Third Place - Angst

"That was dirty thing to do to me, Harry," Ron grumbled.

Harry started to laugh again. "But you should have seen your face! I thought there was going to be a dent on the infirmary floor where your jaw hit it!"

"Very funny!" Ron reached out and punched Harry's shoulder then looked horrified at his action. "Oh, I'm sorry, mate. I shouldn't have done that."

"Merlin, Ron. I'm not made of china!" Harry rolled his eyes.

"Well, I just know that if my mum would have seen me do that, my ear would be stretched so far I could use it as a blanket!"

"Harry," Hermione called. Harry looked towards her as they made their way down from the infirmary wing. "Have you decided on when you'll tell Draco?"

Harry shook his head. "No, but it'll probably be tonight. I mean, what if I start baying at the moon or something?" Harry chuckled.

"Oh, yeah, about that," Ron began. "Um, I don't mind that you keep my scarf and all, but, can I have it back before you give birth? It is my favorite, and all." Ron scratched at the back of his head and looked sheepish. Harry punched him in the arm.

"Idiot! I'm not giving birth in a bloody nest, no matter what my instincts tell me to do!" Harry stopped for a moment. "Geez, now that was an odd thing for me to have said. Never thought words like that would ever come out of my mouth." He shook his head. "But, yes, Ron, you can have your scarf back."

"Oh, well, um, good!" Ron smiled, rubbing his arm.

"So, would you like to keep this a secret, Harry?" Hermione asked. "Since it began in the beginning of October, you should anticipate the big event in May. You'll probably be able to hide it until around February. After that, I'm afraid you'll give yourself away."

"Um, well, I don't have a problem letting people know, I guess. I mean, not right away, but, eventually. I've still got to tell Draco. I don't think he'll have a problem with it, though. He was pretty nonchalant about it all," Harry said as they made it to the second floor landing.

"Yeah, besides, if he does have a problem with it, you could always get Snape to throw him about the room!" Ron quipped and then began laughing at the image in his head.

"Ron, that's not..." Harry stopped dead. "Oh no! Drac-," The collar of his robe tightening around his throat choked off Harry's voice. He was suddenly jerked off his feet and he landed hard against the steps behind him.

"Malfoy! Sto-," Ron's voice was also cut off with a gurgle. Harry was able to orientate himself just in time to see Draco pick Ron up by the throat and toss him to the other side of the landing. Then he was back on Harry. His pale cheeks were streaked with silver as molten as his eyes. As Draco's scent engulfed him in the blonde's anger, Harry knew true gut-wrenching fear in that moment.

"Draco, please, I'm sorry for what ever I did!" he whispered, putting his hands up in placation.

"What you did?" Draco snarled. "Don't you mean who you did?" A steel hand came about Harry's throat and lifted him up from where he had been sprawled on the stairs. "I come looking for my bitch and here he is discussing his fucking around on me and laughing at me! So what happens in May, Harry?" Draco asked dangerously. "Is that when you've decided to tell the world about your secret liaison with Snape and fuck me over? Oh no, wait, you'll give yourself away by February, won't you? And I'll just be a good little cuckold and be accepting of it, will I?"

"No...no... Draco, please," Harry was struggling to breathe and talk. "Not Snape..."

"Really?" Draco's eyes became even scarier. "You're going to try to lie to me even as you are swimming in his scent! This explains so much, now. Your sneaking about, the smell of countless people rubbed all over you. Did you think I wouldn't notice, slut?" The enraged blonde shook Harry like a dog would a rabbit. "Who's scent was the only one to be on you, Harry?"

"...yours, D-Draco."

"Malfoy, stop!

"Who was to be the only one to fuck you, Harry?" Draco yelled, ignoring Hermione.

"...you... Draco." Harry's vision was beginning to blur about the edges.

"Draco! You're killing him! Let him go!"

"Stay out of this, whore!" Draco turned away from a frightened Hermione and looked at Harry again.

"No I won't, you ass! You don't underst-." Draco moved so fast that Hermione never saw the blow that came at her. Harry heard the sound of a fist hitting flesh and then all he saw was Draco's furious eyes.

"You are a lying piece of filth," Draco seethed.

"P-please..." Harry just barely got out.

Draco's eyes took on a feral glint. "You want Snape, Harry? He's downstairs. Let me help you." And with those sweetly spoken words, he pivoted on his heel and pushed Harry.

The world tumbled by as Harry fell. He tried to stop but he couldn't grasp which was up or down. He heard a snap and he couldn't work his arm anymore. Then he heard Hermione screaming and he tried even harder to stop and help her. Then there was another snap and everything ended for Harry.

Indago - Chapter 44

Back to Chapter 42

Back to Results