Distance // Draco Malfoy

Chapter 32

As usual, I forgave Draco. Our week did pass with only a subtle awkwardness when speaking to both Mr and Mrs Malfoy. I did my best to conceal my real identity of a muggle-born. I would not have agreed so lightly should Draco's comment not have scared me so much. "I did only do it to protect you. Not just from them." The speech had me attempting a difficult decipher all throughout the week. What did Draco possibly mean? "Not just from them." Draco implied something dark, something dangerous. Just what is the question. I don't know if it could be any more dangerous than the past few years which we have endured at Hogwarts. It's a possibility that I have spoken all too soon.

A few weeks onwards and I am currently settled at the Weasleys. We are scheduled to go to the Quidditch World Cup tomorrow. Mr Weasley got us all tickets to go via his work. Harry and I arrived at the same time earlier this evening. At present, we are sat around the table, immersed in family-like conversation. Hermione should be arriving here tomorrow morning. Tonight, I shall be sleeping in Ginny's room, leaving the boys in Ron's. Waiting for tomorrow is like waiting for a never-coming eternity, and I long for it to be here right now. I take a bite of my food as Ron turns to me. 'So, how was your stay at the Malfoy's?' He asks me casually.

A silence settles itself upon the Weasley's dining table. 'Sorry, Ron?'
'I told you, didn't I, mum?' Ron looks up and down the table. The twins, Harry and Ginny have gone rather silent, and Percy, Mr and Mrs Weasley are looking from me to Ron with expressions of uttermost disbelief upon their faces. I attempt to shuffle in my chair to ease some of the discomfort of their piercing stares. 'I'm afraid you didn't, dear.' Mrs Weasley replies, rather stonily at that. Oh, God, save me. Ron looks at me expectantly. It's a wonder I don't pass out from the sudden wave of heat that pleases itself in possessing my body. I sit up straight and take a deep breath. 'Me and Draco are seeing one another. It surprises me Ron has not already informed you, Mrs Weasley. He hardly ever shuts up about it when he is with me. We have been together since Autumn of last year.' I explain, keeping my voice as steady as humanly possible.

'Well, on and off.' I hear Fred mutter. I glare at him for a fleeting second.
'Well, you learn something new every day. I, too, am surprised Ron never told us.' Upon mention of his name, Ron proceeds to turn a shade of deepest scarlet. The awkwardness at the table looms. 'As Ron was saying, I went to stay for a week. It was a rather . . . interesting experience.' I sum up, pondering over the words to use. Ron and Harry catch my eye, and I give them a look as if to say later. 'I wouldn't exactly say most people have agreed with our relationship.' I try to ease Mrs Weasley's obscene look.
'Well, as long as you are happy.' She says, smiling, but I can tell she is using every ounce of energy which she can muster.

Once we finish and are excused from the dinner table, Harry and Ron are close to unhinging my feet from the floor as they each grab one of my arms and drag me to Ron's room. 'What happened?' Harry interrogates, or so it feels.
'Well, it's a long story.'
'We've got time.'
'I do not want any interruptions, or you shall find that I become extremely impatient with the pair of you.' And so, it begins. I tell the boys of everything that first night, and more. Draco lying, how I had to play along. 'Why'd you forgive him?' Ron almost shouts once I have finished my tale.
'He's surprisingly convincing. Something he said that first night.'
'And what was that?'
'He said - he said he was protecting us from more than just his parents. There was a commotion on the landing at about the time he spoke, too, and he left the room, bearing in mind that this was in the early hours of the morning.' I explain, and Harry and Ron look at each other with dark looks. 'But it could mean anything.'
'Something dark, most likely.' Harry frowns in response.

-*-

The next day, I am awoken with a start. A silhouette is bending over my face, and I cannot see the room for its curly hair. Hermione. I engulf her in a rigorous hug, and she laughs when we stand back and take in one another, smiling. 'We should go and wake the boys, Mrs Weasley told me breakfast is ready.' Hermione explains as I pull on a clean set of clothes, and we talk of how her holidays were. I fill her in on all of mine, and my trip to Malfoy Manor. 'How many second chances are you going to give him?'
'I wouldn't have forgiven him so lightly if it weren't for what I just told you.' I whisper. Ginny has just left the room as of recently.

When me and Hermione enter the bedroom of Ron, we find Harry to be sucking in drastic breaths and clutching his scar in his sleep. We immediately rush to him, and attend to waking him. When his eyes finally fly open, he has a look of fear running like a river through them. 'Hermione, Alyssia. Bad dream.' Harry turns to Hermione, 'What time did you get here?'
'Psst.' I look over and see George standing in the doorway. He indicates for me to follow him, and I oblige, excusing myself.

'Don't go down there.'
'Why not?' I frown.
'Mum is kicking off about Malfoy.'
'I already know she is uncomfortable with it, but it's nobody else's choice but mine. She is hardly my mother.' I conclude.
'Just a head's up. You know, I bet she suspects things.'
'She would not be wrong to do so. After all, I've now had countless Slytherin threats, and I can understand that Draco's persona can come across as appalling for the majority of its time.'
'Threats? What threats?'
'Oh, nothing. Just at the end of the year.' I say, all too casually. George raises an eyebrow.

'Fine. But you must be sworn to secrecy, I'm not even sure if Harry and Ron and Hermione know of this. But Ingrid King made an adamant threat, and she is not one whose foul talk I find myself taking lightly.'
'Ingrid King?'
'The Slytherin. Very good friends with Draco. My year.'
'Oh yeah, she's a bit of a bitch.'
'Not a bad conclusion. Have you ever even spoken to her?'
'Now you mention it, no.' I roll my eyes at George.
'We mustn't judge a book by its cover.'
'Coming from you?' (A/N daenerysdiaries ) George smirks, and I give him a fake smile and wait Mrs Weasley's rant out.

Once the utter madness of getting ready to leave has died, and we are finally ready to leave the house - Ron yawning wildly - me, Hermione and Ginny are restless. We've been ready for about half an hour, and have lost ourselves in the pages of our books. We are supposed to be meeting the Diggory's in a remote spot not too far from here, yet Mr Weasley sets off at an uncommonly fast pace to begin with. Presently, time is not on our side. 'Arthur!' I hear Mr Weasley's name being called out, and I peer around the lanky forms that are the twins. 'It's about time, son!'
'Sorry, Amos, some of us had a sleepy start.' Mr Weasley turns to see Ron yawning.

A boy drops from a tree a short while later and lands on his feet. 'And this strapping young man must be Cedric, is that right?' Mr Weasley holds out his hand, which Cedric takes.
'Yes, sir.' He answers. Me, Hermione and Ginny look at each other. I may have a boyfriend, but Cedric is exceedingly good-looking. We proceed to climbing a steep hill in civilised conversation with the two Diggorys. Me, Hermione and Ginny lurk behind a little bit, half whispering, feeling stupid at the fact we act like such giggling schoolgirls, which in any usual situation, we tend to be the opposite of. Then, we cluster ourselves around an old and battered brown boot.