Chapter 18
"Gaelen?" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"
Gaelen flushed. "I was showing Cho some of the places we used to go. I can see you're doing the same thing with Draco."
"Yeah," Draco said brightly. "Hermione got me this really neat rubber chicken!"
Gaelen laughed, and Hermione was surprised by how handsome he was when he wasn't upset. "I used to have one of those, from Arnie's, right?"
"Yes," Hermione said stiffly. "So, how are you?"
"Not bad," Gaelen replied, eating a chip.
"And you, Cho?" Hermione asked.
Cho smiled warily, as if she wasn't sure if Hermione was mocking her, or simply being polite. "I'm fine."
"That's good," Draco said. "We are too."
"Do you guys want to go with us to see a movie?" Gaelen asked suddenly, his eyes fixed on Hermione's, as if he wanted to make something up to her.
"What's a movie?" Draco asked, still cheerful beyond all belief. Gaelen gave him a funny look.
"You know, a moving picture," Gaelen elaborated.
"No, I don't know," Draco replied, still clueless. Cho drew him aside, and began explaining.
"Hermione," Gaelen said, seeing that Draco and Cho were both distracted. "I wanted to say sorry."
"For what?" she asked.
"Well, you know," he said, seeming uncomfortable. "I pretty much ruined our relationship. You were a great little sister, and I screwed it up."
"It was my fault too," she said.
"No," he replied. "It wasn't. I realize now, that I was probably jealous that you got accepted to your school, and you were a witch, and I had no talents whatsoever in that area."
"Oh," Hermione said. "I'm sorry, I didn't help you at all."
"I didn't want help," he explained. "I was bitter. And I ruined a perfectly good sister-brother friendship. I'm sorry."
"Me too," she said. "Oh well, we'll just have to make it up in other ways."
"So, what do you say to that movie?"
"Well, Draco and I were planning on doing some shopping, so not today. But some other time, I promise," she said, genuinely regretting their previous plans. "I promise."
"Your brother isn't half bad," Draco said to Hermione as they were leaving Azariah's Fish and Chips after they had all finished eating. "He's not as noxious."
"He's changed, and I can't help but wonder why he's changed," Hermione said with a grin. "I mean, it's rare that you find total idiots change into nice guys."
"Hey," Draco said, in mock injury, "We're not that rare."
"Oh yes you are," Hermione giggled. "It took me forever to fix you! You were a total mess-"
"And now I'm a total prince," he replied. "Prince Charming."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yeah right, Prince poop more like."
"Hey!"
"What?" she asked innocently. "I didn't say anything…"
He snorted, and pushed her gently. "Where are we going shopping?"
Hermione grinned. "We're going shopping in a small town called Little Whinging."
Privet Drive was a no-nonsense sort of street, with dark asphalt that steamed in the early July heat, and square shrubs that lined parkways. The wooden fences built up around each identical house were straight and narrow, much like the people who dwelt within them.
Mr and Mrs Dursley of Number 4 Privet Drive were very much like fences. They did not put up with any wishy-washy behavior, thank you very much, and had no tolerance for anyone who did not agree with their narrow-minded, fence-like views.
They had few secrets, for the neighbors were the spying type, but they had one enormous secret that seemed to hang over their ordinary lives like a rabid dog.
And every summer, this horrid secret came to stay with them, occupying the upper bedroom, living and breathing a mystery that they hated and despised with their whole beings.
For their nephew, a certain Harry Potter, was a wizard, and a very good one at that, who had friends, and a life outside of Little Whinging. But Mr and Mrs Dursley felt it was their duty to assure that no one, I repeat no one, knew of this.
However, they had no idea that their little lies and secrets would be horribly upset one steamy early July afternoon.
Hermione knocked on the door of a very boring house on the most normal Muggle street in England, and Draco fidgeted at her side.
"What on earth are you worrying about?" she asked.
Draco looked worried. "Besides your family, I've never met honest to goodness Muggles. What if they really are as horrible as Harry says they are?"
"Well," she said tiredly. "They might make us leave."
"They can't do that," Draco scoffed. "I'm Draco Malfoy for lord's sake, they can't kick out a Malfoy-"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "They can, Draco. You're already in trouble with the Ministry, I don't think cursing Mr Dursley will further your situation any."
Suddenly, the door swung open, and standing before them was the largest human being Hermione had ever seen.
Dudley Dursley was no longer fat, he had lost his blubber to wrestling, an ugly sport that only stupid boys do. It was Hermione's opinion that all wrestlers were compensating for something, and Dudley's ridiculous outfit sealed her opinion.
Mr Dursley had installed a mat in Dudley's room, so he could practice with his friends during the summer. Dudley was currently wearing his tight wrestling suit, and though his physique was something to be admired, his… endowments, were not.
"What do you want?" Dudley grunted, reminding Draco strongly of a pig. "I've got better things to do than stand here."
"We'd like to see Mr Harry Potter," Hermione said coldly, straightening up with driven purpose. "We're from the London College Board."
Dudley looked her up and down with undisguised confusion. "Why aren't you wearing a suit?"
"Because it's a weekend, and I would rather not," she replied angrily. "Can you please get your brother for me?"
"He's not my brother," Dudley said sullenly. "I'll get him."
Dudley stalked away, his bum cheeks swaying, and Hermione almost burst out laughing.
"What an idiot," Draco muttered to her. "He actually believed that shit? That was so coming out of your ass, Hermione, a dead monkey could have seen that you were joking."
"Well-" she started, but someone was standing in the doorway.
"Hermione?" Harry gasped.
A/N: Yay for nice Gaelen! See, only imaginary older brothers do this sort of thing... Sigh. Anyhoo, leave a review!
TTFN
