Save The Last Dance For Me

Chapter 9 - Who I Am With You

Without missing a beat Hermione replied, "Didn't anyone ever tell you that on time was late Draco?"

    He opened his mouth, thought better of it, and then looked to his mother for help. For her part Cissa just laughed and shook her head, "You're on your own sweetheart. For I recall telling you that quite a number of times when you were growing up."

    His ears reddened and he ducked his head, "Thanks for all the help Mom... Anyway," he looked up at the collection of people gathered in the room. "What are we not killing Weasley for?"

    "For insulting your Mother, and for yelling at Harry and Hermione. When we got here they were trying to get him to apologize."

    "Which I'm still not going to do by the way." Ron spoke up from across the room and both Harry and Draco took a step in his direction.

    Narcissa grabbed Harry, and Hermione put a hand on Draco's arm to stop his curse. "You have one more chance to apologize Ron, to all three of them. Cissa, Draco and Hermione, or else I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

    "There's no need to ask." Gruffly he marched past all of them and headed for the door. "I'm not apologizing to a Malfoy, and I'm sure as hell not apologizing to her." He jerked his head in Cissa's direction. "I can see myself out. Thanks."

    Hermione and Draco were his last obstacles on the way to the door, and he bumped roughly into Hermione's shoulder on the way out. "Hey Ron!" He turned back to her only for a second, but it was long enough. "Silenda asservo."

    His hand grabbed for his throat and he coughed hard, when he caught his breath he fixed his glare on Hermione. "What did you do?"

    "She prevented you from telling their secret." His gaze shifted to Luna. "That was smart thinking Hermione."

    "Thanks." She turned to Ron, who was still standing in the doorway. "You're free to go now, but know this, if you try and tell anyone about Harry and Cissa you may find that you will never be telling anyone anything again."

    "What the devil does that mean?"

    With a nod from Hermione Draco took Ron's arm and pulled him out of the room towards the kitchen. "Just don't get any ideas Weasley, Potter and my mother are stronger than you think." With that he left him standing on the kitchen hearth and returned upstairs.

    After Ron's outburst the rest of the evening went by splendidly. Draco seemed to take all of the people he had once loathed in stride. He knew now, that they all had one thing in common, they all wanted to see the couple on the couch happy. He didn't notice when the brunette sank down on the couch next to him, but he looked over when she spoke. "What are you thinking about so hard over here Lord Malfoy?"

    "I'm not the Lord Malfoy. He is. The only reason I'm still a Malfoy is so that the fortune goes somewhere. I would have gladly taken her name."

    "I'm sorry." She started to stand up to move away and he touched her arm.

    "No, I am. You were just trying to be polite. I was being an ass."

    "Ha. I never thought I'd see the day where the infamous Draco Malfoy was apologizing to a muggleborn."

    "Don't get used to it Granger." A smile tugged on the corners of his lips. "No, I was just thinking that even though I was adamantly against this at first, I'm glad that she found him. He is so much better than Father ever was."

    "I got the impression. She seems to have become a different person with him."

    They sat quietly for a moment, watching the pair as they worked together to beat Neville and Luna at Wizard's Chess. "No." She turned to look at him, and he continued. "She's not a different person, she's herself. She had to become someone else to be a Malfoy, this her, the real her, was just buried in there the whole time. The lion among the snakes it turns out."