Catch 22 (Harry/Draco)

The Worst Idea In The Long, Sad History Of Bad Ideas

Harry makes a discovery over the holidays, Blaise has some very good aim, Draco plays a game of elimination, Harry plays a Very Dirty Trick -- oh, and a snog.

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January, 1998 (one week after the holidays)

'He's a SLYTHERIN, Hermione!'

'He's also a human being, Ron!'

'I don't care—he's just using you, can't you see that?'

'Using me? And for what, might I ask?'

'For—to—to get to Harry!'

'Oi,' Harry says firmly, opening his eyes. He hasn't said anything since the row between his best friends began, some twenty minutes ago. 'Don't drag me into this.'

'She's fraternising with a Slytherin!' Ron screams at him, freckles practically leaping off his face.

'He was my correspondent!' Hermione snaps defensively. 'That was the whole point of the project! To make us see past prejudices! What has he ever done to you? You don't even know him, Ron! You're being completely unreasonable!'

'I'm being unreasonable? I'm not the one having "study sessions" with a snake in library!'

'It's not like that!'

'Yeah, is that what he's telling you?'

'Augh!' Hermione shrieks, and Harry winces. This row has gotten very out of hand, but there isn't much Harry can do without getting caught in the crossfire. Hermione looks about three seconds from throttling Ron, who seems to have noticed, because he backs up towards the door. 'If you are going to insist on being an irrational, jealous bastard you can just leave! Go on!' she snaps again, as he hesitates by the door. 'Get out!'

'I'm not—that's—jealousy's got nothing to—and this is my-'

'OUT!'

Harry winces again as the door slams closed, leaving him and Hermione alone in the boys' dormitories. They came in here two hours ago to finish their Potions essays, as it's Saturday afternoon and Neville, Dean and Seamus are elsewhere. Hermione got a letter mid-session and Ron demanded to know why she was still getting letters if she'd met her correspondent. Since the holidays are over, technically so is the project, but Harry and Hermione are not the only people still exchanging letters; the whole thing has been an enormous success according to Dumbledore, and Harry has to admit that he's noticed more inter-House friendships outside of classes since the holidays ended.

Of course, then Ron had demanded to know who it was—and the moment the word 'Zabini' was out of Hermione's mouth, he'd promptly hit the roof.

'God!' Hermione collapses on Harry's bed, which he is lying across on his stomach. 'Why does he always—as if it's—oh, sorry, Harry,' she says and lowers her voice as she notices Harry is still there. 'Thank you. I mean, for being mature about this.'

She told Harry about her correspondent's identity over the holidays, as they had both remained behind this year while Ron had gone home to The Burrow. Harry did not get to meet Blaise, and he isn't entirely sure he would want to, for despite a lack of open hostility from the Slytherin, he is still a Slytherin and therefore best avoided, in Harry's opinion.

He took the news very well in his opinion, especially considering that finding out Blaise is Hermione's correspondent has all but revealed who his own is. He hasn't mentioned it to Hermione, and is also putting off writing a reply to the last letter he received, several days ago. Knowing who it is makes it much harder to reply; what if he already knows who Harry is, and is just trying to hoodwink him into spilling his guts, so they can use it to humiliate him later? It wouldn't be below him, Harry thinks, to set up that kind of a sham.