A retelling of - BuckNC - classic tale …Dragon Heart …as redone by Billybob
Chapter 10 - - - Part # 11entitled - A Pub Confrontation
Words in this chapter; 3,031
Billybob note/ calls for me to post a link to the original Dragon heart - are a waste of breath - that story has been pulled from the internet – for various reasons by the original author – as is his right. Why are you asking me to fix that? I'm not BuckNC – he's far better looking than I 'am (LMAO).
This is my re-write of his classic work - which I had the foresight to save onto my computer in a word format – long ago. I even have copies of both variations on paper. Buck is not the first FFnet author to pull his stories - nor will he be the last. In other words GET-OVER-IT, okay.
So sit back – pop some popcorn, enjoy the beverage of your choice - and have a nice read.
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Roll film
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"Will just stay fifteen minutes, have a quick Butter-beer in a booth that's way in the back, - then we can hang out at Zonkos or the Quidditch shop with Luna and Dean as you arranged." Harry said, looking nervously around for Hermione and Draco.
"I feel like we are trying to dodge a whole herd of Dementor's," cracked Ginny as she followed Harry to the back of the crowded Three Broomsticks pub. Then screwing up her courage she nervously removed her floor length uniform cloak and waited for Harry's reaction to the borrowed jeans that she was wearing …below her magically-shrunk …to-be a undersized Weasley jumper.
"Me too, but I'm glad to be dodging them with you," remarked Harry as he finished looking about the pub for the two people he most wanted to avoid. However, once his attention was refocused on his date - his eyes locked on her form with all the fascination of a moth with a bright flame. Slowly his eyes sweep down her body – slowing as it descended below the waist. It was at this point that Harry's poor mind froze-solid as if hit with a -'petrificus totalus'- spell.
Ginny slowly turned in place so that Harry could get all the views of the extra tight jeans that she was wearing that day. It was just impossible to wear knickers underneath what she had on – forget all about panty lines, - there was just no room inside her jeans for the extra material.
"This is my mate? … No - no …I mean – she's my date? – oh sweet Merlin - who knew that Ginny was so totally HOT" Harry thought to himself as his mind rebooted back into functional mode. He stood there - openly stared at Ginny's bum and all but drooling in desire. This was it, he was in love.
"Do you mentally undress all of your girlfriends on your first date with them?" Ginny cracked while watching a totally gob smacked Harry try to regain his composure. Luna had been right after all, Harry was a definite bum man and Ginny was just about to take advantage of Harry's temporary vulnerability - when she was interrupted by Hermione rushing over to their table with a slow and standoffish Draco Malfoy following in her wake.
"Hello Harry, Ginny - what a surprise!" Hermione shouted, ignoring Harry's groan and Ginny's growl. "Draco and I just came in-"
"No, we haven't! We've been here for over two hours," Draco snapped in a foul mood, looking up at the ceiling as he clearly did not want to be there just to see scar-head and the Weasel's little sister.
"It didn't seem like two hours …to me," Hermione remarked coldly as she set down at the table across from a still standing Harry and Ginny dragging Draco down to sit next to her. "Can we join you?"
"You already have," replied Ginny as she scowled at them.
"Potter," Draco began in a cold and arrogant voice, which altered dramatically when he beheld Ginny's second-skin tight blue jeans. "Weasley – nice trousers" He growled, but his time with an appreciative leer like quality, the lust …was obvious …in his tone of voice.
"Malfoy - Take your eyes off my bum you lecherous dog," Ginny said quickly sitting down at the table to conceal her lower half from Draco's amorous gaze.
If you didn't want me to see what you have, you shouldn't have made such a display of your arse, Weasel." Draco snarled in response, oblivious to the presence of his now 'highly offended' girlfriend sitting right next to him
"Listen to me Ferret, you better restrict your -S&M fetish- to the – lady – that you already have". Harry said, in a growl still quite angry at the lust filled look that Draco had just given 'His" Ginny. "If I ever hear of you forcing yourself on any Gryffindor – that is actually smart enough - to see through your bull-shite, I'll stomp you like a bug."
Hermione's eyes went wide at hearing this, knowing full well to the lady he was referring too.
"Are you threatening me scar-head?" Draco hissed thinking that Harry was bluffing.
"Not a threat, consider it more of a sincere promise" Harry said with a seriously wicked sneer, slipping into his full protective mode.
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Malfoy POV
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"So, I heard Dean Thomas is your new Keeper." Draco said abruptly changing the subject …while backpedaling fast, somewhat shocked at Potter's out-of-character response. 'What this then? Usually it was the thick as a post Weasel - that was prone to physical violence, while the Scar-head …stayed aloof in these kinds of situations'. The Slytherin thought to himself. 'It never accrued to me that the Weasel's departure would result in Potter becoming more proactive'.
However, in spite of the obvious change in Harry's behavior, which made the Slytherin suddenly very uncomfortable being around the manlier Chosen One, the blonde boy was unable to resist taunting Harry further. "I'll be amazed to see that mud-blood still on his broomstick ten minutes after the match starts."
"Dean is coming along nicely; He's almost as good as Ron was." Harry retorted, ignoring the mud-blood comment that had once again clearly stunned and deeply hurt the already bruised feelings of Hermione. Protecting her from insults like Mud-blood had always been Ron's job and Harry had to wonder how Hermione was coping without her primary protector.
Two insults in a row, however - - were more than Hermione's ego could stand and so she spoke up by saying."Draco – how could you – say that word, you promised me that kind of talk was behind you." Hermione protested the hurt obvious in her tone.
"I'm sorry …Sweets - but scar-head here - has always brought out the worst in me. First he assaults us both in the Great Hall and now he lies to our face by saying that the barely trained replacement for that idiotic, Muggle-loving, dropout …oaf - will ever be a decent enough Keeper to stop a Slytherin team in a fair match," Draco snapped, as he gave Harry a huge sneer that made Harry want to knock it off his face.
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"Oh really, that's odd - for the way I remember last year" – Ginny said, in defense of her brother - "it was that Muggle-born loving …oaf - my brother - who didn't let in more than a single goal when we humiliated Slytherin 220-10. He beat your sorry arse so bad, - in fact, that Professor Snape gave the entire Slytherin Quidditch team a 'week of detention' because of it."
"Isn't that right, Ferret?" Ginny said self-righteously.
Draco snarled in anger at Ginny, before Hermione …having barely regained her own composure …laid her hand gently on top of her boyfriends clenched fists - to settle him down.
"Let's talk about something other than Quidditch. I mean really, all it does is divide the houses and cause animosity between fellow students." Hermione said, desperately trying to steer the conversation toward friendlier …more –neutral - ground. "Draco and I were just discussing possible plans to approach the headmaster with the idea for an inner house mixer on the weekend closest to Valentine's Day. A dance that could heal - -"
"- - I'd like to talk about something," Harry said, abruptly interrupting Hermione.
"Go ahead Harry, just avoid Quidditch subjects - please," Hermione offered as she noticed a flash of anger in Harry's eyes.
"I like to know how you two met. I mean - what did you say to win her over?" Harry asked, wanting to know the answer to this puzzle for a long time.
"It was the most romantic thing -" Hermione explained as she turned pink in the face while looking over at Draco who was still sulking.
"Tell us about it, Draco," Harry interrupted, wanting to hear Draco's version of it.
"Not much to tell, Potter." Draco remarked, having no desire to tell Harry anything.
"Oh Draco, you can tell them," Hermione pleaded, as she wrapped her arm around his and pushed him into talking more about it.
"Very well, - if you insist! I stayed after a Prefect meeting with her one evening at the beginning of term and apologized for my years of bad behavior. I also disavowed my father's blood purity obsession and rejected his deplorable actions as a Death Eater. Thereafter, I took every opportunity to tell her during our study sessions that she was the most beautiful and intelligent woman I had ever seen, and then one night I kissed her to prove it." Draco said, giving a small smile to a swooning Hermione.
The whole narrative made Harry want to throw up.
"That's it!" asked Ginny in amazement.
"No," Hermione exclaimed, "he also helped me with S.P.E.W. - Attended meetings with the house- elves before dinners. We both share an interest in bettering Elves clothing and working conditions. Not to mention helping me with my studies in the library. Draco is really a caring person once you get to know him. That's why we been together ever since." Hermione added to Draco's defense on why she fell in love with him.
Harry definitely wanted to throw up after hearing Hermione's lame reasons. Ron had done all of that and much more for Hermione, and yet she had romantically rejected the nicest guy Harry knew in favor of a womanizing - bad boy. Harry had to bite his tongue to refrain from using the first dozen insulting responses that leaped into his mind, most of them concerning the utter simplicity, of seducing, the otherwise brilliant book-smart - Head Girl. He was still searching for an appropriate response when Ginny broke the awkward silence
"Wow, Draco you must be one damn good kisser," Ginny said, ignoring Harry's startled look of disgust as Draco's arrogant smile grew even bigger, but then Ginny continued, "To sell such a huge pile of troll crap!"
Draco immediately dropped his smile and showed off an evil scowl toward Ginny. "Watch your mouth, Weasel."
"Draco, these are my friends so-" Hermione pleaded with Draco for civility as Harry interrupted her.
"Yeah, Draco, you wouldn't want to get expelled." Harry taunted, giving a huge smirk of his own toward a shocked and increasingly angry Draco.
"I don't know - I bet he would look cute …wearing an apron and washing dishes. You know what they say about manual-labor jobs being the most rewarding." Ginny added, as she quoted Professor Dumbledore with her dry humor voice of hers. Ginny like Ron was known for her cutting wit.
"Please, let's all try to get along," Hermione pleaded again to everyone but was immediately ignored.
"Actually, he would probably like to be a 'Garbage Collector' working alongside his Daddy." Harry continued to taunt Draco as he watched him stand up and pull out his wand. Harry held Ginny's arm underneath the table from pulling out her wand in his defense.
"How dare you, Potter!" Loudly growled a very livid Draco, - suddenly jumping to his feet and by doing so - gaining the undivided attention of everyone in the Pub.
"Draco, No!" Hermione pleaded, trying to hold down his wand hand.
"Go ahead Draco. Free shot! - Well, - not so free actually - I suppose. How many Galleons is in that trust fund of yours, anyway?" Harry continued to taunt Draco ignoring the fact that Draco has a wand pointed at him.
Harry made a mental note to thank Hagrid for telling Ginny and himself what went on in the last staff meeting.
"More than you and the Weasel will ever see," snapped Draco as he pulled down his wand after he noticed that all the patrons of the pub and the serving staff were watching him. "I'll deal with you two during the match."
"Let's go," ordered Draco as he grabbed Hermione's arm and violently dragged her out of the booth.
"Draco, please - - -" whined Hermione unable to pull away as he roughly draged her outside.
Ginny watched Draco and Hermione leave and then the pub activity return to normal …before saying to Harry.
"I've heard rumors that the Ferret was physically abusive to his girlfriends. Isn't it nice, to have to witness it - first hand.
"Maybe she likes it rough?" Harry retorted with a sneer - once again disappointed in his friend's romantic choice.
"I really don't think she does, Harry – but more importantly – its crystal clear now - he doesn't love her."
"Yeah, I saw that too. He's using her for something." Harry retorted.
"It can't be for getting the dress code rules changed, - or - any of the other Head stuff she does. Although – come to think on it - enforcing the dress code has made Hermione extremely unpopular with all the students, which would leave her friendless and isolated when Draco gets around to dumping her." Ginny remarked, as she looked at Harry - suddenly feeling afraid for Hermione's sake.
"No, - having her universally hated is probably just a side benefit. Either he wants her to betray me, the Order - or both," Harry retorted.
"Harry what are we going to do?"
"Nothing for the moment, but I know this. All of this could've been prevented if Ron had told Hermione how he felt about her… last term."
"Prat!"Ginny spat in anger, "I swear he's the most clueless boy in the world when it comes to expressing his emotions. But don't you go laying all the blame at Ron's feet. Hermione claims to be a modern woman and that sort doesn't lounge about - waiting for the bloke they fancy - making the first move."
"Maybe, they equally share the blame - but I'll admit that my best mate is thick as a post when it comes to girls and until now …I ran a close second." Harry said, as he grabbed Ginny's hand and looked deep into her chocolate brown eyes. "Ginny, I mucked-up in keeping things from Ron, but I'm not too upset at him for not being here – right-now. Because, I've been able to spend all this time with you and I wouldn't trade that - for all of Malfoy's trust fund."
"How about his expulsion from Hogwarts?" Ginny quipped, barely able to control her breathing and talk as she looked longingly at Harry.
"Tempting, but I still rather have you," replied Harry who leaned closer to the girl wearing sprayed on jeans - he reached out with a gentle hand …to lift Ginny's chin upward and with all the tenderness he could muster …kissed her full on the mouth.
Once again all commotion in the pub ceased as the patrons attention was once again riveted on a single table. A table where, the boy who lived and the girl that loved him, – completely oblivious to their surroundings, engaged in a proper snog.
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End Tran – for now
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