Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I could come up with something funny about this necessary statement, but at the moment I don't feel like it. So if you actually care, the only thing from this story that is mine is the plot and the fairly extreme OOC ness of the characters.
A/N: So…I know I promised revenge if you asked for it, the problem was that I had no idea what to do for that revenge. But then several reviewers made different comments that sparked what has become at least another two chapters…maybe more. LOL . I can't tell you how shocked I was (and still am) at the reaction to this story! It's been amazing! Anyway, now on to what you really wanted to read…you asked for it, and here it is: the beginning of revenge on the Weasleys!
All I Want Chapter 4
"What's going on here?"
Hermione turned her watery eyes from the harsh glares being aimed her way from the group of red headed Weasleys to look at the only friendly gaze in the store, "It's nothing George," she murmured, firmly refusing to let her angry tears to fall.
George studied his friend's face closely for a moment before turning to look at the people glaring at her, "Mum?" he questioned, a frown on his face.
Molly gave her son a tight smile, "We noticed this little harlot woman wandering around your store and were simply informing her that she wasn't allowed to be here," she told George in a pleased tone of voice.
"What?" George looked startled, "What do you mean she's not allowed to be here?" he asked, looking around at the various members of his family who all seemed to be present, with the exception of Charlie.
Ginny's eyes narrowed, "Well we assumed that you wouldn't want the bi—"
"Ginerva Weasley!" Molly scolded, interrupting Ginny's vulgar words and nodding towards where Bill was holding Victoire.
"Horrible woman," Ginny amended with a roll of her eyes, "In your store after everything she's done to this family."
George looked around at his family, distantly wondering how he had managed to be the only sane person in his family, and his eyes rested briefly on Harry's anxious and slightly apologetic look before flicking back to his little sister, "Everything she's done to this family?" he repeated with a raised eyebrow as he unconsciously moved into a more protective position in front of Hermione.
Molly looked astounded at his words, "Yes, everything she's done to this family," she snapped, her eyes glaring at the bit of Hermione she could see from behind George's shoulder, "First she has the gall to turn down my Ronnie's gracious proposal, then she proceeds to tell everyone at their workspace that they…they…slept together," Molly lowered her voice in horror at the statement before proceeding at her normal tone of voice, "then she goes on to put poor Percy in a difficult position by mocking him until he had no choice but to fire her, and then she had the audacity to kick Ginny out of her own apartment!"
Feeling Hermione stiffen behind him, George turned his head just enough to see Hermione's eyes take on a determined glint as she squared her shoulders, "How dare you!" she hissed, stepping out from behind George to glare hatefully at Molly, "First of all the apartment was mine not your slob of a daughter's!" Molly, Ginny, Ron and Percy let out a gasp of outrage while Bill and Fleur fought to hide their amusement , "therefore I had every right to kick her out, especially after she tried to kick me out! Of my own apartment!" she added incredulously, "Second your 'poor Percy' was the one insulting me by insisting that I would ever," she emphasized the word by shaking her head vigorously, "sleep with Ronald Weasley, let alone spread rumors about the nonexistent encounter!"
Hermione paused for a quick breath, far from done. Her eyes rested on the red face of her former boyfriend, "And why does everyone keep insisting that Ronald's so called proposal was so gracious?" she opened her mouth to continue when Molly let out a scoffing laugh, drawing her attention.
"Why?" she sniffed rudely in a voice that George had never heard from her before, "Look at you girl! What man in his right mind would ever want to have thing like you on his arm? My Ronnie was good enough to put up with you despite all of your obvious flaws! You could have had money, fame, and a man who would only make your image a little less dastardly. Now that you've condemned yourself to eternal spinsterhood, what man would ever want you?"
George frowned at his mother, appalled that she could ever say something like that to anyone, let alone his friend, "Mum—" he started but was cut off by Hermione raising her left hand importantly, "Apparently someone wants me!" Hermione hissed with a fake smirk on her face as she showed off the sparkling diamond and emeralds on her ring finger.
"What is that?" Ron demanded stepping forward and joining the conversation, having been previously content to simply let his mother and sister defend him.
Hermione scoffed, "I thought even you, with your inability to use your brain, would know what an engagement ring was," she mocked.
"You're engaged?" Ron sounded incredulous, "But you said you weren't ready," he growled, his eyes lifting from the expensive looking ring to look at Hermione's face with a hard glare in his eyes.
Giving a him a fake smile, Hermione nodded, "And I was never going to be ready as long as it was you proposing," she told him in a voice meant to be used on a little child.
"What?" Ron frowned, his eyes narrowing angrily.
"I would have never married you Ronnie," she used his nickname mockingly, "not even if you were the last man on earth!" she emphasized the last four words with sharp jabs to his shoulder with a pointed finger.
Ron grabbed her wrist tightly, "Who?" he hissed, his voice dropping dangerously as his eyes glared spitefully into hers.
"Ron…"Harry spoke up finally, taking a step forward, his eyes the only thing on his face that was showing his horrified surprise at the situation.
"No Harry!" Ron exclaimed, "I deserve to know what poor excuse for a human would ever want trash like this!" Ron flung Hermione's hand away from him.
George made to move towards his little brother, intent on teaching him a lesson, but Hermione stopped him with a hand on his chest, "It's alright," she murmured softly to him, "He's just jealous," she said a little louder, turning to Ron with a small smirk, noticing him bluster about as he tried to refute her words, "The man who I deemed worthy and honorable enough for me to marry is Draco," she calmly told the Weasley family and Harry.
There was silence for several seconds as her words processed, "Draco," Ron finally repeated dully, "as in Draco Malfoy?" Hermione just stared calmly back at him, "Draco Malfoy?!" he shouted, "You wouldn't marry me but you would marry that ferret?"
Hermione nodded, "I've been in love with him for some time now," she explained, "So when he asked I said yes."
"Some time?" Ron muttered to himself, "How long is 'some time'?" he demanded to know loudly enough so his family could hear him.
Raising a hand Hermione pretended to think, "Oh I don't know, probably sometime near the first time I met him, before you, on the Hogwarts Express our first year."
"First year?" Ron's voice cracked as he exclaimed the words, "You've been in love with that git since first year?"
Hermione turned to look at George, "Is there an echo in here?" she asked rhetorically, causing George to smirk and shrug, "That's right Ronald, I know it's a hard concept for your little brain to grasp, but yes, I've been in love with Draco Malfoy since first year."
Ron looked stunned as his face slowly changed from red to an unbecoming shade of purple, "Did you ever love me?"he calmly asked her, his voice tense.
Contemplating him silently Hermione gave a small shrug, "You made it awfully hard on the best of days," she told him, "but despite that I think I did, just a little."
"And yet you're still marrying him!" Ron exclaimed finally exploding, "after everything he's done to you!"
Going still, Hermione stared at Ron, "As opposed to what? What you did? I'm sorry Ronald, but Draco never left me, he never cheated on me, he never lied to me and most certainly never tried to rape me!"
Gasps were heard from everyone in the Weasley family and Harry, but it was Molly who spoke first, "How dare you!" she hissed, tugging her wand free from her sleeve and aiming it at Hermione, who responded milliseconds later by pulling her own wand out.
"Okay that's enough," George stepped in, finally deciding this had all gone on long enough, "I think it's best that you leave now," he said softly but firmly.
Molly smirked wickedly at Hermione, her wand still aimed at the younger witch, "You heard him," she sniped, gesturing with her wand towards the door, "Get out."
Hermione frowned and despite her stomach twisting with betrayal she shoved her wand back to its hiding place and moved to head towards the door but was stopped by a hand reaching out and stopping her, "No, not her mum," George stated, "I was talking about you."
Everyone turned to stare at George in surprise, "What?" Ginny broke the silence.
"You all know the rules, dueling isn't allowed in the store, and Mum pulled her wand out first," George looked over at Hermione's grateful gaze, "and I won't allow my own family to come in here insulting and attempting to kick my friends out of my store. So please leave."
Molly stepped forward with a placating face aimed towards her son, "But George—" she started but George shook his head and cut her off.
"Unless you are going to apologize to Hermione I don't want to hear it," he said softly, disappointment clear in his expression.
Dropping her hands to her sides, Molly's eyes flitted back and forth between her son and Hermione, "Well then," she murmured quietly, "I see," slowly she turned and began ushering her family out the door. A few feet from the door she pause and turned around, "Fred would be disappointed in you," she told George sadly, despite the clear anger and embarrassment in her eyes, "You know that don't you?"
A spark of anger flashed in George's eyes in return before he shook his head, "No mum," he responded, "He would be disappointed in you," he then turned away, unwilling to watch the hurt flit over his mother's face, but it needed to be said. There wasn't a part of him that didn't know for a fact that Fred would be siding with George and Hermione in this conflict.
"George," Hermione murmured seconds after the bell above the door jangled, signaling his family's departure.
George turned and looked down at Hermione's face, seeing the hurt, thankfulness, and overall sadness in her eyes, "Come on," he replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and guiding her towards the stairs that led to his and Angelina's apartment upstairs, "Lexi!" he shouted as they reached the first step, waiting until he saw the brunette with multicolored streaks in her hair come flying around the corner, "watch the store will you?"
"Certainly Mr. Weasley!" Lexi replied with a mock salute and a smile. She was the first worker George had hired after he bought the store in Hogsmeade he and Fred had always wanted, and so far she had proven herself worthy of the trust George now placed in her to run the store without him present.
George smiled back and turned back around to lead Hermione up the stairs. As they entered the apartment George looked around quickly to see if his fiancé was anywhere to be seen, "Ange?" he called, his call was soon answered with a clatter and quick succession of swear words from behind one of the four closed doors down the hall, a muffled, "coming!" eventually reached their ears, causing Hermione to smile a little before a frown set back into place.
"Do you want anything?" he asked the bookworm, moving towards the kitchen. Hermione shrugged so he grabbed her a glass of water and returned to her side only to find her sitting in one of his armchairs with her knees pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped tightly around them. He couldn't see her face because it was buried in her knees, but he could guess she was crying from the way her shoulders were shaking.
Angelina appeared at his side moments later, "What happened?" she asked worriedly.
"My family," George sighed grimly with a shake of his head, "Look, you go see what you can do, I'm going to go floo Draco."
Curious Angelina looked at him, "Do you really think that's a good idea?" she asked, knowing that Draco was incredibly protective of Hermione, so should he find out that the Weasleys had something to do with her crying he wasn't likely to think strait before he headed off to do something he shouldn't.
George gave her a small smile, "I'd want to know if you were crying and needed me," he told her with a small nudge.
Angelina smiled and shook her head, "Alright," she laughed quietly before heading over to squeeze in beside Hermione on the large armchair.
He watched them for a minute before heading to the fireplace in the study, where he grabbed a handful of floo powder and stepped into the flames, "Draco's quarters!" he called and quickly squeezed his eyes shut as he was twisted around, only barely managing to land on his feet as he stepped out of the fireplace in Draco's quarters at Hogwarts. Dusting himself off and muttering to himself about his sloppy landing, he looked around the room quickly before raising his voice, "Draco?"
He heard a muffled response coming from another room and moved towards it. Opening the door he found a ruffled looking Draco standing in the middle of a room surrounded by potions ingredients, "Hey Drake!" he stated with a barely smothered smile, "How's it going?"
Draco gave a small sigh, quickly recognizing who his visitor was, "How many times must I ask you not to call me Drake?" he asked, turning around with a vial in his hand full of…something.
George eyed the substance closely for a second before shrugging, "Eh, you know…until sometime after we're both dead."
"I have to put up with you until I'm dead?" Draco exclaimed mockingly horrified, though he was actually pleased with the idea; after all he'd never really had much in the way of friends, though now thanks to Hermione he seemed to be surrounded by them. He smiled, Hermione, Merlin he loved that woman. He looked at George then changed the subject as he realized, "Isn't Hermione supposed to be with you today?" he asked.
George pretended to be very interested in the contents of the room, and Draco let him peruse the items around them for several moments until he realized that George was avoiding looking at him, "George?" he prodded, "Did you lose her?" he joked with a small laugh that faded as George didn't laugh with him, "George!" he exclaimed.
"Well I didn't lose her," George finally replied, "But there was an incident," George was cut off as Draco suddenly went into motion, clearing a path from where he stood to the door.
"Where is she? What happened? Is she hurt?" Draco asked rapid fire questions as he moved passed George.
George watched him go with and amused smirk waiting until Draco finally realized he wasn't right behind him and turned around expectantly. Amusement faded into a grim expression that few had ever seen on the twin's face, "Physically she isn't hurt, but there was a run in with my so called family just a few minutes ago. Words were said, but I managed to force them all to leave the store before spells were cast."
Draco's grey eyes glinted dangerously, "Weasley was there?" he hissed, then at George's nod he crinkled his nose in disgust, "Well then it's lucky for all of them that no spells were cast."
"How's that?" George asked as he grabbed a handful of floo powder, thinking that Draco was referring to the inevitable revenge that he would have exacted on the Weasleys, he was surprised therefore to see a small smirk cross his friends face.
"Hermione would have hexed them all into oblivion," Draco also grabbed a handful of floo powder, but before he stepped into the fire he turned to George with a question in his eyes, "Why were they all at your store anyway?"
George shrugged, "Someone must have finally told someone to tell my mum that I was engaged," he guessed, "But whatever the reason, they left Hermione in tears. I don't know if she would want you to know about what happened, but I figured I would want to know if it were Ange."
Draco gave George a small smile, "Thank you," he murmured, his eyes showing his gratefulness, "I'd rather her be mad at me for knowing why she was upset, than finding out that she had been upset and I could have helped but no one told me."
"Hey, anytime," George snorted, "It's just my life on the line," but Draco was already gone. With a self depreciating sigh George resisted the urge to booby trap Draco's quarters and stepped into the fire to follow his friend home.
DHDHDHDHDHDH
Draco carefully stepped out of the fireplace, leaving enough space for George to come through and paused, listening. Soon enough he heard the familiar sobs of his fiancé coming from around the corner, his heart squeezing at the painful sound Draco headed towards the large overstuffed chair where he could see two heads barely appearing over the back of the chair, "Princess?" he murmured softly as he came around the chair to stand in front of her, his voice softening into a sound that only Hermione had ever heard him use.
Hermione's head jerked up and Draco was met with bloodshot eyes and tear streaks all across her face, "Charming?" she whispered, unaware of Angelina standing up with a nod to Draco before she left them to go find her own fiancé.
Draco moved forward and carefully lifted Hermione up long enough to seat himself beneath her, "I'm here," he replied, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head, surprised how quickly Hermione turned in his arms to bury her face in his shoulder. Despite the fact that they had been together for almost three months now he was still constantly surprised by her seemingly instinctive actions towards him. Being with her was the most natural thing he had ever done, and for the life of him he couldn't fathom why he hadn't just shown a few seconds of courage back when they were all at Hogwarts to tell her he loved her so that he could have spent all those years with her.
Settling further in the chair, absently hoping that George and Angelina didn't mind that he wasn't going to go anywhere for a while, Draco hugged Hermione's still crying form tighter to his chest. He still couldn't understand how someone so good and perfect like his Hermione could ever want someone as jaded and damaged as him. Hermione had made it her mission the last few months to prove to him that he was already a better man than he had ever thought he could be, and Merlin help him he was beginning to believe her; beginning to believe that for some unfathomable reason maybe he did deserve her.
Granted the last few months hadn't been without their challenges, there had been several arguments about unimportant things that Draco didn't care to remember, all he knew was that at the end of each argument they were somehow brought closer together and their relationship was made stronger. Hermione had introduced him to her small group of friends, who, Draco was surprised to discover, all welcomed him with open arms. Angelina had actually been the most reserved, something about being quidditch rivals, but even she had seemed to warm up to him by the end of the night, though Draco couldn't figure out why; the best he could figure was that they were all happy if Hermione was happy.
Neville had asked if the rumors about him being a potential professor at Hogwarts were true, to which Draco had responded with a confirmation that McGonagall had assured him the job would be his as soon as he passed his upcoming Potions final. Sure enough, he passed the final with flying colors, surprising himself with how accomplished and worthwhile he felt after doing so. The letter came days later congratulating him and extending the Potion's professorship to him for what would be the last time.
School came around and Draco found himself eagerly anticipating teaching, not to mention that his friends, the word still sounded odd in his vocabulary, were all nearby. Neville and Hermione were both teaching of course, but so also was Angelina, it turned out, who had come to teach for that year only as flying instructor while Madame Hooch took a year's sabbatical to help take care of her dying mother. Luna was managing Flourish & Blotts and George had surprised everyone by not just announcing, but opening his brand new store right in the middle of Hogsmeade. It wasn't uncommon for the six friends to gather there often, sometimes all together or other times, such as today, just a few of them.
Hermione had headed into Hogsmeade today to see George and Angelina and to pick up a few things from Flourish & Blotts intending to be back before dinner was served at the school, but that plan seemed to have fallen through. Gently Draco lifted one hand to smooth over her soft curls as he murmured soft words, practically unaware of what he was saying, just wishing he could do or say something, anything, that would make Hermione stop crying.
Just as he was thinking it Hermione's shaking shoulders slowly came to a stop, and she lifted her tear stained face, "He hates me," she moaned softly a few seconds later.
Draco's eyes searched hers in confusion, why would she be upset that the Weasel hated her? "Weasley?" he asked, trying to hide the strain in his voice as he did so, only to be so relieved when she shook her head vigorously in reply that he couldn't keep the emotions from showing on his face.
"No," she shook her head, "Harry," Hermione whispered sadly, her eyes downcast.
Oh.
"If Potter is dumb enough to believe Weasley over you then he isn't worth being upset over," he told her quietly, his eyes following his fingers as they reached up to brush some curls away from her face, "But I'm not sure Potter is actually capable of hating someone as good as you," he gave her a small smile that made her lips twitch, "Is that what all this is about?"
Hermione took a deep breath and shrugged, "I just feel like I've lost my family all over again, and it hurts even more to think that Harry would rather believe them over me. I just…"Hermione turned her head away from his close inspection and swallowed harshly before returning her gaze to his, "I miss him."
Draco paused before nodding his head slowly, "I know," he whispered, pulling her closer to press a brief but loving kiss to her lips before tightening his grip as he pulled her into another hug, "I know."
"Hey Charming?" Hermione spoke quietly a few seconds later, waiting until he connected his eyes to hers, "Can we go home?"
A small smile spread across his face as he moved to stand up, "Sure," he responded, "Let's go home," Draco wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned to lead her towards the fireplace when George suddenly appeared from behind them.
"Leaving so soon?" he asked in a tone much louder than Draco or Hermione had been expecting and with a large smile on his face.
His smile, it turned out, was contagious and Draco soon looked over at Hermione to find her grinning back at the redhead, "Yes we're going back to Hogwarts," Hermione answered, "I'm a bit worn out."
George sighed dramatically, "Well if you must," he stated with a shake of his head before moving to pull her into his arms, "Thanks for coming to see me today anyway, even if my family did ruin it," he pulled back with his hands still on her shoulders and studied her for a minute before reaching up and tousling her hair making it big and poufy, "There, that's the Hermione I know," he said with a pleased jerk of his head.
Hermione stood stunned for a few seconds until she finally comprehended that George was making fun of what her hair had been like back at Hogwarts, "George!" she exclaimed, frantically trying to smooth her hair back down, but already knowing it was a losing battle. With a sigh and a condescending shake of her head, Hermione turned and grabbed a handful of floo powder, before turning and giving George a smile, "It was good to see you too," she agreed before stepping into the fireplace, "Draco's quarters!" she called before disappearing.
Draco made to follow her but was stopped by George's hand on his arm, "Today while they were all in the store, Harry seemed really confused about what was going on, I don't think he knows the full story, and I'm not sure he ever will if one of us doesn't tell him. I have a feeling that if he did his relationship with my family would be practically nonexistent."
Without turning his gaze away from the small fire Draco nodded, "I was just thinking that I would do anything to make Hermione happy, and if getting Potter to talk to her would make her happy, then that is what I am going to do."
George watched the younger man, so much had happened in his life, and much of it because of Harry Potter, yet he was still willing to place himself in an uncomfortable position to make Hermione happy, "You're a good man Drake," he stated with a nod of his head, "Hermione couldn't find anyone better."
Draco grabbed a handful of the floo powder, giving George a wry look, "Thanks George," he replied with partial sarcasm, "That means a lot."
"As well it should," Angelina replied pompously with a grin, coming up behind George to wrap her arm around his waist as she stood beside him, "Come back sometime Draco will you?" she commented.
Draco gave a nod and a small smile, "Sometime soon I hope," and with those words he followed Hermione home to Hogwarts.
"You mind if I just go lay on your bed for a while?" Hermione's tired voice asked once he stepped through the floo and landed back in his quarters.
Draco nodded, "Sure, I have to go to Diagon Alley to restock my potion closet, but I should be back before too late, it will be nice and quiet here," he added, knowing that her students had been known to knock on her door at any time, rarely giving her a moment's peace. She loved her students, and they loved her, but sometimes a little break was necessary to keep one's sanity and Draco knew that she often found that the only place safe from her students was in the dungeons where his office and quarters were located.
Hermione gave him a brilliant smile, one more like the smiles he was used to, "Thank you," she murmured gratefully, knowing he would understand that she wasn't talking about his leaving but the opportunity to hide away for a little longer. Then, to show how grateful she was she moved forward quickly and pressed her lips to Draco's in a long, slow, loving kiss before gently pulling back with a shy twinkle in her eyes as she backed away from him and moved towards his bedroom.
Merlin, that woman could try even a saint's patience with kisses like that. Draco understood that she wanted to wait until after they were married to truly sleep together, well, they had already slept together, but for the other things that couples did Hermione wanted to wait; and Draco was more than happy to oblige her every whim, even if it was difficult. He gave Hermione one last smile before she turned and closed his bedroom door behind her and heaved a sigh.
There would be no time like the present to track down Potter and try to talk some sense into him, Draco thought with a reluctant sigh. If there was one thing he knew for sure, Hermione had no intention of leaving tonight, and once her head hit the pillow she would be out like a light until morning came.
Looking down at his dust covered clothes he sighed figuring he should at least change before heading out again. Quietly he snuck into his room, amused to see that he had been correct in assuming Hermione would be out seconds within laying her head down. He reached into his wardrobe and pulled out a nice pair of black slacks and a blue dress shirt that was a favorite of Hermione's and walked into his excessively large bathroom to change and clean the dust from the rest of him. A few minutes later he slid a Rolex watch Hermione had insisted he buy to commemorate his first trip into muggle London onto his wrist and rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up to just beneath his elbows (where he felt they were most comfortable) and grabbed his cloak on his way to the door.
Just then he caught sight of Hermione staring blearily at him, "I love you," she muttered sleepily, clearly not fully awake.
Draco smiled and moved to place a soft kiss on her forehead, "I love you too," he replied, his lips moving close to her skin, "Now you get some rest alright?" Hermione gave a small nod and snuggled further under the blankets that smelled like Draco with a small smile.
Carefully Draco smoothed some hair from her face before turning and heading out the door and flooing to Diagon Alley. Not wanting to be held up in his mission to find Potter he went about his business quickly, arranging to have everything sent to Hogwarts as soon as possible. Once his business in Diagon Alley was complete he stepped out into the middle of one of the nearly empty cobbled streets and took off his cloak (seeing as it was unnaturally warm for being October) and shrunk it into his pocket as he contemplated where to start his search.
From what George told him, it sounded as if Potter was feeling somewhat guilty for what was going on between Hermione and the family of Weasleys, George excluded of course, so it was unlikely that he would be found at that shack they called a house. Potter had also alienated his other friends when he had chosen to listen to Weasley over Hermione, so it was unlikely that he would be at any of their homes, Order Headquarters was a possibility, but unfortunately he didn't have any way of knowing where exactly that was, so that was out.
Draco thought a little longer before deciding that there was one place he could look, he felt it would be unlikely that Potter would actually be there, but it would be a start. With that thought in his head, Draco shrugged and turned on his heel the CRACK of apperation following closely behind.
DHDHDHDHDHDHDH
Harry was on his feet, wand in hand and a hex on his lips before his mind even caught up to the snap of a twig that the rest of him had instinctively heard, "Malfoy," he cursed, lowering his wand as he tried to still his racing heart, "What are you doing here?" he demanded gesturing to the cemetery they were currently standing in.
Draco raised an eyebrow and lowered his hands from their surrendering position…no need for Potter to know how proficient he is at wandless magic, "What do you think I'm doing here Potter?" he sneered, shoving his hands in his pockets and stepping closer to his school boy enemy.
"Trying to get yourself killed from the sounds of it," Harry grumbled, not putting his wand away, who knew what Malfoy was up to.
With a small derisive snort Draco shook his head, "I was one of the best Aurors, if I didn't want you to know I was here you wouldn't know, I was trying to alert you to my presence in an unthreatening manner," Draco eyed the wand still clutched tightly in Harry's fist.
Harry slowly put his wand away, his eyes not leaving Draco's form, "How did you find me?" he asked, acknowledging the truth of what Draco had said.
Draco rolled his eyes, "I was also one of the best Trackers in the department if you'll recall, so I took a lucky guess and here I am," Draco loosed one of his hands from his pockets and gestured around them, mockingly echoing Harry's previous movements.
"Why?"Harry demanded, looking behind Draco subtly trying to detect anyone else nearby, enemy or not.
Draco moved forward until he was a mere five feet in front of him, "Because you made my fiancé cry," he stated with a steely glint in his eyes, "And I'm not okay with that," Draco watched with some surprise as Potter dropped his eyes to the ground and his shoulders relaxed from their defensive stance to a drooped guilty position. But without giving Potter the chance to say anything he spoke again, "What I can't figure out is why you choose to believe Weasley without even trying to get Hermione's side of the story."
Potter turned away from him to look down at the gravestones as if turning his back to Draco would somehow protect him. But rather than letting Potter hide from him, Draco moved forward until they were both standing side by side staring down at the graves of James and Lily Potter, noticing absently that Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Nymphadora Tonks Lupin were also buried off to the left of the couple on James side, while Severus Snape was buried to the right on Lily's side.
After a minute he spoke again, this time in a quieter voice, it seemed appropriate given their location, "You know I used to watch you three back at Hogwarts—well," Draco paused and shrugged, "Hermione mostly—but if there was one thing I notice over the years it was that while there were a few hundred times that Weasley and everyone else let you down, Hermione never did, not once!" Draco stated vehemently, "She was there when everyone thought you put your own name in the Goblet of Fire; like you were smart enough to do that," Draco muttered as an aside, surprised to hear Potter give a small snort of amusement, "She was there when Umbridge, the Inquisitor Squad and I caught you and your friends, despite my best effort to let you all get away."
Harry turned to look at him with a disbelieving look that made him clarify, "Well okay, despite my best effort to let Hermione get away, what difference does it make, regardless it was Hermione that got you out of that situation, Hermione who tried to talk you out of your self-imposed suicide mission to rescue your not-so-kidnapped godfather, Hermione who tried to warn you about that stupid potions book you found in sixth year that lead to you beating me in Potions and discovering that stupid spell that hurt like a—"
"I'm sorry," Harry interrupted suddenly, "About hexing you I mean," Harry looked down at his father's grave and gave a small grimace, "I never wanted to be the person who did things like that just out of spite, and even though you were up to no good, you still didn't deserve…that," he gave a small shake of his head but didn't say anymore, leaving Draco to stare at him in surprise.
"Right, well," Draco stammered, not quite sure what to say to that, "Don't interrupt me," he snapped, trying change the subject, "where was I? Oh yeah, and while you were on that hunt for horcruxes—"Draco stopped when Potter turned to look at him in surprise of his own, "What?"
Harry paused, "How do you know about that? The hunt I mean," he asked his brow furrowed.
Draco sighed, and shrugged, not sure if he really wanted to explain it all to Potter but willing to do so if it meant he would talk with Hermione again, "Did Hermione ever tell you about a two way journal she found in her bag in sixth year?"
"No," Harry replied in confusion, "What do you mean a two way journal?"
With a sigh of faux exasperation, "I mean like that journal my father gave the Weaslette in our second year, except without the evil soul possession part. Two way journals are like what I understand the muggle form of texting to be like," Draco frowned at the astounded expression on the other man's face, "Honestly, I'm marrying a muggleborn, the least I can do is find out about where she comes from…not to mention the fact that muggles are just absolutely fastinat—" Draco stopped suddenly, realizing what he was about to say and cleared his throat, avoiding the look Potter was sending his way, "Well anyway, Hermione found one of these journals in her bag in sixth year a few weeks after she had a particularly…emotional encounter with me. She didn't know for sure until recently, but I was the one who gave the journal to her."
Here Draco paused, suddenly realizing just how much potential soul bearing and secret sharing it was going to take to tell the story. The image of Hermione crying earlier floated into his mind making him nearly groan in frustration, he was so whipped!
"What you have to understand Potter, is that I never wanted to be a Death Eater. I never wanted to follow Voldemort, I didn't want to be evil. I idolized my father, all children do, but eventually I came to realize that he wasn't as perfect as I had always thought," Draco paused when he thought he heard Potter mutter something about understanding the feeling all too well but when Potter didn't continue he went on as if he hadn't heard anything, "But by the time I had that all figured out, Voldemort had me figured out. He threatened my family, my mother. If I didn't do everything he said, he would've killed them first and then me. By that time my father had fallen from grace, and I didn't see any way out," Draco sighed remembering, "It was either Dumbledore or my family."
Draco looked at Potter carefully out of the corner of his eye to see if he was still listening, "Hermione found me one night a few days after our little encounter and claimed to be on my side, she told me there was a way out, that I wasn't alone, that I didn't have to keep everything bottled up inside me. I had never thought someone so completely good would ever say something like that to me, besides the fact that I was absolutely in love with her by that point anyway. But I knew I couldn't take her offer, not without placing her and everyone I cared about in danger, so I told her off, and went to buy a twin journal set the next Hogsmeade trip we had so that I could follow her advice without her knowing."
Harry was staring at him head on now, making it difficult for Draco to avoid his stare, "Through that journal Hermione and I got to know each other better than I have ever known anyone in my life. When I finally told her that I was a Death Eater, she stopped talking to me for a little while, as she was feeling very suspicious, she came back later and explained her concerns, but told me that she trusted me. I think she suspected even then who I was, but she never said anything. I warned her to be prepared for the attack at Bill Weasley's wedding, I told her where you all could hide where Voldemort wouldn't find you.
"By this point I was so tired of living in fear I was very strongly hoping that you would win, and I was going to do everything I could to make that happen. I warned her about Death Eater attacks, raids, and where their trackers were searching. She told me about your search, and bounced ideas off of me, she explained about how the Horcrux was making you all act out, and she told me about Weasley leaving you two to your own devices like the coward he is."
Draco finally forced himself to look back at Harry, "She wrote me about that weekend that Weasley attacked her in her own apartment, and I can't even begin to fathom how to explain to you the pure hate and rage I was feeling for that pathetic excuse for a man. It was made even worse when I showed up to work on Monday to find him spreading rumors that weren't true. Then to top it all off, you refused to believe that Ronald Weasley could ever stoop so low, yet I distinctly recall several occasions where he did just that!" Draco took a deep breath and lowered his voice, "Yet despite the fact that you took the wrong side yet again, Hermione still misses you."
"Really?" Harry questioned hopefully, "Why?"
With a roll of his eyes Draco scoffed, "Don't look at me, I personally don't see the appeal, but I just spent the afternoon telling myself that I would do or say or be anything Hermione needed me to do or say or be if it would make that smile of hers appear on her face again. So here's how it's going to happen, you are going to come to Hogwarts and beg for Hermione's forgiveness tomorrow night, and when she inevitably grants it, you are going to take her out to dinner—don't get any ideas!" Draco stated warningly, surprised with himself for the small joke, "and from there you will continue to try and make it up to her for the rest of your life by being an even better friend to her than she has been for you."
Seeming a little flustered, Harry nodded his head, hesitating for a minute before slowly questioning, "If I can ask Malfoy, what exactly happened that weekend before things all went to Hades? I mean," Harry rushed to add, "I heard Ron's version of the story, but as you've pointed out that isn't always the real story."
"Don't you think you should have asked for the full story before you abandoned Hermione?" Draco snapped, finally losing patience with him.
Harry clenched his jaw and looked away from the blonde, "I've been telling myself that same thing ever since Hermione first walked out of my office, but I was so sure she would never want to speak to me again that I decided to just let her be. The Weasleys were, are…were the first family and friends I had ever had, and I was so scared of losing them that I let go of the one person who was most like my family. You will never know how much I regret that decision, but I can't change it, I can only go forward and hope to fix things."
Draco stood still and silent for several moments while he simply studied the war hero in front of him. Neither man had ever seen the other so unguarded, so open, and it was strange for both of them, but instead of pointing it out Draco started into the story, telling Harry in detail what had happened over that weekend, then the confrontation between Hermione and Percy and later Ginny and the rest of the Weasleys, with the exception of George, through the medium of multiple hateful letters.
He told Harry about Hermione discovering who her real friends were the hard way, and how close she had become with Neville, Luna, George and Angelina as a result. There was a moment where he paused to take in the appropriately ashamed expression on the war hero's face with a small amount of approval before he went on to haltingly explain that it was these same friends that had encouraged her to come and speak to him, leading them to where they were now.
Harry stared down at his shoes in silence for several long moments after Draco finished speaking, part of him was feeling absolutely guilt ridden for even allowing himself to entertain the thought of Ron telling the truth about Hermione for even a second, the other part was feeling overwhelmingly irritated at the Weasley family; both because of what they had done to his best friend, his sister in everything but blood, and also because as a result of this he no longer could look at them with the same longing again. To him they had been the epitome of everything a family should be, but now, Harry gave a sigh, now he knew better.
"I come here sometimes for peace and clarity," Harry stated suddenly and seemingly out of the blue, "I don't know what it is about this place but there is always a sense of calm here, even when we were in the middle of the war—"
Here Draco spoke up briefly, "It's an ancient spell," he started to explain for lack of knowing what else to say, "It was originally intended to give the dead a sense of peace and rest in the afterlife and it was just a bonus that it happened to work for those visiting the cemeteries as well. There are very few wizarding cemeteries that still have the charm performed on them anymore, but Godric's Hollow, being as old as it is, is one of them."
Harry looked intrigued by the information and nodded his head in understanding, "Right, and because of this calm feeling it makes it easier to think and to remember things…" Harry paused and Draco simply waited for him to get to the point with an expression that made Harry smirk at the Malfoy-ness of the look, "I can't remember the last time I read a report from Ron," he jumped to the point, " I mean, he's gone on missions like everyone else in the auror department, but I don't remember the last time he actually did the paperwork."
Draco gave him an incredulous look, "So?" he replied, "I tried to tell you something similar the day I quit but you wouldn't listen," he stated calmly.
"Yes, and I'm sorry for that, particularly now that I know you're right," Harry took a deep breath, "I was also thinking about Ginny, and how for the last two or so years I've been almost certain that she is cheating on me, but I keep making excuses or ignoring the evidence…Molly has always been the mother I wished I had, and I've been so blind to her faults that I let her hurt the one person that is most important to me," Harry shook his head, "Now I can't ignore or avoid any of that, and I wasn't sure I could go through the upheaval of losing all of them, not by myself."
Here Draco felt obligated to say something, he didn't know what it was, but he was beginning to feel like he and Potter had made a wrong turn somewhere in that past, that just one different word from one of them could have set them on a simpler course to becoming friends. Now, standing here and listening to Potter's admittedly slightly pathetic woes, Draco felt as if that one different right word was on the tip of his tongue, as if the second the words were out of his mouth he and Potter would end up on an inevitable course to a reluctant friendship.
Good Godric he was turning into a Hufflepuff! But even that thought didn't stop him from opening his mouth and allowing that series of words to flow from his mouth, "You know, I would think that if Neville, Luna, George and Angelina were willing to accept me into their circle of friends I don't think it would take much convincing to let you join as well," Draco paused here for a second, "Two or three Saturdays every month we get together for a game night of sorts, you're welcome to join if you'd like," now feeling thoroughly uncomfortable Draco began to back away, "But not until you make things right with Hermione!" he added, in a tone that was more like the Malfoy that Harry knew.
Harry watched Draco walk away with a small smirk that was almost a smile on his face; maybe he had been wrong about Draco all these years. After hearing about some of the things that were surely on a much longer list of things that Draco had done to help the light with the war, Harry couldn't figure out why he hadn't seen it all earlier, the potential in the other man to be good, better than his parents, to maybe even be a friend. Dumbledore had seen it, hadn't Harry stood helplessly to the side while Dumbledore tried to convince Draco switch sides? Hadn't he seen the wavering expression on Draco's face before Bellatrix and Snape had shown up?
Harry looked down the grave of Severus Snape as he thought, he had been wrong about Snape, and he'd been wrong about his parents, yes they had been good people, but they weren't the infallible heroes he had thought them to be; why couldn't he have seen that he had been wrong about Draco Malfoy as well? Hermione's words from the day Draco had quit came flooding back into his mind, "You never did grow up when it came to judging people," she had told him, and he now realized she was right.
Well that was about to change, "Right here right now," Harry murmured out loud to himself as he looked down at the graves of the people he loved most and who had changed his life, making him into the man he was today, "I swear the judging is over. I will be the person I always wished my father had been, the person I used to think Albus Dumbledore was, the person that I should have been from the beginning. No more judging, no more ignoring, no more avoiding what I know and what I can do."
Harry sighed, it was going to take some major changes to be the person he now had planned out in his mind, a person he wasn't really sure he had a right to be; but he knew that the changes would only make him stronger and better prepared to be the person many people already thought he was. The war was over, he won, it was time to stop hiding what everyone already knew, he was a very capable wizard, and he had the ability to make things better for many people because of who he was and it was time he started acting like it. He would never let the power and image of being a war hero go to his head, it was probably impossible for him to do so, but he did have power and he did have influence, and it was about time he started using it for the better.
Starting tomorrow with Ronald Weasley there were going to be some changes made in his life.
A/N: I have to say, I get a real kick out of writing mean!Molly, it's kind of a problem sometimes. Anyway I recognize there isn't a lot of revenge in this chapter, there was some, but believe me when I say the next chapter has it. If you enjoyed this or didn't, let me know and REVIEW!