Draco.
He couldn't believe where he was. Standing with Potter in his house with his friends, it just felt bizarre. But despite that, Draco couldn't help but admit he was happy to be there. He had never really had true friends, only followers and people who sucked up to him because of his superiority and who his family were. But now, standing with Potter, Weasley and various other old Hogwarts students, he strangely felt as though he belonged.
"So Malfoy, you support the Chudley Cannons right?" Weasley asked lightly, taking a gulp of Butterbeer as a group of guys that consisted of Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas stood in an awkward circle in Potter's garden.
Draco had to admit Potter had a pretty decent home, of course it didn't compare to the Manor he now owned but it was nice all the same. He was startled to be asked such a casual question by someone like Ronald Weasley.
"Nah, the Holyhead Harpies are far better!" He laughed heartily, also taking a gulp of his own Butterbeer.
Seamus chuckled, "See ey' told ya!"
"I suppose they're alright, considering my sister plays for them…" Weasley laughed.
Draco couldn't help but be content with the Quidditch chat. He finally felt like one of the guys.
"So Harry, when are you and Ginny actually going to tie the knot then?" Dean asked politely, breaking the silence as the Quidditch talk had died down suddenly.
Draco smirked slightly to see Potter blush and look flustered. He may be the saviour of the wizarding world but when it came to women, he knew Harry was a huge wimp.
"Well… I dunno mate" He said awkwardly, before trying to steer the conversation away from him, unfortunately in Draco's direction.
"So Mal-… Draco, what about you and Mione?" He questioned. He could tell that Potter was still a little uncomfortable with the idea of him and Hermione, but was still polite. The others turned their heads, intrigued by his answer.
"Marriage!? Ah, no… Hermione and I have only been dating what… five months?" Draco explained. He noticed that Weasley's expression turned vaguely disgusted by this. It was obvious he was not as quick to except their relationship as the others. He didn't see why. It wasn't like he was still interested in Hermione now that he was dating Astoria. Or perhaps he was?
Just then, the women strolled over to them. A giggling group made up of Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Lavender Brown, Hermione and Astoria Greengrass. Draco found it weird how they had welcomed Astoria into their friendship group. They seemed to be getting along amazingly.
"Hey boys!" Ginny chirped, grinning wildly at each of them, "Ready for some cake?"
"Sounds good" Neville replied, leading the way after Ginny. All of the other men followed but Draco stayed, as did Hermione.
She glanced up at him and smiled warmly. He never got used to how perfect her smile was and how her nose crinkled sweetly.
"Having fun?" She queried, wrapping her arms around him gently and placing her head on his chest.
"Yeah… weirdly…" He laughed.
For the first time, he could truthfully say he was. It seemed wrong to be having this much enjoyment after losing his parents such a short while ago but he didn't seem to mind. Of course, he did miss them both and often thought of his mother's awful ordeal but he knew he shouldn't dwell on those thoughts.
"I'm glad" Hermione said, lifting her head from his chest and pointing her face upwards.
Draco gawked at her, staring into her chocolate eyes made his heart beat rapidly and he had the urge to kiss her passionately. But before he could, her face scrunched up in pain and her hands shot to her head.
"Argh! I can't get rid of this headache!" She groaned, massaging her temples. Draco frowned and began to worry.
"Are you alright?" He wondered.
She nodded slowly, still unable to remove her hands from her head.
"It's just a headache, perhaps I just need to…" She stopped and before Draco could do anything, Hermione passed out in his arms.
Hermione.
A flash of ginger hair was the first thing she saw upon waking up. This hair belonged to Ginny who was leaning over her with a very concerned expression.
"Mione? Oh my god, how are you feeling?" She asked frantically, dabbing a wet towel on her throbbing head. Honestly she was feeling quite sick due to the intense pain from her aching skull. She didn't know why this was happening, she very rarely got headaches let alone ones that made her pass out. The last thing she remembered was collapsing in Draco's arm and now she was…
Where was she?
She peered around timidly and found herself in Harry and Ginny's room, spread out on their master bed. How they managed to lift her up the stairs was beyond her.
"W-what happened?" She mumbled, not opening her eyes too wide as the light was causing her head to hurt even more.
"Well… you passed out…" Ginny muttered, "Draco mentioned something about you having a headache?"
Draco. Hermione wanted to see Draco. She needed to see him.
"Where is he?" She murmured, continuing to squint from the brightness of the daylight.
"Oh, he's downstairs, I'll call him!" She smiled, getting up and strolling outside the room.
"Ginny, don't-"
"DRACO!" She screamed from the top of the stairs making a sharp pain shoot through Hermione's brain. She flinched and closed her eyes quickly.
She then heard rapid footsteps of none other than her loving boyfriend, who came charging into the room.
"Hermione, how are you feeling?" He asked, kneeling down beside the bed and taking one of her hands in his grasp.
She kept her eyes firmly shut but her body relaxed from the softness of his voice. She slotted her fingers in between his.
"I dunno… No too good after Ginny's screaming…"
Hermione heard Ginny gulp and slowly make her way out of the room guiltily. Hermione couldn't help but smile a little. Ginny had always been one to get herself heard, that's what you get when you have six brothers.
"But… I'm glad you're here"
She heard Draco laugh and stroke her hair away from her face lovingly.
"Thanks and I'm glad you're okay…" He hushed before trailing off, "Well, if you are okay."
Hermione's forehead creased, she didn't feel alright at all. Her mind was swirling around in her skull and she knew if she tried to sit up she would be dizzy. It was terrible.
"We think we know why you collapsed…" Draco began, resting down on the bed next to her and staring at her gently.
Hermione peeked open one eye and raised an eyebrow curiously.
"We?"
Draco blushed ever so slightly and gave her an awkward smile.
"Harry, me and the others…" He admitted, trying not to sound too happy, however she knew that he was. This made her grin despite the awful throbbing pain coming from her head. She couldn't be more delighted that her friends had accepted him into their group and that he was so willing to be a part of it. She could barely even remember the days when he was an annoying little prat that taunted all of the Gryffindors. He was a whole new person and Hermione had a secret pleasure in knowing in was mostly down to her.
Draco continued in telling her, his and the guys theories in why she had passed. She was definitely intrigued as she was clueless herself.
He cleared his throat cautiously,
"We think it's linked to my mother's spell…"
A/N: Thank you to vickifay for giving me the idea for this chapter! I know Hermione's part is a bit short… sorry! I hope you are all enjoying the story!