Chapter 27-In with the New
Harry was pleased with the way the conversation with Malfoy turned out. He had expected hostility and a cover-up but he detected neither. Either Malfoy had become an accomplished actor in his time away from Hogwarts or he was genuinely changed as a result of his encounter with Voldemort. Harry was willing to give him some rope to prove himself. He had wanted the same when they thought he was the heir of Slytherin and petrifying everyone. Harry wondered who was more gullible, him or Ginny?
Harry found Hermione and Ginny just before lunch and told them what he thought. Ginny was so happy she threw her arms around Harry's neck and kissed him on the cheek just as Draco turned the corner. "Oh, is that how it is, Harry? You are looking after every girl in school now, are you?" He smiled without a hint of jealousy, but just good clean fun.
"Well, if you must know, she's like my little sister so it's all platonic. But if I didn't have Hermione…," he smiled at all three of them. Hermione didn't find that comment too funny at all after the night before. She looked at him with disgust and butterflies in her stomach. She thought, 'oh, so you'd do her too, would you?' She pinched Harry's hand hard.
"Ouch! What's wrong with you?" he looked directly in Hermione's eyes. 'Oops!'" he thought.
As soon as Draco and Ginny were gone, Hermione stomped on his foot. "You know it might be funny to you to talk about other girls that you would be with if I weren't around, but I don't find it funny." Harry screamed in pain looking at Hermione. "I'm not usually jealous. Who the hell am I kidding? With you I am as jealous as I can be. Don't ever do that again! Joking or not." Hermione now knew she was over-reacting, but she hoped Harry got the message.
"Mione, I am sorry. What was wrong with what I said?" Harry asked honestly.
They went over and sat on the bench in the corridor. "Harry, I am sorry. I over-reacted. I just can't think of you acting like you're ogling another girl today. And probably, I'll feel that way for a while." She looked around to make sure no one could hear. "I loved what happened last night. But that's for me and you. Not for anyone else. There is nothing in the world that would separate me from you, other than unfaithfulness. Friendship's, one thing…I understand… but making eyes or advances to someone else…" Hermione was serious, but she had settled down.
"I thought you'd think it was funny, because it was Ginny. You know, Ginny…Ron's sister. I'd never hurt you or her by being that kind of jerk. You should know that by now." Harry's foot still hurt so bad he wasn't sure he could walk.
"I know, I know." Hermione wasn't ready to cry, but she had a longing look in her eye as she looked at Harry. "Where do you see us five years from now? Hiding away, shagging each other on the sly? Pretending to everyone around us that we are the perfect moral couple?"
"No, of course not. I imagine us being married and having kids or something. If we're not dead first." Harry intoned.
Hermione looked relieved and had expected the fatalistic portion of his response. At least he hadn't answered with the 'if we're not dead' part first. He had thought about what would happen between them and put the current situation on the backburner. "Thank you, Harry. I hoped you'd say that."
"What? You thought I might say something else. I think I trust Malfoy more than you trust me." Harry had a sad look on his face.
"No, sweetheart, don't say that. I am just a little emotional today. I mean a girl thinks about her first time and how it will go….and then, 'Poof' it's over. I am not sorry, but I am still trying to get used to the idea." I won't mention it again. She realized that boys probably plan to get any girl that would 'do it' for their first time, but not most girls. The idea was probably foreign to Harry.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Draco and Ginny spent the evening in the library again. This time they quietly studied with furtive glances at one another. They're attraction wasn't based solely on looks. It had taken a lot of work to trust one another. They both had to change the way they approached each other and they'd learned a lot about themselves in the process. Draco was amazed that he felt this way.
Across the library, Hermione and Harry had agreed to return to their familiar old hiding spot in the Occlumency section. They were aware that a repeat of last night was dangerous. It would be better if they waited a while to see if Hermione was pregnant. They hadn't been responsible last night, but they would be in the future. Hermione smiled at Harry without a single word and squeezed his hand. He knew she was thinking about him and he about her. It was great that they communicate their love in a touch and an expression like that.
A few minutes passed and Hermione said, "I almost forgot. Fred and George will be here tomorrow to do their presentation before the committee. Do you think that we can make it? Do you think they'll get past the committee? Do we have a test in History of Magic?"
"Wow, that's right. Tomorrow's December 4th. Only three weeks until the Yule Ball on Christmas Day. Mr. Weasley says the presentation is actually quite tame for Fred and George. They plan on displaying a lot of their funny candies that make peoples faces turn cartoon like from the awful tastes. Mr. Weasley said he volunteered for the demo tomorrow for that one. There will be lots of outdoor fireworks near the lake and a demonstration of hypnotism. As an added treat, each table will have those little capsules for the flowers. They put a twist on it though. True love will bring a dozen roses. Strong feelings of friendship will bring orchids. And all the rest will get a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers. That way no one will be left out or embarrassed if nothing happens. I hear all of the bouquets are really nice." Harry continued to describe the presentation. "If we do have a test, we'll have to take a make-up exam."
"Did you see Draco and Ginny over there? Did they remind you of anyone?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, us…you know, pretending to study while looking for an opportunity to start some silly conversation or other." Harry smiled. He was impressed that they both had realized what went on between them. They hadn't realized it until afterwards though.
"Exactly, Harry James Potter courting Hermione Jane Granger like a twelve year old waiting to give out his first real valentine." She teased.
"Go fly a kite! Merlin knows you can't fly a broom. Just think, a witch who can't ride a broom. You'll never get the part in the Wizard of Oz now, will you?" Harry gave her a little of her own medicine.
"You might get a part in it though, Harry." Hermione said testily. "Wanna know how?"
"Yeah, okay. I'll bite." Harry retorted.
"After you've been married to me for a while, you'll just sit around and get fat on butter beers, lose your hair and become the grand old Wizard of Oz himself. Knowing you, you'll watch Quidditch and demand sex. That'll be it." She poked it back hard right at him.
"Ouch, well, enough sex and I won't watch Quidditch and I'll stay in fairly good shape. There goes that theory." Harry chortled.
"If you don't watch out you'll only get the Quidditch and you'll have to make your own food. Then you could be the scarecrow and you'll never get your brain back for being so stupid." Hermione and Harry laughed. They loved their battles of wits. No one ever won, because it kept getting more ridiculous each round.
Hermione was reading the poem Harry had made up. She still loved it. I reminded her how far she and he had come since they were wide-eyed little first years. She missed Ron. He and she never seemed to see eye to eye but she definitely loved the guy like a brother. She often felt sad that Harry only had her to rely on these days.
"Harry, when is the next meeting of the Order?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not really sure. They don't invite us to the meetings after my little outbursts. I am sorry about that too. Even if Snape deserved it, I think I could help them. That parts my fault. All I had to do was apologize." Harry lamented.
"I think it might be tomorrow, since everyone will be here for the demonstration. They're sending Percy as the judge from the Ministry. I don't know what I was thinking earlier. Of course they'll pass muster with him there and not Fudge." Hermione said with a smile.
++++++++++++++++++++
As Harry and Hermione passed Draco and Ginny on the way to the roof, Harry got the strange feeling of being watched. He looked around and all he saw was a first-year Slytherin sitting with Pansy Parkinson and looking toward him with a look of awe. Harry was used to those looks from the first-years so he thought no more of it. Hermione and he decided to get their jackets for a breath of fresh air.
As Harry and Hermione left, Draco and Ginny decided to leave too. Draco walked Ginny to Gryffindor Tower and in front of the portrait, he kissed her. She was so happy that he was such a gentleman. As usual, the Fat Lady said, "Get a room." They laughed as Ginny ran inside and Draco headed for his room in the dorm.
Draco felt good this evening. He was really starting to like his new life. The fringe benefit of having someone as beautiful and kind as Ginny on his side made him feel like there was hope-even for him. He stripped to his shorts and tee shirt and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. He thought about how nice it was to be alone up here, but he realized he missed Goyle and Crabbe. He had a crazy thought. What if they had the chance to change too? He finished looking at the two little facial hairs starting to grow on his chin. Marvelous, he thought, I'll have to start shaving soon…what a pain in the… Something felt strange as he looked in the mirror again. The lights had gone out in the dorm.
"Is there anyone here?" Draco asked nervously. "Identify yourself."
"Why would I do that?" a voice sounding like Snape's answered. "Surprised, are you, Malfoy?"
"Professor…what are you doing here?" Draco said even more nervously this time.
"Well, you don't think that I am really here do you?" the voice chuckled. Malfoy was dumbfounded. Someone pretending to be Snape.
"I…I…don't know what to think…"
"Yes, you do. You have just been refusing to do it. Malfoy, what did Lord Voldemort tell you about divulging too much information to anyone?" the voice queried.
At that moment, Malfoy's knees buckled as he sat in the chair unable to move. "Now you know what Looney Lovegood felt like when she was taken to the infirmary." Malfoy tried to move. He couldn't. He could hardly breathe. He could feel his windpipe closing and it became more difficult to breathe. He could barely see through the fog as he teetered on the edge of consciousness.
"Funny how we become creatures of habit. You don't even look twice at your tube of toothpaste, do you?" the voice taunted. "Now the little twist. Any touch by human hands brings pain equal to the fires of hell. REMEMBER THAT MALFOY! The shadowy shape of Severus Snape stood over Malfoy. He put his hand to the side of Malfoys face.
If Malfoy could have screamed, everyone in the castle would have heard him. The pain subsided as the hand was removed, but then he was touched on the shoulder, then the arm, his leg, the top of his head, and his chest. Each time he tried to scream. The perspiration mixed with the tears on Malfoy's face.
"Do you remember your mission now? Make Potter feel comfortable with you. Don't worry about shagging the Weasley girl. You'd better get your priorities straight. If I have to see you again before the next phase begins, it will be to torture you to death. It will not be quick." The figure of Snape picked him up as his blood-curdling screams choked in his throat and he was laid on the bed. "Just think Malfoy, you don't even know how you got this way. I can do it anytime. Just think if it was in the Great Hall at dinner time. What do you think about all he helping hands that would be available to help you….Miss Weasley, Harry, Hermione, the Staff. Every person there would become a Good Samaritan?" He walked away. "HA, HA, HA!" he laughed as the door closed behind him.
Once in the hallway, Carl quickly dashed to his own dorm and got under the covers before someone saw Snape in the dorms after hours. It may not be suspicious for other houses, but Snape rarely patrolled his own house.
Draco laid there mortified. He was scared. He wanted to cry. What the fuck do I do know, he thought? I am supposed to help destroy the best thing that ever happened to me. The tears came uncontrollably. He hated his very existence. His dreams were nightmares that night. The potion did what it was supposed to. It magnified the feelings just before sleep. Draco was miserable.
Draco awoke at 5:30 AM. He couldn't lie there any longer. He had just regained the feeling in his legs, feet, arms and hands. He was stiff and the panicked feeling of burning alive had haunted him all night. He was still exhausted. He was going to meet Ginny in front of the portrait and walk her to class. He was determined to spend as many good days as possible before he was called on again.
++++++++++++++
As Hermione predicted the final vote was 5 - 0 to allow the Weasley twins to provide a magic show at the Yule Ball. Draco and Ginny began to really hit it off and things had continually gotten better between him, Harry and Hermione. One day, Draco looked at Harry and Hermione together and felt a pang of jealousy. Not of Harry or Hermione, but the kindness and quality of character they displayed. They were far from perfect, but they tried to help anyone who needed it. They forgave and forgot. And, they had begun to accept him. He still felt sadness that he was deceiving them, but he couldn't take the pain again.
And tomorrow was the big day Harry and Hermione had been planning for. Christmas Eve. He hoped that the gifts he had ordered for all of his new friends would give them some pleasure.
"Hi, Draco." Harry said with a smile. "How's things, mate?"
"What happened to Hermione? I thought she'd be with you." Draco remarked.
"Oh, some girly thing is going on with Luna and Ginny. I am surprised you didn't know. The way Ginny checks in and out with you." Harry laughed.
"Or is it you checking out with her?"
"We both know it's the later rather than the former." Draco laughed in return.
"So, they're supposed to meet us here, right?" They were standing in the corridor in front of the front doors. Four more days and it would be three months to the day that they'd found Draco here, bleeding.
"Yeah, I think so. The night before the Ball they decide to let everyone go to Hogsmeade. What do you make of that, Harry?" Draco asked. He and Harry had started to chit-chat just the week before when Hermione invited them to come to the room of requirement to listen to music with Luna. The three girls had become inseparable lately.
"I don't know, but they must be pretty sure that the danger has passed for the moment to let all these unsuspecting students…I mean they're letting the first years go too…go out to town. Dumbledore doesn't check-in with me anymore." Harry said sarcastically to Malfoy with his own sarcastic grin.
"Come on. Come on." They looked to their left and down the corridor came Hermione in the lead with Ginny pushing Luna in rear. Luna was all bundled up for the ride. Hermione had decided that she would do a levitation spell so the wheelchair wouldn't get stuck in the snow.
"Good Morning, Sergeant Hermione Granger of the Hogwarts Dumbledore's Army drill team will now lead her platoon to Hogsmeade." Luna called out as she did a fancy salute. They all laughed, even Hermione. They all began in lock step for about 100 feet until it got boring and monotonous. Then they all scrambled to get next to each other to gab some more. Harry and Draco were amazed that these three girls could find so much to chat about. They whispered about how they'd do their hair for the Ball and what they were wearing.
"Hey! Hey! Why did we come along if you three are going to act like chickens in the chicken coup!?" Draco exclaimed with an applauding Harry.
"Mark this down." Began Ginny. "December 24th -Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy gang up together on their unsuspecting friend and girlfriends." They all laughed. "Okay, we can talk about this all later."
They all went to the Three Broomsticks and cleared a corner. They sat there for hours. Occasionally, Hermione looked over at a sullen Harry. She knew he was remembering the last time in Hogsmeade. It had not been here in the Three Broomsticks, but Ron had kept it lively by yelling, "Get a room." Everyone had laughed. The day seemed eerily similar. By the end of the day, he and Draco had drunk enough butter beer to keep them going to the loo for a week of Sundays. They left just before dusk. The girls returned to their dorms to get ready for the Ball tomorrow night. The guys, well there was homework or boredom. Since there was still a week and a half before classes started again, boredom and sleep were in order for both.
Draco nodded to Harry after they'd kissed the girls goodnight. "Thanks mate. It has really been a good thing you're doing for Ginny. She has a boyfriend who loves her, her surrogate big brother, and her best friends. None of whom are trying to kill one another. You're a good bloke, Harry." He extended his hand.
"Draco, the more I get to know you. The more I wonder if it's all for Ginny. You aren't a bad bloke yourself. Goodnight, Malfoy. No hugs." Harry smiled and went through the portrait. Draco left feeling as welcome as he'd felt in his short and sometimes miserable life.