Where we left off:
It was no problem, really. I'm just helping out my new friend," Hermione stated, indifferent to the look he was giving her. His mind locked in on the last word she spoke.
Friend. Something he never thought he would truly have.
Where we are now:
It was 4 o'clock that afternoon before the two teenagers arrived back at the house. Hermione carried in the bags of clothes and places all the miniature versions near the other bag. She motioned to Draco who resized them with his wand. They carried in the remaining boxes and bags that they had bought.
Once they settled everything into their respective places, Hermione plopped down on the couch. She glanced around the room, noticing home much more homey it now looked and smiled. Draco walked into the room.
"What's got you so smiley for?" Hermione gestured around the room and he looked around, a small bit of surprise showing on his face.
"It does look much better now, now that there's stuff here," He commented. Hermione nodded her head in agreement. She stood up, stretched, and looked towards Draco tiredly.
"We need to go grab the books that you bought earlier and bring them over. Well, no I'm going to eat first, and then come back over to help you learn things," Draco raised an eyebrow at this and shrugged. He followed her as they both went back to her house. Her parents were sitting in the living room when they entered the house.
"Minnie, you got a large package from Flourish and Botts, and you got a letter from Ginny too. Your letter's on the table and I put your package on your bed," Hermione picked up the letter and unrolled it. She popped her head into the living room.
"Is it fine if Gin stays for three weeks? I mentioned to her a few weeks ago that I would ask. I knew she stayed a few days last summer, and that was pretty fun having her around," Her parent's nodded and Hermione grinned. She glanced at the letter and then Draco with a contemplative look on her face.
"Well, just so you know, I'm going to tell Ginny that you're my neighbor, and one of my friends now. She won't judge, not really. You might even become really good friends with her for all I know," Draco raised an eyebrow but shrugged.
"Fine by me. As long as I'm not hexed by her, then sure. I've heard all about it already," Hermione giggled and dragged him upstairs. They both grabbed the books and brought them over to Draco's house. Hermione helped him organize the books until it was time for dinner. When Draco noticed the time, he looked at her helplessly.
"I can show you a simple dish you can do and I'm fairly certain you'll like it. Do you like cheesy pasta?" Draco nodded his head. He followed her into his kitchen. She pulled out a block of cheese, a package of noodles, butter, a wooden spoon, and a pot. She filled the pot of water up and placed it on the stove.
"Okay. See these little dots by each knob? It tells you which burner that it will turn on. For instance, with the dot being on the bottom right, is the bottom right burner. If it's in the middle on the bottom, it's the bottom middle burner, and so on. Got that?" Draco peered over to where she was pointing to and squinted. He nodded his head.
"What I'm doing is boiling the water to cook the noodles. You can't put the noodles into the water until it's boiling or it won't cook properly. Once it's you think it's done, take a noodle out with the spoon and taste it. If it is done, you take your strainer and pour the noodles into it. If it's not done, keep it cooking for a few more minutes, taste it again, and then strain it. Simple?" Draco nodded his head. Hermione hopped onto the counter across from him and stove and got comfy. She leaned against the upper cabinets and watched. She watched as he peered down at which burner it was, and then looked at the different burners on the top of the stove and turned it to a medium temperature.
"Was that the right one?" He questioned uncertainly. She nodded her head as she glanced over at the stove. After a few minutes, she slid off the counter, opened a cupboard and pulled out a tin, two cups, and a small pot. As the water began to boil, she began to make a pot of tea for the two of them. Hermione glanced over and watched as Draco poured the noodles into the boiling water and stirred with a wooden spatula. As the tea finished, Hermione watched as Draco pulled a noodle out of the pot and set it on the counter to cool. He tasted the noodle and scrunched his face up.
"I think that it's done. I'm going to strain it. If worse comes to worse, I'll still eat it. It's essentially trial and error with this. It reminds me of making potions with Uncle Severus. He taught me how to make them when I was younger."
"Uncle Severus? As in Professor Snape?" Hermione gawked at him as he nodded.
"He's my god father actually. Before Hogwarts, my summer's would be spent over at his house in Spinner's End. I loved it there. I didn't have my father constantly forcing prejudice things into my head." Hermione watched as he poured the cheese powder and the butter into the strainer noodles.
"I-Is he like he is….during classes?" Draco glanced at her briefly before chuckling.
"Merlin, no! He's only really strict in the classroom because he has to keep his scores high. Ever Since Uncle Sev began teaching at Hogwarts, the school has had the highest grades in the past hundred years because of him. He became the youngest Potions Master in existence. " Hermione gaped at him.
"Then why is he always so mean to us Gryffindors?" Draco had a smug smile on his face.
"As he always says, you all are a bunch of dunderheads- no! Don't smack me, let me finish. Do you notice how he never yells at Patil, or even you in this case?" Draco held his hand up to stop her from speaking, and continued to stir the macaroni and cheese.
"Weasley is not good at Potions. His elder brother's are, but he just lacks the ability or patience to do so. Even his sister is better at potions then he is. Have you noticed when you are paired with him, that you are yelled at, but when working by yourself, or with Patil you are never yelled at? How about Longbottom for instance. If he weren't so clumsy, he would be really adept at potions, considering he has one of the best grades in Herbology," Draco grabbed two bowls and spooned a serving into each. He handed one to Hermione. He watched, and waited for her to try it.
"Did I do it right?" Hermione nodded her head, and a thoughtful look appeared on her face.
"So what exactly is Professor Snape like outside of class?" Hermione raised an eyebrow as she waited for a response.
Draco had a thoughtful look on his face. "I think he's more laidback than people give him credit for. Whenever I was younger, he took me to plays and to the zoo fairly often. Like I mentioned earlier, he took care of me during the summer every year before I began going to Hogwarts. Now, I just go a week during the summer since I can visit Uncle Sev nearly any time that I want to during school." Hermione hmmed in response as she spooned a piece of macaroni in her mouth.
"Have you told him about what happened? With Lucius, I mean," His eyes widened and he shook his head frantically. He set his bowl down and he began pacing the kitchen. His hand rested on his chin as he walked back and forth.
"Let me send him an owl, one that's charmed that only he can read. I'll have him come over to tea. He can also help explain some things to me." Draco pulled out a parchment that he had and a quill. He began writing.
Dear Uncle,
As of a few days ago, I have been disowned by my father. What ever he may spew out and tell you may be a lie, considering most of what he says anyways is a lie.
Anyway, on another note if you are trying to get a hold of me, try sending the owl towards 2938 Wilton Ave, I think it is. I live in a house next to a white house with many sunflowers, I believed they are called. Mother and I purchased it once father disowned me. He does not know the location of it. I hope you will be able to visit in the next few days as I have questions and would like help building some wards up around.
Regards,
Draco Black. (Yes, I took my mother's name. I would rather be known as a Black, rather than a Malfoy.)
Draco looked at the letter and nodded his head. He went into his bedroom where his owl, Bubbles, was and attached the letter to his leg. He rubbed it's feathers fondly.
"Take this to Uncle Sev, Bub. Please be quick about it. I'll give you plenty of treats later if you do," The owl hooted, and flew away. Draco returned downstairs where Hermione was.
"I think Bubbles will be back in a bit. I know Spinner's End isn't that far from here, I just don't know how to get here. I would rather have Severus show me how to get there, just to be safe," Hermione nodded her head in understanding before she snickered.
"Bubbles?" A pale blush crept up Draco's face.
"I got him when I was four. It stuck." Was all he offered up. Hermione covered her mouth and held in a laugh. Draco glared at her.
"Better than that cat of yours," Hermione gaped at him.
"Why is every bloody person against Crooks? What has he ever done to you?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Not me. He likes attacking a lot of the Slytherins. I had to hear them complain. Do you know how annoying that is for me?" Hermione chuckled.
"He's actually quite intelligent. He usually judges a person if they're down right ass-holes and he'll attack them if he doesn't like them. If he hasn't attacked you, then he actually likes you. Which is surprising in my opinion," Draco shrugged. He picked his bowl back up and continued to eat his dinner.
"What other nit bits can you show me how to work arou-" The knock on the door interrupted him. Hermione glanced at Draco, and then the door apprehensively. Hermione and Draco walked to the door quietly. She stood to the side where she couldn't be seen and Draco opened the door slowly, his wand in his back pocket. Draco's eyes widened quickly, and he opened the door widely.
"Uncle? Why are you here for? I just sent Bubbles less than ten minutes ago," His brows furrowed in confusion. Severus Snape stood there decked out in a blue button up shirt and black jeans. He looked to where Draco was and raised an eyebrow.
"Ms. Granger? What are you doing here?"
And thats the end of this chapter. Tell me what you think. Im going out of town and thought I would post this before I left. Ill get another up next week. Maybe. Let me know your thoughts. Review please!
