Left Behind 3: Curses

EPILOGUE - PART THREE

Hello dear Readers here, at long last, is the third part of the epilogue for your reading pleasure. I still have a couple more parts to go to the Epilogue, but I have had a bit of a writers block for it. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

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Draco stood tentatively in the middle of the order. They were all gathered around a table in one of the main tents. It felt like something out of an Arthurian legend. Of course Draco had never imagined himself on Merlin and the 'Good-guys side" clearly neither had several of the order.

There was a ball of nerves in his chest and Draco wanted to do was hold Hermione's hand. He knew that technically all he had to do was reach out and she would be there. She had already reached out and brushed her pinky finger over the back of his hand in offering, but Draco was more concerned about not pushing the boundaries of the order too far. He didn't want to flaunt things in front of their face.

Okay, maybe a part of him did in a way that laid claim to the fact that he was hers and she was his and he wasn't going bloody anywhere but...right now was not the time for that-no matter how many times Ronald Weasely glared at him.

The order had, tentatively, agreed to let him stay as it was and, thanks to Fred, Hermione, Mrs. Weasely, Ginny and Harry everyone seemed to be letting it slide that they had a former deatheater in their midst. The fact that he was able to roll up his arm and show the broken remnants of the dark mark worked to help people believing he had left Voldemort and the dark Wizards behind in favor of the order and more specifically...for Hermione.

It was for that reason-making sure the others continued to believe him- that Draco had decided to make sure he was chaperoned around. Even though they had been decided that Draco would be allowed to stay, he knew he was being closely watched and he had no intention of wandering anywhere without either Fred or Hermione with him so no one would get any more ideas about him being a spy for the Deatheaters. They were both his guardians and his guards among the order. It felt ridiculous, but to be honest he didn't mind spending time with either of them.

He never got bored of Hermione.

And Fred was funny, as in genuinely funny, especially when George decided to tag along. The two twins fed off each others energy.

Besides that Fred was championing him be regaling the order with stories of Draco saving his life and the subsequent adventure with the Felix. Each time the story was told it seemed to grow a little. However the biggest story that seemed to catch everyone's attention was the story of what Draco had done while he thought Hermione was dead. Stories about his escapades as the vigilante who had been taking out death eaters and helping them from the shadows. That was what most people wanted to hear about.

Draco was pretty sure it had been the tipping point in people easing up around him and the reason the others started talking with him like he was an actual human being and not some slimy ferret.

He had gone back to the safe house to see his mother twice, both times Hermione had come with him in order to appease the others and, once again, keep away any rumors of him being a spy.

The second time he had left to visit her, he was actually welcomed back by the order with a few pats on the shoulder and a handshake here and there.

Ron, not unexpectedly, continued to be a prat, but the disgruntled member of the golden trio had learned to keep his mouth shut after a little incident when Ron had raised his wand towards Draco for knocking into and surprising him. The redhead had let out a stream of name calling, but it wasn't until Ron accused him of hurting Hermione that Granger had finally stepped in.