Fourteenth Letter
Dear Draco,
So you really want an invitation to my home? You know, you really are childish and stubborn, but all the same you are hereby invited. Though I don't really see why you didn't just drop by. I mean, I already invited you in one of my first letters. Guess you've forgotten about that.
Oh, and sorry to burst your bubble, but both Harry and Teddy will be home. But they won't disturb us when we retire to my rooms. But if you want cookies you'll have to put up with them. They will both be present with us in the kitchen, I can't just throw them out they live there as well and Harry is just as bad with cookies as you are. So you'll have to be civil with them, though I don't think it'll be that big a problem when there are cookies.
You asked about my parents in your last letter. Well, they are still stuck in Australia and it doesn't look like they'll be home any time soon. Perhaps I'll go spend some time with them before school starts again. I think they'll like that. And so would I. I know this might be a little sudden but if you feel like it you're welcome to join me. Remember the letter I sent you from Australia? I told that I wished to show you the Carlton Gardens. Well, the offer still stands. Just let me know what you think.
And really, I don't expect you to suddenly become best friends with Harry or anything. You can still call him Potter. Merlin knows he still calls you Malfoy with all the venom he can muster. So by all means keep calling him by his last name. Anything else would be incredibly weird. I know that you still only tolerate me but at least I'm Hermione to you now. You have no idea how nice it was to finally hear you say my name. That's the reason for the blush you mentioned. And don't worry; I didn't think you sounded like a woman. You were just sincere and very sweet. But gosh, that isn't your thing is it? Either way it was really nice.
Of course you are welcome to sit with me when we're on our way to Hogwarts. I'm sure Ginny will be fine with it; she has after all accepted my feelings for you. And Luna'll be no problem at all. She'll probably find it very interesting and check your ears to see if your brain has been invaded by nargles that has turned you sweet. Neville, Seamus and Dean might be a little hesitant. They never have liked you, but I'm guessing that the feeling is mutual. So you'll just have to be civil. You can just sit between the window and me with Ginny on the other side. Then they don't have to worry about you. But to sum it up, you are welcome to join us.
And by the way, I never meant for you to grovel or beg me for an invitation. That's really more your style so it's no wonder you came up with that silly idea. I simply thought that you remembered that I already had given you an invitation. I guess you didn't.
I can't tell you how happy I am that you finally seem to be given up on your old prejudices against Muggleborns. Even if it is mostly because of me. That's quite flattering you know. Have you noticed that you keep on saying that you don't really like my but still you respect me, you care about my parents solely because I do and you're begging for an invitation to my home? It sounds like you do like me a little. Well, you know how I feel about you. As I wrote in my very first letter I think, I never expected for you to wake up and suddenly just love me back. I know that that's not how things work. But I can feel you warming up to me. And you might deny that but I have it on writing. I might not be your favourite person but you certainly do not hate me, and that's a start. You see, I'm also quite stubborn and persistent. I won't force myself on you, don't worry about that. But I won't give up either. Because even when it took you a month to figure out that my feelings for you were genuine I already knew that. And genuine feelings don't just go away. And they don't just blossom. So I'm willing to be patient so you can figure out how you really feel about me. I usually get what I want as well Draco Malfoy. I'm just a little more grown up about it than you are.
Enough with all the truth declarations, they won't get us anywhere new. You know about my feelings and I know about yours end of story.
Isn't it strange that even though we see each other now we still continue with the letters? Somehow it's become our thing. Perhaps it's easier to be honest when you are writing a letter. You know, you don't have to look someone in the eye and tell them how you feel. You can just picture them and pour your heart out to them. You don't have to worry about their reaction, if they are going to cry or laugh at you. And once it's on paper and the letter is sent you feel so much better for finally having said whatever you meant to say. I guess my point is that I don't want us to continue writing these letters. But still I want us to be able to really talk when we're together. Of course I don't expect miracles – I am well aware that you're not capable of miracles no matter what you yourself believe – but can we just try to be honest and open with each other? No more secrets and no more lies, Draco. I hope I can count on you for that. Then perhaps we can begin having a real friendship. I would like to be your first friend, Draco Malfoy. If you'll have me.
Yours sincerely
Hermione
Okay, now I've figured out why I enjoyed writing the last chapter so much. It's because Draco is simply just funny! He is so mean and sarcastic that I love writing his chapters. And – no offense Hermione – but he makes Hermione slightly dull and boring.
Well, please review you pants off. Oh no, please keep them on! But review either way.
