Chapter Ten:
(A/N. YEAH!!! I got soooo many reviews! I'm soooo happy! Nassa: You're right. I messed the riddle up. Aindel: No don't worry, not 'neandertholic' in the least. PassionPolice237: Well no, he didn't HAVE to save her. He could have let her die. Lucius would have done so. Xirleb70: Yes everyone wants more, what about what I want. Oh wait. I want more too…heehee. Max: Draco is VERY cute and hott. And sexy. Heehee. Tf-chica-824: What are you talking about? Writing isn't the most improstant thing? Oh my gosh! A sacrilege! Beth: I have stopped to make everyone squirm in their seats and demand more. Are you sure your not insane? Heehee. Chelsea: Thanks! I loved your compliments! JeanB: Oh but I am evil. Maniacal laughter. Narachan: I'm honored to be your only Hp fanfic writer person…did that make sense? JustforDraco99: Yes, another cliffhanger. I would also be drooling over Draco. ???: Huh? Cathy: Thanks! Cherryplum11: I loved your review so now we're even. Heehee. LyssaQuill: Permission denied. I'd like to keep my life. Thanks all the sane, And if you did kill me, I would never be able to finish the story! I have a friend named Elyssa, and I call her Lyssa…Elfmoon87: Sorry. Yes he probably would have. YSM: I'm so happy you love my story! Idontknow??!! Dare you. Heehee. Funny name. DemonWitch666: Yes I got the riddles from the Hobbit. I loved that book. Gothendergirl666: Wow you and demonwitch should start a 666 club. Hehe. Thanks, I like you complimenting my wit. Erin Eileen Dunn: I try hard. I'm sorry about repeating mudblood. It's supposed to be on purpose. You know? Draco not having enough wit to think of a better insult? Nathonea: I'll write more if you review more! Tf-chica-824: Sorry! I promise to always update if I get lots of good reviews. Like now! Lostwolf: Thank you! Jocelyn Padoga: I love writing this story so it's good you love it. Julia: Thanks! Dracos Gurl: The story is moving as fast as I can make it! Karly: You are giddy. Heehee. And a bad speller like me! God I love spellcheck! Xaein: Keep reviewin' and I'll keep writing! Amanda: It's an honor to have you addicted to my story! Kitty'89: I wrote this when my cousin was over and she loves Eminem. So yeah. Wait and see if Hermione will return the love. I'm turning 16 in March. Daytona44: Is Daytona a beach? I'm so bad a geography. Review and I shall keep posting. Kiana: The blonde girl was supposed to be funny so I'm glad she was! Heather: I know! Someone pointed out that mistake to me before! Sorry! Ikiko: Yes cliffhangers tend to be cliff hangy. About that dare...they might kiss sooner than you think…Nicole: Welcome to our wonderful world. Gambit Gurl Isis: I warned you! Curiousity killed the cat. Vanilla Lilly-The Valiant: Thanks! I tried to make it as original as I could! Juliet Rose Granger: Ummmm…thanks? Felicity: That sounds like the song. 'I need to know, I need to know, tell me baby girl cuz I need to know…' um. Yeah. C-fleurbleue: Thanks! Are you really French? Okay everyone! Keep those wonderful review coming!)
Draco wasn't able to finish whatever it was he was going to say because that second Bon walked in. He frowned as he glanced around.
"Why aren't you doing you're activity?" He asked as he stared at each of them in turn. Blank stares met his curious eyes.
"What activity?" Punk girl demanded. Bon smiled and bustled over to the corner of the room. He pulled out a large green box and explained the game. You had to call out a person's name, toss the object, the catcher would thank the thrower and then continue on. It got more difficult as more object were added. Draco was by far the best and Hermione was sure it was because of his Quidditch reflexes. They all went down to dinner and found Bon waiting for them.
"We're going to be eating hotdogs and s'mores outside by the campfire!" He said and led them out. Draco turned to Hermione a look of disgust on his face.
"We're eating dogs?" He demanded in a sickened whisper. Hermione laughed and shook her head.
"No! Hot dogs are sausages served hot in a long, soft roll, with mustard, relish, ketchup. Whatever you want to put in it. They're called hot dogs because there was this popular notion in the 1900s that the sausage was dog meat. But it's not." She assured him with a pat on the arm. He frowned.
"And s'mores?"
"S'mores are a dessert, made as at a campfire, consisting of a toasted marshmallow and a piece of chocolate between two graham crackers." She said.
"How is it that you always manage to sound like a textbook?" He muttered softly. She heard and laughed. She showed him how to prepare a hot dog. They sat down on a log near the roaring bonfire and he hesitantly took a bite.
"Like it?" She asked. He shrugged and smiled as he swallowed.
"Not as good as the brown gunk."
"It's peanut butter." She smiled. She also showed him how to make the s'mores. The campers told scary stories well into the night. Hermione adding a brief account of the attacks by the Basilisk and the chamber of secrets, both told in third person. It was well past midnight when Hermione and Draco made their way back to their room.
"Goodnight, Granger." He yawned as he pushed past her and went into his bedroom. As soon as he stepped in, he froze. On his windowsill were perched two large owls holding letters in their beaks. One he recognized as his father's grey eagle owl. He decided to go for the barn owl first. He carefully opened the letter.
Drakey-poo!
I know you didn't mean those awful things you said to me at King's Cross, so I forgive you. I mean we're destined together. I miss you so much! I owled your father and he said I could visit! I hope that frizzball mudblood isn't bothering you. Well, I miss you!
Love Pansy.
Draco held the letter away, an expression of disgusted and pure, undiluted hatred on his face.
"She scented it!" He muttered angrily catching her horrible perfume. Then he realized something else. "And dotted all her 'i's with hearts!" He cried in disbelief. With a heavy shudder he threw the letter into the fireplace. Luckily it caught fire and burned away, leaving only ashes behind. He sighed and took the second letter in his hands.
Dear Draco,
I hope you are well. Your father and I are very sorry that you have to spend your summer with that annoying mudblood you hate so much. I have sent you a package of sweets to help you through that horrid muggle camp. Remember that mugglesare all weaklings and your and I warn you against talking to any of them. Take care.
Narcissa Malfoy
Draco stared at the letter. He doubted his father had even seen the letter before it was sent. He had no idea why Narcissa had married Lucius. Surely not for love, because there was no love in that cold-hearted bastard. And to think that Draco had once wanted to be just like him. He quickly got out some parchment and sent his mother a letter of thanks and shoed Pansy's owl away. He stared out at the night sky. He had fun today, and Hermione hadn't given him a disgusted look when their hands brushed against each other or when he touched her arm to point something out. He sighed.
"No, Draco. It's just your imagination." He whispered into the night. A nagging voice at the back of his mind pointed out that she had never looked at him the way she had today. He thought about his mother's letter. "I'm not standing under Lucius shadow anymore." Draco told the night fiercely. He would make friends with Hermione. He no longer cared if people thought it strange for the Slytherin prince and the Gryffindor lioness were friends. They would just have to get used to it, because he was not going to let a good person walk away from his life again. He turned away from the window, crawled into bed, and, finally, slept.
