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Struggling Through New Beginnings	By : HarryGinny4eva Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 31236 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do
not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from
the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story

Chapter 15

He saw Draco�s eyes flick over his shoulder when the dark-haired witch gasped
in surprise at his sudden movement. But, then those light eyes came back to
look into his dark ones.

Neither moved when they heard Ron�s voice from behind Draco, �Hermione, are you
okay?�

�Of course, Ronald. Why wouldn�t I be?� she asked,
oblivious to all that had occurred under her nose. �What happened?�

He stepped around the unmovable wall that was Draco and Blaise, and reached for
her hand, �Nothing. It�s just, uh, we�re going to be
late for class if we don�t get going.�

She nodded and put her book in her bag, all the while looking between the three
men for explanation. When none seemed forthcoming she shook her head and turned
to leave the hall.

Ron paused a moment and looked at Draco over Blaise�s shoulder. He nodded his
thanks and turned to follow his friend from the hall.

When they stood alone Draco stepped back from Blaise, �What the fuck is wrong
with you?�

�Me?� Blaise hissed. �Give me back my wand, Malfoy!�

�Blaise, you have to calm down,� Draco began only to be cut off by a voice from
behind his back.

Professor Snape assessed the situation as he asked quietly, �Is there a problem
here, gentlemen?�

�No, sir,� Draco bit out, refusing to turn around and take
his eyes off the angry man in front of him.

�He has my wand and refuses to return it,� Blaise accused maliciously. �I
believe that should earn him at least a week�s detention.�

Snape looked from one young man to the other before he asked, �And, why do you
refuse to return his wand, Mr. Malfoy?�

�He�� Draco began and then faltered. He didn�t want to rat out his friend, even
if he was behaving irrationally. �It was just a joke, sir.�

He handed the wand back to Blaise who took it and turned to retrieve his bag.
Before he could storm off, Snape�s soft voice stilled him.

�Mr. Zabini, as a school Head, you might want to remember in the future that
hexing fellow students, no matter how annoying they may be, could lose you that
position.� With a swish of his robes, Snape then departed, leaving both men
staring after him in wonder.

Blaise seemed to deflate as he fell heavily into the chair closest to him and
put his head in his hands.

Draco shifted uncomfortably and then cleared his throat. It sounded unnaturally
loud in the now empty hall, as it bounced off the walls to echo back at them.

�What is going on, Blaise?� Draco finally asked, even though he stayed standing
behind him, his wand firmly in his hand just in case Blaise lost it once again.
�Talk to me.�

When the man simply shook his head, Draco came around the chair and pulled
another one out. He sat down and put his wand away before he continued,
�Blaise, I�ve never seen you like this. I�ve known you since before we could
walk and in all those years, I�ve never known you to lose control like that.
You were about to hurt a defenseless woman.�

Blaise snorted a derisive laugh, �Defenseless my left nut.�

�Okay, there�s the Zabini I know,� Draco laughed a bit. �Seriously, what�s
going on? Last night you said a lot of stuff that made no sense, and then just
now��

Blaise put his fists to his eyes and groaned in realization, �They�re turning
her into Granger.�

�What? Who? Huh?� Draco stammered in confusion.

�My mother!� Blaise shouted as he stood and kicked the
chair out of his way. �They�re doing to her everything we�ve done to Granger
all these years. And, I can�t do a damn thing about it!�

�Blaise, what are you talking about? I don�t understand. Who�s doing what to
your mother? And, what does it have to do with Herm�Granger?� Draco asked from
his seat.

Blaise sat down on another chair and started talking. For the next half hour
Draco listened as Blaise ranted, raged, sulked, whined, and eventually cried
out his thoughts.

�Okay, I get all of that. I understand what�s going on a little better, I
guess,� Draco sighed. �But, I still don�t get what any of this has to do with
Granger.�

Blaise shook his head, �Neither do I, really. I don�t know why, but just seeing
her makes me angry all over again.�

�Did she do something at lunch? Say something to set you off?�

�No,� Blaise shook his head. �She�she just was. She came in all happy with her
little band of Pothead followers. And, Pansy, Greg and Theo were with her. Like
they�d all been friends forever. Then she sat down and put her napkin in her
lap!�

Draco looked at Blaise blankly. Since when was having good table manners a bad thing?

�I know. It sounds stupid even to me when I say it out loud,� Blaise snorted at
Draco�s blank stare. �But at the time it was enough.�

�Then did she say something?� Draco asked, still not completely understanding
what had caused Blaise to want to hex her.

�No, I did,� the darker man admitted. �I told her she was wasting the use of a
napkin as her type of mud couldn�t be wiped off.�

Draco made no comment, so he continued, �Then, that little fourth year
Ravenclaw, Mandy Brocklehurst, snapped
�If you can�t say something nice, Zabini, don�t say anything!� and the entire
table stopped talking. I think most of them were waiting for me deduct house
points, but I didn�t even think of it. I just thought about the fact that Granger
had embarrassed me in front of everyone.�

�I saw her reading,� Draco said slowly.

Blaise didn�t even think to ask why Draco had been looking at her, �Yeah, she
got out the book when everyone refused to talk. One minute she was glaring at
me like she wanted to jump across the table and hit me. Then she just shut off
and started reading. She completely tuned out, like no one else was in the
hall. The longer the silence lasted the worse it got. By the end I was ready to
hex her just to make her react. I wanted to see her lose control for once. I
want her to show some emotion. My mother did. All the damn
time.�

Draco heard what his friend said, but his mind replayed Pansy�s words once
more�that and her books�to lose yourself in reading, so you don�t have to feel. He idly
wondered if Pansy knew how smart she really was. Then he looked back at Blaise.

�I don�t know what to tell you,� Draco sighed. �Maybe you should talk to
someone?�

�What? Like one of those Ministry counselors?� Blaise scoffed. �I don�t think
so!�

Draco lifted his shoulders in a shrug, but before he could answer they were
interrupted yet again.

�Well, I think,� Snape said from the doorway, �you will be late to your next
classes if you continue to loiter in the Great Hall.�

Both jumped to their feet, each wondering how long the Potions professor had
been there and what he had heard. Without another word they grabbed their bags
and made their way to the door.

As they passed the Professor they lowered their eyes to avoid eye contact and
hurried their steps. But, his voice once again slowed their steps, �Mr. Zabini,
my office, five o�clock sharp.�

xxxxx

��Harry,
would you please stay after for a moment?�

Harry sighed inwardly as he nodded. The closer they had gotten to the end of
their first Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA)
class, the more his stomach had churned. He�d known Professor Dumbledore would
want to talk to him alone. He had felt the old wizard�s stares throughout the
entire lecture. And, when they�d moved to practical application, he had
struggled to not flinch whenever the former Headmaster had drawn near.

Ron and Hermione had silently understood his need for help and made sure he was
never left alone, or put in a position to be pulled away. They�d even gone as
far as to fake needing help a time or two. For a while he was able to lose
himself in the dueling the class had been doing. And, he enjoyed watching the
blush cover Pansy�s face whenever she was put near Ron. He wondered how Ron
could miss it, and noticed that Ginny, Luna, and even Hermione, seemed to be
encouraging it. He reminded himself to talk to Ginny about it later when they
were alone.

Alone.

He was going to be alone with a very much alive Albus Dumbledore. His stomach
jumped again at the thought. He shoved his books into his bag and felt
Hermione�s hand on his back for a moment before she moved past him.

�We�ll meet you outside, mate,� Ron whispered as he walked by. Harry nodded,
but kept his head lowered for a moment longer.

�I love you,� Ginny whispered from behind him. �I�ll wait outside for you.�

�Love you, too, Gin,� he answered softly.

As the class continued to empty, Harry looked toward the door longingly and saw
Luna, Greg and Pansy each smile encouragingly at him on their way out. He felt
a bloom of happiness at their support. It was Theo though that surprised him
most of all. In the two days they�d been back at school, he had been shocked to
learn how introspective, thoughtful, and understanding the thin, dark-haired,
young man could be. Harry didn�t remember saying more than a few words to Theo
in all their years at school, but after their first conversation at dinner, and
the few that how followed since, Harry knew he�d almost missed out on a quality
person.

Theo�s solemn, stiff appearance reminded Harry of a vicar as he stopped in
front of Harry and looked at him for a long moment. Then he stood a bit
straighter and said softly, �You did everything you could. More than anyone
should ever have asked. It is he that owes you the apology.�

Harry nodded his understanding and smiled a bit in thanks. Theo bowed slightly,
even as his face, too, relaxed into a small smile. With a nod, he swept from
the room leaving Harry alone.

�It seems I have missed out on quite a bit,� a soft voice said from the other side
of the room.

Harry turned to see Dumbledore standing in the door to his office with a
pensive look on his weathered face. His hands were clasped in front of him, and
Harry noticed the twinkle in his eyes seemed somewhat dimmed.

When Harry didn�t move, but continued to stare at him, Dumbledore stepped back
into the room and crossed to him.

�I know you are anxious to get to Transfiguration, but there is something I
felt I needed to say. I didn�t think it should wait another day.�

�Yes?� Harry asked politely as he continued to stare at the man who had been
such a large presence in his life.

�I am honored, humbled, and thankful to have known you, Harry. I am a better
man for it. I know I was not always as forthcoming as maybe I should have been
with you. At times when you most needed my guidance I failed you. Then, knowing
what it might do to you, I allowed, no forced you to watch my death. There are
no words that I can give you to say how sorry I am that you had to suffer that.
I asked more of you than any person has a right to ask
of another. Many are correct in saying I used you, not maliciously as they say,
but it was done nonetheless. You suffered more than any person should. And, you
lost more than most will ever know. And, much of it was at least in part, due
to me and my way of handling things. I can only say I am so very sorry and I
promise you, Harry, I will never intentionally keep things from you again.�

When Harry reminded silent, Dumbledore continued, �I know we have a long way to
go to get back the trust we shared. And, I know I am the one at fault for its
loss. But, I want you to know that I am still here for you, as your teacher,
and I hope one day, again as your friend. As you know we have been paired for
your scheduled sessions, but I will understand if you would like someone else.�

Harry looked down for a moment in thought. Then he looked back up at the only mentor
he had ever known and slowly shook his head.

�I don�t know what, if anything, I will have to talk about, sir, but I would not
be able to do it with anyone but you.�

�That is more than I could ask for, Harry. Thank you.�

Dumbledore smiled at Harry and glanced at the clock on the wall. He stepped
back as he dismissed him, �Well, I am sure you all can just make it if you
hurry.�

Harry nodded and whispered a goodbye, but before he reached the door was
stopped by Dumbledore�s thoughtful voice as he headed toward his office, �It is
good to see you making new friends, Harry. And, I personally think Mr. Weasley
and Ms. Parkinson will make quite the couple. And, if you would do me a small
favor please. Tell Ms. Granger, when the time comes, to follow her heart.�

xxxxx

Author�s Responses: Thank you all once again. A hug to everyone who has read the story. A
hug and flowers to those who have reviewed. And, add a golden crown to
those who added the story as a favorite!! Happy New Year
everyone.

Rebecca: Thank you. I am glad you enjoy my
characterizations. I hope you continue to like it.

cc: Blaise does have some issues�lol Thanks!

stella: You are welcome, but thank you! Draco and Hermione�s feelings for one
another are on their way.

margaritama: Thank you so much! I love that you like the realism of the story.
Draco will continue to grow and change and learn. But, so will they all. And, you liking Pansy makes
my day!

bLondpierogi: Thank you, hon! I honestly don�t remember
ever receiving a �bloody awesome� before. :-D

bsjz-egyptianqueen: You will get to see Millicent very soon and I can�t wait to see your
reaction to her. lol Thank you, luv!
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Struggling Through New Beginnings