Struggling Through New Beginnings

Chapter 24

Author Note – Here’s another double chapter. It’s about time to jump forward a bit, don’t you think? lol Let me know your thoughts. Thank you!

“Then she said Hermione’s actually interested in that asshole! How daft is that?!” Harry said as he rubbed his fists against his eyes, trying to rub back the headache that had formed behind them.

Ron sat next to him on the sofa, his long legs stretched out in front of him, as they enjoyed the privacy of their common study area.

“Yeah, well, maybe we’ll get lucky and one of the two of them will realize how stupid it all is,” Ron sighed tiredly.

Harry looked at him in shock, “Is that all you have to say?! You’re VERY recent ex-girlfriend, is interested in I-hate-all-people-not-of-rich-pureblood-Draco Malfoy! How can you be so calm about this?”

Ron shrugged, “Dunno, Harry. But, we weren’t good together, you know that. I want her happy, and as dumb as I think this crush is, if it makes her happy, I’ll hold back for a while.”

“But, it’s MALFOY!” Harry exploded and jumped off the sofa. “Are you mad?!”

“Calm down, Harry,” Ron answered. “I didn’t say I was happy about it. But, it’s what she wants for now, and he seems to want it, too, so…”

“So, you’re just going to sit back and let that…that ferret…that ex-Death Eater do whatever it is he has planned to do? To our best friend?!”

Ron looked up at Harry angry face and sighed, “I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think he’s planning anything, Harry. Not this time?”

“How can you say that?! He’s pretending to want to be with Hermione!” Harry threw his hands wildly as he spoke. “Like anyone would believe that the Great Pureblood asshole would really be interested in the most famous muggleborn witch in the world!”

Before Ron could answer Harry hurried on, “Ah, that’s it!”

“What’s it?” Ron asked when Harry stopped moving and seemed to have frozen in place.

“Don’t you see? God, what a jerk! He’s going to try and use her to get back into the world’s good graces. Let them see how much he’s supposedly changed by dating a muggleborn witch! And, the money!” Harry slammed his fist into his other open palm. “He’s lost practically everything! With all the money Hermione got from the Ministry for her part in the war, he could be set for life if he could get some from her!”

Ron shook his head, “Harry, think about what you’re saying. Malfoy wouldn’t saddle himself with Hermione for the rest of his life, just to get her money. If nothing else his pride wouldn’t allow it. And, plus, she’s smarter than that. She wouldn’t let herself be used like that.”

“But, Ginny said it earlier. Hermione’s never been romanced, seduced. No offense, mate. Hermione wouldn’t know what was hitting her if he turned on that snaky charm!”

Ron knew there was no talking to Harry about this any longer. Where Malfoy was concerned, Harry had never listened to reason. Heck, he hadn’t either before, but things changed. Between the stuff he’d read and seen over the summer about the Malfoy family, and sharing meals with the man he’d hated forever, Ron had started to see a new person emerge. He couldn’t claim to like the new Draco Malfoy, but as with everything else in their lives, he was willing to give this change a chance.

“I think we should trust HER, Harry,” Ron finally said. But, then, to show his loyalty to his friend, he added, “But, we can keep an eye on the slimy tosser behind her back.”

Harry nodded and sat back down to think about what they could do as he continued to rub his temples. The stress of all the changes of the past few days had gotten to him. He accioed some pain potion and sat back next to Ron with an aggravated sigh. As the silence stretched between them, Harry had a realization.

“Wow!” he said softly as he turned the vial around and around in his hands.

Ron turned to look at him with a questioning look on his face, “What?”

Harry laughed and shook his head, “Just having a normal person moment. They still throw me, I guess.”

“What do you mean?”

Harry smiled, “I’m having a normal person, non scar-related headache. It’s strange. I can barely remember the last time that happened.”

Ron laughed, but he fully understood what his friend meant, “Only you would be happy to be in pain.”