the marriage stone (Discontinued)

Chapter 57 - Seeing the Obvious

Relieved and unwilling to think too long on why he was relieved, Harry hurried through the hallways, vaguely noting how empty the castle was - it would be several days yet before the students returned from holiday. He supposed though that the workmen would arrive tomorrow to begin working on the Quidditch Pitch. If the National tryouts were going to be in two weeks, they'd have to get started soon. Ron would be exited - but the possibility of an attack was too worrisome for Harry to truly look forward to the event.

He found Ron and Hermione sitting in the Great Hall with Ginny and surprisingly Draco. Charlie had to work during the day and Draco had grown bored by himself. He was currently playing chess against Ron while Ginny and Hermione looked on. Relations with Draco since his marriage had been odd. That very first conversation in potions class when Ron had welcomed Draco to the family had seemed to set the standard for the future relationship between Ron and Draco. Neither of them were comfortable with the trappings of true friendship - Ron still called Draco 'ferret' and Draco still called Ron 'weasel' and because of this all seemed right with both their worlds.

Draco and Ginny were polite to each other - though Harry suspected that had more to do with how a pureblood was expected to treat a female member of his family. But it was Hermione that Draco was really awkward around. He seemed to understand that she was considered a permanent fixture in the Weasley family, but he honestly didn't know how to behave around a Muggleborn. No doubt a lifetime of indoctrination that there was something wrong with Muggleborns was coloring his thoughts - and he really didn't know how to get past it. Hermione on the other hand was far more hesitant to simply put aside the insults she'd endured over the years - the word Mudblood still hung between them. Nevertheless they were both trying.

As for Harry and Draco - for whatever reason Draco seemed to have the least amount of problem accepting Harry into his life, which Harry found weird. But then he suspected the Slytherin had been raised to respect power, and like it or not Harry knew he was more powerful than his classmates.

All four of them looked up as Harry entered, each taking note of the outfit he was wearing. Normally they only saw him in his school uniform, and he always felt somewhat awkward when he stepped outside that image. Hermione and Ginny looked appreciatively at him, while Ron just looked vaguely wistful. Even Draco looked impresses by his appearance for he nodded his head at him in acknowledgment.

"How was. . ." Hermione began, but broke off suddenly, glancing briefly at Draco. They had not shared any news of Remus with the Slytherin.

"Everything's fine," Harry said simply as he sat down beside them. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny smiled in relief.

"Professor Lupin's been freed of all charges then?" Draco asked unexpectedly.

All four of them looked at him in surprise. He just sneered at the lot of them. "Please," he scoffed. "I do follow current events. I know his formal Inquiry was today - and it's not like I'm completely uninvolved in this issue."

"No," Hermione nodded in agreement. "Since it was your father who leveled the charges against him."

"Even so," Draco nodded, unperturbed by the accusation in her words. "So I take it everything is alright? He's been cleared?"

"He's been cleared," Harry agreed. "They had no choice but to drop all charges. I'm sure it will be all over the papers tomorrow."

Draco just nodded and moved one of his knights across the chessboard in front of him. "And Professor Lupin?" the blond boy asked. When no one answered him, he sighed and looked over at Harry. "He's alright, yes? I mean he's not. . .angry at me for anything, right?"

Understanding now what the Slytherin was asking, Harry nodded his head. No doubt Draco had heard enough of the story to be concerned that the possibility that he was to be married to Sirius Black might have sent a feral werewolf after his blood. "Remus is fine," Harry assured him. "And he's very happy for you and Charlie."