Chapter 6: Percy finds his badge.

"Hermione! You're finally here!" Harry jumped up to give her a hug.

"Hi Harry, it's good to see you," she replied, embracing him. She looked to where Draco was sitting obviously brooding and she frowned. "What's wrong with Ron?"

"He's all right…" Harry started before the twins cut him off.

"No he's not," George cut in.

"He's a…" started Fred.

"Git," They finished together.

"He got over serious during a Quidditch game and upset Sarah," Harry explained.

"I have ears you know. I know you're talking about me," Draco said angrily, getting up to leave the room.

"Oh, we're sorry…" Fred said insincerely.

"Do you want us to repeat it?" George asked helpfully.

"Make sure you got it all?" Fred enquired.

Draco glared at the twins as he passed.

At tea, Draco sat across from Sarah, trying to watch her without anyone noticing he was watching her. It wasn't that difficult, mostly because everyone was still annoyed at him and Sarah was looking everywhere except at him.

Only, Hermione did seem to notice and she leaned over to him and whispered, "Why don't you just say sorry."

"Why don't you just mind your own business," Draco hissed back.

"I was just trying to help," Hermione exclaimed a little louder.

"Why would I want any help from a Mu… from you?" Draco asked, catching himself just in time.

"That's right Ron, be an insensitive jerk. It's not like it's a change."

"Insensitive jerk! Well it must be true, coming from "I-Know-Everything" Granger!"

Everyone at the table, except Percy; had stopped eating, and were following the conversation that was steadily escalating into a row.

"Ooh! Ron I…" Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm going to say something we'll both regret. So just drop it."

"Oh please! Enlighten me. What do you want to say?"

"Urgh! Why am I even friends with you?" Hermione demanded, standing up.

"You got me there," Draco shot back, standing up to tower over her with Ron's abnormal height.

"Ron! That's enough…" Now Mrs Weasley was standing, staring sternly at Draco, which to everyone's astonishment he ignored.

Hermione frowned and bared her teeth in disgust. "Suddenly I'm not hungry," she announced spinning around and heading out of the room.

"Hermione…" Mrs Weasley called after her, wringing her hands slightly.

Draco watched her leave, feeling that he had achieved something. He quickly wiped the smile off his face as he noticed how they were all looking at him, and sat back down.

There was a long silence as they all stared at Draco while he ate, but he determinedly ignored them by concentrating on the food. He didn't care what it cost him, he had one up on the Mudblood and no one was taking that away from him.

They got to dessert without further incident; Harry, Ginny, Sarah, the twins and Draco were all watching each other closely as they picked through the pudding, trying to determine who had the "badge surprise". Suddenly there was a choking sound and their heads shot up to watch Percy as he coughed and spluttered. Finally he managed to swallow and took in a few deep breaths.

"Sorry about that mother," he croaked. "There seems to be something hard in my pudding."

Even Draco splattered the table a little, trying to hold in his laugh. None of them succeeded.

"It has a kind of…" Fred managed to gasp.

"Poetic justice," George finished for him as they grinned at each other. That got Mrs Weasley's attention.

"What have you done now?" she snapped.

"Let's just say… we know where Percy's badge is." George grinned, staring directly at Percy.

Percy paled, stood up and left without a word.

Draco was sitting in the living room, feeling sorry for himself when Sarah came in.

"Oh. Sorry, I was looking for Ginny," she said backing out of the room again.

"Sarah, I… I get a bit carried away when it comes to Quidditch."

Sarah came back into the room and sat down on the couch next to him.

"That's ok. I accept your apology," Sarah said smiling at him.

"I wasn't! … thanks." Draco looked down awkwardly.

"Hey, maybe you could teach me to play better," Sarah commented, giving him a gentle shove.

"I don't know if that's possible…" He looked up sharply, thinking he might have hurt her feelings again but she was smiling. Draco was surprised to find himself relieved.

"Maybe you're right. I am pretty hopeless," Sarah said with a laugh, her face lit up with amusement.

Draco found himself smiling along with her as Ginny entered the room. "Oh, there you are. So Ron's said sorry has he? Good. Are you ready to go home?"

"Oh, yes… I guess. Goodnight Ron, perhaps I'll see you tomorrow?" Sarah asked sounding hopeful, as she stood.

"Perhaps," Draco replied, a small smile playing across his face.

Sarah grinned back and left, following Ginny and listening to what Ginny thought of how Ron had treated her during their game of Quidditch.

Draco didn't see Harry until they were getting ready for bed.

"So, Ginny told me you said sorry to Sarah."

"Yeah," Draco replied distractedly as he pulled up his pyjama bottoms.

"Hermione is pretty upset…" Harry trailed off, hoping Ron would catch his meaning.

"Good."

He didn't.

"Ron, why do you do this? Once you cool down you know you'll regret it." Harry dropped his sweater and turned so that he was face to face with Draco.

Oh no I won't… "Perhaps," Draco replied avoiding Harry's eyes. He almost smiled at how brilliant an actor he was.

"Well, perhaps you should apologise now." Harry moved away and sat down on his bed. "Well?"

"I'll do it in the morning," Draco said shortly throwing himself onto his bed, his back to Harry.

"Ron…" Harry saw Draco's back stiffen and conceded, "the morning."

A/N: I'm not sure about a few things in this and the following chapters... Let me know what you think.