Nothing Less - Part 4 of A Different View

[sesheta66]

Title: Nothing Less (4/? of A Different View)
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: 499
Pairing/Characters: Harry, Draco, Ron/Hermione
Challenges: awdt's prompt of "Kissing Under the Mistletoe" and my GJ 100_prompts entry #090 - "Incomplete".
Summary: Harry voices aloud something he's been feeling for a while.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.

To see all parts of A Different View, click here.



Harry stood transfixed, watching his two best friends kissing under the mistletoe. He wasn't sure how long he'd been staring when a hand touched his shoulder and warm breath caressed his ear. "Jealous?"

"Maybe a little, yeah," he replied, then froze in place. He hadn't meant to admit that to anyone. "Er ..."

"Relax, I won't tell anyone you have a thing for Granger," Draco said.

"No, that's not it," Harry said as he turned around.

"Oh?" Draco raised his eyebrows. "The weasel, then. I didn't realize you swung that way." He smiled wickedly.

Harry felt heat rise up his neck and his cheeks flush. "I don't have a thing for either of my best friends," he insisted, which was completely true.

Draco gave him a look that clearly stated he didn't believe a word Harry said. "So what is there to be jealous of?"

"You do realize I'm only telling you any of this because you caught me off guard."

Draco laughed. "I think you're stalling."

Harry fidgeted on the spot as he realized he was about to say something he hadn't told anyone. And he was about to tell Draco Malfoy, a person he'd barely spoken to civilly more than a handful of times before today.

Recalling the day's events, Harry realized that, despite Draco's shit-eating grin at the prospect of 'having something' on Harry, something had changed between them.

"Ron and Hermione are the first friends I ever had." He ignored the surprised look on Draco's face and continued. "We've been through a lot together, but this past year ... well, longer than that if I'm really honest about it ... my whole life, really, I suppose ..."

"Are you planning to spit it out sometime today, or shall I make us some tea?" Draco teased. Harry smiled, glad of the momentary interruption.

"Prat." He nudged Draco's shoulder with his own. "What I mean is that, as close as I am to them, I'm still on the outside, you know. I've always had something keeping me apart from them, from everyone, and I suppose I've never really let anyone else in. So I suppose it's that closeness I'm jealous of."

Draco nodded in understanding. Harry wasn't all that surprised. After watching Draco for years, he'd concluded that he too distanced himself from those around him. "What about the she-weasel?" Draco asked.

"I suppose we had fun while it lasted --"

"You mean you're not --"

"Nah, not really. Not since Dumbledore ... well, you know. I suppose we figured we'd get back together, but I doubt it now. Besides, it feels somehow incomplete." He looked into grey eyes as he said aloud the thing he knew he'd be telling Ginny soon. "I don't feel for her the way Ron and Hermione feel about each other. I can see it in their eyes, and I know that's what I want." He glanced over at his friends again. "And I don't plan to settle for anything less."

Part 5 - A Reminder

.

Comments

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

*giggles*

Um ... blame the mods at awdt. We're not allowed to go over 500 words (although *glares at some others* a few are exceeding the word count a wee bit) for this two-week extravaganza. So you can expect to be tortured for another week and a half! ;)

*hugs*