"- And here's Lucius!"
Harry, Ron and Hermione couldn't help but look at Lucius Malfoy when the Minister said his name. Apparently, he was sitting behind Ron's father. Three seats were still empty and Lucius was with Draco and his wife. The more Draco was growing up, the more he was reminding Harry and Ron of his father. They couldn't help but think that Draco's mother was good-looking, even though seeing the expression on her face, they could tell she didn't seem pleased to be around all those people.
"Ah, Fudge," Lucius said, shaking hands with the Minister and asking how he was doing. Then, he turned to look at his son and his wife. "You remember my wife, Narcissa. And my son Draco, of course."
"Oh yes, obviously. Long time no see," Fudge said as he looked at Narcissa. The trio noticed that neither Draco nor Narcissa seemed pleased by the Minister's words, or just by the idea of talking with him, and Hermione even saw the twitch of Draco's eye. They weren't pleased at all but weren't showing it too much. For those not knowing them well enough, it just looked like their usual arrogant appearance. The last time Draco and Narcissa had actually been in the same room as him, Draco had just turned ten and Fudge had become the Minister of Magic a few months before. He had been trying to look very confident, at the time, even if he wasn't really. He had been present for the execution of the werewolf after Draco's attack. That's how they had met. During that day, Fudge had been distant, didn't really look at Draco and had also been quite indelicate concerning him, not finding the right words at all.
Draco could remember it. He could remember Fudge laughing awkwardly and his "You are the young Draco, right? Lucius' son... Well, it's... nice to meet you, yes, very nice indeed to meet a brave young boy like you," Fudge had told him, not meeting his eyes once. Draco had been exhausted that day , it hadn't been long after his very first transformation and he was holding his mother's hand. They were standing next to his father and he had been really embarrassed as the Minister kept talking, trying to tell him that he had taken care of everything, that Draco didn't have to worry and again, that he was glad to meet Lucius Malfoy's son "despite the tragic situation". In the end, the more he had been talking and the more he had made Draco uncomfortable. So much that Draco had felt his mother's grip on his hand becoming tighter the more Fudge was talking and he had looked at his father, not reassured at all. Lucius had seen it and, keeping a strained smile on his face, he had made Fudge understand that he'd better stop talking.
The trio saw that Draco looked like he was about to hold out his hand to shake Fudge's but he didn't, seeing that the Minister barely looked at him before he bowed to his mother, greeting her with a smile and a few words. Then, he introduced them to the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, clearly talking to the couple and not Draco. This one didn't show anything. He stared at the two Ministers but by looking closely, Harry and Hermione noticed that his jaw muscles were working as if he was chewing.
Then, the trio listened as Lucius mocked Ron's father while Fudge wasn't listening and who actually bragged about Lucius' very generous contribution to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, telling them that the Malfoys were there as his guests. Draco smirked as he looked at Arthur. His father hadn't told him that he had had the tickets this way, and he felt some pride in him, especially seeing Arthur's strained smile. Draco, at that point, told himself that it didn't matter if Fudge himself was barely acknowledging his presence because he didn't like werewolves, because in front of people like the Weasleys, he was still seen as superior. As long as the Weasel was keeping his filthy mouth shut at home, he didn't have to worry about them.
During this time, Lucius had been looking up and down the row, noticing the rest of the Weasleys as well as Hermione and Harry. She met his grey eyes and she blushed but kept staring back. Draco had noticed, his eyes were on Hermione too. Again, his jaw was clenched but he wasn't showing anything about his feelings. For Harry and Ron, he was looking at her like his father was looking at her, and they felt bad for their friend. Because they knew why Lucius was smiling the way he was smiling. They knew why they were looking at her with that much disdain. After everything Hermione had done for Draco that year, they couldn't believe he would still look at her like she was some kind of scum. Harry suddenly wanted to ask what was wrong with Draco, since he had talked to her all year, just to make him have problems with his father, but he didn't, he kept his anger for himself, shot a look at Ron and they knew that they wouldn't let him get away with this behavior during the year if he was mean with Hermione. But she didn't mind Draco's look, she knew he had to keep up appearences, especially in front of his parents.
Then, and still with the same contempt, Draco looked at Ron and Harry before he went to sit between his parents.
Hermione didn't listen to Ron as he called them "slimy gits", she was still looking at Draco. His father was talking to him and he was nodding. After a moment, Draco leaned to talk to his mother, close to his ear before he looked at her and she saw her pressing one of his hand that was on his lap. Again, Hermione thought about how much Draco was probably loving his parents and once again, seeing him slightly smile at his mother, she felt bad for making him lie to them.
And at the same time, as she glanced at Lucius, she couldn't help but be proud.
After that, they all faced the field again, ready to watch the match.
.
In the end, the night didn't turn out as it was supposed to be, and Draco had the chance to talk to Hermione once more. Unfortunately, not in the best conditions. He was watching the show, leaning against a tree, hands deep in his pockets, safe in the woods. He was wondering the purpose of it. Sure, he could understand the Death Eaters motivations, but he didn't know if he was supposed to enjoy all of this. Maybe he would have had a lot of fun if he hadn't been a werewolf, if he hadn't been dating a Muggle-born, if he had just been different. Or maybe he would have found it funny if it had happen the summer before, not this one. Because he had changed too much during the last school year, and he was asking himself way more questions about all of this, now.
That's when he heard Ron fall not far away. Then, he heard Hermione and some light appeared. She was using the Lumos Charm to be able to see what they were doing.
He couldn't help but smirk when he saw Ron on the ground. Then, automatically, he looked at Hermione. Now that he was thinking about it, she wasn't safe at all, there. Did they know what it was all about? Did they know they were Death Eaters? Did she know? That was what mattered, that she knew. He didn't care about Harry and Ron, not in the slightest. Angry, Ron said he had tripped over a tree root and Draco, seeing the opportunity, couldn't stop himself. He had to tell her, no matter how. Even if he had to hurt her because she was with her friends, he had to make her understand. She would understand.
She was smart. She would know he wasn't thinking what he would be telling her. Surely, she would understand, she would forgive him.
"Well, with feet that size, hard not to," Draco told Ron, making the trio suddenly turn to face him. He was still leaning against the tree. He just had to act natural, like he had been acting with them during the last years at school. It would be fine. He was looking very relaxed, although he was also looking exhausted.
"Fuck you, Malfoy," Ron said, even more angry. Amused, Draco's grey eyes drifted on Ron. With Hermione's light, they seemed to be glittering.
"Language, Weasley," he said. "Hadn't you better be hurrying along, now? You wouldn't like her spotted, would you?" He finally said as he only nodded in Hermione's direction, trying not to look at her. He was still looking at Ron, just to see his reaction. He had to say, even if he had to fake what he would be saying about Hermione, driving Weasley nuts was still a great deal of fun. A loud noise came from the camp site, as well as a green light. Ron, Harry and Hermione hadn't been able to hide their surprise as they looked in the direction of the tents, but Draco didn't move, still relaxed. Hermione was the first one looking at him again.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked, trying to sound a bit angry. But she had already understood that he was trying to say something to her.
"Granger, they're after Muggles," he said, finally looking at her and meeting her eyes. "D'you want to be showing off your knickers in midair? Because if you do, hang around... they're moving this way, and it would give us all a laugh."
She got it. He had sounded so mean but she knew that he didn't mean to. Not really. She didn't say anything, and Draco didn't react immediately when Harry said that Hermione was a witch anyway. Then, he finally glanced at Harry.
"Have it your own way, Potter. If you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are," he said lazily before he looked at Hermione again, looking amused. He wasn't.
"You watch your mouth!" Ron shouted, really hating when Draco was using that word.
"Don't mind him, Ron," Hermione said as she stopped Ron from going closer. Draco smirked as he stared at Ron, amused to see him so angry. He really hadn't had a clue, this guy. Again, they heard a bang, it was even louder than before and it was followed by screams. It made Draco sneer.
"Scare easily, don't they? I guess your daddy told you to hide, didn't he?" Draco asked Ron, eager to see if he would try to escape Hermione's grip. "What's he up to? Trying to rescue the Muggles?"
"Where're your parents?" Harry asked, his own temper beginning to rise too. It was enough, he was disgusted by Draco's behavior, especially knowing everything that had happened during the last year. "Out there wearing masks, are they?"
Draco didn't lose his smile one second. Hermione was staring at him, actually a bit worried. She knew he wouldn't change his behavior with Harry and Ron, even though he had kept quiet at the end of the year. It had probably been because of his embarrassment, but the temptation to make fun of them that day had been too strong for him, apparently.
"Well... If they were, I wouldn't be likely to tell you, would I, Potter?" He said calmly, with the same smirk as before. Harry gritted his teeth as he frowned, clenching his fists.
"Come on, guys, let's go find the others," Hermione said, not very loudly. She didn't like how it was turning out, the situation around them was already stressful enough.
"Keep that big bushy head down, Granger," Draco sneered as he looked one last time at Hermione. Now that he had had his fun with Ron and Harry, and that he had warned Hermione at the same time, he wanted to see her go away, in a safer place. Again, they heard a bang and Hermione pulled Ron a little, wanting to leave, but it was too late.
"And you, Malfoy, why don't you keep your bleached blond head down?" He shouted. "After all, I don't think those guys are very fond of werewolves, are they?" Again with the eye twitch. Draco didn't look relaxed at all anymore, he suddenly looked furious. Hermione had already seen him angry at her friends, but not this way. Even Harry realized that he had never seen this expression on his face. "If they already don't like Muggles and Muggle-borns, I can easily imagine what they think of you. Are you hiding here right now? Afraid even mommy and daddy would attack you?"
Hermione noticed what Draco was about to do and she suddenly pulled Ron away as Draco started to walk towards him.
"Don't you dare, Weasley, don't you dare speak to me this way!" He said aggressively. Hermione walked in front of Ron and raised her hands, almost dropping her wand.
"Stop that!" Hermione shouted and she had to put her hands on Draco's shoulders to stop him from coming closer. She actually had to use some strength, because Draco didn't seem to be about to stop.
"Got something else to say, Weasley? Want to give me another reason to hit you as many times as you have freckles on your ugly face?" He asked savagely. Even Harry approached, not wanting Hermione to deal with him when he was so angry. What if he was hitting her instead, in his surge of anger? He came next to her, putting a hand on his arm and he looked at Ron, just to be sure he wasn't approaching. Then, he tried to pull Hermione to make her move but she wouldn't. She knew Draco wouldn't do anything to her, but he probably wouldn't mind punching Harry. The last thing they needed right now was for them to fist fight in the middle of the woods. Then, Harry and Hermione heard Ron's voice behind them again.
"I mean, they've already got to deal with you at home, I can imagine them using this opportunity to-"
"Ron! Enough!" Hermione shouted as she turned around, hitting his arm. Then, she directly turned again to face Draco, who was now being stopped by Harry. His jaw was clenched and his hands were shaking as he turned them into fists. "That's enough!" Hermione repeated loudly. Draco didn't look at her at first, he kept staring at Ron who had taken a few steps backwards after Hermione's intervention. It was easier for Harry to keep Draco away, but it took him a moment before he stopped trying to walk past him. After a few long seconds, Draco glanced at Harry, who didn't even look angry anymore, just a bit worried. They heard voices not far from them and Draco looked at Hermione.
"We're leaving," Harry said, examining Draco's face. Ron frowned and Harry looked at Hermione who nodded. She was still staring at Draco. They stayed silent for a few seconds, looking at each other and Draco narrowed his eyes a little before he glared at Ron again.
"Better be careful..." He muttered, breathing heavily. He still sounded angry and there was no doubt that it sounded like he was threatening Ron. But Hermione had to stop herself from promising she would be careful, knowing what he had meant. Draco looked at Harry and grimaced before he removed his arms from his grip, a bit suddenly. "And you don't touch me," he said aggressively before he took a few steps backwards, slowly, before he looked at Ron again. He could feel his heart beating really hard in his chest. He still wanted to hit him, but he wouldn't.
.
Draco opened his eyes, startled. He blinked, seeing the landscape pass quickly before his eyes and he sat properly again as he felt the need to stretch. His head was hurting and he looked around before he heard his best friend's voice, who was sitting next to him.
"Alright, Draco?" Pansy asked before she smiled at him when he met her eyes. He nodded before he yawned as he turned his head to look outside again.
"When did we...?" He asked. He didn't remember being awake when the train had left the the platform.
"Around an hour ago, I think," Pansy said before she took her pocket watch from the pocket of her black shorts. She was very well dressed, as always, with black tights and her black city shorts. Her white blouse was tucked in them and her expensive black shoes were shining thanks to the light the sun was giving the students in the compartment. He also could see the necklace he had given her the year before around her neck, above her black tie. She was barely ever going out without the necklace. The pendant being made of onyx, was matching most of her clothes. He knew it was her favorite stone, he had someone made that necklace just for her. With a 18 karat gold chain, very thin that had been strung through the onyx bead twice to create a wrapped effect.
49 Galleons, 1 Sickle and 2 Knuts for this necklace. He was glad to see that Pansy really liked it. When he wanted to give something to someone, Draco was usually very thoughtful. He actually had something for Hermione, knowing her birthday was going to be really soon. Twenty days later, actually. It had been easier to find something for Pansy because she liked to dress well, she liked to have some jewels, but never too much. She wasn't wearing any earring, she didn't have rings either. It was usually necklaces and bracelets. Hermione wasn't really interested in all of that stuff, and it was hard because Draco had still a lot to learn about her, but he hoped she would like it either way.
But in case he wanted to buy her clothes one day, he was experienced now, thanks to Pansy. She had forced him to go around to buy clothes with her during the summer, more than once actually, and because of that, now, he was noticing what people were wearing, when he was only being careful to what he was wearing before.
"You fell asleep just before we left, actually," she added. Draco glanced at Crabbe and Goyle, who weren't really interested in their conversation.
Draco had spent the day before sleeping. The full moon had happened two days before his departure from the Manor, so he slept the next one and was now stuck in this train. Of course, he had fallen asleep, he wasn't even surprised and if he didn't find something to distract himself, he would probably sleep again.
"Now that you're awake, though, what did you want to talk to us about?" She asked as she put her watch in her pocket again, leaning on her seat and crossing her arms as she looked at Crabbe and Goyle, who were now looking at them.
"Oh, yeah, it's about what's going to happen at Hogwarts this year," he said, smirking as he crossed his legs, sitting comfortably. He started to play with the ring on his finger, slowly making it turn on it as he spoke lazily. "Father gave me some information two months ago. Obviously, I couldn't tell you, it's classified, I wasn't supposed to know. But... Well, Father tells me everything anyway," he said as he looked up at Crabbe and Goyle, who now seemed really interested. Pansy was smirking too. "But since we're all going to know tonight... Hogwart's holding the Triwizard Tournament, this year," he said after a few seconds, just amused to make them wait a little longer.
"What?" Pansy asked. "Are you serious? But didn't they cancel the tournament in-"
"Seventeen ninety-two, yeah," Draco said, waving his hand at her. "Looks like they decided to resurrect it. I guess we will have the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students with us this year," he kept on going, looking outside. "It's going to be a big thing."
They kept talking about it for a while, as well as they spoke of the other schools. The door of their compartment was opened and in the next one, Hermione had just heard him talking about Durmstrang, when he said his Father actually wanted to make him go there, at first, to learn the Dark Arts but that his Mother didn't want him to go so far away. She didn't know if it was the only reason he didn't go there, in the end, or if him turning into a werewolf had also made his Father change his plans. Harry and Ron started to talk about how sad it was that his mother loved him too much and also started to imagine pushing him from a glacier while Hermione was actually glad that he was at Hogwarts. Obviously, she didn't say anything and was glad to see Neville, Seamus and Dean walk in the compartment. Draco had also seen them, when they had walked past his, and he heard the trio's voices as the boys joined Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Boys, why don't you go get us some food?" Draco said as he turned his head to look at Crabbe and Goyle. Despite being bossed around like that, their hunger drove Crabbe and Goyle out of the compartment really fast. Pansy directly stood up and went to sit on the seats in front of Draco, taking all the space as she also put her feet on them. Draco did the same on his side. He actually wanted to be alone with Pansy for a while, and he started to play with his ring again as he stared at the now closed door. "There's something else I wanted to talk to you about."
Having all her attention, he started to tell her about what had happened at the World Cup. She already knew about the attack, of course, he didn't want to talk about that but about his fight with Ron.
"Of course, this moron couldn't take it and had to open his mouth," Draco said as he shook his head after he had told her most of what had happened. But not the interesting part yet.
"Did you expect him to take the hint about you helping her?" Pansy asked as she pursed her lips. Malfoy sneered as he looked at Pansy. "So, what's the problem? You always argue with them."
Then, Draco told her the exact words Ron had used against him. He didn't even vilified him, he couldn't, it was annoying him too much.
"Of course, I couldn't hex him, not that I didn't want to make that prat vomit slugs again. And Granger wouldn't let me approach. I'm telling you, I just wanted to..." Draco said before he clenched his jaw, thinking about it again. He shook his head slowly as he stopped playing with his ring. He looked at Pansy again. She was staring at him, gritting her teeth too.
"Come on," she said as she stood up. Draco raised his eyebrows. "Why don't we go have some fun? I'll hex him for you if he tries to say anything in front of his stupid friends again," she said as she smirked. Draco, suddenly excited, took the hand she was holding out to help him get up before they got off their compartment.
They walked quietly towards the next compartment, listening. Seamus and Dean had left their door open and they could hear them talk about the World Cup. Just thinking about it was making Draco angry already. He was delighted to have the opportunity to "have some fun" as Pansy had put it. He heard that Neville hadn't had the chance to come to the Cup and then, he heard Ron speak. He smirked as he walked past Pansy. She followed him, the same mean expression on her face.
"We were in the Top Box-"
"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley," Draco said, interrupting him. They all looked at the newcomer, Hermione looking up from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4. They also noticed Pansy.
Draco leaned against one side of the doorway, hands deep in his pockets while Pansy leaned against the other side, crossing her arms and her legs. They both tilted their heads and they both sneered.
"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy."
It was Harry, but Draco didn't even look at him, he didn't even listen to him. He was only mad at Ron. Even Potter hadn't really tried to argue at the World Cup, he had actually tried to stop the fight. So, Draco kept staring at Ron, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Pansy narrowed her eyes and pointed at Pigwidgeon's cage.
"What is that?" She asked, already laughing inside. Draco's gaze drifted on the sleeve of Ron's dress robes and he understood right away. Quickly, before Ron had the time to react, Draco moved and pulled the sleeve, showing the robes to Pansy. He couldn't be more excited, now.
"Would you look at this!" He said as Pansy laughed joyfully, a hand in front of her mouth as she looked at Ron.
"Oh, Weasley," she said. "You weren't thinking of wearing these, were you?"
"Come on, Pansy, don't be too harsh. I mean, they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety."
Again, they laughed and Ron, red in the face, stood up and gripped his robes, taking them back.
"Eat dung, Malfoy!"
Again, Draco and Pansy laughed, it was derisive and Pansy brought a finger to her eye, removing a tear of laughter that was threatening to roll down her cheek before she bit her lip, staring at Ron. Hermione clenched her jaw, looking at the duo. As soon as the argument with Draco had been over at the World Cup, she knew he wouldn't let go. She knew Ron wouldn't get away with it that easily, and she was actually surprised that they didn't see Draco barge in the compartment sooner.
Pansy and him were terrible, especially when they were acting together and Hermione could see that despite looking terribly tired because of the last cycle, Draco was so excited by all of this that he seemed to be perfectly fine. It was hard to watch because he wasn't like that at all with her. But every time Harry and Ron were around, he was acting obnoxiously. And despite her hopes, she knew that this year was going to be far worse when it came to those three, or those four if Pansy was helping him. She wasn't surprised that she was there, they were inseparable. And there was no doubt that Draco had told her about his argument with Ron. So there was no doubt that even her would take every opportunity to treat Harry and Ron horribly.
She couldn't blame Draco for being angry at Ron, of course, like she couldn't really blame Ron for being mean with Draco, he had provoked her friend. But she was still mad at Ron for telling such things to Draco, even if she hadn't talked about it with him yet. But even if she totally understood why Draco was so mean with Ron that day, it was really hard to watch him humiliate him in front of his friends this way. She still hadn't said anything, her face half-hidden behind her book as she was watching the scene. She stared at Draco as he spoke again.
"So... going to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name?" He asked. "There's money involved as well, you know... you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won..."
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked angrily as he sat down again.
"Are you going to enter?" Malfoy repeated and Hermione sighed.
"Either explain what you're talking about or go away," she said. Draco finally looked at her, as well as Pansy. She was still smiling nastily, crossing her arms again, and Draco met Hermione's eyes. He couldn't stop like that, just because she had asked. Pansy knew about his feelings, but he wasn't going to listen to her in front of Harry and Ron, they had no clue. Normally, he wouldn't stop. And he had to act naturally, didn't he? Instead of looking annoyed by Hermione, he seemed even more gleeful.
He was actually jubilating as his red eyes went on Ron again.
"Don't tell me you don't know?" He asked as he grinned again. "You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? My God, my father told me about it ages ago," he said more lazily as he rolled his eyes, his voice now drawling. "Heard it from Cornelius Fudge, you see. But then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry. Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley... Yes... They probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him..."
Pansy definitely had had a really good idea by going there to make fun of him. What a wonderful day it was. Draco sneered and looked at Pansy before he nodded in the direction of the aisle and they both turned around to leave, still smiling.
Ron heard them burst into laughter when, after getting up, he had slammed the compartment door hard enough to shatter the glass.
"Stupid. Slimy. Gits." Ron mumbled, his jaw clenched so hard he was barely getting the words out of his mouth. Hermione sighed after she had repaired the glass, shaking her head.
"What were you expecting, Ron, seriously?" She asked as she sat down once again, taking her books in her hands.
"Nothing much, knowing this jerk," he said as he grimaced. Hermione glanced at him, frowning.
Hermione would have loved to use the opportunity to talk about what had happened during the World Cup since she hadn't had a chance yet, but with Neville, Seamus and Dean there, she couldn't say a word. Like at the Weasleys, there was always someone not knowing about the secret, and even if they had spent some time alone, it was too risky, they were too many there. So, she had kept quiet but definitely thought about it a lot. She had to tell Ron to stop saying stuff like this. Either it would turn badly for Draco if Ron was talking like that in public, either it would turn badly for Ron because Draco wouldn't be held back, next time, and would probably hex him or beat him up.
But Ron mood didn't change during the journey, Draco and Pansy had clearly ruined his day. So, when the three boys left the compartment, she put her book next to her and looked at Ron, who was apparently determined to look outside.
"Would you stop being angry? Don't tell me you didn't know he would act like that after what you've said to him?" She asked. Harry glanced at Hermione, not really wanting them to argue again.
"Come on, he got it coming!" Ron snapped as he looked at his friend. Hermione pursed her lips a second before she spoke, trying to keep calm.
"He doesn't deserve any sympathy from you, Ron, far be it from me to think something like that. But you have to admit, he didn't deserve to hear what you said. Even for you, it was low, and I've already heard you say some things you should be ashamed of in the past."
"Come off it, Hermione," Ron said coldly. "He just got a taste of what he's doing to you, what was so wrong about it? He's always calling you a- There's no difference!" He said, not able to use the word Draco was saying so freely, he hated it. Harry was becoming very uncomfortable, knowing that there was, indeed, a difference.
"And so you retaliate by speaking like that to him? By speaking like that about what he is? Ron, the difference is that his family is bigoted, you weren't raised like that!" Hermione said, persistent. "I'm used to hear him say that word and I don't care anymore, I can defend myself anyway! But you can't tell him this kind of things, not about that, and not three days before a full moon. How exactly did you expect him to react?"
"I don't keep a close watch on the moon calendar, I didn't know, why do you?" Ron asked defensively. Hermione didn't say anything, but felt her cheeks becoming warmer. "And at least now he knows what it is to be treated like he treats you! He's not even grateful for last year! Look, I'm telling you, he needs to hear things like that more often!"
"No, he doesn't..." Hermione said quietly. She was the only one knowing he really just wanted to help her at the World Cup. She hadn't been surprised to see Draco getting carried away and ending up making fun of Ron and Harry the way he had, but still. And even if he deserved for them to be mean with him in return, Ron couldn't tell him this kind of things. Hermione didn't care about being a Muggle-born, she was above his words, she knew he didn't mean them that night and she knew that she didn't have to be ashamed of her parentage. She was proud. And she didn't care about what anyone could say about that. But a werewolf?
It was torturing him every single day. And even though dealing with all of this by being obnoxious with other people wasn't the best way he could handle the situation, Hermione knew that he didn't need to hear those words. Not when he was tormented, coming from a family like his, with beliefs like his parents had. Not when he was suffering from painful transformations every months, not when he had to hide, not when there were laws against people like him, not when the Minister himself wouldn't even look at him or touch him. Not when he had been attacked as a kid and turned into this creature, not when he hated himself for being this way. Hermione never hated herself for having Muggles as parents, she knew there was nothing wrong with that. But Draco...
After they had helped him go to the hospital, at the end of the school year, she had asked Harry about the injuries, because he had been the only one really seeing them in the Forest, he had hid his body from Hermione, he had made them leave the hospital, he had been ashamed. Hermione had been so worried, she had to ask if it was really bad. And Harry had told her about his scars. The new ones as well as the ones he already had. He had told her about the first bite, about what it looked like. Hermione didn't need Harry's theory on that to come to the same conclusion as him. He had scratched it because he hated it, like he had tried to remove it with his own nails. He hated the way he was and he couldn't handle having that on his skin. He had scratched it so hard he had hurt himself. And now he had so much more scars...
And his Boggart... His father's words and his mother's injury... Ron had gone too far with all those words. But she didn't explain all of that, she didn't need for Ron to fully understand the way Draco was feeling. Ron was too prejudiced to open his eyes and think about that by himself, he hated Draco too much, and he had his reasons. Good reasons.
She couldn't put Draco in this position, she couldn't tell Ron what was going on in his head, how he was feeling. She wouldn't give Ron other weapons to attack him if they were arguing.
"Harry, come on," Ron said, looking at his best friend. And actually, Harry didn't know what to say, because he was thinking about Lupin. It was making him very uneasy. He hated Draco, but he couldn't insult him for that. Because Lupin had explained how horrible it was and because he had seen Draco's body, he had seen how he hated himself. He could kind of understand why he was mean with everyone, why he absolutely wanted to be seen like his parents, as superior, because of the way werewolves were treated. He couldn't totally agree with Ron, even if he couldn't entirely disagree with him either.
"Well... I'm not going to say he didn't deserve to be hurt. Trust me, he deserves to have his ego totally destroyed sometimes," Harry said, glancing at Hermione who narrowed her eyes. "But," he kept on going, looking at Ron this time, "I wouldn't recommend you to speak about that again in order to hurt his feelings, Ron..." He said, not really wanting to argue with his best friend. Ron looked at him, baffled. "I mean... You wouldn't say those words to Lupin, right? Think about that the next time you really want to say something like that to Malfoy," he said rather quietly.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione almost whispered before she looked at Ron.
"But it's not the same! Lupin, he's- he's nice and-"
"Their personality is not the same, Ron, but they are both-" she started to say before she spoke more quietly, just in case they could be heard, even if the door was closed. "werewolves... You know how hard it is for Lupin, he explained everything in the Shrieking Shack. I can't even believe you would say and mean words like those to someone sharing the same torment and pain as Lupin. We don't know how it goes when Malfoy's at home, why would you say his own parents would-"
"Ok, I get it, Hermione!" Ron said, feeling ashamed, now, as he turned his head to look outside again. Hermione sighed.
"I'm just saying..." she said and Ron slightly shook his head. "Next time, I might not be there to stop you two from fighting. Or I'm not going to want to," she concluded before she stood up to leave the compartment and go try to find Ginny. She still couldn't believe it. She was so mad at Ron.
And she absolutely wanted to talk to Draco but she couldn't even do that as long as they were on the train. She was also angry at him, of course, why did he had to make fun of Ron and mock his family in front of everyone again? It would have been great if he had used what had happened during the last year to make some peace with Harry and Ron, but they were all too stubborn.
"And just so you know, he is grateful," she said as she turned around once she had opened the door. "He came to me and thanked me in June, after he was able to leave the hospital, you know, after he fought with Lupin, saving Harry and me incidentally. I didn't tell you," she said as she also glanced at Harry, "Because you were both mad when you discovered I talked to him during the year." She was still very resentful about that. She stared at Ron again, who was still not looking at her. But Harry was, he could understand her anger, even though she was looking really calm and that her voice was steady. She wondered if they had noticed that he actually hadn't said anything to her or Harry when he was in the compartment, because he was only mad at Ron. Before, he would have just made fun of everyone. "So you can think what you want, Ronald, but he was mature enough to swallow his stupid pride and thank me. You should try it sometimes."
Then, she left, closing the door behind her and walking fast in the aisle, glancing in the compartments to see if she wasn't finding Ginny. In their own compartment, Harry and Ron stayed silent for a few minutes before Harry, looking at his own fingers, spoke. He was almost whispering.
"You don't think..." Harry could remember that Hermione and Draco had been talking during the last year, actually. That they were laughing together when he had seen them in the library. And now, knowing that he had even thanked her... He wasn't annoyed because Malfoy hadn't thanked him, he wouldn't even dream of it, he was annoyed because of the realization he had just had. Glancing at Ron who was still looking out the window, his arms crossed, he kept talking quietly. "That Malfoy just wanted to warn her during the World Cup?" Harry saw Ron's hands change into fist and he looked in front of him, never hearing any answer.