DISCLAIMER: What do you mean, I DON'T own Draco Malfoy?!?! I thought I signed those ownership papers?!?!
Author's Note: See, I told you guys that I would update sooner...and I kept my promise. KUDOS to all those who reviewed my last chapter. You have no idea how happy that made me. It was great to see so many new readers...I love it!! Hope you all enjoy this chapter...and keep in mind that this is AU (or at least partially AU) before you flame me for anything.
Author's Note2: ALSO, IF ANY OF YOU DID NOT GET AN UPDATE EMAIL FROM ME AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO...PLEASE LET ME KNOW IN YOUR REVIEW!! IT'S A GREAT WAY TO KEEP UPDATED!!
~*~Chapter 20~*~
~*~Hermione POV~*~
As Draco and I started to head back to our spot on the beach, I heard someone call out my nickname. "Mione!"
I turned to follow the sound of the voice and my eyes about flew out of the sockets when I saw who it was. "Harry?! Harry James Potter?!?! Mr-I'm-too-good-for-public-school?!"
Hermione and Harry had grown up together as next door neighbors. They were always seen together everywhere...if you were missing Harry, look for Hermione; if you were missing Hermione, just look for Harry. They had attended preschool together...but everything changed when Harry got his Hogwarts letter. He wasn't able to tell Hermione where he was actually going, so he simply told her that he was off to a boarding school. It had been years since Harry had seen Hermione, and vice versa.
"One in the same. How have you been, Hermione? It's been a long time."
"I'm doing real good actually. I go to school here in South Carolina...my major is still undecided. But I actually have a social life now...I got myself a boyfriend." And with that I motioned towards Draco...who up until that point I hadn't noticed the glare in his eyes. I instantly thought that maybe he thought that Harry was my boyfriend or something...so I wanted to quickly clear that out of the air. "Draco, this is my childhood friend, Harry. Harry, this is my boyfriend, Draco."
"Potter!" "Malfoy!"
It was at the calling of their surnames that I knew that they must have somehow known each other...and it wasn't a good relationship. "How exactly is it that you two know eachother??" And I watched the two boys exchange glances and it was Draco to speak first.
"Oh we just went to Hogwarts together...where Mr. Potter here thought he was the Saint of the entire school!"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute...Harry...you're a...wizard?? Why didn't you ever tell me?!?! You know I would've understood. Who better to understand you than the girl that you grew up with your entire life?!?!"
"Hold on here!! Malfoy...you told her about Hogwarts."
"Of course Boy-who-lived-to-be-a-pain-in-my-side. I wasn't about to lie to my girlfriend. I couldn't bring myself to lie to her. If she was to truly be my girlfriend, she would have to accept me for what I am...and so far, she has accepted me pretty well."
"You mean to tell me that she has accepted you for the Snake that you truly are?!"
"No Potthead!! She has accepted me for the wizard that I am."
"Hermione, please tell me that you are not dating this Slytherin Scum!"
"Yes, Harry...I really am. You have to accept that."
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but I can't accept the fact that you are willingly dating this guy. Are you sure that he hasn't put a spell on you or cursed you in any way??"
"The only way that he has put a spell on me is with his natural charm...I swear to you Harry...Draco has been nothing but nice and sincere to me. Please...just try to accept that. I don't want to lose you...again. You were and hopefully still are one of my closest friends. I cried the day you left, Harry...I don't want to do it again. Please...try to work this out...for me."
"I will try Hermione, but I won't like it. As for you Malfoy, if you do anything to hurt Hermione in any way, I will hex you from here to next week."
"Potter, I would never hurt Hermione...you on the other hand..."
"Draco! Harry! Stop! If you both continue acting like children...then I'm leaving this beach alone...maybe then the two of you will be able to sort out your differences."
"Herm-" "Mione-"
"NO! I'm serious you guys! If you can't work this out, then neither of you are serious enough to have any kind of relationship with me!!"
And with those words I walked away from the two boys. I had thought that they could handle it maturely...but clearly I was wrong. Surely they would have been able to work through whatever silly childhood grudge that they held against one another. As I slowly approached the car, my feet began to feel heavy...along with my heart. The tears were welling up in my eyes and I could hardly hold them back any more. I sank down just outside the driver's side door as the tears came.
~*~Meanwhile...Draco's POV~*~
As I watched Hermione's fleeting figure, I thought to myself what an idiot I was. What if she seriously just ended our relationship and all I did was stand here and watch her walk out of my life?? NO!! This couldn't happen...not now!! I just got her into my life and I'm not about to lose her over some childhood enemy that I had back at Hogwarts. I would not lose Hermione like this!!
"Potter...I may not like what I am about to do...but I will do it for the girl that I might possibly love." And with those words I stuck out my hand to him, "I want to declare a truce. Whatever happened at Hogwarts, I want to put that behind us. I will not lose Hermione like this."
"Alright Malfoy, I'll agree to this, but only for Hermione's sake." And then we shook hands.
"Potter, normally I would run after Hermione alone...but for some reason I feel like we should both go to her. She doesn't need to leave in the state that she's in."
So together we headed off in the direction of Hermione's car. As we approached, I heard the sounds of someone crying...and I recognized the crying girl as Hermione. Potter and I calmly walked up to Hermione and knelt down next to her. I couldn't stand the sight of her crying. I made a promise to myself that I would not hurt her and what did I do, but turn right around and hurt her.
"Hermione...baby, please stop crying. I'm so sorry for being such an arse. Please, give us another chance. Harry and I have settled on a truce. We will try to work this out for you...I promise I will do all I can to make sure this works out. I don't want to lose you."
And then she looked up at me with those tear stained eyes and with a meek voice said, "I'm sorry for walking out like that. I just...I couldn't deal..."
Then for the first time since we approached her, Harry spoke. "Hermione, I'm really sorry for putting you in this position. I should have been mature enough to realize that you care for Draco and that should be enough for me to overcome my childhood grudge against him. I hope you can forgive me."
"Guys...can you just give me a day or two to think about this?? I want to forgive you...but I want to be sure that you guys are truly going to act civil towards one another."
Harry spoke up, "Sure Hermione...take all the time you need..."
Then I stepped forward, "Hermione...I would wait forever for you..." And with that I placed a chaste kiss on her lips and stepped back.
So from there, Harry headed off to the hotel that he was staying at and Hermione and I headed back to the college. No words were spoken on the ride back, but no words were needed. I knew she needed this time to think...and I would give it to her.
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So there ya go...Chapter Twenty. Hope you all enjoyed it and please remember to Read and Review!!