Hi everyone, sorry I haven't updated in a while. To make up for it I'm going to upload two chapters today.
Chapter 7
Hermione POV
She had tried to refuse his gifts. An unlucky fall down the stairs was no reason for someone to buy her expensive gifts. But the gifts had been so beautiful. Hermione had reasoned that the ink holder was most likely goblin made, and the quill was plucked from one of the most rare birds in existence.
She gasped as she pulled the last strand of tissue paper away from the objects. She recognized the two objects at once. The golden ink holder glittered in the sun that streamed through the window and the quill reminded of her of a fierce fire. The red, orange, and yellow colors molded together in a swirl of luminescence.
Hermione looked up at Draco with a look of wonder on her face.
"Draco...I don't know what to say..." He smirked at her, but it was an expression of modesty, not arrogance. She found it almost...attractive.
"Really, it was no problem. My family is friends with the owners of Borgin and Burkes and they owe us a favor. Truthfully, I'm glad I finally have a good reason to go in their besides looking at some Hand of Glory or a broken Vanishing Cabinet." Draco responded in a very un-egotistical way. It was almost as if he had done this not to show his influence over some people, but truthfully out of the goodness of his heart.
"But really, Draco," Hermione continued, "I can't accept this. You obviously went into a lot of trouble acquiring this and I'm very grateful, but I'm in the hospital wing for two days tops. I don't need a gift to represent your apology. I completely forgive you." Draco looked a little sad, but immediately responded.
"Then accept it as a token of friendship. I know that I have made your life a living hell for the past five years, but I am truly sorry. I am aware that you have realized that my mother has passed away. I don't know why, but her death has opened up my eyes. I no longer feel any satisfaction from being a complete git to you anymore. The opposite in fact. Whenever I think of what I have done to you, what I have called you, and what I have put you through, I feel like going back in time and punching myself in the face. Please just give me a chance to be your friend. Please."
Hermione sighed and look straight into his eyes.
"It's true that you have been terrible to Harry, Ron, and I ever since we arrived here. The things you've done to us have truly been horrendous. But I believe in second chances. Maybe your mother's death-I'm very sorry about that, by the way-has made you turn over a new leaf and see the world in a different perspective. I would love to try being your friend, but to be my friend, you have to also be friends with Harry and Ron. They have been my biggest supporters and best friends since first year and if you can't accept that, I can't be friends with you." Draco smiled and responded right away.
"Of course. I will do anything."
Hermione had drifted in and out of the flashback the entire day. She didn't know why, but she was really looking forward to being friends with the Slytherin. Maybe it was the fact that he wasn't acting like a conceited snake anymore. But she had meant what she said about Ron and Harry. They were her number one priority. They had stuck with her ever since the troll and to give up their friendship would be wrong.
"Hey Hermione!" Harry's voice drifted into her thoughts and it was a moment before she realized that he was actually there, not just in her mind. "How are you? We brought you the schoolwork from today and yesterday." Hermione was wondering what Harry meant by "we" but then noticed a sheepish looking ginger skulking behind Harry.
"I'm good, Harry! Madame Pomfrey says that my ankle is healing really well and she is only keeping me in because she wants to observe my recovery. What did you do today in Transfiguration?" Hermione concluded.
"Well we talked about Animagus and the process of becoming one." responded Harry. "It was actually pretty interesting. I know that you probably already know all about them, but I took notes in case you wanted to look over them." Harry glanced at Ron. "That kind of leads us into the next point. Ron has something to say to you." Ron stepped forward and opened his mouth.
"Hermione...I'm um...I'm sorry that I got so mad at you. I was being selfish and I should have respected your feelings more." Ron looked up at her hopefully.
"I accept your apology Ronald, but I'm still going to make you take your own notes from now on." Ron nodded and sat down in the chair by her bedside looking relieved.
"So," prompted Harry, "What's new? Any Hospital Wing gossip we need to hear about?" Hermione could tell that he was joking, but she still felt the need to fill him in on Draco's actions and request.
"Well, I know you guys aren't going to like it," Hermione started, "but Draco Malfoy has been visiting me a lot." she braced herself for the uproar.
After Harry and Ron calmed down she continued. "He is the one that injured me in the first place and he feels really badly. Also, I confirmed that his mom died and I think he is changing. He is more compassionate and willing to open up. There's one more thing...He wants to try being friends." before Harry and Ron could start yelling again she hastily kept talking. " I accepted his request but I let him know that he had to get along with you two as well." Hermione waited for their responses. Both boys looked deep in their own thoughts. Harry was the first to look up.
"I'm a little skeptical that Malfoy is suddenly nice, but if he really has changed, I don't want to be the one that shuts him out. If it means that much to you, Hermione, of course I will be civil to him and try to get to know him." Hermione smiled at Harry, relieved that at least one of her friends respected her and didn't think that she was rushing into things. She looked over at Ron expectedly.
"You want to be friends with Malfoy?" he began, "Hermione, open your eyes. He has never been nice to us before and I don't think he is going to change. Look at all the things he has done to Harry and you. Not to mention Hagrid or my father. I'm sorry, but I don't think that I can be civil to the son of Lucious Malfoy. I know his mom died and all, but someone can't change that fast." by know Ron's face was beet red and he was staring at Harry and Hermione pleadingly. Hermione looked over at Harry and was relieved to see that he was looking at Ron as if he was crazy. "Come on you guys," Ron continued, "don't give him a chance." Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but it was Harry who responded first, not her.
"Ron, I understand your hatred of Malfoy, but what if he really has changed? Ignoring him and not accepting him might just irritate him again. I think that it's worth a shot." Hermione nodded and added on to what Harry was saying.
"Ron, I know this is hard for you to accept because it is happening so quickly. I understand your uneasiness and I will be willing to compromise with you. Harry and I will try to accept Draco as a friend. You don't have to play any part in that and when the three of us are together we won't even speak about him. If at some point you want to join us, we will accept you with open arms and respect your change of heart." Hermione looked over at Harry, "Is that okay with you?"
Harry nodded. " I think that that is a Great Compromise." he smiled at Ron. "Have you heard about the first ever Hogwarts Quidditch All-Star Game? Harry asked. "Supposivley the houses are going to vote on their best players and the winning people will be on teams. It's going to be Gryffindor and Slytherin's best players versus Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff's. Ron frowned.
"We have to work with the Slytherins? Does Dumbledore seriously think that that is going to end well?" Harry laughed.
"Maybe he thinks that it will somehow have the same results as the Triwizard Tournament and that the spirit of competition will bring out the best in people." The two boys got up to leave and Hermione could hear Ron faintly whisper as they walked out of the Hospital Wing,
"Hopefully someone doesn't have to die this time."