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Chapter 7: The Draco Malfoy Connection

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By now, Hermione had forgotten all about the lie she told Phlegm. She went downstairs to find Ron and Harry discussing which gourmet cough drop was their favorite.

"You know, I think Dumbledore could open up a shop with these babies," whispered Ron.

"'Morning, Ron," said Hermione groggily.

"That it is, Hermione," he said a little frigidly, without turning his head.

Hermione was slightly taken aback by this rather cold greeting.

"Morning, Hermione," said Harry.

Hermione shook off the frost. "What are you guys doing?"

"We're talking about Dumbledore's cough drops. We reckon if he opened up a shop and sold them, he could be as successful as Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!" Harry said.

"Yeah, they are rather tasty," said Hermione, "I particularly like the chocolate ones. They would be useful with the flu epidemic."

"Yeah," said Ron indifferently.

"Ron, are you ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, Hermione."

Ginny came downstairs, yawning.

"Ah, good, Gin, you're awake. Which one's your favorite?" Ron asked eagerly. Hermione noticed the change in temperature.

"The Bat-Bogey Hex. That's my favorite one on Malfoy."

"No, Gin," Ron said, the tone in his voice changing a little more seriously at mention of Malfoy, "cough drops."

"Oh! I really like the strawberry ice cream one."

"Really? That's the same one Harry likes."

Ginny blushed a little. "Oh, really? Cool. I guess that means Harry and I will eat them all together. Which one, Hermione?"

Hermione was spaced out. Why was Ron treating her so strangely?

"Hermione?"

"What?" Back to Planet Reality.

"Your favorite?"

"Chocolate frosting." Hermione emphasized "frost", but Ron, being a boy unable to detect such subtleties, did not notice. She stood up after staring at Ron confusedly, hoping to find the answer to his treatment of her perhaps in his face.

"Hermione?"

"Ginny, I have to tell you something about... um... Phlegm."

Ginny and Hermione went upstairs.

"Yeah, right, like they haven't talked about her enough," Ron said grumpily.

"Ron? Is something wrong?" Harry asked.

"Oh, no, nothing, it's... nothing."

How convincing, Harry thought sarcastically. Harry remembered yesterday's incident with Phlegm.

"Ron, is this about Malfoy?"

Ron jumped a little and answered too quickly, "No!" Harry stared at Ron. "Well, ok... yeah. Harry, I kept dreaming that Hermione was going out with him, and I kept telling her that I lov- didn't approve and she didn't care, Harry, and it kept getting worse as the night went on."

"Didn't I tell you the Draco-Malfoy connection didn't exist? Ron, now you've got her feeling all bad over nothing. Ron, it's so- look, let's just forget it. Perhaps if you pretend that you didn't dream it, it'll go away and Hermione won't remember how you treated her."

"But, Harry-"

"What?"

"I can't forget."

"Why not?"

"Because... well, it hurt me, Harry."

"Wouldn't you want to forget that, then?"

"Well, yeah..."

"Ron, why don't you just daydream that everything was going your way? Just forget it! The Draco Malfoy Connection DOESN'T EXIST- hi, Hermione, hi Gin."

Ron jumped and looked at Hermione, who had just come back with Ginny from upstairs.

"The 'Draco Malfoy Connection'? Ron, what the heck-"

"Ok, so I had a dream about you going out with Malfoy. I suppose I'd feel a little weird after that."

A strange pause followed.

"Malfoy? Me and Malfoy? Oh, Ron! Like I'd ever go out with that distressed Backstreet Boy!" Hermione unconvincingly laughed.

Ron eased up, though he wasn't completely convinced. Wondering what a "backstreet boy" was, he forgot about the Draco Malfoy Connection... for now.