Chapter 13: Confrontation on the Train

As promised Sirius went to Gringotts the following day and annulled Narcissa's marriage. While he was at it he did the same with Bellatrix's marriage then proceeding to banish her from the Black Family. This action would cut the Death Eater's ties to the Black Family magic making her much weaker if and when she escaped Azkaban. Shortly after that Narcissa and Draco moved in with Sirius and Harry, this put Harry, Hermione, and the newly renamed Draco Black under the same roof for the rest of the summer.

The first week or so was slightly uncomfortable for the three of them. Any time Draco entered a room when it was just Hermione and Harry he would give them a courteous bow then immediately make his way out. Hermione assumed he was trying not to pester them since they had bad blood between them for the last three years. Finally one day Harry and Hermione came into the kitchen one afternoon to find Draco sitting at the table appearing to be eating a sandwich while reading over one of his homework assignments.

The moment he saw them he stood, "Please excuse me." He said as he start to gather his things.

"Nonsense." Hermione said, "You're a member of this family now Draco…no reason we can't all have lunch together."

Once she finished saying that Draco sat back down, the look on his face saying he was slightly uncomfortable. Harry sat down as well followed by Hermione and as they did two plates appeared in front of them with finger sandwiches. Dobby stood at the end of the table with a smile, "Dobby gets lunch for Master Harry and Missy Hermione."

"Thank you Dobby." Hermione smiled and rubbed the little elf's head.

"Ya know." Draco spoke, "Cooking at Malfoy Manor plummeted when you freed him." Draco nodded towards Dobby.

Harry chuckled, "Well I have to say since Dobby started working for me I have gained at least ten pounds."

"I'm just glad I can eat his cooking again." Draco said.

"Master Draco was the nicest at Malfoy manor…when his father wasn't around." Dobby said.

"Yeah…well I'm sure Harry can attest to what my father thinks of house elves." Draco said, "If he ever caught me being nice to one…I don't want to even think about what he may have done to me…or the elf."

"You're father is a real piece of work." Hermione said.

"I'm well aware." Draco said as he looked over potions essay again, "Damn…missing about three inches here…"

"Would you like me to go over it for you?" Hermione asked.

"Uh…sure." He passes her the parchment.

Hermione began looking it over Harry smirked, "Careful Black." Harry said, "If you let Hermione work your essays you'll be redoing the entire thing."

"Like you're any better?" Hermione said, "Now those potions are out of your system your essays tend to have five more inches than mine."

"Five more than Granger? What kind of potions did they have you on?" Draco asked, "Last I heard Snape scolded you for missing four inches."

"Yea well without the loyalty potions to Ron making me want be a lazy lout like him it turns out I'm exactly like my mother…a brain." Harry said with a smirk.

"Well guess now I'll have to try harder to keep my spot in the top ten." Draco said, "Now that your jumping up from your spot in the twenties."

The group laughed and from that day on things were much easier between the three of them. Over the last few weeks the three of them would study together and Harry and Hermione helped Draco finish all his summer homework. When the time came for them to head back to Hogwarts the three of them walked onto platform nine and three quarters side by side ignoring the looks they got from those around them. They were all shocked to see Harry Potter walking side by side with Draco. None more than the Weasley's, Ron's mouth nearly hit the floor. "Hey guys." Harry said with a smile.

"I'll catch you on the train Harry." Draco said and went to the side boarding the train.

"Harry why the hell are hanging out with Malfoy?" Ron asked.

Harry blinked with a curious expression on his face, "I know you get the Prophet at your house Ron. Draco's mother's marriage got annulled and now they are both Blacks again and currently living with me a Sirius. We've had to get along for the last three weeks and without his father whispering in his ear he's quite tolerable. He's even nice to Hermione."

"Hermione dear did you're parents drop you off at the barrier." Mrs. Weasley asked trying to change the subject.

"Oh no Mrs. Weasley my parents went to a work conference just before the World Cup. I've been staying with Harry and Sirius ever since." Hermione said with a sweet smile.

"Oh, isn't that nice." Mrs. Weasley said, Harry could swear he saw a vein pop out in her forehead, "Well I do hope the three of you have a good school year together." She said calmly, "Now go on get on the train."

"Bye Mr. and Mrs. Weasley." Harry and Hermione said over their shoulders. As they headed for the train. Harry watched as Ron stayed behind to speak to his mother off to the side. Harry assumed they were plotting their next scheme.

"Come on Harry," Hermione said, "Luna said she's save us a seat I'm sure Draco is already there." She tugged Harry's arm.

The two of them found Luna and sure enough Draco was sitting with her but surprisingly Ginny was there too. "Oh? So it was a love potion that made you ask me out?" Ginny asked curiously as Harry opened the compartment door.

"Uh yea I'm sorry." Draco said.

"That was actually my fault Ginny." Harry spoke up as he entered the room.

"See someone sent me a some sweets laced with love potions and as a prank Sirius and I sent them to Draco…of course that was before his mother annulled her marriage and they moved in with us."

"Wait…" Ginny said holding up her hand, "Who would send you a love potion keyed to me that makes…" she then stopped and her jaw dropped, "Harry…those sweets…did they come from my mother."

"I think you know the answer to that Ginny." Hermione said.

Ginny clapped her hand to her face, "Oh my god…" she grumbled, "Harry I swear I didn't know."

"I know Gin that's not your style you can get any man you want with just your looks and brains, apart from me…" Harry said politely, "You've always been more like a little sister to me."

Ginny blushed a bit, "Look I'll admit I had a thing for you my first year. I mean you got that god awful valentine I sent you. But after the whole Chamber of Secrets thing…well you just seem to attract trouble and well you have Hermione."

Hermione's face got red, "We're not a couple." She said.

Everyone in the room looked at each other then looked back to the two of them, "Yet." They all said in unison.

Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down beside Luna, and Harry sat beside her. The compartment was quiet for a moment then Draco spoke, "Uh Ginny…" everyone looked his way which made his face go a bit red, "So I know the potion is what made me ask you out, but if you're still up for it…I'd like it if we could go to Hogsmead together like we planned. I'm sure I'll have a much better time with you than being dragged around by Pansy all day."

"Oh…" Ginny blushed a bit, "Okay…but our arrangement still stands. No picking on my friends or my family."

"I can promise you, you won't a mean word out of my mouth about Harry, Hermione, or the twins…can't make any promises about Ron though. I'll try but if he starts running off at the mouth I'll likely retaliate."

Ginny seemed to ponder that for a moment, "Okay I supposed that's fair."

And as if summoned by his name the compartment door slid open and there stood Ron, "He's sitting with us now, seriously!?"

"Well Ron as I told you he's practically my cousin now and he's trying to distance himself from the other Death Eaters kids." Harry said, "But if you don't like it I'm sure you can go sit with Seamus…" Everyone but Draco, who looked confused as to why that was funny, chuckled at that, "Maybe you can pick up where you left off after the World Cup."

Ron gawked, "Really Harry?"

"Yea…Draco is part of my family now." Harry said, "Learn to deal with it or sit elsewhere."

Ron grimaced, "Fine be that way." He growled and shut the door stomping off down the hall.

"Okay what's the joke with Finnigan?" Draco asked.

"Well." Luna said and explained exactly what happened that night.

"Ron tried to potion Hermione?!" Ginny exclaimed. "Oh my god. Look I want this clear I have had no part in whatever my mother and Ron have been up too."

"Ginny we don't blame you." Hermione said, "But be careful of any treats you mother sends you. She seems dead set on trying to get you and Harry together."

"I'll be writing dad as soon as I get to my room tonight this has to stop." Ginny said, "I can't believe her."

"Well think about it." Draco said, "Your mother was originally a Prewett a very wealthy family. Then she marries your father for love and she has to change her lifestyle to be with him and she's alright with that but she wants the best for you, her daughter and she sees Harry, with his enormous fortune, as the best match for you. I agree she is going about this completely wrong but maybe her judgement is just clouded by her love for you."

"Maybe but still, even if I still liked Harry doping him with love potion to love me? That's not love." Ginny said.

"Well I hope you can get your dad to make her stop." Harry said, "Cause Sirius said the next batch of potioned snacks she sends me he'll be reporting for attempted line theft."

Ginny gasped, "Oh dear god that would land her in Azkaban for five years. Hermione loan me some parchment. Harry can I borrow Hedwig? I can't wait to get to the castle I have to write Daddy now."

The two obliged her and Ginny began writing a very detailed letter to her father. As she worked the other three began to talk amongst themselves when their compartment door slid open, "Draco?!" the screeching voice of Pansy Parkinson called out, "What are doing in here with Potter, Loony, and that mudblood?" the girl stood at the door with Crabbe and Goyle behind her.

Draco sighed and looked up at her, "Alright I've expected this confrontation but I'm going to make this very clear. I'm a Black now and the Black Family is aligned with House Potter. So that means as long as your families still side with old Moldypants. I'm not associating with you."

"Wait…we can be friends with Potter now?" Crabbe asked.

"Vincent?!" Pansy screeched.

"Well I'm not stopping you." Draco said.

"Oh good I really don't want to be on his bad side anymore, Or Granger's…I saw her slug Draco last year and that did not look pleasant." Goyle said.

"So you've wanted to be friends with me this whole time?" Harry asked.

"Well yea, Draco did too at the end of first year but then second year rolled around and suddenly he hated you with a passion." Goyle said, "Our dads told us to follow Draco, so we did."

"Well guys I can honestly tell you when your dads learn of mine and Harry's new kinship they won't be telling you to follow me anymore." Draco told them.

"Well bugger that!" The both of them said together.

"If dad wants to lick You-Know-Who's feet he can do that on his own." Crabbe said, "I'm not pissing off Potter, he already killed the psychopath once."

"Are you two being serious right now." Pansy screeched.

"No that's Harry's godfather." Hermione piped up jokingly.

"Shut up you dirty mudblood!" The Slytherin girl screeched.

Crabbe and Goyle went wide eyed and stepped back. Harry was about to blast her into the next compartment's door but someone one else beat him to it. Everyone in the compartment whipped their heads around and stared wide eye. Luna Lovegood was now on her feet wand pointing at the now slumped girl, "Don't you ever talk about Hermione like that again!" the Ravenclaw shouted.

Harry and Draco started clapping, "Bloody hell Lovegood." Draco said, "I didn't think you had it in you."

"I was about to do the same." Ginny piped up, "Luna here jumped up first."

"Uh…" Crabbe said, "We're gonna go." He pointed down the hall, "We'll talk to you later Draco, Harry." Crabbe then stepped over the whimpering Pansy and grabbed Goyle's arm leading him away.

Pansy looked up fury in her tear filled eyes, "You gonna regret that Looney." She said struggling to get to her feet before limping down the hall.

The compartment on the opposite side was filled with other Ravenclaw girls and they all stared wide eyed at Luna, "Well Luna I believed you just sorted you bullying problem in your House." Harry said.

"I don't care what people do or say about me." Luna said as she sat down, "But I will not tolerate someone badmouthing one of my few friends. My head is not full of wrackspurts."

"Thank you Luna." Hermione said as she reach over and held her hand.

"Of course." Luna said, "I stand up for my friends."

"Luna, if only everyone was like you." Harry said.

Up Next: Ron blows a fuse when he learns of Harry's new schedule. Molly Weasley Learns her husband is not as docile as he appears.