Draco and Hermione, Love and Hate

A Different Summer

The image of the ending of the Triwizard Tournament would haunt the students of Hogwarts forever. Hermione was especially shooken up afterwards. Harry had arrived at the edge of the maze facedown with Cedric and the cup in hands. Neither were moving and for a distinct second Hermione had thought that her best friend was dead. She later learned, however, to her horror, that Voldemort had come back. Hermione didn't doubt Harry for one second.
Hermione knew that Rita Skeeter was going to be all over the story, but Hermione had luckily caught her just before she could write any more awful lies about people. Hermione had found out that Rita was an unregistered Animagus and had caught Rita and was keeping her in a jar until they all had left the Hogwarts express.
Besides the death of Cedric the ending of the school year was not too bad. Dumbledore made sure that the students weren't to bother Harry and ended up telling them all what had actually happened for the departing feast. The next day the students said goodbye to the Beauxbatons, Durmstrangs, and Hogwarts as well.
Hermione, Harry and Ron stood in the crowded entrance hall waiting for the carriages to arrive to take them to Hogsmade station.
"'Arry!"
They looked around and saw Flyer Delacour hurrying towards them.
"We will see each uzzer again, I 'ope," said Fleur as she reached Harry, holding out her hand. "I am 'oping to get a job 'ere, to improve my Eenglish."
"It's very good already," said Ron in a strangled sort of voice. Hermione rolled her eyes and scowled at Ron. She couldn't see what made him and other guys to infatuated with Fleur.
"Good-bye, 'Arry," said Fleur, turning to go. "It 'az been a pleasure meeting you!"
She pranced back across the lawn to the Beauxbatons carriage.
"Wonder how the Durmstrang students are getting back," said Ron. "D'you reckon they can steer that ship without Karkaroff?"
"Karkaroff did not steer," said a gruff voice. "He stayed in his cabin and let us do the vork."
Viktor Krum approached them and turned to Hermione.
"Could I have a vord?" he asked her.
"Oh . . . yes . . . all right," said Hermione, looking slightly flustered, and following Viktor through the crowd and out of sight.
She heard Ron's voice in the distance shout, "You'd better hurry up! The carriages'll be here in a minute!"
Viktor took Hermione into an empty corridor and grabbed her hands in his large, strong ones.
"Hermy-own-ninny, I haff really enjoyed the time ve vere able to spend together. I vould really like for you to visit me this summer if you can." Viktor reached into his robe and pulled something out and placed it into Hermione's hands. Looking down she saw it was a letter.
"Read this when you get home. It can be the beginning of our correspondence this summer. It's long. I know 'ow much you like to read. I hope you vill vrite me back?"
Hermione smiled. "Of course I will!" She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you!"
Viktor leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips.
"Now that I have gotten my goodbye. Vould you like to return to your friends?" he asked smiling.
Hermione kissed him one more time and nodded. "I suppose we shouldn't miss our rides home."
Hermione put on an impassive face and returned to Harry and Ron closely followed by Viktor.
"I liked Diggory," said Viktor abruptly to Harry. "He vos alvays polite to me. Alvays. Even though I vos from Durmstrang — with Karkaroff," he added, scowling.
"Have you got a new headmaster yet?" said Harry.
Viktor shrugged. He held out his hand as Fleur had done, shook Harry's hand, and then Ron's. Ron looked as though he was suffering some sort of painful internal struggle. Viktor had already started walking away when Ron burst out, "Can I have your autograph?"
Hermione turned away, smiling at the horseless carriages that were now trundling toward them up the drive, as Viktor, looking surprised but gratified, signed a fragment of parchment for Ron.

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Draco sat upon his bed staring at his ceiling with his hands folded upon his chest. It was summer, and normally he would be spending this time out on his grounds zooming around on his broomstick, but as of recently he hadn't quite had the time to do anything.
At the beginning of the summer everything seemed normal. His parents, especially his father, Lucius Malfoy, were a little on edge, but besides that everything was fine. Then the Death Eaters began to arrive. Draco had been used to seeing former Death Eaters every so often, but not as many as were coming into the Malfoy Manner as at the moment. But what really caught Draco off guard, happened a few weeks ago. He came down the stairs for a snack when he saw him, You-Know-Who himself. Draco had never before seen the Dark Lord due to his fall happening shortly after Draco's first birthday. He was scarier than Draco had imagined.
The Dark Lord had the appearance of a snake, with red slits for eyes and slits for his nostrils and ears. The encounter unsettled Draco. However, he tried his best to hide it, every so often arguing with his parents that he was not a child anymore and should be allowed in the meetings. But his parents always refused and insisted that he remain upstairs and away from everyone.
Draco sighed. His parents were having an other meeting downstairs. And he desperately wanted to get outside for some fresh air. He glanced out the window. It was a nice summer day. There were a few white fluffy clouds in the sky to provide a little shade from the sun every so often when one would pass over it. It was perfect for flying.
"Forbky!" Draco shouted.
There was a loud pop and a small creature bowed before Draco.
"Yes, young master Draco?" squeaked the creature, in a rather high pitched voice.
Forbky was one of the Malfoy's house-elves. He was about three and a half feet tall, being tall for his kind. Like all house-elves his head was large for his small body. He had spindly arms and legs and large blue eyes. His nose was small and short and he had great bat like ears that pointed upwards. As clothes he wore a pillowcase as a toga.
Upon seeing the creature Draco's mind flashed to a certain bushy haired burnet. Hermione Granger had just made a new club for such creatures like Forbky last year. S.P.E.W or Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, was a club to promote rights of house-elves. She was very adamant about the club and went around the school handing out badges. It was her badges that had given Draco the idea for his famous Potter Stinks badges.
The image of Granger at the Yule Ball came to Draco's mind. She had looked so beautiful that night. And Draco had actually been nice to her. No. Draco couldn't allow himself to think this way about Granger. Not only did she come from muggles, but she was also best friends with Harry Potter, Draco's nemesis.
Draco looked at the house-elf, still bowing before him. Perhaps he didn't need to be so rude to the creature.
"Are they done with the meeting down there yet?" Draco sighed.
"They is not done, sir." The house-elf replied.
Draco scowled. "Of course not! And they expect me to sit up here and do nothing while they talk. I don't see why I can't be in there! They could at least let me leave my room!"
"Apologies, young master Draco. . . Master Malfoy did say you were not allowed in the meetings . . . so Forbky can do nothing about it. . . Is . . . is there anything young master would like of Forbky?" the house-elf began to shake.
Draco began to pity the poor house-elf. "No, Forbky. Thank you. I'm sorry, I'm not mad at you. It's not your fault I'm not allowed in the meetings. You've given me what I wanted. Thank you. You may leave."
The house-elf looked up at Draco confused and then popped out of his room. Draco shook his head. Why had he been so nice to the house-elf? Was Granger really getting into his head. He really needed some fresh air.
Draco got up from his bed and strolled to his door and creaked it open just a crack. He could hear slight voices in the house confirming that the meeting was still in session. Without a second thought Draco slid out of his room and crept down the stairs. As Draco approached the dinning room, the voices grew louder. When he got to the door he peaked in and could see his parents along with a number of people, some he recognized and others he did not, all seated around their table. A cold chill went through his spine as he saw the side of The Dark Lord's face at the head of the table.
"We must continue to stay in the shadows for now. Now is not the time to come out completely until we have gained sufficient numbers —" said the cool voice of The Dark Lord.
Right then Draco made eye contact with Narcissa Malfoy. Draco hurriedly moves away from the door and began to creep away from it. The voice continued to speak, "Continue to confuse the ministry. As long as the Minister of Magic refuses to believe that fool, Dumbledore, we have the advantage. But it is the upmost importance we get that prophecy —"
Draco's mother came out of the room and quietly shut the door, grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him into the drawing room.
"Draco, what are you doing down here. Your father and I have told you not to interrupt our meetings." Mrs. Malfoy whispered.
"I'm sorry mother, but I just don't see why I can't be in there with you two." Draco whispered back.
"You can't be in there because I wish for you not to. I don't want you involved with this Draco. You're safer not being involved." There was a look of fear in her eyes that Draco had never quite seen before. "Please, do not try to be involved in this. You're young, I know you're not a baby, but you're still young. Enjoy your youth. Do not try to get involved in matters like these. Do it for me, Draco." Mrs. Malfoy pleaded.
Draco didn't quite know how to react. His mother seemed so worried, but what for? Weren't they on the winning side, and the winning side is the right side. However he didn't want to argue with her looking so frightened. His shoulders dropped and he sighed.
"Okay. I promise I will stop trying to get involved." Draco said looking at the ground. "I'm sorry, mother."
Narcissa's manner loosened as she heard those words. She sighed and wrapped her arms around Draco, he was getting taller, but she was still taller than him and able to kiss the top of his head. "I love you, Draco."
Draco wrapped his arms around his mother. "I love you too." They hugged first a second when Draco pulled a little back and looked at his mother's face. "Can I please go outside and fly?" he asked.
Mrs. Malfoy smiled and nodded. Draco quickly went to the back door and out into the warm summer breeze and Narcissa snuck back into the dinning room.
Draco quickly got on his broomstick and zoomed around the Malfoy property, so happy to finally be out of his room.