Medication
Rated T: Language, Fluff
2 o'clock on the Hogwarts High school Quad
"Oi! Draco! What's the bloody hurry mate?" Harry shouted across the quad. "You forget to take a pill or something?"
"Stuff it Harry. I've just got someplace to be and I should have been there ten minutes ago. Don't bother yourself worried about what medication I'm taking, yeah?"
"He is acting like an odd duck," Ron said stopping next to Harry.
"He has been all week long. He's hiding something but I'm not sure what," Harry replied.
"Any ideas? I mean if it was a girl he'd let us know right. He's always on about one bint or another."
Harry shook his head. "We could follow him, but if he wanted us to know he would tell us right?"
Ron snorted. "You never know with Draco."
"Hey lads!" Theo shouted from behind them.
"Theo!" they said in unison.
"What's buggering Draco? He's been missing most of the week."
"I just said that!" Ron shouted. "He's up to something."
"He'll be back in the dorm tonight and I say we hold him down until he tells us what the hell he's been up too," Theo said.
Harry and Ron nodded in unison. The plan was set.
10 o'clock in the Dumbledore Senior Boys Dorm
Draco tip toed into the dorm room and paused to listen to the even breathing of his dorm mates. They all appeared to be asleep. He breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed his bathroom gear and pajamas to take a shower before hitting the mattress. He was exhausted from all the sneaking around but it was worth it to be with her. If only his mates would understand he wouldn't have to do all this shit, but they weren't the most open of lads.
He showered quickly and jerked his pajamas on before padding softly back to his bed. He was shocked to see the dorm room lights on when he got back and all three of his dorm mates sitting on his bed. "Lads? What's going on?" he asked, trying not to sound concerned.
"We know you've been up to something Malfoy," Ron said squinting at him with his bright blue eyes. "We want to know what the hell is going on."
Harry and Theo nodded from beside the red head. "You've been sneaking around all week long and you missed quidditch practice today," Harry said angrily. "What the hell is going on Malfoy?"
"Nothing mates! Nothing! I… forgot practice today is all."
Theo snorted. "Draco Malfoy the most successful seeker in Hogwarts High history forget quidditch? Yeah right! You come to practice just to show off your skills! Tell us the truth Draco."
Draco's brain was spinning a mile a minute trying to come up with a plausible explanation, but he was drawing a blank. "Stop thinking up an excuse mate and tell us the truth," Harry said. "We can handle it. We aren't 11 anymore and at each other's throats. We've been best mates for years now and we know everything about each other Malfoy. What's going on?"
"You won't understand," Draco groaned out, flopping down on the futon in their room.
"Try us," Theo said crossing his arms over his chest.
"I'm… I've been… I'm seeing… Ermionanger," he mumbled.
"What?" Harry said. "I didn't catch that Malfoy."
Ron's eyes were wide when he spoke. "It almost sounded… I mean it can't be… it sounded like he said he's been seeing Hermione Granger."
Theo died out laughing. "That's funny Draco, now tell us the truth."
Draco groaned again. "I knew you wouldn't understand," he said with a deep sigh.
The three boys sat in stunned silence for a moment. Finally Ron spoke up. "You're… dating Hermione Granger?"
Draco stared at the ceiling as he spoke. "I wouldn't call it dating exactly. We've been… spending a lot of time together and I like her… a lot."
"How do you even know her?" Theo said in surprise. "I mean what in Merlin's balls do the two of you talk about? She's… she's…"
"Hermione Granger," Draco finished. "I know."
The room was silent for several moments before Ron spoke again. "You really like her mate?"
Draco sat up on the futon and glanced at them. "I really do Weasley. I really do."
"That's… great Draco," Theo said incredibly unsure of his statement.
"Do her friends know?" Harry asked.
Draco shook his head. "She's been sneaking around too."
"How the hell does she sneak away from her guards?" Harry asked.
"She only has one and she trusts him to keep her secrets. His name is Simon and he's been great about our… relationship or whatever."
"Have… have you met her father?" Theo asked.
"Bloody hell Theo, it's only been a couple of weeks! We aren't getting married or anything!"
"Hermione fucking Granger," Ron said shaking his head. "When can we meet her?"
"You want to meet her?" Draco said shocked.
"If she is hanging with you then we need to meet her and vice versa. I wouldn't mind meeting her friends either," Ron said with a smirk.
"That's because you have a long distance crush on Pansy Parkinson," Theo said with an elbow to Ron's ribs.
"You should talk with your wanking to Luna Lovegood!" Harry said with a laugh.
"And it's not like you have been harboring heat for Daphne Greengrass or anything Potter," Theo spat back.
"Let me… talk to her tomorrow," Draco said. "I'll see what we can set up. Now if the inquisition is over I'd like to get to bed. I'm smashed."
2 o'clock empty classroom at Hogwarts High
She was already there when he strolled through the door and she met him with a grin that spread ear to ear. "Draco," she said breathily.
He kissed her cheek and sat down next to her at the table. "How has your day been?"
"Lousy, but it's better now that I get to see you."
He grinned at her. "Well I'm glad I can make it better."
"How about you?"
He sighed. "It's been fine, but I need to talk to you about something."
"Sounds serious."
"My… friends realized that I was up to something yesterday and they… wouldn't leave me alone until I confessed about meeting you and spending time with you."
She frowned. "Ok. How did they take it?"
"Shocked would probably be the best description."
"Why because I'm 'Hermione Granger'?" she said mockingly.
"Yeah, something like that."
"Well isn't that just grand."
"They… um… want to meet you."
"I'm sure they do Draco. Everyone wants to meet me for some reason or another."
"Oi! I didn't! I didn't even know who you were at first. I just thought you were a beautiful woman hiding behind a book in the library."
"Really Draco?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Ok, not really. I knew who you were, but I still wanted to get to know you. The real you. Not the you that is plastered on all those trash magazines and is a poster girl for her daddy."
Hermione giggled. "You think I'm beautiful? Really?"
Draco blushed and it appeared bright red against his incredibly pale skin. "Yo… you know you're beautiful Hermione."
"No one's ever said it but my parents," she whispered to him.
He grinned. "Well I do think you are beautiful. Especially this version of you in a school uniform with her hair in a high bun trying to blend into the crowd. I really do like you Hermione, and not because your daddy dearest is the bleeding prime minister of Scotland."
Hermione grinned at him. "I like you too Draco."
"Yeah, yeah, you like me for my quidditch body and the Malfoy fortune that follows me as an only heir."
She laughed and shook her head. "Bloody hell you've found me out! I thought I hid my shallowness so well," she said sarcastically.
"So what do you think?"
"About?"
"Meeting my friends. They want to meet you, and er, your friends too."
Hermione giggled. "Who has a crush on who?"
"I didn't say anything love. You'll have to wait and see I reckon."
5 o'clock the girls dormitory private quad
"Oi! Keep up Weasel! We were supposed to be there ten minutes ago! Why in the bleeding hell did I let you lot talk me into this I'll never know?"
"Stuff it Draco," Theo said with a chuckle, "you want us to meet her and she obviously wants to meet us somewhat."
Draco shook his head. "I still can't believe I'm doing this. I was keeping her such a good secret until you opened your eyes and started paying attention."
"Really it was Harry that noticed," Ron said from behind Draco.
"Figures that Potter would be paying me attention."
Harry laughed. "I've always kept an eye on you Malfoy. When we were kids you were a slimy git who constantly got us into trouble! Old habits die hard mate."
"Simon," Draco greeted a tall man with broad shoulders who was standing in front of a wrought iron gate.
"Mr. Malfoy. Ms. Granger and her friends are just inside. You'll all have to be searched before you can enter the gardens of course."
After the search was complete Draco led the other three boys into a beautifully adorned garden where a lovely pic-nic had been set up. Hermione smiled and beckoned Draco over to sit next to her. "Hermione," he said, greeting her with a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Please allow me to introduce my best mates. That fellow there with the uncontrollable black hair is Harry Potter of Godric's Hollow."
"Charmed," Hermione said with a grin.
"Pleasure," Harry responded.
"That red headed git is Ronald Weasley. His family is out of the Burrows in Northern Ireland, but he sounds like he's English. Still trying to figure that one out."
"Oi!" Ron shouted and Hermione giggled.
"And that blond headed bloke with the shit eating grin is Theodore Nott from West Sussex."
"Pleasure to meet you all gentlemen," Hermione said. "If you would please allow me to introduce you to three of my best friends. The lovely white blond is Ms. Luna Lovegood of Camphry, the dark haired goddess is Ms. Pansy Parkinson, she's also from West Sussex Theodore, and the honey colored lass is Ms. Daphne Greengrass. She's from the Northern Isles."
The three girls all nodded at the boys. "Won't you please be seated," Luna said with a voice that surprisingly small. "Theodore, you can sit here, next to me."
"It would be my pleasure Ms. Lovegood."
The boys spread out on the blankets and were silent for several minutes. "Well aren't we a lively bunch," Pansy spat with a snicker. "Young and crazy and sat on a picnic blanket staring at our feet."
Ron chuckled. "You are much like my sister described you Ms. Parkinson."
"I'm sorry. Am I acquainted with your sister?"
"Yes, Ginevra Weasley. She and your cousin Blaise are to be married next summer."
Pansy shook her head. "Sweet Ginny! Of course I should have realized with the hair! Bless her soul being in love with Blaise as she is Ronald. He's a right prat but he takes wonderful care of her."
"Call me Ron, and you are correct. What she sees in him I'll never understand, but he loves her and treats her well."
"I've some photos of Ginny and Blaise at their engagement party from a month ago. Come on and I'll show them to you," Pansy said standing up from the blanket and brushing imaginary dirt off her skirt.
"One down," Hermione whispered to Draco.
"What?"
"Just wait."
"Mr. Potter?"
"Harry, please, Ms. Greengrass."
"Then you may call me Daphne. I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting your cousin Dudley from Little Winging Surrey."
"I'm nothing like him," Harry said putting his hands in front of him in defense.
"I would hope not. He's a rather horrible boy. You look more like a real man from where I'm sitting."
Harry blushed. "I do try," he said with a grin.
"I have some lovely paintings of your hometown that I would love to show you. That is, if you are interested?"
"Qui… quite interested," Harry said clearing his throat and jumping up from the blanket to follow Daphne.
"Two for two," Hermione whispered and Draco smirked.
"Theo, may I call you Theo?" Luna said.
"Of course Ms. Lovegood, do you mind if I call you Luna?"
"Luna is my name Theo, I never imagined you'd call me anything other than Luna."
Theo smiled at her and she gave him a wink.
"I rather think you would like to see the inside of my bedroom," Luna said pointedly.
"Par… pardon?"
"Come with me Theo. I think I can teach you a thing or two… if you'll let me."
"I am your apt pupil," Theo said entranced by Luna.
Draco watched with a grin as Theo followed Luna through a set of large wooden doors.
"Draco," Hermione whispered into his ear.
"Yes Hermione?"
"I like you a lot."
"I like you too."
"Unlike the boys dorms we each have individual bedrooms," Hermione said before licking the shell of his ear and sending a shiver down his spine.
"You don't say."
"Your friends have all been whisked away to the other girl's rooms. Is there a reason we are still out her on this blanket?"
"I don't know Hermione. Is there something you'd like to show me in your bedroom?"
"I'd like to show you a lot Draco, but only if you are interested."
"If I get any more interested I might die Hermione."
"Wonderful Draco. Let's go have show and tell in my room."
Draco grasped her hand in his and followed her along the walkway to her bedroom. "And Draco?"
"Yes Hermione."
"We don't kiss and tell."
"Of course not Hermione."
"If it does get told, my father will hear about it and it won't be pretty."
"You'll never have anything for your father to hear about Hermione."
She grinned and him before pushing him into her bedroom.
~FIN~