Chapter 11
"Let You Go"
Draco sat on the roof looking out at the park when there was a knock on the door. He rolled his eyes in annoyance and didn't move he was hoping that whoever it was would get the picture and go away. There was another knock, Draco groaned and as he forced himself up and climbed down the fire escape. He opened the door to his bedroom, went out into the hall and opened the front door.
"Granger, I should have known it would be you to annoy me," he left the door open and went into the empty living room. It was half way through summer and Draco and Ron had been living furniture less for almost three and a half months. The only piece of furniture in the entire flat was Draco's bed. There was a stack of "Quidditch Daily's", "Which Broomstick", and "Daily Prophet's in the corner, topped with an empty beer bottle with a half dead flower in it.
Hermione stepped in and closed the door behind her. She had her book bag on one shoulder and was carrying shoebox-sized box. "Is Ron here?"
"Nope"
"Do you know where he is? He asked me to pick up his bed." She said somewhat annoyed.
"I don't keep tabs on him," Draco raised an eyebrow.
"You should start keeping tabs on him because he's never where he says he's going to be and I have to study," she dropped the box down angrily, it make a loud thud as if heavier than appeared.
"Calm down Granger, you can wait if you want," said Draco disinterested.
"Thank you," she plopped down on the floor in front of the fireplace. "You really should get some furniture or at least a throw rug or something."
"I know," he rolled his eyes, "What are studying for, schools over?"
"My NEWTS, unfortunately I had the misfortune of not finishing school", she said vigorously flipping through pages trying to speed read.
"When are you taking them?"
"Next week and I have to learn a year's worth of information and I don't know how I'm going to do it," she said quickly.
"They can't be that hard it's just like OWLS and besides your smart. You're probably one of the few people in our year who could pull this off," he sat down next to her and grabbed a book, "I'll help you."
Hermione looked up from her book at him in total shock, "Thank you I could really use the help and Ron and Harry will be of absolutely no assistance in this department because usually I have to correct their work."
Draco smirk, "It's not as if I have anything better to do."
_PERCY'S APARTMENT_
"What are you doing," Ron asked as he was sprawled out across Percy's couch?
"I'm trying on my harness," said Percy struggling with some of the buckles.
"What exactly is a harness for?"
"It's what you use when you go mountain climbing it hooks to the ropes, that are hooked to the mountain so you won't fall," answered Percy still working on the buckles.
"You don't know a thing about mountain climbing. You can't just start climbing you know," Ron pointed out.
"Of course not Ronald, that's why I'm taking a class. I said I wanted to have fun not die," he saw the expression on Ron's face at the mention of death, "Sorry."
"Percy you're one crazy bloke," Ron said shaking his head, "What's this?" He pointed to the black backpack lying in the center of the floor with a red string hanging from it.
"That's my parachute," said Percy smiling at his success in getting his harness on correctly.
"What on earth could you possibly need a parachute for?" Ron wasn't sure if he liked where this was going.
"It's for when I go sky diving."
"You mean jump out of a plane? You don't even like flying a broom," Ron couldn't understand why his brother would do this.
"This is not flying its falling and it'll be lots of fun you should join me," said Percy now trying to figure out how to get his harness off.
"I don't think so. When you said you were going to have fun and experience life I thought you meant sex, drinks, and a good laugh. But the death defying stunts are ridiculous," Ron said as he moved into a seated position.
"Oh I did and death defying stunts," he answered distractedly working on his harness.
"Who are you having sex with?" Asked Ron with a grin
"No one you know," He said with a small smile.
The fireplace lit up…
"Hey guys," said Harry as he stepped out of the fireplace.
"I just love how you don't use the door," said Percy sarcastically.
"That would require me apparating out front and walking through the building and I may be seen by someone," replied Harry taking a seat.
"I can't believe you haven't been out in public all summer," said Ron shaking his head.
"If I go out people will bother me and if I had it my way no one would know I exist," he said gloomily.
"Oh come on Harry it's not so bad, everyone knowing your name," Percy had successfully gotten his harness off and was bouncing around in excitement, "you can probably get a job wherever you want and get away with anything."
"That doesn't sound bad at all," agreed Ron.
"I don't want to be seen as a savior I just want to be Harry, I don't like the attention, and I'm being put up on a pedestal for something that I didn't even do alone," Harry stated heatedly, "you two were there and so many others as well."
"You need to relax man," Ron leaned back in his seat and kicked his feet up on the coffee table.
"Yes you do," Percy pushed Ron's feet off the table and took the seat next to him, "you should go out have some fun, the only time you left the house was to go to funerals and that was ages ago… You should come sky diving with me!"
Harry looked at Percy as if he was crazy, "You're right I do need to get out and have some fun," He paused and jumped up in excitement, "I've got it, were going out, I'm owling all of our friends and we are going out on the town."
"Yeah right," chuckled Ron, "you going out on the town, that's funny."
"Well it may be funny but it's going to happen."
"What happened to I don't want to be seen?" Questioned Percy
"I thought of that and that's why we're going someplace muggle," responded Harry.
"Hell No! If we're going to go out we're doing it right which means it has to be someplace where magic can be used freely," demanded Ron.
"Fine," said Harry sitting back down.
_FOUR HOURS LATER_
"What do you mean they asked about Nargles," laughed Hermione.
"I swear the man who was conducting the care of magical creature's examination during OWLS asked where can you find Nargles and what are their magical qualities," Draco smirked at Hermione over the book he had in his hand.
There was a knock at the door and Draco got up to answer it.
"I thought they were creatures that the Quibbler made up," she giggled
"Me too," Draco opened the door.
"Hey man, you look rather cheerful," said Goyle greeting his friend.
"Hi, what's up," said Draco trying to block the doorway.
"Just came by to see if you wanted to do something tonight," asked Goyle with a raised eyebrow to Draco's behavior.
"I can't I have to work but this weekend's ace, man."
"Do you have a girl in there or something, your acting very odd," said Goyle trying to look over Draco's shoulder.
Draco smirked, "nope, just working on some stuff."
"Uh huh…" Goyle pushed pass Draco into the apartment,
"Granger?" He said in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"Relax Goyle she's waiting for Weasealby," said Draco resuming his position on the floor hoping this moment wouldn't get any worse. "Okay what's in the antidote for sleeping potion?"
"Lizard's tongue, snake skin, and whittle grass," she said effortlessly.
"Wrong"
"What! I am not wrong I know for a fact that's what goes into the antidote," said Hermione defensively.
Draco smirked, "you forgot the dried Nargle," Draco chuckled and Hermione threw a copy of "Quidditch Daily" at him.
"You're helping her study," said Goyle
"Quite perceptive," said Draco simply, "do you have a problem with that?" He turned the page of his book.
"Nope… but I do have a question. What the hell is a Nargle," Goyle asked confused, as he lay on his stomach on the floor in between them. Hermione and Draco looked at each other Draco snorted and Hermione began laughing. "What's so funny?" Hermione laughed even harder,
"Whatever, man you need furniture."
"Let's enlarge Weasels bed," Malfoy said closing his book and standing.
"Oh I don't think that's such a good idea," Hermione said nervously
"Yes I'm sure you're right, it's probably on its last leg," Draco said, lifting the lid from the box, he tossed the box in the air. When it began to fall towards the floor it was meant with the kick of his foot and he said, "Engorio" Hermione and Goyle quickly rolled out of the way of the bed as it sprang to full size right where they used to be sitting.
"You could have a killed us," Hermione huffed angrily as she quickly got off the floor.
"Relax Granger no one was going to get hurt," he said going over and pulling her History of Magic textbook from under one of the bed legs, "I have better aim then that."
"Well you shouldn't have taken that chance," Hermione crossed her arms.
"At least now there's furniture," Goyle plopped down on the bed, "it's quite springy." He bounced up and down a bit. He stood on the bed and began jumping.
"Please don't do that…."
"If I break it I can afford to buy him another," Goyle said as he did a toe touch.
"Oh my goodness," Hermione whispered under her breathe.
(***)
Ron apparated from Percy's place to his front door he couldn't apparate straight to his bedroom because Draco had put spells on the place so no one could apparate in, I guess that was a good idea so no lunatics like Lucius Malfoy can come busting in whenever they want, Ron put his key in the door as he heard laugher, that sounds like Hermione but who could she be laughing with? He opened the door, just in time to see Hermione falling off the side of his bed, onto the floor.
The studying was completely forgone and Hermione may have been suckered into childish games on Ron's bed, a bit of jumping and wiggling about later Ron got the extreme horror of seeing her falling from the bed where Malfoy and Goyle were still positioned laughing.
"Hey!" Said Hermione smiling as she got up from the floor and went to give Ron a peck on the lips
"Hey," he said confused, "What's going on?"
"I just came by to drop off your bed like you asked but you weren't here. Draco offered to help me study for my NEWTS while I waited," answered Hermione cheerfully.
"My beds in the middle of the living room," he said walking in farther.
"Oh, well," she shrugged
"I told you we needed furniture," Draco climbed off the side of Ron's bed.
Ron shook his head "I completely forgot you were coming, sorry I took so long you should have owled me or something."
"It hasn't been that long has it," said Hermione looking at her watch. "Oh my god it's almost nine."
"Oh shit!" said Draco putting down the book and getting up from the bed.
"What," asked Hermione?
"I was supposed to be at work by eight," he said hurrying to his room. He came back into the living room wearing his Sighler T-shirt.
"Come on Goyle, I'll buy you a drink," said Draco as he opened the front door. Goyle followed him out and closed the door Hermione and Ron heard the CRACK!
"So what have you been up to today," asked Hermione taking Ron's hands and pulling him over to his bed. They sat down on the edge and Hermione put her legs over one of Ron's and put her arm around his shoulders.
"Nothing much, went to Percy's, that's about it… So you're going to take your NEWTS… only you Hermione would return to school to take a test," commented Ron.
"Actually I am taking it at the ministry not a Hogwarts. Harry and Neville are taking them as well," She explained.
"Neville was in school this past year."
"Remember Alecto and Amycus Carrow those wicked death eaters, they kicked him out before the final examination that's why he was living in the room of requirement," Hermione stared blankly at Ron, she knew something was wrong he wasn't his normal sarcastic self and he said everything so nonchalantly. Hermione brushed some of his hair out of his face. "What's going on with you Ron?"
"Nothing," Ron turned his head and looked into Hermione's eyes. She was so beautiful, he didn't want to hurt her and he didn't want to lose her either. "I just need some time to adapt to this new life."
Hermione nodded in understanding, "I will give you all the time you need… just remember I'm here for you." She kissed him on the lips and began to gather her things. "You have to be to work in a while plus move your bed and I have a ton of studying left to do so I'll just go," she began walking towards the door but turned around, " I love you."
She opened the door
"Hermione," Ron called. She turned, "thank you, you're going to do great on your NEWTS." She smiled closed the door and apparated.
_HERMIONE'S HOUSE_
Hermione apparated to the front porch of her house
"Hermione!"
She was so frighten she dropped her bag and her books and papers went flying everywhere. "Harry! Why are you sneaking up on me like that?"
"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I've been waiting for you," he said helping her pick up her things.
"How long have you been here?"
"A few minutes, I was over at Percy's when I had a brilliant idea," he said excitedly following Hermione into her house.
"You were at Percy's? Was Ron acting strange to you?" She asked concerned.
"Not anymore strange then he's been acting the last couple of months," said Harry brushing off the subject.
"Uh huh… So what's this brilliant idea," she asked dropping her books onto the couch.
"We're going out," he was unable to control his joy.
"Going out where," she said staring at him puzzled.
"Me, you, and everybody are going out for a night on the town and actually have some fun like real people," he was practically jumping up and down.
"Harry Potter wants to party?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, "isn't this surprising."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"Because Potter, you're more of a quiet night in type person rather than having a night out where anything could possibly happen," Hermione shrugged
"Come on you know you want to, it's what we all need after all of the stuff that's happened, It will be good to get everyone together to have a good time instead of to fight or cry," he stated.
"You're absolutely right," she smiled, "so where are we going?"
Harry grinned
"Let You Go" Ashley Parker Angel
