MUST READ:
The winner for this week's word is kumquat from Sarah Sidle. Sorry, too all of you that wasted all your finger muscles to type that one word that wasn't posted. But there was NOT a lot to chose from, I think some of you didn't read what I said.
Here is what I said last chapter (I am starting this new thing when you review. You can give me a word, any word. The most creative word out of the reviews will be placed somewhere in the next chapter and your name will be recognized) Please just type it once more and pray that other people will too. But about the chapter, I am actually very proud of the way this turned out, I love these characters and it is so great to bring them to life. Tee hee. But here we are, Hogwarts, what you have all been waiting for.. Annnnnddddd, on with the show
Chapter 7: The Secret Comes Out.
Hermione was loading on to the Hogwarts express. Draco helped her shove her trunk into a cart and they waited by the side of the train. They could have just apparated to Hog's Mead, but the call of the Hogwats express this last year was too tempting. Plus hauling all that stuff, ughh.
Hermione wasn't so sure how to tell her friends about Draco but she was sure they would believe her in time. "Let me do the talking, kay? They'll never believe you so let them hear it from me."
"Whatever you say."
"And DON'T tell them about the kiss."
"Kisses" he corrected her.
"AH, and no talk of them!" she shook a finger a few millimeters from his nose.
"Yes mam." he stood up a little straighter.
Ten minutes to eleven, perfect. Hermione saw them in the distance, coming though the bolder. They actually seemed to see her first and their faced lit up, "HERMIONE" they both yelled in sync. "HARRY, RON!" she shouted back as they raced towards her, Ron tripping over his long shoelaces—that had probably been Charlie's—and Harry abandoning his cart halfway. When they reached her they wrapped arms in a huge embrace. She loved them so, but she couldn't help but think of her lost muggles. And Stacey, she had not answered her letters over the summer, that had concerned 'Mione.
Then they stepped back realizing Draco stood right next to them, smiling.
"UM, Hermione….," Ron whispered into her ear, "Don't look now, but The Ferret is standing right next to you."
"What?" Draco smiled in his kidding self and very confidently, "No hug for an old friend?" he extended his arms, but Hermione pulled them down, holding her strict face.
She breathed deep, "Harry, Ron, there is someone I want you to meat." She pulled Draco by his wrist just a little closer to them and draped her left arm around his shoulder, "Boys, I'd like you two to meat, Draco Malf-."
"HERMIONE, Get away from that monster!" Harry was more shocked then she had expected.
Ron pulled her off of Draco and into his arms, sneering at Malfoy while stroking Hermione's hair, she felt very uncomfortable with this, Ron seemed to hold her like he would a kumquat. Draco clasps his hands behind his back and stood smiling, he knew well how much the boys loved her. Harry was a little taken back by Draco's respect.
"And I thought you would understand……he's good!" she wrecked free of Ron. It was obvious he did not want to let her go, but he tenderly did so. It was quite funny from Draco's perspective.
"Oh we understand well alright. Whatever he told you Hermione, it's NOT true. He's tricked you!" Harry gave Draco an evil glare from the other side of Hermione.
"NO, guys," she put her head down then lifted it back up, as if letting out her temper, "This isn't the Malfoy you have come to know. All those mean names and comments, all that was a scam, fake. This is Draco, just Draco. He was forced to act bad for his father. He was under a chant. But now," she looked to her long band camp friend, "This year he's free to do what he wants, free of his father's watch. You all can meat the real Draco." She sighed at the end of her mini-speech.
Ron's face turned a color that matched his hair, "And you expect us to believe that. He made it up Hermione! And now what! You want us to be a big happy family!" anger segued though him.
This hurt Hermione deeply, because it was what she wanted.
"NOOO! Listen, Ronald! I've known the REAL Draco out of school for the past six years…… at camp"
"You never talk about camp and now…" Ron was starting to calm down, knowing that she could never come up with something like this, but it was hard to grasp….Malfoy, Good. The two words went together like pickles and ice cream.
"Wait," Harry batted his eyes as if they would clear his head, "Lets say that for a minute…just a minute…..that I believe you and he is…….is he really good?"
Draco nodded with Hermione, this was no scam.
"Hermione? ……Lets say, if that is true……then…..why…." Harry was starting to believe. He was stumbling for questions she had already not answered, "Why didn't you tell us about this?" Ron looked shocked that Harry was buying this thing.
"Because I asked her not to," Draco spoke on his own this once.
"HE DIDN'T ASK YOU, YOU SLIMEY GIT!" Ron shouted, people starred.
"RON!" Hermione wasn't truly shocked; she knew his temper was unpredictable.
"I'm sorry Hermione, but you've only talked about band camp once and now you come back from summer expecting us to believe this far fetched story. How do we know you're not under the imperius curse or something?"
"Mate," Harry attempted to be cool, "Do you really think Hermione would let something like that happen to herself. And do you really think she would make something like this up?"
"Well--"
"Think about it Ron. How could we not trust Hermione? When has she ever let us down?"
"Well…..does that one thing with Krum count?" The bus whistled and started to chug.
The four literally ran their fastest to catch the door. Draco helped with hauling Harry and Ron's junk on. They walked down the hall out of breath. Harry smiled to Draco, surprised that he had helped him and Ron catch the train, "Thanks."
"What, oh, no problem," Draco said almost stumbling over the cage he carried Hedwig in. Was Harry really starting to believe? Could he really ever be a great friend? Ron just smiled, trying to agree with Harry, he too showed hope of trust. Draco had only known the nasty side of these boys. The kind side Hermione spoke to him of, started to shine.
They entered the cart; Draco holding the door for all of them kindly. Harry sat next to the window on his right with Hermione at his side while Ron sat by the other window with Draco on his right. Draco began his explanation in further detail.
Surprisingly Ron was more convinced of the truth when Draco told it, as opposed to Hermione. Finally the boys were both convinced. How they understood so well and so quickly, Hermione never understood. She guessed that it was mostly because they trusted her so much. It was at the exact moment that she realized that she would never trade them in for any other friends. To have complete trust of someone was a great feet, but even greater when it was two teenaged boys. She would rather have these few great friends, then a whole bunch of crappy ones.
As soon as the quarreling and explanations had ended, relaxation began, and as usual Ron and Harry fell asleep against the glass windows. Hermione tried to fall asleep against Harry's slanted body but she couldn't. She kept waking up to find Draco staring at her. After the fourth time of opening her eyes she asked coolly, "What?"
He simply smiled, "On nothing."
"What," she smiled, lifting her head off of Harry.
"I'm, just so proud of you…and your friends,"
"For what?"
"Well, I just thought that we would never be able to convince them. And I also never realized how…understanding they are…..and how much they love you….and trust you." He tilted his head patting Ron on the back—who drooled on the window a little and groaned.
She smiled. They were still a while from the school. Time was passing slower then usual. She tried harder to snuggle on Harry, but his side was not so comfortable.
"Can't sleep?"
Hermione shrugged nodding. Draco extended his arms invitingly. Hermione did not even hesitate getting up, moving into Draco's arms, and curling herself around his waist and body. It felt so…..natural. He wrapped his arms over her protectively as her back leaned on Ron a little. Harry's body slid down a little, no longer having Hermione's support to keep him up against the window. Draco was so warm; she fell instantly asleep in his arms.
(Ahhh, Draco) (Alright Ya'll, give me some new words. Can't wait to let you know what happens next chapter. AHHHH, it's sooooo good. AND GIVE ME WORDS, If you have no idea what I'm talking about, READ THE TOP.")
