Chapter 28
Change
"Ah well Granger, it appears we've made it," Draco grins, an arm around the brunette.
"Indeed we have," Hermione grins, "I'm beat though, between the station and the train and sitting through yet another speech about how no one should attempt to bother Peeves, I'm quite ready to go to sleep."
"I suppose you have a point there…" Draco grins, "Those third years really had it coming though..I'm surprised Peeves only dropped them on the roof as opposed to in the Black Lake."
"What on earth gives you that thought?"
"Let's just say I was pretty bored one winter break in second year…" Draco shivers, remembering having to wade out of the freezing water while Peeves cackled on the shore shouting 'Take that you rotten Malfoy!'
Laughing, Hermione detaches herself from Draco and makes her way to her staircase.
"Goodnight Draco, see you tomorrow," Hermione yawns.
"Goodnight Hermione," Draco smiles, watching the brunette retreat to her room.
Making his way the bottom of his own staircase, he pulls his wand out and mumbles, "Nox," making the all lights shut off, leaving the slowly dimming fire as the only source of light.
While Hermione was determined she was exhausted, all she could find herself doing is rolling back and forth in bed, attempting to get comfortable. Hours passed, leaving her more exhausted, and her hair protesting by pointing in all directions.
Her hair at this point had grown to reach her chin, which made the short hairs prone to pointing all directions, particularly as she ran her hands through it before letting out a groan.
Kicking the blankets away from her legs, she sits up and glances over at her small clock.
"1am? Seriously?" she groans, standing from the bed to grab her robe, "Forget it, I'll just go read for a bit."
She soon found herself settled into a chair by the fire, tea in one hand and book in the other. With a smile, she cracked the book open to read.
"I've not read this in forever," she grins, "Honestly I forgot I packed it, mum must have put it in my bag."
Humming a small tune, Hermione makes her way through the book that her mom wrote for her as a child. While it wasn't exactly the "light reading" she typically enjoyed, she loved the simple story of a little girl who wanted to be a princess, and as she grew older, she became one, but only through hard work, books, and just a bit of magic.
Upstairs, Draco began to shift in bed, clearly distressed.
"It's not real, it's not real," he mumbles, his arms covering his face, "Father is dead, he can't hurt me!"
Eyes flashing open, he sits up quickly, sweat staining the back of his white muscle shirt. Breathing heavily, he covers his eyes for a moment with a groan. Figuring he wouldn't get back to sleep now, he shuffles downstairs.
Rubbing his eyes coming down the stairs, he suddenly hears a quiet tune coming from the couch.
"Hermione?" he says, looking at the comfortable brunette.
"Couldn't sleep?" Hermione replies.
"Bad dream actually," Draco sighs, flopping onto the couch across from Hermione, looking into the dying flames.
With a frown, Hermione goes to sit besides the blond, wrapping an arm around his torso.
"Wanna talk about it?" she whispers.
"No, not really, just figured I wouldn't be getting back to sleep anytime soon," he says, setting his chin on her forehead to look at the book she held, "What's my bookworm reading now?"
"Oh, just a silly story my mum wrote for me when I was a kid," she grins, "It's silly but it helps me get to sleep."
"Read it to me."
With an arched eyebrow, Hermione giggles, "Really?"
"Well yeah, let's have it," Draco shrugs.
"Alrighty then," Hermione grins, "Here we go. It's called the Brave Princess. Once upon a time, there was a little girl, who wanted to be a princess, and become a princess she would! She just used hard work, books, and a pinch of magic."
"Hm, this princess sounds familiar…" Draco smirks.
"Oh hush, I was like six."
Chuckling, Draco closes his eyes as Hermione continues to read, settling into the crook of Draco's arm, lulling the duo to sleep.
EARLIER THAT DAY
Grabbing his jacket from the chair, Ron makes one last check in the mirror, running a hand through his short hair, which recently got cut into a close crop.
"Alright, I've got my jacket, my money, that sounds about right-"
His musings are interrupted by a tap at his window. Taking some treats with him, he opens the window to reveal a nearly black owl with a note. Ruffling his feathers, Ron feeds him the treats before untying the letter.
"Thanks mate," Ron smiles, "Wonder where you came from.."
Before he knew it, the bird was gone, leaving Ron to shut the window and look at the letter. The clock on the wall however chimed before he could open it.
"Shoot, don't want to be late," Ron frowns, stuffing the letter into his pocket and making his way to the front door, "See you later Barney!"
"Yeah whatever," comes the response from Ron's roommate, leaning against the doorframe in the kitchen, "You've got a hot date while I'm bored out of my mind…"
"It's just coffee mate," Ron says, shrugging on his coat.
"Yeah sure," Barney scoffs, "Just coffee."
"Oh come off it," Ron laughs before heading out the door.
Jogging to the small café two blocks away, Ron runs his hand through his hair before entering the small warm restaurant.
Looking around, he finds who he is looking for, "Lucy!" he grins.
"Hey Ron!" says Lucy, a short blonde.
The two had met at Ron's new job as a stockbroker in training, where he planned to move on to a better job than his temporary position at his brother's joke shop.
Standing to hug the redhead, Lucy smiles, before pulling back, "Thanks for coming, I was starving so I went ahead and ordered, I hope you don't mind."
"Not a problem," Ron says, sliding into the booth across from the girl.
A waitress came over to Ron, looking rather flustered.
"What can I get you sir?" she says.
"Hm, I'll take a cheeseburger, some chips, and that'll be good," Ron says, glancing at the menu, "Oh wait actually also a soda would be brilliant, thanks."
Nodding, the short waitress makes her way to the counter, passing a crying child.
Shaking his head at the loud child and its mother trying to placate him, Ron sets his menu down, looking back at Lucy.
"So how are you today?" Ron smiles.
"Doing quite well actually," Lucy says, eating a chip, "Nothing particularly exciting, I got my flat all put together, which I'd been meaning to do for awhile. It's a good feeling."
"You just moved here right?"
"Yep, just for the internship, actually. Hopefully I get it, otherwise it's sure to be a pain finding something else around here."
"You'll get it," Ron reassures, moving his hands to welcome his food.
"Thanks, I sure hope so!" Lucy grins, watching Ron eat half his burger in two bites, "You sure like eating don't you?"
"What?" Ron mumbles, mouth half full.
Red faced, Ron swallows his bites before speaking, "Sorry, I was never much for manners,"
"No problem," Lucy says, sipping her soda.
"So anyway…" Ron says, asking Lucy about herself.
The conversation, full of laughter and stories continued for a few hours, until Lucy began to yawn.
"You must be tired," Ron says, "It is getting late, perhaps we should head home?"
"Yeah I suppose so," Lucy says, standing from her seat.
With a smile, Ron helps her with her coat before his, and they both head to the front.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow morning I guess?" Ron says.
"Sounds good!" Lucy smiles, gives Ron a quick peck on the cheek and walks down the street, pausing to wave once.
Waving at the blonde, Ron shoves his hands in his pockets, walking the opposite direction towards his flat.
"Oh bugger I forgot about the letter," Ron mumbles, taking the stairs up to his flat.
Once inside, he collapses onto a chair and pulls the letter out of his pocket.
"Dear Ron,
I just wanted to let you know that I forgive you. I also want to thank you for apologizing to everyone, I'm sure that took a lot for you.
Now, the others don't know about this yet, but I would like it if you came to graduation. I am still a bit upset with you, but I do forgive you like I said before. I've known you for too long not to have you be at graduation. I hope you can come.
Hermione"
"I don't deserve her forgiveness," Ron sighs, rubbing his face, "But it's Hermione, so I'll take what I can get."
Groaning, he stands from his chair to go to sleep, a smile on his face for the first time in a long time.
THE NEXT MORNING
Waking up, Hermione was met with a pleasant surprise. Both her and Draco had fallen asleep on the couch, with Hermione leaning against the blond, his head against hers. Smiling at the position they were in, Hermione sighed.
"Draco love," Hermione whispers, setting a hand on his chest.
"Mmm" Draco mumbles, putting his hand over hers, "Hermione,"
Rolling her eyes, Hermione speaks up, "Come on love, we've got to go eat,"
"Well Granger," Draco says, eyes still shut, "I'm quite content just staying here all day long, matter of fact."
"Yes well hun," Hermione says, standing, "We've got to get to class as well, you know."
"Must we?" Draco says, cracking an eye open.
"Yes, I'm afraid so," Hermione smiles, pulling the blond up.
With a groan Draco nods, following Hermione to the staircase before going to his own.
A few minutes later, the two were dressed and ready to head to breakfast.
"Ready?" Hermione says, holding a hand out.
Nodding, Draco takes her hand before following her out of the common room and to the Great Hall.
"Morning everyone!" Hermione smiles, sitting next to Ginny and Harry and across from Blaise, Luna, Neville and Emma.
Various responses come back, along with yawns and glares.
As they dug into a breakfast of eggs, toast and sausages, Blaise paused, holding his glass of pumpkin juice to his lips.
"Um Mione?" he says, nodding his head to two approaching students, "Seems as if you two have a guest."
Confused, Draco and Hermione turn to see the Slytherin boy being pulled over by a blond girl.
"Isn't that the kid who was messing with you on the train once?" Ginny asks, arms crossed.
"Yeah it is," Hermione shrugs.
"What do you want kid?" Draco says, frowning at the small fourth year.
"Well see, um, I know I was rude to you once, and it was bloody stupid of me really," the boy says, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Okay so?" Draco sighs.
Smacking him in the stomach, the blond girl glares at the boy.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry," the boy groans, "and this is my girlfriend Bri, and she's a muggleborn just like you Hermione. She's pretty fantastic and is kicking my arse in every class, so it's pretty clear that blood really doesn't matter at all. I wish I'd have realized that sooner, and I really shouldn't have said those awful things to either of you on the train."
Smiling, Hermione replies, "That's alright. What's your name?"
"Duncan."
"Well Duncan, I'm glad you've seen the other side, and it's very big of you to come apologize," Hermione smiles.
Draco just rolls his eyes at the younger Slytherin boy, choosing to say nothing.
"Ignore him, he's just a big grump." Hermione says, elbowing Draco in the side.
"I am not!" Draco protests.
Rolling her eyes, Hermione smiles at Duncan and Bri, "Well it was nice to meet you two, and thank you again Duncan for apologizing. We appreciate it."
Only able to nod under the glare from Draco, Duncan turns to leave.
"Did you really have to be such an arse to him Draco?" Hermione says, cutting up her eggs.
"Sorry, I just don't like that kid," Draco grumbles, "He's a little show off who thinks he's so bloody fantastic, and he was a little shit before, so pardon me if the grudge sticks around for a bit."
"Mate get over yourself," Blaise laughs.
"Yeah Draco, get over it." Hermione says.
"Fine." Draco huffs, "Only because you asked though."
Rolling her eyes, Hermione continues eating.
Once everyone had finished up their breakfasts, many complaints were made, as they all had to go to class.
"I'd rather go jump into the lake than go to potions today," Draco groans, following Hermione down the hall.
"Oh cheer up mate, you've got Hermione to keep you company!" Blaise laughs, wiggling his eyebrows, "I don't have a single class with Luna today!"
"Oh shove it Blaise," Draco rolls his eyes.
The group laughed until splitting up, trudging to their classes.
"Almost done love," Hermione says, leaning against the blond.
"I know, I know," Draco sighs, stepping into potions to begin the day.
A/N: Okay so I have the next few chapters planned already (8 or 9 more to go!) so those will be up soon I hope. Give me time though :) Also, I need your thoughts on whether you'd like to see a sequel or if you would rather just read an epilogue. It will change the ending a bit, but I'd like to get your feedback.
Thank you to everyone who followed/faved, you are my inspiration!
To my lovely reviewers: AliceCullen3, potterhead27, Continuity (THANK YOU I FIXED THE PROBLEM AND A FEW OTHERS I HAD NOTICED), Guest, and MeEmma. HUGS AND THANK YOUS TO EVERYONE :)
About the epilogue or whatever, just send me a review or PM or whatever you'd like to see coming up.
Love you guys!
xx
Jess
