The move to Grimmuald Place was a brilliant change. It was an interesting experience, having my own house. It helped immensely to have Hermione and Ginny there. Without them, the place would have been in far worse condition than it was by the end of the week.
The move meant almost complete freedom for Draco and I. I was glad to be sharing a room with him—it was somehow comforting to have him beside me at night. I felt safe in his arms, as though he could protect me from anything.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came by every Sunday for lunch, though we all knew it was so Mrs. Weasley could check up on us. She probably would have been by every day if Arthur didn't stop her. She seemed satisfied, however, as she glanced around during each visit.
Once the general inspection was finished, however, she joined the rest of us in the sitting room just off the main hall for a chance to talk. It was times like these that I really began to notice just how much everyone had warmed to Draco. He wasn't ignored or pushed out of conversations like he used to be.
There also seemed to be no aversion to our displays of affection. We could hold hands, kiss, even snuggle up together on the sofa, and no one would say a word against it. Ron didn't seem thrilled about it, but he never once complained. Though, that may have had more to do with the "little talk" Hermione and Ginny had had with him the first week at Grimmuald.
No matter the reason, I was glad for the peace. I loved Draco, after all, and it hurt for someone as important to me as Ron was to show aversion to him. I knew Ron still didn't trust Draco, but I still held a faint spark of hope that that might one day change.
"I love this," I said to Draco one night as we were climbing into bed. "Having this place all of our own, being able to live the way we want to. It's brilliant." He smiled.
"You are brilliant," he replied, kissing me. "And I love you."
"I love you to." Yeah, I could definitely live with that arrangement. I wrapped my arms around him, snuggling down into his chest as he stroked my back almost absent mindedly. I smiled as his lips pressed against the top of my head.
"Pansy would die if she saw us now," he said suddenly. I looked up at him. he had a far away look in his eyes. "She slapped me after she found out I'd broke up with you, and the reason for it." I frowned slightly.
"That's awful," I whispered. He shook his head.
"I needed it—deserved it, even. She cried and hugged me after that. She would have gone to you as well if Blaise had let her."
"Why didn't he?"
"He didn't think a Slytherin would be appreciated in Gryffindor territory, let alone the best friend of the bloke who'd just broken their golden boy's heart."
"He was probably right about that one."
"Yeah, he usually is."
"Have…have you heard from them recently?"
His expression changed to one of complete numbness. "No," he answered. "Not since we said goodbye at King's Cross."
I stayed silent, having no clue what I should say. So I said the first thing that came to my mind. "I'm sorry." He smiled and kissed my hair.
"Not your fault, love. Goodnight."
"Night." I couldn't help but feel slightly guilty all the same.