Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Characters and Scenery all belong to J.K Rowling, unless otherwise stated.
Chapter Nine – Quiet Conversation
Hermione and Neville dozed, Hermione's head resting on Neville's shoulder, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Draco found himself watching the pair with a sad smile. The bruising and swelling on Hermione's cheek had all but disappeared and her face was peaceful as it rested on a friend's shoulder. Neville was the one Draco studied closely; the boy, once pudgy and clumsy, had changed beyond recognition; his baby fat had vanished and his frame was tall and lanky and Draco saw a strength in him that he envied, the way Neville held himself spoke of a confidence that had been absent before the war.
'Longbottom sure has changed,' Draco muttered softly and Harry, who had been staring into the fire, looked up, following Draco's gaze, smiling as his eyes settled on his sleeping friends.
'He has indeed,' Harry agreed, looking at Malfoy, 'We all have; war changes people.'
Draco nodded, still studying the Gryffindor.
'How is your mother?' Harry asked and Draco smiled genuinely this time, 'She's well, I think she loves the cottage in a way she couldn't love the mansion. Some people still treat her warily but she doesn't care, I think she's truly happy for once.'
Harry smiled, 'I'm glad, she deserves it, after all, she had to raise you!'
Draco tossed a cushion at Harry, who ducked, chuckling.
'And your father?' Harry asked hesitantly. Draco's smile dropped off his face but he wasn't angry, although he couldn't hold back a grimace.
'I don't know. He stopped writing just after I came back here. Not that I care.'
Harry sighed, 'I'm sorry Draco. He may not be the best of men but he is your father…'
Draco cocked his head as he studied the raven-haired boy. It was because of Harry that Draco's mother could reside peacefully in a cottage on the border of an old wizarding community, where she was warmly, though at first warily, welcomed. Not long after Voldemort's defeat Harry had made a statement to the reporters at the Daily Prophet (and any other reporter who would listen), explaining how Narcissa Malfoy had saved his life and, in turn, helped him bring about Voldemort's downfall. He had also, clearing up many rumours, told the wizarding world that Draco had never wanted to serve Voldemort and had only done so to protect his family, and, after much coaxing from a reporter, told the story of Severus Snape, who then received a post-mortem Order of Merlin, First Class.
'Harry I want to apo-'
Harry cut Draco off, smiling as he shook his head, 'You've apologized and thanked me before, and I've told you, truthfully, that once is enough. I only did what was right.'
Draco flushed, and Harry chuckled, amused to see the once-proud Slytherin humbled.
'Hey,' Harry said suddenly as an idea occurred to him, 'Would you and your mother like to join Hermione and myself at Grimmauld Place for Christmas? The Weasley's are staying there for the holiday and Molly told me she'd like to see your mother, they are distant family after all.'
Draco gaped at the Gryffindor and Harry smiled, nodding encouragingly.
'I-I'd like that!' he stuttered, flushing, if possible, a deeper red, 'And I'm sure mother would too!'
Harry grinned, pleased, 'I'm sure Molly will be ecstatic to hear that! And then you can see the portrait of Snape that Luna painted!'
Draco grinned, happiness flooding him as he thought of his godfather and imagined how his mother might react when she found out that Molly Weasley was eager to forget the past and reunite old family ties. His grin faded, however, as he remembered a request his mother had asked him to make of Harry.
Harry noticed the change and frowned, 'If it's too much to ask I'm sure Molly will understand…' he said, slightly confused. Draco shook his head, trying to find the right words to form his request.
'Potter,' Harry instantly noted the change from his first name to his last and felt a twinge of alarm, 'There is something my mother, and I, would like to ask of you… I understand if my request angers you, I know how much you respected you godfather, but my mother and I… My mother and I would like your blessing and your permission, to change our last names to Black.' Draco glanced at Harry as he said this, continuing quickly before Harry could speak, 'The Malfoy name is tainted by pride and Dark Magic, and while mother and I acknowledge that we were part of that dark past, we want to start anew, with names to be proud of. Your godfather was a great man.'
Harry studied Draco as the blond stared at the floor, anticipating Harry's anger, and Harry couldn't help but smile.
'Of course I'll give my blessing!' he said, laughing when Draco's head snapped up, his jaw hanging open in surprise.
'Tha-Thank you!' Draco stuttered and Harry laughed again, quickly stifling the sound as Hermione stirred but didn't wake.
The two boys fell into a comfortable silence, each smiling, lost in thought. Draco spoke after a few moments;
'Hermione told me that you never told her who you wrote to.' He stated, watching Harry closely.
Harry shook his head, gazing into the fire, 'She's never asked, neither has Ginny. They both seem content to let me write to a stranger as long as it makes me happy.' Harry grinned, meeting Malfoy's gaze, receiving a grin in return.
'You and Hermione never…?'
Harry chuckled, 'If I had a Galleon for every time I got asked that I'd be nearly as rich as you are,' he joked, 'No, Hermione and I have always been, and will always be, just friends. We've never considered being more than that and we never will.'
Draco arched an eyebrow cynically, 'And sleeping next to that body doesn't do anything for you? You have to be joking!'
Harry didn't seem at all surprised by Draco's revelation, he merely shrugged, 'I only have eyes for Ginny, and I guess our friendship means that I never look at Hermione that way. She's stunningly beautiful, yes, but I say that in a way a brother might.'
'Are you sure you're not a closet homosexual? Should I be worried? I am amazingly hot, after all.' Draco teased playfully and Harry stuffed his fist in his mouth to stop himself from roaring with laughter. The two boys grinned at one another.
'Oh, I meant to ask, how is your cousin doing?'
Harry looked slightly surprised that Draco had asked about Dudley but he didn't mind.
'He's great, he moved out of my aunt and uncle's house and he's staying in London. He's lost a lot of weight,' Harry grinned, remembering the last time he had seen Dudley; he had barely recognized the man who had stopped him in a muggle store.
'If you carry on like this there'll be nothing to write about,' Harry told Draco.
The Slytherin and the Gryffindor fell into quiet conversation, speaking about family and friends, reminiscing the old days, discussing classes, even arguing playfully about the way past events had played out, especially the incident in Hogsmead, where Harry, under his invisibility cloak, had thrown mud at Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. Neither boy noticed the slight smile that lit Hermione's face, and, if they had they would have thought she was dreaming.
Hermione couldn't help but smile as she listened to Harry and Draco talk. She'd been awake for a few minutes, awakened by Harry's quickly stifled laugh, but the calming draught hadn't worn off yet and she was comfortable in Neville's arms and happy to just listen to the boys chat. She wasn't really listening to their conversation, just to the sound of them speak, their voices comforting her in a manner not many would understand, but she had heard the comment Harry had made after Draco asked about Dudley and she knew that what she had realized a few nights ago was true and she meant to ask Harry about it later. Hermione drifted back to sleep, still smiling, still listening.
Ronald Weasley stood outside the Head's Common Room, staring at the Hogwarts Crest that served as the entrance, hesitating, listening to the voices coming from inside. He knew the password but struggled to voice it. He was, in all honesty, scared stiff; he knew that Harry was angry, the bruises and aches all over his body (Madame Pomfrey had refused to heal them; she had ascertained that nothing was broken then told him that he deserved to be reminded of what he had done) was a testament of that, and he was afraid of facing Hermione and seeing the hurt in her eyes, but Professor McGonagall was right, they didn't deserve his anger simply for seeking the solace of others. He needed them and he hoped they needed him, so, taking a deep breath he whispered the password and stepped inside.
A/N: A cliff hanger? How will that end? I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think. Also, should I include more lessons and so forth?
