Chapter 4

New Feelings.

As Hermione left the office she saw the upset face of Harry. He must have heard she thought. At least he knows that it's not true.

"YOU LIED TO ME! SOME SAD STORY ABOUT YOUR DAD ALL TO MAKE ME THINK THAT YOU WEREN'T WITH HIM?" Harry yelled.

"Harry, you know the truth. Let me explain and you will understand." Hermione took Harry into the drawing room and sat him onto a couch. She explained to him the entire situation which he took better then she thought he would.

"So friends, with Malfoy. Never thought I would see the day. But I am relieved that he finally made the decision to stay around with us. He would be dead if he went back. At least now we know the guy has some brains." Harry replied to Hermione's explanation.

"Just because I have brains Potter doesn't mean I wish to get friendly with you." Draco Malfoy sternly told him while standing in the doorway. "Now if you don't mind I would like to have a little chat with Gran- I mean Hermione."

"Sure whatever Malfoy. I will go see if I can calm down Ron. I might have to tell him the real truth though. Like about what happened this summer." Harry said.

"Please try not to if it's necessary. I wanted to be the one to tell him. Well forget it without him knowing I will never get to talk to him again." Hermione told Harry. She stood up from her place on the couch and grabbed the arm Draco held out for her. They left through the front door and started heading down the street. "What a great day for a walk."

"Let's not go through with the pleasant small talk. I wanted to know what happened to you this summer. I know there is something that strikes up the emo phase in life." Draco told her.

"Ok you want to know the truth do you Malfoy? The truth is that some of 'your kind' came into my house to kill me. Luckily I wasn't home but my father was. I think that you can figure out the rest." Hermione made sure not to mention the word death eaters for the muggles wouldn't understand and the local wizards would all start listening.

"Wow. I am so sorry. That must have been my second mission. They told me that if I succeeded in the first I would get to have what they like to call a 'joy killing'. I was really nervous on what that would be. It would have been you." Draco had to tell her what he knew about her attempted murder.

"So the one that did succeed got to do the kill me? Snape. Snape killed my father. Thanks for the information, it can really help with some closure and anger issues. I can't believe that he would betray us like he did."

"Well I guess that you wouldn't have a clue. Dumbledore always trusted him but deep down I think that the old man knew we were coming to kill him that night. Like he was already informed. How else would he make sure that Wonder-Boy was at his side?"

"Don't talk about Harry like that." Hermione snapped. "Maybe he did though. Who knows the truth though?"

"Snape. He would be the only one. What a crap-load of a god-father he is. He ran after that battle and just dropped me off at the manor. Right into a trap. And he kept going and was never found."

"They will catch him you know. Right? Well it is getting chilly we should head back." Hermione shivered in her stance. Draco took off the leather jacket he was wearing and threw it over his shoulders.

"Sure let's go back. Dinner shall be very interesting." Draco replied.

"Interesting is an understatement." The two headed back into the house of Black and went their separate ways. Hermione went upstairs to get cleaned up for dinner. She threw off her coat totally forgetting that she was still wearing Draco's. She held it up and took in its aroma. Smells fabulous, she thought. This must be what Draco smells like. Hermione started getting strange thoughts toward her new friend but tried to push them to the back of her mind.

Draco headed up to the room that was given to him, going through the drawers he pulled out a clean shirt and tie. He never got used to the idea of a casual dinner so he still dressed up for the meal. After cleaning he headed down towards the wonderful aroma that was coming from the kitchen. It was once again the great cooking of Mrs. Molly Weasley. "Is there anything you need me to help you with Mrs. Weasley?" Draco asked.

"No, I can handle feeding a small army after raising teenage boys." Molly laughed. "But I once again ask you to call me Molly."

Draco laughed at her joke, remembering watching the Weasley boys eat up a storm at feasts. He took a place at the table near Molly and chatted with her until the others headed downstairs.

"I'm sorry for earlier Malfoy." Harry said as he headed to his place at the table. "I was being stupid and immature."

"Sure whatever Potter. Not a big deal. I mean we have treated each other like crap since we were eleven. Changing now won't be easy." Draco and Harry shaked hands, almost like signing a peace treaty with each other as Harry took his place.

"What makes you think that your so good that you dress up for a stupid meal." Ron almost hissed at Malfoy as he sat down.

"Nothing Weasel. Tradition for me I guess." Draco tried to remain civil with the red haired teen.

"Ron be nice for once." Ginny said. She was sitting at the table, without anyone noticing her entrance. Once everyone was seated, except Hermione was mysteriously missing, dinner was served. Once again Molly Weasley had outdone herself with mountains of delicious food covering the table. The conversion was calm and everyone was having a good time.

Back in her room Hermione was seating on her bed trying to figure out exactly what was going through her mind. Draco was taking place of Ron in her daydreams and thoughts of him filled her head. She couldn't figure out why or how this had happened to her. She had told Ms. Weasley that she wasn't feeling well so she didn't have to face everyone at dinner that night.

Dinner progressed and suddenly Ginny noticed that her friend was missing from the table. She quickly excused herself and headed up the stairs to the room they shared. Hermione was still sitting on the bed but this time there was music playing in the background.

"Hermione, Why weren't you at dinner with everyone?" Ginny asked.

"I couldn't face everyone. Your brother is so angry with me. He doesn't understand what has gone on with me and the troubles that I have faced this summer. All I wanted was to help Malfoy and now look at me, I'm a mess."

"Well it was hard for him to see the woman that he has loved since he was fourteen becoming 'friends' with his enemy. You have to see his point of view in this too."

"I do. But now I am not even sure if I want to be with Ron. I mean before I was so sure that he was the one that I was going to spend my life with but after his blowout this morning I just can't see myself with him anymore." Hermione explained.

"I see what you mean with that. Maybe you should tell Ron that you don't think that you want to be with him anymore. Sure you two never actually dated but I am pretty sure both him and you knew that it was coming at some point."

"Sure Gin. You are such a help." Hermione went and hugged her friend. "Thank you so much. I think that I am going to write Ron a letter." Hermione grabbed her parchment and quill and got to work.

Dear Ron,

I know that this is going to be hard for both you and me. But I have imagined us getting married and being together since we were in 3rd year. And now this summer I have found out who I really am. In otherwords I just can't see myself with you romanticly anymore. It has nothing to do with Malfoy so don't blame him. I just have grown up and my world has been flipped upside down. Please forgive me and please don't let my new feelings ruin our lasting friendship.

Love,

Hermione.

She walked down the hall and slid the letter under Harry and Ron's door. She knew that he would find it later tonight, but right now she needed to raid the kitchen.