Disclaimer: The characters are from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series and none of it belongs to me. I simply own the plot to 'A Distant Breeze' and I urge you not to sue me…
Story: All that he was brought up to hate was everything she was. All that she grew to love was everything he wasn't. Until now.
A/N: It's been a long time since I updated. I was 14 when I wrote this fic and I guess life just happened in between. These final two chapters were also written back in early 2002, so there's no difference in the writing style or anything.
A Distant Breeze------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter TenDraco stared unseeingly at the door as it closed. Her words echoed in his head – "Sometimes I wounder why I bother caring. You're simply not worth it". What was she on about? All Malfoys were worth something. He shook his head, trying to sort out his confused state of mind. Who was he really? Lucius or Draco? Lucius was a cold-hearted killer. Draco was – was Draco really any different? Yes, he resolved, he was his own person, not his father's carbon copy. He was Draco Malfoy, a Malfoy who had set out to change what his name meant to people. And therefore he was worth something. Or did Hermione mean someone worth caring about? But that would mean she cared and no-one cared about Malfoys…did they?
A knock sounded on the door and Draco snapped out of his contemplative mood.
"Come in," he called.
The door opened to reveal a house-elf that looked very familiar to Draco. The house-elf seemed to recognise him as well by the pale colour he was turning. Draco thought back a while and suddenly the name entered his mind – Dobby. The one Potter had freed making Lucius furious, much to Draco's amusement. He looked at the shaking figure in front of him and said gently, "What is it Dobby?"
The house-elf trembled as he held out a letter with the Hogwarts crest upon it. Draco reached out and grabbed it as Dobby scampered away. He opened the letter and began to read.
Meanwhile Hermione made her way back to the Gryffindor Common Room, trying hard not to let the tears fall. Damn Malfoy! He always seemed to make her cry. As she entered the room she came face to face with Ron who had a very determined look on his face.
"Ron I'm busy, I have to get through a huge pile of homework," she said lamely, trying to get past him.
Ron didn't budge. "Where have you been Hermione?" he asked forcefully, crossing his arms.
"Around. Since when do I have to tell you where I go?" she replied. How was she going to get out of this?
"Fine I'll tell you," Ron informed her.
Hermione ran a hand through her hair nervously.
"You went to the infirmary didn't you?" he said.
She stared at a painting on the far wall.
"Hermione?"
She sighed. "Yes I did Ron."
Ron looked at her with betrayal in his eyes. "Then you're fraternising with the enemy after all," he stated.
Remembering Draco's last words to her, Hermione narrowed her eyes. "No I'm not." But I wish I was, she felt like adding. Except I wish he wasn't the enemy.
Ron looked at her suspiciously.
"I told him he was wrong about what he said," she enlightened him, convincing herself that she wasn't lying to her best friend, just not telling him the whole truth.
Ron sighed in relief. "Phew. I thought for a minute…nah never mind. C'mon we gotta finish this game of chess!"
Hermione nodded but her thoughts dwelt on what Draco's words. He was right; she did have trouble staying away. But not anymore, she resolved, Hermione Granger didn't need Draco Malfoy the Deatheater scum.
Draco stared disbelievingly at the letter in front of him. It was the reply to the letter he had sent to Professor Dumbeldore. But what it said was impossible. He couldn't change to…he just couldn't. It was everything he had been taught to despise and although he didn't feel that way anymore, it wasn't possible for him to become…. He looked at the letter again - maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him?
Dear Mr Malfoy,
I am grateful for the information you passed on to me for it has helped tremendously with the tracking down of Deatheaters and sending them to prison. Due to your request to change schools, attached to this letter are application forms to three English-speaking schools of magic – Eagleton, Southern Cross and Maplepine. However a placement has opened up in Hogwarts which you may choose instead.
This was the part at which Draco's thoughts had turned disbelieving.
The spare place is in the house of Gryffindor. I expect a reply within the week.
Prof. Dumbeldore
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A/N written in '02: So that's who Draco wrote to, I hear you say. Yep. So will a Malfoy become a Gryffindor or will he leave Hogwarts? You'll just have to wait until the next and final chapter. Oh and as for the names of the schools…kind of unimaginative hey. It's not hard to guess which country each of them are from. Oh well. The final chapter will be up soon so look out for it. Sorry these last few chapters have been a little short but I couldn't merge or lengthen them. Originally this story was going to be six chapters long, but I extended it to eleven. I had plans for a sub-plot to occur involving Harry further as well as the Deatheaters but I decided they dragged on and I went for quality over quantity. Well to call it quality is pushing it a bit though…but don't forget to review!