Summer Lovin'
By jessebelle
Chapter Seven: The Silent Treatment and Shape of His Heart
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"I can't imagine she can ignore you forever." Draco mimicked what Jessie had told him. It was five days after the reunion. He, Mike, Amy and the twins, along with Jessie and Hermione were staying at Nana and Pop's house, or that's what he was supposed to call them. He was sitting on his bed in the room he had shared with Robby, Mike's cousin and Jessie's younger brother. Draco liked him, he was fun. He had also left that morning. "Yeah, right. She obviously doesn't know her niece much. Gran-Hermione hasn't said a word since her explosion, hell; she hasn't even looked at me!"
It was true. Hermione had been ignoring him ever since the reunion. That first night at dinner had really been something. Jessie had finally realized she was serious on her threat.
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"Hermione, why don't you sit next to Draco?" Nana smiled at her granddaughter and the young blond boy.
Hermione gave her an odd look. "Where?" she looked over where Nana had pointed and her eyes purposely passed over Draco.
Jessie gave her niece a look. "Hermione! Cut it out. Sit next to Draco."
"Again, I ask where?"
Jessie sighed. "In the empty seat next to Nana."
Hermione nodded and sat down. She didn't even let her eyes set on Draco for a second. "Amy, can you pass the bacon?"
The bacon was sitting on Draco's other side. Amy was across from him. "I'm sorry Hermione but Draco's closer."
Hermione gave Amy a look. "Oh, you can't reach it. Don't worry, I can reach." And she did, right over Draco. He actually had a very nice view, but didn't appreciate the action. Two could play at that game. As soon as Hermione sat down, he reached over and grabbed the juice that was on her other side.
She pretended nothing was wrong. "You know, there's suddenly a very weird smell, are you sure nothings died here?" Hermione gave a false smile.
Draco scowled. Everyone else's eyes widened. "Hermione Granger! Apologize immediately!"
Hermione looked ashamed. Jessie sighed, then her niece turned to her grandparents. "Sorry for making that comment, I'm sure it was just the mill."
Across from Hermione, Jessie rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. She shared a look with her mother. Mike and Pops both looked amused at the whole scene. From then on everyone ate in silence.
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Draco scowled at the memory. All of their meals had been like that; Hermione being generally rude and ignoring him. He'd tried to talk to her several times even, but she always pretended it was the wind.
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Draco sat in the living room watching TV. Jessie and Mike had taken pity on him and had given him a crash course in muggle technology. So he was watching, and watching, and damn this channel was boring. He stared at the foreign object in his hand; a remote Jessie had called it.
Just then Hermione walked in the room. Draco had come up with another strategy for dealing with her. He just hoped it would work. "Hey Hermione."
She didn't say anything and sat down in the farthest spot away from him. He sighed. "Do anything interesting today?"
She blinked and watched the TV. Finally Draco rolled his eyes and gave up. He stared at the remote. If only he knew how to use it. He looked back up at the TV. He was, apparently watching the history channel. And on it was a history of the praying mantis. He watched as the female bit the head off of the male and winced. He looked over and watched as Hermione yawned. "Boring, huh?" She blinked. He could practically see her eyes glaze over.
"How does this thing work? I want to change the channel." Hermione's brow furrowed. Finally, he was getting somewhere.
"Huh, that's weird. I thought I heard the wind. I better shut the window." The infuriating Gryffindor got up and closed the open window. She smiled. "That's better."
Draco sighed. "Listen, I know you're enjoying this just as much as I am. Why don't you show me how this remote works so I can turn something good on?"
At his plea, Hermione suddenly became interested in the program. "Look at that, this is almost as informative as books. Maybe I should recommend Hogwarts getting a television." She watched the TV with wide eyes.
Draco threw his hands in the air. He gave up. "Fine, enjoy the program." He threw the remote at her and walked away.
As soon as he was gone Hermione grinned and picked up the remote. Time to watch some real television."
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Draco lay back on his bed. He had expected this summer to be boring, but this was really going too far. He hadn't been able to go anywhere in case he got lost or something. The only thing he was able to do was read, and the rooms in the house were absolutely boring. He had nothing to do. It had taken him a few days, but he'd finally found out why Hermione was mad at him. To say he was furious with Denise was an understatement. But she'd apologized to him and he'd forgiven her after the tears had come. He knew that if she was a witch, she'd definitely be a Slytherin.
He knew he should probably apologize, but he didn't know how. When he'd told the kids that story, it had been before he realized they were Hermione's family and before he'd given up the act. Obviously he knew that it would have to be a damn good apology to break through Hermione's icy shell. He'd heard Mike, Jessie, and Amy nicknamed her the ice queen. He thought it fit, but he decided not to chance his luck by calling her that.
So what to do, what to do. He really had no idea. Hermione had at first avoided him completely, but by the middle of the week, she'd given up and just ignored his presence. That took care of her getting up and walking away. He also knew she could hear him, she just didn't respond was all. So, all he had to do was corner her in a room, well, maybe not corner, but make sure he was in a room with her, and pour out his apology. That was the hard part. He had no clue how to apologize for all of the things he'd done. He'd really been a git, and he personally wouldn't hold it against her if she didn't take his apology. But still, he had to try didn't he. But, he couldn't do it alone, he'd need help.
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Draco nervously walked up the stairs. He knew there was a chance that She was here, but he had to get help from Jessie. He approached the brightly colored door and knocked. The door opened and he found himself face to face with Hermione. "Hell-" the door slammed in his face, "-o." He sighed.
"Hermione, who was that?" Jessie looked up from the bed where she was painting her toenails.
"No one." Hermione went and sat down with a book.
Jessie rolled her eyes. This had really gone on enough. It had been a week for Merlin's sake. She put the cap back on the toenail polish and got up. She pulled her robe closed, she was in a nightgown, and reopened the door. Draco was there. "Hello Draco, what can I do for you?" She gestured for the boy to come in.
As soon as he stepped in the room, Hermione brushed past him with a book in her hands. "I'm going down stairs. For some reason the room seems to be too crowded for my liking."
Jessie shared a look with Draco and showed him where to sit. She crawled back on the bed and started to finish her paint job. Draco raised his eyebrow, but didn't enquire to what she was doing. He'd learned it was better not to ask when it came to Jessie. She looked up and smiled at him. "I take it you're as tired of this as I am?"
He nodded. "Merlin yes, I can't take it anymore!"
Jessie shook her head at his drama. "Well, apologize."
He looked up at her, his head resting on his hands which were resting on his knees. "I know. That's what I came here for. It needs to be big. And I don't know how or what to say." His voice pleaded with the red head.
Jessie paused, the brush in hand. "Well, then I'll just have to help you. Now be quiet so I can think." She painted her pinkie toe and smiled at her work.
Draco rolled his eyes and took a look around at his surroundings. Everything was, bright. He saw books, and make up, and more books, and a few dressers, and- What was that!? He reached down and picked something up from the floor. He grinned upon seeing what it was, a lacy, purple bra. He waggled his eyebrows. "This yours?"
Jessie looked up and her mouth dropped. She then giggled. "No, it's Hermione's."
Draco's grin got wider. "Even better."
She shook her head and went back to her nails. Draco dropped the bra and sat back down. He'd just picked up a book, no doubt Hermione's, when Jessie's shout surprised him. "Eureka! I got it!" She leaned down and grabbed something from the floor and held up a square case triumphantly. "This is it, the solution to all of your problems. All we have to do is make a few preparations, you put this on, give her something nice, a book I think, apologize and bam, she forgives you and life can go on as normal."
Draco gave her a skeptic look. "Really, what exactly is it?"
"A CD. There's a song on here that fits your situation perfectly. Leave everything to me. Now scoot, I have to finish my nails and you have to think of your apology."
Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, he gave a quick thank you and left the room. On the way downstairs he passed Hermione and instead of letting her silence bother him, he just grinned. Hopefully Jessie's plan would work.
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Jessie had told him to be ready after dinner. There had been another awkward meal and then the adults had all announced they were leaving and taking the girls out for ice cream. Hermione had been a little shocked, but announced it would be nice to have the house to herself. Draco had been given a look from Jessie and he knew it was part of the plan. Before they'd gone, she'd left him with instructions and told him good luck. Now it was all up to him.
He'd been lucky enough to find out that the complicated things, the music, was already set up. Hermione had taken up the living room and was reading when he decided to put his plan into action. He quickly read through the directions one more time before starting. He hoped to Merlin it would work.
Hermione jumped when the lights went out. Of course, she couldn't say anything because then she'd be acknowledging Draco. So she sighed and waited for him to get bored. No such thing happened. Instead, the stereo next to her turned on and music started to play. She looked around a little scared, before a whispered, listen, drifted to her ears. Against her better judgment, she did as she was told. She was shocked at the words of the song.
Hmm, yeah, yeah
Baby, please try to forgive me
Stay here don't put out the glow
Hold me now don't bother if every minute it makes me weaker
You can save me from the man that I've become, oh yeah
Lookin' back on the things I've done
I was tryin' to be someone
I played my part, kept you in the dark
Now let me show you the shape of my heart
Candles ignited at this point.
Hermione looked up to see Draco staring at her hopefully. She looked away, she
watched him from the corner of her eyes. She continued to listen to the words
of the song.
Sadness is beautiful, loneliness is tragical
So help me I can't win this war, oh no
Touch me now don't bother, if every second it makes me weaker
You can save me from the man I've become
Lookin' back on the things I've done
I was tryin' to be someone
I played my part, kept you in the dark
Now let me show you the shape of my heart
I'm here with my confession
Got nothing to hide no more
I don't know where to start
But to show you the shape of my heart
By now Hermione was actually
looking at him, questions in her eyes. Draco was also listening to the words of
the song and it shocked him how much it pegged his situation. He slowly moved
towards her. She didn't move away.
I'm lookin' back on things I've done
I never wanna play the same ol' part
Or keep you in the dark
Now let me show you the shape of my heart
Lookin' back on the things I've done
I was tryin' to be someone
I played my part, kept you in the dark
Now let me show you the shape of my heart
Lookin' back on the things I've done
I was tryin' to be someone
I played my part, kept you in the dark
Now let me show you the shape of my heart
Show you the shape of my heart
"So, what do you think?" He looked scared, scared that it wouldn't work.
Hermione's hand covered her open mouth. She'd listened, and she saw the emotion in the Slytherin's eyes. "Is it true?" Her voice sounded soft, and heavenly to Draco's ears, for her words were finally directed to him.
He nodded. "Every word. Hermione, I'm sorry for telling the kids that story. It's just, they wanted to hear a story and it was the only thing that came to mind, hell, it's the only story I know. It's the story my father tried to make me believe. I never really hated you guys, I was just jealous. I'm sorry. I understand if you can't accept it, but it's true. And if you're willing to give me a chance, I'd like to start fresh. I'd like you to meet the real me, and I'd like to meet the real you, the woman behind the books."
A tear fell down Hermione's face. She reflected back on her behavior from the previous week. She'd been horrible, she'd been, a bitch. "No, I'm sorry. I should have listened to you before jumping to conclusions. I should have-" Draco's finger on her lips stopped her words.
He shook his head. "No, there's no reason for you to apologize. I deserved everything, I probably deserve worse. I just want to know if we can call it even?" His eyes shone with hope.
Hermione wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "Did my aunt come up with this?"
Draco grinned. "She picked the song. It's scary how much it fits. But, I did everything else."
Hermione sniffed. "I'd be glad to get to know you. And I truly am sorry for ignoring you. It really was immature."
Draco grinned. "It's about time you did something immature. So, we can start over?" He held out his hand.
Hermione stared at it for a minute. She remembered Harry not accepting it. But she was different. With a smile she took it. "To starting over."