Close Enough

Ch 38 Hermione

Harry woke from his nap, stretching lazily, only to find his movements restricted by someone holding him tightly around his waist. A smile crept onto his face as he snuggled backward into the body behind him, placing his hands gently on the arms securely around him. “Draco… wake up.” Harry said softly, but Draco didn’t stir. Harry began to fidget, “Draco, wake up. It’s time to get up.” Harry added with a tug on Draco’s arms.
“I’m up.” Draco mumbled into the back of Harry’s neck. “what time is it?”
“nearly four.” Harry answered, carefully removing himself from Draco’s grip. “you should be getting ready for the feast, you only have two hours.” Harry giggled.
“You prat!” Draco grinned widely, pulling Harry back into him again. “You’ll pay for that.” Draco began tickling Harry’s sides fiercely, laughing as Harry tried to get away from him. Draco managed to pin Harry under him, straddling his hips as he tickled him, watching the tears slide down Harry’s cheeks as he laughed.
“Stop… please….. :cough:… Draco… stop….” Harry begged, trying to push the taller boy off of him.
“What will you give me if I stop?” Draco asked, letting up on the tickling slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Anything….. please… just stop… :cough:… please…” Harry laughed, coughing every once in a while. Draco smiled down at him.
“Anything?” his hands stilled, gently caressing Harry’s sides, “Tell me where you were today, and I’ll stop.” Harry sighed and closed his eyes, allowing his arms to fall to his sides.
“Continue then.” Harry whispered, turning his face to the side away from Draco.
“Harry, why won’t you tell me? I just need to know that you are safe.” Draco turned Harry’s face to him again, gently wiping the tears from Harry’s cheek as he did so, “Why do you want to keep something from me Harry?”
“It was something I needed to do on my own, something I have always done on my own. It’s private, it’s mine. I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.” Harry said, hoping that Draco could understand the need to have something that was his, and his alone.
“I don’t like the idea of you keeping secrets from me.” Draco stated coolly as he slid off of Harry, and removed himself from the bed all together. “you want this as your own, fine, I will not ask of it again. You are back, safe and sound. And by the smell of you, you were alone. I just want to protect you.” Draco finished softly, picking up his pile of clothes for the evening and left the room to shower and get ready. Harry threw an arm over his face, sighing heavily., remaining there for a minute before standing and beginning to gather his things for the feast.

The feast went as it did pretty much every year before; tables full of chattering students, tons of food, immense amounts of desserts, followed by a display from the Hogwarts ghosts. Harry and Draco sat at a table with Blaise and Pansy as well as Justin and to everyone’s surprise Hermione. Draco wrapped an arm around Harry’s waist when the bushy haired girl sat down with them, passing a warm greeting to the group at large. The bond was telling Draco that Harry was a little uneasy about the fact that Hermione was sitting by them instead of by his other former friends. However as dinner and dessert progressed, Draco could feel his mate relaxing, and even holding a civil conversation with the girl.
“How have you been Harry?” Hermione asked, when Pansy had distracted Draco.
“Fine, and yourself?” Harry asked, picking at the remains of his dessert.
“I’m alright. Thank you for the book you sent me for my birthday.” She said softly.
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Hermione.” Harry said, a hard look on his face.
“No Harry, I mean it, thank you. I know you sent it, even if you didn’t sign the card. You forget that I was your confidant for years, I know you.” She said gently. Draco may have been looking at Pansy, and nodding slightly as though paying attention, however the conversation behind him was the one holding his interest. ‘why would Harry send someone who hate’s him a birthday present? And why is she over here?’ he wondered to himself, shifting a little to catch a glimpse of the two talking.
“Well I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Harry said softly, leaning closer to Draco’s side.
“So…” Hermione smiled softly, her eyes flicking between Harry and Draco.
“So?” Harry raised an eyebrow at her.
“What’s going on with you two? I see you together all the time.” She smiled more broadly, “one would think that you two were together or something.”
“What, pray tell, would make you think that you were privy to that type of information about my life any longer, Miss Granger?” Draco turned slightly to look more closely at the pair as Harry spoke, “You surrendered any right that you had to know anything about my personal life when you stood by and let him toss me down the stairs.” Harry stood slowly, turning to Draco, “Draco, I’ll see you later, I need to go for a walk.” With that Harry swept from the great hall.
“Granger, I don’t know what you are playing at, but I think that you should leave.” Draco spat, venomously.
“I am just worried about him, that’s all.” Hermione said, twisting her hands slightly.
“Why would you be worried now? You haven’t been concerned for him for over a year now! Why all of a sudden do you have interest in his well being again? Especially when you are one of the ignorant gits that watched the Weasel beat him and throw him down the stairs!” Draco stood, leaning his hands on the table.
“Look, I didn’t come to cause problems; I have been talking with Justin for over a month now on how to approach talking to him. This was perfect, a public place, within his comfort zone. This past year hasn’t been easy on anyone, least of all him. I didn’t know what to do about Ron.” Draco followed her gaze over to where the red head sat, glaring at her. “I couldn’t do anything. Ever since the war ended, and he lost most of his family, Ron has been… well angry… violent even.” Draco watched as Hermione wrung her hands in her lap, eyes beginning to glaze. “I couldn’t help him.” She finished weakly.
“The Weasel has been hurting you.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement of fact. One that was confirmed by the slight nod of her head, and the tear sliding down her cheek.
“There was nothing I could do for Harry, I couldn’t help.” Justin reached an arm and gently put it around her shoulders, “it broke my heart, he made me watch…. wanted me to know…” she looked up at Draco with tear filled eyes. “Harry sent me a book for my birthday last week; it was by some Evans fellow. It was hard to read, but I read it. After reading it, I couldn’t deal with Ron anymore. If half of what is in that book were true, then Harry doesn’t deserve anything that our world has thrown at him, and now his ex-best friend is hurting him. I can’t stand it anymore. I miss him.” Justin squeezed Hermione’s shoulder and looked up at Draco to find him looking back. Justin gave him a slight nod, before looking back at Hermione.
“I will see what I can do about getting him to talk to you. He’s Harry, I’m sure it won’t be a problem.” Draco said with a small smirk, “besides, this gives me a great idea.” Draco stood, and made his way out of the great hall to go find Harry.