I'm not all that happy with this one either but I'm happier than the last one. I hope it is okay, enjoy.
Draco ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know about this," He said, turning to Harry.
Harry just rolled his eyes; he'd heard the same line five times already today. "You'll be fine, they don't completely hate you now."
"But why the common room?"
Harry shrugged. "It's where we study, what does it matter anyway?"
Draco glared at his smirking boyfriend. "Oh, this may be funny now, just wait until the roles are reversed."
Harry paled instantly and Draco smiled smugly.
"Whatever, let's go. The free period will be starting soon and we need to be there on time."
Draco frowned but followed his boyfriend when he started to walk. "Why do we have to be on time?"
Harry looked back with a haunted look. "You don't want to see what happens when you're late."
Draco decided to not ask for anymore details.
The common room was basically empty, a rare occurrence. Harry, dragging Draco by his arm, walked straight towards the corner where Neville and Hermione were bent over books. the quiet murmurs of their voices halted when they caught sight of the pair.
"Harry, on time I see."
Harry nodded vigorously.
"Good," Hermione turned towards Draco stiffly. "Malfoy, it was brave of you to join us."
Harry frowned at Hermione who glared at Harry back. Neville was looking between them nervously.
"Take a seat," Hermione said finally, waving at one of the empty seats.
Draco sat, Harry sitting between him and Hermione. Draco knew he should apologise but that was something he didn't do, well, ever. Malfoys are never wrong, after all. "Thank you for inviting me," Draco said instead, hoping she understood what he was trying to say.
Hermione sent him a knowing look before turning to face her book. "Harry invited you," she said. "We're just waiting for Dean and Ron, then we can start."
Draco nodded, not knowing what to say next. He glanced to Harry who sent him an encouraging smile which he didn't return. The group sat in awkward silence until a tapping sound was heard. Draco glanced up and saw Neville tapping the table, staring at the door.
"How long?" Harry asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Draco saw Hermione smile but it was Neville who answered. "One minute left."
Harry smiled and stared at the door, waiting for the what, Draco didn't know.
"Thirty seconds," Neville said.
Draco found himself staring at the door, waiting for something to happen. The portrait door flew open and Ron raced inside, tripping over one of the couches.
Hermione didn't look up from her book. "You're cutting it close, don't you think?"
Ron paled but one glance at Harry and Neville's disappointment he knew he was fine. "I'm not late and, more importantly; Dean will be in three, two, one."
Everyone, except Hermione, turned to the entrance to see if it would open. It didn't. Ron let out a loud whoop and Neville threw his hands up in the air.
Harry turned to Draco with a smile. "Once Dean arrives," he said in a whisper, "you'll see why we are never late."
Draco nodded, completely confused but amused with the Gryffindor antics.
"Right, let's get started," Hermione said, placing her book down and picking up a different one. "First, potions."
Draco couldn't have prevented his smile when he heard all the groans.
The study session was awkward, there was no other word. Harry did his best to encourage a relaxed atmosphere but with the death glares from Ron, the stuttering from Neville and the cold reception from Hermione, it was hard.
Draco could feel guilt weighing down on him. He knew these people deserved an apology for his attitude but he didn't do apologies, never.
"Hermione, what's the incantation to turn a goblet into a parrot again?"
The study session itself was a well-oiled machine. There was a set time each subject would be studied. Questions would be asked and answered. If no one had the answer, the question was written down to be looked up. The whole set up was wonderful and Draco suspected it was all Hermione's doing.
Draco noticed Hermione leaning over a laughing Neville while Ron argued with her. He felt Harry lean towards him.
"You need to apologise," he whispered in Draco's ear.
Draco scowled but he nodded his head. "I know."
"Then why haven't you done it yet?" Harry asked.
Draco turned to the other three, seeing them absorbed in their argument, one that Neville was now leaning away from. "I-" Draco cleared his throat, "I don't know how," Draco admitted.
Harry smiled softly, apparently understanding more than Draco thought he would. "Just pull them aside and say 'I'm sorry'."
Draco scowled again but he didn't answer as Hermione was giving them a look.
"Are you two studying?" She asked with her eyes narrowed.
Harry nodded vigorously again and buried his face in his book but Draco had a different idea.
"No, I was thinking about something else."
Hermione glared at him. "This is a study session, you're meant to study."
Draco lowered his eyes, damn, she's scary. "I know, this is more important, though."
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Harry wince and Neville shake his head, muttering, "you've done it now." Draco wasn't surprised to see Ron's vindictive grin.
Hermione lowered her quill slowly. "What was that?"
Draco gulped, not prepared for the amount of anger in her eyes. "I wanted to a-apolo-"Draco cleared his throat again, "I want to apologise to you, all of you."
The anger in Hermione's eyes disappeared, turning into surprise.
"I've been cruel to you all; viciously and unnecessarily cruel. The names I've called you all, the bullying, it wasn't right and I want to say, I'm sorry, even though I know it will never be enough. I won't ask for forgiveness because I don't deserve it but I want you to know I regret all my awful words over the years. I'm sorry for everthing that I've done."
The table sat in silence. Harry was smiling widely but he was the only one. Ron was shaking, Hermione was staring with wide eyes and Neville's jaw was almost on the table. Draco shifted uneasily and he turned to Harry. "Did I say it right?" he asked.
Harry's smile widened. "Yes, it was perfect."
Hermione opened her mouth to respond when the portrait door slammed open and Dean ran through.
"Dean!" Hermione snapped, turning her attention to his flushed face.
Dean cringed visibly.
"You are late."
Dean flinched as if he'd been struck.
"You know what happens to late comers," Hermione said ominously.
The whole table watched as Dean's face paled dramatically and his legs threatened to give out underneath him.
Hermione turned to Draco, sending him a soft smile. "Draco, you may not want to watch this," she said before turning back to Dean.
Draco smiled, gladly accepting the chance he'd been given. The smile quickly slipped off his face to be replaced with a look of horror when he watched Hermione approach the cowering Dean. Some things cannot be unseen.
(w.c 1,213)
WolfWinks –xx-