Chapter 12: Unexpected Visitor

Hermione was sitting alone reading a book. She was taking a relaxing moment away from Draco… not that she was having second thoughts, she just felt a bit smothered and made him go to work. Spending twenty-four hours a day with him was still a bit awkward. Her concentration was broken though by an unexpected visitor.

"Ron?" asked Hermione.

"Hermione!" said Ron excitedly as he came to give her a hug.

"How are you? Come sit," said Hermione.

"Great, but more importantly how are you and where is Draco? You didn't kick him out did you?" he asked.

"What? No! Who said that?" asked Hermione.

"Harry and Ginny said you were unhappy and completely untrusting of Draco. I came as fast as I could," said Ron.

Hermione laughed.

"I'm not leaving Draco," she said.

"No you can't! Wait, what?" asked Ron.

"Do you ever listen? I said I'm not leaving him. I gave him a chance," said Hermione.

"Oh good. Sorry. He really is great. It must have been scary though waking up not knowing you were married and to who…"

"Yeah and pregnant," said Hermione.

"You're pregnant! That's great! Congrats!" said Ron.

"Thanks. I'm getting more excited I think. Honestly it was terrible to wake up that way," she said.

"I would imagine it was something like how we felt when you told us about him in the first place," said Ron.

"Oh yeah? Tell me. I've been collecting stories to see if I remember anything and to learn about my life," she said.

"It's quite funny. Don't hate us though because of what we did…"

"Where has Hermione been lately? I mean honestly. She is always gone and whenever I try to go over or something she quickly shoos me out the door. What's up with her?" asked Ginny.

"I don't know. It's true. She hardly talks to any of us," said Harry.

"Well I'm glad we're finally going to see her and talk to her for once. I wonder what she needed to tell us," said Ron.

They were sitting at the Three Broomsticks, an old favorite meeting spot. Then Hermione walked up.

"Hey, guys!" she greeted happily.

The others greeted her back, but acted a bit standoffish. They were offended at her actions and behaviors lately. She had some serious explaining to do.

"So, what's up?" asked Hermione.

"I don't know, you tell us, we hardly see you," said Ginny sounding very irritated.

Hermione took a deep breath and let it out.

"I'm sorry! It's just… what I have to say might be kind of hard… I don't want you guys to take this the wrong way," said Hermione.

"I'm sure whatever it is, it will be fine we're your best friends," said Harry.

"Right," said Hermione sounding like she was trying to convince herself more, "Anyways so I've been dating this guy…"

"What? A guy! I'm so excited! Continue!" said Ginny giving a squeal of delight.

Hermione smiled at her and said, "Yes. And he's absolutely amazing. I would have never thought that before, but trust me. He treats me like… well just better than anyone else has. He's just really great and I'm sure once you guys talk to him you'll feel the same way."

Something was very fishy about this. Ron and Harry looked at each other, slightly worried.

"So, Hermione, who is it?" asked Ron.

"Do we know him?" asked Harry.

Hermione gave a guilty smile.

"Yes," she said quietly.

"Oh the suspense is killing me! In the name of Merlin just spit it out already!" said Ginny.

"It's Draco Malfoy," said Hermione doing as Ginny said and spitting it out quickly.

The silence became unbearable. You could have heard a pin drop and it felt like hours before someone actually spoke up.

"Um, wait what? I think I heard you wrong," said Ginny.

"I definitely know I heard something - very wrong," said Ron.

"No. You heard me right," said Hermione.

"Hermione, have you gone mad? Draco Malfoy?" asked Harry.

Hermione crossed her arms in frustration.

"See and this is exactly why I've been staying away! Why can't you trust me here. You don't even really know him. What you thought previously is wrong. He's really great. I promise," said Hermione.

They all just sat and looked at her like she was crazy.

"You said you were my friends! That I could trust you!" said Hermione.

"It's Draco bloody Malfoy! You don't trust the devil himself!" said Ron.

"You don't know what he's like! Ugh! Ok you know what. I knew this would happen; I'm leaving," said Hermione standing up.

"Wait, no, Hermione please stay. Sorry it's just a shock," said Harry standing up with her. He looked at the other two looking for help.

"Yeah… I'm sure he's… great," said Ginny forcing the words out.

"Well, here's your opportunity to find out. I told him to meet us here," said Hermione smiling and sitting back down.

They all looked like their eyes were about to bug out of their head. They just looked at each other awkwardly until Draco showed up.

"Hey," he said as he greeted Hermione with a small kiss on the lips.

"Oh gross. Please keep the kissing to a… no please just don't do it," said Ginny.

"You and Harry kiss all the time and Ron and I put up with it," said Hermione.

Ron started laughing, "She got you there, Gin."

"Shut up," she said and then turned to focus on the drink in front of her.

"Nice to see you too, Weaslette," said Draco.

"Oh yeah. He's changed a ton," said Ginny.

"Draco. Be nice. Don't make it any harder than it is," said Hermione.

"Fine. I'm sorry," he said.

Ron spit his drink out at hearing those words.

"Did he just say I'm sorry? I didn't know Malfoys knew that word," said Ron.

"Ronald! Stop it!" said Hermione.

Draco threw a look at Ron, but didn't say anything.

"Yeah. Guys, we're not even giving him a chance," said Harry.

"Thank you," said Hermione.

They all sat around, not knowing what to say next. They all tried pleasant questions. They asked Draco what he had been up to, and in response asked them as nicely as he could about their lives. But of course he couldn't resist making a few unnecessary comments back earning him a few bruises on his arm. After a mere half hour, they all decided it was time to leave. They could only take so much.

Ron, Ginny, and Harry watched as Hermione and Draco left.

"Well. I better practice or something," said Ron.

"Wait. I've got an idea," said Harry.

"Yeah?" asked Ginny very interested.

"I know we all tried, but it's Malfoy. I don't trust him and I'm sure none of you do either. I know we're not the best potion makers, but I think we should interrogate him as soon as the potion is ready and do an intervention to save Hermione. We all know she doesn't have the best luck with men," said Harry.

"That's a brilliant idea. How long until it's ready?" asked Ginny.

"Do we even know how to do it?" asked Ron.

"I think I know someone who knows," said Ginny.

"Right. We'll follow you then," said Harry.

They followed Ginny and after grilling it out of someone they finally got it. They had to make it themselves because it was a highly controlled potion and none of them had access to it at the ministry just yet.

Draco stepped into the room.

"Draco, you interrupted the story," said Hermione, "Sit down and be quiet so he can finish."

"What story?" asked Draco, "And hi, Ron."

"The one where Hermione told us about you," said Ron.

"You know, that's not necessary. Hermione, did you want to go to lunch with me?" asked Draco.

"I might have, but I don't anymore that you're trying to distract me," she said.

"Fine. Finish it I guess, just be nice," said Draco.

"I'm just telling it like it is," said Ron.

After about a month, they thought they had finally finished it. And they were in luck, there was a Weasley party being held and Hermione and Draco were coming.

As soon as Hermione and Draco came in, Ginny steered Hermione to the kitchen to help Mrs. Weasley and herself with a few extra things leaving Draco by himself. With the help of Fred and George (Fred's alive! lol) they hexed him and dragged him into a faraway room so no one would hear them.

"Drink this," Harry.

"What? Yes, drink something from my attackers. Of course," said Draco sarcastically. And then he shut his mouth firmly.

"Don't make us force you mate," said Fred and George simultaneously.

Draco had a disgusted look on his face and after warring with himself gave up and drank it.

"It's awful. What is it?" asked Draco.

"Veritaserum," said Ginny as she entered the room.

"Ginny! You have to distract Hermione!" said Ron.

"What and miss this? Are you kidding me? She's fine and very distracted," said Ginny.

"Fine, just let me do the talking," said Harry, "Is your name Draco Lucius Malfoy?"

"Obviously," said Draco irritatedly.

"Right… then find just tell us what you want with Hermione. What's your plan? None of us trust you," said Harry.

"My plan? What plan?" asked Draco.

"Harry, why isn't it working?" asked Ron.

"Tell us what you want with Hermione!" said Harry raising his force hoping that force would make the veritsarum work better.

Fortunately it did.

"I want to date her! I like her!" answered Draco, the words just coming out of his mouth.

"No that can't be right. Did you guys make it right?" asked George.

"Why can't it be right?" asked Draco, "I'm not the same person I was in Hogwarts. I like Hermione, ok? Why is that so hard to believe?"

They looked at him and started laughing.

"Try another question," said Fred.

"Ugh, right…" started Harry.

"Tell us your most embarrassing moment!" yelled Ginny interrupting him.

"Being transfigured into a ferret," said Draco.

"Oh that's no fun. We knew that one," said Ron, "Tell us something no one knows."

"I've fancied Hermione since fourth year when I saw her at the Yule Ball," said Draco, "Ugh this stupid potion. Don't tell her I said that! I'll lose my edge."

"Wow. Maybe it does work," said Ginny.

"And maybe we were all wrong," said Harry.

"No, we can't be. I won't believe it," said Ron.

"Ok, beat this one. What's the thing you regret most?" asked George.

"Good one, George," said Fred.

"Not stopping Bellatrix from hurting Hermione," said Draco.

"Why does everything have to do with Hermione?" asked Ron.

"I'm in love with her, you idiot. She's my life now," said Draco.

Then Draco winced, "Please don't tell her I said that either. I want to tell her before any of you lot."

Ginny gasped and then smiled, "Aww! He loves her!"

"So you really do have true feelings for her," said Harry.

"Yes. Now let me go," said Draco.

"Ok," said Harry.

He went over to Malfoy and untied him.

"Why is your skin purple? Did Hermione bruise you?" he asked and laughed.

"There's nothing wrong with my… "he started but stopped. It was true. His hand had turned purple. He took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeve. Everyone watched as the rest of his arms slowly turned purple as well

"Bloody hell, do you think that was our fault?" asked Ron.

"See you mates," said Fred and George as they quickly left the room.

"What did you do? Did you make this yourself?" asked Draco.

No one answered. Then Hermione burst into the room as she saw Fred and George leave it.

"What are you… Draco, what's wrong with your face? It's purple," she said as she came closer.

She examined him and found his entire body to be purple now… with boils now starting to form.

"Did you drink a potion or something gone wrong?" asked Hermione.

Draco glared at Harry, Ron and Ginny.

"Is there something I should know?" asked Hermione.

"Ugh… Mione, now don't get mad, but we did this to help you," said Ginny.

"Did what?" asked Hermione now throwing a murderous glare their way.

"We sort of made an illegal potion, veritaserum and used it on Malfoy to tell if he was lying about you or going to hurt you," said Harry.

"Harry James Potter, Ronald Bilius Weasley and Ginevra Molly Weasley what were you thinking? You're all terrible at potions! I'll deal with you later! Now I have to get him to St. Mungos," said Hermione.

"So anyways, that was that," said Ron, "And yes you hexed us all into an oblivion. Not terribly anyway. Just enough to get us back."

"Good. You deserved it," said Hermione smiling.

"That really was awful," said Draco, "You got me to spill way too much and hurt me in the process."

"Oh you are still full of it. It took one potion to fix it and you were free to go. You just hated it because you had to walk in public purple with boils all over. Actually it was kind of gross," said Ron.

"You have no idea," said Draco.

"I wish I could remember that," said Hermione giggling at the thought.

"Ouch, thanks," said Draco.

Hermione laughed and then reached over to hold his hand.

"Well anyways, I should get back to my wife and child. Let me know if you need anything," said Ron getting up.

"I will. Thanks for coming," said Hermione as they hugged.

"So, did you want to come to lunch or not really?" asked Draco.

"I'd love to," she said with a smile.

Sorry I forgot to post this yesterday! But it's super long, so hopefully that makes up for it haha.