L: We're baaaaack! So sorry it took so long to update. We were taken off the site and we also wanted to ask your forgiveness with a new chapter.
A: Yeah, and we've had a lot going on too…a few deaths of people close to us and our best friend moving to a whole different state…WE LOVE YOU HUN!
L: Yeah, it's been tough, but we made it through together. Despite the sorrow in our lives, we managed to put together a new chapter for u guys. APPRECIATE IT!
A: Umm….excuse Lacey's outburst please…she's been doing that lately. But, yeah, she's right, we made it through the past few months because we stuck together and we even had an estrangement between the 3 of us and now our friendship is stronger because of it.
L: Said like a true comrade...don't even ask...anyways, you probably want to read the chapter now so I GUESS we can let you.
A: Yeah…here's the next chapter and thanks for sticking with us. Oh, and by the way…we have a new beta! And guess who it is – our good friend Miss Red as a Pumpkin (the one that moved). And hey…if you guys remember that inside joke from a previous chapter…more power to ya!
L: What she said! Now we'll stop babbling and relieve you from that dying anticipation...here's (what's it called? Explanations?)
A: No silly…it's called "Explanations and Some Nice Abs" and here you go!
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Chapter 6
Explanations and Some Nice Abs
A few moments later Harry, Draco, Hermione, and Ron landed heavily on Ron's bedroom floor. After dusting himself off, Draco glanced around the room and groaned.
"Weasley, I knew you liked the Chudley Cannons, but this is ridiculous!"
They all looked around the room, which had changed considerably since two summers ago, and realized (except Ron, who rolled his eyes) that Draco was right. Life-size posters of players waved at them from their positions on the wall and his bed was covered in a Chudley Cannon bed set. Chudley Cannon action figures and other memorabilia were placed on all available desk and shelf space.
"Ron, as much as I hate to agree with him, Draco's right. You're obsessed!" Hermione said after taking all this in.
"Did you just call Malfoy Draco?" Ron yelled.
"Yes she did, and I think you should keep it down Ron, before your mother and Draco meet before everything can be explained," Harry said calmly.
"Ron? Hermione? What's going on up there?" Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs.
"Nothing, Mum!"
"Smooth Weasley, smooth," Draco said silkily.
"Shut up you bloody little…"
All of a sudden the door slowly creaked open and everyone turned as a head full of red hair popped in.
"Ron, what are you…Draco! Harry! What are you doing here? Mum…mmph!"
"Shut it Ginny. We were about to go downstairs and tell Mum, so don't do or say anything to ruin this."
The five of them started down the stairs with Harry practically dragging Draco along by the shirt. Suddenly he stopped for a minute.
"Draco, can you please try to behave? There's a better chance that Ron's mum will accept you if you just act humble and don't make any rude comments to others here."
"Alright mate, I'll try."
Harry gave him a grateful look and they made their way to the kitchen and met Mrs. Weasley preparing lunch.
"Umm…Mum…there's something we need to tell you…"
"What is it dear?"
"Harry, why don't you tell her?"
"Harry's here? How wonderful…" Mrs. Weasley stopped abruptly as she turned around and saw who was behind Harry.
"What is a Malfoy doing in our house?" she managed after nearly screaming.
"Please, Mrs. Weasley, let me explain…"
Harry explained all that had happened the past few days (except the part about being beaten, which only Draco knew about) to her and she asked dubiously, "Are you completely sure that we can trust him?"
"Pretty much yeah, if he wanted to do anything to me he could have by now and just because his father is a Death Eater it doesn't mean he is. I mean, just because Mr. Weasley is obsessed with Muggles doesn't mean Ron is."
"You've got a good point there," Mrs. Weasley said. "Alright, he can stay, BUT he must behave and we'll consider him under probation. You of all people should know that not everybody can be trusted Harry."
"Yes, I know. Thank you Mrs. Weasley!" Harry said while nudging Draco with his elbow.
"Ouch! Oh…yes. Thank you very much Mrs. Weasley for your understanding and hospitality."
"See Ron, those are the kind of manners you need!"
Ron chose to ignore that comment because, while he thought it an insult that his mother thought his manners were worse than Malfoy's, he didn't want to make her mad.
"Oh, but Harry! It's so good to see you! You must tell me- how did those Muggles treat you?" Mrs. Weasley looked at him suspiciously. "You look like you haven't eaten a good meal in a month! You're so thin! You'll have to have a big breakfast!" Mrs. Weasley gave him a bone-crushing hug and he winced. Draco gave him a sympathetic look and mouthed, "Are you okay?" as Mrs. Weasley turned back to making breakfast. Harry gave him a slight nod.
"Boys, would you please set the table? Thank you!"
After Harry's fifth helping of eggs and bacon the group went outside and collapsed on the ground.
"Well that went a lot better then I expected," Hermione said after awhile.
"You're right Hermione, I expected her to kick him out of the house before we could explain. At least your Dad wasn't home Ron."
"I know! You know Dad- he would have stunned him or something and then kicked him out and then had a heart attack when we tried to explain it!"
That comment got a few appreciative laughs from Harry and Ginny. Harry decided that he should explain the story to Ron and Ginny once more because she hadn't got to hear all of it earlier and he'd need the practice for telling other people.
"So how does that sound guys? Convincing enough?" Harry asked when he finished.
Ron said, "Yeah, I'm glad I got to hear the whole story now." Hermione nodded her head in approval.
"So…you guys want to go mess around with our broomsticks in the backyard?" Ginny proposed.
The group, except for Hermione, all agreed. So Draco and Harry ran up to Ron's room to grab their broomsticks and met the others in the backyard where Hermione was sitting and reading a book. By this time the twins had come to visit for a while and the story was retold yet again. The twins reluctantly accepted Draco and the game began.
Halfway through the game Harry noticed that everybody else had taken their shirts off. Just as he was admiring Draco's nice, defined abs, George flew up behind him.
"Come on Harry! Take your shirt off- let's see those abs." When this was said Hermione looked up interestingly at Harry. "Everyone else did Harry- you wouldn't want to feel left out."
"Ginny didn't," Harry pointed out playfully. "And I really wouldn't want her to feel left out."
"Sod Ginny, she won't care- as long as she gets to see you half naked!"
They could hear a "Hey! That's not true!" from the other end of the pitch. Ginny's brothers and Draco just laughed at her.
"Really you guys…I don't want to. Just leave me be."
"You afraid you'll look fat next to all us? Cuz really Harry, that's not the case. You're skinnier than a twig! Err…no offense or anything."
"None taken. I just don't want to." The snitch suddenly flitted above George's left ear and Harry grabbed it. "See? The game's over now anyways guys. We should probably be getting back inside now…"
And with that Harry landed on the ground with calls of "Chicken!" "Wuss!" and, his personal favorite, "Even that Macmillan bloke from Hufflepuff has more courage then you!" calling after him.
"They really don't get it, do they?" He asked himself as everyone landed and walked toward the house. "I don't have courage? Who's the one that had to face Voldemort and his Death Eaters five times?"
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A: And here you go, that's the end…we'll have a new chapter up soon hopefully!
L: Review, review, review! Don't give me that look, it's not that hard! Just hit that little blue button and you're all set!
A: Yes! Review please! And thanks again to Miss Red as a Pumpkin for betaing and just being our friend.
L: We love you hun! Thanks a bunch! See y'all next time!
A: Yeah, bye guys!