Chapter 3
Suspicious Ron

The next morning Hermione got out of bed. She looked at the window realizing it was a new day for her...and Draco. A jolt of pain hit her wrist. Oh no here we go again. Hermione thought. Therefore, she quickly ran to the portrait and opened it to see Draco who was, once again, screaming and slamming on the portrait. "Oh, I've never thought I would be so glad to see you." he said trying to catch his breath.

"So where are we headed now?" she asked happy to see Malfoy for the first time.

"I was in so much pain that I'm so happy to see you so the pain could go." he replied watching the cuffs reappear. "Well where do you want to go?" Now ashamed, Draco let Hermione decide. Just as long Pansy doesn't see them, then it's alright.

"I kind of thought about seeing Harry and Ron. I-If it's alright with you.

Draco's face quickly distorted. Filthy mud blood wants to see her dirty little friends. He thought in an evil way. "No," he replied. "I would never want to even mingle with…uh," he felt like screaming. "Uh, I guess." after seeing her smile, he turned around and almost vomited with those words.

"Thanks! They're just at the Court Yard." Hermione replied though she felt very uncomfortable behaving this way in front of Malfoy. It felt as though Malfoy was another person.

"But remember," he said, walking down the flight of stairs. "If your little 'gang' even tries to threaten me or even talk about me in a wrong way, I promise that I am going to make your life miserable for the rest of the year."

"No matter, if they do threaten you, I'll talk to them for you. It might take a while for them to get used to it though." Hermione laughed as she pulled Draco towards the Court Yard.

Draco couldn't help himself. He began twitching his eyes as he thought about a day with Potter. Nevertheless, it was the only way to get the cuffs off his hand.

Hermione spotted Harry and Ron sitting under a shady tree. "Hello Harry, hello Ron!" she exclaimed.

"Oi Hermione...Malfoy, what brings you here!" Ron glared at him.

"Harry, Ron, we need to talk. You see he's changed. He's actually trying to be nice. Now can you guys please give him a break and treat him the same way?" Hermione informed the two.

Ron looked at her oddly then whispered to Harry, "I don't think that's possible, him being nice." he chuckled. Harry smiled. After a few seconds of glaring at Malfoy, he slowly nodded.

Hermione spotted Ron chuckling and assumed that he thought it was all a joke. "I'm dead serious." Hermione exclaimed.

"Ok, whatever you say Hermione. But I'm telling you," He leaned closer, "he's MENTAL! You actually think he's going to be nice?" He knew Malfoy was listening to his every word, and he wanted him to.

Hermione had nothing else to do but make a serious look at Harry on Ron to prove to them that she was serious. "Well anyway what have you two been up to?" she asked.

"Ummm...nothin..." he looked around the ground and rubbed the back of his neck. Then slowly side stepped behind Harry, "Harry has something to tell you!"

"Oh great, now the great Potter wants to date the filthy," he stopped himself. He immediately caught Hermione disappointed. It hurt his gut to see her like that. Oh great. He thought. I'm feeling sorry for her.

"What are you talking about you git?" Harry whispered to Ron. "Uh well um...err... is that you Neville! "Harry shouted in the direction behind Hermione and Draco.

"Yeah, I see him over there...right behind that one bloke with the frilly hair." Ron pointed toward the castle, and right when everyone turned to look, he grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him back and they both started to walk over to Hagrid's hut. "Man that was a close one.." He said as he peeked back over his shoulder to see if Hermione was following them. "I just hope she doesn't find out what we did! She'd kill us!"

"Ignore them." Hermione replied.

Harry and Ron turned away from Hagrid's and started up for the castle. When all of the sudden they saw Luna coming out of the doors. "Uh oh, we better turn around!" Ron turned heel, but Luna had already spotted Harry.

"Well Draco, you did pretty well in front of Harry and Ron." Hermione said. She was very surprised that it was actually working out.

"Well the sooner I get out of this mess, the better."

"I guess I've had my time with Harry and Ron, if you want we can go see Crabbe and Goyle or do whatever you want to do…oh, right, Pansy. I forgot. But we just can't keep hiding this from her." Hermione sighed. All she wanted to know was what really got into Harry and Ron's minds. They knew she was serious but they just had to get used to it. "Malfoy, can I ask you a question? Well, I thought that we were already ok if you know what I mean. However, the handcuffs don't seem to think so. Is there anything bothering you that you want to tell me?" she asked.

"No," he quickly lied. He was never going to be able to dismiss the idea that she was a half blood wizard. It would never work.

"Ummm...well, ok then. It's a bit quiet here. Mind if we head to the Great Hall?" Hermione sighed. She just had this feeling inside her that Malfoy seemed pretty depressed. He hasn't said much.

"Oh, ok." Draco said. "Lets head to the Great Hall, but I need to stay away from the Slytherins for a while."

"Off we go then." Hermione replied as she took a hold of Draco's hand. She blushed as they headed for the Great Hall very unsure for Draco staying away from the Slytherins.

On the other hand, Harry and Ron was still thinking about Hermione. "Maybe we should go back to Hermione and shudders Draco. Maybe Hermione can help me deal with Luna." Harry said. Nevertheless, just as he was turning around to go see Hermione, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Luna storming off to the castle again. So instead, they headed back to the tree to find Hermione and Draco on their way up to the castle. "So...umm...we kind of had to turn around for some unknown reason...where are you two going?" Ron asked.

This time, Hermione didn't say anything. She hoped Draco would answer for her.

Harry whispered to Ron "They're holding hands! Maybe Hermione being near a mental showcase is affecting her."

"We are going to the great hall," Draco said bitterly. "Mind, mind if you join us?" he almost screamed when he heard himself say those words.

Hermione was completely gobsmacked. She now truly saw that Malfoy had actually had the wits to behave such a way to a Gryffindor.

"Well do you?" he asked.

"What the-" Ron looked at Malfoy with his mouth and eyes wide open. "Who died and made you Mr. nice?"

"These handcuffs are killing her and me," he pointed at her. "And if we aren't nice to each other, then it stays like this until we do."

"Oh Ron, just answer him." Hermione interrupted.

Draco buried himself deep inside his body while Ron deliberated, he needed to think to himself, address the situation.

"Ok, fine. Whatever. This is really weird seeing you two holding hands, so could you please like..." he gestured to let go. "This whole nice thing is doing its magic I guess. But I'm not sure I like it..."

"You know what weasel, I mean Weasley, I agree with you there..." Draco looked back a Hermione and felt his insides smile.

Hermione forgot she had still had a hold of Malfoy's hand and immediately let go. "Sorry Ron, I guess this handcuffs really had some effect."

"So, shall we head for the Great Hall?" Hermione asked. Still quite embarrassed.

"Yes, yes let's go now."

Ron touched his wand but decided not to waste his time with him. Instead, he and Harry followed them. Dragging Draco along, Hermione walked to the Great Hall.