Month 4 – Bridging the Gap
Month 4 – Bridging the Gap
The next couple of months had a lot of awkwardness. Each group tended to sit slightly separated from the other. There was still a need for caution, both sides believed. On the third month it started to become more comfortable. Most of the Slytherins were extremely cautious, minus Theo. He seemed the most relaxed. Then Astoria was the next who was easily approachable. While these two hadn’t been as present in the bullying at school or prominent in the war, they became the bridge between the two groups. Funny that it ended up being two Slytherins, with the help of Luna to bridge the gap.
Draco was clearly the most uncomfortable of the group as they joined. He always looked tense, like he was going to be hexed at any moment.
The second month had been a lot of white chatter. Discussing everyone on the DA groups side and what they had been up to since the end of the war.
They had all finished school (minus Ron and Harry) and started their lives. All of them going in different directions. For the DA, they never lost touch. A bond like theirs could never be broken. Fighting together at such a young age forms bonds, both magical and familiar that strengthens relationships. The friendships that build into a family. This family was more than Harry could ask for. More than Hermione expected yet welcomed.
Harry and Ron were Aurors.
Ginny a Chaser for the Hollyhead Harpies.
Neville studied Herbology and started writing a comprehensive book about his discoveries during the war about magical plants.
Luna began an all-inclusive study of her own on the magical creatures used during the war by the dark side. With the help of Hagrid, she was able to lift many enchantments that forced most of them to work for the dark side without their knowledge.
Cho became an influential writer at the Daily Prophet, helping it become the reporting paper that it was meant to be. Reporting truth rather than conjecture and gossip, pushing out Rita Skeeter, who retired shortly after Cho’s first expose’. She didn’t realize how much the wizarding world needed the truth after the war. Fueled by her experience of being forced to rat out her friends during fifth year while she was under the influence of veritaserum, she was brought into the limelight when she wrote the expose’ on the Trio’s work. Having them back her and voice their acknowledgements helped her push out Rita. Nothing was glorified, just truth, and the public lapped it up. Harry, Ron and Hermione welcomed Cho into the group and thanked her for accurately depicting what happened during the war, thus redeeming her in their eyes.
Hermione worked with everyone in her own way. Encouraging each to go down the paths that they needed to per each of their strengths. She herself focused on freeing her parents memories. She continued to struggle with how her spell had been too powerful for her to reverse her parents’ memories. That’s why she clung to her friends. She needed their support. She didn’t share the deeper nuances of her need to be in mind healing with the Slytherins. Not yet anyways.
Hermione continued studying. She decided to further her education in the muggle world, getting a doctorate in family therapy, coinciding with her career in the magical world as a mind healer. She wanted to find a way to bring the two together. She moved up in the magical world very quickly. With the help of a magical device she used in her 3rd year, Hermione became a formidable and influential witch.
Along with volunteering to attend the M.E.M, Draco, Blaise, Pansy and Theo, completed their 7th year via correspondence. Astoria was a year younger and was given the opportunity to go back to Hogwarts and complete her last year, although she also opted to complete her final year via correspondence, so they all ended up graduating at the same time. Much like Ginny did with the other side of the group. Most of the Slytherin group had to give up their wands for a probation period after the War. Each had a varied time frame they had to live without their wands, with the exception of Astoria. Theo and Blaise took a 6 month leave from their wands. Pansy had to give hers up for 9 months. Draco was sentenced to loose his for 2 years.
Living without magic in the wizarding world, was difficult. The five Slytherins attended the M.E.M. classes for a year, while they finished their 7th year of school. That is when Draco suggested they live amongst the muggles.
Draco never went back to Malfoy Manor after the war. He did not talk to his father after the war either. His mother was the only link to his younger years. Yet he did not lose his fortune. With his father incarcerated, when he turned 18, he was given his inheritance and he decided to make his life better with the funds.
Living with Blaise and Theo was hard. He had been a spoiled child. Knowing the reason for the war was wrong is one thing. Learning that the way he and the others were raised was harder to swallow, causing him to reevaluate how he lived his life. He gave up house elves and everything that made him rich. He found that he enjoyed muggle clothing, as did most of the Slytherins. One of Draco’s favorite outfits became a plain Black hoodie and dark jeans. If it was too hot, he would favor dark colored V-neck t-shirts. Mostly dark green, blue or black.
During the fourth month meetig, Luna & Theo were the last ones to come into the pub. They had met up as they walked to the pub and chatted about how the group as a whole still had a tense atmosphere. Luna stood behind the group and looked around when they arrived at the table. Theo stood beside her looking at her quizzically. She reached into her bag and pulled out a notebook and began putting numbers on 12 pieces of small paper, folding them up. Theo caught on quickly, but everyone else looked at her with confusion. With a flourish of his wand, the papers flew into the air and started circling. Astoria was the next to catch on. Standing up she marked the number “1” on the chair she had just vacated. Luna waved her wand and each piece of paper floated to a person. Once everyone had a piece of paper, Luna cleared her throat. Theo and Astoria standing beside her for support.
“I know this might seem childish, but we need to mix up our seating arrangements. Astoria has graciously marked the chair with the number 1,” Luna gently grabbed Astoria’s hand and squeezed it. “We’ll start from there and go clockwise.”
“Like a clock?” Ron blurted to no one.
“Yes, Ron. Although that did not cross my mind when I planned this a few minutes ago.” Luna beamed at him.
Theo spoke up, “Ok. Open and switch seats.”
Curiously, no one complained. When it came to Luna, all of them, learned quickly that her intentions were always genuine & they all had grown accustomed to her positive outlook. Ginny ran to Pansy and saw she was sitting across the table from her, so he looked at Neville’s paper as he walked by them and quickly switched with him since he was supposed to sit next to Pansy. Ginny and Pansy started to bond from that first day. Ginny had asked for her number on the second month’s meeting. They were becoming fast friends. As everyone started to settle in their new seats. Luna beamed again to see that there was a good mix between the two groups. Taking a deep sigh she stated, “Well, isn’t this nice.” There were snickers and smiles all around and this phrase would become a running joke with the group.
Ron was sat next to Draco. Draco looked tenser than he had in previous months. Ron looked uncomfortable as well. They each folded their arms across their chests. Ron trying to puff himself a little bit. Ron had grown since the war, but not as much as Draco. Draco’s shoulders were broader, and fitter. Ron was fit as well, but Draco was clearly the bigger of the two. Ron had been having the hardest time with the groups socializing and had a scowl on his face with the seating rearrangement. They both sat in silence listening to the others for the better part of the first hour.
Draco eventually leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. Ron started to relax as he listened to Luna’s latest adventure trying to wrangle one of the magical beasts everyone thought she had made up in school.
Draco had a plan. He’d had this plan for over a year. He wanted to apologize individually to each of the golden trio, then the others, but he didn’t know where to start. Being sat next to Ron seemed destined. Each person in the trio had their own qualities that made Draco dread the apology. The dread mostly stemmed from growing up believing you were always right. Ron was a hot head, and Draco didn’t want to cause a scene. Hermione would be forgiving and emotional and he didn’t want to cry or make her cry. Harry was a mix between the two so Draco was anxious about how he would react. But he made this decision to make amends and he might as well start somewhere.
Clearing his throat loud enough for Ron to hear, Draco turn toward him slightly. The movement caught Ron’s eye and he leaned away from Draco so he could turn toward him, but not be too close.
“Weasley, do you mind coming to the bar to help me get a few pitchers for the table?”
“Uh…. Um…. Uh….. Errr……” Looking at Luna, Astoria & Cho behind Draco, who were all slightly nodding their heads. Astoria had an odd smile on her face which calmed him, and he looked at Draco. “Yeah, sure, I guess.”
Draco hadn’t realized he was holding his breath. As he led the way to the bar, he released it. Sitting down at the far end away from the group. The pub was getting busier and busier the more they came. Ron joined him and waved at the bar keep.
“Before we order the pitchers, I’d like to talk to you about something.” Draco stated.
“Oh….. Uh…. Alright,” Ron stammered, clearly very uncomfortable.
Seeing the other wizard’s awkwardness gave Draco some strength. He didn’t seem like he was going to hex him, just that Ron had no clue what to expect from the blonde.
“So, that first month we approached you all, I said that we were looking to make amends.”
“Yeah, I remember.” Ron responded curtly.
“My intentions were to do so to each person individually, not just to the group as a whole.” Draco admitted.
Ron sat expressionless. Almost like a deer looking into a set of headlights on a car.
Almost 30 seconds passed in silence.
Draco took a deep breath.
“Weasley, I’m truly sorry for my actions as a child and then during the war. I’ve learned that the way I was raised made me into a spoiled prat. I did not know what it was like to live in a happy home. I was jealous of the love I saw in your family. I wanted to be Harry’s friend that first year and he chose you over me. It fueled my jealousy, and, in truth, I wanted what you had. A family and friends who loved me as you were loved.” Draco spoke the words confidently and a bit quicker than he had planned, then exhaled his shaky breath.
Ron’s expression slowly started to morph. Draco had no clue what to make of each expression. The silence that stretched as he waited for Ron’s response was deafening.
Clearing his throat Draco started to say, “You don’t have to forgive me, but I hope for your forgiveness none the less. I enjoy this group you have. I’d like to be part of it and call you all friends one day. All the Slytherins would like the same.”
Ron’s facial expressions started to clear. Then he tensed up, sitting very still and staring straight ahead. Draco gawked at him. Looking at the table they came from, he instantly saw Luna. She was clearly using legilimancy on Ron. That blonde witch smiled at him, and he gave a small smiled back
Ron came to again. He turned around and yelled to Luna, “Oi, Loony Toons, I hate it when you do that. I might be slower that you lot, but I was getting there.” The nickname not coming from a teasing place, but one full of love for his friend.
Turning back to Draco he held out his hand. “Jealous, eh? Who would have ever guessed that?”
Draco laughed, clearly relaxing more than he ever had since they started joining the others at the pub, and grabbed his hand and shook it gently.
“You know I have a bad temper. I blame the red hair. My whole family are hot heads. It’s something Luna’s been helping me with. She’s like a weighted blanket. She brings us all down when we get heated. My family ain’t the perfect family, but I do know what it’s like to be loved and to love. I know it must have been hard to grow up the way you did. I appreciate the apology, mate. I can say, honestly, I will probably forgive you…. But give me some time to fully get there. Like Luna just reminded me…. Let’s find some common ground to build a relationship of trust, rather than the angst & hate we always had as kids and during the war.”
“I can do that.” Draco look down. He felt deep emotions brewing inside of him. Not anger. Emotions he was still coming to understand. Looking up he asked Ron, “So you fancy quidditch, right?”
“Hells yeah!” Patting Draco on the shoulder hard. “What’s your favorite team?”
Looking over at Ginny, he said, “Don’t tell, but I enjoy the Hollyhead Harpies. You?”
“The Chuddly Cannons.” Ron smirked at him, daring him to argue his hatred, since he knew Draco had always hated the team.
“You know, even though I just apologized to you, doesn’t mean I’m going to agree with you just to win your good graces.” Draco calmly stated.
This began a lively debate between the two former enemies.
Over at the table, Harry and Hermione watched the blond and red head argue playfully. Nudging Hermione with his elbow, not taking his eyes off the scene, Harry said, “I would have never believed that one day, we’d be sitting with a table full of Slytherins having a great time and chatting up like we are all friends. Or that Ron would be laughing with Malfoy.” They both grinned at each other when they heard Ron guffaw at something Draco said.
“Yeah,” Hermione agreed, “I guess miracles can happen.” Looking to Luna, she smiled. Luna was their rock. Luna didn’t know that she brought everyone together, it was just her nature to love everyone. Astoria leaned toward Luna and linked arms with her, smiling at Draco. Hermione saw that Astoria and Theo filled the role for their group that Luna filled for her own group. Tears started to fill her eyes and her heart was becoming fuller. She saw a bright future for this group that she had grown to call her chosen family.