Chapter 6 - Good vs. Good

"Hermione!" Screamed Ginny. Everyone else in the room had probably called out her name, too, but not any louder.

Harry stood behind Ginny, waiting for his turn to embrace her. Luna stood, smiling calmly as her usual self and Ron stood, but for some reason, he didn't seem to enthusiastic.

"Hermione! Oh Merlin! I thought I would never see you again!" Tears fell down Ginny's face. When Hermione saw Harry over the red hair, she realized he, too, was crying.

"Ginny, I'm alright, but how am I going to explain if you are cutting off my circulation?" Hermione gasped when Ginny let go, allowing Harry to have a turn.

"Hermione," Harry said gently, "are you alright?" He stood in front of her.

"I'm fine now, Harry," she felt her heart beating harder in her chest, trying to get out like a wild lion that was caged.

Harry immediately closed her in an embrace, "I was so scared I had lost you. It's a bloody miracle I'm holding you now." He squeezed her tightly, also, but not as tight as Ginny.

"I missed you, too." Hermione began to cry. "I heard the killing curse as I was falling. It sounded like Bellatrix's voice, but I don't know."

Harry pulled away and smiled, "that wasn't Bellatrix."

"Really? Then who was it?"

"It was Ginny at Lucius Malfoy," he pointed at the teary-eyed girl.

"Ginny?" Hermione tried not to yell, but was shocked. "Wow, Ginny."

The red-headed girl smiled, meeting in front of Hermione with Harry, grabbing his hand and placing her head on his shoulder. As Hermione imagined Lucius Malfoy's death, she knew it would hurt Draco when she told him. She probably wouldn't even get to tell him, someone in the room would try to insult him. She'd have to speed ahead and confront them about him being there.

Luna came forth and hugged Hermione gently, "I'm so glad you are okay, Hermione."

"I'm happy you are, also, Luna."

That was enough for the weird Luna Lovegood, one hug was more than enough to make her already content self even more calm.

Harry turned to Ron, "aren't you going to say 'hello', at least?"

Ron stood up off the wooden floor, walking forward but not too close.

"Hello, Ronald."

Ron gave her a grimacing look, "glad to see you back Hermione." Hermione and everyone in the room wondered why he was grumbling.

As Harry, Luna, and Ron sat back down, Ginny leaned closer to Hermione. "He's been acting like this for the past week," she whispered.

"I wonder why," Hermione responded in the lowest octave she could manage.

Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand, pulling her towards the circle of friends.

"So, what happened, Hermione?" Harry asked, sipping what seemed to be tea.

She watched as Ginny took the teapot off the hot pad and poured her a cup. Hermione took a breath, "well, obviously you saw Snape open the portal. I was pushed in and it took a few minutes to land on the stone. It was dark, cold and there seemed to be a small bluish glow." Hermione picked the tea cup and attempted to take a sip, but burnt her lip, so she placed it back down. "After a moment, I saw someone's body."

"Really? Who was it?" Ginny asked, very interested in all Hermione was saying.

"Well, I was in a bit of pain so I finally got to them, rolled them over, and realized it was Draco Malfoy covered in blood."

"What! Draco Malfoy is dead?" Harry nearly jumped up and celebrated.

"No, Harry," Hermione wanted to punch him, but attempted to keep her anger to herself. "I healed him the best I could. I became hurt, too, and Draco healed me."

"That was nice of him," Luna said, smiling.

"Mhm," Hermione nodded to Luna's comment, "I don't know exactly how long or how many days we were down there, but we ended up understanding each other. Then a light shone into the dungeon, so, we used the flying charm to escape, found a cabin to stay in over night. We healed each other better than before, slept, and then found our way to the Black residence where we found the Lupin's."

Hermione waited for a response before she continued, but they seemed to be listening.

"So, they brought us here by port..."

"WAIT," Harry nearly yelled, "what do you mean, 'WE'?"

Hermione looked down and then back up at Harry, "I mean myself and Draco."

Harry's face seemed to show shock, and then anger, "why did you bring him here? We were worried about you, but that ferret is a Death Eater!"

"Harry!" Hermione stood, anger seeping from her body scaring Harry the most, "Draco may have the mark on his arm, but he is a very nice person who I wouldn't have left, even if he was the way he used to be!"

Harry stared at the ground, Hermione standing with her fists on her hips.

The door opened in back of her, causing her to automatically turn to face him, "Draco."