Accepted (Drarry/Pansmione/Linny)

Chapter Ten - Draco

Draco and Hermione did their best to ignore Harry and Ron during breakfast. Neither of them approved of their extremely foolish actions the previous night, so they were trying to make them see sense, even if all of Gryffindor still considered them heroes or something.

Draco grinned as Aphrodite came swooping into the hall, but gulped at the sight of a red envelope in her beak. Luckily, she landed in front of Ron, and not him.

Draco looked at Ron's face and then turned to Hermione. They all knew what this was about.

"Open it, Ron," Neville whispered. "You know it will be worse if you don't."

Ron reached out and took the letter from Aphrodite, who made her way over to Draco so he could cover her ears. Draco braced himself, and within seconds, Mrs. Weasley's voice was roaring through the Great Hall.

Hermione nearly dropped her book and Harry spilled his juice. Ron sank down in his chair as he turned bright red.

" - STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT UNTIL I GET A HOLD OF YOU - "

All eyes in the hall turned to the source of the dreadful noise. It was a good few minutes before Mrs. Weasley was done screaming at both Ron and Harry, and when she was, Draco's ears were ringing. He was mighty glad that he hadn't gone with them in that car. He still didn't know why they did it. They hadn't told him or Hermione yet. All Draco knew was that the two never came through the wall at the station.

Ron hadn't come up yet. He was still red, and so was Harry.

Hermione put down her book and turned to the two. "I don't know what the both of you expected, doing something like that, but - "

"Don't tell me I deserved it," Ron snapped.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well you did. Your father is facing an inquiry at work because of you."

Harry looked down guiltily. He seemed almost like he was about to cry. Draco wanted to ask him what was wrong, but Professor McGonagall was handing out their schedules and he got thoroughly distracted. Draco took his schedule and looked it over. Herbology was first with the Hufflepuffs. Draco wondered what they'd be learning this year.

The four friends headed outside with the rest of the second year Gryffindors and over to the greenhouses. Professor Sprout wasn't there yet. Draco and Hermione discussed their newest favorite books that they had read over the summer. They had discussed them in letters, but it was better to talk in real life, even with Ron and Harry calling them nerds. Hermione told Draco that she and Pansy had read her book together on the nights they stayed in the creek. Draco was appalled by the fact that they had had to sleep outside, but Hermione assured him that it really wasn't that bad. Draco was so wrapped up in the conversation that he didn't even noticed until Professor Sprout started class that Harry was no longer with them.

"Where's Harry?" Draco whispered to Ron.

"He's outside. With Lockhart," Ron whispered back, looking irritated. Draco understood his grief. Lockhart was proving to be obnoxious.

Right before Professor Sprout sent them to work after her whole introductory talk, Harry slipped into the greenhouse looking pissed off. He made his way to quickly join the group and eyed the earmuffs that were lying on the benches.

"Today, we will be repotting Mandrakes. Who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?"

Hermione's hand shot up.

"Yes?"

"Mandrake, or Mandragora,  is a powerful restorative. It's used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state."