I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
Disclaimer: Do not own it, for the ninth time.
A/N: So sorry I haven't updated! Last week was hectic! If you didn't see my comment, I said that I would post two chapters this week if you review! That would motivate me enough! I love you all for sticking with me!
Chapter 9: New Friends
Hermione
I heard Draco's door slam at noon. I heard Apparition. He was gone. We hadn't spoken since the day before, but I wasn't going to speak to him if he wouldn't with me.
All I could think about was Draco's reaction to the engagement. I hadn't even told him. He just saw the ring. I left the diamond ring on the coffee table, not wanting to wear it. I didn't even look at it. Last night, I was sent back to remember the argument with Draco.
"What the fuck was Weasley doing here?" Draco demanded.
I shuffled my feet. I didn't want to tell him. Not yet. I felt very close to crying at that moment. I was scared to see how Draco would react. I couldn't tell him. My hair kept swinging forward and I kept tucking it behind my ear, but it wouldn't stay.
"He just came by-" I started.
"Fuck, Granger, I'm sick of the lies!" Draco roared. I looked away from him. "Why was he here? Last time you and I heard from him-"
"You and I?" I scoffed. "Last time I heard, Ron was in Ireland! You never seemed to give a damn about him! Why now, Draco? Why now?"
He studied me for a good minute, apparently in deep thought. His arms were at his sides, hands closed in a tight fist.
"What did he want?" he asked. Calmer than before.
"It's none of your concern." I crossed my arms to try to hide my hands. But it wasn't quick enough.
"You are not going to tell me that fuckhead Weasley proposed to you!" he erupted.
The dream ended before I could respond. He had grabbed my wrist so hard, it must have been broken. On a usual day, I would have been upset. I would have yelled at him or broke his wrist. But I couldn't. Because I knew I deserved it. I should've known Draco's reaction would be full of anger and confusion.
I fixed myself a bowl of scrambled eggs and sat down at the table. I almost always had some sort of meal with Draco every single day, and I knew that day, Draco wouldn't be visiting at all and I didn't blame him. It was my fault. I said yes to Ron.
Did I like Draco? That was a possibility. But I was engaged to my childhood best friend! What could possibly go wrong?
Draco
Just as we planned, I Apparated to Potter's house at noon. I knocked on the door and waited a good couple of minutes before it opened. Without greeting him, I walked by Potter, driving my hands through my hair. I had barely walked inside and stopped. I heard the door close and Potter walked right up next to me.
"Do you need anything?" he asked. "Water, butterbeer, firewhiskey? You look like you haven't slept-"
"I'm fine," I growled. "I don't need anything. Well, other than Granger, but I think that was obvious. And of course I haven't slept. Are you serious?"
"Sit down, Malfoy."
Still gripping my hair, I collapsed onto the burgundy furniture. Potter sat down across from me.
"Well?" he asked again. "I'm not exactly sure how you want me to start this meeting-"
"I can't believe Granger would say yes," I interrupted, talking more to myself than to Potter. "I mean, I thought we had something! Or it would turn into something!"
"Malfoy," Potter called, snapping my attention back to reality. "Do you love Hermione?"
The sound of her first name made me feel sick. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, feeling like I was about to throw up. His question was conquering my brain. I had no idea! How was I supposed to know? How was I supposed to know how I felt if I could barely hear my own thoughts?
"I don't know," I said, leaning back on the couch. "How do I know if I love her? How can I tell?"
Potter looked over to the kitchen, where soon-to-be she-Potter was, cleaning. "When I first realized I loved Ginny, it was jealousy. I knew I had feelings for her, yes, but I didn't know if it was more. When Ginny started dating Dean Thomas, you know him, Malfoy, I was angrier than I thought I would be. And when they broke up, I was happier than I thought. You don't know what you have until it's gone. You don't know you love someone until they're gone."
I took these words into account. Was I jealous? Fuck yeah. Was I angry? I don't think I need to answer that. It was obvious. Before Weasley was back in the picture, was I happier with Granger? Yes. I tapped my foot angrily against the floor.
"When your fiancé was dating that Thomas bloke, did you ever think that eventually, you and her would get together?" I asked, thinking that was a very personal question. And instantly regretting it.
But Potter didn't seem insulted. "Honestly? I hoped, but hope isn't enough, is it? You really have to know someone in order to really believe what they would do. I felt terrible not being able to think Ginny would ever leave Dean, but we're getting married, aren't we? What about you, Malfoy? What do you think Hermione would do?"
At that point, I didn't know what she would do. I wasn't sure if she would realize marrying Weasley was a mistake no one should make, or if she thought it would be better if I, Draco Malfoy, ex-Death Eater, wasn't in her life. Granger was smart. She would know. Granger would be the only person to figure out what she had to do. I wouldn't have any influence on her decision. I couldn't personally be there to guide her to her decision. She would have to figure it out on her own.
Potter must have seen my hesitation, because he didn't press the matter further. Anyway, he cut straight to the point.
"You're afraid she won't choose you because of your Mark." It wasn't a question.
I nodded. "Yes. I still have it and I know she thinks about it. She may not say it out loud, but I know that's exactly what she thinks about when she sees me. That's what everyone thinks."
Potter shook his head. "I don't. Not anymore, at least. Hermione's really changed my mind about you. You really have changed, Malfoy. For your sake and for mine, I really hope you figure out what to do."
"You don't think that's what I asked myself all last night?" I said accusingly. "What the hell do I do? What do I make of this situation? Jeez, Potter, I'm not thick!"
"I'm not saying you were, Malfoy," said Potter, easily containing his anger. "I understand why you're so mad. I was in the same position-"
"No, you weren't," I said, harshly. "Because everyone looked at you, Harry Potter, as the savior of the wizarding world! People look at me and know me as a Death Eater! That, Potter, I believe is a big difference between the two of us."
Potter nodded his head, taking my words in. I felt bad taking my anger out on him, knowing that it wasn't his fault. I stared at him as he watched his feet.
"Sorry, Malfoy. I didn't think about that, but I know for a fact that Hermione doesn't care who you were. All she cares about is who you are today. The war is over, there is no Voldemort. You don't need to worry about anything. Hermione is the most forgiving person I know. You'll be fine when it comes to Death Eater prejudices."
"Thanks, Potter-" I was about to say more, but then the youngest redhead walked in.
"Hi, Malfoy," she said. "I've been listening to your conversation. It's pretty hard not to, actually, considering you were yelling most of the time, but anyway, Harry's right. Hermione doesn't give a damn about who you were in the past, so you should let it go, too."
I smiled for the first time since before my argument with Granger. "Thank you. Both of you. But what are we going to do about your brother?" I asked, nodding to the witch.
She pursed her lips. "I'm not sure. I could go find him and beat his arse-"
"Ginny, I know," Potter said. "I want to beat him to a pulp, too, but we need to be mature about this. We'll talk to him first, and if we still hate him, then, Ginny, we can beat his arse."
I snickered. I had never heard Potter swear before. "I agree with that," I said, still laughing. "But it probably would start with a fight if Weasley saw my face, so I think it would be better just you two going."
"No," the redhead said. "Malfoy, you are a part of this problem. And, if push comes to shove, you're more powerful when it comes to hexes and spells."
"Very true," I said proudly. "I could beat Weasley in a duel with my hands tied behind my back."
"Don't say that," Potter laughed. "I think Ron was going to start Auror training."
"Auror training?" I repeated, laughing myself. "I never thought of him going through that. I always thought he'd work at that joke shop?"
"Oh, he does," Potter's fiance said. "He just wants to do something else with his life, too. So he decided to be an Auror like Harry."
"That's exactly what makes him thick," said Potter, "because I'll beat him up if he ends up in my department."
We all laughed. I had a laugh with people I never thought I'd ever be friends with. Any friend of Granger's apparently is a friend of mine. Except for Weasley. It will never be Weasley.
Note: Hey guys! It's been two weeks since I updated last! I am so so so sorry! But I appreciate that I have 1,176+ reads, 10+ favorites, and 17+ alerts! Thank you for continuing to read! Please review! If you do, I'll be more motivated to write another chapter.
There should be seven chapters left, and then an epilogue. For now. R&R!