Always

Chapter 11

Hermione
I choke back laughter at Malfoy's face when his son points at me and says something, which clearly embarrasses Malfoy. After getting my laughter in check, I walk towards two of my best friends: Harry and Ginny Potter. The moment Ginny notices me she rushes up to me and squeezes me to death in a hug. " Oh Hermione, it's been so long! How are you? We've heard what happened." She says as she releases me, I give Harry a hug before answering with," I'm fine, seriously I am. The children help distract me and...." I trail off. Harry and Ginny look at me expectantly, clearly waiting for me to continue. " And?" Harry pries.
" And... Now that they're gone, I hope I can cope well enough"
" Mione, you say it as if you're alone! We're here for you!" Harry tells me, Ginny nods her head in confirmation. I look back at where Malfoy was standing, only to see that he wasn't there anymore. I sigh. " Hermione? Are you alright?" Ginny asks me. Merlin's beard! I hope they weren't talking to me all this time! I nod my head, telling her that I am fine. Should I tell them about Malfoy? Yes, I should, they should know that he's changed. " Uh, guys I have something to tell you."
" Yes?" Harry interjects.
" Well, uh, I was just wondering if you wanted to go for coffee? At my house? Tomorrow?"
" That sounds lovely! Of course we'll come!" Ginny says. I smile, say my goodbyes abs head home.
I'm in the kitchen, preparing things for Harry and Ginny. As I put the three mugs on a tray I hear a voice say," That looks divine." I jump and reach for my wand, but stop when I realize it's Harry. " Bloody Hell Harry! You scared me!" I screech. He chuckles.
" Sorry about that. Oh! by the way, Ginny's running a tad late, Albus has forgotten his robes."
" Oh, okay then," I say as I set the tray down. " 'Mione, are you sure you okay? Is the something you want to tell me?" Harry asks, his face displaying true concern. I think about telling him about Malfoy now, I'm going to tell him, I tell myself. But instead I smile and say," I just have a lot on my mind is all." He looks skeptical at first but nods his head as if saying he understands. Why didn't you tell him? Come on Hermione! It's Harry we're talking about! " Actually, there us something that's troubling me."
" Okay, what is it?"
" It's Malfoy. No, it's not anything bad, it's just, he's been so nice recently and he's helped me through this mess and I just don't know if I can trust him."
" Okay, tell me everything, start from the beginning then we'll decide." I take a deep breath and begin telling him everything, the day in the bookstore, the day he came over for coffee, the day he found me and healed me. When I finish I lean back on the kitchen counter and sigh. " Okay... How do you feel about him?" Honestly, the question threw me off guard. " Well, I, uh, at first I wanted to just act civil, then he just acted so polite and I was swooned by him, now I think that I may... Like him? I don't know it's complicated." Harry, as well as myself, was shocked by my statement. It took him awhile before saying something back," Well... If you think he's changed, then I think you can trust him. I still have my doubts, but I haven't been spending alive time with him," he says wiggling his eyebrows. I blush furiously.
" Harry? Hermione?" Ginny calls out, finally arriving. We stroll out of the kitchen as casually as we can but Ginny doesn't buy it. She looks between the both of us and says," Tell me everything." So, once again, I tell my tale from the beginning. Though this time when I finish there isn't silence, there's squealing. " Oh! Hermione! I'm glad you've gotten over Ron! So soon I must say though. But still, as much as I love him, he still doesn't have a right to do that! I'm going to have a serious talk with Mum to sort things out! But, Hermione! And Malfoy! Who would've thought?" Not me. Though now it seems that it's time to get on first name basis. I lean in to tell them my thoughts and together, we plan. Childish? Maybe. But that's what best friends do.