Chapter 7
Ron and Harry
The next morning Hermione woke up love struck. Malfoy's kiss still got to her. Then she got up and prepared for a new day. But as she passed the Gryffindor common room, she heard voices. Hermione recognized them. She walked closer and peeked down from the stairs. There she found Ron and Harry having a private conversation.
"Ron. I have to tell you something...something important! It's about Hermione" Harry panicked, looking at Ron with a worried look upon his face.
Ron's eyes grew wider. He already knew that it had to do something about her and Draco. "Bloody Hell, Harry! What is it! Is Hermione ok...wait. I mean what happened?" he mumbled.
Harry wasn't too sure if he should tell Ron. He took a moment, and wondered how Ron was going to take it. "Ron, Hermione and Draco are together." Harry whispered, waiting for Ron to burst out.
Ron was silent for as moment. He didn't know what to say. "Harry, I had this dream that something like this was going to happen! Hermione and Malfoy were going to be together…"
Harry was a bit worried. "Ron, I'm going to say this slowly. It wasn't a dream!"
Ron stood up and paced the floor. "Bloody hell, bloody hell, bloody hell..." he repeated. "Harry, we've got to stop this! What if he's up to something? You know, to get back to you for sending his father to Azkaban." he explained.
"Shh...Ron settle down, people might hear you! I know what you mean. I think that Draco is using Hermione, to get to us somehow!" said Harry in a very discrete tone. "Why that low life dim-wit, I don't even think that he really fancies her, you know!" Harry was starting to get louder and louder.
Ron stopped pacing and stood there. He silenced himself for a bit but was still cursing under his breath. Hermione on the other hand was amazed at what she just heard. So she stomped down the stairs and made herself seen. "RONALD! HOW COULD YOU SAY SUCH LIES!" she yelled out.
"H-Harry..." Ron stuttered.
Harry and Ron were completely caught off guard. "Hermione! What…how? Where…" Harry said trying to get a word out while keeping a straight face. "How long have you been standing there? How much have you heard?"
Hermione was steaming with anger. "Long enough! What's the matter with you two! Can't you just accept my likes for Malfoy!" she yelled as she stomped out of the room leaving Harry and Ron to think about it. Outside, she came across Malfoy who was just leaning against the stonewall waiting for her. But before she even spoke a word to him, she wiped her eyes, which were beginning to burst out in tears from what had just happened.
"What's the matter Hermione?" Draco said worriedly.
Hermione took a hold of his hand. "I-It's just Harry and Ron." she sobbed.
"What did Redhead and Scar head do to you?" said Malfoy angrily trying to settle down. He realized that Hermione was still sobbing. Somehow, he enjoyed it, but his heart was hurting as he saw Hermione in pain. "I mean…Weasley and Potter. I'll beat there guts right out of them! Tell me what happened?"
"It's nothing, really." she replied trying to keep her tears from falling down her cheeks. "Harry and Ron are just being the stubborn, clueless selves. They don't approve of our relationship."
Draco gave Hermione a moment to recollect herself. "C'mon, who needs them? If they were really your friend they would understand." He paused a moment, to see Hermione's expression on her face. "As much as I dislike them. I would try and control myself, because that's what someone does when they care about someone."
Hermione slowly began to for a smile to what Draco had just said. "Look at me…" she said with a small laugh. "I shouldn't be here, crying my eye out…who cares what those two think! Let's go get some breakfast and forget it happened! This isn't a way to start the day. So, today…I'm all yours."
"I like the sound of that!" Draco said happily. He was so glad to see Hermione feeling better. "What do you say we go to the Leady Cauldron and get some of them butter beers!" exclaimed Draco in a rather cheery mood.
"That sounds good!" said Hermione excitedly.
o0o
Arriving at the Leaky Cauldron wasn't pleasant for Hermione and Draco. The place was dark, filled with cobwebs and antiques from God know when. Witches and wizards in all different ages sat at different tables giving them strange looks. The whole place was quite eerie. Whispers coming from different tables. Well, considering the fact that a Slytherin and a Gryffindor had just walked in hand in hand. They all must have found out rather quickly.
"Hermione and Draco! It can't be!" said Jamie, a 3rd year girl whispering about to her friend. She knew Hermione. Hermione once tutored her a year ago.
"Are they together?" said a girl that walked passed them.
"A Gryffindor and a Slytherin! How could this be?" said a young boy, hiding behind his book.
"This is absurd!" said a Hufflepuff.
"Someone should lock those two in a cage and throw them to the trolls" said a Ravenclaw. The whispering got louder and louder as glares from different wizards came angrier.
"You two are the talk of the whole school! This is definitely going in the paper for EVERYONE to see!" said Collin Creevy an amateur newspaper columnist. "Smile for the camera!" he exclaimed but quickly scurried away after seeing the expression he got from Hermione and Draco.
"Let's hurry before this turns into a mob seen!" whispered Draco to Hermione quickly searching for an empty table. "Amazing, how people these days are only interested in other peoples business!"
Nonetheless, Hermione wasn't even listening to a word Draco had just said. She just took a seat and looked out at the window dazing at the snowflakes gently fall to the ground. She was having mixed feelings. Wondering if her relationship with Harry and Ron will ever be the same.
"Thinking about Potter and Weasley are you?" said Draco calmly.
"I-I-I'm just wondering if people were going to settle down and realize that what ever happens to us has nothing to do with them!" exclaimed Hermione loudly so everyone can hear her, for she knew that her classmates were spying on them. Hermione putted her Butter beer down with a smile on her face. It was actually the happiest time she had with Draco. "Draco, thank you so much for everything…"she thanked him.
"Well I can't have you sitting around all day sad about what Harry and Ron were thinking about. I have to tell you something though." Draco began.
Hermione felt a sudden negativity from what Draco was about to say. "Umm…yeah, sure…ok…"
Draco didn't know if he could say what he was supposed to say, but the only way he could have a meaningful relationship with her was by telling the truth. Well, that is if she wanted to have a relationship with him after this. "Some of those things Ron and Harry were talking about, are true." he began. "But only at the beginning of it all, I wanted to get to you to learn some things about Harry to get back at him. After that kiss last night, something magical came over me. I don't know what, but it felt more exciting and better then when Pansy and I have kissed. I know I love you now Hermione. Please forgive me for my past wants. I have changed."
Hermione silenced for a minute and bowed her head down. "Oh…you have changed and I do want this relationship, I mean you're the only one who we're strong through out this, this, 'adventure' I guess you could say. You had to stand up for yourself and what you thought was right. So…I forgive you. I love you too." Hermione replied placing her hand in his.
Draco cupped Hermione's hand and smiled happily. But he had this eerie feeling of someone watching them. Just then, someone's drink fell to the grounds behind them. The glass shattered into pieces. Out of nowhere, a waiter ran in and shouted a spell and the glass was good as new. Turning around, Hermione and Draco discovered that it was Ron.
"RONALD! What do you think you are doing!" Hermione yelled out giving Ron an angry look.
Ron made a face that looked like he was about knock out Draco, "A-a-ah Hermione, Harry is waiting outside for you!"
"To where? After what you said and done, why should I?" she boasted.
"Hermione! The question is, why you are fraternizing with the enemy!" Ron yelled out. "You merely went out for butter beer and now he's saying he's in love with you! Garbage I say, garbage! You couldn't possible take this seriously…he's using you!" said Ron as his tone got louder and louder.
"Are you mad? I believe I can make my own decision! If you and Harry can't accept it then…just…leave! I know what's right for me! How many times am I going to tell you RON!" she yelled louder and louder and was ignoring the amount of publicity she was bringing in. "Draco, can we please leave…"
Ron had a look of disgust upon his face, "Hermione, don't you remember, what Draco has done to us over the years? He tried to kill Harry! He's a Slytherin; of course, he'll be following his dimwitted father's footsteps! He's a wicked bad seed and you SHOULD be with him!"
Outside, Harry stood there. "Hermione, I'll support you…I don't know if I can befriend Draco but I'll try." He realized this was the only way Hermione could still talk to him. He didn't want to lose her.
Hermione just kept on walking and left Ron unanswered. But stopped at what Harry said. At least one of them caught up. She thought to herself. "Thanks Harry, I knew I could count on you. Now only if you could make Ronald feel the same way…"
Harry looked at Draco, he put in a hand out to shake Draco's hand. Even when he looked as though he was going to get shocked or something. Anyway, they shook hands and once they let go they both had looks on their faces like they were about to hurl. "Dim-wit" muttered Harry.
"Scar head" whispered Draco.
Hermione heard both of them speak under their breaths. "Well at least you both gave it a try!" she giggled. "Now, that wasn't too hard was it? But now, I have no idea what to do with Ron. He still hasn't caught up…and this is where you come in Harry."
"What do you want me to do?" Harry said confused. "You know how hard it is to change Ron's mind. You don't mean a spell or anything, do you?"
Hermione laughed, "No! Well thanks Harry, we'll be heading off now."
o0o
Hermione and Draco walked back to the Castle with Harry right behind them. "So what do you guys want to do?"
Draco kicked a rock to the side as he brushed his blonde hair from his eyes. He had one hand stuffed into his pocket and the other grasping Hermione's hand, he loved the feel, he wanted to go find a small secluded play by the lake to sit and watch the sun sprinkle across the water, but he knew that was to going to happen.
Hermione sighed and waited for answer. "Draco? Harry? Actually, Harry I think you should go and talk to Ron immediately." Truth was she just wanted to be alone with Draco. It was a new day for them and a new start for their relationship.
"Ok I'll find him," said Harry as he looked at Hermione. Whispering into her ear he said, "Be careful…" then smiled and looked at Draco as he headed off to the other direction.
"What was all that for?" Draco asked bitterly. He became sort of disgusted at how Harry had looked at him.
Hermione on the other hand, headed towards the lake and found a near by tree to which they can both unwind. There she sat and watched the lake glisten under the sun as Draco sat beside her. "Draco, I was wondering…does your father know about us yet?" she asked.
How should he? He told himself. Since his father was now in prison (thanks to a certain SOMEONE, almost had no father. "No, he doesn't" he replied. "But I will probably send an owl tonight."
Hermione placed her head on his shoulder. "Oh, I wonder how he'll take it…" she said rather softly.
Draco didn't wonder at all. He knew he was going to get a howler of some sort. But it was all worth it. He might as well do it if Hermione and he were serious, which they were.
o0o
Meanwhile, Harry went back to the Leaky Cauldron and found Ron drinking butter beer after butter beer. "Ron, is everything alright?"
"Alright? Alright? Everything isn't alright! Hermione has run off with Malfoy doing who-knows-what and if you ask me if everything is alright!" Ron said angrily.
"Calm down Ron, you don't want to make a scene, do you! I-I understand what you mean Ron, but moaning around isn't going to do any of us good! The best thing to do now is to be behind Hermione no matter what!" exclaimed Harry quite confident.
"I don't know Harry. If we go into the castle, all were going to get is people staring at us…" he said twiddling his thumbs. "I don't like him Harry…I don't like him at all! He can't be trusted…he's mad I tell you, MAD! I'm not going to sit here and put up with this and pretend everything is alright!"
He paid for the butter beers and vigorously walked out the door. "Ron wait!" Harry yelled trying to catch up with him.
o0o
"Well I suppose we've got to face it, if that's how their going to be then fine." Hermione sighed. "Are you okay?" she said. Being in a situation where her first time seeing Draco behave in a way where he wasn't talking as much as he always did.
"It's just that you, and your friends. I'm ruining everything you have made with them. They are mad at you, they hat me, and they will not stand for it any longer. I'm not sure if this is really going to be easy." he replied slowly closing his eyes taking in a deep breath to calm himself.
After minutes of searching. Ron spotted Hermione and Draco hand in hand.
"Don't think that way…" she started, almost sobbing a bit. "yes, it will be hard, I know. But I had to face it too with Parkinson. I love you Draco, and its just how it's going to be from now on." Giving him a slight kiss on his cheek, he bowed her head and continued her sighing.
"Her Hermio…" exclaimed Harry, when Ron pulled him back. He put his hand on Harry's mouth.
"Shut up! They'll hear you!" Ron whispered forcefully as he pulled Harry behind the tree that stood in front of them. "Shhh! Bloody hell!" Ron was traumatized after seeing Hermione kiss Malfoy.
Draco placed his arm around Hermione and hugged her close, placing his chin on her head and smiled. Kissing the top of her head he said, "I love you too, Hermione."
Suddenly Hermione heard whispers coming from behind them. Turning around, she found no one. Still a bit suspicious, she focused herself on Draco. Just then, Harry accidentally stepped on a twig and made a crackling noise. "Shhh! She'll hear us! Don't move a muscle." whispered Ron as he looked down making sure he doesn't step on a twig too.
"If those darn twits are behind us, they are going to get something they will never remember." Draco said fiercely looking behind himself.
Hermione couldn't take it anymore, pulling herself up to stand, she walked around behind them to make sure they weren't there. Searching behind every tree, she saw them. "Harry! Ron! Explain!" she screeched.
"A-a-ah! Hi, Hermione…didn't reckon' you were here." exclaimed Ron trying to keep a straight face.
Draco pulled out his wand, he was incredibly ticked off now. The two dimwits ruined his moment with her. He muttered a spell off under his breath and Harry became motionless.
"And one more thing Ron, if you don't get your acts up, you might as well end up also hand cuffed with him. Think about that!" she yelled as she turned around.
"Ahhh!" Harry yelled, his voice in pain and there, he stood still and froze.
"Why you, I'm gunna.." but right when Ron got his wand out, Hermione quickly grabbed his wrist as Draco pointed his wand at him.
"You will get what you deserve Weasel. You and your poor little family. I may be with Hermione here, but that doesn't mean I'm following her little aura of good. I'm bad, born bad. And you will see how much worse I can get if you do not leave us alone. Now, hand off your wand, or Potter here will suffer. Then you two can scuttle along your way and leave Hermione and I alone!" He laughed a little, but he felt great to be able to do that. He felt that he needed to blow off some steam.
"But, but, Hermione, look what he did to Harry! Don't you even care?" Ron said in disbelief. "Your slowly becoming one of them! SNAP OUT OF IT!" Ron yelled as he grabbed Hermione's shoulder and shook her.
"Do you want to get tortured like poor Potter Ron?" Draco asked point his wand at Ron.
Hermione was getting angrier by the second. She dug her hand into her pocket, pulled out her wand, and grasped it tight. "How could you say that! You think I'm getting darker and darker? Well I wouldn't be if you two dimwits won't stop! I CAN HANDLE MYSELF! Thanks for caring but you guys need to understand that your assuming all of this. It's not true!" she yelled.
"Hermione, are your really going to let him off putting a spell on me!" said Ron as Draco smiled devilishly the fact that she was on his side with this.
"Well, yes, I would, unless you nose down!" she yelled back at him.
This just keeps getting better and better. Draco thought. Granger is actually on my side!
"Well I guess that you know where you belong!" said Ron astounded. "If you are wise enough, you would stay from him."
"Fine! It's either Harry and I or Draco, it's your decision." exclaimed Ron.
Suddenly, Draco's hopes fell. He was not going to allow them to make her choose. "Crucio!" Draco yelled out, watching Ron flop on the ground.
Sweat rolled down Hermione's pale face as she thought of what Ron had said. If she were to go with Harry and Ron, which has been her best friends since her first year at Hogwarts, then she can't be with Draco anymore. But if she stays with Malfoy, she'll lose her friends.
Instead of yelling back an answer, she walked away.