Chapter 11:
The rest of the day was relatively uneventful. The younger students played a few minor pranks on each other. The unlucky ones got detentions. McGonagall was as stern as ever, as was Snape. And Dumbledore… well, he was Dumbledore. The Gryffindors and the Slytherins continued their daily glaring contest. Draco, Blaise and Theo were unable to find any books on pranking in the library because Madam Pince had taken it upon herself to remove all books that could encourage students to cause havoc in the school. Classes were attended, homework was given and there was a bit of peace in the school.
At eight pm, the students to whom detentions had been given in DADA class met at Professor Imogen's office. They were given different tasks to carry out by different teachers which Professor Imogen told them they would be serving their detentions with. None of them were together or even close to each other for obvious reasons. Draco, Ron and Harry all tried to finish up as quick as they could so they could visit Hermione, neither of the enemies knowing that the other had the same plan in mind.
As they toiled away, another activity was being carried out in another part of the castle, the Room of Requirement to be precise.
"Hello girls," Neville greeted.
"Holy Helga, Neville! Don't just scare people like that," Ginny said, half-relieved, half- still-a-bit-startled.
"Why did you send us that mysterious letter? And why were you acting creepy, hiding yourself in a corner of the room so we could only see your sinister shadow?," Luna asked.
"And the weird voice you were using," Ginny shuddered.
"Sorry, guys. I started watching these things Muggles call movies, and there are some really scary and mysterious ones were they do that and everyone gets scared until they discover it's one of the good guys," Neville rambled.
"Oh, I see," said Ginny, even though she didn't know what a movie was. "So, why did you send us here?"
"To ask if you want to join us?"
"Us?" Luna asked, "I didn't know you had multiple personalities, Neville, that is, if I'm talking to Neville right now. Am I?"
"No. I mean us," he said and then lead them to another part of the room, where, to Ginny's and Luna's immense surprise surprise, a certain Pansy Parkinson was sitting on a comfy armchair.
"Oh. Us…" said Ginny. Neville nodded.
"Us."
"I don't get it," Ginny said, then looked at Luna for some sort of explanation. She was a bit surprised when Luna started to smile. "Whatchoo you smilin' at, Luna?"
"I'm smiling at the fact that two members of feuding houses were able to put their differences aside in order to restore peace. It sort of like that play, Romeo and Juliet. I never got to finish it, though."
Ginny had not read the the play but knew perfectly well how it ended.
"Yeah. Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be anything like that play." Luna doesn't seem to have heard.
"How did you figure that out?" Neville asked.
"C'mon, Longbottom. This is is Luna Lovegood we're talking about," Pansy remarked and earned a bright but dreamy smile from Luna, a smile which she returned.
"Am I the only one still lost here?" Ginny asked, evidently unhappy about being left out.
"Pansy and I are forming a group to put an end to this so-called prank war."
"Aww. So soon? They've only been at this for, what? Two, three days?" At this comment she earned a sharp glare from Pansy.
"Yet, look at all the damage that's been done," Pansy said, "Draco's lost his hair, both your side and mine have already gotten multiple detentions. Snape, Dumbledore and McGonagall are now feuding as well and the whole school is loopier than ever. Enough is enough. The War ended a long time ago. Can't we try to put this whole childish feud behind us? For the sake of sanity, at least?"
Ginny was, once more, shocked.
"Did Pansy Parkinson just give a speech on inter-house relationships? Wow."
"Yeah. Whatever."
"So, are you guys in?" Neville asked.
"Why, yes, of course," Luna said dreamily. All eyes turned on Ginny.
"Of course, I'm in. Hashtag rebellion!" she answered excitedly, "But do you think we'll be enough?"
"We should be. And we could always recruit more people," Neville pointed out.
"Awesome. Let's get to work Protestants," Pansy declared.
Draco wiped the sweat off his brow then turned to the professor in charge of his detainment.
"I'm done," he rasped breathlessly.
"Ok. Come back to this same classroom tomorrow. Same time." Draco nodded then raced to the Hospital Wing without so much as a 'Good night, professor'. He opened the infirmary's door as quietly as 'Draco-ly' possible. He then proceeded to stick his head through the opening to check if it was empty. It was, except for Hermione's sleeping figure, of course.
He crept slowly and quietly towards her bed, then pulled one of the nearby chairs closer so he could talk to her quietly.
"Hey, Granger. It's me, Draco Malfoy, the handsome, blond Slytherin you punched in your third year. Do you remember him? Well, we aren't exactly the same person anymore. I've changed. Well, only slightly, but I have changed, really. Despite that, I've been a real git this year and I'm not exactly proud of it, but I can't help it. If you can hear, you're probably asking yourself why I'm telling you all this."
No response.
"I've been trying to find a way to say this ever since you punched my face, but I was scared that you wouldn't accept me because I'd been mean to you for about three years before that time and because I am a Slytherin and because my father is a death eater."
No response.
"And I've got to admit I was jealous of you. You are smart, witty, kind and you've got amazing friends. In fact, I only started identifying Blaise, Pansy and Theo as my friends after the war 'cause they were there for me when I needed people the most. Anyway, I was jealous, so instead of confronting you, I insulted you and your friends."
No response.
"In short, what I'm trying to say is that I'm-"
The door creaked open and Draco immediately ducked behind the bed. Ron and Harry removed the Invisibility cloak, revealing themselves.
Uh-oh, Draco thought.
"Maybe we should keep wearing the Cloak in case Pomfrey comes out."
"Nah. We'll be fine. Just don't make a sound."
The two Gryffindors moved to the spot where Draco had been seated just as he crawled under the bed silently. Ron sat down in the chair Draco had been sitting on previously.
"Hey Hermione," Harry cooed as he stroked her hair, "Could you please wake up? We miss you."
"Yeah. And I've got a Charms essay that's due next week," Ron piped up.
"Ron!" Harry said sharply. Ron just shrugged in reply.
Draco was disgusted at how Ron had just treated his still healing friend. He stifled an angry grunt and hid under the bed. Harry talked to Hermione and filled her in on all the pranks and Hermione did nothing but listen. As Harry filled her in, Ron started swinging his legs. Unfortunately for Draco, the first swing was a direct kick in his face. He again stifled grunt.
"Ow,' Ron complained.
"What now, Ron?"
"My leg hit something."
"Then check what it hit."
"Good idea."
Harry rolled his eyes then whispered into Hermione's ear. "See what I've been dealing with?"
Draco was now in panic mode. As Ron's head became clearer and clearer, Draco knew the jig was up and drew out his wand. As soon as Ron spotted him, Draco whispered 'Lumos' which blinded Ron temporarily. The poor redhead in question whimpered, staggered backwards and crashed loudly into the chair he had been sitting on, all the while rubbing his eyes. Draco grasped his opportunity and made a run for it. As he reached the door, someone screamed 'Petrificus Totalus'.
Draco braced himself for the the spell to meet him, but it never did.
"What's going on here?"
Author's Note: I'm terrible, aren't I? I didn't even bother to post a new chapter for the new year. I'm sorry, I really am, but rest assured, the next chapter will come soon if not immediately after this one. The story's almost over, I think and I've already started typing my next one, which, I'm pretty sure, no one has come up with yet. Again I'm really sorry. Also, review. It inspires me to keep posting.
With much love and lots of apologies,
Athenian Ravenclaw22
P.S: Happy New Year, by the way.
P.P.S: Also, sorry for making Ron act like a jerk but I found it somewhat necessary.