I'm Here When You Need Me- Chapter 13
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.
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Sarah let out a small gasp. She really didn't know what to say, so she just returned his gaze, with her mouth open slightly.
"I, um, I don't really know what to say. Um, are you, uh, wow," was all she could get out.
"I know you don't feel the same. I realize that. I just needed to tell you."
They sat in silence again, this time it was a long while before Sarah spoke.
"Draco, I will forgive you, only if you promise not to hurt me or my friends again."
"I promise. I will even make the Unbreakable Vow for you."
"No need to go to extremes, Draco," she chuckled.
"You're calling me Draco again."
"Yeah, I am. I would really like to be your friend again. About your House; don't let those miserable gits get to you. You're better than them. Also, I'm sorry," she said looking at her feet.
"For what?"
"Well, you were right. I don't love you— not like that anyway. I will always love you too, just like a brother, or something. I don't think I will love you like you do me, and I hope that you find someone who does. She will be a very lucky girl," Sarah said, standing.
Malfoy followed suit, and smiled, actually smiled, at her, even though it hurt to hear she thought of him like a brother.
"Can I get a hug?" Sarah asked her arms outstretched.
He smiled wider and took her into a tight embrace. She could feel his heart beat faster. She blushed, and pulled away. She grabbed Harry's cloak and headed up to the castle with Malfoy next to her. When they reached the doors to the school, Sarah draped the cloak over Malfoy and herself.
"I will walk you to the Slytherin common room if you want. That way, you can't get caught."
"Sounds good," Malfoy said.
Sarah walked into the Gryffindor common room and took the cloak off her body. That thing is ridiculously hot, she thought, fanning herself. When she had removed the cloak, Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at her. Sarah sat in her seat.
"Who was it?" Harry asked, a grin creeping onto his lips.
"Promise you won't blow up," Sarah said.
Harry looked at her, and saw the guiltiness in her features.
"What did Malfoy want?" he sounded a little exasperated.
"He just apologized, and asked if we could be friends again. I said yes," she responded, omitting the part about him confessing his love for her.
Harry only glanced at her, before he stood.
"Why did you say yes? You know he will only hurt you again!" he said, almost shouting.
"Why are you yelling at me?" she asked, tears beginning to fill her eyes.
"I'm not yelling. I just want to know why you forgave him. He has done nothing to warrant it. Besides that, he has made the lives of the three of us miserable for the past four years," he said, indicating Ron and Hermione and himself.
"He apologized. That is enough to warrant forgiveness. I think that people deserve to be forgiven. It is too hard for me to hold a grudge against someone for long. When someone is sincere about their apology, I will forgive them. And I never said that you had to be his friend too. I would just like it if you tried, for me. If you find that being polite to him is too difficult, then just ignore him. Just so that you know, he promised to be nice to you three from now on, even if it means that his House won't speak to him after," Sarah said, still holding back tears.
Harry looked at her, and sighed.
"I don't like him, and I don't think I can trust him, but I will try; only for you though," he said, sitting back down.
"Thank you, Harry," Sarah said looking over at the other two.
"So will I," Hermione said, giving Sarah a small smile.
"Me too, I guess," Ron said reluctantly.
Sarah was surprised that he agreed.
"Ron, if you can be nice to Malfoy, why can't you see that Harry has been honest, and didn't want to be in the Tournament?" she asked, before she could stop herself. "He's your best friend, and you would believe the rumors people say about him, rather than what he tells you."
Ron seemed ashamed. He looked at the floor. Harry didn't seem to want to look at Ron either, because he also put his eyes elsewhere.
"Harry, I'm sorry, mate. I just—," Ron started.
"Ron, it's ok. I never was mad at you. I didn't enter, and I just wish that you had believed me in the first place."
Both boys stood up, and pulled the other into that hand shake/hug that guys do. Sarah and Hermione each gave a small eye roll, both thinking 'boys'.