Hello! First things first, I know that Mofo normally means motherfucker (I'm not stupid, thank you very much) what I meant was that Nathan had his own meaning for it. Get it? I should have been clearer, but still, everyone had to write in and tell me, and it started to get annoying. I mean, I'm not a total recluse. And just to let y'all know, if you didn't already, I am American. I am Proud to be an American. Even though I want to visit Europe, and the accents are just so sweet, I love being American. It's the best. So, that's pretty much it, - oh wait, no it's not. This is the last thing, really – I've decided that instead of trying to space, I'll be doing the whole line thing from now on, cause just doesn't cooperate in that aspect. ON TO THE STORY!
Chapter 9 : What!
Hermione walked down the stairs at around seven in the morning, still dressed in her pajamas. Finding Draco already there with her parents. Joining them, she stacked pancakes on her plate. After they were all done, Hermione put her dishes in the sink, and started stretching.
"Hermione, what's that on your neck?"
"What!" Her hand immediately clamped over the spot that Draco had been kissing the night before. "Nothing, just a bruise." She started messaging it for effect.
"Talk about bruises, I've got a huge one. I fell off the bed last night, made a big racket, I'm surprised nobody woke up."
"Oh, I heard that. I was wondering about it."
"What were you doing up?"
"Uh, had trouble sleeping. Preoccupied, you could say."
"Yes, well. Better get dressed. After all, we are leaving at ten, right? I still have to pack."
Hermione sped out of the room, hand still covering her "bruise". Draco soon followed, leaving Hermione's father rubbing his back and her mother suspicious. It was around 8:30 when there was a knock at her door.
"Come in!" she shouted, and in came Draco.
"Hey, have you finished packing?"
"I've been done since yesterday. I had to get out of there."
"Oh, right. Cause the hickey,"
"What…well, yes. I mean really, it's quite lucky that Roxy hid some make-up in my trunk, otherwise I'd never be able to talk to anyone without him or her seeing it. And that would have been horrible, what with Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Ron, and Ginny."
"Ok, ok, I get the point. But you can't say you didn't enjoy it." He grinned.
Hermione looked away and blushed ever so slightly, completely ignoring it.
"Well anyways, is the something you wanted?"
"Yes, actually. We're leaving earlier cause you're mom say my bag and now we have to go shopping for things I didn't even know I needed."
"Yes, that's my mum for you. I'll grab a few things and be down in a minute."
"Kay. I'll tell your mom."
Soon they were done with shopping and their car could be spotted a block away from Grimwald place. They pulled up at precisely 10:45. Once they convinced Mrs. Granger that they would indeed, get in the house, they drove away. After a moment or so of silence, Hermione started speaking.
"Okay, listen. I know I'm going to sound really stupid asking this, but…are we…" She didn't know how to finish, so he did.
"You mean, are we going out?" He asked surprised. Hermione stared blankly at him. Suddenly he got it.
"Oh right. I thought you'd known – we just –
"Sorry, I know – really stupid –
"No, not at all. It's my fault – " she cut him off again.
"No, really it's not – " He cut her off again
"Yeah, it is. Let me finish (Hermione closed the mouth that was about to interrupt get again) Ok, it's my fault. In America, it's like, once you go on a date or kiss or something, you're like – automatically going out. Boyfriend and girlfriend. I didn't realize it wasn't the same over here."
"Oh"
"Yeah"
Silence
"So…"
"(small sigh) Hermione, would you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes" was her reply with a big smile.
"Great then. Do you know when I'm supposed to be sorted? I'm sorta nervous."
"No idea. It's all up to – Oh, hello Professor Dumbledore."
"Goodmorning Hermione, Draco."
"Hey" was Draco's brief reply with a nod.
"So, shall we be going in?"
"Where?"
"Number 12, Grimwald Place."
"Oh, I see." And for the first time, he did see the house.
"Yes. Right this way, be sure to be quiet."
He led them into the house, where Draco followed Hermione's example and put down his stuff in the hall they had just entered. He was amazed when he walked into the kitchen, to see the dishes being done by non-existent hands. He saw a plump, red haired woman, checking some sort of soup that was close to boiling. She turned around.
"Oh, Hermione dear, it's so good to see you. And who's that behind – " She stopped short when she saw who it was. "Albus, is that…?" She trailed off.
"Molly, I would like to introduce you to Draco Malfoy."
He stepped forward, putting his hand out, intending to shake her hand.
"Albus, is this some sort of joke?" She looked disbelieving at his hand, (which was slowly dropping) and then to Dumbledore.
"I assure you, it is no joke. Perhaps we should talk alone. Hermione, if you would?"
"Oh, yes, of course. We'll just go put our things away. It's nice to be back Mrs. Weasley."
Draco followed Hermione up several flights of stairs, before she finally stopped in front of a door and voices could be heard coming from within.
"Are you ready?"
"No."
"You'll be fine. Really."
"If you say so. But if you're wrong, I get a kiss."
"Ok. Fair deal. I'm going to open the door now."
"Alright."
The door swung open, and suddenly there was a flurry of activity, then none. They were happy cause they spotted Hermione, and then froze once they spotted Draco. Ron's face was slowly going red.
"What's FerretFace doing here!"
"Shut up Weasley!"
Hermione looked shocked, and Draco had a faraway look on his face. He turned to Hermione.
"It was reflex, I have no idea where it came from."
"Oh, Draco this is wonderful. You remembered it! Granted it wasn't the nicest thing, but still! You remembered." She hugged him, squeezing tight. Then, just a quickly, she let go and looked at Harry, Ron, and Ginny.
"Hey guys…" she said uncertainly.
"Hermione, why did you just hug Malfoy?" Harry asked her slowly with controlled anger.
"What is with you people and last names? God, even if we hate somebody we still call them their first names in America. It must be a British thing."
The three of them stared at him in shock.
"What is going on Hermione?" Ginny asked in an amazed voice.
"I don't want any interruptions, okay?" They all nodded. "Alright, now then, I'm sure we all remember the day we discovered he was gone. Well, it turns out, that he lived in Ohio, in a town that my friend Roxy lived in. We happened to run into each other, and I discovered that he couldn't remember anything. So I wrote Dumbledore a letter, telling him I'd found him. Eventually, I got to know him, and found he was very different from the Malfoy we all knew. I mean, it's more like he's Ryan – that's what they called him over there- instead of Malfoy. So Dumbledore decided to bring him back here. He's going to be resorted and everything."
"You have got to be kidding me! Of course he remembers everything! He's a lying, cheating, son of a –"
"Ronald Weasley, that is enough! I trust him, and that should be enough for you until you get over your petty differences and learn that he is a good person!"
"Ok, ok, Hermione. Lets all calm down. Now, Draco, or Ryan, or whatever, could you give us a moment?"
"Yeah sure. I'll just…be in the hallway I guess."
He left the room, shutting the door behind him. All was silent for a moment.
"He didn't have to leave, you know."
"Hermione, it's just – "
"Look, I know it's a lot to swallow, but really, he's changed. It took me a bit, but I got over it, and now we're…"
"What?"
She took a deep breath. "We're going out."
"WHAT!" Ron stormed out of the room, and everybody rushed after him, just fast enough to see Ron hit Draco in the jaw.
"Ronald! Oh, my gosh Draco – " Hermione was rushing forward, but Harry held her back, curious as to what he would do. Before he knew what was happening, Draco's fist was less than an inch away from Ron's face. Growling, he spoke.
"You're lucky I like Hermione so much, dude. Two for flinchin!" Next thing he knew, Ron received two punches on his arm. Draco was laughing like mad, and pretty soon Harry and Ginny started laughing too. Hermione was too busy glaring at Ron to laugh, and Ron was too busy trying to look shocked and guilty all at once.
"Dude, you should have seen your face! It was hilarious! But seriously, next time you come after me, I'll kick your ass, k? We clear on that?"
Ron was too dumbfounded to be mad. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. It hadn't gone as planned, but at least Harry and Ginny would see he was different. And that was the main issue. But what was Ron's problem? She determined to herself to talk to him alone later. For now, however, she was happy that nobody had died.
Well? How'd you like it? I like the "two for flinchin" part the best. Cause I just love doing that to my friends, ya know, it's so funny. Guess what? That calls for KAREOKE! (bursts out into song) Whew, singing and dancing takes a lot out of ya! Oh, yes, and I've recently read two new wonderful books, FOREVER by Jude Deveraux and DREADFUL SORRY by Kathryn Reiss. They really are just so uber-cool and a really good read. AND something very big will happen in the next chapter, just to let you know. Have fun wondering!
Vamoose Dizzy