A/N Well here I am again people! Come to haunt your dreams and nightmares. Just kidding. Anyways Bree cleverly noticed I seem to use the word vacant a lot. For her sake I will avoid using it. She also helped me notice that the sweatband was staring at us. So sorry! I'm leaving it though for laughing purposes. Thank you so much for reviewing everyone. I hoped you liked the last chapter (even with the staring sweatband!) Now on with the annoying Disclaimer and the story!!!!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Tear well, I do own something. I own my room, and my stuff and oops! You don't want to hear all that. J.K. Rowling owns everything except my friend the town and me.
Draco was walking down the street, alone. He didn't even know where his feet were taking him; he just walked with his head spinning in thoughts. 'What did she know anyways? He'd tried to be nice to her this whole time. That muggle was just the last straw! Why did Hermione have to ruin a perfect developing bond between them by dragging a muggle in?'
Then he remembered. He had dragged the muggle in. He had wanted to get to the bottom of the problem and had demanded to see her. It wasn't Hermione's fault, it was his. That made him feel worse than before. He whispered under his breath. "Poor Hermione, I'm so sorry."
He looked up and found himself at the tennis courts. Rosie was still there watching William. Without a word he moved towards her. If anyone would know what a girl thinks and how to apologize to one, it would be another girl. Rosie smiled hesitantly as he approached. William looked on with interest, not even noticing when the ball hit his head and his challenger let out an anger filled string of words.
"Rosie, I need your help." Draco said shyly, looking down at his feet.
"Trouble with Hermione? You guys didn't seem to be in a very stable relationship when I last saw you." She said at once. Her eyes had drifted back to William, who was now arguing with the other boy in the fence. She was laughing at them silently.
"Hermione and I aren't dating, but yes there is trouble. We, er, sort of got into a fight. I want to apologize, but uh I don't know, uh, how." He said hopelessly and quietly.
"Dating or not, you should do something special for her. Something romantic that she'll really like. Maybe dinner by candlelight or surprise her with roses!" Rosie said with a dreamy look in her eye.
"For crying out loud, I don't want to propose or something! I just want to apologize to her! I want her to forgive me."
Rosie's eyes flashed. "Look, I was just trying to help. Sorry, if you don't want me to! Just remember, you're the one who asked!" She stood up and walked away. Then turned sharply and said, "Oh, and for what it's worth, I don't think you look like the Draco from the books anyways!"
The tennis players had finished their argument and William was left standing alone as his challenger left the courts. He watched Rosie leave, and then turned to Draco. "Hey you, do you play?"
Draco looked from the muggle boy to the bright green ball he was holding. Finally, he stood up and walked into the playing area. "I used to play all the time back home. I'm very good, so yeah, I'll challenge you."
"Alright, my English friend. What's your name?" he asked handing Draco a racket and flashing him a small smile. His voice was kind but had a slight smart tone to it. He ran a hand through his hair and Draco couldn't help wondering 'what does this guy do, wash it with hand lotion?' (A/N lol. Little inside joke there people. Sorry!) Still, he seemed like an ok kind of guy.
"I'm Draco, from great Britain. Who are you?"
"The name's William, but just call me Billy, everyone else does." He looked over at the now empty bench as he spoke and said, "Girl trouble, huh? I know what that's like. So what's your problem?"
"I uh kind of got into a fight with her. Now she's all mad because I said something I didn't mean and she thought I meant it. I don't know what to do. I mean, I'll admit to you, I like her and all, but, it would never work you know? She doesn't like me either. No matter what I do, she doesn't return my feelings." Draco said all in a rush while Billy tied his shoe. For some reason, talking to Billy wasn't bad. He could open up more and he felt he could trust him.
"Here's what I think you should do. You got to let her know how you feel. She probably isn't going to, it's just not the way they are sometimes. You got to impress her and stuff, get to know her, hope she notices you. If you don't you'll regret it." He looked to the road where Rosie had left. His face fell and his eyes took on a distant look.
"You like Rosie, don't you?" Draco accused.
"More than you'll ever know. I can't help it, you know. She's just so interesting. Uh, not to be rude or anything but, we should get on with the game. Sorry, I don't mean to sound obstinate, but it's getting dark you see, so we should try to fit this in quickly."
Draco agreed and took his place at the other end. His head was filled with thoughts of Hermione, Billy's full of Rosie. Together, with their heads in the clouds, they played the worst game of tennis ever.
The phone beside Alex's bed rang. Noisily, Alex turned on her side and picked it up, stretching as she did. With a big yawn she wiped her eyes and said into the receiver, "Hello?"
Hermione stirred from her blanket pile, softer than the bed itself, on the floor. She watched Alex slowly put the receiver down and turn on speaker phone. Stifling another yawn, she said, "Ok, we're listening."
Rosie's voice filled Hermione's ears. "You guys will not believe who came up to me asking about Hermione!"
"Billy?" Alex said with a small smile at Hermione who instantly knew she was kidding and messing with Rosie.
"No! Of course not, the guy doesn't even like me! He likes you remember? He doesn't even know I exist except for that time I fell in front of-"
"Ok, ok, Rosie! Now what about the person asking about Hermione? Who was it?" Alex asked cutting her off mid-story.
"Oh, I can't tell you over the phone! You guys should sleep over my house. Then we can talk about it!" Rosie sounded excited. Maybe it was really good gossip or something. The whole thing confused Hermione.
Alex looked at the glowing numbers on her clock beside her bed. "Rosie, it is 12:30 in the morning. Can't you just tell us and we have a sleep over some other time?"
"Oh, please you guys. I can't sleep. My parents said it was ok just this once after I explained the importance. Pretty please?" Rosie begged.
"Alright, alright, we'll be right over. Just give us a moment to wake up some." She hung up the phone and turned to Hermione. "You're in for a rough night. Slumber parties mean no sleep and lots of boy talk."
Half an hour later, they were walking towards Rosie's house when they met a shadowy figure on the sidewalk. As they drew closer they realized it was Billy. Alex forgot all traces of good manners and asked him outright, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm just going for a walk. I don't mean to sound rude, but, I'm quite busy now. I'm on a very tight schedule. I'm ending this conversation now."
"Alright, good for you. You do that." Alex said vaguely. After he was out of earshot and they were walking up Rosie's driveway, Hermione heard her mutter a single word under her breath. "Prep."
When Rosie answered the door, she found a snickering Hermione and an irritated Alex. "What's going on?"
"We ran into your lover boy on the way over. He was 'quite busy' taking a walk at 1 in the morning. I think he's stalking you Rosie, you got to put him straight."
Rosie giggled in girly-in-love sort of way. "Well come up stairs. We have lots to talk about."
After Rosie told them about Malfoy's trip to the courts, and after they decided that Hermione should forgive him with the excuse that ferrets can't help themselves, Rosie turned to Alex. "I have news for you too, you know."
"Oh, joyous. I can't wait, see, I'm jumping out of my seat." Alex said in a flat tone. She was of course not moving at all.
"You will be excited once you hear what I've got to say. Guess who stopped by my house and asked about you? You'll never guess so I'll tell you! It was Jamie! Remember, he saw us outside the YMCA the other day?"
Alex immediately smiled. "Oh, are you serious? He was asking about me? What did he say?"
"He asked for your name, but I think he was seriously hoping to show off those muscles for you again! He came by shirtless, again! He is so cute and he seriously must have something for you, why else would he ask?"
Hermione watched as Alex rolled her eyes. "You think every guy in the world has 'something' for me. Anyways, back on more serious topics." She turned to Hermione sitting next to her. "We're going to help you and your hopeless romantic get home ok? Don't worry about it; I have friends in all the right places that'll help you out."
Hermione smiled, her eyes filled with hope. "Alex you're the greatest!"
"I am, aren't I? Well, now for everyone pleasure, I have a little surprise for you. I'm going to sing a song."
"Are you really? Alex, that's so great! You have to hear her voice Hermione, it's amazing!" Rosie said in an excited voice. "Just try to keep the sound down ok? I don't want anyone getting too ticked with me from downstairs."
"Ok, Hermione, you and Draco were actually my inspiration. I wrote it while reading the books so don't laugh ok? I'm not good at making lyrics up."
She sang Hermione the prettiest song she had ever heard. One that made her want to give Draco a chance. She fell asleep with Alex teaching her some of the lyrics and promising to write it down for her. Her dreams were sweet, all about romance and that one special person she wish would bring her all those happy memorable things. And soon, soon she would be going home, to fight the fight for witches and wizards everywhere. Voldemort, who had yet to be heard in America, was still at Hogwarts, she was sure of it. And as for Dumbledore, she didn't know what to think of him! He seemed crazier than ever!
All these thoughts carried her off into sleep. Good or bad, they would have to do.
A/N Well, was it any good? I know there's a lot of blah in this one but trust me, slowly, we are getting towards the good stuff. Or is this stuff any good? Now that I have confused myself beyond all reason, I must say thank you to Bree for proofreading and correcting Billy parts for me. Thank you!!! Lol. Thank everyone for reviewing, it's encouraging. Luv yas!! Oh, and I have included Alex's song. Please don't hate me for poor lyric skills!