I'm so so so so sorry! I've been really caught up with a few problems at the moment, and it all added up to me being lazy about this story. It has somewhere to go, but life's not exactly making it easy for me to actually get it there. Please forgive me! School just started back up again, which means I'll be able to write a bit more (because i may or may nor skimp out during science and geography to write fanfictions instead of chemicals and land masses) so hopefully I'll be a little more pro-active!!
"Draco."
"Draco."
"Draco."
"Ferretface."
Draco groaned and glared at the ravenette groggily. "H-how dare you,"He yawned.
Harry chuckled at the blond's expense. "It's almost noon; you need to actually wake up now."
"But I don't wanna!" Draco whined childishly. Harry rolled his eyes at the ruffled sight. Blonde strands of hair were hanging loosely in front of Draco's eyes, a few knots here and there, and there were red lines clearly declaring where the Slytherin had rested his head against the crumpled pillowcase of Harry's dorm four-post bed.
Draco curled his arms around his own waist, brow furrowing with concern. Harry frowned. "It's almost Christmas, Haz."
"I know?"
"I.... I.." Draco hiccuped and blinked furiously. Harry, utterly baffled, put his arms around the blond to comfort him until he calmed.
"Harry, these holidays.... These holidays I'm supposed to take the mark." He choked out, flinching away from Harry to protect himself from Harry's expected bad response.
He got nothing of the sort.
"Oh, Bright Eyes..." Harry murmured, his voice thick as he pulled Draco closer and the said male choked on a cry, a strangled whimper sliding from his throat instead.
"Draco, look at me." Harry said softly. The blond buried his face in the ravenette's shoulder. "Alright, fine. Listen to me then. You'll never truly be one of them, whether you have a stupid tattoo or not. You don't have the heart, or the guts. Call it cowardly, I'll stick to smart." Harry started to lecture in a gentle voice. Draco's shoulders quaked, but he didn't trust himself to speak and didn't make a sound.
***
Harry jerked his head up, fighting to stay awake as he dripped ink on the edge of his Transfiguration essay. Hermione gave him a sad look from her seat on an armchair, closing her book and walking over.
"Harry, you need to get some rest, you look half-dead. Leave that; do it in the morning." She said, tucking a curl behind her ear.
"I'm just... So worried about it, 'Mione." He rubbed at his eyes. Hermione knew what he was talking about; she'd heard his and Draco's conversation when she went to tell them they were going to be late for breakfast.
"I know, Harry.." She trailed off, rubbing his back gently with a comforting hand. She was constantly unsure of how to help, how to ease his mind and put Draco's whirlwind emotions to rest. The closer the holidays got, the more highly-strung he became, and she often found him sneaking into the Gryffindor tower of a night to be comforted by Harry's mere presence. It hurt her heart, seeing the two in such a mess.
"Listen, Harry, exhausting yourself isn't going to help anyone or change anything right now. Go upstairs and get yourself a good night's rest for once; I think I may have an idea. "Harry's dulled green eyes flickered to hers and he nodded, slowly pushing himself upright and wandering away.
"Send Ron down, could you please?" The only response she response she got from the weighed-down ravennette was a sleepy nod.
Ron appeared a few moments later, looking groggy in just his pajama slacks. Hermione raised her eyes to his, gesturing for him to come closer as she settled into the couch. Ron sat down beside her, running a hand through his hair. "What's going on?"
"It's about Draco and Harry." She sighed. Light dawned in Ron's eyes and he nodded, waiting for her to continue. She took a deep breath.
"I know it's a big ask.. Is- is there any chance of Draco staying at The Burrow over the holidays?" She murmured, looking guilty as she tucked the same brunette curl behind her ear again. Ron blinked in surprise, his mouth falling open slightly until she used one finger beneath his chin to close it again. His ears turned red.
"I don't know how well they'll take it, the Malfoys were always filthy to'us." He stated, chewing the inside of his cheek.
"But Harry's been talking to you all about Draco, and he's changed so much, whether his family name is Malfoy or not. It's not like we'd be inviting Lucius?" She pointed out quietly, raising an eyebrow slightly. Ron nodded slowly, scratching his wrist.
"I'm sure Mum'll be right with it, it's more Dad and maybe Ginny that'll be a bit... Y'know."
"Ginny's just upset that Draco's got Harry and she doesn't. " Hermione giggled tiredly. "But she'll get over that. Arthur might take a little while to warm up to him, but he should be okay in the end. I hope, anyhow." She replied in a more serious tone.
"Hang on, why's he got to come anyway?" Ron furrowed his eyebrows together, pursing his lips in confusion. Hermione resisted the urge to chew her lip. It really wasn't her job to tell.
"Whatever happens, he cannot to go Malfoy Manor this Christmas. Harry doesn't know about it.. If Molly and Arthur are okay with this, then I'll tell him and he'll give you the full story. It's not my business, I'm sorry Ron." She elaborated vaguely in a quite voice, knowing how upset he could get when he was left out of things. However, surprisingly, he merely nodded his head in understanding and put a hand on her knee, rubbing his thumb in circles.
"That's alright. I'll owl them in the morning, but right now," he eased the book she was clutching to her lap out of her grasp," you go get some sleep. It's late." When she looked up at him, eyes wide and startled like a deer caught in headlights, he smiled and pulled himself off the lounge and helped her up.
"Good night, Ron." She pressed a small kiss to his lips, her hand lingering in his for a moment before she flickered a small smile and turned for the girl's dormitories.
"Night, 'Mione."
ON another note--
21k!!!! TWENTY ØNE THOUSAND READS!
I never could have imagined anything I would ever write would get that far, and it's even just an amateur story. I honestly can't believe the support I've gotten got all of this, and I cannot thank you enough. I wish I could do something in real life instead of just thanking you, but--Ugh! I just sndndkfk. Have a cookie, all of you. Triple caramel with choc chips, even.
YOU ARE READING
Meow //Drarry\\
Fanfiction"Peeves! Get out!" Snape bellowed at the cackling poltergeist, who zoomed out of the classroom with gleeful whoops of shameless delight- leaving Severus to clean up the ingredients that had spilled. Little did he know that Peeves had done more than...
