Disclaimer: You know the deal. I have no ownership of any of these characters or places. I merely borrowed them from the magnificent J.K Rowling for my amusement. If and when I come up with original characters or places I'll make sure to let you all know. Mean while I hope you enjoy and well please review 3
The Confrontation
It had been about three weeks, since the term had started and Draco had not had an opportunity to talk to Hermione since. He was desperate to hear her voice, to approach her, but he knew he could not do it yet. Instead, he paid attention to her every word during lessons, whenever her fragile looking hand raised in the air to answer a question the professors had asked. He loved seeing her eyes light up with the knowledge that brain of hers wanted to spill in front of everyone else. He smiled inwardly to himself. He loved the excitement that filled her when she knew an answer, lest be honest it happened at least 11 times in each lesson.
He suddenly felt as if he was being stared at, looking around the classroom he saw Ronald Weasley staring daggers into him. He knew why. It was clear that Weasley wasn't too keen on Draco's attention towards Hermione. He tried ignoring the ginger and started turning around when he saw something he wouldn't have expected to see. Harry was smiling at him, Draco, and then elbowing his best friend to cause the ginger to instead look at Harry. Draco didn't know how to react so he just nodded to Harry and turned his attention once more to the class. Or rather, returned his attention to staring at Hermione.
"Hey Dray, if you keep on staring at her like that you're going to burn holes into her head."
"I can't help it Blaise. I long to speak to her. To hold her in my arms as I did that day in the train. It just felt so perfect."
His friend sighed next to him. "I know what you mean. I've been debating on approaching the witch that has caught my attentions throughout the last year."
Suddenly curious Draco turned to his friend. "Do pray tell, who's this witch that has gotten the Slytherin master of confidence all bothered and insecure?"
His friend stood quite for a moment. Draco knew Blaise was having an internal battle with himself about revealing his secret.
"I want in in the secret too." Spoke Theo from behind the pair. "Let's just wait until class is over. We do have our free hour before lunch next. Besides there's many birds in the trees."
Draco and Blaise both laughed. "Birds in the trees? What the hell are you going about Theo?"
"It's a muggle saying I heard somewhere in Latin America on one of my father's many 'business' trips. The original saying something about cables, whatever that is, so I changed it to trees. It means there's people listening."
"You should have just said that in the first place," chuckled Blaise.
"Forgive me your majesty for trying to be more discrete. You're lucky my partner didn't come to class today." Theo answered his friend with a roll of his eyes.
"Please enlighten the class about your conversation, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini, and Mr. Nott, I wouldn't want to interrupt something so important."
The three of them turned to stare at, a really annoyed, professor McGonagall, who was looking at them with the ferocity of a leopard in the hunt.
"I'm sorry professor. We were….humm."
"Sorry professor it was my fault"
Did Harry Potter just save Draco from total embarrassment?
"I… I voiced a Quidditch challenge to Draco and his friends, while Hermione was answering your question. I've been dying to get on a broom and well what better way than to practice a bit before the season starts? I'm sorry, I won't distract my classmates anymore."
"Well Mr. Potter, I sure hope you understand that every action has consequences; therefore, I will take 5 points from each house."
With that professor McGonagall returned to her demonstration. Draco looked baffled at Harry, seeing how the ginger next to Harry had now elbowed his friend, and seeing how Harry was muttering the words: "you owe me."
Right after class the three Slytherins got out of the classroom as soon as possible, Draco only lingering a little behind so that he could thank Harry for what he had done.
"Hey, Potter, I… thank you for covering up for the three of us back there."
"Look Malfoy, I only did it because Hermione trusts you, and I trust in her that she knows what she's doing. If you got yourself thrown in detention at merely three weeks into the term, what good would that do to you when you go talk to Dumbledore?"
"You know Potter, you really did save my life, and I'm not referring to the detention. Thank you. By the way, if there's some truth to the implied offer earlier, I think Blaise and The wouldn't mind a Quidditch show off either. You would just have to convince your redheaded friend to play. He seems a little… upset."
Harry turned back to where he knew Ron was watching from the door. "He's just worried about you playing us. Specially Hermione, you know, he truly cares for her. At some point I had thought he had a physical attraction for her, but I've come to the conclusion that he acts as over protective of her as he does Ginny. He'll come around once you show us you're truly on our side."
Draco just nodded to Harry, who in turn just said good bye and turned back to go to Ron. Draco had known it would be the redhead the most hard to convince. Salazar help him, he was going to try and gain the Weasel's trust. He knew how much her friends meant to Hermione and he would do anything in his hands to protect her and make her happy.
Returning his attention to the present, Draco caught up to his friends that were waiting for him at the main staircase. He was dying of curiosity as to know the names of the witches that had captured their hearts. They were desperately trying to hold on to any form of simple everyday activities, while planning the best strategies to approach other Slytherins about turning to the light.
The three of them made their way to the edge of the forest, by the lake, going to the same comfortable spot they had chosen since their first year. It was a bit isolated due to its proximity to the forest, and it gave them the perfect sense of privacy they needed for their planning and secret conversations. He smiled at the feel of the sun in his face once they had exited the castle. The sun's warmth made everything seem better, as if everything was going to be okay, and for a minute Draco believed it.
Skipping stones into the lake's calmed waters, Theo stood over his friends, who were laying in the grass, taking in the sun's warmth. It seemed like ages since they had gone outside.
"So which one of you two is going to confess first? I need to know who my prospect sisters in law are, see if I approve of them or not," chuckled Draco.
"To hell if you approve or not, the important question here is, do THEY approve of us," said Theo pointing at Blaise and himself.
"Well if you two don't say anything, we will never find out would we?"
"What if our Slytherin status prevent them from wanting any closeness with us Dray?"
"Oh so they're not Slytherins?"
"Well at least the one that bewitched me is not."
"Well then my friend they're not worthy of you." Draco reassured Blaise. "Unless, you have hurt them in anyway, like I did Hermione for almost three years." His smile faltered, but his friends didn't allow him to pity himself.
"Well the witch I like isn't a Slytherin either Drake, and if you and the Gryffindor princess are any indication I think Blaise and I will be okay. I mean, Hermione did forgive you didn't she?"
"That's true Theo, but it still doesn't stop me from hating myself for having hurt her just for some stupid believes Lucius had ingrained on me."
"Dray just forget about that. Your father is locked away, and hopefully he'll stay there for a really long time, where he would not be able to hurt her or anyone else."
"I sure hope so Blaise. Don't forget that Sirius Black was able to escape. What if our fathers do the same?"
"I doubt our fathers are half as intelligent as Black is," said Theo "You know as well as I do that Black was never one of The Dark Lord's followers, whatever happened there is still a mystery to me, but our parents have always made sure that with know who the real Death Eaters were."
"Yeah Theo that's always been something that I've asked myself. If he wasn't a Death Eater, then why did he betray the Potters and killed one of his best friends?"
Blaise knew what his friends were talking about, but since he hadn't been raised in the UK he wasn't sure his input was of any help. He had heard of Black and his scape the previous year, but he hadn't known specific details so he just observed his best friends talk about the subject. He wondered if Black, not being a Death Eater, would be willing to help them out, he was related to Draco after all.
"Why are you so quite?" Blaise hadn't noticed his friends were talking to him.
"I was just wondering. If Black is not a Death Eater, and your father's had assured you that he was never a follower of The Dark Lord, he might be good no?" His friends seem to contemplate that a bit. "We might not even know if he in fact had betrayed his friends. What if he was just set up? I mean we now know we can expect anything from Death Eaters."
"You know; I had never asked myself that. My mother has never been keen on speaking about her cousin, just as much as she refuses to speak about her sister. Maybe, you're right, but how can we know? I have no idea of where he even is. How can I find him?"
Theo who had gotten tired of the Death Eater talk changed the subject right away. "We'll talk about that later. We didn't come here for this in the first place. Please let's stop worrying so much for one day."
"Fine, I still want to know who these witches that stole my best friends' hearts are anyway."
"Well…" Blaise started. "She's a Ravenclaw, her personality is quite…. Unique, I dare say. She's an angel roaming this shattering earth."
Draco stared at his friend as if it was the first time he had seen him. "Who are you and what have you done to Blaise Zabini?" he asked jokingly.
Now Theo interfered. "Oh I know who you're talking about. Is the Lovegood girl, isn't it?"
"How did you know?"
"Well by saying her personality is unique you gave it away. I find her intriguing for sure, but… don't look at me like that! She's definitely not my type. Besides my heart belongs to a fiery creature, with those hazel eyes that shine with the rays of the sun, but I know for sure her family would kill me first if I get near her."
"Oh for God's sake Theo. Don't tell me you have fallen for the She-Weasel." Both his friends said in unison, to what his response was only a half chuckle looking at the ground.
"I couldn't help it. She's just so damn pretty. Have you guys seen her in a broom? Her skill is even better than yours Drake."
Draco couldn't help but smile. No one ever had dared to insult his flying abilities, not even compared him to Harry, let's face it Harry was a natural, and now to compare him to the She-Weasel? His friend sure was head over hills for the girl.
"Well apparently Slytherins are drawn to Gryffindors no matter what we do." He paused a moment and then spoke to both her friends. "So are you two ever going to declare your love to these young ladies?"
His friends hesitated a little, and it was Blaise who broke the silence this time.
"I think I am. I want to be able to redeem myself, and I want to see if she could find it in her heart to care for someone as dark as myself."
"Humm… I think I will wait. One of her brothers already hates me, and well I really don't want to become between brother and sister. Maybe when the Weasel gets more used to the idea of us being on their side will I find the courage to tell her my feelings for her."
"Theo, are you seriously doubting yourself because Weasley doesn't like you? Have you not seen that the girl has more wit than Weasley and Potter together? Why don't you approach her? If she decides to give you an opportunity I'm pretty sure she'll keep her brother at bay."
"You think Draco? I really don't want to be rejected. I don't think I can handle it."
"Nott, Dray is right, just give it a try. We never really had altercates with her, only her brothers and Potter, and well Granger, I'm sure she wouldn't be so harsh."
Theo pondered on the idea for a couple of minutes. His best mates were right, their problems always involved Potter and the Weasley boys, especially when it came to Quidditch, and well the altercates with Granger had been influenced by their blood purity believes. Now they knew those believes were wrong, and were trying to clean their names, and he intended for his to shine bright for his witch to believe in him. He turned to his friends, a new ray of hope in his eyes. He decided right there and then that he would pursue the little Weasley. Perhaps, if she got to know him better there could be something for him to fight for after all.
The three Slytherins were making their way back to the castle when they almost bumped into a group of Slytherins they were not looking forward to see. Smirking down on them were the two brutes of Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Pansy Parkinson, Marcus Flint, and Millicent Bullstrode. The trio tried going around the group, but the group surrounded them.
"Are you three trying to avoid us?" asked Flint.
"No, we were just on our way to dinner, you know, before the food runs out."
"Well Nott, chatting with us would not keep you long."
Flint's smirk was turning dangerous, Draco recognized it from the many
Quidditch practices. Feeling the compulsion to defend his friends, he got in between Flint and Theo, facing the bigger boy without any fear.
"Well Flint, as it turns out we care more about the food, than a chat with you. We are not in the mood to chat with anyone as is."
"But Draco, I've waited three weeks for you to summon me. I'm sure you've missed my company and love." Laughed Parkinson.
"As it turns out Pansy, Zabini, Nott, and myself haven't had it easy the last month or so. We are not pleasing company to anyone."
"We heard of your current situation. Isn't it sad how mummy doesn't want her prat to be near her? Maybe it's not you, but your looks. You know, you are so similar to your father that she thought that if she didn't get rid of you she would have, I don't know…."
Flint didn't finish his sentence as everyone heard the incantation "langlock" as he was hit with the jinx thrown by Harry who was making his way up to the group. The other Slytherins seemed to lose some of their courage when they saw Harry wasn't alone, but accompanied by Hermione, Ron, Ginny and the twins.
"If I was you, I would get moving Flint. You don't want to have to go back to McGonagall's office in the same day would you?" said George.
Pansy and the others started backing down, neither wanting to being having detention with McGonagall. Flint in the other hand walked straight up to Harry with the intentions of starting a fight; however, when he was about to punch Harry he fell face first into a mud puddle. No one had noticed Theo had magically tied Flint's shoelaces together. When he stood up, still unable to say a word, Harry and his friends had already gotten closer to Draco, Theo, and Blaise. Flint just stared at them and left. Hermione finishing the jinx as he walked away "Finite incantatem."
Now that the other Slytherins were gone Draco and his friends faced the group of Gryffindors to thank them.
"Thank you for doing that Potter, Weasley." Draco nodded to George.
"No problem Malfoy, I heard what he was saying. He was practically screaming it." Harry looked as if to say something else, but shut his mouth again.
"What is it Potter, is there something you wanted to say?" asked Blaise.
"Well yes, but I think we better do it somewhere where we won't be heard."
"We could do it in an empty classroom, Hermione after all knows lock and silencing charms." Suggested Ginny.
"Can we know what is this all about?" interrupted Theo. "I mean thank you for your help with our pesky housemates, but what do you guys want to talk about?"
"Harry and Hermione are convinced you guys want to be on our side," it was almost a whisper, but everyone heard Ron, "we just want proof of how true this is."
Draco turned to his friends and nodded, while the other two just returned a smile to their leader. "Alright, we can meet, but after dinner. As I'm sure you all heard, Blaise, Theo and myself were on our way to the Great hall when that lot got in our way."
"It's 8:00 o'clock good with everyone?" Draco immediately turned to the origin of that voice he had longed to hear for so long. Hermione had been quite after ending the jinx on Flint, and now that she spoke again he wanted to capture every single word she said. Even if she wasn't precisely talking to him.
Hermione turned to Draco, and immediately blushed at seeing how attentive he was to her words. "I just thought since it's 6:30 we can have an hour and a half to eat and leave our bags in our common rooms or something before meeting tonight."
"I think Gr… Hermione is right." Draco spoke without even realizing it at first. "It gives us enough time freshen out after dinner."
"Alright then it's settled. We'll meet in the seventh floor." This time it had been Fred who spoke.
"Why in the seventh floor if I may ask?" Blaise was curious as to why the specific floor if there were lots of empty classrooms in the lower levels.
"Simply because is less likely we'll encounter many Slytherins in the upper level. Besides it is always empty after classes are done," finished George.
"Alright then. See you all in the seventh floor at eight then"
With that everyone turned to go into the school, the Slytherins falling a few steps behind to let the Gryffindors go in ahead. Except for Hermione who lingered a few seconds to offer the Emerald Trio a slight smile. Draco returned the smile and felt as if his heart wanted to rip out of his chest.