Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Pale pink and orange interlaced to paint the navy sky. A dewy scent lingered in the crisp air; a familiar odour to Ginny, who was accustomed to the early mornings back in the Burrow, when she'd tiptoe inside the broom shed that she was forbidden from setting foot in.
That was nine years ago.
Now, mornings are brimming with a taxing amount of Quidditch practices.
She was the captain now, an amazing chaser. Ginny was in 7th year and had high hopes of playing for the leagues.
Today was her first Quidditch match of the year and first year as captain, she glanced around and saw the golden trio making their way to the stands.
Harry was the captain before but since he was in 8th year, he nor Ron could play this year.
Ginny glanced at Harry and he smiled and waved back! Ginny still liked him, he was her first crush and they were dating too, but then the war happened and Harry just changed and they needed time to mourn, and Ginny had thought that they would start dating again but well…that didn’t happen, but Ginny wished it would. And the fact that Harry looked really hot now didn’t help. He was tanned and taller and toned, and well he was also rich af.
She cleared her thoughts of all things Harry and waved back to the trio.
”Ugh did you hear that Malfoy is back? And so is Pansy and the rest! I can’t believe they let him in here” One of the 4th year girl scoffed. “I wonder why Harry had to testify for him”
Ginny hated Malfoy too, he hadn’t killed Fred but it still didn’t change the fact that he was a death eater and was on the other side, and that he was a git!
Another girl let out a scoff, rolling her eyes. "Right? I honestly don't know what Harry was thinking. Malfoy deserved to rot away in Azkaban with the rest of the Death Eaters."
“Yeah." Ginny mumbled, pushing herself up from the bleachers and trotting over to her friends.
Ginny approached Hermione first, a coy grin tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Heya, And ai thought you guys won’t show up!?" She quipped, bumping Hermione lightly with her elbow.
“cant miss my sisters game now, ain’t that right mate!” Ron winked nudging Harry.
“Yeah can’t miss gryfindor beating slytherins ass again and of course watching you fly Ginny!” Harry said, smiling.
Ginny smiled proudly but just then Ron spoke “ Isn’t that Malfoy? What’s that ferret doing here?”
“Oh Ronald leave him alone, he is not causing us any trouble!” Hermoine said vainly.
“Come on! Let’s go mess him up! He used to do that to us before!” Ron whined.
Ginny's eyes flicked in the direction that Ron was gesturing towards, spotting Draco Malfoy walking on the field.
"Ugh... him again?" Ginny huffed, shaking her head in disgust. "As much as I'd love to deck him in the face, I think my team would have a fit if we started a fight before practice even started." She then glanced at Harry.
”But I do want to know what he’s doing and it won’t exactly be bad to have some fun” she added.
She hated Malfoy. She despised him, just like Ron did. She wanted to blame Fred’s death and George’s withdrawal and sadness on someone and Malfoy seemed the perfect candidate.
”Ginny! Not you too!” Hermoine exclaimed.
”Mate you in or out?” Rom asked.
Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head with a resigned sigh.
"Oh, for Merlin's—"
But Ginny and Ron were already heading over to Malfoy, leaving Harry little choice but to follow
Ginny smirked as she and the boys approached Malfoy on the field, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto him.
"Well, well, look who it is. The great Malfoy." She said mockingly.
“What do you want female weasel?” Malfoy shot, almost subconsciously.
Ginny bristled at the way Malfoy addressed her. She crossed her arms across her chest, a determined glint in her brown eyes.
"I have a name, you arrogant prat," she retorted, standing her ground.
Ron was fuming. “If I were you I would have hidden in the dorm Ferret!” He shot.
“Oh look it’s the whole pack, with scar head, weasel bee, his female counterpart and mud- ahem…Granger..” Malfoy clapped back, looking disinterested.
”Say that again! I dare you Malfoy!” Ron threatened, taking out his wand.
”Oh no, consider me scared weasel bee” Malfoy resorted back still looking utterly disinterested.
Malfoy then looked at Hermoine and Ginny could see something in his eyes? Guilt? Regret?
I-Granger, can we talk?” He whispered. “Alone.” He added.
Hermione's expression hardened momentarily, but she nodded slowly.
"Sure," she said simply, stepping away from the group to a more secluded area.
Ron looked ready to blow up.
Calm down Ron, he tries anything we can hex him” Ginny responded.
Draco looked at hermoine, the averted his gaze, then took a deep breath and looked at her again.
“I am sorry!” He finally choked out. “f-for everything!” He added.
He did not expect her to forgive him, but he just couldn’t live like that! He had promised to change to make amends and the one he had hurt the most was granger.
Hermione's defences lowered a little, her surprise showing on her face.
"You...you're sorry?" She repeated softly, looking at him intently.
“Yes! For calling you mudblood, for the torture that aunt Bella… For being a git, for everything. I am sorry.” He muttered. He sort of wished that Hermoine would just hex him at this point. That would have been a lot better.
Hermione studied his face, searching for any sign of insincerity. But all she saw was remorse and what appeared to be genuine regret.
She took a moment to compose herself before replying.
"Malfoy...I appreciate your apology. It...means a lot."
Malfoy looked at her with disbelief.
wait what? She’s just gonna forgive me? Why? Come on! Throw some hexes, tell me to go jump off a cliff, to duck off!
But... an apology doesn't change what happened. The things you said and did... they left scars, Malfoy." She said slowly.
Malfoy looked up
”I know. I am not telling you to forgive me, and I know what I did and what happened to you won’t change but I just wanted to let you know that I am sorry.” He said, he wanted to go drown himself in the lake now.
Hermione regarded him for a moment longer before nodding slightly.
"Okay," she said quietly. "Thank you for apologising, Malfoy. I'm not sure I can completely accept your apology just yet, but... I appreciate your effort."
“Thank you granger!* saying this Draco left, ignoring the hateful glances Ron was throwing at him.
He felt a little better. Like he was a king some progress, he knew he could never completely get rid of his guilt but he wanted to at least try to lead a normal life.