The lies we tell

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Draco felt a wave of nausea hit him.
"I'm sorry what?" He asked. Needing Potter to have been teasing him. Needing it to be a lie.

He'd already nearly had one unwanted Fiancé even though he was blessedly unaware and now he's (at least as far as the wizarding world is aware) engaged to his childhood nemesis. The boy he used to bully.
Draco dreads to think what Potter will do with that power over him- because if he tells the truth then it's likely he'll be thrown in Azkaban with no one to protect him.

Potter just continued to look down at the floor guiltily shuffling his feet as he did so.
He didn't answer Draco but he didn't need to. He was in shock- not deaf. Draco decided he'd like to continue staying on the ward thank-you-very-much and would rather pretend he'd gone mad then deal with whatever hairbrained scheme Potter came up with next. Perhaps he could play on the well known Black insanity. Surely no one would question it?

It was during his musings that he was led away, barely noticing that he was being ushered along by the other boy. Minutes later the shock of the sudden apparition as Potter side-alonged him startled him into the present.

It didn't escape Draco's notice that he now found himself in Potter's bedroom. The boy-who-lived blushing furiously. "I er" Potter stammered "Usually just apparate straight into here" he explained. Draco rose an eyebrow at that "N-not that I er have ever brought anyone here" he struggled to explain quickly "it's just that er.....I'll shut up now". He finished lamely.
"A wise decision" Draco sneered.

Draco found himself somewhat relieved. With how he was behaving it was clear that Potter had no current plans to ravish him. Though there was always the chance that Potter would change his mind later. Potter himself looked mortified at the thought that Draco would believe his actions to be anything less then pure. But Draco knew better then anyone that a person's intentions could change at any time.
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The first time they kissed Draco was prepared for it. It was during a Photography shoot for the front page of the Quibbler- the only publication Potter would willingly do interviews for. Everything he and Potter said was entirely scripted, planned by Granger and himself- he couldnt trust Potter not to say something utterly ridiculous.

During the kiss Draco became suspicious. It went on too long and Potter was too desperate. It felt like he was moments away from Potter stripping him bare and mauling him like an animal. Still he played along- it wouldn't do for Potter to look like he'd be duped- manipulated by the Death Eater who just wanted to escape prison and use Potter to claim back his former glory.

Draco wanted to pull Potter aside that evening and ask what the hell he was playing at. Was it really a mistake when Potter lied? It was rather suspicious for Potter to have suddenly come up with. Or was it carefully planned to ensnare Draco in a way he couldn't escape any time soon.

Coward that he was though he never tried to escape Potter's evil? clutches. Instead he let the thought run through his mind until he was sure he'd go mad. The paranoia from his time in the Manor engulfed him, and he found himself yet again obsessively checking his food and drink for potions and his things for enchantments, as he'd done during Voldemorts reign, lest Potter get any other 'spur of the moment' ideas. As 'Professor' Moody would say "Constant vigilance".

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The second kiss was a suprise. Low and languid with just the right amount of pressure and tongue to make him moan dispite himself. Harry's mere touches setting him alight.

It was at their be-lated engagement party when Potter accosted him in full view of his Weasel family. Draco didn't question it. He knew the majority of the family were unaware of the the fact they were faking it- or at least Draco was faking it at least. Draco was normally suspicious of Potter but he wouldn't argue today- what was a few kisses between enemies after all?

He should've worried about that.
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Hermione turned suspicious when Draco was not.

She knew how paranoid Malfoy had been- almost crazed in his attempt to find Harry trying to trap him into a more physical relationship. Frankly she didn't blame him- they all remembered sixth year after all.

It was clear to her that Harry had other reasons for lying. Reasons that involved not letting the other Weasleys in on his lie. She knew they'd understand after all. But not telling them meant he could touch and speak sweet nothings to Malfoy however much he wanted whenever they visited. The kiss wasn't a shock for her- it was obvious Harry had planned it, had wanted it almost desperately. It was more Malfoys response to it that suprised her. The way he reacted to Harry's touches and kiss today was- well it got her a little flustered thinking about it.

Hermione tried to believe there was no other reason for Harry to lie like that. She saw the logic behind it- of course she did! It made sense after all. So many people had witnessed Mrs Malfoy lie to Voldemort, that she was busy trying to find her Son instead of fighting at the battle, and it was well publicised that she didn't have the mark. The only evidence they had was that the headquarters were at her house- which could be explained by Harry's memory of Malfoy's teary admittance that Voldemort had been threatening the lives of both himself and his parents.

She was guilty of nothing more then being a bigoted blood purest, whose husband had gotten her into a dangerous situation she had no control over. Her death nothing more then a attempt to placate those who believed that the Malfoys ALL deserved to die for Lucius's crimes and for daring to house Voldemort and allow him to have his headquarters there regardless of how unwillingly they were doing it.

At first Hermione suspected Harry had cast Imperio but discounted it quickly. Malfoy was still at the core of himself Malfoy. He still looked down his nose at people, was still easily spooked, snappish and as sneaky as he'd ever been. Honestly Hermione didn't know what Harry saw in him.

Amortentia was out also. She now knew the signs following Ron's second unexpected dose of the potion (when would he learn to leave Harry's post alone?)
The other thing that made her suspicious was his sudden aversion to Ron. Making excuses to be the other side of the room or a different room entirely, with Malfoy trailing after him much like Ron had lusted over the Veela from Beaubatons. Ron of course never noticed the sudden change- being all too willing to avoid Malfoy and all too distracted by Molly's cooking.

Hermione prayed it was just her overactive imagination. That it was the result of being too long without a mystery to solve.

She prayed Harry wasn't idiotic enough to do something stupid.