Malfoy!" Harry called. Draco turned his blond head around, appearing quite unfazed. Malfoy gestured for the boy, who was giving him a longing look, to leave. He did so reluctantly, taking care to shoot Draco a smile, before he turned the corner.

Harry turned on Malfoy, his heart beating wildly in his chest. "Replaced me already, Malfoy?" Harry snarled, and Draco took to leaning on the wall opposite him. "William?" he sneered, uttering the word as if it was completely unimportant. "My new plaything? He's pathetic-" he started, but his smirk suddenly grew wider, and he brushed a stray lock of platinum blond hair out of his face. "-but good in bed," he added, after apparently considering the fact thoroughly. He then leant forward. "But not as good as you, Harry," he whispered, now nose to nose with him. Harry, forgetting all his past rage, began hoping that Draco would kiss him. But Malfoy merely sneered, drawing back from him, and looking extremely amused. "Of course though," he continued, smirking, "the likes of me shouldn't be getting off to Harry Potter." He started down the hallway.

Harry stared after him desperately. "You'll miss me," he called lamely. Draco sneered regally at him.

"Oh please," he replied, smirking, "I eat boys like you for breakfast."

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-R🧚