Chapter 16

Talking with friends

Disclaimer: Although I wish that I owned Harry or Ron or Draco, I do not own a thing.

It was that next morning that Hermione decided not to go down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Her appetite was simply ruined by the thought of Harry's reaction. It wasn't like she had not expected it, because she had. It was his choice of words that hit Hermione the hardest. What Harry said made her think, and knowing Harry, he meant every word.

Laying in bed that morning, the first thing that popped into her head was how she was going to tell Ron about her and Draco. There was the possibility that Harry had already spoken to him about it, and Hermione prayed that he didn't. To be told that your best friend is dating a boy that you have hated since you first met him is not a good thing, but to be told by someone other than that person is ten times worse. Hermione knew too well the reaction that she would receive from Ron, and knowing how angry Ron could get, she knew that she would need some kind of support.

It was a couple of hours after breakfast that Hermione decided to get out of bed and venture down to the common room, only to see if Ron and Harry had returned. Hermione was surprised to find that only Ginny and a few other girls were in the common room, and that Harry and Ron were no where to be seen.

"Mione," Ginny said as she ran up to Hermione. "Could we go upstairs for a minute?"

Hermione nodded her head and turned to walk back up the stairs. "What is it?" Hermione asked as she took a seat on her bed.

Ginny shut the door behind her and sat down next to Hermione. "What exactly happened last night?" She asked in a concerned tone.

"What do you mean?" Hermione said, a little worried by the look on Ginny's face.

"You're not going to believe this, Mya, but Harry actually walked up to Draco and had an actual conversation with him at breakfast this morning."

Hermione was taken back by this. "What? No, no that's not right. Harry was furious at me."

Ginny smiled. "Obviously not, Mya. I mean, he was a little cranky this morning, but I had a little talk with the two of them."

Hermione gasped. "You didn't,"

Ginny nodded. "Yes Mya, Ron knows."

Hermione placed her hand over her mouth. "Was he angry?" She said softly.

"Of course he was. He was threatening to bash Draco's head into the wall if he ever laid a hand on you."

"So what did you tell him?"

"I simply explained tohim that it was your life and you can do what ever you please. Ifhe wants to bean arseand not support you and Draco, fine. It'shis loss, not yours. It also took a threat to tell Mum about his helping Fred and George with their pranks that made him change his mind."

Hermione laughed and pulled Ginny in for a hug. "Thank you, Ginny. Thank you so much."

"No problem, Hermione."

Hermione pulled away and looked back at the door. "Do you know where Harry and Ron went?"

Ginny shrugged her shoulders. "Last time I saw them they were sitting at the Gryffindor table."

"Thanks, Ginny. I think that I should probably go have a chat with my friends." Hermione said as she got to her feet and walked out the door.

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When Hermione reached the Great Hall, she walked through the doors and noticed Harry and Ron sitting at the table, both buried in their piles of work. Slowly approaching them, she took a seat next to Harry and watched as they scribbled down notes from their books.

Hermione cleared her throat. "Hi, Harry, Ron."

Ron and Harry looked up from their books and gave her an uneasy smile.

"I-I just wanted to say sorry about last night. I never wanted to hurt either of you."

"You didn't even tell me. I had to hear about it from my sister." Ron mumbled.

"I'm sorry, Ron. I really wanted to tell you but It was very difficult."

"You told Harry." He replied.

Hermione nodded. "I'm sorry." She said softly. "I was just afraid that I would lose you guys."

Both Harry and Ron looked at Hermione.

"Mione, I'm not saying that what you did was right, keeping this secret of yours from us, but if you are happy with Malfoy, great. Good for you. Ron and I are glad that you have found someone that likes you for you."

"Harry's right, it's not like we can just get over something like this as quick as you would want us to. It hurts, finding out that your best friend is dating one of your enemies."

"So do you forgive me?" She asked, her head lowered.

"Of course we do, Mione." Harry replied. "How could we not after all of the stupid stuff that we have done to you?"

Hermione smiled. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you two."

"You would probably go mad, or probably turned to the dark side, or get into fights, or," Ron said with a smirk.

Hermione laughed. "All right, Ron, I get it."

Harry leaned over and wrapped his arm around Hermione. "So, tell me, how long have you been keeping this little secret of yours from us?"

"Well," Hermione tipped her head slightly to the side. "Do you remember when I started getting those letters?"

Harry and Ron nodded their heads.

"The letters from Neville?" Harry said with a grin.

"Not exactly, Harry. Those letters were actually from Draco, not Neville."

Ron sighed. "We should have known, Harry. And to think that I was actually going to help the bloke with his image."

Hermione snorted. "No offence Ron, but I think that you should help yourself before you help him."

Ron's eyes grew wide. "Bloody hell, that wasn't funny."

Harry laughed. "That was a good one, Mione."

"Change my image, who is she fooling, she needs more help than I do." Ron mumbled under his breath.

"Ron, you know that I can hear you?" Hermione said with a smile.

Harry sighed. "Is there ever a day where you two don't fight?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't recall one." she replied.

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From the moment that Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table, Draco stood anxiously at the door, waiting for the moment where Hermione would need his help. To his surprise, things went well between the three, and from the look of things, they were actually starting to get along.

Draco remembered how angry Harry had been the night before, and it shocked him that he could be so calm after recieveing such news. Watching Hermione smile with her friends made Draco feel like they really had a chance. It wasn't like he didn't see a chance before, because he did. It was now that friends were behind her that made him feel like nothing else could get in their way, that nothing else mattered but the love that they shared for one another, and that was everything.

The End

Author's Note: Hey there! I'm sorry about not warning you that this was the last chapter. I just didn't see where else it could go after this. Sniff I think that I shall cry. No worries though, I have already started a new story, Staying Strong. I am thinking of writing another Draco/Hermione fic but I probably won't start anything else until I am well into SS. I want to give a huge thanks to all of my faithful reviewers! Seriously, I absolutely loved hearing what each and every one of you had to say! Big hugs to everyone! Be sure to check out my new story, and expect another few in the near future!

Love

Jess