Chosen

The Burrow

The Burrow had always been one of Harry's favourite places. He loved the way the floor boards creaked as you walked, how when you looked up from the first step of the stairs you could see right up to the top with all its winding staircases and how it always smelt of Molly's cooking. Since he was always moving from house to house, he didn't really have a 'home'. His home was Hogwarts and the Burrow.

As Harry fell through the grate, he was caught by Ginny, who's face was still fear stricken. At that moment, Fred and George walked through the front door of the Burrow. 
"You two look cozy." George commented and Harry realized he had Ginny's arms around him and their faces just centimeters apart. 

Harry straightened up, but kept hold of Ginny's hand, "We were still in Diagon Alley when the attack happened. How did you get here?"

Fred dropped the apple he'd been chewing, "Where's mum and dad?" 

In answer to Fred's question, Ron fell through the grate, followed by Draco, Molly, Lily, Arthur and finally James, all breathless. 

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Ron looked to their parents for answers. He expected Arthur to know something since he worked in the Ministry, but he shrugged. 

"They've been taking people." Arthur replied then, with a glance to Lily, "Muggleborns."

Lily swallowed, tucking her hair behind her ear as James slid his arm around her waist protectively.

"Well you can all stay tonight, and we will all head to the platform together tomorrow. Safety in numbers." Molly said, patting Lily's shoulder as she walked past her to start setting up the beds. 

Harry, Draco and Ron headed up to Ron's bedroom. Draco was still worried. 
"Do you think Hermione got out?" He expressed his fears.

"I'll send her an owl once Hedwig gets here." Harry assured him as they reached Ron's vibrant, orange room. 

"What's wrong with Errol?" Ron asked defensively and everyone shot him a look, "Okay, fair enough."

Draco flopped onto Ron's bed and Ron collapsed onto a neon beanbag. Harry stood in the center of the room, his wand out. 
"Accio luggage." In a matter of minutes, Harry's prepacked trunk appeared with his broom and Hedwig's cage. 
He scrawled a quick note to Hermione before sending Hedwig off with it. 

As the evening slid into night, the Burrow was sleeping. Only Draco was still awake. Hermione still hadn't replied and he was worrying. He sat up in bed, casting his patronus around the room to keep his mind busy. He had always found it intriguing that his patronus was a white ferret, incredibly similar to Hermione's which was an otter. Suddenly, there was a faint tapping on the window and he raced to let Hedwig in. He practically snatched the note off Hedwig's foot and scanned it, a weight lifting off his chest.

Harry, it read, 
I'm okay. We were in Fred and George's shop when the attack happened in the street. Fred and George have a grate in the back of the shop - did you know that? - and they made sure we were all out before a load of Death Eaters burst in. They told me they were going to apparate out because they had nearly run out of floo powder by the time my parents and I were to go. I assume you are all right? And Ron and yes, even Draco. I guess I will see you all at the platform tomorrow?
Love, Hermione xx

Love? What did that mean? 

Draco scrawled a letter from himself. 

Hermione lay in bed, trying to ease herself to sleep, but somehow she found it impossible. She knew Harry was alright, but what about the others? Had Harry heard from them? She had seen Draco's father there and she instantly felt sorry for Draco. She had tried to shake away the sympathy she had for him but couldn't help it. 

There was another tapping on her window, and she let in the white bird flecked with grey. 
"Hey Hedwig." She whispered so not to disturb her parents as she took the note attached to his leg.
She was suprised to find it wasn't from Harry.

Hermione, 
It's Draco because the others have gone to sleep. We are all staying at the Burrow, Harry's parents and Harry and I. Sirius is coming in the morning to see me off at the platform. I know you probably hate me and don't really care about my well-being. But I care about you, and was relieved to find out you got out okay. 
Love, Draco. 

She felt a burst of... not happiness but something similar as she read his letter. She was relieved they were all okay, but she found some kind of attachment to the letter. Draco had said 'love'. What did that mean? Sure, she said it to Harry but he was like the brother she never had. Coming from Draco, it meant something entirely different. She didn't even like him. 

She found herself folding up the note and wedging it into her already full trunk before climbing back into bed. Hedwig saw it as his cue to leave and she watched as he flew out, a speck of white against the calignous night's 

So this chapter was a bit short and boring, but it's building up to something, I promise. I know in the books by J.K.Rowling Draco couldn't perform a patronus as it's not part of the curriculum and he wasn't part of Dumbledore's army but since in my version he was part of the DA he knows how to conjure a patronus. I made his patronus a ferret as in J.K.Rowlings goblet of fire he was turned into a ferret by Barty Crouch Jr disguised as Mad Eye; I also wanted  it to have a connection to Hermione's. I'm not sure who Hermione's going to end up with at the moment, I'm torn between Draco (because duh, Dramione) and one of the Weasley twins. Maybe Fred? I dunno, but please keep reading and remember to vote and comment!!!