Chapter Text
The Golden Trio only had to wait a few more days before the toughest part of their plan finally came together. They'd been working hard to make Pansy Parkinson feel left out and insecure, hoping she'd get fed up with Draco and start spilling his secrets. Pansy was known for being insecure, and the fact that she was the only one in Draco's circle who hadn't received a gift for being a good friend really bothered her. She liked to think of herself as Draco's best friend, so being overlooked didn't sit well with her at all.
She'd even gone as far as complaining to Blaise and Harry, fishing for an explanation as to why she was left out. But both of them had just shrugged her off, which only made her more frustrated. She had already let a few minor secrets slip here and there, which reassured the trio that their plan was working, but nothing big enough to use against Draco.
Things finally came to a head one day during Defence Against the Dark Arts. As everyone was settling in, Draco made a surprising request for everyone listening.
'Pansy, switch seats with Potter,' Draco said, not even looking at her as he spoke.
Pansy stared at him in disbelief. 'What? But I always sit next to you!' she snapped, refusing to budge. Harry stood awkwardly beside her, unsure if he should step in.
Draco still didn't look at her, his eyes fixed on Harry instead. 'I want Potter to sit here today. Come on, Potter, take a seat,' he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Pansy's face flushed with anger, jealousy bubbling up inside her. 'You can't do this, Draco! It's my seat!' she shouted, gripping the desk tightly.
Draco finally turned to her, his patience clearly wearing thin. 'And now you're getting on my last nerve. I said switch,' he said coldly, making it clear he wasn't going to ask again.
Fuming, Pansy reluctantly got up and found another seat, throwing Harry a furious look as she did. She sat down elsewhere, stewing in her own thoughts.
Harry slid into the seat next to Draco, curious about what was going on but keeping quiet. This was a win for their plan, so he wasn't going to complain. He could feel Pansy glaring at him, but he ignored it, focusing on Draco, who seemed to have something more important on his mind than just switching seats.
As the Defence Against the Dark Arts class droned on, Draco leaned closer to Harry, his voice low but tinged with something that felt almost like tension. 'So, Potter… I've heard a rumour lately,' he said, trying to sound casual, but the edge in his voice was unmistakable.
Harry glanced at him, intrigued by the sudden shift in Draco's mood. 'Oh, have you?'
'Indeed.' Draco paused, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk as he avoided Harry's gaze. 'Care to tell me why I've heard you're going to the Yule Ball with the Weaselette?'
Harry caught the slight irritation in Draco's tone, and it made him smirk. He couldn't help but push a little. 'You mean Ginny…?'
'Yes, that one,' Draco spat, his tone laced with irritation. His usually composed demeanour was cracking, and Harry could see the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. 'Well? Is it true or not?'
Harry leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. He had a feeling this conversation was about more than just Ginny, and he wanted to see where it would go. 'Yeah, I'm going with Ginny. Why, are you jealous?' he teased, inching a little closer, his eyes locking onto Draco's.
Draco's reaction was instant—his eyes widened, and he jerked back slightly as if Harry had physically shoved him. He quickly glanced around the classroom, his expression a mix of panic and something Harry couldn't quite place. 'What? Of course not! What makes you think that…?' Draco's voice was shaky, and for a moment, Harry wondered if he'd hit a nerve he didn't even know existed.
Harry raised an eyebrow, noting the way Draco's usually calm exterior seemed to be unravelling. 'I don't know, Ginny's pretty popular with the boys, from what I've heard.'
Draco seemed to catch on, his posture relaxing slightly, but the tension didn't fully leave his face. 'Oh! You mean… uh.' He let out a breath he probably didn't realise he'd been holding. 'No, I'm not jealous of you. I would never want to go to the Yule Ball with the likes of her. Besides,' he added quickly, almost as if to remind himself, 'I already have a girlfriend.'
Harry's stomach churned at the mention of Cho, but he forced a neutral expression. 'Yeah, I know…' he muttered, the image of Draco and Cho together stirring up a mixture of emotions he didn't want to confront.
Draco seemed to notice the shift in Harry's mood, and for a moment, a flicker of something almost like regret crossed his face. But he pushed on, his tone returning to its usual arrogance. 'Anyway, it's you I'm worried about. I see you followed my advice and stayed away from Granger—well done—but… Weasley is not a good option either.'
Harry frowned, his patience starting to thin. 'How so?' He asked, though part of him didn't really want to hear Draco's reasoning.
Draco looked at him as if he couldn't believe Harry didn't see it. 'Are you serious? I know she's popular for whatever reason, but she's a Weasley. You can't be associated with the Weasleys—they're scum amongst wizards.'
Harry's temper flared at the insult to Ron and Ginny, but he kept his voice steady. 'Why…?'
Draco opened his mouth, ready with some cutting remark, but then hesitated, his expression softening just a fraction. He shook his head as if deciding it wasn't worth the fight. 'You won't agree anyway. But the thing is, you read what was written about her in the Burn Book.'
Harry stiffened, remembering what was written about Ginny. 'Yeah… I remember,' he said, the discomfort evident in his voice.
Draco leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near-whisper, the space between them charged with an odd tension. 'Well, that's just the start. You can't handle the kind of things she's into, Potter. You're too innocent, too naive. Trust me, not even Blaise could.'
Harry's mind flashed to Ginny and Blaise's past relationship, and for a moment, he felt a pang of insecurity. What if Blaise got mad at him for asking his ex to the ball? He shook it off, though the uneasy feeling lingered. 'Right…'
Draco's eyes searched Harry's face, as if trying to gauge how much his words were sinking in. He seemed almost desperate for Harry to listen, to understand. 'Next thing you know, you'll be walking around with a bloody collar with her name on it or something. In and out of the bedroom.'
Harry grimaced at the mental image, a mix of disgust and intimidation washing over him. 'I think I got the picture,' he said quickly, wanting to steer the conversation away from Ginny's supposed preferences.
'Good. Stay away—she's not good enough for you,' Draco insisted, his tone softer but carrying an undertone of something more personal.
Harry, sensing there was more to Draco's words than just concern about Ginny, decided to push back a little. 'And who is?'
Draco hesitated, his usual confidence wavering as his gaze flickered to the desk, unable to meet Harry's eyes. 'Well… someone else. Not her.' His voice was quiet, almost as if he was afraid to say more. After a moment, he looked back at Harry, his expression unreadable. 'Besides, I'm pretty sure she's got something going on with Dean Thomas.'
Harry raised an eyebrow, surprised by the mention of Dean. 'Yeah, I thought so too. But it turns out they're not dating. He's even going to the ball with someone else.'
'Really?' Draco looked genuinely surprised, his annoyance momentarily replaced by curiosity. 'Didn't hear that one.'
'Yeah, it's true,' Harry said, feeling a small sense of satisfaction at having some information Draco didn't.
Draco's frown returned, the frustration in his eyes clear as he seemed unable to let the topic go. 'Hum. You're not seriously still going to the Yule Ball with Ginny Weasley after everything I've told you, right?'
'Yes, I am. I was the one who asked her, you know?'
Draco's eyes narrowed, and he let out a frustrated sigh, his tone laced with a bitterness that made Harry's chest tighten. 'Oh, really? And despite everything I said, you're still willing?'
'Yes,' Harry repeated, his voice unwavering.
Draco huffed, his irritation clear as he looked away, muttering under his breath. 'Well… I guess I can't convince you. But don't come crying to me when she turns out to be too much to handle. And she will.'
Harry chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. 'Alright, dad,' he teased, watching as Draco's cheeks flushed pink, his usual composure momentarily shattered.
Draco quickly turned away, pretending to focus on the lesson, but Harry couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Draco's concern.
It wasn't until the class ended that Harry realised just how deeply Pansy had been affected by Draco's dismissive behaviour. That day, they had Care of Magical Creatures after Defense Against the Dark Arts, a class both he and Pansy took but one that Draco—and Blaise—had always found beneath them. Draco had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with the subject, ever since a bad experience in third year. According to him, Hagrid was an oaf, entirely incompetent. Harry didn't agree—Hagrid was no oaf—but he could admit that the half-giant's lessons were often more hazardous than necessary, even for sixth-year students.
When Pansy had first told Harry she was taking the Care of Magical Creatures N.E.W.T., he had been surprised. Pansy, who used to follow Draco around like a shadow, seemed an unlikely candidate for Hagrid's classes. After all, she was the only Slytherin in a group dominated by Hufflepuffs, with just a couple of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws thrown in. She disliked Hagrid even more than Draco did, but her goal of becoming a magizoologist drove her to endure the lessons.
This was yet another surprise. Harry had never imagined Pansy Parkinson, who was known for sneering at anyone who wasn't her dear Draco, could be passionate about something so gentle as magical creatures. He had found it almost endearing to see her transform from a cold, prickly girl into someone who was genuinely captivated by the creatures they studied.
But today was different. Today, Pansy was furious.
She didn't even wait for Harry after class, which was a clear sign of just how much Draco's dismissal had hurt her. Instead, she stalked off toward Hagrid's hut, her robes billowing behind her, leaving Harry to trail after her. He watched her from a distance, noting the stiffness in her posture, the way her hands curled into fists at her sides. By the time they reached Hagrid's lesson, it was clear to Harry that something was going to give.
And give it did. Pansy, usually so focused and precise, was a whirlwind of rage during the lesson. She ignored Hagrid's directions, her wand flicking erratically as she handled the creatures with an uncharacteristic roughness. She snapped at her classmates, her words dripping with venom as she ranted about the unfairness of which creatures were studied, as though the balance of magical creature study –especially why some magical creatures were studied when some others were just as cute– was the greatest injustice in the world. Her harshest words were reserved for Hagrid, who was clearly bewildered by the outburst. But before he could react, Pansy stormed off before she could jeopardise her social status even more, her face flushed with anger and humiliation.
Harry watched her go, feeling a pang of sympathy for Hagrid, who was left standing awkwardly with a flobberworm wriggling in his massive hands. 'Sorry, Hagrid,' Harry muttered, but before the half-giant could respond, Harry took off after Pansy. This was his chance—the best opportunity to extract something about Malfoy that he could use to break him and Cho up.
He found Pansy in the girls' bathroom on the first floor, her sobs echoing off the cold, tiled walls. Harry hesitated for a moment outside the door, feeling like an intruder in what was clearly a private moment. But he knew this was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door. Pansy was hunched over one of the sinks, her shoulders shaking with every sob. As soon as she saw him, she quickly wiped her tears away and stood up, her face a mask of barely contained anger.
'What do you want, Potter?' she snapped, her voice thick with emotion.
Harry stepped inside, closing the door behind him. 'I just… wanted to check if you're okay,' he said, trying to sound sincere.
'Do I look okay to you?' Pansy shot back, glaring at him. But her anger seemed to deflate as quickly as it had flared up. She turned away from him, pacing back and forth across the bathroom floor, her hands trembling.
'It's just so unfair…' she muttered, more to herself than to Harry.
'What is?' Harry asked gently, sensing that she was on the verge of spilling something important.
'Draco!' Pansy exclaimed, her voice rising in frustration. 'I've been nothing but the best friend to him all these years, and still, he doesn't appreciate anything I do!'
Harry remained silent, knowing that the less he said, the more Pansy would reveal.
'I was there for him when he had that ridiculous fear of the dark,' Pansy continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. 'I'm the one who helped him hide that scar on his back from that stupid broom race in second year—no one else even knows about it! And what do I get in return? Nothing! He treats me like I'm just… just a nuisance!'
Harry blinked, trying to absorb everything she was saying. The more she spoke, the more Harry realised just how much she had done for Draco—and how unreciprocated her loyalty had been. But before he could dwell on that thought, Pansy dropped a bombshell.
'And do you know what the worst part is?' she said, her voice breaking. 'I wasn't even allowed to have blonde hair. I'm naturally blonde, but Draco said it was his thing when we were ten, so I had to permanently dye it. I had to convince my parents to let me change something I didn't even want to!'
Harry could hardly believe what he was hearing. He had known Draco could be manipulative, but this was a new level of control. He was so focused on processing this new, disturbing information that he almost missed Pansy's next words.
'And he totally has the hots for you. Yeah, he's gay. Can you believe it?'
Harry's mind went blank. 'What? But—he's with Cho!'
'I know, right?' Pansy sneered as if the whole ordeal was a personal insult to her 'Poor Chang doesn't know she's being used.'
It was as though something had short-circuited in Harry's brain. He couldn't process it—nothing made sense anymore. All this time, he had believed Draco had rekindled his relationship with Cho to stake his claim, to show Harry he could have what Harry wanted. But now, it turned out Draco never even liked her. Or women, for that matter.
What the actual hell?
'Don't look so surprised, Potter,' Pansy sneered, snapping Harry out of his daze. He realised he had been gaping since she'd dropped the bombshell, so he quickly closed his mouth, trying to regroup. He needed to keep Pansy talking, to get as much information as he could.
'How do you know?' he asked, trying to sound casual.
'He told me a month ago,' Pansy said, her voice growing bitter. 'We'd snuck out to Hogsmeade for a night out, and he was completely sloshed by the time we were heading back. He could barely stand, and I was helping him—like any normal friend would do! And what does he do? Tells me to piss off, says he's a fucking poofter and that even if he wasn't, I'd be the last girl he'd ever sleep with! He was so mean! And still, I didn't tell anyone because I'm such a good friend…'
Harry had often wondered whether Pansy was truly dense, blind to the fact that Draco had never shown any interest in her, or if she simply chose to ignore it. But now, he felt a tiny pang of pity for her. Draco had probably tried to let her down gently a million times, and yet she had persisted, following him around, being all clingy and looking at him with those pathetic puppy eyes. It was no wonder Harry had always found her behaviour around Draco annoying.
'Yeah, you really are a good friend,' Harry replied, his voice carefully laced with sincerity—a skill he had picked up from the Plastics. Their manipulative ways had rubbed off on him more than he liked to admit. 'Draco was too mean. You didn't deserve that, Pansy,' he added, knowing exactly how to hit the right notes to make her feel understood and validated.
Pansy's expression softened, the anger in her eyes giving way to something more vulnerable. 'I know. But thanks, anyway. You're a good listener, Harry.'
Harry almost froze at the sound of his first name. It was the first time she'd called him anything other than Potter, and it struck him as a significant shift. Pansy was starting to see him as more than just an acquaintance—she was starting to consider him a real friend.
Harry smiled back and, feeling a bit awkward, hugged her. If he could keep Pansy on his side, she might spill even more of Draco's secrets. And while Draco being gay was certainly a reason Cho might break up with him, it was hardly something Harry could prove. He couldn't just tell Cho—she wouldn't believe him, and even if she did, Draco would deny it, and that would be the end of it.
But… maybe he could prove it.
'Are you sure he… er, likes me?' Harry asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Pansy immediately pulled away, looking at him with exasperation. Harry felt exposed, like he'd asked something inappropriate, but it seemed like a fair question given the circumstances.
'Ugh, not you too. If you're gay as well, just tell me now,' Pansy said, unimpressed.
Harry blushed, embarrassed 'Of course not! I like girls. I've always liked them. I'm just… curious. I didn't notice anything strange.'
That wasn't entirely true. Harry had definitely noticed a number of things that would seem strange to most people about his interactions with Draco. He might not be an expert on relationships, but he was perceptive enough to recognise that some of their exchanges went beyond typical friendship boundaries. He had sensed a subtle, unspoken tension between them but chose to ignore it. Acknowledging it would make it real, and facing reality was daunting. He feared misinterpreting the signs and ending up ridiculed by Draco.
He couldn't forget the incident with that student from fourth year, the one who had asked Draco out and had been cruelly mocked, eventually leading to his transfer to Beauxbatons. When Harry had learned about that boy through the Burn Book, it had seemed like a harsh example of the Plastics' disdain. But now, knowing Draco was gay himself, Harry struggled to reconcile this with Draco's past behaviour. If Draco was indeed in the same situation, why would he have ridiculed someone else for it so mercilessly? The whole scenario seemed inconsistent and confusing.
Now that the truth about Draco's sexuality was out, Harry looked back on every interaction they'd had with a new perspective. What he had previously dismissed as mere awkwardness or arrogance now seemed charged with a different meaning. This new insight stirred up feelings Harry wasn't prepared for, especially given that his goal was to undermine Draco.
Pansy studied him for a moment before leaning in close, whispering in his ear. 'I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.' Her words sent a shiver down Harry's spine, his breath catching as his heart pounded.
She pulled back, eyeing him critically before letting out a frustrated groan. 'It's so un-Draco, I don't even get why. You're not that handsome, and your personality is average at best. No offence.'
Harry huffed. 'Are you sure you're not the one who has a crush on Draco?'
'Fuck off,' she replied, though there was no venom in her voice. If anything, it sounded almost affectionate.
Harry was certain in that moment that following Pansy to the girls' lavatory had been a brilliant idea.
Everything was going according to plan.
Ron and Hermione were stunned into silence when Harry told them about Draco's homosexuality and supposed feelings for him. It took a moment for the news to really sink in, and when it did, Ron's face broke into a wide grin before he burst into uncontrollable laughter.
'Malfoy? Fancying you? That's priceless!' Ron managed to say between fits of laughter, leaning back in his chair as if he couldn't contain himself. 'I mean, who'd have thought he's gay?'
Harry forced a chuckle, but his heart wasn't in it. The whole situation was messing with his head more than he was willing to admit. But before he could say anything, Hermione intervened, her expression serious.
'Ron, stop it. This isn't something to laugh about. We shouldn't make fun of him for being gay.' She shot Ron a disapproving look before turning her attention back to Harry. 'But if this is true… we might be able to use it to our advantage.'
Ron finally calmed down, though the corners of his mouth still twitched with amusement. 'Yeah, I guess you're right, Hermione. But still… Malfoy, of all people. I mean, why would he date Cho if he's gay?'
'Probably for the status,' Hermione said, shrugging as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. 'He's always been obsessed with being on top. And dating Cho, who's smart, popular, and pretty, gives him that. It's like he's trying to prove something.'
Harry frowned, shifting uncomfortably. 'I don't know if it's just that. It always felt like he was dating her just to mess with me. He knew how I felt about her, and it's like he wanted to rub it in my face.'
Hermione nodded thoughtfully, her brows furrowed in concentration. 'It's probably a mix of both, to be honest. If he really does have feelings for you, maybe he was trying to make you jealous. People do strange things when they're confused about their feelings.'
Harry's heart pounded in his chest, his nerves on edge. The idea that Draco might have been trying to make him jealous made his head spin. 'But it just doesn't add up,' he protested, his voice tinged with frustration. 'How could he possibly have feelings for me when he's been so horrible? He flaunted his relationship with Cho in my face. He was being cruel. Besides, the only proof we have of his feelings is Pansy's opinion'
Ron shrugged again, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes now. 'It's Malfoy, mate. He's always been a bit twisted. But come on, think about it. All those little comments he's made—”You're really pretty”, “I love your eyes”. And that time he got you out of detention. Now that we know he's gay, it all makes sense. He's got a crush on you.'
Hermione leaned forward, her expression intent. 'Whether it's a crush or just attraction, it doesn't matter. He's always watching you, Harry. I've noticed it too—it's almost obsessive. And that's exactly why we can use this. If we can get him to act on it…'
Harry swallowed hard, his palms suddenly sweaty. 'Act on it? You mean…?'
'Make him kiss you,' Hermione said firmly, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. 'If Ron and I can get a photo of it, we can show it to Cho. She'll break up with him immediately.'
Harry's heart raced as he considered what Hermione was suggesting. It made sense. It was logical. But the thought of actually going through with it made his nerves spike. The problem wasn't just the idea of tricking Draco—it was the fact that deep down, Harry realised he actually wanted to kiss him.
He tried to focus on the plan, on the logical reasons for going through with it. But his mind kept drifting back to the way Draco looked at him, the way he'd touched him, and the way those moments made him feel. He couldn't deny it any longer—he was curious , more curious than he wanted to admit.
Hermione, sensing his hesitation, placed a hand on his arm. 'Harry, you have to do this. This is what we've been waiting for. It's the best opportunity to make him pay for everything he's done. To you, to me, to Ron, to Cho… To everyone in this school..'
Harry looked between Ron and Hermione, his friends, both of whom were counting on him to go through with this plan. It was the logical thing to do. It was the best way to get what they wanted. And yet, as he thought about Draco and the way he felt every time they were alone together, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that this plan might be more dangerous than any of them realised.
But still, he nodded, forcing himself to push his doubts aside. 'Okay,' he said quietly. 'Let's do it.'
Ron grinned, clapping him on the back. 'That's the spirit, mate. We'll get him. And once Cho sees that photo, it'll be game over for Malfoy.'
Hermione squeezed his arm reassuringly, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. She knew this wasn't going to be easy for him. 'We'll be right there with you, Harry. You're not in this alone.'
Harry managed a small smile, but as he thought about what lay ahead, all he could feel was a growing sense of unease. He didn't know what was more terrifying—the thought of going through with the plan, or the very real possibility that deep down, he actually wanted to.