A/N: Hello everyone. *Smiles sheepishly* I'm soo sorry that I haven't updated sooner! But I had a really busy Christmas and my mom didn't want me on my laptop much because she thought it would take away from non-existent family time. Then, when I got back in school, my teachers thought it would be super smart to give us a boatload of homework and tests right before our midterms which are coming up in no less than a week! ARGH! Anyway, thank you to all of my reviewers: CrunchyMunchers, obssesivefanno.4 kamiccolo's rose, mamaumbridgeeatsrocks, and Orange-Coyote. Hope you all enjoy chapter four and happy reading!
Disclaimer: So, I had this dream the other night that I was talking to J.K Rowling except instead of her owning Harry Potter, I did! She was complementing me on how amazing the series was and how seven was her favorite number, just like I would if I ever met her. I was smiling and happy and Tom Felton was hugging me and it was just amazing! Then, I woke up. Enough said.
RON'S POV
I don't understand! What exactly does Hermione see in that guy? What happened to her thinking that he was a foul evil little cockroach? There is no way that he could really like her. He must want to get in her pants or something so that he can hold the record of sleeping with all of the girls in school. Why doesn't Hermione like me? I mean, yea I got a little upset and threw her around a bit. But that's not anything that she's not used to! It's practically her fault because she decided to date that bastard and not say anything about it. And even though it wasn't really my fault, I said I was sorry. I found her and his royal pain in the ass in their common room and I said I was sorry but she decided not to accept my apology. But this is not over. Hermione was meant to be with me! We were born to be together. Even when I dated that clingy fool, Lavender Brown, I was thinking about the possibility of Hermione.
"Ron, you OK mate?" I shake my head to clear my thoughts and look over at Harry. "You haven't written anything on your paper besides your name. And you know how Snape gets when things aren't turned in on time. Unless of course you're a Slytherin or favored."
My eyes darken at the reminder of Hermione and Death Eater Draco. "Yea, Harry. I'm fine; just…girl troubles if you know what I mean." This is much more than petty girl troubles. Leave that shit for Neville and the Hufflepuffs. But Harry doesn't seem to notice.
"Oh, girl troubles? Hermione, then? Wanting something that you can't have?
I close my eyes and take a deep breath and Harry has no idea how close I was to exploding at him.
"Yea, that's just it. I don't really understand why she likes him or what she sees in him. I mean, he's a freaking Death Eater for crying out loud!"
"Was, Ron. He was a Death Eater. I've been close enough to him this year to see that his Dark Mark has almost completely faded. And if we try to get to know him now that the war is over, then we might actually like him and eventually we can put our differences aside."
I look at Harry with narrowed eyes. So he's not on my side in this is he? "Don't tempt me man." I growl at him. "I'm already pissed and really confused. I don't need you telling me that bollocks. Even though we're best friends and all, don't think I won't hesitate to give you a matching scar on the other side of your head."
Harry holds his arms up in surrender looking at me, eyes wide with surprise. "I'm sorry Ron. I was just thinking that since Hermione can do it then maybe we can t-" He stops talking abruptly and raises his eyebrows at the menacing look on my face. "OK Ron. Maybe you should go get some sleep or something. That might help you clear your thoughts. But, I'm gonna tell you right now. If Hermione can get along with Malfoy, well so can I. You don't have to but I am at the very least going to be civil to him. I don't need your approval and she doesn't need ours. I'm not willing to give up my friendship with Hermione over something so stupid.
I can't think of anything to say to that so I only look at Harry with my eyebrows furrowed. "Whatever, Harry. I'm going to go for a walk."
"Alright Ron. But try to get back before you get in trouble."
"OK Mum, I'll do whatever you say. Do you want me to brush my teeth before I leave?" I snort at Harry and get up and walk out of the Gryffindor common room.
I don't really know where I'm going but when I stop outside of the library, I know where my feet were taking me. And why. Hermione is at her favorite table towards the back of the library, reading what looks like school books. I smile at the familiar scene and start to walk in to greet her. But I stop when she looks up to the sound of her name and I narrow my eyes as Draco Malfoy walks out from behind one of the bookshelves.
"Oh, you found it! Thank you soo much Draco! Now what would I do without you?"
"Well, I think Snape would give you an 'E' instead of an 'O' on your paper and then you would cry. So the answer to your question is cry because of an excellent and not outstanding grade." She pushes him slightly and leans into him as he pulls her closer.
So he steals my girlfriend and my study partner? Who the hell does he think he is? I sigh noisily out of frustration when Malfoy looks up. I realize that the door is still half open and I duck quickly, hoping that they didn't notice me spying.
"Draco? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing. I just thought I saw something."
"Is Draco the Great actually scared?" I can hear the smile in her voice and I want to puke.
"Scared? No way. What if something or someone was watching us and I wanted to do this?" I'm still ducking and it's quiet. I look through the door and see that he's pulling away from Hermione and I know that he kissed her. This is wrong.
"Well, then if they don't like it, then they shouldn't look our way." I roll my eyes and walk in, heading straight for their table.
"I don't like it Hermione. Are you telling me, your best friend since first year, to just look away while you make a big mistake?" Hermione looks back at me and I can see that I've hurt her feelings. But right now, I don't really care and I know that she can tell because she looks down at her lap.
"Great timing again you idiot. So why are you here? Want to apologize to Hermione again?"
"No, that's not why I'm here, actually. I just needed a break from Harry and our Potions essay due tomorrow and I ended up here. I guess it's because I knew that Hermione would be here." I smile at her when she looks at me curiously.
"So, you're not mad at me anymore then? You know, for dating Draco?" She pokes him in his side and he laughs. I raise my eyebrows. Draco Malfoy is ticklish? This is one that needs to go in the books.
"Hermione, I was never mad at you. I just really don't agree."
"Well, we don't need your approval Ronald! I can do whatever I want to! Come on, Draco. We're leaving"
"Yes ma'am." Is all he says and I laugh at him.
"Whipped! Damn, Malfoy! She has you so whipped you have no idea."
"Yup, Weasel. She sure does. But at least I have her." He winks at me and hits my shoulder before he wraps a protective arm around Hermione and they walk out of the library.
Walking back to the Gryffindor Tower was a lonely and quiet walk. But it gave me enough time to think. I know that Harry does not agree with me and the rest of my friends don't want to get involved. But I also know that I need to get Hermione back, even if I never truly had her before. What I need is a plan and someone clever enough to help me succeed. I need a Slytherin.
HERMIONE'S POV
Almost as soon as we're out of view of the library, I begin to break down in sobs.
"Hermione," Draco says to me gently. "Please tell me why you are crying. You seemed like you were handling things just fine back there." I hesitate, not knowing how to answer his question. And when I do answer, the tears are silently streaming down my face.
"He was my best friend. We even had a thing for a while but he decided to date Lavender because he thought I was boring." I laugh bitterly at this memory but continue, nevertheless. "And even after that, we made up and well, things are supposed to be OK now. But they're not." And at that last statement, I slide to the floor and cry harder.
Precisely seven seconds after I hit the floor, Draco is picking me up and taking me towards our dorm. He helps me get dressed for bed and then proceeds to do the same for himself. All the while, I'm still crying pathetically on his bed. When Draco is done, he comes and lies down next to me. In no less than five minutes in his arms, I fall asleep to him slightly rocking the bed in a comforting and gentle manner.
When I wake up, Draco is still holding on to me. I slip out of his grip without waking him up and head for the shower. I grab my clothes, something to bathe with, and I jump into the warm shower.
After I finish, I dry off and spell my hair straight using the spell Ginny taught me.
I walk back into Draco's room to wake him up. It is a school day after all. But when I open the door to his room, he's already up and almost ready to head down stairs to the Great Hall. That's right; he did take a shower last night during my water-works.
"Morning, Sunshine. Did you sleep well?" I smile at the genuine look on his face and shake my head slightly.
"Yea, I slept great. Except I have a headache. You know, from all the crying last night. Sorry about that."
"No need to be sorry, Princess." Princess? That's a new one. "That's what I'm here for. Oh and I have some news that just might make you feel a little better."
I perk up immediately out of curiosity. "What is it?"
"Well, I talked to Scarhead a while before we went to the library and he told me that he wanted to be friends."
"Well, that's stupid! Harry and I are already friends! Unless… he listened to Ron." At that, Draco laughs at me. "What?" I ask, slightly offended.
"Potty wants to stay friend with you sure enough. He told me that he trusts your decision with me and if I make you happy then he's OK with it. He wants to put our differences aside and be civil toward each other. So, Po-Harry is standing with you."
I widen my eyes in shock and my jaw falls to the floor. Harry still wants to be friends. He doesn't want to ruin the bond that we built over the six years we've been with together. It makes me happy that he understands. And I swear I heard Draco-
"Did you just call Harry by his first name?"
"Well, I can't call him Potty anymore now can I? And is that all you have to say about his acceptance?"
I laugh at his red face before I answer. "I am very grateful that Harry understands. But I am more grateful that my boyfriend is making an effort to accommodate that." I hug him around his waist and kiss his chest through his shirt.
He smiles at me. "You know, this is why I love you." He levitates our backpacks and wraps a possessive are around my shoulder, in which I instantly lean into further, before walking out of the room and to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"What would I do without you, Draco?"
"Hmm, that's a good question. The list goes on. But we can start with the fact that you would have to do patrolling alone tonight. And we both know that is one helluva bad idea."
That's right. No going to bed early, wrapped tightly in Draco's arms. Grrr.
Draco laughs at the expression on my face and pulls me closer. And when we make it to the Great Hall, which is almost completely full, Draco pulls me in for a kiss and I hear the gasps of the students. It's not like this should be that much of a surprise.
"Draco!" I hiss. "What was that for!"
He smirks at me before he answers. "I just wanted to make a statement; to let everyone know that you're mine and mine only. If anyone here touches you, in any way, they'll have to go through me first." I shake my head at him as I follow his glare over to Ron and then, surprisingly, over to Pansy Parkinson.
Draco kisses me briefly again and stares at Ron one last time.
"Over-possessive, hormonal teenage boyfriend." I mutter when he releases me and he laughs out loud.
I shake my head as I walk to the Gryffindor table. And when I get there, I'm welcomed by everyone important to me. All except for Ron. But I don't let that bother me because I have everyone else.
A/N: Well that was chapter four! I hope you all enjoyed it! Chapter five is going to take place during their patrolling night. Please review for me! And if you have any questions, just send me a PM and I'll be happy to answer. Thanks so much!
~torye