Not really much to say here... just thanks to my beta because she's awesome... and I kinda sorta really love my version of Draco because he's so sweet/protective. :-D
Hermione stirred, unsure of what had woken her. Draco sill had his arms wrapped protectively around her. Her eyes lingered on his face. He had such angelic features that it was no wonder why she had thought he was an angel the night before. It's such a shame he hides his softer side from the outside world. He really is beautiful… and so much more comfortable than a pillow. I could stay here all da-
There it was again, the noise that had woken her. What the hell? It sounds like someone is trying to break through the portrait hole… which was EXACTLY what was happening. Slipping out of Draco's arms, so as to not wake him, Hermione grabbed her wand and left her room. The noise grew louder as she got closer to the portrait hole, and although completely terrified, she opened it. Somewhat to her relief, a red-faced and panicked Harry and Ron tumbled onto the floor in front of her.
"Hermione!"
"You're okay!"
"Not dead!"
"We were so worried!"
"What is going on!?" She interrupted the two flabbergasted men on her floor. Both trying to pick themselves up, they grabbed onto the other and ended up falling again. Irritated, they were finally able to right themselves before enveloping her into a massive hug. "Get off! Why are you two here trying to break down my door!?" Merlin, I'm worse than Draco when he gets woken up!
Harry, who was more composed, spoke. "Well, we haven't seen you since Monday when you got called out of Potions. We were worried that something had happened to you." Upon hearing his words, for the first time that morning, Hermione remembered her parents' deaths. Looking at the two of them, she was unable to keep her emotions in check. She turned from them and headed for the couch.
"I knew it!" Ron looked furious. "It was Malfoy, wasn't it? What did he do to you!? I'll kill him, I swear!" He paced back and forth in front of her, wand in hand.
"No, Ron it wasn't Dra-"
"What did you just say!?" His face was now a shade of red darker than his hair.
"Hermione, what is going on?" Harry, who was obviously upset, was able to control himself better than Ron.
"I- it… it doesn't have anything to do with Draco. The reason I haven't been to any of my classes is because…" Just as Hermione was about to share her tragic news with her friends, the worst possible thing occurred.
"Hermione, what's going on?" A yawning Draco stood in her doorway, still only dressed in his boxers. When she didn't respond, he opened his eyes to see the giant mistake he had just made.
Ron's face turned from red, to white, to red again, and then to purple. With his fist clenched tightly around his wand, he turned to face Hermione. "You! Is this why you dumped me!? Have you been shagging him all year!? I-I can't believe you left me to go sleep with the enemy! You are the biggest fucking WHORE I've ever met!"
"Watch your mouth Weasel!" Draco had snapped out of his state of shock and was staring down Ron's shaking body. Neither Hermione nor Harry could move.
"You shut the hell up and stay out of this!"
"No, you SHUT THE HELL UP! I've done some pretty terrible things in my past, many of them dealing with Dark curses you couldn't even begin to imagine in your worst nightmares. If I EVER hear you call ANY woman that word again I WILL NOT HESTITATE to use one of those curses on you. And it will be one of the ones you DON'T come back from!" Both men were visibly shaking now, murder written in their eyes.
Hermione was finally able to regain a shred of her nerves and make herself stand. "Can I explain?" Three pairs of eyes focused on her, suddenly. Tears fell from her eyes and onto the floor. Ron looked furious, Draco looked angry and concerned, and Harry… Harry looked hurt and confused. She knew that he was wishing he could erase the image of Draco in her doorway from his mind. "Harry, please let me…" He shook his head, interrupting her.
Draco, who was beginning to see himself as her protector, tried to intervene on her behalf. "Just listen to h-" Ron's fist connected with Draco's jaw before anyone realized he had moved. The force of the blow caused Draco to stumble back, clutching his face. His normally grey eyes, now pitch black, rolled back on themselves before they fluttered closed. His body teetered for half a second before crumpling to the floor.
"Stupify!" Harry had raised his wand quicker than Hermione and Ron's body also fell to the floor.
Overwhelmed by what had just happened, Hermione threw herself into Harry's arms. Sobs wracked her body and she struggled to form words. "I-I'm so s-sorry H-Harry! It-it's really n-not what it l-looks l-like; I s-s-swear!" He raised his hand and patted her back in a soothing manner. "I-I'll explain ev-everything, b-but c-can you get r-rid of R-Ron f-first?"
Harry released her and moved to move Ron. While he was doing what she asked, she moved to inspect Draco. His lower jaw was already turning purple and his lip was bloody. His moan made her gasp as he struggled to get to his feet. She helped him up and deposited him into the closest armchair. They were waiting by the time Harry got back from levitating Ron's body to the corridor. He sat across from Draco, leaving Hermione to stand. He gazed at her with anger, betrayal, and worry written all over his face. "Explain."
She bit her lip and wrung her hands nervously. "M-my parents…" Draco's hand on her arm stopped her.
"Go to your room. I'll explain for you." His eyes were back to their silver color and he looked ready to take on the world for her. I never would have thought that Draco Malfoy would be protecting me from my best friends. Hermione nodded, sadly and retreated to the safety of her room.
It was several hours later when she finally awoke. She sat up and gasped as she realized that she wasn't alone. Tears began to form in her eyes. Please let us still be friends…
Harry placed his hand on hers before pulling her into a comforting hug. "I'm so sorry Hermione. I jumped to conclusions and didn't know what to think. Even worse, I wouldn't let you explain when you clearly were hurting." She felt herself soaring with relief; she still had one friend. Two friends. I think Draco and I are friends now. "Hermione, I am so sorry. I wasn't there for you and you had to rely on Malfoy. I am the worst best friend ever!" He was crying now too.
"Harry, please don't…"
He forced out a laugh. "And to think, I thought you had fallen for Malfoy!"
I am… "Harry, he's… I think he's my friend now. The Draco I've seen the past few days is nothing like the Malfoy we've known for the past six years. I told you that he has changed and I truly believe it." Why can't this be simpler?
The hurt look was back on Harry's face. "Y-your friend?"
"Yes, Harry, he's my friend now. Well, I don't know is that's how he feels, but I do. You… you weren't here the past few days. You didn't see how he cared for me. I-I'm not even sure if you or Ron would have done some of the things he did for me." She was feeling way too many emotions at once.
While she was on the verge of the who-knows-how-many-th nervous breakdown this week, Harry was deep in thought. Finally, he nodded. "Okay." Her eyes went wide and her jaw hit the floor.
"What!?"
He nodded again. "Okay. I wasn't here for you, but I'll trust what you've said about Malfoy. I'm not saying I trust him or that I'm going to be best buds with him, but, since he's helping you, I'll do my best to get along with him. You're my best friend, Hermione. I will do anything to keep you as such." He paused for a moment. "If he does anything to hurt you though, I still reserve the right to curse the hell out of him."
Her tears turned into ones of relief. Is it really going to be this easy? After all the horrible things that have happened, am I going to be able to keep AN old friend and a new one as well? I can live without Ron, as long as I can keep Harry. "Thank you! You have no idea how good it feels to have another person to rely on right now!"
Harry chuckled. "Just don't go falling in love with him. I can only take so much!" They both laughed at his request. "Now, you go freshen up, while I get us some lunch. Then we can talk."
"Yes, that sounds like a good idea."
She grabbed her towel while Harry went to the kitchen. She undressed and opened the door to the bathroom. "Draco!" She darted back to her room and slammed the door. Collapsed against the door, she replayed the last few seconds in her head.
She had opened the door, towel in hand, to Draco brushing his teeth, towel on floor. Water from his shower was still running down his chiseled chest as he turned to see her standing there. Their eyes had spent an entire half second exploring the other's naked body before she had flung herself back into her room. The last thing she had noticed was that his penis had instantly hardened when he had registered her naked presence.
Hehe... sorry but you're going to have to wait for the next chapter to find out what happens... I know, I know- I'm evil. Hehe
Sorry you all you Ron-lovers out there... I didn't really plan on writing him into the asshole role but it just kind of flowed right into it. But yay for Hermione being able to be friends with Harry still.
You know the drill- leave me some awesome reviews please!
