Never The Same

Chapter 24- The Grangers

January passed by in a blur, Hermione had been that focused on school work and keeping up on catch up from last year that she had nearly forgotten about the weekly updates on her parents. Sat down at the Gryffindor table for breakfast she was spooning scrambled eggs onto her plate when a tawny owl swooped in from the window with a letter bearing the MInistrys crest.

The door opened with a slam and Harry jolted awake, bringing a very sleepy blond tumbling to the floor. Blinking his eyes open he took in the bushy-haired girl who stood in the doorway,

"Mione? What are you doing, what time is it?"

She just gave an excited squeal and ran over to the bed, before realising rather quickly that Draco was lay sprawled, naked, on the floor. She ran back to the doorway with her hands over her eyes exclaiming,

"If it was one thing I thought I would never see in my life it would be Draco Malfoys dick but there we go!"

"hey! I'll have you know many people consider the view you just got for free a privilege Granger so there!" Draco retorted, sitting up indignantly and glaring at the girl,

"Do they now?" Harry replied, looking at his boyfriend with raised eyebrows,

"Well of course they aren't going to see it, I just meant that-"

"GUYS!" Hermione screamed, finally lifting her hand off her eyes,

"My parents are in Hogsmeade!"

'What? Oh Hermione that's wonderful, I'm so glad" Harry spoke, finally handing his grumpy boyfriend a sheet to cover himself with,

"And I was wondering if you guys would like to meet them, officially that is- I don't really think you have ever had a proper conversation with them thanks to your uncle and aunt and the whole 'Voldemort trying to kill you and everyone close to you, thing', what do you say?"

"We would love to meet them, right Dray?"

"Y-yes"

"what's the matter Draco?" Hermione asked, her brow creasing at his nervous tone.

"It's just, I've never met muggles before, what if they don't like me or hate me even because of who I used to be and act, and Merlin they must have heard some stories over the years, I mean me and my family were practically sat in bloody Voldemorts lap for the entirety of the war, Hermione. You were tortured by my AUNT and I just stood there and watched. I watched. I watched. I WATCHED AS YOU WERE CUT OPEN ON MY DINING ROOM FLOOR BY THAT MONSTER I CALL FAMILY AND I DIDN'T EVEN DO A FUCKING THING TO HELP YOU. I LISTENED AS YOU SCREAMED AND AS RON SCREAMED TO GET TO YOU. I DIDN'T DO A FUCKING THING. I watched." 

Draco was shaking now, tears pouring out of his eyes as he screamed the words he had been wanting to say for nearly a year,

"A-and not only during the war, but I bullied you mercilessly, the entire time you were at Hogwarts, and merlin, that word that foul awful word I used, I just. I don't know if I can do it.."

"Oh Draco, oh love it's okay, darling, I don't hold any of that against you I really don't" Hermione spoke suddenly, rushing over to where he was sat on the ground.

"My parents would love to meet you and see how you have changed from that posh boy I used to groan about to the caring, incredible man you are today, I promise you, nobody is going to hold your past mistakes against you, certainly not me or my parents"

"Are you sure?" He questioned, looking uncertainly up at Hermione.

"Of course".

All wrapped up in scarves and their thickest coats, Hermione, Pansy, Ron, Harry and Draco shuffled down the lane to Hogsmeade from the castle.