A/N: Okay, let me remind my readers of just one thing. I did state that
Harry is a little out of character. I admit it. I know that their
friendship went a little fast, but I wanted to do it, and I didn't want to
drag it out. I'm sorry if this displeases anyone. I really am. But
please try to overlook this one flaw and continue to read. I am going to
attempt some kind of plot here, to the best of my plotless abilities haha.
I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 11
****Hermione****
Sun breaks through those damned sheer drapes and awakes me yet once again on this snowy morning. Christmas is quickly approaching, and the temperature in the castle is a constant reminder.
I step down out of my warm bed onto a chilling floor. A shiver runs down my spine and I quickly search for my slippers. Looking out the large window snow has blanketed the ground over the course of the night. Flakes continue to fall from the sky, yet the sun is still bright and inviting. It's a beautiful morning. A smile creeps across my weary face as a new day begins. Today will be better than the previous.
I throw on a robe and decide to head over to Draco's room. My smooth silk pajama pants feel icy around my legs on this chilly morning. I leave my room and knock on Draco's. Usually he is up before me, but this morning he isn't answering. I knock harder but still no answer. At this point I decide to just let myself in. I'm sure he won't mind.
There he is in all his glory. His arms and legs are all over the place. I have never in my life seen his hair in such disarray, and his blankets were in quite a knot. Usually he is a peaceful sleeper. He must have been really dreaming last night.
I know a great way to wake him up this morning. Stepping off the cold floor I lay down beside him on the bed. My fingers stroke his soft, but messy, hair. Deep snores are all that I hear. I lightly kiss the top of his head, but he doesn't even stir. This is the deepest sleep I have seen him in yet.
Today we have no classes (A/N I don't keep good track of any time, so let's say today is a Saturday). He is sleeping so soundly, and he looks like an angel. I can't believe I actually think Draco Malfoy looks like an angel. Crossing back over to my room I throw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and head down to the Great Hall. I can just bring breakfast to Draco if he doesn't come down here in time.
I continue through the drafty corridors. I meet a few people along the way, and eventually catch up with Ron and Ginny who are on their way as well.
"Hey guys" I greet them with a big smile. It's always wonderful to see my friends. Of course, it crosses my mind that they are still upset about my situation with Draco, and the smile fades a bit.
"Hey" Ron says while refusing to look me in the eye. Ginny, however, does not seem at all affected and offers me a big smile.
"Good morning, Hermione" she says to me. "Did you talk to Harry last night?" she asks me.
"No . . . Draco said he saw him last night, but he never came to see me" I manage to say while a feel a lump in the back of my throat. It still stings that Harry didn't want to come up and talk to me. I still feel a little rejected.
"Oh, I thought he said he was in your common room. He said he was there until like four in the morning, but he wouldn't talk about it". The look on her face tells me she is thoroughly confused about what's going on, and I have to say that I have no idea as well. I shrug it off. Harry was probably out with Lavender in the Astronomy Tower or something of the sort. He was never one to talk about his love life, he would rather keep it a secret.
"So, Ron" I begin slowly, "How have you bee?" I want to start talking to him again. I want him to know that I still love him immensely. I don't want him to be mad at me. We have spent most of our time together being angry at each other. Memories of fourth year flood back to my memory. That had been our hardest year.
He looks up at me. He is fighting a battle inside his own head. Finally, he seems to have decided what he wants to do and speaks up. "I've been better" was all he could say. I know he is upset. I know what kind of temper Ron has. I definitely don't want to push him.
It's enough for me. I smile back at him, and we have a sort of agreement. He will come around and then I will talk to him. It will be as easy as that . . . yeah right. But I do know that I have to let him cool down. I have to let him come to me. Ron is one of those people you just can't force.
So we walk together to the hall for breakfast and for the first time in a while, I sit with my fellow Gryffindors. I get a few looks from some, and I know that they feel a bit of anger. It seems it's a serious offense to date a Slytherin. Maybe they should make a Gryffindor Handbook so I know these rules. It doesn't matter, I wouldn't have followed them anyway.
I make small talk with my friends, and it feels great to be with them like this. It seems like it's been forever since I have done this. Reality sets in. This is my last year here, and the days of hanging out at the Gryffindor Table are going to end. It's sad, but in a way, I am ready to get on with my life. I am ready to use my knowledge to do better things.
I bid my friends goodbye and take some food up to the common room. I set it on the counter and proceed up to Draco's room. He is still in bed, and I feel for him. I might as well let him sleep. I grab the quill sitting on his desk and quickly scribble out a note.
Draco
I have gone to see Ron and Harry for a while. I will be back to check on you later. There is breakfast for you out on the counter. Enjoy.
Hermione
With that I am out the portrait hole and up the Gryffindor common room.
The Pink Lady is still there guarding the portrait hole as usual. I smile at the familiarity that warms my heart and say the password. She grins back at me and gladly swings open to allow me access to the room I feel I have grown up in.
There is a low buzz of people talking. Two first years are playing a game of Wizard's Chess, and there is a game of exploding snap in the corner. Quickly, I spot Ron and Ginny by the fire.
"Where's Harry?" I ask them with my brow furrowed.
"Still sleeping" Ginny informs me. I have never known Harry to be a late sleeper. It's almost nearing noon. An idea comes to me. While I have Ron here, I might as well talk to him and Ginny. I need to get them to understand.
"Can I talk to you guys, alone?" I ask them timidly. They look up at me, but ask no questions.
"Yeah, we can go up to my room" Ginny replies. (A/N: let's pretend boys can go up the girls' stairs today). They stand up and I follow them up to the empty room. I sit beside Ginny on her giant four poster bed, while Ron takes a seat on a nearby chair. They don't say a word. Instead they stare at me as though they already know what I'm going to say.
"You know, I remember these rooms. I miss these rooms. I miss having roommates" I start out. I'm just rambling. I'm avoiding the subject. I'm avoiding all confrontation. This is not the Hermione I thought I was. I am stronger than this.
"Hermione, we know what you want to talk about, and it's not my room. You can just say it, you know" Ginny coerces me. She is by far more supportive than her brother.
I look up at her, but there is no friendly face. I feel a little trapped now. Why did I have to start this conversation now? "Look, I just wanted to explain to you about me and Draco. I wanted to tell you how I feel" I start.
"And exactly how do you feel?" Ron asks with a sarcasm that stings when it hits me.
"I love him" I put simply. I see Ginny's face lighten. Ron looks as though he could kill. It's exactly what I expected from Ron. "I'm sorry, but it's the truth". I don't know how to get them to believe me. I don't know what I can do.
"Are you sure?" Ginny asks me. That's the last thing I expected to hear. She was curious. There was no viscous tone. It was a question.
"I'm absolutely positive" I say with pure confidence. Ginny's face softened immediately.
"Then that's that" was all she said. Ron, however, did not like that statement.
"Ginny! What are you talking about?" he asks incredulously.
"Ron, just stop acting like a jerk! Look at her. Look at your best friend, and look at the smile that came across her face when I accepted the fact she's in love. She is in love" she tried to convince him.
"With a Malfoy of all people!" he yelled. He couldn't take this. I hadn't given him enough time. He wasn't ready to accept it yet. As soon as he yelled it he was gone. The door slammed, and he was down the stairs in a heart beat. I remained on the bed with Ginny.
"Ginny . . . I" I began. She cut me off.
"No explanation is necessary. I'm not the one you need to sell. Hermione, you have known me for quite some time. I am a hopeless romantic. If you say you are in love then you are. You know what love is. You had it with Harry. And I must say it's too bad that didn't work out". I couldn't believe she was taking it this well. She was an easy sell.
"Oh, Ginny! I am so happy to hear you say that! I am in love with him, I am!" I cried out to her. I couldn't have smiled any bigger. "I just wish your brother and Harry would come around".
"Give them time, they are just prats" was all she said to me. She smiled back and I leaned over to hug her. We had been such great friends, it was a relief to know that this situation would not change anything between us. "Let's just head down the common room, it's probably almost time for lunch" she finishes.
I walk down to the common room only to see Harry and Ron in deep conversation. Harry's hair looked extremely disheveled, and his eyes were weary. They look up at me as I walk in but no words are spoken.
I can take a hint. I walk out of the common room and decide to just take a stroll by myself. I think I could use a little library time.
****Harry****
I am so freaking tired. I have never felt like this in my life. Staying up until four in the morning just should not be done.
By the time I wake up breakfast is over, and it's almost time for lunch. The castle is frigid, and I can tell Christmas will soon be upon us. That can only mean one thing, I think with a groan. There will be another damned Yule Ball.
Well, I figure I might as well get dressed and head down to see Ron. Last night gave me a lot to think about, and I know that I have to talk to him. If I don't tell him what I know, then we might not get over this thing with Hermione. I slip on some jeans and a big green sweater and find my way down the stairs.
The common room is so warm. This has been the best home I have ever had. The fire is crackling, and students are everywhere around me smiling and laughing. I still can't believe this is my last year here.
I don't see Ron right away so I just take a seat beside the fire. I watch all the younger students laughing and having a good time, and memories flood through my head. There are so many memories of the three of us. I can't help but feel like I have lost Hermione. I can't help but feel we aren't the same anymore.
I reach in my pocket and pull out a picture. It's a picture that I carry with me everyday in my life. Looking back at me were three children. Three kids were in their first year at Hogwarts and becoming fast friends. Ron and I were sitting on a bench and Hermione was stretched across our laps. We were laughing and smiling. I would occasionally kiss her forehead in the picture while Ron would shoot me dirty looks. It was one of the most fun days of my life. I wouldn't trade this one picture for the world.
Soon I see Ron coming down from the girls' dormitory. I intend to talk about him. And I now have a plan.
He walks down to me, looking at me curiously. "What do you have there, mate?" he asks me. I show him what I hold in my hands. A huge smile takes over his freckled face. He doesn't take his eyes off of it, he just sits down beside me. he takes it from my hands and studies it. "I miss those days" he says sadly. "There aren't going to be many more of them". It saddens me also.
"I know. I think if we want more memories, we have some problems to work out" I respond to him. He looks up at me. He knows what I am talking about.
"Look, Harry, I can't stand back and let Hermione be with Malfoy. It's sickening. I agree we have problems to fix. The main one would be how to get Malfoy away from her" he says straightforwardly.
"Ron, seriously, shut up. I think you need to understand something here. Hermione and Draco are really in love. This isn't just a stupid crush" I try to tell him.
"Harry, why are you taking his side? Why are you sticking up for him here?" he asks eyeing me suspiciously.
"It's nothing, Ron. I just talked to Draco last night. He's different" I try to explain, but the words aren't there.
"Oh, it's nothing huh? It's just our best friend with the enemy. Yeah, that's nothing isn't it? You know Harry, when you get some balls let me know. When you are ready to stand up to Malfoy come and get me. Then I will be ready to listen to you. Until then, I am going to find a way to make this right" he says with force before standing up and walking back to his room.
I failed Hermione . . . and Draco for that matter. Don't get me wrong, I am not his friend. But I am no longer his enemy. We have an understanding now. He poured out his soul to me. I don't fully understand why he trusted me with so much information, but I almost feel lucky. I know he doesn't tell just anyone about his life. And I now understand why he has always been such a bastard. It's not an excuse, but I feel his pain. And that's really saying something.
Now I just have to get Ron to come around. I know eventually he will. He always does. He and Hermione fight all the time. I know he is hurt that she didn't pick him. I know deep down he loves her too. But I will help him to understand if it's the last thing I do. Hermione needs us. I need all three of us to be friends as well. We all need each other badly.
A/N: Okay, I am going to keep writing. I know this chapter is quite uneventful, but never fear. I will write again tomorrow night if I have time. My sister is having a baby on Thursday, so I'm trying to get lots of stuff done before I head home for a couple days for that. I hope you enjoy. I really put a lot of effort into this chapter. If you have any ideas or suggestions for me, I am open to them! Review and tell me what you think!
Chapter 11
****Hermione****
Sun breaks through those damned sheer drapes and awakes me yet once again on this snowy morning. Christmas is quickly approaching, and the temperature in the castle is a constant reminder.
I step down out of my warm bed onto a chilling floor. A shiver runs down my spine and I quickly search for my slippers. Looking out the large window snow has blanketed the ground over the course of the night. Flakes continue to fall from the sky, yet the sun is still bright and inviting. It's a beautiful morning. A smile creeps across my weary face as a new day begins. Today will be better than the previous.
I throw on a robe and decide to head over to Draco's room. My smooth silk pajama pants feel icy around my legs on this chilly morning. I leave my room and knock on Draco's. Usually he is up before me, but this morning he isn't answering. I knock harder but still no answer. At this point I decide to just let myself in. I'm sure he won't mind.
There he is in all his glory. His arms and legs are all over the place. I have never in my life seen his hair in such disarray, and his blankets were in quite a knot. Usually he is a peaceful sleeper. He must have been really dreaming last night.
I know a great way to wake him up this morning. Stepping off the cold floor I lay down beside him on the bed. My fingers stroke his soft, but messy, hair. Deep snores are all that I hear. I lightly kiss the top of his head, but he doesn't even stir. This is the deepest sleep I have seen him in yet.
Today we have no classes (A/N I don't keep good track of any time, so let's say today is a Saturday). He is sleeping so soundly, and he looks like an angel. I can't believe I actually think Draco Malfoy looks like an angel. Crossing back over to my room I throw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and head down to the Great Hall. I can just bring breakfast to Draco if he doesn't come down here in time.
I continue through the drafty corridors. I meet a few people along the way, and eventually catch up with Ron and Ginny who are on their way as well.
"Hey guys" I greet them with a big smile. It's always wonderful to see my friends. Of course, it crosses my mind that they are still upset about my situation with Draco, and the smile fades a bit.
"Hey" Ron says while refusing to look me in the eye. Ginny, however, does not seem at all affected and offers me a big smile.
"Good morning, Hermione" she says to me. "Did you talk to Harry last night?" she asks me.
"No . . . Draco said he saw him last night, but he never came to see me" I manage to say while a feel a lump in the back of my throat. It still stings that Harry didn't want to come up and talk to me. I still feel a little rejected.
"Oh, I thought he said he was in your common room. He said he was there until like four in the morning, but he wouldn't talk about it". The look on her face tells me she is thoroughly confused about what's going on, and I have to say that I have no idea as well. I shrug it off. Harry was probably out with Lavender in the Astronomy Tower or something of the sort. He was never one to talk about his love life, he would rather keep it a secret.
"So, Ron" I begin slowly, "How have you bee?" I want to start talking to him again. I want him to know that I still love him immensely. I don't want him to be mad at me. We have spent most of our time together being angry at each other. Memories of fourth year flood back to my memory. That had been our hardest year.
He looks up at me. He is fighting a battle inside his own head. Finally, he seems to have decided what he wants to do and speaks up. "I've been better" was all he could say. I know he is upset. I know what kind of temper Ron has. I definitely don't want to push him.
It's enough for me. I smile back at him, and we have a sort of agreement. He will come around and then I will talk to him. It will be as easy as that . . . yeah right. But I do know that I have to let him cool down. I have to let him come to me. Ron is one of those people you just can't force.
So we walk together to the hall for breakfast and for the first time in a while, I sit with my fellow Gryffindors. I get a few looks from some, and I know that they feel a bit of anger. It seems it's a serious offense to date a Slytherin. Maybe they should make a Gryffindor Handbook so I know these rules. It doesn't matter, I wouldn't have followed them anyway.
I make small talk with my friends, and it feels great to be with them like this. It seems like it's been forever since I have done this. Reality sets in. This is my last year here, and the days of hanging out at the Gryffindor Table are going to end. It's sad, but in a way, I am ready to get on with my life. I am ready to use my knowledge to do better things.
I bid my friends goodbye and take some food up to the common room. I set it on the counter and proceed up to Draco's room. He is still in bed, and I feel for him. I might as well let him sleep. I grab the quill sitting on his desk and quickly scribble out a note.
Draco
I have gone to see Ron and Harry for a while. I will be back to check on you later. There is breakfast for you out on the counter. Enjoy.
Hermione
With that I am out the portrait hole and up the Gryffindor common room.
The Pink Lady is still there guarding the portrait hole as usual. I smile at the familiarity that warms my heart and say the password. She grins back at me and gladly swings open to allow me access to the room I feel I have grown up in.
There is a low buzz of people talking. Two first years are playing a game of Wizard's Chess, and there is a game of exploding snap in the corner. Quickly, I spot Ron and Ginny by the fire.
"Where's Harry?" I ask them with my brow furrowed.
"Still sleeping" Ginny informs me. I have never known Harry to be a late sleeper. It's almost nearing noon. An idea comes to me. While I have Ron here, I might as well talk to him and Ginny. I need to get them to understand.
"Can I talk to you guys, alone?" I ask them timidly. They look up at me, but ask no questions.
"Yeah, we can go up to my room" Ginny replies. (A/N: let's pretend boys can go up the girls' stairs today). They stand up and I follow them up to the empty room. I sit beside Ginny on her giant four poster bed, while Ron takes a seat on a nearby chair. They don't say a word. Instead they stare at me as though they already know what I'm going to say.
"You know, I remember these rooms. I miss these rooms. I miss having roommates" I start out. I'm just rambling. I'm avoiding the subject. I'm avoiding all confrontation. This is not the Hermione I thought I was. I am stronger than this.
"Hermione, we know what you want to talk about, and it's not my room. You can just say it, you know" Ginny coerces me. She is by far more supportive than her brother.
I look up at her, but there is no friendly face. I feel a little trapped now. Why did I have to start this conversation now? "Look, I just wanted to explain to you about me and Draco. I wanted to tell you how I feel" I start.
"And exactly how do you feel?" Ron asks with a sarcasm that stings when it hits me.
"I love him" I put simply. I see Ginny's face lighten. Ron looks as though he could kill. It's exactly what I expected from Ron. "I'm sorry, but it's the truth". I don't know how to get them to believe me. I don't know what I can do.
"Are you sure?" Ginny asks me. That's the last thing I expected to hear. She was curious. There was no viscous tone. It was a question.
"I'm absolutely positive" I say with pure confidence. Ginny's face softened immediately.
"Then that's that" was all she said. Ron, however, did not like that statement.
"Ginny! What are you talking about?" he asks incredulously.
"Ron, just stop acting like a jerk! Look at her. Look at your best friend, and look at the smile that came across her face when I accepted the fact she's in love. She is in love" she tried to convince him.
"With a Malfoy of all people!" he yelled. He couldn't take this. I hadn't given him enough time. He wasn't ready to accept it yet. As soon as he yelled it he was gone. The door slammed, and he was down the stairs in a heart beat. I remained on the bed with Ginny.
"Ginny . . . I" I began. She cut me off.
"No explanation is necessary. I'm not the one you need to sell. Hermione, you have known me for quite some time. I am a hopeless romantic. If you say you are in love then you are. You know what love is. You had it with Harry. And I must say it's too bad that didn't work out". I couldn't believe she was taking it this well. She was an easy sell.
"Oh, Ginny! I am so happy to hear you say that! I am in love with him, I am!" I cried out to her. I couldn't have smiled any bigger. "I just wish your brother and Harry would come around".
"Give them time, they are just prats" was all she said to me. She smiled back and I leaned over to hug her. We had been such great friends, it was a relief to know that this situation would not change anything between us. "Let's just head down the common room, it's probably almost time for lunch" she finishes.
I walk down to the common room only to see Harry and Ron in deep conversation. Harry's hair looked extremely disheveled, and his eyes were weary. They look up at me as I walk in but no words are spoken.
I can take a hint. I walk out of the common room and decide to just take a stroll by myself. I think I could use a little library time.
****Harry****
I am so freaking tired. I have never felt like this in my life. Staying up until four in the morning just should not be done.
By the time I wake up breakfast is over, and it's almost time for lunch. The castle is frigid, and I can tell Christmas will soon be upon us. That can only mean one thing, I think with a groan. There will be another damned Yule Ball.
Well, I figure I might as well get dressed and head down to see Ron. Last night gave me a lot to think about, and I know that I have to talk to him. If I don't tell him what I know, then we might not get over this thing with Hermione. I slip on some jeans and a big green sweater and find my way down the stairs.
The common room is so warm. This has been the best home I have ever had. The fire is crackling, and students are everywhere around me smiling and laughing. I still can't believe this is my last year here.
I don't see Ron right away so I just take a seat beside the fire. I watch all the younger students laughing and having a good time, and memories flood through my head. There are so many memories of the three of us. I can't help but feel like I have lost Hermione. I can't help but feel we aren't the same anymore.
I reach in my pocket and pull out a picture. It's a picture that I carry with me everyday in my life. Looking back at me were three children. Three kids were in their first year at Hogwarts and becoming fast friends. Ron and I were sitting on a bench and Hermione was stretched across our laps. We were laughing and smiling. I would occasionally kiss her forehead in the picture while Ron would shoot me dirty looks. It was one of the most fun days of my life. I wouldn't trade this one picture for the world.
Soon I see Ron coming down from the girls' dormitory. I intend to talk about him. And I now have a plan.
He walks down to me, looking at me curiously. "What do you have there, mate?" he asks me. I show him what I hold in my hands. A huge smile takes over his freckled face. He doesn't take his eyes off of it, he just sits down beside me. he takes it from my hands and studies it. "I miss those days" he says sadly. "There aren't going to be many more of them". It saddens me also.
"I know. I think if we want more memories, we have some problems to work out" I respond to him. He looks up at me. He knows what I am talking about.
"Look, Harry, I can't stand back and let Hermione be with Malfoy. It's sickening. I agree we have problems to fix. The main one would be how to get Malfoy away from her" he says straightforwardly.
"Ron, seriously, shut up. I think you need to understand something here. Hermione and Draco are really in love. This isn't just a stupid crush" I try to tell him.
"Harry, why are you taking his side? Why are you sticking up for him here?" he asks eyeing me suspiciously.
"It's nothing, Ron. I just talked to Draco last night. He's different" I try to explain, but the words aren't there.
"Oh, it's nothing huh? It's just our best friend with the enemy. Yeah, that's nothing isn't it? You know Harry, when you get some balls let me know. When you are ready to stand up to Malfoy come and get me. Then I will be ready to listen to you. Until then, I am going to find a way to make this right" he says with force before standing up and walking back to his room.
I failed Hermione . . . and Draco for that matter. Don't get me wrong, I am not his friend. But I am no longer his enemy. We have an understanding now. He poured out his soul to me. I don't fully understand why he trusted me with so much information, but I almost feel lucky. I know he doesn't tell just anyone about his life. And I now understand why he has always been such a bastard. It's not an excuse, but I feel his pain. And that's really saying something.
Now I just have to get Ron to come around. I know eventually he will. He always does. He and Hermione fight all the time. I know he is hurt that she didn't pick him. I know deep down he loves her too. But I will help him to understand if it's the last thing I do. Hermione needs us. I need all three of us to be friends as well. We all need each other badly.
A/N: Okay, I am going to keep writing. I know this chapter is quite uneventful, but never fear. I will write again tomorrow night if I have time. My sister is having a baby on Thursday, so I'm trying to get lots of stuff done before I head home for a couple days for that. I hope you enjoy. I really put a lot of effort into this chapter. If you have any ideas or suggestions for me, I am open to them! Review and tell me what you think!
