Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 19

"You what?" I say, panting. Ron bows his head and says, "I mean, mum has been talking to literally all of us, and she says you're welcome to stay with us, considering your dad is being miserable lately."
I nod and say, "I mean, I would love to, but surely your mum was just being nice."
"Why wouldn't she want you round?" Ron says, throwing a rock at a pile of rocks. It tumbles to the floor and we both watch, and eerie sort of silence settling in. I break it by saying, "My father isn't a very good man, my mum hasn't really done anything to help you or your family and my brother is... my brother is Draco."
Ron takes all these into consideration and says, "You aren't your dad. And anyway, you've done all of us a favour."
"Other than Percy." I say.
"Other than Percy." Ron agrees. He continues, "Well, you've made Fred and George cry with laughter, listened to me when I'm ranting about quidditch and then tutoring Ginny. She really likes you Atlas. I just was wondering if whether you would mind actually just coming round for maybe just even the end of summer. You don't have to of cou-"
"I'd love to."

We sit in silence a little longer and I say, "Where is Hagrid? Nobody ever told me what happened that night."
"We didn't? Oh well, the minister and your dad came to Hagrid's hut and suspended Dumbledore's working time thingy, and then Hagrid said that he didn't think it was safe, and then Hagrid got sent to Azkaban. Before Hagrid went though, he said to follow the spiders. I was thinking, 'spiders? Why spiders?' but you know Harry. So, against every single person's judgement, we went into the forbidden forest and there was a huge- and i mean HUGE- spider called Aragog, and then he tried to let his children eat us, and then my dad's magical car saved us and thats about it."
"About it?" I scoff, "That sounds awful."

"I'm sorry about Ginny," I say after a minute or two of more silence. Ron's face grows cold as he says, "He will save her. Harry has to save her."
"Hermione will be okay too." I say, silently crying. Ron nods and I say, "I think the room is spinning. Oh Ron, no I can't let you be in here alone. Not in silence like this."
Ron lies me down and says, "It's fine. If you need to faint, faint. If you pass out, I'm here and then Ginny and Ron will find us and it'll be fine."
I nod and feel the room spin to black.

I wake up in the infirmary, with Hermione smiling at me from the chair. I gasp and she says, "I'm back! Oh, Atti, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I laugh and cry at the same time, "Hermione, are you okay?"
"Oh, Atti," She says, hugging me, "Oh Atti, I am fine. Look at me! You, Harry and Ron are the ones who did it! You saved Ginny. A good few people have come to visit you. Ginny, Snape, McGonigal, Dumbledore, Fred, George, Angelina Johnson came to see you at one point, a girl called Abigail. I think you'd be surprised."
"Snape came to see me?" I scoff. Hermione nods and says, "Yeah! He was absolutely frantic. Asking Madame all about you. Anyway, Dumbledore wants you."

I nod and race to Dumbledore's office, just as I see Harry put down the sword of Gryffindor. I race over and hug him, saying, "You're okay! Harry you did it! You did it!"
"Ahem?" Dumbledore coughs and I turn round to him. He is smiling and suddenly, I hear the door click open. My father walks through, Dobby at his side. I glare, but not as fiercely as my father.
"Dobby?" Harry says, much to my horror, "This is the family you serve?"
Dobby cowers away at my father, who mutters something. He walks up the stairs, shoving me and Harry out the way. I rub my arm where he poked me, and I'm not listening to what they are saying. I hear Dumbledore say Voldemort's name and I wince.
"Well," My father says, suddenly turning to me and Harry, "Thank goodness Mr Potter will always be there to save the day."
I bow down and say, "Father."
"Atlas..." He growls. I blink back tears and watch as he storms out, shoving dobby down the stairs. Harry's face brightens and he says, "May I?"
He grabs the diary and runs out after my Father. Dumbledore's voice breaks my thoughts.
"Atlas. Are you okay? I didn't expect you and your father to have to be in the same room."
I blink back to reality and say, "Oh, yeah, sir. Thank you, but I think I need to learn to face my father. After all, I can't bow down to him when the day comes."
"When justice is served."

I nod and Dumbledore says, "Dobby is a good elf."
"Dobby is a very good house elf," I agree. Dumbledore smiles and says, "I think you mean was."
"You don't mean sir?"
"I think Mr Potter might have lost you a house elf."
I smile as I am excused. Slowly, I head back down to the great hall, where I see Draco sulking about something or another. I can't see Hermione, but most of the other petrified students are finally back. I sit with Ron and shove him as Hermione comes through the doors. She races in, hugging Harry but stepping back and giving Ron a handshake. I laugh and she says, "Alright, Miss Malfoy, no need to get all proud of yourself."
I burst into noisy laughter, but it's drowned out by a fair bit of clapping.
"All exams have been cancelled!"
Everyone screams and cheers, apart from Hermione, who looks like she is going to cry. The doors of the hall open and Hagrid steps in. I race to him, hugging him and saying, "YOU'RE BACK!"
"Aren't I just!"
I step back and cheers erupt in the hall. Hermione is crying now, but I think she is happy enough. "You know, Hermione," I say as the cheers die down, "I think next year might be a year where you know who doesn't come harass us."