Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise, nor anything affiliated with it.
Hermione's POV
We had just walked out of the Leaky Cauldron when we bump into Malfoy and his mother. Of course, how could my day get any worse? Oh right, Ronald Weasley could open his big mouth. He just had to antagonize them. They weren't even doing anything. Wait, did I just defend Malfoy? I guess spending too much time inside by myself has addled my brain.
"Weasel, you may not have realized this but the world does not belong to anyone, least of all you. How about we avoid any conflict, and just continue on our merry ways?" Malfoy says in a slightly sarcastic tone. I'm surprised, he is trying to contain the argument as much as possible. Maybe he's matured a bit over the summer like… well I guess it's just Harry now.
"Yeah right Ferret, you probably found out we were going to be here today and decided to come here to attack us." I start trying to pull Ron away before this escalates and they both lose their cool. I notice Malfoy's mum starting to look very tense, almost scared.
"You should take the hint from the know-it-all behind you, look even Scar-Head over there has more brains than you!" I turn to look at Harry and see that he's looking about as nervous as Narcissa. I decide then to pinch Ron and see if that snaps him out of it.
"Ow 'Mione! Why did you pinch me!" Ron's face is very red and flustered but I don't care.
"I'm trying to save your's and the rest of our lives right now. We all know that Malfoy would easily beat you in a duel if it came to it. Let's leave them alone before any of us do anything we'll regret later." Oh my gosh, I already sound like a Head Girl and it's still a week before I'm supposed to fulfill that position.
"Ha, like I'd regret it." But I can tell Ron is seeing my point. "This isn't over Malfoy. If you lay even a finger on her this year, I swear to you that you won't live long enough to regret it." With that we walk off in the direction of Flourish and Blotts.
"I can't believe he had the cheek to show up here after everything he's done!" At that point Harry loses his cool, going from slightly nervous to completely furious.
"And I can't believe you actually did that back there! I know none of us like him, but you can't just threaten someone on the street like that! Especially since we're both about to become Aurors. We're supposed to be more responsible than this. Just because no one likes them, doesn't mean you won't get sent to Azkaban if you kill him." Wow, Harry has never reacted to Ron's immaturity like this before. I guess he's seen too much bloodshed the past few years. We all have, but Harry's had the worst of it.
"I agree with Harry, that was a very stupid move you bloody prat." Ginny looks as angry as Harry sounded. I feel proud of both of them.
"Since when did you all start acting like Hermione? Have you been meeting up during the summer planning different ways to yell at me?" says Ron is a flustered and accusing tone.
"No Ron, you're just such an arrogant prat sometimes! Just because Malfoy's a git, it doesn't mean you have to be as well!" It's only been one day and he's already annoying me. I don't know when it started, but at some point last year, he just starting really annoying all the time and being so arrogant. It's kind of sad actually because I always thought he was so nice and cute when we were younger.
"Alright, we'll continue this discussion later. I just need to pick up some parchment, ink, and quills from here. Ginny if you tell me how much you need of each I can get it at the same time and you can look for the rest of your stuff. Harry and Ron, feel free to go look at the quidditch store. We'll just be shopping around here for the next hour or so." It feels so natural to delegate the tasks. Kind of like when we were planning our night time adventures in Hogwarts. Oh how I've missed them.
"I need about 8 rolls of parchment, 5 bottles of ink, and 3 new quills. That should come to a total of about 10 galleons and 6 sickles. Here, you go."
"Thanks Ginny, how about we all meet up at the Leaky Cauldron again at about 12 to have lunch and then we can go visit Weasley's Wizard Wheezes." I say to the group. They nod and we all part ways.
I make my way to the writing section to grab all the supplies. I've just balanced everything and am making my way to the counter to pay for them, when I trip over someone's foot and everything flies everywhere. I feel a pair of strong arms catch me and help me up. I look up and see the concerned face of Draco Malfoy. I watch as his face transforms from an expression of concern, to one of confusion, then settling on one of disgust.
"Ew, I just touched a mudblood. Watch where you're going next time." Of course, why should I have expected any other reaction from a Pureblood like Malfoy? I feel kind of disappointed in him as I thought he'd changed a bit over the summer, but I guess he hasn't.
"Well if you have nothing else to say, I'll be on my way." Using my wand to help levitate the parchment, quills, and ink, I get to the counter and pay. When I'm done I deposit the bags into my purse and walk off to find my textbooks for this year.
Once I finish looking for my textbooks and browsing for more novels to read over the school year, I make my way over to the Leaky Cauldron to see a commotion ahead. I see Malfoy beating up Ron and I rush over. Harry and Ginny are watching in shock and Draco's mum is looking more and more pale, standing off to the side.
Draco's POV
I had just walked out of Flourish and Blotts when I met up with my mother again. I was too lost in thought about what had just happened to actually process what my mother was saying. I had helped Granger up after she fell over and when I first realized it was her I didn't feel repulsed like I usually did. I actually felt bad for her. I felt a need to comfort her, but I knew I had to keep up appearances so I put on a facade.
"-and so I ran into Mrs. Zabini when. Draco are you even listening to me?"
"Oh, sorry mum. You were saying something about Mrs. Zabini?" I'm surprised she's here. I guess Blaise is going back to school as well.
"Well, she was saying that her son, Blaise is sad that you won't be in the same dorm as you this year, but he was thinking maybe you guys could set up a study schedule to meet in the library every now then." We had just turned the corner to bump into Ron, all by himself and looking very angry.
"Watch where you're… Oh Malfoy! You're just the person I wanted to see." I push my mum behind me to protect her as the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice is starting to worry me.
"Oh, are you trying hide you little mummy. Are you afraid I'm going to hurt her, or mess up her already ugly face? At least I don't have the filth of Voldemort all over my family name." At that point I lose it and punch him squarely in the jaw.
"No. One. Talks. About. My. Mother. Like. That." Each word is punctuated by a punch to his jaw, or a kick to his shins. He takes a step back and lunges for me.
"I've been waiting to do this for a very long time." He says to me. All of a sudden I feel winded, like someone slammed a brick wall onto my chest. I find myself sprawled out on the ground on my side, and I feel him kick my gut a couple of times. When I hit the ground, I must have hit my head because I feel a lump starting to form on my forehead. I look up and see Weasley about to punch my face. I close my eyes and wait for the impact that never comes. I hear a thump and see Ron sprawled on the ground with Granger holding him down.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley! What were you thinking! I thought we talked some sense into you earlier!" Hermione thunders. She looks terrifying and I'm very glad that I'm not on the receiving end of her wrath right now. I feel very scared and I quickly get up and hobble over to my mother who looks like she's seen a ghost. I take a glance around and see Potter motioning for me to hurry up and leave before Ron gets back up. I run with my mum to the apparition point and we apparate as soon as we get there.
In an instant we're back at the Manor and I hobble down the path till we're inside, leaning on my mother for support. As soon as we get inside, my father comes out of his study to greet us.
"Hello, how are my… oh my goodness what happened?" My father just looks at the two of us in shock.
"We ran into… Potter's gang. Do you have… any ice…?" I still feel winded from when Ron shoved me earlier, and it didn't help at all when we apparated here.
My father rushes us both into the living room, to the couch by the fireplace. He urges both of us to sit and runs off to go get some ice for me, as well as water for all of us. In the whole time since the fight started till now, my mother has not said a word. I glance at her in concern and I see the she's still as pale as when we left.
"Mother, are you okay?" I'm starting to get more and more worried about her. I've never seen her react like this.
"I knew that the world didn't exactly like us, but I didn't think that they hated us that much. When you guys started fighting, no one tried to stop it. I was so scared, especially when you fell. I'm so glad that Granger girl, or whatever her name is, stepped in to help. If she hadn't, you would either be dead or in Azkaban." There was so much worry in her voice I couldn't resist giving her a hug. As soon as I did so, she starts crying.
"Shhh, it's all right mother, don't think about the what 'ifs'. What's done is done and nobody can change that." My father walks in with the ice in a blanket and some water. He steps in to calm my mother down and hands me a glass of water with the ice.
I slowly climb the stairs and go to my room. Taking the ice pack and sticking it on my forehead. I lay there for about half an hour just going over what happened in my head. When I think that the swelling has gone down enough, I get up, put the ice on my dresser, and go to my bathroom. I undress and step into the shower, turning it as hot as I can stand. As soon as I step in, I lose myself in the soothing feel of the water beating down my back.
Author's Note: I think this is my longest chapter so far. I hope you guys enjoy it. Just a reminder that I really appreciate feedback, and please review! That's all for now, have a wonderful week!