So I'm updating fast because I still feel bad about the last update's tardiness:)
Thank you everyone! Lovely reviews, as always!
Draco spent the rest of the day with the twins. Occasionally the three of them would descend to steal food from the kitchen. Fred and George looked mildly uncomfortable, but not as much as Ron and Harry. Mr. Weasley was doing his best to avoid everyone and was holed up in the garage. The only person who continued her life as usual was Mrs. Weasley. She bustled around making sure Draco and I were doing all right, cleaning, cooking, and trying to keep Ron from eating the entire meal she had planned.
Our trio decided to plan the Hogwarts robbery. Hopefully we could get in, find and destroy the horcrux, and get out. I had serious doubts as to whether that would work, but it was better than staging a full scale battle. It would be just the three of us, as we needed stealth, not brute force.
"Everyone come down here now! It is time for dinner!" Mrs. Weasley shouted up the stairs.
Ron and Harry burst through the door and I followed them at a more reasonable pace. They almost fell down the stairs in their haste to access food. Fred and George walked with Draco, who was able to walk on his own. According to Mrs. Weasley he should be back to full strength by now. She said the curse had been powerful but wouldn't have lasting effects.
"Don't fall down the stairs," I called to him as I exited Ron's room.
He turned to roll his eyes at me before making his way down the stairs to the dining room. Fred whistled and George chuckled. Harry and Ron missed the whole exchange trying not to kill themselves.
"Arthur! You are eating dinner with the family! Get in this house right now!" I heard Mrs. Weasley yell out the door as I came downstairs.
"Hermione dear, why don't you sit next to Harry, and Mr. Malfoy sit next to Hermione. Ron sit next to Harry and put the chicken down!"
There was chaos for several minutes as everyone found their seats. George sat next to Draco and Fred next to him. Mr. Weasley sat beside Fred while Mrs. Weasley sat between Ron and Mr. Weasley.
"Now you may eat," Mrs. Weasley announced.
"Thank god!" Ron sighed, piling food onto his plate.
Everyone dug in. Everyone except Draco. He only sat there, waiting for everyone to get their food, which was probably his pureblood manners. I realized he had never experienced a Weasley dinner which was just a free for all. Survival of the fittest you could say. So he stared at his plate, completely lost amongst the organized chaos of a Weasley meal.
Ron went for his fourth piece of chicken, and I knocked his hand out of the way, snagging a piece for Draco. Fred passed him the mashed potatoes and corn. He looked up at us with wide eyes.
"You have to fight to survive here," Fred explained.
Harry, Ron, and Mr. Weasley all looked at him shocked.
"We aren't letting him starve, he just got better," Fred said indignantly.
"And what would Hermione do without her lesser half?" George added.
"George!" I admonished.
"Oh no! He isn't your better half is he?" He asked.
Ron made gagging sounds. After a second he choked on his mouthful of food and Harry hammered him hard in the back.
"Am I missing something?" Mr. Weasley asked.
I shook my head.
After that incident silence reigned for a while.
"Mum! Guess what we finally did?" Fred gasped, shattering the awkward silence.
Without waiting for an answer, he ploughed forward.
"Ferret boy helped us find an antidote for our hair dyeing truffles. We made him ginger for two hours before he made up a counterspell."
"He didn't want to help at first so we took away his lovely blonde locks," George grinned.
Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. I noticed dark circles under them, but didn't really give it any thought. There was another long silence.
"I'm done," Harry pushed his chair out and stood.
"Me too," Ron also stood.
"Us three and four," The twins announced.
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley, it was delicious," Draco said and followed the twins out.
That left me and the two adults.
"Goodnight, and thank you," I smiled at them before leaving.
"I told you he's different!" I heard Mrs. Weasley say.
It was two in the morning when a sharp scream disturbed my sleep. I threw off my covers and ran from Ginny's room.
"I won't do it!"
I ran into the twins, literally.
"Don't hurt her! Please!"
I burst through Draco's door. Ron and Harry looked up at me and then back at the blonde boy who was writhing in the bed. Mrs. Weasley arrived only seconds after me, followed closely by Mr. Weasley.
"It's just a nightmare mum. Go back to bed," George ordered.
Mr. Weasley ushered her out of the room.
"She doesn't sleep well as it is, with Ginny being at Hogwarts and all," Ron explained.
"Don't be dead! Please, just don't be dead!" Draco whimpered.
"What do we do with the ferret?" Harry asked, and gave Draco a look.
"Move!" I snapped and pushed past the boys.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron said.
I ignored him.
"Wake up! Just wake up!" Draco screamed.
I knelt on the bed and leaned over him.
"Draco, shh! I'm right here. I'm alive."
Gently, I pushed his hair away from his eyes. He whimpered. I put my forehead against his and ran my fingers through his hair.
"Wake up! You're okay, I'm okay," I whispered. "Draco!"
Suddenly my eyes locked with his gray ones.
"Hermione!" he breathed.
I was tempted to kiss away everyone of the tears dripping down his beautiful face, then I remembered that we had an audience.
His arms encircled my waist and pulled me against him. I rested my head on his well muscled chest and returned the embrace. His breaths were shaky and he held me even closer.
"I can feel your heartbeat," he whispered, and his lips tickled my ear. "Will you stay?"
I sat up a little.
"I don't think they'll-"
"Please Hermione?"
I remembered the dark circles under his eyes earlier. That's when I finally put the pieces together.
"Did you sleep at all last night?" I asked, concerned.
"I didn't want my nightmares to keep anyone awake," he said as an answer.
"Yes, I'll stay," I looked down at him.
Tears of gratitude welled in his eyes.
"No! Absolutely not!" Harry snapped.
"This isn't up to you Harry, and don't even start Ron!" I stood up and placed my hands on my hips.
"Hermione!" They tried to protest.
"Listen, I slept in bed with him before and he didn't try anything. I trust him completely, and if any of you want sleep I highly suggest you don't start this with me!" I snarled.
"Hermione-,"
"Ron," George interrupted. "Let it go. I want to go to bed and so do they."
"Fine," Ron huffed. "We'll be listening."
"I'll put a silencing charm up," Fred volunteered.
"That won't be needed," Draco laughed quietly.
"'Night guys," I smiled.
They reluctantly left. I heard Fred murmur a silencing charm before a fist connected with skin and he yelped.
"I think our nocturnal activities will have to be put on hold," Draco said as I climbed under the covers.
I turned to look at him.
"You aren't serious are you?"
"No! Sirius was my cousin!" He stated, as if that should be obvious.
I bit back a laugh, "No, really?"
"No I wasn't serious. Lighten up Hermione."
"Okay. Just checking," I sighed and turned so I could see the ceiling.
His hand reached for mine and I gave it a reassuring squeeze. We just layed there for several minutes staring at the same patch of ceiling. I shifted to get my neck in a more comfortable position. Despite being a queen sized bed, there were only the two pillows Draco had.
He turned to me.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, I just don't have a pillow is all," I replied.
"Come here."
He pulled me even closer and rested my head on his chest. I placed my right arm over him and nestled my head against him. My right leg was brushing his left leg as I started to fall asleep.
Just as sleep consumed me I swore I hear Draco say three words, I never thought he would say.
"I love you."
But I couldn't be sure.
Well I hope you liked it. I'm thinking the kiss will be next chapter!
I need some input though. I am considering continuing this story after the battle of Hogwarts, partly because I love writing for you guys and also so Draco can experience a family and some other stuff. I would incorporate some other problems, like Draco was a death eater and has a trial or something like that. If I did would you want it as a sequel story or just continue it here?
I was thinking of making it a sequel.
Or is doing that just making everything too long?
Let me know and please, please, please review!