Chapter 8: forgive and forget?
Hermione stared at her best friends, who glared back.
'How the bloody hell am I going to get out of this?'
"Um, hi guys." She said timidly. "What are you two doing here?"
"Oh, not much, Hermione." Ron said sarcastically. "We just thought we would visit our best friend last night. When we got there we heard her up stairs. So we went up and heard her say "Malfoy Manor" and when we opened the door the fire was flaring as if someone had just flooed. So we decided to stay because we were worried because she had just gone to our NUMBER ONE ENEMY'S HOUSE!!! So we stayed, being GOOD best friends, thinking she would come back at a DECENT time to tell us what was up. But she didn't come back till the NEXT bloody morning!!!"
"We just put his father in Azkaban, Hermione." Harry said, in a deadly calm voice. "And you just spent the whole night with his son. Tell me, Hermione, whose side are you on? You stay the night at Malfoy's, who's father was one of Voldemorts top supporters, yet your best friends are the ones trying to put them all away!"
"Draco's not how you think he is!!!" Hermione screamed.
"Oh, on first name basis already, eh, Hermione?" Ron screamed back. "What's next, calling him Drakie?!"
"Why the bloody hell would it matter to you what I call him, Ron, he's not like you think!"
"Oh, really?" he retorted. "And how did you come to this conclusion? While you were snogging him?! No, wait, was it while you ere moaning his name? Or maybe..."
Hermione stomped up to him and smacked him hard across the cheek. She felt oddly happy to see a handprint being to appear.
Ron shrugged it off. "Well, Hermione?" said in the came deadly calm tone as Harry. "When did you decide he was different?"
"Maybe, just maybe it was when DUMBLEDORE sent me a letter telling me he was!!!" Hermione screamed.
Harry and Tons mouths dropped open.
"Dumbledore...?" Harry sputtered.
"Sent a letter?" said Ron.
"Saying he was different?!?" they said together.
"I don't believe it." Harry said, finally.
"Neither do I." said Ron.
"Well as of right now, I don't care what you think. When you find out what's really going on then you'll understand. Until that time, I expect you and your accusations to leave me alone. Now, if you would so kindly excuse me, I need to change." She brushed past the boys and headed up the stairs to her room.
Harry and Ron stared at each other, and then sunk into the couch.
"What d'ya reckon?" Ron asked after a few minutes. "Think she's telling the truth?"
"Hermione wouldn't lie, Ron."
"I know but the Hermione we know wouldn't stay the night at a guy's house, let alone Malfoy's."
"True, but if Dumbledore says he's different then...." Harry trailed off.
"I reckon she was telling the truth." Ron said.
Harry nodded. "We should probably go apologize." Ron nodded, and the two stood and made their way up the stairs.
After Hermione had changed in to super low rise dark blue flares and a white halter top, she sat down on the bed and began counting down. "Five...four... (She could hear the boys on the stairs.)...Three....two... (They were coming down the hallway.)...one." She heard a knock on her door. She smiled. They were so predictable.
She got up and opened the door, then turned and walked back over to sit on the bed.
Harry and Ron walked in and stood in the middle of the room awkwardly in front of her.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Harry spoke up. "Look Hermione, we're sorry. We shouldn't have yelled at you. we should of heard you out first. You probably have a very good reason to be going over there. I..WE'RE...sorry." he elbowed Ron to get his attention.
"Er, yea, sorry Hermione."
Hermione looked at her two best friends. "It's...its okay guys. I know it must have been confusing. But you see, you guys, don't know everything about me. Harry, do you know my favorite muggle song?"
Harry shook his head.
"Ron, do you know my favorite color?"
Ron shook his head.
"See, you don't know everything. You all think I'm this book worm. I'm not, entirely, at least. I like partying. Yesterday morning I had a killer hangover. Last night I was getting ready to go out to a club, when I got the letter from Dumbledore. Then you two showed up, and I knew you wouldn't like me going to get drunk, so I went to Malfoy's so you wouldn't see me."
Harry and Ron gapped at her. Ron shook his head.
"This is too much," he said sitting next to Hermione, "first you to Malfoy's, then stay the Whole night, then on top of it all you a party girl! Hermione, next time you need to tell us something, break it to us easy, and in small portions, okay?"
Hermione smiled and put her arm around him. "Deal."
Harry sat down, and Hermione put her arm around his also.
"Er, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Yea?"
"Er...um...you
and Draco...uh, how many times...how long have you two been
together?"
Hermione smiled. She had known that would be coming.
'You guys, I've liked him since first year. No, we haven't
been together that long, Ron," she said hastily, seeing Ron's
face. "I don't even know if we are going out. And last might
was the first night.
Harry and Ron nodded, digesting the information
Suddenly the fire flared and Draco stepped out.
