--Incendio--

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Don't sue, I'm poor.

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CHAPTER 3: Calling him Draco (Chapter is rated PG)

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Hermione was starting to feel a little better about all that was going on. She was safe in the Burrow, with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny and Draco Malfoy. Percy was at the Ministry of Magic, which had been his work place for about 3 years now.

Hermione walked down the steps, and the smell of bacon, eggs and pancakes made her mouth water. She stepped onto the floor, after the last step, and looked around. The Burrow looked the same as it had the past 6 years, welcoming and friendly. It was also filled with things. Magical things, muggle things, papers, parchments, clothing, and life. It was obviously a big family's home. And that's what the Weasleys were, a big family. If the whole family was there, there would be 11 people in the house, including Hermione and Draco. But, now there were only 8.

Bill Weasley, the oldest son, was working at Gringotts, and Charlie was working with dragons in Romania. Hermione also felt good knowing that one of her friends was with her. She and Ginny had grown quite close, despite the year's difference between them.

She smiled, the family was sitting at the table, eating and laughing and talking. She walked over to them, and was greeted instantly by Ron.

"Hey Hermione!" he stood up, and hugged her briefly. "Sit here." he motioned to the seat next to him. She sat, and was greeted by the rest of the family as well. Mrs. Weasley also hugged her, promising that she would be safe here. Hermione smiled, and started to get caught up with the family as she ate.

About half an hour after she had come down, she learned that Fred and George's Joke Shop was going quite well. Their homemade supplies of practical jokes were traumatizing Witches and Wizards all over London. Hermione recalled a time that's someone used a joke on her from their shop. Traumatizing was correct indeed. She smiled.

Percy was still working diligently at the Ministry, though the family didn't talk about him much. He went against his fathers wishes many times, causing him to have problems with the family. They said he'd rather not be a Weasley, but be a Fudge. Arthur described Percy as almost a slave of Fudge's.

Ron was, well, Ron. Hermione was caught up enough with him, seeing as she saw him all year, as well as Ginny. Both of them were as shaken up about Harry's death as she was.

"Now, mark my words," started Mrs. Weasley, "Harry Potter's death was no accident. The Rumors are true. The Hogwart Express never fails, except that one day. And Harry was the only one hurt! It was obviously done on purpose. You three (Ron, Hermione and Ginny) should watch out for yourselves. Always carry your wands, and maybe you should start practicing some of those Defense Spells."

Hermione, Ron and Ginny smiled at each other, thinking of the DA. But then it occurred to them, Harry was no longer there to teach them. They'd have to make do without him, if it was at all possible.

Just then, Draco came down the steps. He was only wearing long, flannel pants. His bleach-blonde hair was tousled, and he rubbed his eyes.

Mrs. Weasley snorted. "Draco Malfoy, go put a shirt on! You'll catch a cold!"

Draco sighed and went back upstairs to put on a shirt. Then he called down, "HEY RONALD! CAN I BORROW A SHIRT?"

Ron glared furiously up the stairs, but after seeing his mothers face, shouted up a yes.

Draco came down wearing one of Ron's sweaters that has R stitched into it, sewed by Mrs. Weasley. It was too big, and hung loosely around his pale neck.

Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny all suppressed giggles with their hands. Ron narrowed his eyes.

Draco smirked and him, and sat in the empty seat next to Hermione.

Hermione passed him the food, and Draco served himself hungrily, forcing the food down his throat.

Mr. Weasley was looking at him warily, while Mrs. Weasley offered him more. Draco took it, and continued to eat.

Everyone else at the table was watching his, eyes wide and mouths hanging open. Hermione felt like throwing up.

Draco seemed to notice people were watching him, and slowed his pace. Hermione turned to Ron, and began chatting animatedly with him. Ron kept shooting glances over Hermiones shoulders, to glare at Draco.

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After breakfast, everyone went upstairs and got dressed. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could be heard arguing with each other in their room. Hermione walked down the steps in a black sweater, and jeans. They were a little too small, since they were Ginny's, but she would manage. She made a mental note to buy more clothes in Diagon Alley soon, since all of hers were burned.

She walked out into the crisp summer air. It was odd, though, that it was so cold during summer. The sky was partly overcast, and she stuffed her hands in her pockets, and continued to walk. She was cautious not to stray too far from the old home. She walked into the small woods by the house, dodging trees and branches. She just needed time to think.

Suddenly, Hermione was aware of steps behind her. She stopped, and the steps did too. "Who's there?" she called, scared.

"It's just me, Granger. Don't have a cow." called Draco.

She sighed and turned around. "What do you want?"

"What, suddenly I'm not allowed to go for a walk?" he replied, mockingly offended.

"Not when you're stalking me, no."

He was wearing one of Ron's shirts, over black jeans. His hair was swept to the side, and his intense gray eyes burned into Hermiones. His eyes stole her breath. They looked so… cold and unloving.

He shrugged, and started to walk past her, but she stopped him.

"Look, Malfoy…" she sighed, "I'm sorry about your parents."

He shrugged again. "Whatever. My mom was a whining ninny anyways."

Hermione gasped. "But, she sent you cakes and sweets almost everyday in Hogwarts!"

Draco scoffed. "Obviously you didn't see me, then, offering them to Crabbe and Goyle." He smirked.

Hermione looked down. "And… your father?"

Draco's eyes turned almost steel gray, if possible. "An idiot. He wants me to be a death eater."

Hermione was surprised at this; she always thought that Draco wanted to be one, too.

"You don't..?"

"No."

"Oh." she said. There was an awkward silence.

"Well, it's getting late. We should head back." said Hermione. She looked up and the sky was extremely overcast now. The clouds were threatening to spill.

"Okay. Let's go."

They started to walk back, side-by-side, but not close enough so they were touching.

Hermione was studying the leaf-covered ground.

"Malfoy-"

"My name is Draco."

"I know…" she said uneasily. They had stopped now, and she started to feel tiny drops of rain on her head.

"So why don't you call me that?"

This struck her. She should call him by his first name, but it felt too awkward.

"Because… I can't. You were so cruel to Harry, Ron and me. And now suddenly you're saving my life and being nice. I don't know what's going on."

"I'm not allowed to be nice?" he looked up at her, staring right into her eyes.

She noticed something. His eyes weren't gray, but only a very light blue. That made her smile on the inside. Maybe he wasn't a cold as she thought.

She started to speak, but he put his finger up to her lips. Then, his hand went to cup the back of her neck. Before she knew what was happening, they were leaning in for a kiss.

Then, they heard a twig crack in the distance...

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Chapter 3 is fini. Don't you just love cliffhangers? More soon, hopefully. :D Review!!

DCMMFAN - Thanks! I'm in the process of writing the fourth chapter, don't worry.