Chapter Three - Everyone's View On Things

Harry laughed maniacally as he watched the slug burn into bits. "Ha! It is dead!" he yelled in a proud voice. "To us!"

Ron snorted and screamed, "To us!"

Terry, who peeked from behind the huge foil around his neck, stated, "You guys are bloody dumb. At least have some decency to shut your traps. I'm sun bathing!"

Ron rolled his eyes and proceeded with his slug burning, as Harry watched Malfoy and Zabini out of the corner of his eyes. They were lounging around on the other side of the pool, where Hermione, Luna and Ginny once were. They were talking quietly about something. "Hey, you reckon Malfoy and Zabini are up to something?"

Harry looked over at them. "I don't think so. They're not that stupid to go and plan something … and what's the point? We're in the muggle world, they can't do anything," he explained.

"That's true," said Ron, "but you've got to admit, they look as if their plotting."

Taking another glance at the two Slytherins, Harry nodded in agreement. Malfoy was hunched up next to Zabini, who's hand was on his shoulder. Either they were lovers or something was up. Harry thought the second reason was best. "I guess his just mad because of what happened to his mum."

Ron shrugged. "I'd be mad if anything happened to my mum," he stated, "I already feel bad about Luna's mother. I can't believe she's gone … well … you know."

Harry sighed. "She seems alright with it. She doesn't look like she's sad."

"First off, you guys are stupid," retorted Terry, "and second, she's definitely sad, but she's not showing it. She wants to stay strong for her mother."

Harry and Ron looked confused. "Huh?" they asked in unison.

Terry rolled his eyes, tucked away his sun bathing device, and sat next to the boys. "Now, what I'm about to explain is quite perplexing, but I need you guys to try and follow, okay?" he asked slowly.

Harry and Ron nodded eagerly, leaning in to listen.

"Since the beginning of time, women were always quite the baffling race …"

"Is that what you want to be? A psychologist?" asked a very interested Dudley, sitting in the living room, a happy Hermione sitting in front of him.

"I'd love to be a psychologist, but I want something to do with magic, you know?" she asked, "I just want to mix the two. I mean … I can't just shove away magic for the rest of my life."

Dudley nodded. "I know what you mean. I've always wanted to be a zoologist, even though I'm afraid of a few animals. I made a huge mistake at school and well … my grades aren't too good and my reputation isn't very nice. Let's just say things got out of hand when I was fifteen."

Hermione gave him a sad smile. "Harry told me that you smoked," she said quietly, making sure his mother (who was in the kitchen) wasn't listening, "why did you do that?"

Dudley shrugged ashamedly. "I don't know," he answered, "I guess I just wanted to fit in. Harry's got his magic and I've got nothing."

"You've got so much, Dudley," Hermione said reassuringly, "you've got friends now, good ones. You've got this whole summer to change. I can help you if you want. Have you quit smoking? Have you stopped bullying others?"

He sighed. "I never thought smoking could be so addictive. It's amazing how my parents can't smell the soot off me. I'm beginning to think that they're just ignoring it."

Hermione placed her arm over his. "Ginny, Luna and I will help you," she said softly, "don't worry. We're your friends now and we'll always catch you when you fall."

He smiled.

"Who does he think he is?! A bloody hero or something?!" Draco hissed viciously, sitting on the pool sun chair. "He thinks he can just take whatever he wants?!"

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Shut up," he snapped, "you don't know what you're talking about. He's not stealing her if that's what your stubborn mind is brooding on and on about."

"Yeah right," he said sardonically, "you see the way he looks at her. It's like he wants to eat her. Bloody hell, only I can eat her!"

"If I may be blunt," started Blaise, "you were eating someone else," he added amusedly.

Draco glowered at him. "I had to," he growled, "Gin knows that."

"If you loved her," sighed Blaise, "you wouldn't of done it in the first place."

"An heir is the only way I can weasel out of this whole second in command business, Blaise. Don't contradict my decisions. I make them, not you," he snarled.

Blaise shook his head and stood up. He looked down at his friend and stated, "You think you're helping others around you, but the only thing you're doing is hurting them. I can hear her heart breaking, Draco. I can see the tears she's fighting back. This isn't helping her."

Draco stared at him.

"It's killing her."

-- End Of Chapter Three --