A Reason To Be

“Albus! Let me in!” Draco yelled and he banged his fist on the closed door of Dumbledore’s study. The night before, after he had surrounded Hermione with her stuff, he had gone to bed and actually gotten more hours of sleep than normal. It still was not a healthy amount of rest but was better than nothing. It was now mid-morning on a Sunday and Snape had sought him out, telling him that Dumbledore had summoned him to his study for a little chat. Draco had spoken the password and made his way up the winding steps and was just waiting for the door to be opened.

‘Open the damn door!’ Draco thought, and as if on command it did exactly that. Albus opened the door and bid Draco to enter.

“Patience is a virtue, my lad.” Albus teased. He shut the door behind Draco and gestured for the young man to take his usual seat; the large, cushy, purple chair that sat in front of Dumbledore’s desk.

“It is indeed a virtue, one I don’t have.” Draco countered as he plopped down in what he had now come to think of as ‘his’ chair.

“I ventured down to the hospital wing this morning and noticed that Miss Granger’s personal effects have escaped from her dormitory and have settled by her side. Did you know that?” Dumbledore asked casually, the usual twinkle in his eyes. He leaned back in his own chair and waited for Draco to answer.

“I did not.” Draco lied, staring Albus dead in the face. Draco normally excelled at lying but almost immediately knew that Dumbledore had seen right through him.

“It was most interesting.” Albus added, smiling. Apparently he was not going to expose Draco in what he knew to be a complete and utter lie. Then the smile dissipated and the old man’s more serious expression fell into place.

“That is not why I asked you to come up here though. It does however, have something to do with Miss Granger.” Albus said seriously. Draco folded his hands in his lap and nodded, indicating for Dumbledore to continue.

“I feel you are the best person to ask this question. You must answer truthfully, no matter what the answer, alright?” Dumbledore said. Draco knew from the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice that Albus was very serious about whatever he was about to ask. Draco quietly agreed and waited for the question.

“Who attacked Hermione Granger? I have given it thought and I have concluded that since you were the one to recover her, you may know. Even if you do not know for certain, you are a smart lad. You know the goings on of the school. So tell me, do you know?” Albus waited after his little speech for it to register with Draco. The young man looked deep in contemplation, so Albus knew there was something at work in Malfoy’s mind. Draco leaned on the arm of the purple chair, drawing his finger across his chin in thought. Finally, after a long silence, he answered.

“I know, but the information will be of no use to anyone.” Draco finally announced.

“Tell me anyway.” Albus replied immediately. Draco sighed heavily, wondering what he was going to get himself into by telling anyone what he knew.

“Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. I saw them exiting the alley, looking suspicious. This is partly why I went down that alley. That is where I found her. Later, on the Express, Pansy admitted to me that it was them. But it won’t do you any good, we’ve no proof. Only the word of a Malfoy, which isn’t worth shit these days. ” Draco stated, the tone of his voice sounded as if just speaking about it was tiring. Dumbledore didn’t say anything, only gave a long, low ‘hmmmmmmmmm.’

“I believe you are right, my boy. There is nothing I can do right now. Perhaps when Miss Granger wakes up she will be able to identify her attackers. Until then…” Dumbledore resigned. He did not like the idea of the four Slytherin students running free throughout Hogwarts, knowing full well what they have done.

“Don’t you mean if?” Draco asked. His voice sounded bitterer than he had intended it to. Albus understood though. The elderly man gave the young man a small smile.

“I try to remain optimistic, Draco. I realize that that may not be your particular style though.” Albus said kindly. He rode from his chair, showing that their meeting had come to an end, and Draco followed suite.

“In any case, I am sure her parents wish to meet the person who saved their daughter. Please go down to the hospital wing, Draco.” Dumbledore suggested.

“They are here?!?!” Draco asked incredulously. Albus nodded and confirmed that they were indeed visiting their daughter and that Draco should go down and see them. Judging from the sound of protest that came from the young man, Dumbledore knew he had no desire to do anything of the sort.

“Do it as a favor to me please? I cannot imagine how hard this is for them.” Albus pleaded. Even when Albus Dumbledore pleaded, he still remained as stately as ever. Draco begrudgingly agreed as he left and made his way down to Madam Pomfrey’s domain.



They had been sitting there for some time. Watching their daughter, waiting for her to move or speak. Of course she never did. She merely laid there, eyes gently closed and head slightly cocked to the side. Mrs. Granger looked up when she heard the door open. In strode a tall and handsome young man. He walked confidently up to Hermione’s bedside where Mrs. Granger was sitting on a nearby chair and her husband stood at the foot of the bed.

“You are Mr. and Mrs. Granger.” Draco’s deep voice said softly. It was a statement, not a question, but he said it kindly.

“Yes, my name is Judith and this is my husband Charles.” The woman replied in a shaky voice. Draco looked down at the woman’s face and saw the tracks of tears that had been cried recently. He glanced over to Charles Granger and saw a dry face but deep worry lines creasing his face. The man looked over at Draco and then snapped out of his inner rivalry in time to hear Malfoy’s words.

“I…I am sorry, I wish I could have done more.” Draco said to Hermione’s parents. Judith Granger glanced up to look at the young man.

“What do you mean?” The woman asked tentatively. Her brain was not working at full capacity that day, for obvious reasons. Draco knew that fact, so he felt a tiny twinge of pity for the woman.

“I am the one who found her.” Draco explained gently. He was not expecting the reaction he got. Judith jumped up out of her seat, ran around the bed, threw out her arms and encircled Draco in a large hug.

“Oh! Thank God for you, dear boy! Thank you so much! I don’t want to think about what would have happened had you not been there!” The woman cried. Due to her height or lack thereof, she shouted this into Draco’s chest. Draco was afraid to move. He had never even spoken more than a few words to a Muggle, now he was in the embrace of one. After he tried to compose himself, he awkwardly patted Hermione’s mother’s back. When she released him from her grip, Hermione’s father also expressed his great thanks and moved closer.

“Are you a friend of hers? Are you a Gryffindor too?” Charles asked, trying to gather as much information as possible about the man who had saved his daughter’s life. The mere mention of him being in Gryffindor house gave Draco a sour taste in his mouth.

‘Gryffindor?!?! When hell freezes over!!!” Draco thought to himself. But he dismissed his offense and went to correctly the man as nicely as he could. Draco pointed to the green and silver tie around his neck and began his explanation.

“No. Green is for Slytherin house. Blue is Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff is yellow and you know red is for Gryffindor house.” Draco explained patiently. They both nodded and stored the knowledge away for another day. Then Charles turned to Draco with an embarrassed look on his face.

“I’m sorry; we don’t even know your name. You are…” The man looked over to Draco, extending his hand. Draco looked at the man and then down at his hand. He had just been mauled; shaking hands with Muggle didn’t seem so bad now. He hesitated for a second and then summoned up his courage and reached forward and grasped the hand of Hermione’s father in a firm handshake.

“My name is Draco Malfoy.” He responded coolly. At the mention of his name, Judith turned away from looking at Hermione and looked up at Malfoy. A look of confusion crossed her face.

“Malfoy…She has mentioned a Draco Malfoy before, but that can’t be right. She said she hated him.” Judith stated. She could not figure out how her daughter could hate the man responsible for finding her.

“No no, that sounds about right. She was never very fond of me.” Draco laughed. Draco put his hands casually in his pockets and leaned against the pole at the foot of Hermione’s bed. The moment after he did so, he heard the door of the hospital door squeak and soft whispers and giggles just on the other side of it. He looked over and found what he had least wanted to see. Draco’s eyes narrowed and he could see Pansy’s head popping in.

‘Come to see the mudblood and her Muggle parents no doubt. And see what else they can do to totally fuck up someone’s life.’ Draco thought angrily. They had some balls coming up here. Draco turned away from the Grangers so they could not see his face. He then proceeded to give Pansy a look that shouted, ‘Do not walk in here if you ever want walk again.’ Pansy caught the message loud and clear. She scowled but then gave Malfoy a smile that she knew that would annoy him. The growled and then turned back to Charles, Judith and Hermione.

“See, the reason she hates me is because I, with the rest of the Slytherin house, are seen as unscrupulous and vain. And I’ll admit that for the most part it is true. My entire family was in Slytherin house when they attended Hogwarts. And I will admit that like my father before me, I am a miserable bastard.” Draco spoke so nonchalantly, he knew it to be the truest of the true. Both of the Grangers looked somewhat surprised, that was not what they were expecting to hear from the young, blonde man. At that moment, in their eyes, he could do no wrong.

“I disagree, Draco.” Judith said quietly, looking up from her seat. Draco looked down into the woman’s eyes and gave her a slight smile of indulgence.

“Alright, I am a miserable bastard that found and picked up a girl that was hurt. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few errands to run before this evening.” Draco nodded his head to the both of them and swiveled around gracefully and strode out of the room.