PfmH
The girls looked at each other. Nothing could be completely wrong, because Ron's scream hadn't really been a scream. It was more of a yelp; like if you stepped on a dog's tail.
"Bloody hell," Ginny said irritably, "if it's not Harry and Ron moaning, it's the three of them having…2:00 in the morning pillow fights or whatever they're doing up there…"
Hermione grinned as a visual of Draco, Harry, and Ron having a really girly pillow fight, complete with squeals, crossed her mind.
"Bit rich of you to talk about Harry and Ron when you can't exactly keep quiet when Tonks is here," Hermione laughed.
"Oh do shut up," Ginny blushed. She then added, "Now that you mention it, I wonder if Tonks is feeling lonely up there by herself?"
"Ginny, you're going to get caught if you keep going up there every night Tonks stays over."
Hermione thought to herself that it was a bit of a giveaway that Ginny had such horrible "nightmares" whenever Tonks came round to stay. The purple haired witch was currently one flight above them, staying in Fred and George's old room…
"Nah, I'm sneaky…" Ginny smiled as she slipped out of the door.
A few minutes after that, Hermione heard the click of the door and footsteps.
Great,she thought, Ginny got caught…
The next minute however, it was a blonde, not a redhead, walking through her door.
"Potter and Weasley kicked me out, they said I snore. Malfoys do NOT snore…" Draco pouted, sliding into bed next to Hermione, "Can I stay with you?" he asked in his best three year old voice.
"I suppose," Hermione grinned, "Your snoring does become rather soothing after a while."
"I do NOT snore!" Draco protested
"Good night, Draco…" Hermione giggled.
PfmH
One of the drawbacks to the switched sleeping arrangements was that they all had to get up early and switch back, so as not to be caught by Mrs. Weasley. As she woke up that morning, Hermione smiled triumphantly to see that Ginny was back in their room and Draco, judging by his absence, was back in Ron's room. Her feelings of smugness were shattered, however, with every step she took down to the kitchen for breakfast.
Normally, the fumes of a dozen delicious breakfast foods, courtesy of Mrs. Weasley, greeted them as they descended from their rooms in the morning. This morning, they could smell nothing, and when they arrived at the kitchen they found Mrs. Weasley looking stern, and Mr. Weasley looking deeply embarrassed.
"Well," she said when they had all entered, "what have you got to say for yourselves?"
They all eyed each other suspiciously. Was she talking about last night? She had to be; but just in case she wasn't, none of them were owning up…
"We know you've been…er…changing rooming arrangements," Mr. Weasley said.
"That's right!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "And what's more, we know you've been…well…consummating your respective relationships…"
"Consummating?" Ron whispered, "Who talks like that?"
"I heard that, young man!" Mrs. Weasley yelled furiously, "You and Harry have been the worst! Do you think we can't hear you? And if you think, for one moment that—"
"Um…Mrs. Weasley?" Draco asked softly.
Up until now, Draco had tried to make his presence at the Burrow helpful, but reserved. He had certainly not taken part in most group discussions, unless spoken to specifically; so when he spoke up everyone turned.
"Ma'am, you're absolutely right," he said softly, "It was wrong of us to sneak about your house when we had been given instructions on where to sleep. If I may speak for the group, we are sorry," he continued, "But please understand, it was not our intention to upset or worry you and Mr. Weasley. We were simply seeking the comfort of one another's presence. You understand, someone to hold close and reassure, and find reassurance in. In these dark times, is it really unreasonable that we seek solace in the arms of those we care for?"
Everyone stared at Draco. Apart from inheriting his father's vanity for hair and skin care, Draco was given to longwinded, romantic monologues. The most troubling part of this was that, most of the time, even though he made them up on the fly, he was very convincing in them.
This was one of those times. Mrs. Weasley had tears welling in her eyes. Tonks, who had whispered, "Oh, he's good," was now looking at Draco with a mixture of jealousy and admiration, as Ginny was looking at him like he was an exceptionally cuddly Pigmy Puff. Harry leaned over to Ron and whispered, "Now you know who talks like that…" Hermione just smiled at him, because he was telling the truth; for them at least. Harry and Ron were another story; as were Ginny and Tonks.
Draco, for his part, smiled sincerely back at Mrs. Weasley, who had now dried her eyes on a dish cloth and was running about the kitchen getting the breakfast things. It looked as though this was something to occupy her, and that the moment she stopped she would burst into tears.
"I think maybe you should all go get dressed," Mr. Weasley told them, "I'll help with breakfast. Come down when you're ready; we have to discuss some things."
