Summer Lovin'
By jessebelle
E-mail: dracos_gryffindor_princess@yahoo.com
A/N: thanks to everyone that reviewed. It really helps me to want to write, especially when it's just the beginning of a story, when I get reviews. I'm glad you like it and I hope you'll stick around for the rest of the story. Now, to find out what Denise was up to.
Dun, Dun, Dun.
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Chapter Six: Tree Talks and Teenage Girls
Jessie found her niece, still under the tree, mumbling ways to make Draco disappear. Rolling her eyes, she made her presence known. "I suggest hiding him in the closet. As long as you feed him and let him out to go to the bathroom, he should be fine. Plus, no body to dispose of."
Hermione's head snapped up. "What! I wasn't-"
"Yeah, and I'm the Queen. Are you done throwing a pity party? I'm afraid Draco is here to stay."
Hermione's eyes widened. "You called him Draco. Traitor!"
Jessie sighed and took a seat next to her "I've talked to him and learned the reason for his prick behavior."
"Well, what is it then, cause it better be good."
"Hermione, I thought you were better than that. I can't tell you exactly why, but he does have a legitimate reason. He trusted me enough to keep what ever he said to myself. Now, since I know you can't just take my word for it, I'll let you know that he is generally sorry for his actions. And I also know he plans to apologize and tell you most of what he told me. I thought I was right in saying that if he approaches you and apologizes, you'll be a nice person and forgive him, or at least remain civil to him, but now I'm not so sure."
Hermione sighed loudly. "Fine, if he has a good enough excuse, I'll by it. But it better not be a joke just to be mean, because from what I know of him, it's likely. And I guess I'll listen."
Jessie sighed in relief and smiled. "Thank you, I promise it's worth it. I believe Draco has the potential to be a great kid. He just needs to be given a chance. I knew you were raised right. Hopefully you'll come out and meet everyone, it's not everyday that we all get together. You should enjoy the party, and wait until he comes to you."
She got up and patted her niece's knee. She walked away, and then turned back around. "Hermione, I want you to remember the first time you met him, on the train. I want you to think about how you guys talked, and try and forget everything after your muggleborn status came up, because the kid you met, that's the real Draco, and even if it's only for this summer, just so you have someone to hang out with, you should try and enjoy it. Think about it." Jessie walked away to rejoin the party. She saw Draco staring at her. She smiled and mouthed, "Give her a little bit." He nodded and went back to watching the kids.
Hermione meanwhile was deep in thought. She remembered the first time she'd set eyes on the blonde boy. She'd been looking for a compartment, dragging her heavy, book-filled trunk behind her, and he'd popped his head out of one of the compartments. He'd helped her and let her sit with him. It had been a little awkward at first, and then they'd started talking about Hogwarts. She'd been very informed of the wizarding world thanks to all of her books. That was probably why he had thought she was a pure blood. They'd talked for a long time, both extremely comfortable with one another. Then he'd asked what her parents did for a living. She'd replied dentists, and that's when everything began to crumble. It wasn't instantaneous; she was able to see conflict on his face before he finally decided she was a mudblood. He'd yelled at her for not saying so sooner and sent her away. Thinking back on it now, she could practically hear the regret he had in his voice.
Maybe her aunt was right, maybe she should hear him out. Everyone deserves at least a second chance. And she would have to be around him all summer. Besides, her aunt wasn't one to take things like picking on people lightly, Malfoy would either have to have a sincere, genuine reason for being a git, or he was the world's best actor.
She had just decided to rejoin the party and go see Mal- no, Draco and talk to him, when a voice came from behind her. "You're Hermione, right? My daddy's cousin?"
Hermione turned around to see a little girl, maybe five or six talking to her. She smiled. "Yes, that means I'm your cousin too. Who's your daddy, and what's your name?"
Hermione invited the girl to come sit by her. She was a little confused when the girl hesitated, before finally sitting down by her, but she kept her distance. "My name's Denise, my daddy's name is Mike, my mom's name is Amy and I have a twin named Diane."
"Well, that's nice. Are you enjoying meeting everyone?"
"Yes, though I pretty much have met everyone, except you at least once. I'm not here to be nice though, I'm here to tell you to be nice to Draco."
Hermione's eyes widened. "How do you know him?"
Denise smiled. "Draco's step-dad is my weird, uncle Todd. I met him today and I really like him, I think he likes me too."
"Oh."
"Yes, now, do you like books?"
Hermione was a little skeptical. "Yes, why?" Hermione guessed that her little cousin happened to be very smart and didn't like her too much. Malfoy's influence probably.
Denise's eyes widened. "You don't happen to have any friends called Potty and Weasel do you?"
Hermione's jaw clenched. "Yes, I mean no, they're called Potter and Weasley. What exactly has Draco been telling you?"
Denise grinned smugly. "I'd tell you, but I don't want to lower myself to your level, bookworm. Now, stay away from my Dragon and get over your jealousy, it's really unbecoming." She stood up and walked away, her nose in the air.
Hermione was in shock. Malfoy had told them everything, about the wizarding world, her and her friends, and he'd made it so her relatives hated her. She took a deep breath; she was torn between anger and sadness. She could feel tears behind her eyes; he'd taken over her family.
"Hermione, are you okay?"
Hermione's head snapped up at the voice. Draco Malfoy, in all his glory was standing in front of her. Had she not been so pissed off at him, she might have spotted the concern, for her, on his face. However, she was really angry. "I'm fine Malfoy. Do me a favor, obviously since you can't go home, I want you to stay away from me. Don't talk to me and don't look at me, because that's what I'm going to do to you. And another thing, quit turning my family against me you bouncing ferret, or did you neglect to tell them that part, Dragon." Hermione stood up and ran away. She was aware of her aunt and her other family members asking what was wrong, but she didn't want to stick around, the tears were already falling. She made it inside the house and to her room before the sobs started. She laid on the bed and cried. Some party this turned out to be.
Draco was still standing there in shock. Jessie came up behind him. "What did you say to her!" she was yelling.
Draco turned around. "Nothing, I only asked if she was okay because she looked sad. Then she told me she was going to ignore me and ran away."
Jessie saw his confusion and nodded. "Alright. I wish I knew why she was sad though, she was crying when she ran past me."
Draco shrugged. "I don't know."
Jessie sighed. "Well, it's all part of having to deal with a teenage girl. I suppose I should find out what's wrong, but I think I'll let her cry it all out. Most likely she'll want to be alone."
Draco nodded. "Yeah. I think I'm going to talk to the kids. Denise is finally back. Can you let me know how she is?" He sounded concerned, but only if you listened carefully.
Jessie nodded. "Yes, hopefully it will all blow over soon. I can't imagine she can ignore you forever."