Severus came to Harry the next morning at breakfast."Harry, Draco wishes to speak with you and Hermione. He came to me last night, looking as if he'd been given a thorough beating. He says that he doesn't wish to be evil like his father."
Harry turned to Hermione. "I'm willing to give him a chance if you are, provided he allows us to try the Harmony Spell on him."
"He is family, Harry." She gazed at the other Gryffindors, many of whom had made it quite clear that they no longer wished to associate with her, Harry, or anyone who liked them. "Considering the way most of our House is treating us, it would be a bit hypocritical to not give Draco a second chance."
"Great minds think alike, 'Mione. Can we talk to him now? We're done eating." Harry picked up his school bag.
"I didn't want him to go back to Slytherin last night, so he's in my rooms. I have a feeling that I may just have to give him permanent houseroom, because he's not going to live long if the Slytherins get a hold of him," Severus told the two as they headed to the dungeons.
"You know, Uncle Sev, if we're going to be ostracized, we might as well do something to deserve it."
"That's the spirit, Harry. You sounded like Sirius for a moment."Severus sighed dramatically. "Merlin help us if you decide to be like that on a regular basis."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, normally he's like you. How's that any different?"
"I should give you a detention for that Ms. Granger, but seeing that you already have a significant amount of them, I'll let that remark go."
Severus opened the door to his rooms and let them in. "You have twenty minutes until class starts, but I won't care if you're a bit late. This is more important that your need to review. I'll be in the classroom if you need me."
"Hello, Draco," Harry said, sitting next to his cousin on the couch. "How's it going?"
"I'm shocked that you actually agreed to speak with me. I wouldn't have if I were you. I've been horribly nasty." Draco sighed. "I'm sorry, Harry, Hermione. I don't want to be like that anymore. I don't want to be my father…"he looked at Harry
"We know. That's why we're going to give you a second chance. Barely anyone in Gryffindor likes us anymore, and I hear that you have the same problem in Slytherin. Family should stick together."
Draco looked hopeful. "You really mean that?"
"He's a Truth-Future Seer, Draco. He can't lie to you or anyone else. We both are willing to give you another chance. We haven't exactly been nice to you either."She nodded to Harry. "We'd like to perform a spell on you to make absolutely sure that you want to be good. It shouldn't hurt."
"At this point, I'll do anything."
Harry and Hermione took out their wands. This would be the last test of the Harmony spell for a while.
"You're good. I suppose you'll do to replace Ron. You've got much better manners, at least." Harry grinned. He held out his hand. "Welcome to the group, Draco."
Draco grinned back.
Over the next few weeks, Harry, Draco, and Hermione earned a new nickname from the teachers— the "Dream Team." Not only were they the three most intelligent fifth years, surpassing all of the Ravenclaws, they were also ahead in all of their subjects. Wherever Harry and Hermione were, Draco was. The newly formed friendship did face several tests, though, especially one day in early October.
Draco had taken to eating all of his meals at the Gryffindor table. Severus didn't care, and neither did anyone else. Hedwig and Draco's eagle owl, Apollo, who had taken a great liking to each other, flew in together with the morning mail. Apollo had a black envelope in his beak. Draco handed it to Harry. "I can't open that, Harry. What if it's my mother that's died?"
"I'll do it." Harry broke the seal on the envelope. "Do you mind if I read it aloud, Draco?"
"Quietly," Draco said nervously. On Harry's other side, Hermione was reading the mail that Hedwig had brought her.
"Draco, I'm sorry to inform you that your father died last night in his cell at the French Ministry. The death appeared to be from natural causes, though we will be conducting a thorough autopsy. I also wish to inform you, and Harry if he's around, that your mother and I are in a relationship. We are "dating". We have been together since your father went to prison. There is the possibility that we may get married in the near future. We are very happy together, but if either one of you have an objection to our relationship, then we want to know about it. Sincerely, your Uncle Gawain." Harry raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry about your dad, Draco. Well, I would be if he hadn't tried to kill me several times, anyway."
"I don't blame you for that. I'm not, either. He was a cruel, heartless, evil man, and he got what he deserved. If I feel anything for him, it's pity. He turned his back on Nana, Mum, and me a very long time ago. Speaking of which, I don't have a problem with them, do you?"
"My mum died fourteen years ago. I know he loved her a lot, and that's enough for me. I'm not going to be angry that he's found someone else." He munched on a piece of bacon. "We could be brothers then. That'd be alright." Harry heard Hermione swear. She never swore.
"This is from my parent's." She threw a crumpled and newly-tear stained sheet of stationary at toward him. "They heard about what happened in September and they told me that I have to either go home, or never speak to them again."
"Who the heck told them? Aunt Minerva said that no one in our family would tell them since they wouldn't understand." Harry tried to put his arm around her. She threw it off.
"It was probably some Ministry idiot. They don't understand the meaning of tact," Draco muttered into his eggs.
She ran out of the Great Hall. Harry just sat there in shock. "She's obviously very angry right now, Harry. I wouldn't go after her."
"I've never seen her like that before, Draco. Never. Where do you think she's gone?" Harry put his head in his hands.
"I don't know. Under normal circumstances, I'd say she's gone to the library. These aren't normal circumstances, and she's not a normal girl, so my next guess is that she either went to Professor McGonagall, Nana or her dorm. What did they say that made her so emotional anyhow?"
Harry smoothed out the piece of paper.
"Dear Hermione,
The Ministry of Magic had recently informed us that you've been involved in several dangerous situations recently and that you've even been accused of murder. Obviously, the Wizarding World is not as wholesome as we've been lead to believe. Apparently, your "boyfriend" is a wanted man by some evil wizard, three of his uncles have served prison time, and his grandfather is a follower of this evil wizard. You need to stop pretending that you belong in that world and come home to us. You can continue your schooling and forget all about them. If you don't come home, you can be certain that you'll never see us again. Lovingly, Mum and Dad."
"Lovingly? Right, and I'm a large, purple hippogriff! She can't go back to the Muggle world…she belongs here." Draco shook his head. "We've got to get to Potions, Harry. Take her stuff, maybe she'll come to class. She wouldn't miss class, would she?"
"I don't know. I'd like to know who in the Ministry informed them, because I'd like to rip them to pieces right now."
"Give me that note...I'm going chuck it in the rubbish bin where it belongs. Or burn it...that would be more fun."
As they walked to Potions, Harry tried to talk to her using their link. " 'Mione, please talk to me."
"I'm going to ignore everything you try to tell me right now, so I wouldn't try it, Harry. Go away."
Harry's face went pale. "She won't talk to me."
"Go talk to Nana, Harry. I'll explain the situation to Professor Snape." Draco sincerely hoped that they worked something out. He wasn't sure Harry'd survive without his Hermione.
Severus noticed that something was wrong the second that Draco walked in alone. "Mr. Malfoy, where are your companions?"
"Hermione got a letter from her parents saying that she either has to come home and give up magic and Harry forever or she has to give up them. They weren't very complementary toward Harry in their letter. She ran out of breakfast, she won't talk to Harry at all."
"She won't talk to Harry?" Severus' jaw dropped. "That's unheard of."
"I know. He's really broken up about it, too. I told him to go talk to Nana. Maybe she can help."
Severus nodded. "That was probably a good idea. If anyone can help Hermione, it's your grandmother. She helped Lily and I with some major family issues."
"I don't think he can survive without her, Professor. I think, if she leaves, he'll die."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that, Draco."
A/n: I have a bunch of chapters written (I just need to type them!) The next chapter will deal with the resolution of this issue, then a Hogsmede weekend and some very interesting plot changes.