My Father's Only Rule {DRACO MALFOY X SNAPE'S DAUGHTER}

Chapter Twenty-One: Friends

April 1996 - Hogwarts

"You did everything you could," Ron told Harry as we walked across the bridge on a foggy day. "No one can win against that old hag."

"Even Dumbledore didn't see this coming," Hermione said.

"Harry, if it's anyone's fault, it's ours," I said.

"Yeah," Ron said. "We talked you into it."

"But I agreed," Harry said. "I tried so hard to help, and all it's done is made things worse. Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. Because I don't want to play anymore, all it does is make me care too much. The more you care, the more you have to lose. So maybe it's better to just...to go it alone."

Alone? What was that supposed to mean? Without us? Without me?

"Psst," we heard. We turned to see Hagrid hiding behind a pillar. He signaled for us to follow him and he led us into the forbidden forest.

"Any idea where he's taking us?" Ron asked.

"Hagrid, why can't you just tell us?" Harry asked. The forbidden forest gave off a, well, forbidden vibe. It was dark and icky. It felt haunted. Hagrid came to a stop as we heard the ground shake, then a group of centaurs rushed through the trees ahead.

"I've never seen the centaurs so riled," Hagrid said. "And they're dangerous at the best of times. If the ministry restricts their territory much more, they're gonna have a full uprisin on their hands.

"Hagrid, what's going on?" Hermione asked.

"I'm sorry to be so mysterious, you four. I-I wouldn't be bothering you at all with it. But with Dumbledore gone, I'll likely be getting the sack any day now. And I just couldn't leave without telling someone about him." We heard heavy footsteps and turned to see a massive giant slowly standing up. We froze in fear. "Grawpy!" Hagrid called. The giant turned around towards us, distracted by some birds. He clasped his hands over them, trying to catch them. We had to duck to avoid his hands."Oh, Grawpy," Hagrid said as we stood up slowly, bewildered by what we were seeing.

He noticed us and started running towards us as we quickly backed up. But he was stopped by a rope that tied his foot to a tree.

"I couldn't just leave him," Hagrid explained. "Because, well, because he's my brother."

"Blimey," Ron said. Grawp got as close to us as he could.

"He's completely harmless, just like I said. Just a little high-spirited is all." We couldn't take our eyes off of him. But for the one second that Hermione and I exchanged glances, Grawp reached out and picked both of us up in each of his hands. "Grawpy, that is not polite."

"Hagrid, do something!" Ron said.

"We've talked about this," Hagrid said to Grawp. "You do not grab, do you? Those are your new friends." Hermione and I were panicking in Grawp's hands. I looked down to see Ron charging at Grawp's leg with a giant tree branch, but it didn't do anything, and Grawp kicked him away.

"Grawp!" I shouted firmly, catching his attention. I then looked at Hermione, amazed I was able to do so.

"Put us down," she demanded. She pointed her finger directly at his face as we were pulled right in front of him. "Now." Grawp slowly put us on the ground, allowing us to fall into the arms of our respective boys. Harry held me firmly, keeping me safe from the giant.

"He just needs a firm hand, is all," Hermione said.

"You two may have an admirer," Harry said.

"You just stay away from them, alright?" Ron said as Grawp dug around through his collection of rubbish. He eventually turned back around with the handle of a bike in his hand. He innocently rang the bell on it, and handed it to Hermione and me. We looked at each other, confused. Then she rang the bell to Grawp's delight.

"He gets his own food and all," Hagrid said. "It's company he'll be needin when I'm gone. You will look after him, won't you? I'm the only family he's got." As terrifying as Grawp was, Hagrid was a friend. And with Hagrid gone, we knew we had to look after his loved ones.

*

The reality of my friendship with Jane became more real to me when I no longer broke formation to give her a high five at quidditch matches. It was tearing me up, especially since I was realizing more and more that I missed Draco. 

Wait, no. I didn't miss Draco. 

I was with Harry. End of story. But I did miss Jane. Hermione was a great friend, but she didn't quite get me like Jane did. We didn't laugh together like Jane and I. All I could think about what I had done to drive Jane away.

But one day, while walking in the hallway, Jane and I ran into eachother just like the last time we spoke. But instead of avoiding each other like we usually did these days, I couldn't help but try to reconcile. We awkwardly tried to maneuver around each other for a second, and then we painfully started walking away.

"Jane," I said, stopping her. She seemed just as eager as I was, but she was much better at hiding it. She's always been great at hiding her emotions, but I've always been great at reading her. "I don't like this. I don't like not seeing you. I don't like not being friends anymore." She was doing her best to keep a stone face, but I could tell she wanted it just as much as I did. She finally sighed and gave me a hug.

"Let's not fight anymore," she said. And just like that, I had my best friend back.