Cuts Run Deep

Making Amends

~Harry's POV~

I look behind me to see Ron and Hermione enter the Hospital Wing. I sit up straight again as they get to the bed. Ron is deadly still and Hermione has her eyebrows raised.

"Hi Harry. How are you feeling." Hermione asks warmly. She doesn't seem to acknowledge Draco being there other than a small nod. Ron on the other hand...

"Better. Definitely better than yesterday." I look over her shoulder at Ron. "You good mate?" I see his hands ball into fists at his side. His knuckles are white and his jaw is set. I wonder what his problem is.

"Never been better. Why is he here?" Ron gestures towards Draco quite harshly. I look to Draco. He seems to be trying to make himself disappear with his head down a bit and his body tucked close together.

"We were just talking. He came to see if I was alright." I smile at Draco as he looks up. He smiles back shyly. I turn my attention back to Ron. His eyes seem to be clouded over, like the sky before a storm. Even Hermione seems to notice.

"He's a Malfoy. A Death Eater! How do you know he wasn't just here to hex you?!" I look at him with disbelief. Suddenly I'm angry and defensive. I feel like I need to protect Draco.

"How could you say that Ronald?!" Hermione yells at him disapprovingly. Before either of them can say anything else, I speak up.

"I'm fine aren't I?" My tone is harsh and my words are ice cold. I look up at Ron with a look that could kill. "He's changed. He's my friend. If you have a problem with that, maybe you should just leave." Hermione's eyes widen, but she hides her surprise well. She doesn't say anything. We both stare at Ron, waiting for a response. He seems shocked and angry. After a moment, his jaw sets and his eyes narrow.

"If that's how it is, fine. I'll leave." He turns towards the door. After a step he looks back at us. No one says anything. He continues to storm out of the Hospital Wing. Once he was gone, I let out a breath that I didn't even know I was holding. Hermione's expression is back to normal. She turns to Draco.

"I'm so sorry for his behavior. You didn't deserve that. Are you alright?" Hermione asks Draco. He looks up at her with a sad face, but then he smiles.

"It's alright, I'm used to it by now. I should be the one apologizing anyways. I know I was horrible. I should have never called you any of those names. What I'm trying to say is, I'm sorry. For everything. I don't expect you to forgive me, I just thought you should know." He looks away from her. Hermione glances at me and I smile. She smiles too. Shaking her head, she gives a small quiet laugh.

"Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. And it's alright. I forgive you." She sits down on the bed next to me and sticks out her hand to Draco. "Friends?"

Draco looks at both of us and smiles. "I'd like that." He says taking her hand.

~

After talking for a while, it's time to head to breakfast. Draco and Hermione get along pretty well. They both like to read. I find it funny to hear them discussing their favorite books. They both chastise me, telling me I should read and study more. I roll my eyes. What am I going to do about these two now?

When we get to the Great Hall, we part ways. Hermione and I go to the Gryffindor table and sit down. Ron is already there sort of glaring at us. I sit down a little further than I normally would. Hermione does the same on the opposite side of the table.

There's a bit of an awkward silence as we eat breakfast. I can feel Ron staring at me like he's trying to burn a hole in the side of my head. I shift a bit. I'm not sure what to say, so I look over at the Slytherin table. Draco was sitting with his friends Blaise and Pansy. He looks back at me and smiles. I turn back to my food quickly and blush. I can't believe he caught me staring.

Hermione notices and raises her eyebrow. I hate it when she does that. It means she knows something's up.

"So.... who were you staring at?" She asks casually. My cheeks heat up even more and I just know that the color on them is obvious. Hermione's question seems to catch Ron's attention. He gives us a sideways glance as if he's listening.

I mumble under my breath. "No one. Shove off Hermione." She grins and scans the room as if she can determine who I was staring at just by looking around. After a moment she shrugs as if to give up, but I knew this conversation wasn't over. I don't want to talk about it, so I gather my things and stand up.

"I'm going to go to the restroom. I'll see you in class." She nods and I head out of the Great Hall. Classes will start soon, but I think I have enough time to clear my head in the restroom. As I'm walking, the picture of Draco looking back a me keeps popping up in my head. I reach the bathroom door and open it. Why did I blush when he looked back at me? Why can't I get his cute face out of my head? Did I just call him cute!?

I wasn't exactly sure what was going on. I've never felt this way about anyone. Was I sick? No, I don't think so. What's wrong with me? All of these questions swarm through me head as I pace around the room.

 After a while, I sigh and head towards the door. My first class is Transfiguration. I have that with Draco. I can't help but feel a little excited. I join the wave of people in the crowded hall and head to my class.

~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading. Hope you're enjoying the story. Have a nice day!

❤Fanon_is_better