"Suspicious, that Malfoy fellow is," Hermione said as she read over my letter.
"I know, he's quite the puzzle he is," I said. We were walking to the portkey where we would then be going to the Quidditch World Cup. It was very early.
"I think you should just ignore him," Harry said.
"Yeah, who knows what he's up to," Ron said.
"And the last time I bought into his whole friendship thing it ended badly," I said.
"Well, don't think on it for now. I'm sure he's just trying to trick you," Hermione said.
"I hope so," I said.
We reached a hill over looking a lush green valley. It was beautiful. Growing up at Hogwarts I felt like I got enough nature for a life time, but things like this still managed to take my breath away with it's beauty, it's purity, its-
"A boot. A dirty old boot. Who would litter-" I began.
"Hannah. . . Shut up," Percy said. I gasped. How could he tell me to shut up when my intake of the lush green valley was interrupted by some lazy bum's shoe on the ground?
"You're so rude," I said rolling my eyes.
"You might not want to do that. Your pretty green eyes'll get stuck up in your head with all the curly red hair of yours," Percy said coolly. I hissed at him.
"Now settle down. You're acting like babies," Mr. Weasley said. Percy stuck his tongue out at me. I stuck mine out at him. "I said stop it!" Mr. Weasley said more sternly. I crossed my arms.
"He started it," I said.
"I don't care who started it," Mr. Weasley threatened. Hermione switched places with me to avoid anymore squabbling.
Mr. Weasley walked up to the boot and looked at his watch.
"Ah, almost right on time," he said. "This piece of litter, Hannah is our portkey."
"Way for them to be inconspicuous," I said, "and to ruin a perfectly scenery."
"Well let's not dawdle. Everyone, grab hold of the portkey," Mr. Weasley said. Well all knelt down to the ground and grabbed the portkey. Harry looked unsure, as he always did when confronted with new and exciting magic.
"Hold onto your butts," I said.
Then there was the sensation that I hated so much, like I was being pulled by my bellybutton at 1,000 miles an hour.
Then I landed on the ground, stunned for a moment. I looked over to see my friends sprawled out as well.
"Dude..." I began as I looked around. We were inside the largest gathering of Wizards and Witches I had ever seen. The math was going to be extraordinary.
We walked forward and I expected to hit some kind of magical barrier but we never did. We kept walking till we were in a crowd full of people.
"There's a good spot!" Bill said pointing across a few feet away to an empty area with no tents. We walked over to it and set up our tent. It was obviously a very nice tent. We were squeezing the whole Weasley family inside along with Harry, Hermione and me.
After we were all settled in, Mrs. Weasley sent Harry, Hermione, Ron and I to get a water and fire wood.
We were walking through a forest behind where our tents were set up, following the signs to the fresh water spring.
"So, what do you suppose Malfoy wants?" Harry asked.
I shrugged.
"I haven't got the slightest idea what he would want. He hasn't spoken to me since I told him off and insulted his manhood and took away his dignity" I said.
When we reached the lake Hermione and I got 4 bundles of fire wood and the boys carried back 4 pails of water.
"You don't suppose he's forgiven you?" Hermione asked.
"Why would he?" I asked. "It didn't sound like he wanted to make up and be all buddy-buddy with me again."
"But did he sound mad?" Ron asked.
"Well, no." I said.
"Then you'll never tell until you talk to him," Hermione said.
*Oh Joy!*
While walking back we saw a 5th year named Cho Chang. She was the Ravenclaw Seeker at school. Harry always seemed to go soft on her in those games. When he saw her, he practically fell over, spilling half a bucket of water. Cho Chuckled.
Harry pushed his glasses up onto his face and turned bright red.
We walked back to the tent silently. When we sat everything down I looked over at Harry.
"Don't trip over it," I said.
Harry gave a confused "What?" look.
"I'm sitting down," he said.
"Oh that's right. You tripped over your dignity when we were talking to Cho." Harry gave me and evil glare and Hermione and Ron snickered.
"You're not funny," Harry said.
"Then why am I laughing?" I asked continuing to laugh. "Dude what do you see in her?"
"She's very pretty," Hermione said.
"And shallow. I could step in a puddle of Cho and not get my feet wet," I said.
Cho was such a drama queen. She was always so frail when she played Quidditch.
"I actually think Cho likes you," Hermione said.
"Gold digger!" I coughed. Harry gave me an evil look. "What? I coughed." Harry rolled his eyes.
"To be my sister you really aren't very supportive," Harry said.
"That's what happens when you're born first. The younger siblings are supposed to taunt and annoy you," I said.
"She's got a point there..." Ron said.
"Thanks for the moral support mate," Harry said sarcastically.
While we talked a shadow moved over us. We looked up to see a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes looking down on us.
It was my best friend in the whole world, Draco Malfoy.
"So you did come," he said looking at me.
"But you knew that already," I said.
"I'm sorry, but do you mind if I borrow Hannah for a moment?" Draco asked.
"Yeah, actually I do," Harry said defensively.
"Too bad." Draco grabbed my hand and pulled me off the ground. "Only be a minute." And he pulled me away.
"How rude," I said.
"It's in my nature," Draco said pushing his hair from his face.
"What did you want?" I asked ripping my hand away from him.
"Just an apology," he said. "You did insult my manhood and take away dignity."
"Why should I? You fully deserved what you got last year after what you said about Hagrid-"
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt," Draco said. I rolled my eyes.
"Well if that's the case we shouldn't even be having this conversation," I said. "Words don't hurt apparently."
"You told me I was worthless," Draco said.
"Okay, so I was a bit extreme," I said.
"Just a bit," Draco replied sarcastically.
"But it's nothing worse than what you usually say to people. You just got a taste of your own medicine is all," I said. Draco crossed his arms.
"This isn't about me, it's about you," Draco said. "You were my friend. . . And then you weren't. It's different if someone you hate insults you but when it comes from a friend. . . That's when things start to really hurt."
". . . So Draco Malfoy has a soul?" I asked.
"And you crushed it," he said.
And then I realized that you had to be a remarkably bad person to genuinely hurts Draco Malfoy's feelings like I had.
"Give me an apology," Draco said.
"I'm sorry about what I said. It wasn't kind of me to say. I could've ended our friendship in a much less painful way," I said.
"And one more thing," he said. "I want to be your friend again."
"Will you stop being such a git?" I asked.
"I don't know. It's kind of part of who I am," he said. I rolled my eyes. "I can try."
"Good, then we're friends again," I said.
"Now give me a hug," he said.
"No way. I gave you your apology and our friendship is restored but I've never felt it necessary to make any physical contact with you," I said.
"Find. I'll just go about reeking havoc on the school and taunting you and your little group of friends," Draco said.
My friends were cool with the fact that Draco was my friend because when I was around he never taunted them and considering we were inseparable he never really caused them any trouble anymore.
"Are you serious?" I asked. Draco nodded.
"Dead," he added on.
I glanced around to make sure no one was around. It would be so weird for people to see me hugging him. Everyone would talk and I'd never hear the end of it.
"Come here," I said taking his hand and pulling him closer.