The Whole Nine Yards

Chapter Twelve - Draco Potter's Journal - Living With The Weasley's

- Draco Potter's Journal -

Dumbledore and I arrived at the Weasley's later that evening...

Dumbledore was greeted with hugs, smiles and excited conversation whereas I was greeted with suspicion, contempt and surprisingly, a hug from Mrs Weasley.

Ron glared at me all night, all through dinner. Hermione cast pitying glances my way every so often. But Harry, he sat next to me and even talked to me. Well, he tried to. I was pretty monosyllabic at that point.

After dinner, I excused myself and wandered outside, staring up at the stars and wondering what on earth I had gotten myself into this time.

Harry followed me out, but didn't speak. He just stood nearby, a comforting presence. I just didn't understand why he was being so nice to me. I had been a complete bastard to him the entire time we had been at school and he appeared to have forgotten all that.

"Why are you out here with me, Potter? Why are you even speaking to me? I would have thought you'd act the same as Weasley," I said softly, not entirely sure I wanted to know the answer. Hermione's pity had been hard enough to take, without adding Harry's.

"I've been watching you for a while now, Malfoy, and I've seen the changes in you. Ron's too stubborn to see that yet and Hermione, well Hermione's sceptical at the moment but I know you're different now compared to how you acted during our first four years at Hogwarts. Last year, our fifth year, you were quieter, more introspective," Harry paused, as if considering his next words. "I watched you last year, and I liked what I saw."

My head snapped up at this last comment, what did he mean by that?

Harry merely smiled enigmatically at me, his green eyes twinkling in the moonlight.

"I'm going inside now, goodnight," he said with a grin and he turned at walked inside.

I found myself watching him walk away from me and liking what I saw...

The next morning, breakfast was a chaotic affair. So different to Malfoy Manor where Lucius would read the Daily Prophet while sipping tea from a china teacup and Mother would silently eat her boiled egg and I would sit uncomfortably eating my toast as fast as I could so I could get out of that room.

At the Weasley's, breakfast is loud, rambunctious and fun. Everyone sits together, no one reads anything, not even Hermione, and everyone joins in the light-hearted, teasing conversation.

That first morning, I sat silently and watched everyone interacting around me. Ron and his brothers, well the ones who had been at school with me, ignored me and it was fascinating to watch them all in a different environment.

Harry fascinated me too. He laughed and joked along with the rest of them. He was practically a part of the family. A few times he caught me staring at him and he smiled at me. A genuine, happy-to-see-me smile. I tentatively smiled back which made his smile brighter, if possible.

Ron must have caught at least one of these exchanges because after breakfast I almost walked in on an argument between him and Harry. I was about to walk into the living room when I heard raised voices and my name mentioned, so I stood just outside the door and listened.

"Why the hell would you want to smile at Malfoy?" Ron demanded angrily.

"Ron, calm down. It's no big deal," Harry said, trying to placate him.

"No big deal? Are you nuts? This is Malfoy we're talking about here. For all we know, this is just some plot to get you to You Know Who and now he's in my house, sleeping in the room next to you," Ron said, his anger gaining momentum.

I had heard enough. I pushed open the door and strode into the room, startling them both.

"I know you don't trust me, Weasley and I don't blame you for that. I've done some pretty terrible things over the years but for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

Ron snorted at my apology but I continued regardless.

"I would never turn Harry over to Voldemort. I want nothing to do with Voldemort or the Death Eaters. I promise you, I'm not going to do anything to hurt Harry," I pleaded with Ron with desperate eyes. I wanted him to believe me. I knew Harry believed me and suddenly I wanted to be accepted by these people. I wanted to be a part of Harry's inner circle of friends.

Ron stared at me through narrowed eyes for a few long minutes. Apparently he must have approved of what he saw because he nodded shortly and turned to Harry.

"Quidditch?" he asked. Harry nodded and they both looked questioningly at me. I nodded, thrilled to be included in the game. Ron called some friends over to make up two full teams and we grabbed our brooms and went outside.

We played out on a field near the Weasley's house - all of the Weasley children against Harry, Hermione, Me, Seamus, Dean, Lavender and Parvati.

Hermione played the keeper position and she was actually pretty good at it, much to my surprise. Harry, naturally was seeker, even I wasn't going to dispute that. Seamus and Dean were natural beaters, and that left Lavender, Parvati and I as the chasers.

None of us thought we had a chance against the formidable Weasley team, all of whom had been playing since they were small. Fred and George were beaters, Charlie was seeker, Percy was keeper and Ron, Ginny and Bill were chasers.

It was a great game. We were beaten, even though Harry did catch the snitch, practically out of Charlie's hand. Ron, Ginny and Bill were just too cohesive a team of chasers.

Ron even shook my hand after the game. I stared up at him in shock, my hand clasped in his.

"I'm going to be watching you," he murmured softly, so no one else could hear. I nodded, still in shock at Ron's civility.

He let go of my hand and ran over to sling his arm around Hermione and congratulate her on a great game. I watched the easy way he kissed her and teased her about her keeper skills, or lack there of.

I felt lonely, watching the two of them. I realised I was jealous of Hermione. Oh, not that I wanted Ron! God forbid! But I realised that I wanted a boyfriend of my own. Someone I could be that comfortable and affectionate with, who would love me just the way I am.

Harry caught my eye and we stared into each others eyes before the moment was broken by Mrs Weasley calling us all in for lunch.