Love, Draco

Chapter 3

Harry was so busy worrying the next morning that he only snapped out of his trance when Ron shook him.

"Harry. Hello. You've been staring into space for an hour. I need advice," he said, waving his hands in front of his face.

"Yeah. Sorry Ron. What is it?" he asked

"I'm gonna finally ask Hermione to Hogsmeade today. I've liked her for a long time now, and I think this is the right time, you know?"

"NO!" he said rather loudly. When Ron got a startled look on his face, Harry cleared his throat and continued, "She told me yesterday that she liked someone else. I just wouldn't want you to be humiliated," he explained, hoping that the fact he was lying didn't show on his face.

"Oh. Who is it?" he said, trying to keep his disappointment from showing.

"Um, uh, It's Cormac," he blurted out.

"McLaggen?" said Ron, obviously shocked.

"Yeah, I was surprised too,"

"Well, um, I have to go to the bathroom, so, um, catch you later," he said, visibly fighting back tears. Harry felt awful. He never wanted to be in this position where he had to lie to his best friend. However, at this point, Harry was so far in the closet that getting outed was probably his boggart now. He would do anything to keep his identity hidden. Even the golden boy has secrets.

**********

When Harry entered the great hall, his eyes were immediately drawn to his usual spot at the Gryffindor table, which was currently occupied by Cedric Diggory, from Hufflepuff. Harry had always found Cedric attractive, and had even had a little crush on him last year.

"Oh, sorry Harry, am I in your seat?" he asked. Harry felt himself tense up. He always got like this around attractive boys.

"It's alright, I can go sit on the other side," he said, pointing to the available seat next to Ginny. Ginny looked up at him, blushed, smiled, and looked down again. Harry would never understand girls.

"I was just telling everyone about a party in the Hufflepuff common room. You're all invited. Who's in?" asked Cedric.

Most of the table gave a nod of approval, while Hermione spoke up. "It seems like most of us are in!" she said. "Harry?" she asked.

"Sounds fun!" he said, trying to sound convincing. He couldn't entirely focus on anything recently, with everything going on. It's become quite a problem in his classes.

"Awesome. See you guys Saturday!" said Cedric, as he got up to leave. Harry was excited to have something to do to get his mind off of everything. Maybe he could have just one, worry free night with his friends.

**********

"Potter. We need to talk," said Cormac, grabbing Harry and pulling him into the hall. His friends looked confused but overall left him alone and let him leave.

"I thought you said you were gonna help me," said Cormac.

"What do you want me to do?" asked Harry.

"I don't know, invite me to stuff? Help me hang out with her?" he said.

"Fine. There's a party in the Hufflepuff common room Saturday night. Do you want to go with us?"

"That's more like it, Potter."

"Meet us in the common room at 8. The party starts at 9 and we're hanging out before. Don't be late," he said, and he walked away. So much for a worry-free night.

**********

Star,

What do you mean your friends wouldn't be supportive? Isn't your friend a lesbian? Is she not out yet? Is it weird that I don't know your name, and I don't know what you look like, but I can't stop thinking about kissing you? It probably is, but I've never really done the whole 'normal' thing.

- James

James,

No, my lesbian friend is not yet out to the rest out our friends. If you ever find out who I am, please don't make any guesses about her identity. She would absolutely destroy me. Anyway, I wanted to ask you something that may seem a bit cliche. How did you know you were gay? I realized after I had a dream about a guy I liked when I was 13. I was in denial that I liked him, but that dream just confirmed my worst fear. And no, don't ask me who it is. For all I know you could be him. That would be extremely awkward. And no, it's not weird for you to be thinking about kissing me. It's all I think about too.

- Star

Harry smiled and blushed after reading that letter.

Star,

My sexual awakening was an older student in my house during my first year. He was the captain of the quidditch team, and honestly my first crush. I was really just confused, because I had no idea that guys liking guys was even a thing. And don't worry, your friend's secret is safe with me. It's good to know that you think about kissing me too. It makes me feel like less of a creep to be honest.

- James

**********

When Saturday night rolls around, Harry had yet to tell the others about inviting Cormac, (the others including Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna). They had gathered in the common room ten minutes earlier than planned, so Harry could tell them.

"Hey guys, so I know you're going to be mad at me, but I invited someone," he said.

"You were supposed to ask before you invited someone! At least Hermione asked the majority of us before inviting Malfoy! And he's only meeting us there!" yelled Ginny, as Luna grabbed her arm, pulled her onto the couch, and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Ginny, I'm sure Harry means no harm, and neither does the person he invited. I'm going to guess Cormac?" asked Luna. Harry's eyes almost fell out of his head, and everyone else just stared.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"Well, easy. You've been hanging around him more recently. I've also caught wind of a rumor that he's interested in Hermione, so he probably asked to be invited. Right Harry?"

"Right," he said. Before anyone else had time to say anything, Cormac entered.

"Hello everybody! Granger, looking good as always. Who's ready to party?" he said, sitting unnecessarily close to Hermione, making her visibly uncomfortable. No one responded to him, and there was an obvious tension in the room.

Finally, Ginny understood Hermione's discomfort and said, "Hermione, I need some help with my makeup. Luna, are you coming?". She grabbed her arm and led her towards the girl's bathroom, Luna following closely behind.

"I've never understood why girls go to the bathroom in packs," said Cormac, shaking his head, looking down. Ron laughed at that.

"What? Is something funny Weasley?" snapped Cormac.

"They were getting Hermione away from you. That's why they went. She was so uncomfortable. Even I could see that," Ron shot back.

"Don't be ridiculous Weasel, you're just jealous that she'd rather sit next to me,"

"Oh please, like she had a choice," said Ron, right before the girls came back from the bathroom. Hermione immediately sat herself down next to Ron, and Cormac shot him a glare when Ron sent him a smug smile. Instead of Hermione, it was Luna who went to sit next to Cormac, while Ginny sat next to her.

Crap, Harry thought, as he looked at the glare on Cormac's face. If Cormac isn't happy, then he's going to share the letters. Harry needed to figure something out, and he needed to figure it out fast.