The next morning, Draco woke up to sunshine beaming in through his open window, chilly February wind accompanying it. Draco stood up hastily to put a layer of glass and curtain between the offending weather and himself. Shivering, he headed back to bed. There he found Hermione, curled up under a blanket, her mouth slightly open. He smiled, running his fingers along her cheek ever so lightly. She stirred, leaning into his touch, but did not wake up. Yawning, Draco stretched, checking the time. He had a quidditch scrimmage that afternoon, against Gryffindor, their toughest competitor. Through years of playing on the Slytherin team, Draco had improved, and was a fairly equal match for Harry Potter by their fifth year. He was looking forward toward the game; there was more than just friendly competition between Potter and himself, and this time, a whole new dynamic had been added. Hermione was still torn about telling Harry and Ron just how serious her and Draco had become, and Draco was holding out for a fight between the two boys and himself. During this pondering, Hermione woke and curled against Draco, her head resting on his sternum.
"G'morning," she murmured sleepily, rubbing her eyes. Draco put an arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead.
"Morning, love. Planning on going to the game this afternoon? I'll expect to hear you cheering, maybe even donning a green and silver scarf?"
"Yeah, right," Hermione scoffed. "Like I'd ever cheer for Slytherin. Besides, I would be cursed three ways from Thursday if I showed up in anything green in the Gryffindor stands." Draco smiled. "But you'll get a nice congratulations afterwards, if you win."
"Will I?" Draco asked, smirking. Hermione sat up and grinned. She kissed him quickly and ran to her room.
"See you on the pitch!" she shouted as she left. Draco fell back against his pillows, unable to wipe the foolish smile off his face.
---
"Hey guys!" Hermione greeted Ron and Harry as she sat down at breakfast. They exchanged looks that clearly meant they were confused as to why she was so happy after Draco had just dumped her. "Good weather for a game?"
"Uh, yeah," Harry stuttered. "It's perfect, actually. You'll be coming then?"
"Don't I come to all your games?" Hermione asked innocently. She grabbed a muffin and some pumpkin juice. "Besides, you're against Slytherin today."
"So?" Ron spat out pieces of his breakfast with his words, sounding harsh. Hermione grimaced.
"Chew, swallow, and then speak, Ronald," she said with a sigh. "And all I'm saying is that those matches are usually the most entertaining." Harry and Ron looked toward each other again, and Hermione ruffled Harry's hair. "Good luck!" she called, running off to catch up with Lavender and Parvati.
---
The quidditch game started out as any other. The balls were let loose and the players flew around frantically, Draco and Harry shooting high above the rest. A bludger swirled by Draco's head, but he dodged it quickly. Harry was flying after Malfoy, obviously more interested in him than in the game.
"Come off it, Malfoy," he yelled back. "What're you trying to play at?" Draco turned and shrugged, jetting past Harry toward the other end of the field. Harry groaned, flying in the other direction. Just when he'd thought he'd spotted the snitch, the Slytherin fans cheered loudly, and Harry dropped down to hear the announcement.
"Draco Malfoy gets the snitch, winning the game for Slytherin," the commentator stated, obviously unhappy. His team all gathered on the ground, sullen and complaining. Ron ran up to Harry, sweating and breathing hard, but not from the exertion of the game. He pointed, and Harry followed until his eyes landed on Hermione and Malfoy, lip locked against the Slytherin stands. Harry took another look at Ron before they both started off toward the couple.
"What…the fuck…is going…on…Malfoy?" Ron screamed, out of breath from running. He stopped running and stood just in front of Draco. "What are you doing?"
"I think I can explain." Hermione said in her cutest voice, causing Draco to smile a little. "Draco and I have been together since, well, since September."
"What?" Harry gasped out. "Is this…oh, gods, Hermione, why didn't you tell us?"
"I tried to, that day you came up to the dormitory," Hermione said, biting her lip. "I told you he didn't rape me." Harry blushed a little, looking down. Draco wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Get your hands off her, Malfoy!" Ron screeched, pulling Hermione away. She yelped in surprise and pain as Ron's hand tightened around her wrist.
"Ron, stop!" Harry yelled, trying to pull his friend away. Ron pushed Hermione behind him, and she fell into Harry. Turning, Ron pulled his fist back and cracked Draco's jaw. Draco paused for a moment, before turning on Ron and punching him right back. Hermione ran between the two, trying to hold them back, but Ron, not bothering to watch, hit her cheek. A resounding snap was heard, and Ron stood motionless, his skin becoming very pale. Hermione was sobbing, and Draco picked her up, mounted his broom, and headed off to the hospital wing.
"Ron?" Harry said when his voice returned. "Are you okay?"
"I didn't know, Harry. I couldn't see who it was…Tell her..." Ron stopped; his face lined with pain. "Tell her I'm sorry and that she should be happy." And he blacked out from cold, exhaustion, and pain.
---
Draco flew towards the castle, holding Hermione against his chest. Ignoring his own pain, he burst through the window of the hospital wing. Draco dropped his broom, and Madam Pomfrey hurried over. Draco gently placed Hermione on a bed, and explained everything to the nurse. She bustled away and picked up two vials of a thick orange liquid. "Here, drink this darling." The medi-witch shoved a vial at Hermione, who was crying silently in pain. As the contents were drained, Madam Pomfrey took out her wand and whispered a little spell. Hermione's pain eased as her bones began to fix themselves. "How does that feel, dear?" the nurse asked.
"Much better. Thank you." Hermione turned to Draco, who was trying to smile through his broken jaw.
"Mr. Malfoy!" Madam Pomfrey cried. "You neglect a wound too long and it only worsens, now, come here," she said, handing him the other vial. Once both were healed, they thanked the nurse, and were on their way out when Harry, carrying Ron, came bursting in.
"Madam Pomfrey, he's passed out. He's been hit a few times, not undeserved, but I don't know what to do with him." Hermione let out another sob and ran to the bed with Harry. Draco came by, pausing long enough to make sure Ron was alright and to kiss Hermione, before he excused himself. Hours later, the sun had set and Ron still showed no signs of waking up.
"Hermione," Harry whispered, finally remembering Ron's request.
"Yes Harry? What is it?" Hermione sat up and looked at Harry.
"Well, right before Ron blacked out, he told me to tell you some things…" Hermione held his hand. She knew that he was going through some tough times. Voldemort was rising, and Harry was thought to be the only one who could stop him. Now there was this slow fission spreading between the three, who'd been best friends since first year.
"I'm so sorry, Harry. I know that you're scared, because I am too. Draco, though, he's decided to fight against Voldemort, and I'm sure he'll help you stop him. But we need only deal with the events right now. Ron will be all right, I know it. And no matter what happens between Draco and I, I'll never, ever leave you two."Harry looked up, straight into those amber eyes. Harry could see why both Draco and Ron had fallen in love with her. Hermione was perhaps the most caring person he had met. "He said…that he was sorry…and that you could be happy." Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione in a tight embrace, which she returned. "And I want you to be too. And if you're happy with Malfoy, then we're going to have to accept that."
"Thank you," she whispered in his ear. "I love you both so much. You're the best friends anyone could ask for." And then, upon those words, Ron's eyes fluttered open. He reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand. With his eyes rolling back in his head, his face became pale, his whole body tensing off the mattress.
"The Dark Lord, you will see, will be defeated by an unlikely group. The curses will be broken by only the strongest bonds of love. The world will change, with you at the crest." Ron's voice was deep and low, and when he finished speaking, his body collapsed back down and his breathing evened off.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered. "What…did he…does that mean…"
"He's a clairvoyant," Harry whispered back. "Just like Trelawney, you remember, third year? I can't believe it." Harry paused then, staring at Ron's still unconscious body. "Well, now we know he'll be okay. Go to bed, Hermione. I'll stay with him tonight."
"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry. "I mean, I'll be okay to stay up with you."
"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "Go back and tell Malfoy that Ron and I are sorry. It's obvious you love him, and if you're happy, then we'll just have to get over whatever stupid fights we've had and be happy for you, too." Hermione smiled, kissing Harry on the forehead as she left. She walked slowly on her way back to her dormitory, wishing with all her heart that this would finally work out. She knocked on Draco's door, waiting for him to unlock it. He was sleepy-eyed and half-dressed when he let her inside, and he yawned before he got the chance to speak.
"It's two a.m., so there better be an excellent reason why you're here and not sleeping next to me right now." Draco sat on the edge of his bed, signaling for Hermione to do the same.
"Harry and Ron want to extend their apologies to you and ask for the chance to accept you into our friendship," Hermione said, trying to keep a straight face through her mock seriousness and formality. Draco quirked an eyebrow.
"Well, tomorrow morning we can tell them I accept the apology and would like to patch up our rocky past, but that, my dear, is tomorrow morning. Now is the time for sleeping." And with that, Draco pulled Hermione backwards with him to snuggle into bed with.
---
Q
The next morning, when Ron woke up, Harry was draped about the chair next to him, snoring loudly. Ron laughed, and lightly punched his friends arm. "Huh?" Harry snorted, opening his eyes.
"I am deeply uncomfortable with this new arrangement. I am used to being the one snoring away in a chair while you're passed out on the hospital cot. What in bloody hell happened?" Ron was sitting up now, staring down Harry, who was beginning to look uncomfortable.
"Well, you and Malfoy had a little fight yesterday and you blacked out…and then last night. Well, you surprised Hermione and me, that's for sure. Why didn't you tell us?"
"Tell you what? How did I surprise you? I have no recollection of even seeing Malfoy yesterday, how did I get into a fight with him? Agh, Harry, you're confusing me." Ron shook his head, rubbing his eyes. Harry went for the most direct answer possible.
"You're a clairvoyant Ron. You know, like Professor Trelawney? You predicted the future." Harry looked at his ashen friend, trying to be supportive.
"You mean, I told the…the…future?" Harry nodded. Ron sank into his pillows. "Holy mother of Merlin, how could I not have known? And I thought all those dreams were fake…"
"What dreams?" Harry asked, curious.
"Well, for awhile now I've been having really strange dreams about normal stuff, and usually they happen. Like that howler I got last year, and when the train nearly crashed fifth year…but that would mean…" Ron's voice dimmed and his face took on a disgusted sort of expression. "Harry, did Malfoy and Hermione kiss yesterday?"
"Um…well...yeah they did. After the quidditch match. That's why you got into a fight with Malfoy. Why did you dream that too?" Ron nodded.
"Harry, maybe we ought to go to the library. Where's Madam Pomfrey? I want to leave." Ron started to get up, but the nurse bustled over just in time.
"Not yet Mr. Weasley! I want you to stay until at least dinner time!" The nurse inspected Ron, and shoved some chocolate at him. "Eat this, boy! And I don't want any trouble from you today." Madam Pomfrey left, and Harry started laughing.
"I'll go get a few books on clairvoyants, Ron. I'll be back here in about 20 minutes?" Ron nodded, and Harry left. He first went to Hermione's dormitory, making sure to knock loudly on the portrait, and then loudly on Hermione's door, before sighing and retreating to the most likely place she would be. He raised his knuckles and rapped on Draco's door.
"Good morning, Potter," Draco greeted, his voice pleasant but still tired. "She's asleep still, but fully clothed, so you can go wake her if you like." Draco walked back to his desk, leaving the door open for a blushing Harry to walk inside. He sat gingerly on the edge of Draco's bed, and ran his hand up Hermione's arm.
"Harry…" she murmured, seeing him. "G'morning. How's Ron?"
"Oh, he's fine. He didn't know that he was erm…a clairvoyant. I'm going to the library to pick up some books for us to read in the hospital wing. We'll meet you at dinner because Ron's not allowed to go anywhere until then." Harry leaned down, and placed a light kiss on Hermione cheek. It was a friendly kiss, one that came from 7 years of being so close. Hermione nodded, and turned over, falling asleep again. "Thanks Draco." Harry whispered to Draco's back, leaving and walking to the library. The librarian pointed to a section on clairvoyants and Harry searched through many books until he finally found the most helpful paragraph. It came from an old dusty book, titled Clairvoyants: Their Gifts & Odd Behaviours. Harry had opened to a random page and let his eyes rest on a certain few sentences.
'Clairvoyants are somewhat eccentric beings. About a year before their gifts arise, they start to feel intense mood swings. Most get violent and lascivious, becoming a danger to those around them. They are also directly attracted to other clairvoyants, and may become sexually infatuated with them.' Harry stopped reading, chuckling quietly to himself. It all made sense now, Ron's new, demanding attitude toward girls, his sudden attacks of violent behaviour. And Lavender…well, she had always seemed to have a knack for Astrology, which explained Ron's sudden attraction to her. Harry grabbed the book and ran to the hospital wing.
"Ron!" Harry yelled, letting the door slam close behind him. Madam Pomfrey was frantically shushing him, but he'd already reached Ron and dropped the book open on his lap. "Look! You're not the world's biggest tosser, it's just part of growing into your gift!" Ron was silent, reading for a moment, before grinning and looking up.
"Excellent. I was worried for a moment that I was stuck with Great Grandmum Wilheminia's genes. Ornery as a hippogriff, I tell you." Ron glanced down and the read the sentences a second time. "Now we have to go tell Hermione. I have to apologize many times over, but maybe she'll understand."
"Ron, you can't leave till dinner time," Harry reminded him. Ron snorted.
"And since when have the rules of this establishment held us back? We're sneaking out, Harry, and we will never get caught."
Forty minutes later, Ron and Harry were knocking on the Head Students' common room door, laden with a basket full of lunch, knicked from the kitchens (with some help from Dobby). Draco answered again, Hermione sitting by the fire in the background.
"We brought food," Ron offered, stepping inside. Harry followed quickly and went to greet Hermione. "Look, Malfoy, I'm sorry about the fight. I just…I don't know what got into me."
"Apology accepted," Draco said quietly, moving to sit next to Hermione. Harry was grinning, the book dog-eared to one specific page.
"Now, I know that this doesn't excuse Ron's atrocious behaviour, but it does help to explain it a little. Read this…" Harry said, handing her the book. She read it quickly, frowning, and read it over.
"You're a clairvoyant?" Draco asked, his voice betraying his cynicism. Ron shrugged.
"I guess so. Harry told me I predicted the future last night." Ron snorted. "I was asleep, I missed the whole thing." Draco's lip quirked into a slight smile, and Hermione looked up, beaming.
"Oh, Ron, I'm sorry for being so mean to you! Had I known…"
"No, Hermione, this time it's my fault. Sorry." Ron shrugged then, leaning to the basket of food. "Anyone want this sandwich or is it alright if I take it?"
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chapter seven of the revise. i'm back!