Chapter 14
"She said what?" asked Ginny.
"She told me I was safe!" said Draco.
"Ouch," said Harry trying not to laugh.
"You laugh Potter and I swear I won't hesitate to hex you," said Draco.
"And I'll let him!" said Ginny, "Be nice! So what did you say afterwards?"
"This is what happened…
Draco froze after hearing those words. Best friend? Safe? Seriously? After tonight? He had almost kissed her! A few times! How could she just miss those moves? Or maybe she didn't miss it… and she really didn't like him… maybe he was better off this way and not making a fool out of himself by telling her how much she now meant to him. Maybe this was better…
"Of course I'm you're friend," he said now trying to convince himself of his words, "I wasn't kidding when I said I'd be there for you whenever you need."
Hermione smiled at him again and hugged him. Draco hugged her back even though it hurt him to do so.
Draco pulled away with difficulty. Her and the dress were still really sticky
"Oh. Sorry," she said, "I guess I should probably go shower and change. You can stay if you wanted. I won't be long."
He would have love to have stayed… but he probably shouldn't. Especially not if she was showering…
"Uhh, no. I should probably go and get out of these dress robes and get some sleep. It was kind of a long night," said Draco.
"Ok. Thanks, Draco. You're the best," said Hermione giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Harry couldn't help himself. He burst out laughing.
"Are you kidding me? She told you that and she kissed you?" asked Harry still laughing.
Draco glared at Harry.
"You're really pushing it here," said Draco.
"Harry, please leave," she said.
"I probably should for my own safety," he said as he left the room still laughing.
"I can't believe she did that. She HAD to have known you were going to kiss her! I'm so sorry Draco!" said Ginny.
"Me too," said Draco with an irritated tone.
"I'll talk to her for you if you want," she said.
"No. It's fine. She'll come around, right?" he asked.
"Of course. She has to. I'm sure she's just afraid which makes sense after just being attacked like that by Ron," said Ginny.
"Right. Well I guess I'll just be what she needs for now," said Draco.
"Good idea," said Ginny.
The fire roared to life next to them and out stepped Hermione herself.
"Oh there you are," said Hermione.
"Yes. I live here, thanks," said Ginny confused.
"Not you. Draco. I didn't want to bother you so I went to find him," said Hermione sitting down at the table.
"Hermione?" asked Harry who had come back to see who had come into their house.
"Hi, Harry. Sorry to bother you guys, I was just looking for Draco although I really didn't expect to find him here," said Hermione, "What are you doing here anyways?"
"I came to see what they normally did to help you feel better when something goes wrong. I'm not always great with this 'friend' stuff," said Draco.
Ginny winced as she heard that. She caught his double meaning.
"Of course you are or I wouldn't be your friend, Draco," said Hermione.
"Thanks," he said giving her a small smile, "So what did you need?"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"Just company," she said.
"And we're not good company anymore?" asked Harry.
"No that's not what I meant! Come on. You guys are my best friends too. You're just… busy sometimes I guess. I just feel like I bother you too much now. You're married, I'm not. Ginny's pregnant. I just don't always fit into your life anymore," said Hermione.
"Hermione, you'll always fit in with us. After we've been through you really think that because I'm married and we're having a baby that you're going to be replaced?" asked Harry.
"I guess not," said Hermione smiling.
"But Draco's great too!" said Ginny.
"I know. Did he tell you he came to see me last night?" she asked.
"Um. Yeah," said Ginny.
"I wish I knew this side of you at Hogwarts. We could have been good friends longer," said Hermione.
"No offense but even if you did know this side of me I don't know we would be good friends…" said Draco.
"Probably not. Well thanks for letting us in now," said Hermione smiling at him.
"So how are you this morning?" asked Ginny changing the subject.
"Fine I guess," said Hermione, her face dropping.
"We haven't seen either of them to give them the hexing they deserve," said Ginny.
"You're not going to hex your own brother," said Hermione.
"Believe me. I have and I will. Especially now. I don't know what's gotten into him," she said.
"Did you see Witch Weekly this morning?" asked Draco with a smirk.
"No," they all said confused.
"I was going to bring this over to you later, but I'm sure we will all love to see what it says now," said Draco.
Hermione's mouth opened in shock. On the cover was a picture of her on Draco's arm and then another picture of a completely drunken Ron and Lavender.
"They don't waste any time printing 'news' do they?" asked Hermione.
"I told you it would work. This is even better because he made a complete fool of himself," said Draco.
"Hermione you look absolutely gorgeous!" said Ginny picking it up to get a better look.
"Oh let's not focus on me. You're just saying it," said Hermione. She hated pictures of herself.
"No seriously! Look!" said Ginny who shoved it in her face.
"It's lovely, " said Hermione in a flat tone.
"Are you blind?" asked Draco.
"I don't make it a point to admire myself like some people," said Hermione sarcastically.
Draco just rolled his eyes at her.
"Fine. But I guarantee that you'll notice it when you walk out onto the street and every wizard is after you. You looked stunning last night," said Draco.
Hermione remained silent on the matter and took the magazine from everyone flipping the pages to the article written about them. They made Ron look like the arrogant jerk that he really was. Hermione smiled to herself. This did actually make her feel a little bit better.
Ginny burst out laughing and said, "This is brilliant! I'm glad it's been published and sent out so quickly."
"Even I admit Ron kind of deserves this," said Harry.
"I'm kind of impressed here. Normally these articles say some completely outlandish things, but this is all the truth printed here," said Hermione smiling wider.
"I'm glad you like it. And this is where I get to say I told you so," said Draco with a smirk as he sat back in his chair looking very proud of himself.
"Arrogant prat," said Hermione now rolling her eyes at him but then giving him a smile.
Ch. 15 is almost ready :) Be looking for it