GUYS I'M ON A ROLL!!!!!!! I TYPED FOUR CHAPTERS TODAY!! BEFORE I STOP,
HERE'S THE NEXT ONE!!!!!!! THE TRUTH HURTS:
The next month passed, and still Draco hadn't brought himself to lift the charm. It would wear off on November 5th, and today was Halloween. The big Halloween Ball would start in a few minutes, and naturally, he as going with Hermione. Both teens still hadn't professed their love for each other. Draco decided to go through with lifting the charm and telling Hermione everything tonight.
It was a costume ball, and Hermione and Draco would go as Jack Frost and the Snow Queen. Tonight was the night that everyone would find out that they were going out. Draco looked at himself in the mirror. His costume looked good: his hair was streaked blue and silver and his blue and silver costume looked awesome. (A/N I'm having to wipe off drool from the keyboard!!!!) It was corny, but hell, Draco could make a potato sack look sexy.
He walked down to the marble staircase, where he was meeting Hermione. She looked amazing, with a billowing blue dress laced in silver, silver glitter in her hair, blue eyeshadow, and silver mascara.
"You look great," he said.
"So do you," Hermione replied happily. She wouldn't be in this good of a mood in half an hour.
They sat down at a table for two as the Great Hall started filling up. Apparently, Muggle music was very popular with wizards.
"May I have the first dance?" Draco asked in a fake voice. Both tried hard not to laugh to no avail.
"Of course," she choked out, wiping her eyes and giggling hysterically.
Draco swept her out onto the dance floor. Many people were whispering and pointing at the odd couple, but neither cared. This was a great moment.
Hermione rested her head against Draco's chest and inhaled his scent. The soft music played on.
'I may not say it quite as much as I should, but when I say, 'I love you,' darling, that means for good.'
Hermione looked up at Draco. This was the perfect time. "I love you," she whispered.
Draco's heart only practically stopped. "I love you, too."
'And I will love you until forever, until death do us part, we'll be together..'
"Come here," said Draco, pulling Hermione. He led her to the decorated garden. "I have some stuff to tell you." He walked around nervously. "Er. this is hard."
"Don't keep secrets from me," said Hermione. "Spill."
"Okay. So, er, I'll start from the beginning." With every word of the tale, Hermione got paler and paler. By the end, when Draco told her who her father really was, she was shaking with uncontrollable crying.
"How could you?" she screamed. "I never should have trusted you!"
"Shhh." comforted Draco, wrapping his arms around her. She tried to get free of his grip, but he was too strong for her. "Really, I have no intentions of working for Voldemort. I've talked with Dumbledore, and we're getting a plan started."
"Are you serious?" cried Hermione.
"Really. I am no Death Eater." He cleared is throat. "So, yeah. That's it. What do you think of the plan?"
There was silence, save a few sniffles. "Well, obviously I'll do it," she said. "If I don't, you die, and we don't want that to happen."
"Aren't you scared or anything?" asked Draco incredulously. "Are you sure you want to do this? We could-"
"There is nothing we could do," she cut in. "So full steam ahead, I say." She wiped off her tears. "Draco, I'll always love you."
"So will I, my Hermione."
Their lips locked in the most fiery, passionate, and loving kiss they'd had yet.
A few minutes later, Hermione asked, "Does Harry know?"
"Well, that's another story," Draco started wearily. "I think we'll need him here when I explain."
"I'll get him," offered Hermione. "Be right back."
She found Harry talking with Pansy.
"Harry, I need to talk to you," she whispered urgently. "Quickly!"
"Pansy, I'll be back in a few minutes." She scowled at him. "Really."
Hermione led Harry to the gardens where Malfoy stood.
Harry saw him and muttered, "Does it have to do with that bastard?"
"Funnily enough, it does, Potter," replied Draco himself, overhearing Harry. Before Harry could do anything, Draco whipped out his wand and said, "Null amor."
The spell had closed Harry's eyes, but after, he opened them.
"Hermione!" he gasped. "I'm so sorry! You have got to believe me. I hate Pansy, I swear! Hermione, I love you!"
Hermione cast a questioning glance towards Draco, what had his head in his hands and was shaking with laughter.
"Oh, er, that's nice," commented Hermione. Harry stared at her.
"And what is Malfoy doing here? Unless that one day, I saw you with him. No!"
Draco finally regained his composure. "Yes, Potter," he drawled in his mean voice that Hermione hadn't heard in so long. "Things clicking?"
"Wait!" exclaimed Harry, turning to Hermione. "You're not serious, are you?"
"Dead serious, Harry," explained Hermione. "So listen to the story. Don't take it personally."
Hermione retold the whole story as Draco had told it to her. Harry's reaction was similar to Hermione's; he got pale, although he didn't burst into tears.
"Don't take it personally?" he bellowed. "What the fuck am I supposed to do? Just lay back while Malfoy's seducing you? And what the hell do you mean Voldemort's daughter? I've been so close to you, and you're his damn daughter? That's just sick, I swear." He turned and ran inside, though not to Pansy. She wouldn't have taken him back anyway. The spell cancelled out the Love Potion.
"Oh, dear," sighed Hermione. He still thinks you're forcing me to do this. He doesn't know we're in love." Those words sounded foreign to Hermione. In love. In love with Draco Malfoy. If someone would have told her that even this summer, she would have blown that person into pieces.
"I always knew he was a loser," smirked Draco. "Do you know what I did to him?" Hermione shook her head. "I made a Love Potion for him and Pansy, so you would be free for me. And I just took the spell off."
Hermione practically started crying again. "Draco! How could you? If it wasn't for you, he and I would still be in love!"
"True, true," commented Draco. "But you'd also be being stalked by me. Though it sounds appealing, at least now you consent to this whole plan."
"You're such an evil, lying, twisted son of a bitch!" yelled Hermione.
Draco kissed her, and she felt all anger melt away.
"And I love you for it," she finished. "I like you better than I did Harry, anyway. I'll go talk to him now."
"Suit yourself," shrugged Draco. "I'll get drinks and wait at our table."
"Be right there, baby," said Hermione.
She didn't see Harry in the Great Hall, so she knew he was in the Head Dorm. She ran back there and walked in.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he snapped.
"I live here, too," she sighed. "Now would you just hear me out?" When she didn't receive an answer, she went on. "So I've consented to this whole plan."
"You've what?! Are you serious?"
"Wish I wasn't."
"You're losing your mind," said Harry. "Do you know what it means, pregnant at eighteen?"
"I understand that, Harry."
"Yeah, but Malfoy's the damn father!" he yelled. "I don't understand that! How could you be doing this?"
"We're going to Dumbledore," she stated simply. You need to understand."
Harry reluctantly let Hermione drag him and Malfoy to Dumbledore's office.
"Please sit down," he said. "I just came here from the ball to get something. What a coincidence!"
"Professor, I've done what you asked of me," stated Draco.
"Thank you, Draco," said Dumbledore.
"What the hell is going on?" shouted Harry.
"Harry, you've heard the story?" inquired Dumbledore. Harry nodded. "Well, then, Draco has decided to join our side." Harry looked at Draco in shock, opened his mouth as if to yell some more, but then closed it.
"I don't believe it," he finally whispered. "He's not going to be like his dad?"
"He's not," nodded Dumbledore. "Right, Draco?"
"I've always hated my father and the Dark Side," said Draco.
"But. But then why did you treat me like sh-" Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I mean, why were you awful to me?"
Draco looked Harry in the eye and firmly answered, "I was jealous. You could openly fight the Dark Side, but if I tried, my dad would kill me."
Dumbledore announced, "A truce, then? New friends?"
Both boys gave evil looks to each other before nodding.
"Well, Harry," said Hermione. "Now that you're friends-"
"We're not friends," Harry interrupted. "We're just not going to kill each other."
"Well, whatever," she went on. "Now you deserve to know that I. I mean, Draco and I have, er, fallen in love."
There was quite a long silence. Surprisingly, Harry did not start shouting. "You're happy then?" he asked quietly.
"I'm very happy." She blushed.
Harry gave her a friendly hug. "Then I'm happy for you," he said. "I understand that I can't make you love me."
"Thank you," she said. "You don't know how much that means to me."
"But it still doesn't make me like your boyfriend any more," declared Harry.
"Just be good to him around me," Hermione implored. "And you too, Draco. Promise me?"
"Anything for you, my love," he answered sarcastically, just to annoy Harry.
"Draco, this truce starts now," warned Hermione, though she couldn't stop smiling.
"I am allowed to call him Malfoy, though, right? I don't have to call him dear Draco, do I?" asked Harry.
"Please don't tell me I have to cal him Harry," pleaded Draco.
"It would be nice."
"No!" objected both boys.
"Fine," she decided. "But I'm warning you, you'll have to if you don't act in civilized manners."
"Well," Dumbledore said. The three teens were surprised; they'd forgotten he was there. "I'm going back to the ball now. I'm glad this is settled."
"Boys, let's go," said Hermione in quite a motherly fashion. Harry and Draco both rolled their eyes at each other. This was going to be a long year..
They sat down at a table, Harry with them, though of course, he wasn't next to Draco.
"Where's Ron?" asked Hermione brightly.
Harry shrugged. "Probably with Luna. They're always together."
Sure enough, as Hermione scanned the dance floor, she found Ron and Luna talking and holding punches.
"Wasn't it much less complicated when none of us were going out?" laughed Hermione. Both boys were silent. "Guys, what's wrong?"
She knew what was wrong: this was neither boys' idea of a great ball. They were sitting at the same table: Harry and Draco. This was awful and would have never happened before, not even at the end of the world.
"Harry, Draco," started Hermione. "I know you don't like being nice to each other, but could you just forget your pasts?"
Both boys stared at her in horror.
"I know it's hard, but could you try? If we're going to fight Voldemort together, we have to unite against him. As friends. Okay?" Silence. "I take that as a yes. So, starting now. Pretend you're best friends."
"Are you losing your damn mind?" said Harry finally. "Best friends?"
"Well, maybe not best friends," she decided fairly, "but be nice, good acquaintances." More silence. "Now I'll go talk to Ron while you pretend you're meeting each other for the first time."
Draco opened his mouth to protest, but she covered it with her hand and muttered, "For me. Please." Then, loudly, she added, "Have fun."
She left, and it was quiet. Draco seriously wanted to run after her, but for her sake and not because he wanted to, he said, "Good evening. I'm Draco Malfoy. You name is?"
"Harry Potter," replied Harry, playing along, also for Hermione's sake.
"Oh, I've heard stuff about you," smiled Draco. "Nice stuff. What house are you in?"
Of course he had to ask that. It was Draco, whether he was acting nice or not.
"Gryffindor," answered Harry. "You?"
"I'm in Slytherin. But Gryffindor is such a nice house. I know lots of nice people in-"
"Cut the crap, Malfoy," snapped Harry.
"But," protested Draco. "I think that was the first decent conversation we've ever had."
"You're right," agreed Harry. "But we don't have to act like friggin' idiots. We can talk like this."
"Okay. So what are we talking about?" asked Draco.
"I'd rather not be talking, but how about we start from the day we met?" asked Harry.
"Oh yeah," laughed Draco. "You were the idiot in the robe shop."
"Well you were the ugly, arrogant kid who thought his father was the best," retorted Harry.
"We're sure acting like best friends," said Draco sarcastically.
"Okay, then let's forget our pasts. It isn't going to work," Harry said. "We're too different."
"Damn right," said Draco. "So tell me, how was Pansy?"
"Absolutely disgusting," said Harry quickly.
"Oh, but you loved her for two whole months," smirked Draco. "She was not disgusting then, surely?"
"No, but that was not my fault," replied Harry, turning red. "What happened to you and Pansy?"
"Oh, Potter. Hermione already knows this: the key to getting along with me is not mentioning Pansy. That Love Potion was partly to get rid of her."
Harry couldn't stand Draco calling Hermione Hermione. It was unnerving, coming off Draco's tongue. She'd always been Granger or Mudblood. The way he said Hermione just made their love sound final.
"And that's why she was hanging on to you for the past six years?" asked Harry to annoy Draco.
"I told you, I'm a whole new person," said Draco.
Harry snorted. "Where's the proof for that?"
"Well," started Draco, "I never would have been able to love anyone last year."
"I still can't believe you can," stated Harry bluntly.
"Me neither," said a voice. Harry turned and saw Ron.
* * * *
Hermione left Draco and Harry smiling. It would be fun to see what they would do to each other.
"Hey, Ron," she said, walking up to him and Luna. "Long time, no see."
"I've been busy," he answered awkwardly.
"Wait till you hear what's happening to me. It's got to be way worse than anything that's happened to you," she sighed.
"I'm not complaining about my life," he said. "It's great."
"I can see," she said, watching his arm slink around Luna's waist and their finger lace together.
His ears reddened and he said, "So what's new?"
"Do you really want to hear about my life?" she asked, hoping he'd say yes.
"Oh! There's Lavender!" exclaimed Luna, taking the hint. "I need to ask her something about Divination homework."
Hermione smiled warmly and led him back to Harry and Draco.
Ron found the scene of Harry and Malfoy talking very odd, so he eavesdropped for a few sentences before announcing his presence.
"I told you, I'm a whole new person," Draco was saying.
Harry laughed. "Where's the proof for that?"
"Well," said Draco, "I never would have been able to love anyone last year."
"I still can't believe you can," said Harry.
"Me neither," interrupted Ron.
Harry turned around. "Hello," he said slowly. "What's up?"
"Good evening, Mr. Ronald Weasley. Pleasant day, don't you think? I presume all is well?"
Ron stared in horror. "Who the hell are you and what the hell have you done with Malfoy?"
"That's Mr. Malfoy to you," smirked Draco.
"Mione?" asked Ron weakly. "What did I miss?"
"Quite a story, Ron," answered Harry. "Prepare yourself for a heart attack. Mione'll explain."
"Come on, nothing can be that bad," said Ron. "Tell me."
"Should I leave?" asked Draco. "Perhaps to preserve my health if this fine young gentleman explodes, figuratively?"
"Draco, you're like the main character in this story. I'd stay," advised Hermione. "And you don't have to pretend that you're the King of England."
"Oh, but I am," drawled Draco.
Hermione cleared her throat. The music, now a loud beat, covered her words.
"I can't hear you!" bellowed Ron.
"I said that maybe we should go to the Head Dorm!" she shouted back.
"Good idea!" yelled Ron.
As they were going up the marble staircase and when the music was still audible, Draco started singing. "Cause I'm about to take my key and stick it in the ignition. So let me hear a toot toot. Let me get a beep beep. Running her hands through my fro."
"You sing well," commented Harry, just to keep up the friends act.
"See?" said Hermione happily. "That's what I mean by being nice, and you do have a lovely voice, Draco."
Ron just stared at them, confused and perplexed.
They sat down on some sofas.
"Nice place," commented Draco. "Of course, I diverse to be here, but you know, life isn't perfect."
"I wish it was," hoped Hermione.
"Get to the story," urged Ron.
"Okay, okay," said Hermione. "So, here goes."
The story was told for the umpteenth time that day.
Ron did not react the same as Harry. He sat, dumbfounded.
"It can't be happening," he whispered. "This was supposed to be our year. Together. Us. Together. Just us three. Together!"
"Well, there is a together," protested Hermione. "Only, it's four people."
"You mean five, in a year," corrected Harry, smiling.
"No!" repeated Ron. "Malfoy? Our friend? You? In love? A baby?" He was obviously at a loss for words.
"It's okay," she comforted, hugging him. "We're all okay with this, then?"
"I don't have a choice, it seems," replied Ron.
"You're right; you don't," said Draco. "I know; I still can't believe I'm in love with this bitch."
Hermione smacked him. "You're such an abusive guy! Guys, look what I have to deal with!"
"Number one reason Malfoy is best viewed at a distance," sighed Harry. This time Harry ducked a blow from Hermione.
"And guys, looking at this abusive woman!" complained Draco.
"And we dealt with her for six years," quipped Ron, regaining his voice.
"And I don't know how you did it," said Draco. Hermione refrained from hitting him again.
"So," she said brightly. "Shall we go back to the ball?"
"Yes, milady," replied Draco, taking Hermione's arm.
Harry and Ron reluctantly followed, trying not to think about their "stolen Mione."
* * * *
After many dances and a goodnight kiss from Draco to Hermione, Harry and Hermione had changed and were sitting together in their common room.
"Long day," sighed Harry, stretching. Hermione was silent. "What's wrong?"
"I was thinking," she said slowly. "I'm killing our relationship."
"How d'you mean?" asked Harry.
"It's like you, Ron, and I aren't best friends anymore," she explained. "We haven't talked in a month and a half. And it's all my fault. We were supposed to be best friends. Forever."
"It's not your fault; it's Malfoy's," said Harry. "And we are best friends. We just had a little gap in the story of our friendship."
Hermione smiled. Those were wise words. "It's not Draco's fault," she said suddenly. "He was forced to do this. It's all Voldemort's fault."
"Yeah, it's always Voldemort's fault," said Harry quietly. After a few minutes of silence, he added generously, "If you want, I can talk to Dumbledore to see if Malfoy can come live here. And I can go back to Gryffindor tower. If it makes you feel more comfortable." It hurt to say those words. To tell his Hermione whom he still loved that she could live with Malfoy.
"I don't want to kick you out," said Hermione. But she couldn't help thinking to herself how much safer and warmer she'd feel if she shared a dorm with Draco.
"I don't mind," replied Harry painfully, because he did mind. A lot.
"I don't know.." said Hermione slowly.
"It would only be right," urged Harry. "I mean, if you're going to be. I should just stop talking." He turned bright red and shut up.
"Well, if you're really sure you're okay with it," agreed Hermione. "But I feel like such a heartless-"
"No, you're not," said Harry. "I brought up the idea. I'll ask Dumbledore. Tomorrow."
"Oh, my gosh!" Hermione exclaimed. "I forgot! Tomorrow's the Quidditch game, right?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "You cheering for Slytherin?"
"I'm not hurting anyone's feelings," she said. "I am remaining impartial and will offer my congratulations to the winner privately."
"Do you remember when you hated Malfoy's guts and would have killed for me to beat him?" asked Harry.
"Of course I remember," said Hermione. "It was only two months ago."
"A lot can happen in two months," said Harry sadly. He felt it would have been less painful if Voldemort had killed Hermione. But now he had to draw out the suffering and watch Malfoy touch Hermione, kiss Hermione. And Harry couldn't.
"Listen, I'm really sorry," apologized Hermione, as if reading his thoughts. "It's just, I mean. Well, I don't love you like that anymore. I'm sorry. You didn't do anything wrong. It's not you. I just can't control my emotions anymore. I know it was because of the Love Potion. And I know we were supposed to be together. And get married. But now it can't happen."
Harsh words, thought Harry. But every single one of them was true.
"Hermione, you should know that I- well, I still love you," Harry informed. "I just don't know if I can get over you, either."
Hermione felt awful. "I'm just breaking everyone's heart, aren't I? First Ron, then you."
"Maybe Malfoy's just a passing thing, then, too," said Harry hopefully.
"No," disagreed Hermione. "He and I have to be together. I will be carrying his baby, after all."
Harry groaned. It was bad. Really bad. Life couldn't get worse than this: when your future fiancé ditched you, went for your mortal enemy, and was going to give birth to his most likely white blonde-haired and blue- eyed baby.
"Look, it's 12:30," Hermione announced. "The game's at nine. You need sleep. All right?"
"Yeah," said Harry, stifling a yawn.
"By the way, Harry, is Draco that bad?" asked Hermione. "You seemed to be getting along."
"Yeah right," muttered Harry.
"What?"
"I said he's not that bad," lied Harry. "Once you get to know him, he really is funny."
"You, of all people, should know of his sarcastic sense of humor," laughed Hermione. "He's cracked jokes about you for how many years?"
"Too many awful years to count," sighed Harry, getting up. "Good night, Mione."
"Good night, Harry. See you tomorrow morning."
They both entered their rooms and fell captive to slumber.
SO THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A few side notes: I credit the first song, We'll Get There, to Nick Lashey. The second song, the Ignition remix, is by R. Kelly. Those are two great songs!!! And the spell that canceled the Love Potion was null amor. Null means to cancel in Latin. Amor means love in Latin. So "cancel love" is the spell. HA HA!!! Way to use foreign languages. Guys, I live on your reviews. REVIEW SOME MORE!!! Plus, if any of you have aol screennames or email addresses, give them to me!!! I desperately need to talk to someone. Plus, if y'all have stories on fanfic.net that I can read in return for you reading my stories, please tell me!!!! I love you all to death! Well, I'm not a lesbo. But still. PEACE OUT!!! DRACO IS THE SEXIEST GUY ON EARTH!!!!!!!
The next month passed, and still Draco hadn't brought himself to lift the charm. It would wear off on November 5th, and today was Halloween. The big Halloween Ball would start in a few minutes, and naturally, he as going with Hermione. Both teens still hadn't professed their love for each other. Draco decided to go through with lifting the charm and telling Hermione everything tonight.
It was a costume ball, and Hermione and Draco would go as Jack Frost and the Snow Queen. Tonight was the night that everyone would find out that they were going out. Draco looked at himself in the mirror. His costume looked good: his hair was streaked blue and silver and his blue and silver costume looked awesome. (A/N I'm having to wipe off drool from the keyboard!!!!) It was corny, but hell, Draco could make a potato sack look sexy.
He walked down to the marble staircase, where he was meeting Hermione. She looked amazing, with a billowing blue dress laced in silver, silver glitter in her hair, blue eyeshadow, and silver mascara.
"You look great," he said.
"So do you," Hermione replied happily. She wouldn't be in this good of a mood in half an hour.
They sat down at a table for two as the Great Hall started filling up. Apparently, Muggle music was very popular with wizards.
"May I have the first dance?" Draco asked in a fake voice. Both tried hard not to laugh to no avail.
"Of course," she choked out, wiping her eyes and giggling hysterically.
Draco swept her out onto the dance floor. Many people were whispering and pointing at the odd couple, but neither cared. This was a great moment.
Hermione rested her head against Draco's chest and inhaled his scent. The soft music played on.
'I may not say it quite as much as I should, but when I say, 'I love you,' darling, that means for good.'
Hermione looked up at Draco. This was the perfect time. "I love you," she whispered.
Draco's heart only practically stopped. "I love you, too."
'And I will love you until forever, until death do us part, we'll be together..'
"Come here," said Draco, pulling Hermione. He led her to the decorated garden. "I have some stuff to tell you." He walked around nervously. "Er. this is hard."
"Don't keep secrets from me," said Hermione. "Spill."
"Okay. So, er, I'll start from the beginning." With every word of the tale, Hermione got paler and paler. By the end, when Draco told her who her father really was, she was shaking with uncontrollable crying.
"How could you?" she screamed. "I never should have trusted you!"
"Shhh." comforted Draco, wrapping his arms around her. She tried to get free of his grip, but he was too strong for her. "Really, I have no intentions of working for Voldemort. I've talked with Dumbledore, and we're getting a plan started."
"Are you serious?" cried Hermione.
"Really. I am no Death Eater." He cleared is throat. "So, yeah. That's it. What do you think of the plan?"
There was silence, save a few sniffles. "Well, obviously I'll do it," she said. "If I don't, you die, and we don't want that to happen."
"Aren't you scared or anything?" asked Draco incredulously. "Are you sure you want to do this? We could-"
"There is nothing we could do," she cut in. "So full steam ahead, I say." She wiped off her tears. "Draco, I'll always love you."
"So will I, my Hermione."
Their lips locked in the most fiery, passionate, and loving kiss they'd had yet.
A few minutes later, Hermione asked, "Does Harry know?"
"Well, that's another story," Draco started wearily. "I think we'll need him here when I explain."
"I'll get him," offered Hermione. "Be right back."
She found Harry talking with Pansy.
"Harry, I need to talk to you," she whispered urgently. "Quickly!"
"Pansy, I'll be back in a few minutes." She scowled at him. "Really."
Hermione led Harry to the gardens where Malfoy stood.
Harry saw him and muttered, "Does it have to do with that bastard?"
"Funnily enough, it does, Potter," replied Draco himself, overhearing Harry. Before Harry could do anything, Draco whipped out his wand and said, "Null amor."
The spell had closed Harry's eyes, but after, he opened them.
"Hermione!" he gasped. "I'm so sorry! You have got to believe me. I hate Pansy, I swear! Hermione, I love you!"
Hermione cast a questioning glance towards Draco, what had his head in his hands and was shaking with laughter.
"Oh, er, that's nice," commented Hermione. Harry stared at her.
"And what is Malfoy doing here? Unless that one day, I saw you with him. No!"
Draco finally regained his composure. "Yes, Potter," he drawled in his mean voice that Hermione hadn't heard in so long. "Things clicking?"
"Wait!" exclaimed Harry, turning to Hermione. "You're not serious, are you?"
"Dead serious, Harry," explained Hermione. "So listen to the story. Don't take it personally."
Hermione retold the whole story as Draco had told it to her. Harry's reaction was similar to Hermione's; he got pale, although he didn't burst into tears.
"Don't take it personally?" he bellowed. "What the fuck am I supposed to do? Just lay back while Malfoy's seducing you? And what the hell do you mean Voldemort's daughter? I've been so close to you, and you're his damn daughter? That's just sick, I swear." He turned and ran inside, though not to Pansy. She wouldn't have taken him back anyway. The spell cancelled out the Love Potion.
"Oh, dear," sighed Hermione. He still thinks you're forcing me to do this. He doesn't know we're in love." Those words sounded foreign to Hermione. In love. In love with Draco Malfoy. If someone would have told her that even this summer, she would have blown that person into pieces.
"I always knew he was a loser," smirked Draco. "Do you know what I did to him?" Hermione shook her head. "I made a Love Potion for him and Pansy, so you would be free for me. And I just took the spell off."
Hermione practically started crying again. "Draco! How could you? If it wasn't for you, he and I would still be in love!"
"True, true," commented Draco. "But you'd also be being stalked by me. Though it sounds appealing, at least now you consent to this whole plan."
"You're such an evil, lying, twisted son of a bitch!" yelled Hermione.
Draco kissed her, and she felt all anger melt away.
"And I love you for it," she finished. "I like you better than I did Harry, anyway. I'll go talk to him now."
"Suit yourself," shrugged Draco. "I'll get drinks and wait at our table."
"Be right there, baby," said Hermione.
She didn't see Harry in the Great Hall, so she knew he was in the Head Dorm. She ran back there and walked in.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he snapped.
"I live here, too," she sighed. "Now would you just hear me out?" When she didn't receive an answer, she went on. "So I've consented to this whole plan."
"You've what?! Are you serious?"
"Wish I wasn't."
"You're losing your mind," said Harry. "Do you know what it means, pregnant at eighteen?"
"I understand that, Harry."
"Yeah, but Malfoy's the damn father!" he yelled. "I don't understand that! How could you be doing this?"
"We're going to Dumbledore," she stated simply. You need to understand."
Harry reluctantly let Hermione drag him and Malfoy to Dumbledore's office.
"Please sit down," he said. "I just came here from the ball to get something. What a coincidence!"
"Professor, I've done what you asked of me," stated Draco.
"Thank you, Draco," said Dumbledore.
"What the hell is going on?" shouted Harry.
"Harry, you've heard the story?" inquired Dumbledore. Harry nodded. "Well, then, Draco has decided to join our side." Harry looked at Draco in shock, opened his mouth as if to yell some more, but then closed it.
"I don't believe it," he finally whispered. "He's not going to be like his dad?"
"He's not," nodded Dumbledore. "Right, Draco?"
"I've always hated my father and the Dark Side," said Draco.
"But. But then why did you treat me like sh-" Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I mean, why were you awful to me?"
Draco looked Harry in the eye and firmly answered, "I was jealous. You could openly fight the Dark Side, but if I tried, my dad would kill me."
Dumbledore announced, "A truce, then? New friends?"
Both boys gave evil looks to each other before nodding.
"Well, Harry," said Hermione. "Now that you're friends-"
"We're not friends," Harry interrupted. "We're just not going to kill each other."
"Well, whatever," she went on. "Now you deserve to know that I. I mean, Draco and I have, er, fallen in love."
There was quite a long silence. Surprisingly, Harry did not start shouting. "You're happy then?" he asked quietly.
"I'm very happy." She blushed.
Harry gave her a friendly hug. "Then I'm happy for you," he said. "I understand that I can't make you love me."
"Thank you," she said. "You don't know how much that means to me."
"But it still doesn't make me like your boyfriend any more," declared Harry.
"Just be good to him around me," Hermione implored. "And you too, Draco. Promise me?"
"Anything for you, my love," he answered sarcastically, just to annoy Harry.
"Draco, this truce starts now," warned Hermione, though she couldn't stop smiling.
"I am allowed to call him Malfoy, though, right? I don't have to call him dear Draco, do I?" asked Harry.
"Please don't tell me I have to cal him Harry," pleaded Draco.
"It would be nice."
"No!" objected both boys.
"Fine," she decided. "But I'm warning you, you'll have to if you don't act in civilized manners."
"Well," Dumbledore said. The three teens were surprised; they'd forgotten he was there. "I'm going back to the ball now. I'm glad this is settled."
"Boys, let's go," said Hermione in quite a motherly fashion. Harry and Draco both rolled their eyes at each other. This was going to be a long year..
They sat down at a table, Harry with them, though of course, he wasn't next to Draco.
"Where's Ron?" asked Hermione brightly.
Harry shrugged. "Probably with Luna. They're always together."
Sure enough, as Hermione scanned the dance floor, she found Ron and Luna talking and holding punches.
"Wasn't it much less complicated when none of us were going out?" laughed Hermione. Both boys were silent. "Guys, what's wrong?"
She knew what was wrong: this was neither boys' idea of a great ball. They were sitting at the same table: Harry and Draco. This was awful and would have never happened before, not even at the end of the world.
"Harry, Draco," started Hermione. "I know you don't like being nice to each other, but could you just forget your pasts?"
Both boys stared at her in horror.
"I know it's hard, but could you try? If we're going to fight Voldemort together, we have to unite against him. As friends. Okay?" Silence. "I take that as a yes. So, starting now. Pretend you're best friends."
"Are you losing your damn mind?" said Harry finally. "Best friends?"
"Well, maybe not best friends," she decided fairly, "but be nice, good acquaintances." More silence. "Now I'll go talk to Ron while you pretend you're meeting each other for the first time."
Draco opened his mouth to protest, but she covered it with her hand and muttered, "For me. Please." Then, loudly, she added, "Have fun."
She left, and it was quiet. Draco seriously wanted to run after her, but for her sake and not because he wanted to, he said, "Good evening. I'm Draco Malfoy. You name is?"
"Harry Potter," replied Harry, playing along, also for Hermione's sake.
"Oh, I've heard stuff about you," smiled Draco. "Nice stuff. What house are you in?"
Of course he had to ask that. It was Draco, whether he was acting nice or not.
"Gryffindor," answered Harry. "You?"
"I'm in Slytherin. But Gryffindor is such a nice house. I know lots of nice people in-"
"Cut the crap, Malfoy," snapped Harry.
"But," protested Draco. "I think that was the first decent conversation we've ever had."
"You're right," agreed Harry. "But we don't have to act like friggin' idiots. We can talk like this."
"Okay. So what are we talking about?" asked Draco.
"I'd rather not be talking, but how about we start from the day we met?" asked Harry.
"Oh yeah," laughed Draco. "You were the idiot in the robe shop."
"Well you were the ugly, arrogant kid who thought his father was the best," retorted Harry.
"We're sure acting like best friends," said Draco sarcastically.
"Okay, then let's forget our pasts. It isn't going to work," Harry said. "We're too different."
"Damn right," said Draco. "So tell me, how was Pansy?"
"Absolutely disgusting," said Harry quickly.
"Oh, but you loved her for two whole months," smirked Draco. "She was not disgusting then, surely?"
"No, but that was not my fault," replied Harry, turning red. "What happened to you and Pansy?"
"Oh, Potter. Hermione already knows this: the key to getting along with me is not mentioning Pansy. That Love Potion was partly to get rid of her."
Harry couldn't stand Draco calling Hermione Hermione. It was unnerving, coming off Draco's tongue. She'd always been Granger or Mudblood. The way he said Hermione just made their love sound final.
"And that's why she was hanging on to you for the past six years?" asked Harry to annoy Draco.
"I told you, I'm a whole new person," said Draco.
Harry snorted. "Where's the proof for that?"
"Well," started Draco, "I never would have been able to love anyone last year."
"I still can't believe you can," stated Harry bluntly.
"Me neither," said a voice. Harry turned and saw Ron.
* * * *
Hermione left Draco and Harry smiling. It would be fun to see what they would do to each other.
"Hey, Ron," she said, walking up to him and Luna. "Long time, no see."
"I've been busy," he answered awkwardly.
"Wait till you hear what's happening to me. It's got to be way worse than anything that's happened to you," she sighed.
"I'm not complaining about my life," he said. "It's great."
"I can see," she said, watching his arm slink around Luna's waist and their finger lace together.
His ears reddened and he said, "So what's new?"
"Do you really want to hear about my life?" she asked, hoping he'd say yes.
"Oh! There's Lavender!" exclaimed Luna, taking the hint. "I need to ask her something about Divination homework."
Hermione smiled warmly and led him back to Harry and Draco.
Ron found the scene of Harry and Malfoy talking very odd, so he eavesdropped for a few sentences before announcing his presence.
"I told you, I'm a whole new person," Draco was saying.
Harry laughed. "Where's the proof for that?"
"Well," said Draco, "I never would have been able to love anyone last year."
"I still can't believe you can," said Harry.
"Me neither," interrupted Ron.
Harry turned around. "Hello," he said slowly. "What's up?"
"Good evening, Mr. Ronald Weasley. Pleasant day, don't you think? I presume all is well?"
Ron stared in horror. "Who the hell are you and what the hell have you done with Malfoy?"
"That's Mr. Malfoy to you," smirked Draco.
"Mione?" asked Ron weakly. "What did I miss?"
"Quite a story, Ron," answered Harry. "Prepare yourself for a heart attack. Mione'll explain."
"Come on, nothing can be that bad," said Ron. "Tell me."
"Should I leave?" asked Draco. "Perhaps to preserve my health if this fine young gentleman explodes, figuratively?"
"Draco, you're like the main character in this story. I'd stay," advised Hermione. "And you don't have to pretend that you're the King of England."
"Oh, but I am," drawled Draco.
Hermione cleared her throat. The music, now a loud beat, covered her words.
"I can't hear you!" bellowed Ron.
"I said that maybe we should go to the Head Dorm!" she shouted back.
"Good idea!" yelled Ron.
As they were going up the marble staircase and when the music was still audible, Draco started singing. "Cause I'm about to take my key and stick it in the ignition. So let me hear a toot toot. Let me get a beep beep. Running her hands through my fro."
"You sing well," commented Harry, just to keep up the friends act.
"See?" said Hermione happily. "That's what I mean by being nice, and you do have a lovely voice, Draco."
Ron just stared at them, confused and perplexed.
They sat down on some sofas.
"Nice place," commented Draco. "Of course, I diverse to be here, but you know, life isn't perfect."
"I wish it was," hoped Hermione.
"Get to the story," urged Ron.
"Okay, okay," said Hermione. "So, here goes."
The story was told for the umpteenth time that day.
Ron did not react the same as Harry. He sat, dumbfounded.
"It can't be happening," he whispered. "This was supposed to be our year. Together. Us. Together. Just us three. Together!"
"Well, there is a together," protested Hermione. "Only, it's four people."
"You mean five, in a year," corrected Harry, smiling.
"No!" repeated Ron. "Malfoy? Our friend? You? In love? A baby?" He was obviously at a loss for words.
"It's okay," she comforted, hugging him. "We're all okay with this, then?"
"I don't have a choice, it seems," replied Ron.
"You're right; you don't," said Draco. "I know; I still can't believe I'm in love with this bitch."
Hermione smacked him. "You're such an abusive guy! Guys, look what I have to deal with!"
"Number one reason Malfoy is best viewed at a distance," sighed Harry. This time Harry ducked a blow from Hermione.
"And guys, looking at this abusive woman!" complained Draco.
"And we dealt with her for six years," quipped Ron, regaining his voice.
"And I don't know how you did it," said Draco. Hermione refrained from hitting him again.
"So," she said brightly. "Shall we go back to the ball?"
"Yes, milady," replied Draco, taking Hermione's arm.
Harry and Ron reluctantly followed, trying not to think about their "stolen Mione."
* * * *
After many dances and a goodnight kiss from Draco to Hermione, Harry and Hermione had changed and were sitting together in their common room.
"Long day," sighed Harry, stretching. Hermione was silent. "What's wrong?"
"I was thinking," she said slowly. "I'm killing our relationship."
"How d'you mean?" asked Harry.
"It's like you, Ron, and I aren't best friends anymore," she explained. "We haven't talked in a month and a half. And it's all my fault. We were supposed to be best friends. Forever."
"It's not your fault; it's Malfoy's," said Harry. "And we are best friends. We just had a little gap in the story of our friendship."
Hermione smiled. Those were wise words. "It's not Draco's fault," she said suddenly. "He was forced to do this. It's all Voldemort's fault."
"Yeah, it's always Voldemort's fault," said Harry quietly. After a few minutes of silence, he added generously, "If you want, I can talk to Dumbledore to see if Malfoy can come live here. And I can go back to Gryffindor tower. If it makes you feel more comfortable." It hurt to say those words. To tell his Hermione whom he still loved that she could live with Malfoy.
"I don't want to kick you out," said Hermione. But she couldn't help thinking to herself how much safer and warmer she'd feel if she shared a dorm with Draco.
"I don't mind," replied Harry painfully, because he did mind. A lot.
"I don't know.." said Hermione slowly.
"It would only be right," urged Harry. "I mean, if you're going to be. I should just stop talking." He turned bright red and shut up.
"Well, if you're really sure you're okay with it," agreed Hermione. "But I feel like such a heartless-"
"No, you're not," said Harry. "I brought up the idea. I'll ask Dumbledore. Tomorrow."
"Oh, my gosh!" Hermione exclaimed. "I forgot! Tomorrow's the Quidditch game, right?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "You cheering for Slytherin?"
"I'm not hurting anyone's feelings," she said. "I am remaining impartial and will offer my congratulations to the winner privately."
"Do you remember when you hated Malfoy's guts and would have killed for me to beat him?" asked Harry.
"Of course I remember," said Hermione. "It was only two months ago."
"A lot can happen in two months," said Harry sadly. He felt it would have been less painful if Voldemort had killed Hermione. But now he had to draw out the suffering and watch Malfoy touch Hermione, kiss Hermione. And Harry couldn't.
"Listen, I'm really sorry," apologized Hermione, as if reading his thoughts. "It's just, I mean. Well, I don't love you like that anymore. I'm sorry. You didn't do anything wrong. It's not you. I just can't control my emotions anymore. I know it was because of the Love Potion. And I know we were supposed to be together. And get married. But now it can't happen."
Harsh words, thought Harry. But every single one of them was true.
"Hermione, you should know that I- well, I still love you," Harry informed. "I just don't know if I can get over you, either."
Hermione felt awful. "I'm just breaking everyone's heart, aren't I? First Ron, then you."
"Maybe Malfoy's just a passing thing, then, too," said Harry hopefully.
"No," disagreed Hermione. "He and I have to be together. I will be carrying his baby, after all."
Harry groaned. It was bad. Really bad. Life couldn't get worse than this: when your future fiancé ditched you, went for your mortal enemy, and was going to give birth to his most likely white blonde-haired and blue- eyed baby.
"Look, it's 12:30," Hermione announced. "The game's at nine. You need sleep. All right?"
"Yeah," said Harry, stifling a yawn.
"By the way, Harry, is Draco that bad?" asked Hermione. "You seemed to be getting along."
"Yeah right," muttered Harry.
"What?"
"I said he's not that bad," lied Harry. "Once you get to know him, he really is funny."
"You, of all people, should know of his sarcastic sense of humor," laughed Hermione. "He's cracked jokes about you for how many years?"
"Too many awful years to count," sighed Harry, getting up. "Good night, Mione."
"Good night, Harry. See you tomorrow morning."
They both entered their rooms and fell captive to slumber.
SO THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A few side notes: I credit the first song, We'll Get There, to Nick Lashey. The second song, the Ignition remix, is by R. Kelly. Those are two great songs!!! And the spell that canceled the Love Potion was null amor. Null means to cancel in Latin. Amor means love in Latin. So "cancel love" is the spell. HA HA!!! Way to use foreign languages. Guys, I live on your reviews. REVIEW SOME MORE!!! Plus, if any of you have aol screennames or email addresses, give them to me!!! I desperately need to talk to someone. Plus, if y'all have stories on fanfic.net that I can read in return for you reading my stories, please tell me!!!! I love you all to death! Well, I'm not a lesbo. But still. PEACE OUT!!! DRACO IS THE SEXIEST GUY ON EARTH!!!!!!!