The Butterfly Effect

Draco watched as the stone he’d skipped across the surface of lake sink into the murky depths.

“Five to three,” he declared turning to give Pansy a boasting glance.

Her mouth pulled into a frown, “To four.”

“Three!”

“It was four! Blaise, wasn’t it four ?”

Blaise looked up unimpressed from his Quidditch magazine, “I wasn’t exactly counting.”

"Then there's no use playing if it isn't a competition!"

Groaning, Pansy sank down onto the damp grass yanking a protesting Draco along with her.

“My robes!”

“Pish posh, Drakey,” she lamented as she threw her legs onto his lap and her head onto Blaise, conveniently managing to escape most of the grass. “You see, this is why I keep you two around, portable furniture.”

Draco shared an exasperated look with Blaise.

“I’ll move, Parkinson,” he threatened menacingly even as he shifted into a more comfortable position.

“And you’ll be rewarded with a black eye,” she returned, sighing contently as Blaise began to run his fingers through her short hair. “See, Blaise knows his uses, unlike you.”

“Blaise is a kiss ass.”

“Rich coming from you, Malfoy.”

Draco pulled a face at him that had Blaise snorting into his magazine. It was rare that the three of them ever got a chance to be alone anymore. There was always one or all three of the Golden Trio joining them. Sometimes Luna, the Weasley twins, Ginny and occasionally even Neville showed up unannounced to sit with them. Slytherin tables packed with a mix of Gryffindors or Gryffindor intermingled with Slytherin.

Not everyone was happy about this, of course, certainly not Umbridge and a selection of Slytherins who still held onto their pureblood values. Draco, astonishingly did not mind the influx of new friends, not even the slightest, but it was nice, just being the three of them after so long. They were his first true friends (for Goyle and Crabbe had been the friends expected of a Malfoy rather than just Draco). He still saw them around the school and they were on friendly terms but the weight of anything true had long since slipped away.

As the sunlight warmed the last of the chilly weather away, bathing them in golden light Draco turned his face into the sun. He had no qualms about tanning, because it seemed as if his skin was immune to it unlike Potter who browned even when it was cloudy. 

Merlin, Potter! Just the thought of that messy haired, bumbling idiot had Draco grinding his teeth together in frustration.

Their double date during the weekend had been nothing short of a complete disaster. Draco hadn’t wanted anything to do with Harry and Ginny’s relationship, not when Hermione had told him and not after. He’d tried to forget about him and had accepted Thornbury’s request when he’d asked. Thornbury wasn’t Harry. No one could ever be Harry but it had been fine. Draco had been excited.

Then Harry had confided in him about his troubles with Ginny, looking so morose that Draco had instantly felt the need to offer help. Hence, the double date.

It had started well enough, all of them agreeing to get Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. Ginny and Draco had carried most of the conversation between themselves. Talking about Quidditch being banned, schoolwork, the upcoming career day and of course their favourite shared topic, insulting Weasley together. Harry and Thornbury had opted to trade assessing looks at each other.

Then when Draco had mentioned how good Thornbury was at Quidditch and how he hoped to try out in Sixth Year, Harry had gotten really vexed. He’d begun to question the other boy with a severity that had Draco aching to kick him underneath the table. Thornbury, bless him, had taken Harry’s questions in due humility and tried to humour him. It hadn’t worked.

The worst of it was when Thornbury had turned to Draco and asked if they could meet in the summer so that they could play a couple games together. Draco had opened his mouth to respond when Harry had slammed his hand down against the table, rattling their Butterbeers. He’d snapped and said that Thornbury couldn’t come over because Draco was staying at his godfather’s place and no guests were allowed (he hadn’t mentioned any names of course but he’d still been entirely too loudmouthed about the whole affair).

Draco could somewhat understand Harry’s vehemence that the Order’s secrets be protected and he’d assured his friend that he could meet up with Thornbury elsewhere.

Ginny had hurriedly extended an offer to the Burrow, where Draco himself had played a couple matches with the Weasleys and Harry over the holidays and Christmas. Harry had gotten even more agitated at that offer and Thornbury had soon left afterwards, probably fearing that he’d be hexed by the boy who lived.

And so Draco, had had an entirely miserable Valentine’s without any snogging involved just because Harry Potter was intimidated by someone else liking Quidditch.

All in all, an utter overreaction on the part of the boy wonder.

“Has Thornbury responded to your letter yet ?” Pansy asked now, startling him from his thoughts.

“Not yet,” he smiled ruefully, “I think Potter’s scared him off. I’ll find someone else who catches my eye, soon enough. Slytherin charm and all.”

Blaise and Pansy exchanged a glance.

“About that,” Blaise began slowly, “why do you think Potter acted so strangely ?”

“He gets really worked up about Quidditch. Almost as terrible as Wood. You should’ve seen him when Umbridge banned Quidditch, Hermione and I thought he was going to have a seizure.”

“Yes but,” Pansy sat up to look at him properly, “it’s an overreaction, don’t you think ? Blaise and I reckon something else made him mad.”

“Yeah ? Like what ?”

“Jealousy,” they said in unison.

Draco laughed even as his heart somersaulted, “Don’t be ridiculous. He was there with Ginny.”

“I think he’s confused.”

"He clearly likes you more." 

“Let’s not,” Draco said, giving them a serious look, “I’ve been hoping since that stupid game of yours with the bottle, Pans. I even, thought he might return the feeling at Christmas when we were decorating Grimmauld together but he asked Ginny out a week later. If that’s not any indication to where his feelings are, I’m not sure what is.”

“But—”

“No. That’s that. Harry and I are simply friends.”

His friends traded another glance but thankfully said nothing else. Their meddling was truly going to be the death of him. Draco forced his heart to calm down, closing his eyes and turning to the sunlight again.

Only it didn’t feel nearly as warm as before.

~~~~~

Harry sat in the Quidditch stands, staring up at the sky, wishing he was on his broom. He longed for the wind and the acceleration of flying, where his thoughts weren’t quite so loud.

“Missing Quidditch ?”

He glanced towards Ginny who was settling down beside him. Somehow, he wasn’t surprised that she’d managed to find him. Harry inhaled shakily, knowing exactly what he needed to tell her, knew that there was no point in stalling any longer. He was being cruel to her and she did not deserve it. 

“More than anything,” he returned turning his gaze to the sky again, “Gin, listen, I need to talk to you about—”

She cut him off, “Do you like me Harry ?”

“I do, I did. I mean—”

“Do you like Malfoy ?”

Harry’s eyes went wide and he squeaked embarrassingly, “What ? I— how did you ?"

"One answer, Harry. Yes or no ?" 

"Yes.”

The ginger nodded, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “I figured as much, I mean I suspected since last year with the Second Task and all but well, you asked me out and…”

“I’m really sorry, Ginny,” he turned fully in his seat to look at her. “Last year, I couldn’t even wrap my head around my feelings and after what happened in the graveyard and to Cedric, everything went to shit. I really did like you, I did. But Draco, well, he snuck up on me.”

She smiled and reached over to clasp his hand, “I’m not mad, not really. More disappointed, I guess. I’ve been crushing on you since first year when Mum helped you onto the Platform. You were this big, amazing story come to life. Harry Potter in the flesh and I lost my mind, quite honestly.”

Harry laughed, squeezing her hand tightly. He knew how much courage it took saying these words aloud. 

“I know you as just Harry now, of course but that little girl inside me, still thinks of you as her idol you know ? I don’t think I could ever really let go of that image I have of you and you deserve someone who sees you for who you are, not for your accomplishments or contribution to saving the Wizarding World. And I deserve someone who doesn’t moon after someone else while he’s with me.”

“I am sorry—”

“It’s alright. We’re all just trying to figure these things out, there’s bound to be some stumbling on the way.”

So they sat there, hands still clasped together, watching the sun set over the trees.

“You should tell him.”

Harry snorted, “He’s made it quite clear that he doesn’t like me that way.”

“Did you ask him outright or did you do it the bumbling Harry Potter way ?”

“The latter.”

Ginny elbowed him hard, “No one understands the bumbling Harry Potter way. Ask him properly.”

“But he’s with Thornbury now!”

“I think you scared him away, Harry,” she returned with a snort. “Merlin, he looked ready to flee the country let alone Three Broomsticks.”

Harry flushed. He’d been jealous and that jealousy had turned into a rage when Thornbury had suggested playing Quidditch with Draco. That was their thing. It had been since forever. If it hadn’t been for Draco, he doubted he’d even be Seeker now. It was not something he was willing to share with some idiotic Ravenclaw who didn't know Draco the way he did. 

He who knew the way Draco flew, knew how he turned on his broom and how he favoured his left side. He who'd been playing Draco for longer than Thornbury had ever been in the picture. 

“Perhaps I will ask him,” he decided quietly.  “Thank you Ginny, for understanding and everything really.”

"It's my pleasure, Harry. Just don't mess it up." 

"I'll try my hardest not to." 

In agreement, the two of them sat of towards the castle and halfway there they were met by Hermione and Ron exiting the Forbidden Forest, with Hagrid in tow.

“What’s this about then ?” he asked incredulously as he took in their dishevelled appearances. The cut on Hermione's cheek and Ron's pale face. 

“We just met Hagrid’s brother.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

“His giant brother.”

Ginny flinched and looked towards Hagrid who was whistling happily, “You’ve got a giant in there ?”

“Grawp means no harm. Tell them Hermione, he’s taken quite a liking to you.”

“Yes,” Hermione said faintly, “quite a liking.”

“And you’ll take care of him then, if I'm away ?”

“Of course,” Hermione promised instantly ignoring Ron’s whispered hiss.

“An angel you are Hermione,” Hagrid glanced towards him. “Sorry you didn’t get a chance to meet him, Harry. I’ll take you next time.”

“Oh don’t worry about—”

“It’s really no bother at all. You can come along too if you want, Ginny.”

The pair of them murmured soft noises of affirmation. After that, they hurriedly bid farewells to Hagrid, fearing he’d take them back right away, and set of towards the castle together.

“Bloody giant things,” Ron was muttering uneasily. “Dogs, snakes, spiders and now people! What’s next Harry ? A giant Umbridge ?”

Harry laughed, feeling lighter than he had in weeks and bumped his shoulder against Ron, “Cheer up. Couldn’t be worse than a giant Snape.” 

He was, Harry decided, going to plan what he wanted to say properly. Then he'd speak to Draco, and even if it came to nothing, they would still be friends. They had to be. 

He'd wait until the summer. When Voldemort wasn't attempting to break into his head and when Umbridge wasn't breathing down his neck. 

The summer when they'd both be at Grimmauld and he'd be done with this dreadfully confusing year.