Yeah I forgot my brother's birthday was on Thursday so that is why I didn't update, the big one-O. Happy late birthday to Draco, whose birthday was also Thursday. This is actually really funny because my brother hates Draco with a burning passion and yet they share a birthday.
Anyway, I got tons of lovely reviews so thank you for those as well as the follows and favorites! Readers, thank you!
I was a little concerned about this chapter because Draco is pretty open, but I feel like he is comfortable enough around Hermione to let his guard down. Also Fred and George are pretty accepting of him, but they never really knew him personally. Besides they hide everything behind jokes, including distrust right?
But I hope you like it.
The whole family obviously expected an answer to George's question. I was blushing furiously which only made everyone more suspicious.
"We could do a demonstration?" Draco suggested.
Fred elbowed him hard in the side, while my jaw practically hit the floor. Mrs. Weasley looked at me and I explained.
"Blankets, mostly," I muttered.
"Mostly!" Harry yelled.
"Just let me tell the story!" I snapped and didn't give anyone time to answer. "After I made you two leave, they wanted me to tell them where you went. Uh... Bellatrix made Draco..." This was the tricky part.
"God Hermione! You promised Potter the whole story!" Draco sighed. "My psychotic, sick, twisted Aunt, made me torture your location out of her-"
"But," I added quickly. "I told them the wrong place. Draco knew I was lying and could have kept at it but didn't. Then later, after they searched Grimmauld Place, he said he could tell I wasn't lying, so they wouldn't torture me again."
Draco shrugged as all eyes turned to him, "My Aunt and I also tortured her for the following three weeks, before I finally broke her by saying you had died-"
"Only because he thought it was true!" I protested.
"You little piece of-" Ron started.
"Watch your mouth young man!" Mr. Weasley shouted.
"You tortured her!" Harry yelled.
"At least I didn't abandon her to die!" Draco answered, angrily.
"She made us go!" Ron hissed.
"Not that! How thick are you? You could have sent people to try to rescue her at least! There was never any attempt to get her out! I know!" Draco shot to his feet, suddenly overcome with a rush of adrenaline.
"I don't think that was the whole story!" Mrs. Weasley said, in a useless attempt to calm the raging storm.
"What would we have done Malfoy? It was too dangerous!" Harry snarled.
In a split second Draco had his hands on the front of Harry's shirt and shoved him into a wall. Everyone was too shocked to move.
"You want to hear about something dangerous Potter?! What's dangerous is a Malfoy sheltering Hermione Granger in his house for a week! What's dangerous is deserting the Death Eaters for her! What's dangerous is suddenly realizing you care more about the girl you hated than you have ever cared for anyone before! What's dangerous is caring so much about her that your sense of self preservation is completely destroyed and everything you do is to protect her!" Draco screamed at him.
Harry looked ashamed. The adrenaline pumping through Draco seemed to be wearing off and he stumbled back a few steps. Surprisingly it was Fred who helped him sit back down.
"He saved my life guys. Could you at least try to behave civilly towards him?" I begged.
Ron and Harry glanced at each other.
"Can we get the rest of the story first?" Harry asked.
"Well, after he told me you two had died I woke up in his bed. I was bandaged up and changed," I continued and explained the potion that stopped bruises from healing, how Draco had eventually found a potion to heal the wound on my face. He, of course, had to add that he was responsible for cutting me in the first place. Bit by bit I told the rest of the story, Draco occasionally adding things about how terrible he had been to me in. He seemed intent on viewing himself in the worst possible way.
By the time we had finished, something had finally clicked in their minds. Maybe the glaringly obvious guilt Draco felt about what he had done. Maybe how he had saved my life and they didn't. Something Draco had screamed at Harry must have hit home.
I honestly didn't blame them for not attempting a rescue mission though. It was dangerous, plain and simple. But I was surprised that Draco had ended up being the one with the courage to rescue me. He knew what it was going to end with. Either he put me back in the cellar at the end of the week or we escaped together. His plan was probably to go through with the first option, but he'd developed feelings he didn't expect to have and the rest was history.
"Well I for one think we should let him stay. Hermione seems to trust him, so I think we can too," Mrs. Weasley said, after a long silence.
"I agree, he saved her and that should be enough for us," Mr. Weasley added.
Fred and George nodded reluctantly. Then I turned to Harry and Ron.
"As long as he doesn't have a wand I suppose," Harry sighed.
"But we're gonna be watching you Malfoy! One slip up and you are out of here!" Ron snapped.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" I brushed back a tear.
The twins were the first to wrap me in a crushing hug that felt more like being sat on by a bear than being hugged..
"We missed you so much Hermione," George said.
When they stepped back Ron and Harry embraced me.
"Without you... we just... I missed my sisters, especially you," Ron stuttered out.
Harry couldn't even say anything, he was crying to hard, but that said it all.
They stepped back, reluctantly to allow the eldest Weasleys to hug me. To their credit, they were holding together quite well. There was another round of hugs for everyone except Draco, who continued to sit on the couch, looking almost... sad to be left out?
"Draco," I called, and he glanced up from staring at his hands.
It was only because I had gotten to know him so well, that I could make out tears filling his eyes. I gestured for him to come over to us. He shook his head and resumed staring at his hands. Harry was continually glancing between the two of us, while Ron looked confused, and Fred and George started whispering again.
I took a few steps away from my friends and sat next to the resident Slytherin. Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around him and he flinched, finally looking into my eyes.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Shut up," I answered.
I felt his arms wrap around me, and squeeze. When I finally let go, Ron and Harry looked ready to either vomit or pass out. Mr and Mrs Weasley weren't reacting, just staring at each other.
"Is this how he kept you warm?" Fred grinned.
"Or did that involve less clothes, and more contact?" George added.
"Who was on top?" Fred laughed.
"You two are disgusting," I snapped. "And for your information I stayed warm by... nevermind."
"Sleeping in my bed... with me," Draco finished for me and Ron looked murderous. "Her innocence is still intact Weaselbee, I saved that for you. Don't worry."
"Eww!" Ron made a face. "No offense Hermione, but I consider you my sister and I really don't want to... just eww."
"None taken," I rolled my eyes.
"Children, it is around seven in the morning. Not that we have anything to do tomorrow, well today, but I think we could all use some sleep," Mr Weasley ordered.
"I think Draco and Hermione might want to sleep together," George put in.
"Yes, they can have our room. It's soundproofed," Fred winked at us.
"Boys!" Mrs Weasley sighed. "All right, Hermione you can have Ginny's room and Draco you can sleep in Percy's room."
I realized what she was doing, even though no one else seemed to. Percy's room was next door to Ron's on the top floor. Ginny's was on the second floor. We were separated by two floors, and in Draco's condition he certainly wasn't using stairs without help.
I nodded my consent and none of the boys argued.
"Can I talk to Draco alone for a minute please?" I asked.
The adults shrugged and left. Harry and Ron crossed their arms before Fred and George dragged them away. Knowing those four, they were probably just outside the door, I spoke quietly.
"When your parents first arrived they interrupted something you were saying, about why you bullied me in school. Care to finish that?" I said.
He sighed but relented.
"At first, it was because you we're a muggle born, but after fourth year it was because mhwmwhwhwm," he answered.
"What?" I chuckled.
"BecauseImayhavehadacrushonyou," He muttered.
"Do you always bully girls you like?" I asked, rather skeptically.
"Yeah," he smiled, then yawned.
"You need to get to bed. You are hurt, and I daresay cold young man," I commanded.
He laughed quietly. God I loved that sound, and his hair, and everything about him. And what the hell was wrong with me?
"Your mom put this in my bag," I pulled out the letter from my pocket.
"Thank you for actually giving it to me and not reading it," he took it and opened the envelope.
I watched as he unfolded a single piece of parchment. He was curious at first, then his eyes widened and he dropped it.
"You okay?" I asked, more than a little concerned about the contents of the note.
"Just read it," He snapped.
I picked up the parchment. There was a mere two sentences written on it.
Son, I will always love you, no matter what. Remember that, and don't make the same mistake Severus Snape did.
Well, Hermione obviously has no idea what that means but Draco does:) I just love Narcissa so much.
As a side note, Stephen King is a scary writer, so I work on this story rather than read before I go to bed now.
Please keep reviewing like you do, I love it!
It has occurred to me that they haven't kissed yet. Sorry. Soon though. And as a heads up, it will be terribly described because I've never kissed anyone.
Have a great night everyone! Hope finals and everything went okay, or as okay as they can.