Struggling Through New Beginnings

Chapter 32 & 32.5

Chapter 32

By midweek Draco was pretty sure nothing had been said to Hermione, or anyone else, about Blaise's breakdown. And, after a talk with Theo when he'd made it back to his room later that night, they two had come to realize that Ginny had had a point. After filling Greg in on everything the next morning, each decided to make an effort, in his own way, to include Blaise more and show him they were still his friends.

Draco hurried through dinner on Friday night so he could meet up with Blaise. They'd planned to spend the evening practicing quidditch and just relaxing together. Dinner had been uneventful, except for the chatter of students making weekend plans and bemoaning the homework that had to get done by Monday. As he was not included in the conversations around him, it was relatively easy to eat quickly. He heard Ron talking about a party in Gryffindor tower and wondered what Hermione would be like at a normal house party. Laughing at his inability to think about much else but her, he gathered his things and made his way out of the hall.

"Wotcher, Cous!"

Draco jerked to a halt mid-step and turned to see his cousin with her hair her favorite shade of blue. He glanced around the hallway and saw they were alone and straightened defensively.

"Nymphadora," he nodded stiffly, but politely.

She laughed, "You've sure got the Black family haughtiness down." When he raised an eyebrow, she continued, "Relax. Walk with me."

He glanced back at the doorway to the Great Hall and hoped someone, anyone, would come out to give him an excuse to say no. When no one did, he nodded and followed her down the hall and out of the doors leading to the courtyard. She remained quiet as they walked, but her eyes darted around vigilantly and her wand rested in her hand. Draco wondered if she realized how tense she looked.

When they reached the wall of the courtyard she spun around and jumped onto the low wall. Pulling her legs up under her, she smiled, "Cop a squat."

"Uh, what?" he asked.

"It means sit down," she laughed at his confusion.

He sat, but continued to stare at her in silence as he wondered what she wanted to say to him.

"So, what's up?" she asked finally.

"Huh?"

"I asked, wha..."

Draco rolled his eyes, "I know what you said. I meant, why?"

Tonks shrugged her shoulders, "Seemed like the time. We've been sidestepping each other since school started."

Draco waited for her continue and when she didn't he cleared his throat nervously, "Uh, did you have something you wanted to say to me?"

"No," she shook her head and then looked off in the distance as she continued, "I just, well, I've seen you, watched you. Remus keeps telling me to leave you be, but I never could leave well enough alone. Darn! He's right, Teddy does get it from me. Anyway, I wanted to see how you're doing?"

Draco looked at her contemplatively for a long while before he asked, "Why?"

"Because I'm your teacher?"

When he lifted an eyebrow at her, she laughed, "Fine. Because your mother wanted to know."

"My moth...huh? Why would she ask you?" he asked.

Again she shrugged, "Well, she didn't, not directly. She was talking to Mama and she..."

"Mama?" Draco asked before he could stop himself.