New chapter. :)
Alright, having been convinced most especially, though not exclusively, by
clio214, or
orange_balloon as the case may be; that there was places I could go with this-although mostly think she just wanted to see the fallout from the Slytherin Shirt Incident; capatalized for posterity-I have finished a short chapter for the now renumbered-and undefined-Confessions Series. Enjoy.
Title:Revelations (5)
Author: Why me, of course. *winks*
Rating: G
Summary: Hermione has sharp eyes, and a sharper mind. Does Harry stand a chance? Does Draco?
The rest of the series can be found here.
Harry apparated from Draco's door to the side room at the Leaky Cauldron that was set aside specifically for the purpose of smoothing arrivals into Diagon Alley, still caught up in his memories of the last few days. As a result, he made his way out of the Leaky Cauldron and into Muggle London in somewhat of a daze. It took him only five minutes to reach the café where he was to meet Hermione; doubtless she would be waiting for him, and she was sure to pin him with a pointed look when he arrived late, barely or not.
He went inside and immediately spotted his friend tucked into a booth in a quiet corner of the café; she was reading through a menu and sipping occasionally on a glass of water. Harry took a deep breath and made his way over to her.
She looked up as he approached, and a wide range of emotions crossed her face as he moved towards her. Annoyance at his tardiness was quickly replaced by a blush of surprise at his appearance, he was tousled and flushed, bright red cheeks and glowing eyes giving away what he had been engaged in that very morning. Her look then changed to one of blank disbelief as Harry slid into the seat opposite her. The last emotion was in reaction to the fair sized Slytherin emblem that graced the front of Harry’s shirt.
“Morning Hermione, sorry I’m late.” Harry greeted cheerfully, picking up his menu as Hermione gaped at him momentarily, before her eyes narrowed with new purpose.
‘Harry. Where did you get that shirt? Or should I ask, from whom?” Hermione said bluntly and Harry looked up from his menu, blinking at her.
“What?” Harry said, confused, before following Hermione’s eyes down to the crest on his front. He stilled when he saw it, and then blushed, muttering something that sounded vaguely like “2 mustard” but was more likely “You bastard.”
He looked up at Hermione and smiled his best innocent. It was clearly not working.
“Alright Harry, tell me where you were this weekend. Ron was quite disappointed you didn’t make it to dinner yesterday.” Harry had completely forgotten about dinner at the Weasley’s the night before, and cursed himself for forgetting to send an owl. On the other hand, if he had remembered it was likely he would have been much too comfortable to get out of bed, so perhaps it was better this way. This way there was less guilt involved.
“Yeah, I’m really sorry about that, Hermione.” Harry said. “I’ve been busy.”
“I can see that!” Hermione laughed. Harry shot her a puzzled glance.
“What?” he asked. She laughed again and shook her head at him, exasperated.
“Harry, Harry, Harry.” She grinned at him mischievously. “You look the epitome of ‘shagged out.’ I mean, you’re always tousled, but this,” she took in his appearance again and gave a wave of her hand. “This is beyond blatant.”
Harry stared at her, clueless. He was, as always, completely unaware of his appearance, and just as blissfully oblivious to his appeal.
“And when I consider the shirt, well…” She shook her head at the dawning look of comprehension on his face. “I’m not stupid, Harry.” She added, as if an afterthought.
Harry just smiled sheepishly at her as the waitress approached to take their order. When she left Hermione fixed Harry with another sharp glance.
“Okay Hermione, I’m seeing someone. Someone totally unexpected, and I’m not sure how you’re going to take it. It’s not an easy thing…” He trailed off, lost in thought.
Harry took a drink of his water and raked another hand through his already tousled locks. “Can you believe I wasn’t going to tell you today?” he continued. “He and I haven’t talked about it, but…”
He looked down at the front of the shirt and tugged on it, then traced the Slytherin crest with a reverent finger. Hermione watched all this with knowing eyes.
Then Harry grinned up at her and quipped, “Permission granted, yeah?” as he gestured at his chest.
“He picked it out…Hermione…” Harry faltered again, unable to say the words yet. He fidgeted and took another drink.
Hermione stared fixedly at him, waiting for him to say what she knew he would, watching as he worked up the courage to tell her something that by all rights should come as a shock, a very unpleasant one at that, instead of being almost expected.
Harry took a deep breath and summoned his Gryffindor courage. “It’s Draco…Draco Malfoy.” He squeaked out.
Hermione chuckled. “Do we know any other Draco’s?” she asked, caustically.
He replied, almost apologetically, “No, no we don’t.”
“Well I can’t say I’m all that surprised, Harry.” Hermione said honestly. “I’ve known for quite a while that this might happen.”
“Wait, what?” Harry’s head shot up at her words, he was flabbergasted, his face slack with shock. “Since when?” he specified.
“Since 6th year, although if I had really been looking I would have spotted it before then. You were obsessed with him that year, it was almost scary. Then this past year you learned to work together, you joked and smiled. You got on fairly well, actually. There’s always been something between you, something passionate and undeniable, I should have seen it sooner. It’s obvious now, looking back. Plus I saw how he looked at you last year; he must have worked it out 6th year as you pursued him around the school. I watched him watch you all year, with that look in his eyes. Oh yes, I knew.”
She paused, a wondering expression on her face. “I wonder what would have happened had you made friends all those years ago.”
Her attention snapped back to the present, Harry was still too amazed to say anything.
“Did he know you were meeting me?” Hermione asked, and Harry was awakened from his stupor by the direct manner of her question. It was quite reminiscent of McGonagall.
“Yeah, he did. I told him before he picked out the shirt.” Harry answered, truthfully.
Hermione chuckled again, shocking Harry. She was full of surprises this morning.
“I was sure he caught me watching him watch you a few times, but I always thought I hid it well. I guess he knew more than I thought he did. He’s more perceptive than I’ve ever given him credit for. He’s a lot of things I’ve never given him credit for. And he has great taste in men.”
She smiled again and shook her head at the look of astonishment that still adorned Harry’s face. He pondered her words for a moment before asking. “So, you’re okay with it then?”
“Pretty much.” She replied. “I came to know Draco pretty well this past year, and I’m sure he’s sincere. Besides, he’s surprisingly likeable, once you get past the snooty exterior and cutting remarks.”
“Wow.” Harry said. “I never expected, I mean…that’s wonderful!” he exclaimed, beaming like an idiot.
“Of course Ron will be harder to convince.” Hermione had a knack for bringing Harry back to reality, and he sobered almost instantly.
“You’re right.” He said. “But there’s nothing for it. I’ll have to tell him as soon as I see him next.”
“Tomorrow.” Hermione reminded him, and the conversation ended there, as the waitress arrived with their breakfast. Harry dug in with gusto; now that his worries were allayed he gave in to the hunger precipitated by that morning’s activities. It was the best breakfast he’d had in a long while.
Chapter Six
Cross posted just a smidge.
Okay folks, I have been typing my fingers to the...okay, nowhere tonight, but I have typed alot. I've finished another chapter in my M/A fic *woot* and I have written and edited more in the new H/D. I realised I have 5 stories in bits in my notebook, and I really need to get it all typed in. Not to mention they are all unfinished. This piece is the only thing that was close to ready for posting, and it is only a short chapter, I already have more written for it. I am pleased how things are coming for my H/D for the
slythindor100 challenge, it should be ready in plently of time.
That said, I am off to read some fic and then give my husband a blowjob go to bed. *winks and cackles madly*