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Chapter 14

The Meeting

January 21, 1999

Hermione had received and owl from Draco at breakfast that morning.

Hermione,

I can't wait to see you this afternoon. Roddy is in town. He needs our help on this case. We will spend the afternoon together and then I was thinking we should get take away and go back to your parents and talk things over with him. He has somethings he wants to talk to you about. Is that okay? I wanted to be able to spend the day with just you, but that doesn't look like it is going to be possible. I'll meet you at the gate to Hogwarts a few minutes after two. See you soon.

Draco

Hermione got a warm feeling when she read the note. She really enjoyed spending time with him. Ginny was questioning her as to where she kept going and who she was always dressing up to see, but Hermione wouldn't say. She was sure how everyone was going to react to her being friends with their former enemy. She needed to tell someone soon though, she really was going crazy. It looked like Draco told Roddy or Roddy figured it out. Not fair. She needed to tell someone. Probably Harry. He would probably be the easiest to convince that Draco was a good and decent person. She was also very curious about what Roddy wanted to talk to her about. She was also curious about Draco's American friend. Draco told her how they met and how he originally wanted to be friends with Roddy just to piss his father off, but now he couldn't imagine a better friend. Class went by quickly. She had a free period before lunch then back to back charms till 2. During her free period she finished up an essay due for potions the following Friday. She needed to get it done so she could not worry about that this weekend. She really enjoyed having Neville help with head duties. That was allowing her more time to study and she didn't feel near as stressed as she did before the holiday.

Immediately after charms she rushed back up to her room and changed into dark jeans and an emerald color sweater. She grabbed her black pea coat and clipped the front pieces of her hair up. She didn't want them in her face all afternoon. She grabbed her beaded handbag and made her way to the gate. Draco was waiting on the other side. She wanted to run to him but decided against that idea. She didn't want to look desperate. She did quicken her steps though.

Draco held his breath when he saw her coming his way. She was beautiful. He couldn't help but imagine the things he wanted to do to her. First, he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to snog her till her lips were cracked and bleeding and she couldn't breathe anymore. That's where his fantasy had to come to an end because she opened the gate and smiled at him. He smiled back and wrapped his arms around her. He took a deep breath. Roses. Oh, that smell. His lower body tightened but he was able to control himself.

He pulled away and asked if she was ready to go. They apparated to Diagon Alley. He slowly managed to snake his arm around her waist as they walked down the streets.

She was surprised by his act of contact but was very much pleased by it. They talked about school and work and classes. Draco said they couldn't talk about Roddy or anything dealing with that whole situation till much later. Hermione agreed. He took her to Flourish and Botts and they grabbed an ice cream. They wandered around the alley. He took her to the antique shop where he bought his mother's hutch. Hank and Laura greeted him warmly when he walked in. Hermione found lots of amazing things in the shop. She wanted a house of her own that she could decorate anyways she wanted too. June. June. June. I will have it in June. She kept telling herself. They walked and talked and laughed until the sun began to set. "I guess we better grab that take away and go get Roddy." Hermione said.

"He said he'd meet us at the quidditch shop. I guess we should head there. It really is killing you to not know what he wants to talk to you about, isn't it?" Draco asked.

"Yes, it really is. I'm far too curious for my own good."

Draco laughed. "You are rather curious. So, have your friends changed since we were in school?" Draco asked trying to be sly about it but it wasn't working.

"What do you mean changed? Of course, we've all changed. We've all had to grow up and way too fast. The things we've seen and done are more than most witches and wizards can even imagine. The stories won't even begin to cover it all." Hermione answered.

Draco just stood there silently running his fingers up and down the newest Firebolt.

Hermione continued, "Harry had really grown up and matured. He needs to forgive a lot of people, and a lot of those people are dead. He has been hurt so many times. Ron and I are all he has left. He still holds some of his grudges but he is going to be much more accepting or at least try to be more accepting of anyone and anything. Ron on the other hand. He is too stubborn for his own good. He needs to grow up. I think that Ashira is helping him do that, she doesn't take well to his crap and she doesn't stand for any kind of prejudices, at all."

"That's what I was afraid of." Draco mumbled under his breath.

"Why is that what you're afraid of?" Hermione asked.

"Well, you see, Roddy wants Harry and Ron to help with the whole case. He thinks that the three of you are the best shot of catching this guy. I'm not happy about it. I don't want to have to deal with them, yet. I know that if we continue our friendship, like I hope we do, that I will have to deal with them, but I'm not ready to do that yet. I've still got to forgive too, Hermione. I know I hurt you and I hurt them too back in school but it wasn't just one sided. I am doing this for Roddy. Hermione. I know this sounds crazy and weird but I really don't want to have to share you with them even more than I do now. I know they are always going to be a part of your life and I would never ask you to choose our friendship over theirs but right now you are the only friend I've got, besides Roddy. I know that having to be around Harry and more problematic, Ron, is going to cause tension between us and I don't want that." Draco was blushing and fumbling with his coat hem and looking very bashful.

Hermione couldn't help but think how adorable he looked. She touched his chin and he looked up at her, she smiled and he just looked sad.

"Draco, I very much want our friendship to continue. I enjoy our time together. Sometimes it's what gets me through the week or the day. Your owls make me smile and I like that. I love Ron and Harry and I always will. I know they can be very overbearing and overprotective but you do have to realize everything we've been through. I really do think they will start to loosen up. Ron is just going to have to get over his hard headed ways. He will come around it will just take him much longer than Harry. Ron and Ginny in a lot of ways are cut from the same cloth. It will take both of them a long time. I was actually going to owl Harry about our friendship tonight. I am probably going to tell Neville too. He is more understanding and forgiving than any of us. It wouldn't surprise me if Luna already knew because, she is well Luna, and picks up on the craziest things. George kind of already knows. He is dealing with his own battles. He is doing well, but he misses Fred more than any of us can even imagine. I think he works so much to keep his mind off Fred. You didn't kill Fred, therefore he isn't mad at you. He might joke with you but he isn't a Weasley you'll have to worry about, but he always will take my side no matter what happens. Seamus just wants to blow things up and snog the 6th year girls. My friends are going to be apart of my life. I thank you for accepting that. I will try my hardest to not allow Ron to get in between us. Draco, I know it will be hard for you but you're going to have to be the bigger person when it comes to Ron. He is going to try and push every button you've got. He's going to bring up every past sin and mistake. Ignore him. Don't throw things back in his face. I know it will be hard, but please try."

Draco smiled and said he would try and thanked her for understanding. She then reached up and wrapped her arms around him and he reciprocated the action.

Roddy watched this whole thing go down from behind a shelf of quidditch balls. He was proud of his friend. Draco let Hermione in a little bit. She might not know it, but he did. That took a lot of strength for him to do. Good for Draco. Now he got to interrupt this oh so precious moment.

"Y'all really should get a room if you're going to do that kinda stuff in public." Roddy said.

Hermione blushed and Draco whipped around and a low growl escaped his lips. "Roddy, you are a real git. You know that?"

Roddy laughed and stretched out his hand to Hermione.

"Roddy Allen. Nice to meet you, Ms. Granger. I've heard lots about you."

Hermione looked up at Draco. "Hey, I didn't like you in school, of course I had to tell him about the bushy haired little-miss-know-it-all and the rest of the Gryffindor do-gooders." Draco replied.

Hermione glared at him, huffed, and crossed her arms. Roddy laughed and replied, "This doesn't mean I believed everything he said. He is full of himself most of the time, I'm sure he is just as at fault as you are."

"Did he tell you about that time in third year where I hit him? Oh, I hope he didn't forget that little piece of information."

"You hit him? He didn't tell me this story! I think you'll have to share this over supper. What do you say, Ms. Granger?"

Draco's face flushed a deep scarlet and he grumbled, "Can't we save that for a later date?"

This made Roddy and Hermione giggle.

"So y'all what's for supper?" came Roddy's thick Southern American accent after he and Hermione finally stopped giggling.

"Take away Chinese work?" Draco asked. They both nodded and head out of the quidditch shop. Draco put his arm around Hermione's waist again. He didn't know what was possessing him to do this, but he wanted to be in some sort of contact with her as much as possible.

They walked to grab the food then Roddy took Hermione's arm and she apparated them to the alley behind her house. Draco, having been there could apparate alone. Hermione changed the wards on her house again to allow Roddy in. She wasn't sure if she should make it a one time thing, but figured since Draco trusted him she should too. Once Roddy was allowed to enter the house she ushered him and secured her wards. They walked into the kitchen and sat at the small breakfast table and ate their Chinese. Hermione told the story of hitting Draco in 3rd year and Roddy told some stories as well. They laughed and had a good time. Then it was time for the real reason Roddy was in town.

"Hermione, I wanted to ask you if you could get your friends involved in this case. My boss has given me the lists of names of people who have been in America and Canada since the murders began. Maybe we can all sit down and go through them together. We need all the help we can get on this. I know it's a lot to ask of y'all but I wouldn't be here if Johnny Ray and I thought we could figure this out on our own. The last person killed was a 44 year old man who was sick with cancer. I know it's rare in wizards but it does happen. He just went to go get his potions and stuff to help ease his pain and winded up dead not a quarter mile from his house."

"Of course I'll ask Harry and Ron. They are going to be hard to deal with and work with as well. They have a lot of pent up anger against Draco. Harry is really trying to forgive, but Ron is a whole different story. They should be at The Burrow now. I'll head over there now and talk to them. I'll have to tell them everything," she glanced at Draco to see his reaction. He just looked at his shoes then up at her eyes and held her gaze. She continued to speak, "I'll then bring them back here and you can talk to them and we can see how we can all be of help to you and your government. Is that okay with you two?"

"It sure is Hermione. Thank you so much for doing this for me, well for the entire country. Do you mind if we stay here while you're gone. We can catch up here just as easily as anywhere else."

"Sure. Draco, upstairs in my room there is a box under my bed. It has firewhiskey in it. Have some. You're going to need it. Please remember what I said earlier. I'll try to talk them down before we get back here."

Draco smiled at her. "I'm going to need more than just firewhiskey to get through this night. I'll be nice, only because you asked me too." Draco whined.

With that Hermione disapperated out of the room

The Burrow

Hermione apperated to the meadow by The Burrow and landed with a pop. She hurried to the house. When she arrived she was greeted by Mrs. Weasley.

"Hermione dear, what are you doing here. Is everything okay? Aren't you suppose to be at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, ma'am. Everything is fine. I need to talk to the boys. I have permission to leave from McGonagall. Are the boys here?"

Mrs. Weasely embraced Hermione. "It's good to see you dear, yes the boys are here. They are upstairs. They'll be glad to see you."

Hermione rushed upstairs. The boys were in Ron's room. Hermione knocked on the door and entered before they could answer.

"Hermione! What are you doing here? Are you okay?" Ron gasped.

"Well, hello to you two too. I know I'm not really suppose to be here, but I need to talk to you."

"Well come on in, Hermione. We'll listen." Harry answered.

"You're not going to be happy, I don't think. I wanted to tell you but I wasn't quite ready but now we need your help."

Harry and Ron groaned loudly. "Hermione!" They both shouted in unison.

"Fine, boys. Fine. Okay, so back in November I went with Luke to Hogsmeade..." she began to tell the story from the beginning about the first time she had seen Draco since the war. She told them about overhearing Roddy talk about the sectumsempra and everything. She continued her stories from there. The boys listened and she could see Ron getting more and more red. He looked liked steam was coming out of his ears. He was so angry. Hermione just continued on. She told them about meeting up with him after Christmas and going to lunch then about going out with him after classes were finished and about Roddy flooing her and asking for her help. She told them everything. She did emphasize that for right now Draco was just a friend and that was it. Ron was too angry to speak and Harry just sat there taking it all in.

Harry finally spoke.

"Ron and I will be more than happy to help you out. I can't imagine that spell being used and I want to stop whomever is using the spell. It's terrible curse that I wish I had never used before. I do need to apologize to Draco for that, even though he was a giant git. I am not thrilled with you being friends with Draco, but you've got the best judge of character of anyone I've ever met. If he is okay in your book, then I'll try to make him okay in mine. It's going to be hard and it will take time but I will try. We will try, won't we, Ron?"

Ron didn't say anything. His face was still cherry red and he wasn't breathing normally. Hermione was rather frightened. She knew he'd get mad, but she didn't think he'd get this mad.

Eventually Ron said, "Draco fuckin' Malfoy?"

Harry and Hermione just stared at him. Hermione wanted to punch him or hex him or even cry. She didn't know how she felt.

"We need to get going, are both of you coming with me?" she asked still very frustrated from Ron's outburst.

"I'm coming," answered Harry. "Ron, are you?"

Ron didn't say a word but stood up beside them.

"Please be nice, Ron. This isn't easy for him, either," was all Hermione said. She was more nervous about this meeting than she thought.

They all apperated into Hermione's parents house.

Hermione's parents house

There was a loud pop which caused Draco and Roddy to jump up from their seats and rush into the kitchen. Standing there was Hermione, Harry, and a very pissed off looking Ron.

Hermione looked at Harry and Ron and back to Draco and Roddy. She decided to introduced the boys.

"Harry, Ron this is Roddy Allen. He's been Draco's friend since they were little. Roddy, this is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."

Roddy stuck out his hand and shook Harry and eventually Ron's. Harry greeted him with a "nice to meet you." Roddy replied with "the pleasure is all mine." Ron didn't say a word. He just looked at his shoes. His face was fluctuating colors from red to purple to white to pink and back again. Poor Ron. He was trying so hard. Hermione would have to think of some extra nice for him for trying so hard, so long as he continued to try.

"So what exactly is going on here?" Harry asked Roddy.

Draco led the way into the dining room and Roddy began to talk. He explained everything to Ron and Harry. He showed them everything Draco and Hermione had come up with and showed the other two boys the list that Johnny Ray had given him the previous day.

Roddy showed everyone all the names they had crossed out because they weren't from Hogwarts or even the United Kingdom area. They hadn't even gotten through a fifth of the list.

They sat down and talked about what they were going to do and the best way to go about it.

They decided that they would divide the list between the four of them and they would black out all the names that weren't people from Hogwarts or the UK area unless they were known death eaters. They would meet again on Monday evening at Hermione's parents to make a new list and go from there.

Harry and Ron were heading back to The Burrow. Hermione said she would join meet them there shortly. The boys disapperated with a pop.

"You did a wonderful job, Draco! Thank you." Hermione whispered into his ear. His whole body got chills when she was that close to him. He wanted nothing more than to take her upstairs and shag her till she couldn't think or walk but he decided against that. He just smiled and said something along the lines of he didn't say anything so it made it much easier.

"Tomorrow is our trip to Hogsmeade, but I might have to spend it with Harry and Ron. I'll owl you in the morning, is that okay?" Hermione asked sheepishly.

"That's fine, love. Potter wasn't near as insufferable as I thought he'd be. If we can keep Weasel's mouth shut this shouldn't be bad at all." Draco drawled.

"Draco... I've got to get to The Burrow. I'll owl you in the morning. Bye Roddy. Bye Draco"

Draco wrapped her in a hug before she disapperated back to her friends.

She left behind the lingering smell of roses.

The Burrow

When Hermione got back to The Burrow the boys were in the kitchen waiting for her. Ron's face had become its normal color.

Harry spoke first, "I'm glad you asked us to help you with this, Hermione. I just wish you had told me about Malfoy before now."

"I know. I was going to owl you tonight and tell you before I even knew that Roddy was here and needed your help."

"What makes you think he's a good person? He's a bloody death eater, Hermione?" came Ron's strained voice. He was trying to keep his composure.

"Ron. Are you perfect? Have you ever made a mistake, one that you wish you had never done? I know I have. I know Harry has. I know you have. STOP BEING SO DAMN JUDGMENTAL!" Hermione was shouting at him by this point. Harry casted a muffliato so they wouldn't wake Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Hermione took a breath and calmed her voice, "He joined to keep his family safe. He hasn't talked to me about it, but I do know that he is more than remorseful for his actions during the war, but I'll tell you like I told Luke. You were there to see the pain in his eyes when his aunt tortured me, you were there when he lied about knowing who Harry was, you were there in the Room of Requirement when he didn't kill us like his friends wanted him too. He isn't evil, Ron. I really believe that he isn't bad. I think he was misguided, misdirected, and has made some very piss poor decisions but I don't think he is bad. He deserves to be given another chance. I've given him another chance and he has proven worthy of that chance. Ron, Harry, please give him another chance. If I've forgiven him of all the hell he caused me and the pain he put me through you two need to do the same. I've told him the same thing about you. Please, guys. Please."

Hermione was out of breath when she finished. She wanted, no needed them to forgive Draco. She had no idea where her relationship with him was going to go but she felt like he was going to be a part of her life for a long time and she needed the boys to be okay with that.

Again, Harry was the first one to speak, "Hermione, I already told you I'm willing to look past our past indiscretions and try to atleast semi get along with him. Again, I don't like him but I'll try, for you. I wouldn't do it for anyone else, but I will for you."

Ron sat there. He looked more than angry. He looked betrayed.

Hermione's word came out as a whisper, "Ron, Ron. I'm sorry. I am by no means trying to hurt you. I love you dearly, Ron. I just need other friends, and Draco, well. I like Draco. He's been alot of fun to hang around with. He's been nothing but kind and understanding. Ron, you and Harry are my best friends. That won't ever change. I'm not betraying you or anything we believe in. I really do believe that Draco is good and kind. He isn't always good or kind, but neither are you. Ron, please, Ron." She had tears streaming down her face by this point. She knew Ron was going to be a challenge, but she didn't think he'd feel betrayed by her. She was heart broken.

Ron didn't say anything but he did stand up and walk over to her and wrap his arms around her as she cried. She sobbed into his shoulder and he just whispered "It's okay, 'Mione. It's okay. I love you, Hermione. It's alright. I'll try. I promise I'll try. Please, 'Mione, don't cry." Slowly she slowed the tears and hugged him tighter. She pulled one arm away from Ron and motioned for Harry to join them. He did and she remembered all the reasons she loved those boys.

After they broke apart Hermione asked if they wanted to join her in Hogsmeade the next day. Ron declined saying that he and Ashira had a day planned. Hermione asked Ron to not say anything about the spell to anyone yet. The boys understood. Harry said he would be in Hogsmeade with Ginny but would meet up with her, maybe for lunch or dinner. He whispered in her ear, tell Draco you'll see him in Hogsmeade. He had that 'all-knowing' grin on his face. She smiled and said she would.

She was beyond exhausted when she got back to her room but she quickly owled Draco and said she'd see him in Hogsmeade the next day before passing out.