Hi everyone sorry it has taken me so long to update my story. Work has been busy with the holidays right around the corner. I am finally able to now give you chapter 4. I hope you enjoy!!!

Chapter 4: Accepted

Hermione couldn't believe the name. She looked over to Harry to see if it was true. Harry only nodded and she knew it was in fact true. Her mind was telling her not to let him in. She usually listened to her mind but another part of her was telling her to hear him out. Now was not the time to turn someone away before listening to what they had to say. Even if it was Draco Malfoy.

"Okay let him in."

"WHAT?! You can't be serious Herms! After all the nasty things he's said and done to you. The git doesn't deserve to say anything to you," Ron said.

"I would appreciate it Ronald if you would stop calling me Herms. Ginny go let him in."

"Sure," Ginny said walking to the doors.

"I don't like this. You shouldn't let him in Hermione. He is probably just lying to us."

"Ron, Mione agreed to see him. If he does try anything we will be here to stop him," Harry said trying to get his friend to calm down.

"He also did help Harry with Goyle earlier," Neville added.

"What do you mean he helped Harry?" Hermione asked.

"That doesn't mean a thing. Helping him once doesn't take away years of torment."

"Ronald he is probably trying to find a way to make up for those years. Helping Harry was probably his way to start," Luna said.

"What do you mean he helped Harry?" Hermione asked again.

"No Luna don't you see? It was his way of thinking it was his chance of getting out guard down. I'm not going to fall for it."

"Ron Hermione said she will see him. You should respect her decision."

"What-" Hermione was interrupted.

"Sorry Harry this is the one decision of Hermione's that I won't respect."

"Stop ignoring me!" Hermione yelled getting everyone's attention. "Now someone answer me. What do you mean he helped Harry?"

"Goyle was going to hex Harry and I stopped him."

Everyone looked over to see Draco and Ginny standing close by. Ginny was just looking at Ron. She looked ready to curse him. Ron knew he was lucky Madame Pomfrey and his two professors were close by. Ginny on the other hand looked as though she didn't care about the professors being there. Her grip on her wand was so tight her knuckles were white. Lune and Neville walked over to her. Neville placed a hand on her shoulder as Luna took Ginny's wand from her hand.

"I take it you heard me Gin," Ron said afraid of his younger sister.

"I heard all of it dear brother and I don't need my wand to hurt you."

"Okay Ginny lets calm down a little," Neville said.

"I'm calm Neville don't you worry. I promise I won't hurt him much."

"That's not very convincing Ginny."

"Oh I'm sorry Neville but Ron doesn't seem to respect Hermione's decision to see and hear Draco out."

"Draco? What are you buddy-buddy with Malfoy now Gin?"

"I've told you not to call me Gin, Ron!"

"Okay I say we stop arguing and let Draco talk," Luna said interrupting the siblings.

"Luna is right. I agreed to talk to him and instead I am listening to you guys fight. Now if you both please stop I want to hear Malfoy."

"Thank you. I just wanted to apologize to all of you. I already said it to Ginny and the others. After I did Harry told me that you were the one I really had to apologize too and he was right. I'm sorry Hermione for the last five years of torment."

"It must have taken you a while to find the courage to say this to us. It's very brave of you."

"Yes. Harry said the same thing to me."

"There you heard what he said now I say leave Malfoy."

"Ron! It's not up to you to say if he leaves or not. It's up to Madame Pomfrey," Ginny said.

"It's okay Ginny. I said what I wanted to say. I think it's a good idea I leave and allow Hermione and the others to think about my apology."

As Ginny watched Draco leaving the Infirmary she was hoping Hermione would accept his apology. To her Draco sounded so sincere and that his apology was from the heart he was hiding from them all these years. Once Draco was out of the Infirmary Ginny turned towards Ron.

"How dare you Ron. You had no right to turn him away like that. He came here and said he was sorry and you treated him like trash."

"That's because he is. I don't believe for a second that he is actually sorry."

"Well I do. You didn't actually talk to him. I did and-"

"You what!? When did you talk to him Gin?"

"I talked to him while we walked the hall waiting to hear about Hermione."

"You were alone with Malfoy?"

"Yes I was and we talked. He is a caring person who was hiding it all these years because of his father."

"You can't blame his father. Malfoy was away from his dad here at school and he was mean and vindictive all on his own."

"Actually it does make sense," Hermione said interrupting the siblings again.

"What do you mean Mione?" Harry asked.

"Well Malfoy was always around his father growing up and in most pureblood families, like the Malfoy's, the father's raise the sons and the mother's raise the girls. With Malfoy being the only child he was probably isolated from his mother. So now with his father in Azkaban he can be who he wants to be without his father's influence. Malfoy feels the way to start over is by apologizing to us."

"I love the way you think Mione," Harry exclaimed.

"Thanks. Ginny can you please go get Malfoy for me?"

"Oh no Gin you are not going to get him. I forbid it."

"You forbid it? You can't forbid me to do anything Ronnikins!"

Ginny started to walk away before Ron could say anything else. Shortly after Ginny left Ron turned towards Hermione ready to argue with her over Malfoy. He couldn't believe that Hermione listened to him. Even give him a chance to explain himself even though he knew not to listen. Not to believe the lies he said.

"Why?" Ron asked Hermione.

"Why what?"

"Why did you even listen to him? Why do you want him back here?"

"Because Ron I believe everyone deserves a second chance."

"Malfoy doesn't deserve a second chance. The way he treated us over the years."

"Well if I remember correctly you treated me pretty badly first year and I forgave you. Why should this be any different?"

"She does have a point Ron. You were pretty mean to her," Neville said.

"Thanks Neville for backing me up. I thought you would help me at least prove my point. Harry, my best mate, you agree with me don't you?"

"Ronald it isn't fair to bring Harry in on this," Luna said.

"No it's okay Luna. Ron I have to agree with Hermione. We were both mean to Hermione first year and she didn't have to forgive us and she did. She is a kind person and it's who she is."

"I can't believe no one is listening to me!" Ron said.

As Ron turned to leave he saw Ginny walking in with Draco right behind her. Ron walked up to then with a scowl that would make Lord Voldemort proud. As Ginny saw Ron getting closer she put herself between her brother and Draco. When Ron closed the distance between him, Ginny and Draco he looked right at Draco.

"You may have everyone else fooled Malfoy but not me. You better watch your back Malfoy," Ron said and then walked out of the Infirmary.

"I'm sorry about Ron. He's being a prat for some reason," Hermione said as Draco and Ginny walked up to them.

"That's okay. I would be a prat to me too if I was him."

"No you don't. I say you don't because I am a forgiving person. Ron and Harry both didn't like me very much first year and after they saved me from the troll we all became friends. Even though I shouldn't have forgiven them I'm glad I did and I wouldn't change that for anything. I want you to know Draco that I am giving you a chance."

"Thank you so-"

"It doesn't mean we trust you yet Malfoy," Harry said interrupting him, "you still have to prove to all of us you are sorry."

"I understand and I will. I don't want to follow in my father's shoes anymore."