Disclaimer: I don't own the TV show, "PUNKED."
A/N: I want my devoted readers to know that the Draco in this story may seem out of character. That is because this is how I feel he should act and is inspired by a person very close to me. Bix
Chapter 27: Forgiveness
"Dumbledore! Professor Dumbledore, I need to speak with you!" bellowed Hermione as she pounded on the office door. It snapped open like it had many times before. "Yes, what is it Ms. Granger?" came the elderly headmaster's voice. Hermione walk in and showed Dumbledore her arm and explained.
"Well I see, I am very shocked that you would sink that low my dear but you learned from it the hard way." said the headmaster "I don't know if there is a spell strong enough to get rid of the entire mark but we can try." He muttered some words and the mark slowly vanished into a small black circle on her forearm. "There. I may warn you though it may still burn or turn color but you must ignore it." "Yes, Headmaster, I will," said a very sincere Hermione. "May I also advise you to make amends with your friends. You do not want to lose their friendship. That is one of the most important things in life, don't ever try to seek revenge, it never goes the right way." With that said, Dumbledore turned and vanished into the darkness of the office and Hermione scampered down to dinner.
Meanwhile…Draco awoke with a start hearing a bell in the distance. Must be the dismissal of dinner bell. He looked down at the girl who lie in his arms; she was out cold and felt a bit clammy. I should probably try to wake her. As he thought this, Ashley's eyes fluttered open. "Where am I?" she muttered.
Draco smiled and sighed, "Your in the hallway where I found you. You were having some sort of fit, then you clasped on the floor and I picked you up and you fell asleep in my arms. I soon drifted off and well here we are." Ashley nodded and tried to stand, her body still weak from the fit, she toppled to the ground. Draco stood up from his spot on the floor and walked over to her. He picked her up, her weak body draped over his arms. Gently, Draco walked down the hall, heading towards the Gryffindor Tower. He whispered to her as to where they were going and she nodded back and slid into sleep.
In the Entrance Hall…The group of friends came out of the Great Hall with a void in all of them filled back in. Hermione had apologized for her actions. They all accepted her back with open arms but the one Hermione was worried about the most was Ashley. She wondered if her foreign friend would ever accept her back. Hermione had asked her friends if they had seen Ashley at all, they all responded with 'Not since breakfast.' They told her how Ashley had ran out of the Hall during their morning meal, screaming, with Draco running after her. "Don't worry Herm, we trust him with Ashley. He won't do anything stupid but I have the best joke to play on them." started Nicole with a glint in her eyes and she told them the plan.
Back to the Tower…
Draco reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. She looked down a Draco and then at Ashley who lay asleep in his arms. "Do I want t know?" inquired the portrait. "No, it is a long story but I didn't do anything to her." said Draco, astounded that the portrait would ask and then he said the password.
When he stepped forward through the portrait, the entire common room went silent. Everyone turned to look at him. Andi, Nicole, and Hermione (to Draco's surprise) came rushing at him and swept Ashley out of his arms and took her to a couch by the fire to lay her down. Draco felt a tad uncomfortable but now it began to grow as he noticed several Gryffindor boys, including all from their year, (Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, and Seamus) got up from their seats and were slowly walking towards him. They had their hands clenched and were pounding them into the palm of their opposite hand. As they came closer, Draco tried to stand his ground but it was no use, they had backed him up against the wall. An evil glint, sparkled in their eyes, slowly they moved their fists towards Draco's head so they could punch him but as Draco prepared for the blow, all he heard was, "YOU JUST GOT PUNKED!" He winced as they screamed at the top of their voices but soon he straightened up and just stared. Harry and Ron were laughing so hard they had fallen to the ground, soon collecting themselves, after several deep breathes, they explained.
"It was all Nicole's idea. It is a Muggle TV show staring some guy who goes around pulling pranks on celebrities. Mal-Draco you know we trust you and all…" stumbled Harry but Ron gladly finished, "but that one was for old times sake. Sorry mate. We knew you would take good care of Ashley, that's why we didn't follow you." Draco sighed, "I accept your apology, but I have to admit that was good and I had it coming to me. I had one question though, can I stay until Ashley wakes up?" Both boys nodded as they lead Draco over to the couch by the fireplace. Ashley lay on the couch, with her head propped up on the arm. Hermione was holding Ashley 's head, Nicole held Ashley's hand, and Andi came swooping in with a blanket to cover her. Draco moved slowly to the couch, kneeling next to her body, taking Ashley's hand and squeezed it firmly, muttering a few words and her eyes fluttered open. Draco slid up onto the couch next her and held her tightly.
"What happened?" was all she could muster. Andi sighed, "My dear, you had a fit and well you clasped in on of the hallways," Draco pulled Ashley closer to him, protecting her, "So Draco went after you and found you on the floor. He…" She was lost for words, they all were. None of them really knew what happened between breakfast and dinner. They turned to face Draco, who was sweating bullets. "Well, I found you and gathered you up in my arms… gulp and I eventually fell asleep. I woke up when I heard the dinner bell and I brought you up here," sighed Draco finishing his tale. Ashley pulled the blanket up around her and snuggled closer to his warm body. He absent-mindedly put his arm around pulling her closer. Everyone else sighed and sat down in the chairs around the fire.
Eventually the girls said their goodnights to their boyfriends but Draco had to help Ashley up the stairs to the dormitory door. The other girls went in ahead of her and closed the door behind them. Ashley smiled lightly at the action, "Good night, Draco," she whispered. Draco kissed her tenderly on the lips, it lasted a little longer than he meant for Ashley had pulled his body very close to her own. She nipped at his ear and gently pulled away with a final kiss. Draco, his breath a bit ragged, whispered, "Good night, love." Ashley opened the door and slipped inside, smiling mischievously. Draco smirked and walked down stairs, chatted for a bit and said his good evenings to the guys. He felt better about his new friendship with them as he walked down to the dungeons, and thinking lightly of his good night kiss.
Ashley came out of the shower and crawled into bed. The other girls soon nodded off with her. They entered their individual dreamlands but little did they know, there was mischief afoot in other parts of the world. Nearing early morning, the four friends shared a very strange experience but none new it happened to the other for they still slept, quietly.