Chapter 10: Happy…For Now
Ron was now looked down upon by everyone. Fred and George nearly disowned him. He begged for forgiveness from Hermione. Hermione accepted his apology but everyone was still cold towards him. Hermione could now walk without being followed by whispers everywhere. Draco now openly chatted with her and Harry would stand beside them protectively. He knew Draco meant no harm. However, Slytherins would try to hex Draco whenever possible. Nearly every week he would spend the weekends in the hospital wing. When Hermione saw that Harry trusted Draco, she told him his story. Harry was shocked and speechless. He offered to take in Draco to the DA. Everyone accepted him, except the Slytherins of course.
Draco was scared. He knew that by now his father knew of his association with Harry and Hermione. The only thing his father hated more than Harry was 'mudbloods'. Draco knew that only horror awaited him now. The New Year will not bring joys for him, he'll be lucky enough if he survived what his father had in store for him. He looked out of the window next to his bed in the hospital wing. Harry and Hermione had gone. He had been hit by a dozen cutting hexes and his skin of his left arm had been eaten away. The first snow of Christmas started falling. He was happy; happy to have friends; happy to have a home. Madame Pomprey poked her head out of her office. "Mr. Malfoy you better go to sleep now." Draco lay down and closed his eyes. A smile spread across his face.
Hermione checked the Hogsmeade schedule on the notice board in the Common Room. It was on the Christmas weekend. She had already thought out what to gift Harry, Ginny, Luna and a couple of other people. She was stuck on Draco. She had been scratching her head for days trying to come up with a gift for him. She just couldn't make up her mind. Well I'll have to see what Hogsmeade has to offer, she thought to herself. She went up to her dorm quietly and lay down on her bed. The festivity of Christmas was already in the air and even Hermione had taken a back seat from nagging Harry and Draco to do their homework. Hermione ticked off the list of people she had to gift in her head. She started feeling sleepy and so closed her eyes. The last image in her mind was the happy look on Draco's face when he was accepted at the DA.
I agree it's a short chapter but clearly I have kept the excitement for a special Christmas edition. Now do me a favor and tell me your thoughts till now. Am I any good?