Draco is hurting from Hermione's remark and Ron's hex. How will he cope with it?
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"Now Granger hates me, what do I do about that?"
"Nothing"
"Who are you, anyway?"
"The other side"
"It's like I have two minds in one"
"Maybe once you've sorted this out, I'll go"
"Yeah, right"
"If you like Hermione, won't you try to win her? After all, she's got Weasley after her"
"He can have her. I can't. I'm Malfoy, the one they all hate"
"So what are you going to do about it, hmm?"
"Run"
"Last time you did that, you ended up here. Do you think it'll work?"
"Yeah, it's obvious they don't want me here. Why did they take me in, anyway, just so they could hex me?"
"Just because Weasley hexed you real good, you're going to run?"
"It's for the best"
"So be it. But I'll laugh if you don't make it"
Draco turned to the window and with a wave of his wand, opened it. He looked back to the closed door and sighed
"It's for the best anyway"
The doorknob turned. Panicking, Draco jumped off the bed, diving through the window, as the door swung open
"Malfoy?"
Hermione!
Draco tucked his head in, arching his back and twisted his body, so he landed on his back, only to feel great pain shooting up his spine into his head, making him dizzy
"That's the last time I try that again"
He looked up, as Hermione looked out the window. Once he knew she saw him, he jumped to his feet and started to run from the house. He didn't pause or slow down, speeding for the street. He burst out onto the street and turned right
"Malfoy!"
Draco looked over his shoulder and saw Harry, Ron and Hermione standing outside the house. It was Harry who yelled. Draco lowered his head and continued running
Crack!
"Aaaahhh!"
He fell, as Harry appeared in front of him
"Going somewhere?"
"Yeah, away from you guys"
"Oh really?"
Harry grabbed Draco by his shirt and lifted him to his feet
"Just where exactly were you going?"
"Anywhere, just as long as I can be lost to the world"
"Riiight"
"Look, Potter, I don't belong here, I never was and I don't exactly fit in, alright"
Harry noticed that this wasn't the usual Malfoy. This was Malfoy as he was the night Dumbledore died, scared and panicky
"You know, Malfoy, I am the only one here who tolerates you-"
"I know," Draco interrupted, "I overheard you and Granger talking earlier"
Harry was shocked. He knew that Draco disappeared to his room before lunch, but never knew he had come down and eavesdropped
Draco looked back and saw Ron and Hermione running towards them. He became more panicked and turned back to Harry
"Look, just let me go, alright, I'm in your hair and I don't need to be, so let me go"
Harry looked the blonde's shoulder and came up with a thought. He looked at Draco and saw he was serious about leaving
"Very well, Malfoy, if you wish"
Draco gave him a small smile and walked past him
"Just remember, Draco, there is someone who doesn't want you to go"
Harry looked at his friends and turned back
"And maybe there would be another"
Draco turned on the spot and with a crack, disappeared, as Ron and Hermione caught up with Harry
"What the bloody hell was that about?" asked Ron
"No idea, Ron," said Harry, "I think you're a bit young to understand"
Hermione was staring at the spot where Draco had just been. She bit her lower lip and walked away, as Ron and Harry followed her
"I'm guessing Draco likes Hermione, but can't have her, which is why he's running," thought Harry, "So how do I bring him back to help us?"
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Harry's POV
I watched as Draco Apparated, hoping he would return so he could help us finish Voldemort once and for all. When we arrived back at my house, I pulled Hermione aside
"Has Draco told you anything weird at all?"
She got a thoughtful look in her eyes
"He wanted to talk, so I took him to the Burrows, where he told me he liked me"
"And you turned him away?"
"I said I'd think about it"
I suddenly wasn't sure about this. I may have pity for Draco, but trying to hook him up with my best friend, the one person he's hated for the last six years, I doubt that
"And what do you think of him?"
"He's changed"
I decided to give up and let things work out. I let Hermione go and went to my room, where I found a piece of parchment lying on my bed. I picked it up, read the contents and frowned. Then I began to think
"Maybe, just maybe"
End POV
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Hermione's POV
Draco was gone, Harry had asked me about him and now I was sitting in the living room, next to the fireplace, thinking about it all. Did Draco really have feelings for me? Why did he run away from us? And why did Harry let him go?
"You okay?"
I looked up at Ron and nodded. He sat next to me. It was silent for a while and I was starting to get uncomfortable with Ron there. I had no idea why
"Do you want to talk?"
"No, I'm fine, thanks"
I stared at the empty fireplace, trying to work everything out. Voldemort, Draco, Harry, the prophecy, life after the war. My mind started to spin, until Ron spoke
"Um, I was wondering, what do you think could happen between us?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know, about us," said Ron, pointing at us both
"I'm not entirely sure about what you're talking about"
"What I'm trying to say is…"
I looked at him. He was looking very embarrassed and kept looking around the room, trying to see if anyone was listening in
"Well, maybe, if we could be more than, you know, more than friends?"
Okay, let's go back a few days. First Draco has said he's got feelings for me and now Ron is asking me out. I think this was a little too much. I had never thought myself as hot, but I've had two guys after me in the last few days. I looked at Ron, who was waiting with eagerness for my answer. I knew he liked me and I was wondering if I had the same feelings for him
"So…?"
Luckily I was saved as Harry came into the room, carrying a piece of parchment
"Yes, Harry?"
"I have some good news and I've got some bad news"
"What's the good news?" asked Ron
"Okay, they're kinda mixed together, but the sort of good news is that I've found out where the next Horcrux is"
"And what's the bad news?" I asked
"Well, knowing where the Horcrux is sort of the bad news. The bigger part of bad news is that it's located on the Isle of Drear"
"What's the Isle of Drear?" asked Ron
I knew what that place was. I've read in a few books at Hogwarts. And I knew what was there. The creatures that lived there were in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
"The Isle of Drear is off the northernmost tip of Scotland," I answered, "however, it's very risky going there"
"Why?"
"You're not going to like it, Ron, but that's where the Quintaped lives?"
"What's that?"
"A giant, five-legged spider-like creature that eats flesh"
I saw the colour drained from Ron's and I gave him a small smile
"Looks like we have no choice but to go there," said Harry, "Tomorrow night"
"Can I stay here?" whimpered Ron
"Don't worry, I'll ask Fred and George or Bill to come with," said Harry
"I'm not going to like this at all"
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There you go, he's run away to cope with it. However, Harry knows where the next Horcrux is and Ron's not going to like it at all. And will Draco return? And if he does, when?