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The Wand Game	By : ReverieWilde Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 21854 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the characters in it. I make no money on the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
〪o 〫O〬 o〭

October 31 1998 continued

Justin Finch-Fletchley couldn’t believe his luck. He managed to find a girl who not only was willing to dance with him, but she let him put his arms around her and hold her closely during the slow songs. Of course, she had no idea who he was. He hoped he could charm her enough so by the end of the evening, when they removed their masks, she wouldn’t run away.

They managed to find things to talk about. Generic topics, but the conversation flowed without too many awkward silences. He tried to figure out who she was by some of the things she said, but each was very careful not to reveal too much. Although, he’d let slip something about his muggle parents. She mentioned Tracey Davis and Mandy Brocklehurst during their conversations, so he surmised she may be from either Slytherin or Ravenclaw.

Justin began to get nervous as the midnight hour approached. He and his mystery girl had been getting on so well, he wished he could always wear a mask.

The last slow song of the evening was announced, and many more couples occupied the dance floor than previously. Though Ernie danced with many partners, he ended the night standing by the refreshment table by himself. He, along with several other students, watched and waited for the clock to strike. A few had already removed their uncomfortable masks.

Finch-Fletchley grew more anxious that he would revert back to his usual insecure, unconfident self once he was revealed and made a quick decision. Without warning, he kissed the girl. She broke the kiss quickly and looked at him in shock.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s just that I’ve been having such a good time with you.”

“It’s okay. I was surprised is all.” She didn’t make a move, but the way she stayed close made Justin think he should try again.

He leaned in, more slowly this time. She parted her lips slightly and kissed him back. They stood on the dance floor kissing, like several other couples, but more demurely. Justin still didn’t know who she was and he didn’t want to come across as overbearing.

The clock struck midnight and their masks disappeared. Both Justin and his partner opened their eyes mid-kiss.

She was so fast, he never saw the hand that slapped him hard across his face.

“Did you know it was me?” she almost screamed at him. “Ugh, I can’t believe I kissed you!” Millicent wiped at her mouth and smeared lipstick on her face.

Finch-Fletchley stood blinking in disbelief himself. How could this girl, this lovely girl he’d been talking to and flirting with all night be Millicent Bulstrode?

“Of course I didn’t know it was you,” he said. “After what you made me do at the party, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere near you.”

“What I did? What you did when you got my wand was worse!” She loudly harrumphed and walked away.

Ernie approached, laughing. “Looks like I ended up with a better date than you.”

Justin furrowed his brow. “But you didn’t end up with anyone.”

“Exactly,” Ernie smiled.

〪o 〫O〬 o〭

Parvati smiled as her dance partner’s mask vanished. She had a feeling it had been Michael dressed as a vampire, but they had barely spoken. Instead, they communicated through dance.

Michael bit his lip. “I knew it was you the whole time.”

“I didn’t know who you were for sure, at first,” Parvati admitted. “But when we danced close together, I could smell your cologne.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because it was fun and exciting not knowing for certain. Although, I hoped I was right,” she smiled shyly.

“ Parvati, I didn’t shag Pansy at the party. Probably the only bloke that didn’t shag her, given the chance. In fact, I didn’t even go to the party last night.”

“Me neither.”

He appeared surprised. “You didn’t?” She shook her head. “Why not?”

“Because I didn’t want to see you walk out of another girl’s room again. I know I didn’t have the right to be jealous, but I couldn’t help it. I thought maybe you’d ask me out or to this dance or something . . . “

“I wanted to. Really. I was afraid to talk to you all week though, because of my punishment from the game,” he explained. “It was rather embarrassing,” Michael blushed. “You have no idea how many times people say the word wand in a week.”

Parvati giggled. “I did hear about that. That shouldn’t have kept you away.” She blushed herself. “I could have, maybe, helped.”

He grinned at that thought. “ Parvati, would you go out with me?”

“Yes,” she grinned back.

Michael cupped her cheeks and pulled her to him. He pressed his mouth to hers.

A throat cleared loudly near by.

“Mr. Corner, Miss Patil. The dance is over. To your rooms,” McGonagall said. It was a sentiment she repeated several times to several couples who didn’t want the evening to end.

“Yes, Professor,” they said together, and left hand in hand.

As they neared the place where they would part ways to return to their own rooms, Michael took a quick glance around, then pulled Parvati with him.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Taking my girlfriend to my room.” When they arrived, he said the password and they stepped inside. Parvati immediately pushed him on the sofa, pinning him down.

“So, will anything happen if I say wand?”

“Well, the spell is gone. But, Parvati, right now you could say just about anything and get that same result.” Michael was getting turned on by the innuendo. And the pressure of her weight on top of him.

Once again, Ginny and Dean walked in on the pair snogging on the couch.

“Michael, you do have a private room, you know,” Ginny chided.

“Uh, right, sorry.” He tried not to sound like he was panting.

“Perhaps we should declare our common room a no snogging zone,” Ginny smiled, her tone softening. Obviously, the two were hot for one another and they made an oddly cute couple.

“Good idea,” Michael did his best to hide his boner as he got up and led Parvati to his room.

Ginny shook her head and laughed. “Come on. If this is a no snogging zone, we need to get the hell out.” She pulled Dean by his tie into her bedroom.

〪o 〫O〬 o〭

November 1 1998

Hermione wandered into the common room to find Harry fast asleep on the couch. Though students were milling about, he didn’t stir until she gently tapped him on the shoulder. He groaned and rolled away from her.

“Harry,” she said softly. “It’s morning. Aren’t you and Ron going out today?”

“Hm don wan ga bup,” he mumbled into the pillow.

“Harry,” she shook his shoulder.

He lifted his head slightly. “I said I don’t want to get up.” He lay still for only a moment longer. “Fuck.” He sat up and looked at Hermione, bleary eyed.

“Oh, my,” she winced. “Didn’t get much sleep last night?” She began to smile, then saw that he wasn’t. In fact, he appeared fairly miserable. “What happened?”

“Me. I fucked it up. Again. Maybe I’m just not meant to be in any type of relationship.” He rubbed his face and yawned loudly. “What’s wrong with me?”

“Will you talk to Ron? Please?”

“I said I would talk to him when we go out today.” He muttered under his breath, “I may as well ruin that relationship while I’m at it.”

“Harry, don’t be so melodramatic. Ron will understand, in time.”

〪o 〫O〬 o〭

Browsing the merchandise in the second-hand shop, Ron was trying to decide what to get Hermione, while Harry was practically falling asleep on his feet. Ron seemed oblivious to Harry’s condition.

“I can’t believe I’m taking advise from Malfoy, of all people,” Ron shook his head.

“Huh?” Malfoy’s name caught Harry’s attention.

“This is the place he suggested I come for a gift for Hermione. Told me a story about some quill he bought his mum. Maybe I’ll get Mione a new quill and journal.”

“Journal,” Harry whispered to himself. He had forgotten all about the journal Draco gave him. He had planned to write in it his plans for the future, curious as to whether the journal would correct him.

“I wanted to get her some sort of jewelry, but now that I’m here, I’m not sure what to get.” Ron was looking at some books at that point.

“Doesn’t she have enough books already?” Harry joked.

“You’d think, but she’s still always browsing the bookstore.”

Harry saw a charm bracelet that Ron had overlooked. “That’s pretty,” Harry said, pointing to it.

“Oi,” Ron called to the clerk. “Can you tell me anything about this bracelet? Do you know who owned it before?”

The petite blonde girl smiled. “That one was owned by a muggle born witch called Nell about a hundred years ago.” She opened up the case and handed it to Ron. “Her lover, a wizard named Wyatt, gave her the bracelet with one charm, the tiny wand. Every year, he added another charm.”

“There are only five charms. Were they only together four years?” Ron asked.

“Yes, his family was pureblood and back then, a pure blood would never even look at a half blood, much less a muggle-born. It’s a romantic story.” The perky blonde continued to tell the tale. “They dated secretly until his brother discovered them, and told. Wyatt’s family threatened to disown him if he didn’t stop seeing her. And her family didn’t understand the wizard ways. So just like Romeo and Juliet, they made a pact to kill themselves.”

Ron made a face. “That’s not romantic. That’s bloody awful. I’m not giving Mione something owned by someone who killed herself.” He handed back the bracelet.

“But that’s not the end of the story,” the clerk insisted. “It turns out, that unlike Romeo and Juliet, they didn’t actually go through with it. They ran away together and lived out the rest of their lives in a small cottage in the countryside. The rumor is that they’re still alive out there somewhere. And still together,” she sighed.

“Oh, well, then I guess that is romantic,” Ron conceded. “But why is the bracelet here? Why didn’t she take it with her?”

“Because everyone knew it was her most prized possession. Leaving it behind made her death more believable. We acquired it just recently when Nell’s childhood home was sold and the contents auctioned off.”

Ron turned the bracelet over in his hand a few times. “How much is it?”

“Twenty-five Galleons,” the blonde replied.

“Twenty-five Galleons for a used bracelet?” Ron questioned. It was a lot of money to spend on one gift. Even if it was for his girl. He turned to Harry. “Do you think Hermione will really like it?”

The perky clerk blinked. “Hermione? Hermione Granger?” She looked at the pair of boys in front of her. She hadn’t bothered to look closely before, as she was only interested in making a sale. She gasped when she made the connection. “You’re, you’re . . .” she stammered.

Harry and Ron glanced at each other and laughed.

“We’re just here to buy a gift for his girlfriend,” Harry told her.

“Harry Potter,” she whispered in awe. “And you’re Ron Weasley.”

“Yeah, that’s me,” Ron smiled, embarrassed to have the girl staring at him.

“Well, then,” the clerk straightened herself up and smoothed out her hair. “That’s another story. For you the bracelet is only ten Galleons.”

“Oh, no, we couldn’t ask for special treatment,” Harry said right away.

“Now don’t be hasty, Harry,” Ron frowned. “Maybe they have a policy here, a celebrity discount or something.”

“Exactly,” the blonde smiled. “I’ve never met real celebrities before.” She continued to stare at Ron, who became increasingly uncomfortable.

Looking into the case, Harry pointed at an unusual item. “What is that?”

Taking her attention from Ron, the girl reached in and pulled out a small pin. It was Celtic love knot in gold and silver colors. The intricate pattern was unlike Harry had ever seen. It was masculine and delicate at the same time. Not unlike Draco.

“This story behind this one doesn’t have such a happy ending,” The clerk told Harry. She turned it over. “It was commissioned by a young wizard about thirty years ago to give to his would-be lover. The pattern was an original design by the artist. See how there are actually two pins on the back?”

Harry and Ron nodded.

“It’s designed to open up and come apart, so both lovers can wear a part of it.”

“Sort of like those muggle necklaces that are heart shaped, and each person wears half of the heart?” Harry guessed.

“Yes,” the girl said. “Occasionally we’ll get muggle items in here. I’ve seen one of those that you’re talking about. But this one is magical, of course. The story goes that when he gave the pin as a gift, it wouldn’t open. It meant that his love wasn’t truly returned.”

“It will only open when they both are in love?” Harry asked.

Ron smiled. “Well, it will open for Mione. Can I see it?” Ron held out his hand.

The clerk giggled. “I’m afraid it wouldn’t open for her.”

“What do you mean? Mione loves me.” He paused. “Right Harry?”

“Of course she does,” he assured Ron. “Why wouldn’t it open for her, though?”

The clerk went on to explain, “It’s a tie pin. For a man. Actually, it’s two tie pins. It’s for a man to give another man.”

“Oh,” Ron grumbled. “Forget it then.”

The girl returned it to the case.

“Just out of curiosity, how much is that one?”

Without missing a beat, the clerk answered, “Sixty Galleons.”

Ron gave out a whistle. “That’s pretty steep.”

“It’s gold and platinum,” the blonde explained. “Of course I’d give you a discount, but I don’t suppose either of you are interested.”

“No, thanks anyway,” Harry smiled.

“I suppose that’s why no one’s bought it? Too expensive for a second-hand shop,” Ron commented.

“Actually, it’s been purchased twice since the man sold it here. It has never opened.”

“Well, what do you think, Ron? Are you going to buy that for Mione?” Harry gestured to the bracelet in Ron’s hand.

“Ten Galleons, you say?”

The girl nodded.

“I’ll take it.”

Ron and Harry left the shop with the clerk waving wildly behind them. She’d given Ron the discount but the boys were asked to autograph a post card for her. It was a small price to pay.

“Too bad you’re seeing Hermione,” Harry grinned.

“What? Why’s that?”

“That girl couldn’t keep her eyes off you.”

Ron scowled. “Yeah, once she knew who I was. Before that, she barely glanced my way while she was talking about this bracelet.”

They sat on a bench near the shop and decided where to go next. Ron wanted to add a charm or two to the bracelet before he gave to Hermione. To personalize it a bit. Harry was getting hungry and in need of something to perk him up a bit. He was still exhausted from lack of sleep the night before.

As they sat, butterflies began churning in Harry’s stomach while he gathered the nerve to tell Ron what he had set out to that day.

“So, did you have another date last night? I didn’t see you at the party,” Ron beat him to the topic.

Harry nodded. “It didn’t go so well,” he answered. “I cocked it up already.”

“My advice, apologize straight away. Even if you don’t think you’re wrong. And give her chocolates or flowers or something.”

“Ron, I want to tell you something,” Harry said.

“You gonna tell me who it is, finally?” Ron smiled.

“Not yet,” Harry said. “But I need to tell you something important.”

Waiting patiently for Harry to say what he needed to say, Ron glanced around the courtyard they were sitting in.

Harry took the opportunity while Ron was not looking at him to make his confession. Taking a deep breath, he finally burst out with it.

“It’s not a girl.”

Ron turned to Harry. “Huh?”

Harry inwardly groaned. He didn’t want to have to repeat himself and explain more than necessary.

“The person I’m seeing is not a girl.” Harry held his breath.

Ron turned away, as if in deep thought.

Not able to hold his breath any longer, Harry let out a short sigh and heaved in a long breath. He thought it best not to say any more until Ron had a chance to absorb and process what Harry told him.

Suddenly, Ron turned back to him. “Okay, well, I guess flowers are out then. But I still think chocolates will work. Everybody likes chocolates. Right?”

Harry blinked. Ron seemed to be taking the news awfully well. “Ron, did you hear what I said?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m dating a guy.”

“Yes, I figured that out when you said it wasn’t a girl,” Ron snickered. “I’m not as stupid as I look, you know.”

“I don’t know, you look pretty stupid,” Harry joked. “But seriously, you don’t have anything to say?”

“What do you want me to say, Harry? Do you want me to try and talk you out of it? You want me to yell at you? Or tell you I’m shocked and disgusted? Or maybe you were thinking I was just going to walk away and not talk to you at all.”

Harry was at a loss for words at Ron’s rant. He didn’t really want any of those things to happen, but he thought they might.

“Of course not. I, I didn’t expect you to simply carry on as if nothing has changed, though.”

“Nothing has,” Ron told him. “At least not from where I’m standing. And frankly, Harry, I’ve sort of suspected it for a while.”

“What?” Harry exclaimed. “What do you mean, you’ve suspected for a while? I’ve only just figured it out myself.”

“Really?” Ron’s eyebrows raised and his nose wrinkled up. He laughed.

“What’s funny?”

“That I figured something out before you did. Especially something like that. That never happens.” Ron smiled. “You almost gave it away yesterday morning. I just about had you with that minger comment.”

“You were just goading me?”

“Sorry. I was trying to get you to say something. The first time you said you liked this person, I knew it wasn’t a girl. Didn’t you notice how many times I said she or her? I was waiting for you to correct me.”

Frowning, Harry sat and pouted a moment before finally asking Ron, “So, what made you think I fancied blokes?”

“Oh, um, well, for one, all the girls that were after you. You never seemed all that interested. I would’ve grabbed on to a bit of that myself. If I wasn’t with Mione, of course.”

“Hmm.”

“And you and Ginny never seemed quite right to me. I mean, as friends, sure. But . . .”

“You never said anything. Is that all?”

“No.” Ron hesitated. “I’ve noticed you watching the Quidditch players a bit.”

“I like Quidditch.” Harry shrugged.

“In the showers.”

“Oh.”

“And, when you were so obsessed with what Malfoy was doing sixth year,” Ron chuckled. “You were always staring at him. I thought maybe you had a thing for him. Can you imagine?” He burst out laughing and smacked Harry on the back.

“Ha,” Harry tried to laugh. “Imagine that,” he said nervously.

The ginger’s laughter faded. “Oh, fuck,” he said quietly. Ron really wasn’t as stupid as he looked.

“So, yeah,” Harry bit his lip.

The silence was overwhelming. While Ron may have suspected Harry of being gay, or at least bi, he had never really seriously considered that he may have been interested in Draco Malfoy.

After a while, Ron spoke slowly. “And, um, Malfoy, um, likes you now?” He was clearly uneasy. “Harry, do you really think you can trust him?”

“We’ve talked, a lot. About a lot of things. I think we’re pretty much past all that. Did I tell you that even Pansy apologized for trying to hand me over to Voldemort?”

Ron’s eyebrows raised. “Really. I can’t imagine her apologizing to anyone.” It suddenly occurred to Ron that Harry said the date didn’t go well. “Wait, so you said you messed it up already? What did you do?” He wasn’t all that sure he wanted to know any details. In fact, he definitely didn’t want any details. But they’d always talked about everything, so he asked.

Harry blushed, but forced himself to tell Ron. “It was what I didn’t do.”

Furrowing his brow, not quite comprehending, Ron questioned, “What didn’t you do?”

The look Harry gave Ron said, really, do you have to ask? as he raised an eyebrow.

“Merlin, Harry, I don’t want to know about that stuff,” Ron cried.

Laughing, Harry agreed, “Good. ‘Cause I don’t want to tell you about that stuff.” His mood turned more serious. “Are you going to be okay with all of this?”

“I won’t lie and say I’m happy about it,” Ron said honestly. “But I guess he’s not so bad any more. He did give me good advice.” Ron held up the bag from the second-hand shop. Then he remembered the Halloween dance. “Blimey, was that you dressed up like a cowboy or something?”

Harry chuckled. “Yeah, I was an outlaw. I wanted to have my whole face covered and that was the only thing I could think of. So, you knew it was Draco with the blue hair?”

“Not for sure, but I suspected. I never would have guessed it was you with him, though.”

Harry had no idea Ron had noticed him kissing Draco, but he was pleased to find out that even his best friend didn’t know it was him.

Ron and Harry continued their shopping trip along Diagon Alley, not speaking another word of Harry’s confession. It felt as though a weight had been lifted from Harry’s shoulders. He should have known Ron would always have his back. And he would have Ron’s. The pair grabbed a bite to eat then headed to Olivander’s newly reopened shop. A thirteen and one quarter inch willow wand with a dragon heartstrings core had chosen Harry. He left the shop pleased with his purchase, once again having his very own wand, rather than a borrowed one. Harry couldn’t wait to return to Hogwarts and cast a few spells.

He decided he would wrap Colin’s wand in a cloth and put it in his trunk, rather than return it to McGonagall. For some reason, Harry felt he would be abandoning the wand, and indirectly, Colin, if he did.

〪o 〫O〬 o〭

Back in Gryffindor, Hermione waited anxiously for the boys to return.

“Everything all right?” she asked when she saw them.

Ron looked between Harry and Hermione. “Yep,” he said. “I just wish, one time, the two of you didn’t feel like you had to keep things from me.”

“Ron--” Hermione started.

“It wasn’t hers to tell,” Harry interrupted. “It’s my fault. And you’re right, Ron. I shouldn’t keep things from you, ever. Are we okay?”

Ron’s expression softened. “Like I could ever stay mad at either one of you for long.”

“I hope the same goes for Draco,” Harry said mindlessly. Then realizing he’d said it out loud, blushed.

Ron shifted on his feet.

“I’m sorry. You two don’t want to hear about that.”

“Of course we do,” Hermione assured him. “We’d want to hear about it no matter who you’re dating.”

“Actually, I don’t want to talk about it anyway,” Harry glanced around awkwardly.

“Are you embarrassed?” Hermione cocked her head to the side, puzzled.

“No. Well, maybe a little. Yes.”

“You find it embarrassing to admit you’re smitten with Draco?”

“Mione! You can see that he is. If Harry doesn’t want to talk about it, then we should respect that.” Ron had his own motives for his rant. He and Harry would talk about girls over the years, often in a less than respectful manner. Ron himself went on and on about the Greengrass girls and their physical attributes. And when Harry got cornered by Daphne near the library, Ron was eager to hear details. Harry seemed more than willing to comply. However, Ron was not eager to hear about Draco’s, or any other boy’s, physical attributes.

“But that’s what people do. They drone on about how wonderful their crush is. And their friends listen.”

“Really, Mione. I’m good.”

“Harry, you shouldn’t be ashamed of being gay.”

“I’m not. Gay, that is. God, I hate that word.” Harry rolled his eyes. “Maybe this is a phase. Maybe it’s just him.”

“A phase?” Ron queried. “Is he the first . . . uh, boy?”

“Yeah,” Harry answered. “So maybe it’s just a phase I’m going through. After breaking up with Ginny.”

“Is that how you feel when you’re with him?” Hermione asked, knowing that not only Harry, but Ron as well, was becoming extremely ill-at-ease with the conversation.

Briefly, when Harry thought about the time spent with Draco, his walls came down. “No. It feels . . . right. Natural. Good.” In an instant, his defenses were back up. “I don’t know.

It’s a lot to get used to. It’s so strange and new. I mean, I grew up hearing about how disgusting the poofters were.”

“Your aunt and uncle are rather conservative, aren’t they?” Hermione pointed out.

“That’s an understatement. Uncle Vernon used to say that the only thing worse than a wizard was a woofter. And a wizard woofter was the worst.” Harry laughed at his alliteration. “When Dudley was old enough to understand what it meant, he joined his father in calling me a little fairy. Just because I wasn’t a big beefy thing like them. Dudley and his friends used to beat up an openly gay boy down the street.”

Hermione had a theory. “Harry, did you consider that maybe it’s not really new?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ve probably always had propensity for, um, homosexuality. Maybe your uncle noticed. It could be that his derogatory comments have made you repress your true feelings. Now that you’re free of him completely, they’re resurfacing.”

Harry frowned. “You’re saying, it’s like he talked me out of it. Or, more like, scared it out of me?”

Hermione nodded. “It’s possible.”

“Do you think then, that I never really liked girls? Did I talk myself into that? This is all so confusing.”

Shrugging, Hermione surmised, “I don’t know. You have pursued several girls. You’ll have to think on that one yourself. But in the mean time, what are you going to do about Malfoy? Don’t let him persuade you into something you’re not ready for. Darn it, did I call him Malfoy again? I just can’t remember to call him Draco,” she berated herself.

“We have to call him Draco?” Ron sneered. “He’s never called me anything but Weasley or Weasel.”

“And you’ve called him ferret. We’ll all have to get over it, for Harry sake,” Hermione insisted.

Students began walking past the trio on their way to supper.

“Ooh, time to eat,” Ron smacked his lips.

“We had a late lunch. How can you be hungry?” Harry asked in disbelief. “You’re always hungry. Why are you always hungry?” Harry laughed.

Ron shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe all the Quidditch practice.” He slipped his arm around Hermione’s waist. “Or other activities.”

“Oi, Ron, remember the stuff you didn’t want to hear about? I don’t either.”

〪o 〫O〬 o〭

“Harry, instead of just staring over there, go talk to him,” Hermione snapped her fingers in Harry’s face.

“I can’t. Not in front of everyone,” he sighed.

“Where’s your Gryffindor courage?” Hermione implored.

Harry shot her a look.

“Aren’t you working on a paper together for History of Magic?”

“So?”

“So go over and suggest you work on it in the library. You can talk there,” Hermione smirked.

Harry thought about it. “That’s not a bad idea,” Harry conceded.

“Go on,” Hermione urged. “I can’t watch you brood any longer.”

Tentatively, Harry stood up and looked around to see if anyone was paying attention. It seemed there was always someone interested in what he was doing. A couple kids glanced at him, but he steeled himself and began to walk over to the Slytherin table.

“Uh, Malfoy, we need to finish that biography paper for History.”

“Oh?” Draco looked up and raised an elegant eyebrow at Harry. “Is that so?” he said with his usual haughty attitude.

“It’s due Wednesday,” Harry reminded him.

Draco turned in his seat and stretched his arms behind his back. “I don’t know. I promised Pansy I’d play chess with her.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, if you’d rather continue to work on things alone . . . “ Harry managed to keep a straight face as he turned away.

The corner of Draco’s mouth raised, just a bit. “All right,” he called after Harry. “I suppose we should work on that paper. Sorry Pans.”

Harry turned back around. “Library. Half-seven.” He didn’t wait for Draco’s response, and walked back to his table.

Siting back down, Harry noticed Hermione and Ron staring at him expectedly. He picked up a bun and bit off a chunk.

“What?” he asked, his mouth full.

“What happened?” Ron asked. He found himself curious, despite his earlier protests about too much information.

“We’re going to meet in the library at half-seven.”

“Like you and Daphne?” Ron couldn’t help the way his nose wrinkled up.

“No,” Harry insisted. “We really do have to finish our paper.”

“And talk. Don’t let him sidetrack you,” Hermione warned. “And don’t let him talk you into things before you’re ready. You’re in a fragile stage right now.”

Harry sighed heavily. “I plan on getting there early and setting up. Just so there’s no confusion.” Harry suddenly felt like a girl getting lectured on giving in to pressure from a boyfriend.

“Good,” Hermione was satisfied.

“Someday, Hermione, you’re going to make an excellent mother,” Harry muttered sarcastically.

〪o 〫O〬 o〭
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The Wand Game