Struggling Through New Beginnings

Chapter 28

After a short drive the group was deposited at the London Eye. While the students were rushed into the long line by Bill and Molly Weasley, Hermione's parents paid for the cars and arranged for them to return in two hours to pick them up again. The students chatted about the sites they'd seen on their drive and asked each other about things that were unfamiliar. Hermione was in her element as she told them about the castle they'd passed, what Big Ben was, and how cars worked. What seemed to surprise those of them that had never seen it before was how not different it all was. The fact that nothing untoward had happened seemed to relax them all enough to really have fun, and they talked excitedly about seeing it all from the top of the large Ferris wheel.

Greg stood near the back of the group and listened to Harry's explanations with half an ear, as he watched Draco watch Hermione. He hadn't really gotten over her himself, but he knew she wasn't interested. It made Greg like her even more when she'd not avoided him, but instead continued to make him feel welcome, while she made it clear they would be nothing more than friends. Also, regardless of what people thought, he didn't feel like he was stepping aside for Draco. He could tell that was where her interests lay, and Greg was in his mind, stepping aside for her.

There was a bit of confusion as each person paid the Grangers for the ride because most of them had never used muggle money. And, even with the lessons they'd had in class, they still felt it was all very confusing. Greg helped Draco and Pansy quietly count out the right number of bills and went to pay for the three of them. Pansy was still too ashamed to look them in the eye, and Draco had flat out refused to approach them.

After a lot of good-natured teasing amongst the large group, each person had paid, and moved to the queue. They were going to have two cars to themselves, as there were thirty of them and each car only held twenty-five people, and they began to form two groups.

The Weasley family took eight spots and, as Ginny wouldn't let go of Harry's hand, there was only space left for six more. Greg laughed out loud when Pansy quickly pulled Millicent into the group of redheads and he saw her move close to Ron. Knowing Draco wouldn't want to spend the next half hour with the Weasley family, or Harry, he moved with his friend into the other group. Greg smiled to himself when he realized that the Grangers would be the parental eye in their car, which meant Hermione would be with him. He glanced over to see Dean, Seamus, Lavender and Luna join the other group and then sought out Hermione in the large group around him.

Greg's gaze fell on Draco first though and he saw him staring under his lashes at Hermione and her mother as they chatted happily in the front of the queue. His friend's pale face was blank, and Greg wondered what was going through his mind.

"You okay?" he asked quietly, so no one around them would hear.

Draco nodded once, and seemed content to end it there. But, then he glanced over at Greg and whispered conspiratorially, "She defended me to her parents earlier."

Greg raised an eyebrow in question and Draco continued, "I don't know why or what she said to them, but she did it. Her mother was even kind of nice to me afterward. And, her father hasn't come near me, but he's stopped looking like he wants to pummel me into the ground."

Greg looked forward again and saw Herb Granger pull his laughing daughter close for a hug. "You think our families will ever be like that?"

Draco shook his head, "Not mine. Mother doesn't really touch anyone all that much. And, the rest of her family...well, I don't know."

"Your cousin Tonks seems like that. Like she'd hug you, I mean. Is her mum like that, too?" Greg asked.

Draco shrugged, "Don't know. I don't really know her. Although, I did see her hug Mother when they reunited a few days before I came back to school. I stayed in my room for most of her visit though, so I don't know."