129 It's a start.

"Me?" Hermione asked confused, "It's not that I don't want to but Ron seemed mad and so insistent that I gave up since I don't feel like it's my place to talk anymore..."

"It's not the Hermione I know." Draco said, "The Hermione I know would help Ginny since she knew that her brother was in the wrong and was trying to force his sister out of Hogwarts for just being a Slytherin. It's not about family or friend... it's about right and wrong."

"You are right." Hermione said standing up, "Thanks." She said suddenly running outside the hall with a determined face.

"Why are you so insistent on helping her?" Pansy asked pouting.

"You know during that sorting ceremony, the hat nearly placed me in Gryffindor... at the time many thoughts ran through my head, about what I was going to do." Draco said surprising everyone since they never heard this story before. "Even though both mine and Ginny's problem are different, I can at least relate to her a bit and besides what's wrong with helping someone, who's in the same house as us."

"Yeah, especially someone cute, last time I saw her, she was, looking at Potter with worship... you were jealous, weren't you?" Theodore said grinning only to get kicked under the table by Daphne and Pansy.

"So when are you going?" Pansy asked, "Isn't that why Dumbledore called you yesterday?"

Draco nodded, "2 months from now..." he said vaguely.

"What are you talking about?" Daphne asked,

"Nothing." Draco shook his head, Daphne and Theodore were about to ask him what was he going on about when Snape came along the table handing out course schedules. Draco took his and saw that they had double Herbology with the Ravenclaws first.

"Talking about Ravenclaw, what's going on with you and Cho?" Draco asked looking at Theodore.

"I don't know." Theodore said, "We've been talking for a while again after the incident, but we still haven't talked face to face." He said looking back at the Ravenclaw's table.

"She's such a two face, do you still like her after what happened last year?" Pansy snorted, "She was so quick to judge Draco..."

Draco stopped her before she finished as Theodore took a huge sigh, "That's why I don't know." He said, "I can understand her point of view in this as well, since her and we were never that close of a friend, her sticking out for us would be difficult but at the same time--thinking about how she quickly decided to turn her back on us, make me dislike her a bit."

"People take time to change." Draco said, "Besides, she isn't even in the same class as us, so she has her own friends and reputation to maintain, I would probably do the same if I was in her position for people who I barely know."

"But you guys savedher from the troll, doesn't she feel even a little bit of guilt?" Daphne added.

"She does." Theodore said, "Every letter she sent me contained the word 'sorry' and that's why she can't even face us directly right now... Let's not talk about her." Theodore said ending the conversation.

After that, they left the castle together, crossed the vegetable patch, and made for the greenhouses, where the magical plants were kept. As they neared the greenhouses they saw the rest of the class standing outside, waiting for Professor Sprout. They had only just joined them when she came striding into view across the lawn, accompanied by Gilderoy Lockhart. Professor Sprout's arms were full of bandages, and with another twinge of guilt, Draco spotted the Whomping Willow in the distance, several of its branches now in slings.

Professor Sprout was a squat little witch who wore a patched hat over her flyaway hair; there was usually a large amount of earth on her clothes and her fingernails would have made Narcissa and many other noble Draco knew disgusted. Gilderoy Lockhart, however, was immaculate in sweeping robes of turquoise, his golden hair shining under a perfectly positioned turquoise hat with gold trimming.

"Oh, hello there!" he called, beaming around at the assembled students. "Just been showing Professor Sprout the right way to doctor a Whomping Willow! But I don't want you running away with the idea that I'm better at Herbology than she is! I just happen to have met several of these exotic plants on my travels…"

"Greenhouse three today, chaps!" said Professor Sprout, who was looking distinctly disgruntled, not at all her usual cheerful self.

There was a murmur of interest. They had only ever worked in greenhouse one before — greenhouse three housed far more interesting and dangerous plants. Professor Sprout took a large key from her belt and unlocked the door. Draco caught the usual whiff of damp earth and fertilizer mingling with the heavy perfume of some giant, umbrella-sized flowers dangling from the ceiling. He was about to follow Theodore and the girls inside when Lockhart's hand shot out.

"Mr. Black! I've been wanting a word — you don't mind if he's a couple of minutes late, do you, Professor Sprout?"

Judging by Professor Sprout's scowl, she did mind, but Lockhart said, "That's the ticket," and closed the greenhouse door in her face.

Pansy and Daphne were worried that Draco might again blow up Lockhart in a fit of rage but looking at Draco's calm face they couldn't say anything, as Theodore pushed them inside nodding at Draco signaling him to not do anything stupid.

"Draco," said Lockhart, his large white teeth gleaming in the sunlight as he shook his head. "Draco, Draco, Draco. I can call you that right?"

Completely nonplussed, Draco said nothing as he stood there looking at Lockhart wondering what an amazing job of obliviation was done. According to Lucius, he had asked help from an acquaintance who is a known Obliviator who works for the ministry to Obliviate him.

"All these rumors about you and me, I hope you aren't upset." Lockhart said keeping his signature smile, "Don't know when I've been more shocked, these reporters talking about you and me fighting when obviously you are completely fine. What can I say, fame does bring all the goods but the bads as well."

It was remarkable how he could show every one of those brilliant teeth even when he wasn't talking and how he didn't even flinch a little while bragging.

"Being in the newspaper once gives you a taste for publicity, doesn't it?" said Lockhart. "Gave you the bug. You got onto the front page of the paper and you couldn't wait to do it again, of course, I am to blame for all this, as I have heard before that you were one of the people who really adore me"

"What gave you that idea —" Draco was cut off before he could even finish his sentence.

"Draco, Draco, Draco," said Lockhart, reaching out and grasping his shoulder. "I understand.Natural to want a bit more once you've had that first taste — and I blame myself for giving you that because it was bound to go to your head — but see here, young man, you can't go around fighting dark wizards all the time. Just calm down, all right? Plenty of time for all that when you're older. Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking! 'It's all right for him, he's an internationally famous wizard already!' But when I was twelve, I was just as much of a nobody as you are now. In fact, I'd say I was even more of a nobody! I mean, a few people have heard of you, haven't they? All that business with that old bloke Pius, claiming to be the follower of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" He glanced at Draco's face with a bit of envy but he quickly hid it. "I know, I know — it's not quite as good as winning Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award five times in a row, as I have — but it's a start, Draco, it's a start."