What Harry Wants (H/D, 14A)

[sesheta66]

Title:  What Harry Wants
Author: sesheta_66 
Word Count: 1279
Rating: 14A for language and implied sex
Warning: No beta. Please point out any mistakes you see.
A/N: This is a birthday fic for  mtranc3. She asked for protective!Draco and Harry in a self-indulgent mood. I don't know if this is exactly what you had in mind, but I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: HP world belongs to JK Rowling. No money made by me - I am only playing. 

 

"Oi, ferret-boy!"

"Ron, would you stop with the insults?" Harry pleaded. 

"What? I'm not insulting you, just your ... er ... just Malfoy." 

"Well, don't you think ..." 

"Malfoy, you stupid git, get out here!" 

Harry stormed out of the room, brushing past Draco on his way. A quickly mumbled, "I can't take this any more," left little doubt in Draco's mind as to what he was upset about. This had to stop, and Draco was going to do his best to see that it did. He had already been trying for weeks to be good around Weasley, but the stupid git wouldn't let up. Well, it was time for drastic measures, because he couldn't have anyone hurting Harry, even if it was his best mate. 

~~~~~~~
"You realize that you are effectively asking him to choose between the two of us, right?" Draco had tried reasoning, had tried to explain Harry's growing frustration, and how much their continued arguing was affecting Harry, but he didn't seem to want to listen. 

"He'll choose me," Ron said emphatically. 

"Are you sure about that?" 

"Of course I'm sure. You're just a passing fancy. We've been best mates since we were eleven years old. As I recall, he hated you then." 

"That may very well be true, Weaselby, but what difference does that make?" 

"It makes all the difference in the world. He'll choose me. I'm sure of it." 

Draco let out an exasperated sigh. "And what good does that do Harry?" 

"It rids him of you." 

"What makes you so sure that's best for him?" 

"Oh, please. As if you'd ever be good for him." 

"In your opinion." 

"In my opinion, yes." 

"Do you not think that Harry has his own opinion? That he can make up his own mind?" 

"Of course I do." 

"Then let him." 

"Oh, no you don't. You don't go trying to get my help." 

"Who said anything about your help? I just want you to let up on Harry." 

"On Harry? Sure you do. You mean you. You just want me to let up on you. You just want to dig your claws in deeper, and not have any resistance from me. I know what you're after." 

"Oh do tell! What am I after, besides Harry's happiness, and my own?" 

"His happiness, right. You wouldn't know about anyone's happiness but your own." 

"You're wrong about that. But even if you weren't, let's say that my happiness is attained in the same way Harry's is. Why can't you accept that it is at least a possibility?" 

"Why should I?" 

"Because you claim to be his friend." He waited for a retort. When none was forthcoming, he continued. "It's not about you, you know. I am not with Harry to piss you off, though I'm sure you think that's a big part of it. I am with him because I enjoy being with him. I care about him. Surely you can understand that, if you really do care as much as you tell everyone you do." 

"I don't believe you." 

"And I don't care what you believe." 

"Of course you do, or we wouldn't be having this conversation." 

"That's where you're wrong. I don't give a flying fuck what you think of me. Truly, I don't. But I very much care about what you say. Because every time you say something negative about me, it hurts Harry." 

"Oh, don't think so highly of yourself. You don't matter that much." 

"You know, Weasleby, that may very well be true. And congratulations to you for figuring it out if it is. In the meantime, in case you hadn't noticed, Harry left here decidedly unhappy. As a direct result of something you said. About me. Doesn't that tell you something?" He levelled a look at Ron, hoping that perhaps he could see the wheels spinning in his head, and be able to tell when they stopped moving, as the cogs fell into place. When he received no response, he carried on. 

"Look, if Harry is destined to move on to someone else, no doubt someone better than me in your mind, then let it happen. I should think that even you will figure out that he might just dig his heels in to prove you wrong. Why not simply let things happen? Right now it seems to me that you are treating him like an uncooperative child. You are telling him what is best for him, and you are trying to push away anyone else that gets close. Most especially me." 

"Only you." 

"And why is that?" 

"Because I hate you." 

"But Harry doesn't. Don't you get it? He has his own mind, makes his own decisions, is his own man. You let your own assumptions about Harry almost ruin your friendship all those years ago, during the Triwizard Tournament ..." 

"How do you know what happened between us then?" 

"Wake up, would you! We talk, you know. It's not just about a good shag, or even a great shag, as the case may be ..." 

"Argh! I didn't need to hear that!" 

"Apparently you did. We are in a relationship, you stupid twit, and we talk. We talk about our pasts, our futures, our hopes, our dreams, our feelings. I know far more about Harry and his feelings than you care to know about, and do you know why that is?" 

"Oh, I'm sure you're going to tell me! I can't wait to hear this one!" 

"Because we care about each other. We respect each other's opinions. We don't just talk at one another -- we listen. And when I listen to Harry getting upset about something, I do whatever I can to lessen or eliminate the cause. Because I hate to see him hurting, and when we fight, he hurts. Haven't you noticed that I haven't risen to your challenges, taunts, or jibes lately? It's been weeks, Weasley, and you haven't even noticed. And you call yourself his friend?" 

By the look on Ron's face, Draco thought he may finally have broken through. He hoped he did, because he didn't want to force a choice for Harry. Either way, Harry would lose. Sure, Ron or Draco would be the bigger loser in the situation. After all, it would be Harry that they lost, and Draco felt ill at the mere thought. But Harry would be hurt too. As it was, keeping his best friend and his boyfriend separated caused a strain, but having them in the same room was worse. 

"Weasley, I don't want Harry to have to choose between us. No matter the choice he makes, he will be hurt. I can't be the cause of that. Don't you think he's had enough pain in his life? Why should he, of all people, have to suffer any more? Don't you think he is worth it? Don't you think that the two of us should be able to put aside whatever differences we have -- petty or otherwise -- and be mature adults, for Harry's sake? He doesn't ask for much, but this is really important to him. I think it's the least we can do, don't you?" 

With that, Draco left. There was, after all, nothing more to be said. He only hoped that Ron had actually heard him. Harry deserved that and more. Besides, he was truly unsure of what Harry's choice would be, if it came down to that, though he suspected that Ron was right. And now that he finally found someone to love that loved him back, Draco wasn't prepared to risk losing him. No matter what, he'd have to make the weasel see.

Comments

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

You did closed minded Ron so well, I want to shake him until his head falls off. Hopefully Harry will help to soothe Draco's private concerns.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much ♥

I'm glad that people are aggravated by Ron, which of course was my intent. Glad that it came across well.

I sure hope Harry will be able to help Draco with his insecurities.