Work Text:
Conversations With Friends
“I know what you’ve been doing”
Harry turned, looking up from his book, as Hermione walked into The Room of Requirement.
“Sorry?”
“I know what you’ve been doing” Hermione repeated herself, then added “You and Draco” Harry gazed at her for a moment, then he gestured to two seats that had appeared in front of the fireplace at the far end of the room.
“Then we should talk” He said.
xoxox
Pansy walked into the study room just off the Slytherin common room, and stood watching Draco for a few moments. She knew what she had to do, but now that it had come to the point of doing it, she realised it was going to be harder than she thought.
Taking a deep breath, she put her long held dreams away, then she walked forward and sat down next to him.
“I know what you’ve been doing”
xoxox
“I suppose it depends” Hermione looked at him thoughtfully “Is it…… serious? Are you just using him?” Harry stared back at her, then smiled.
“That’s the question you ask?” He asked with a slight laugh. Hermione’s brow crinkled, her expression taking on the slightly confused look she got when she was trying to understand something that was just beyond her grasp.
“What was the question I was supposed to ask?” She frowned.
xoxox
“Oh yes?” He replied in a slightly defensive tone “What have I been doing?”
“You’ve been sneaking around with Potter” Pansy said, her tone remarkably free of judgement. Draco confined himself to an arched eyebrow – an expression that almost made her melt “You don’t need to worry – no one else knows, just me”
“And do you have an opinion on this?” He asked.
xoxox
“My cousin Cordelia has been dating a girl named Jessica for four years” Hermione smiled “And Jessica’s older brother Simon has been seeing a guy named Basil for…… longer than I can remember” She paused “You and Draco being boys isn’t what worries me” She saw the frown on his face “Concerns might be a better word?”
xoxox
“You know what your Professor Snape would say” Pansy leaned back on the couch, spreading her arms out to either side of her “You know what Professor Umbridge would say” She paused “You know what your father would say” Draco rolled his eyes.
“I asked for your opinion, Pansy, not what you thought other people’s opinions might be” He replied drily. She blinked, then folded her arms.
“Why Potter?” She asked quietly, not sure she wanted to hear the answer. Draco paused, then he shrugged.
“Because there can’t be anyone else”
xoxox
“Concerns?” Harry arched his eyebrow, then realised Hermione was trying – and failing – to smother a smirk “What?”
“The arched eyebrow – it’s very him” Hermione said, still smirking “I’ve noticed you’ve started doing it over the last few months”
“Oh Merlin, he really is rubbing off on me” Harry dropped his head into his hands, then he heard Hermione snorting in amusement and he looked up “Not like that, Hermione – get your mind out of the gutter!”
“Am I blocking your view?” Hermione said between giggles, and Harry couldn’t stop himself letting out a laugh.
xoxox
“Ever since I first saw him, I’ve known he would be a part of my future” Draco was talking to Pansy, but she could see his mind was elsewhere “I knew it was dangerous, and I knew it was wrong, but I’ve been unable to resist it” He refocused his eyes, looking at Pansy.
“You’ve been my friend – my only real friend – since I was a child. You know what my life is like, Pansy. You know what my father expects of me, and what it’s like now that…… now that He has come back” He looked down at his hands for a moment, then looked up “Harry…… Harry is a future away from that. A future where I can be me instead of what other people want me to be” He paused “A future where we can be what we want”
xoxox
“He and I grew up in very similar families” Harry said softly “Neither of our families care all that much for us – we are both expected to serve a greater cause. Both expected to give our lives to it” He closed his eyes “We both know what it’s like to live with the crushing weight of expectations”
xoxox
“If you like him……” Pansy started, and Draco smiled.
“You can’t even contemplate the idea it might be more?” He asked with an amused grin.
“If you like him” Pansy repeated “Why did you join Umbridge’s playgroup?”
“Because he needs a friend on the inside” Draco said simply, then he gave her a shy smile “You know – two friends would be better”
xoxox
“He’s someone who doesn’t expect anything of me” Harry said with a soft smile “He just wants me to be me. To be Harry” He looked up at Hermione “It’s……… nice. It’s easy”
“And The IS?” She asked, and a flash of darkness crossed his face for a moment before it cleared.
“The crushing weight of expectations” He said lightly, then he added in a brighter tone “But having someone on the inside? Helpful” Hermione arched her eyebrows, making him snigger, then she smiled.
“I think he’s going to be good for you” She said after a few moments “You need someone. Someone to make you happy”
“Even Draco?” He asked.
“Even Draco” She nodded, then she reached out and took his hand “Just remember, Harry, other people might not be so understanding, so take care”
“I promise” He looked around as the door opened again, and a few other members of The DA started to come in. He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek “Thank you” When he leaned back, she was blushing, and he smiled.
“You’re welcome” She said “Now – come and teach us how to shield ourselves against danger and darkness”
“Your wish is my command, my lady”
xoxox
“You know – two friends would be better”
Pansy stayed silent for a few moments, although she knew what she would say – she’d known ever since she entered the room.
“Is this – is he – what you really want?” She asked. He considered it for a few moments, then gave a single, sincere nod. She smiled.
“Then I will help you, and I will help him” She said in a soft voice “And when the others find out, I will do my best to help you with that as well” He smiled, then leaned across and kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you” He said, then he stood up “I promise you won’t regret this” Before she could reply he turned and walked out of the little room. Pansy watched him go, then closed her eyes.
“And I’ll never let you know how my heart is breaking”