Changing

CHAPTER SIX


Draco had known that things were going to get ugly the minute he saw the Daily Prophet on Tuesday morning. There on the front page was an article about he and his family. The headline read: MALFOY FAMILY RETURNS TO WIZARDING SOCIETY followed by an article about their prolonged absence in the social circles and their sudden reappearance at the opera house, Draco’s new job and his new love interest. In the middle of this article were two magical photos, one of Hermione and Draco, holding hands as she leaned up to kiss him while Lucius and Narcissa smiled at the couple. Below it was another photo of Draco wrapping them both in his cloak and kissing her as they apparated away.

He heard them of course, as they made their way down the corridor to his office. He was expecting them. He set the paper aside, and stood to greet his impending visitors. He actually was able to count it down….five….four….three….two…..one! And as he expected, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley burst through his office door, slamming it closed behind them.

“I was expecting you.” Draco drawled as he sat on the edge of his desk.

“What are you playing at Malfoy?” Ron asked, his face was as red as his hair as he stared Draco down.

“I’m not playing at anything Weasley.” He said.

“Oh come off it Malfoy, you want us to believe after all you have done that you suddenly couldn’t resist Hermione? You are up to something…” Harry said, eyeing him with such malice that Draco could actually feel the heat of his anger.

“I don’t expect you to believe it, but I have changed, and I assure you, I am up to nothing.” Draco answered, shrugging his shoulders.

“I don’t believe you.” Ron glowered. “You spent seven years calling her awful names, trying to hurt her, and now you’re strolling about with her on your arm?”

“I am deeply sorry for my misdeeds, my only excuse is that I was a child and believed everything my father told me. I now know otherwise.”

“Stay away from her Malfoy.” Harry said.

“No.” Draco said, shaking his head.

“No? What do you mean No? Stay the hell away from Hermione!” Ron shouted.

“I’m sorry, this is none of your business. I will not stay away from her, I can’t. I love her.”

“You love her? Oh that’s rich! No, you don’t love her, you just want in her knickers.” Harry spat. Draco lifted his brow, a look that told Harry that he had already trespassed in said territory. “Oh, you are dead….” Harry drew back his fist, and planted a solid punch to Draco’s eye. Ron, not wanting to be left out, decided to join in. All three men ended up in a writhing, angry tangle on the floor, Draco being the odd man out unfortunately ending up the worse for wear.

“What are you doing?” Hermione yelled from the doorway. “Stop it now you idiots!” She stomped into the room and grabbed a hand full of red hair in one hand and black in the other, pulling her two best friends off of her lover.
“What in the hell….” She looked at Draco, sitting on the floor, his lip cut slightly, is eye starting to swell. “Oh my god!” She dropped the boys and rushed to Draco, kneeling at his side. “Baby are you alright?” She asked, fussing over the cut on his lip, her hand brushing the soft swelling beneath his eye.

“Baby? Did she just call him baby?” Ron asked Harry as they watched her pull her wand from beneath her robes and cast a healing charm.

“I don’t get it…” Harry said, shaking his head in confusion as he watched her.


“I’m okay love, don’t be cross at them, they were defending you, as always. I knew they would, they adore you too much not too and I don’t blame them for it.” Draco said, sliding his fingers along her cheek. Hermione kissed his already healing wounds and helped him to his feet. She slid her arm around his waist and turned to face her friends.

“Boys, I am extremely disappointed in you. You had no right to attack him.”

“Mione, we thought he was just playing you…”

“Ron, you really shouldn’t think, it only gets you in trouble.” She snapped.

“Be easy on him love.” Draco said softly.

“I know you find this hard to believe, but he has changed, his parents have changed and like it or not, it is my choice to be with him.” She turned her face up to his and smiled softly. “I think I love him.” She didn’t look away but kept her eyes locked with his.

“I know I love you.” He said before kissing her, pulling her tight against him.

“Okay, we get the point….you are going to be together, and we have to deal with it, am I correct?” Harry said, looking at an oddly colored spot on the ceiling. Ron was busy admiring his shoes. Hermione pulled away slowly and smiled at Draco.


“Yes, you are correct Harry.” She rubbed her nose against Draco’s. “You can leave now, we don’t need you here now.”

Ron and Harry shuffled out, closing the door behind them.
“This is just too weird Harry.” Ron said shaking his head.

“I’ll say. Not too often that you see a Gryffindor and a Slytherin together.” Harry pondered as they walked away.

“Should be fun to watch at least.” Ron said with a shrug.