The Lost Souls

Ch 10 // secrets and trust

The clouds were everywhere in the sky, and nothing else was visible. The sun was hidden behind them, as well as all the owls delivering mail. It was going to be a rough day for the famous Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Everyone in school was intimidated by them because they always got their ways even when they get in trouble. They were Slytherins, so they always had been rude and picked on people. Today, however, would be different. This very day they would have to be nice to Hermione Granger and become her friend.

Harry groaned when he woke up. He dreaded waking up and starting the day. He didn't know how Hermione would react to seeing him after the incident and he really didn't want to find out. He thought she'd never be his friend again. He shook his cousin awake and then his beach-blonde friend. "We have to be nice to her. How do we do that and gain her trust and be friends?" asked Draco when they were all done getting dressed and were beginning to walk down to their common room. "Maybe we can help her carry her books to class, sit with her in lunch, and partner up with her in group assigned work. Even go with her to the library to study and to do our work" said Harry.

Draco nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like she'd appreciate those things. Oh, look. There she is," he said gesturing with his hand to the fireplace. There she was, sitting on the cold floor of the common room in front of the flaming fire. "Hermione?" said Harry nervously. She didn't turn her head but she still acknowledged his presence. "Hello Harry. Come to burn any more of my books? Or just to hurt me?" she asked, making both the boys feel extremely guilty. "No. I'm sorry about that, by the way. I didn't mean to. I was just scared because I didn't want you to be around the Gryffindors. I didn't want to lose you to them. I'm sorry" apologized Harry.

He thought it was kind of lame considering what had happened to her favorite book, but it was good enough that she turned around. "You wouldn't lose me to them, Harry" she started. She stood up from the floor and walked over to him. Harry felt the guilt fade away. "You never had me to lose. You were never a good friend of mine. You were never a friend. How do you lose someone who's not even a friend?" she asked him. Then the guilt came back quickly. "I'm sorry" he said quietly. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked away without second thought.

Harry glumly looked at the floor in defeat. He wasn't done giving up, but he realized just how hard he had to work to make things right. Draco didn't, however, and jogged over to her. "Hey, Hermione. We're really sorry. If there's anyone you should be mad at, it should be me. I had gotten angry for a stupid reason and hurt you. I'm sorry. Harry didn't do anything but follow my lead because he was angry too. He didn't come up with any of it. It's not his fault, it's mine. We're more than willing to make it up to you. We'll do anything. I'll do anything. We want to be your friends" said Draco, now on his knees, holding her right hand.

Harry looked up from the ground and hopefully at her now. He couldn't have ever said anything as apologetic as Draco had just done, even though he felt remorse for the destruction of her book everyone knew was her favorite. "If you let go of my hand, I will consider it," Draco let go immediately, " but it won't be that easy. You both have no idea how much what you did affected me. It will take a lot to make me even laugh at you" said Hermione. "We completely understand" said Draco before she turned around and ran up the girls' staircase.

Draco turned towards Harry and sighed. "Thank Merlin that worked" said Draco walking back over to Harry. "How did you do that?" asked Harry. He was amazed at how well he had managed to do that without even practicing. Or maybe he did. "Yes, how did you do that?" asked another voice. They turned and saw Dudley walking down from the top of the boys' staircase. "I have my ways" said Draco. "You're parents?" asked Dudley. Draco scoffed as if he were insulted. "No. Just my father" he responded. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Are we going to breakfast yet? I'm starving!" said Dudley. "Yeah. Let's go already" said Harry before heading out of the common room, with Dudley and Draco behind him. "How should we start being nice to her?" asked Draco catching up beside him. "We can start by doing simple and small things like sit with her during meals and help her carry her books" said Harry. Draco nodded. "That sounds good. Wait!" Harry stopped to look at Draco, and Dudley did the same. "I have a great idea. How about we invite her over for Christmas next year?"