Chapter 3

Hermione’s POV:

We made it to the Burrow without a hitch, except for the trip was silent. Too silent. When we walked into the back door of the house we were greeted by an overly excited Mrs. Weasley.

“Ginny, Ron I’m so glad to have you home. Harry make yourself at home as usual. Hermione dear it’s so great to have you here again.” She hugged all of us and then turned to Draco. “Draco, it’s nice to have you here. Please make yourself at home and if there is anything we can do to help you out just let one of us know.” She then pulled Draco into a hug, at first he was tense and then he relaxed and hugged her back.

“Draco you will be in Percy’s old room, since he has moved out, Harry you will be with Ron as usual and Hermione you can stay with Ginny.”

I smiled as we made our way up the stairs to our rooms. Harry and Ron went into their rooms and I showed Draco his.

“It’s no Malfoy Manor but it’s been home to us every summer for years. You’ll learn to love it Draco.”

“I already do. This is so much better than the Manor. It’s an actual home. The Manor was more like a museum. Thank you for allowing me to come here with you and your family Ginny.” He said sincerely.

“You’re Hermione’s boyfriend and she is like a sister to me. I’d do anything for her.” She smiled at him. “Make yourself at home we’ll put our stuff away and meet you downstairs in a few minutes for dinner. I can smell something and it smells like mom’s cooking.”

He went into his room and we went down and across the hall to ours. I placed my trunk at the foot of my bed and Ginny opened the closet and shifted some of her clothes over. I opened my trunk and sent some of my clothes flying into the closet and on hangers. I then placed the others in the drawers Ginny had cleaned out for me. After we finished unpacking we walked back downstairs. I stopped in front of the doorway to the living room.

Ginny bumped into me. “Hermione what are you doing you just can’t stop…” She trailed off as I turned and held my finger to my lips.

“I want to see what they will do.” I whispered and turned my attention back to the room.

Draco was sitting in the armchair, the Weasley family all on the other side of the room. Avoiding Draco like the plague. Except for Mrs. Weasley and Harry, they were at least trying to make him feel at home.

“So Draco, you said you and Hermione are only staying for half of the summer is that correct?” Mrs. Weasley asked.

“Yes ma’am. We will be staying with Mrs. Zambini, Blaise and his girlfriend Rachael Woods.” She looked skeptical. “I promise I won’t let anything hurt her. I’ll keep her safe, as long as I’m alive nothing will touch her.”

“Well that’s a good enough answer for me.” Bill Weasley stood up and held out his hand to Draco. “If Hermione can trust him, so can I.” Draco stood up and shook his hand.

That was my cue. I walked back into the room.

“Ah Hermione we were just talking to Draco about how you are staying with the Zambini’s at the end of the summer. I do believe dinner is ready why don’t we all go eat?” Mrs. Weasley said and stood up and hurried everyone into the kitchen.

We sat and ate dinner, everyone talked but Ron. Draco leaned over at the end and kissed my cheek.

“Can’t you two do that somewhere else! Some people are trying to eat.”

Draco opened his mouth but Ginny stopped him. “Ron you are always trying to eat. Leave Draco and Hermione alone, they’re in love.”

“How can they be in love, they’ve only been dating for a few months and that’s how long they’ve been talking.”

“Ron they’ve known each other for seven years! They have liked each other for longer than three months stop being the jealous ex boyfriend.”

“I’m not, but I would prefer she not date a Death Eater who’s just like his father!” Ron said and Draco’s temper snapped.

“I never was, am not, and never will be Death Eater. I don’t follow my father’s ways! I never did so do not compare me to my father!” Draco stood up and walked out of the kitchen and up to his room.

“Nice job Ron.” I stood up and went after Draco. “Draco!” I ran up the stairs and knocked on the door.

“Draco, please open the door, it’s Hermione, I’m alone.” He opened the door.

“Draco I…” I looked up into his eyes, he was fighting back tears. “Draco.” I said and wrapped my arms around him. He pulled me into the room and shut the door.

“Hermione I’m fine.” He said.

“No Draco you aren’t. You are close to crying and I can tell so don’t deny it.” I snapped as he started to disagree. “Draco Ron is a hot-head. He’s mad because you are with me. There isn’t any meaning behind his words except for jealousy.”

“Hermione I know that, Ginny and Harry know that, and you and Ron know that, but everyone else down there will believe him!” Draco said pointing to the door. “They will all believe him and think I’m a death eater. I will never be able to get away from that. I will always be compared to my father.”

“Well Draco prove them wrong. Show them that’s not who you are. Show them who you really are, show them the Draco I love.” I looked up at Draco and smiled. “I know you aren’t evil or a murderer or a death eater. Don’t let Ron get to you. The Weasley’s like you Draco, Ron is just difficult.”

He smiled and wrapped his arm around me. “Come on, lets go back downstairs, Mrs. Weasley made a blackberry cobbler and I’m still hungry.”

I laughed as I wrapped my arm around his waist and we walked back downstairs.