Eleanor frowned down at the page in front of her as she walked through a nearly empty corridor, Susan beside her, reading the article over her shoulder.

He who must not be named returns.

"They've certainly changed their tone haven't they?" Susan says.

"They're just ignoring the fact they've spent the past year slandering Harry for saying this very thing," Eleanor sighed in agreement, folding the page up and handing it to Susan to read.

Rounding the corner they find Reggie sitting outside the doorway into the hospital wing where they had been headed to visit Cynthia and the others.

"Did you want me to stay?" Susan whispered to Eleanor.

"No, go in and see Cyn, I won't be too long."

She watched Susan enter the hospital wing, turning to face Reggie once the door had shut again.

"You're not going in to see her?" She asked, deciding to ignore the fact they hadn't spoken to each other since their argument.

"I've already been in," He says softly.

"Soo you're sitting out here?"

"Waiting for you. I knew you'd be here at some point, once you got over the guilt."

"Guilt?" She asks sharply, taking a step back.

"Yeah, guilt. For playing at grown up, pretending you could take on responsibilities you know nothing about and dragging my sister into it all."

"Excuse me? It was her idea to go, she knew what she was getting into, certainly more than I did. I only went to try and keep her safe."

"Yeah and a great job you did there," he said, his voice rising in anger.

"At least I tried, and last I checked, you weren't there, volunteering to help, being chased down by death eaters."

She had obviously hit a nerve, when she pointed out that he hadn't been present as his face turned a fearsome red and, fearing they would be told off by Madam Pomfrey for arguing, grabbed her by the arm and led her down an empty corridor.

"I wasn't there because I was doing as I was told, keeping my head down for my last year of school. Like what you two should have been doing. Well, I hope you enjoyed yourself, trying to show off for that ass and nearly getting my sister killed in the process, maybe now he won't think you're so boring."

The accusation felt like a slap in the face, in fact, Eleanor was sure she would have preferred it, "Excuse me? This is somehow about Malfoy now? Is your pride so hurt at being left out that you're going to say I dragged Cynthia off to fight some death eaters to prove to a guy that I'm not boring?"

"My pride is not hurt, not by the fact that you, like a child, traipsed off in the middle of the night to fight a battle you couldn't win."

"I already told you, I only went to keep an eye on Cynthia," Eleanor snaps, her face inches from Reggies and she stares into his eyes, begging him to see how truly horrible she felt that Cynthia had been hurt, that she had not just wandered into danger out of childish curiosity and foolishness.

But there was no understanding or forgiveness in his eyes, he pulled himself to his full height and pushed past Eleanor back towards the hospital wing. "You're not visiting her, I don't want you in there and neither will our parents when they get here."

"Your parents have disowned her Reggie," Eleanor yells at his retreating back, "After all the stories you made up about George she was told to make a choice, and she did, thanks to you now, she isn't welcome home. Maybe instead of placing your blame with me, you should look at some of your own actions."

It was useless, he ignored her words and left her alone in the corridor where she waited for a few minutes before storming off in the opposite direction, hot tears stinging her eyes as she fought to stay in control of her emotions.

He would never keep her from seeing Cynthia, she would return in the middle of the night if she had to, until then, she sought silence and comfort, winding her way upstairs until she found the library, eerily empty now that exams were over.

Turning the corner around some shelves she makes to slide into her usual seat when she spots him sitting there, looking tired and slightly lost, his pale hair sticking up in a few places, leaving her under the impression he hadn't been sleeping.

She knew she should hate him, since that night she had learned that the man from the Ministry was Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father. He was in Azkaban now, though no doubt, since the dementors had joined Voldemort it wouldn't be long until he was home.

All she could think though was that here was someone who, despite all the teasing and ridicule, had never seriously judged her for her actions, who had helped her whenever she had asked, and who had just lost his father to Azkaban - nevermind why.

She remembered what he had said about Hufflepuff, all those weeks ago when they had been discussing the role of a friend, of being loyal to those you were friends with despite what was going on around them or how they acted to others.

She had spent the year defending Reggie, who, now she thought carefully, was the most arrogant person she knew, trying to force Cynthia and George apart, driving a wedge between her and their parents when that didn't work, always wanting things done his way.

Shaking her head, she stepped forward and took her seat opposite Malfoy, smiling at him when he looked up to face her.

"I'm surprised you're not yelling at me or something," he said, his voice soft, lacking its usual drawl.

"I told you, the night before the potions exam, that we didn't get to choose our family. I know Bellatrix is your aunt, and I know it was your father in that room. I know who they're working for and I know that you were raised with their prejudices and ideals."

Malfoy snorts a little, shifting in his seat worried at the direction the conversation was taking.

"I also know that you are an ass to everyone because it's how you protect yourself from getting hurt, and that more than anything, you need a friend. Someone who is loyal and who defends you despite everything, because they want to, because they're your friend."

"Why would you be my friend? My own father chased you down a few nights ago for whatever reason, and clearly, I'm not about to ditch my family, even if it does put me on the wrong side of whatever war is coming."

"Because I did the right thing, I made friends with the nice guy, the guy who will fight against you-know-who, and he is now the most horrible person I know. I don't care who's in charge, who determines the fate of the world, all I care about is keeping my friends, keeping Cynthia and Susan safe because they're the people that care about me and who I care about. And I think you care about me too, even if you don't know or want to, but that makes you my friend now too."

"Eleanor," he sighs lightly, "When I go home this Summer everything is going to change. I- I'll probably have to do things for-"

"For Voldemort?"

He grimaces a little at the name but nods.

"You don't think I already know that? What I'm saying is I don't care, because I am your friend and I accept you. I'm saying I'll help you however you need it Draco."

____

They had spent the rest of the afternoon together, hiding away from everyone else who wanted to know about that night. They talked about their Summer plans and when they hoped to hear about their OWL results.

Soon enough the sun had begun to set and Draco walked Eleanor down to the corridor that led to the hospital wing, leaving her there to return to his common room as she ducked inside quietly to check that Cyn was okay before sneaking out again to return to her own common room.

The end of the term approached quickly, Cynthia had been allowed to leave the hospital wing for the end of term feast and she found Susan and Eleanor immediately, filling them in on the argument she'd had with her mother when they had arrived to check on her.

"I'm still not going home," she said between mouthfuls. "But I don't think I'd want to even if they'd have me, George has written about how well the shop is doing and I can't wait to spend the whole summer with him before coming back here for next year."

Together the three of them found an empty carriage on the Hogwarts Express, ignoring Reggie when he passed by, Susan ducking out at one point to say goodbye to a friend of hers in another carriage.

"You'll come and visit right? Before the end of the holidays?" Cynthia asks Eleanor as the train begins to slow when it nears Kings Cross.

"I will come and visit," she promised, noticing her friend's attention at the door and turning to see Draco waiting patiently outside.

"I don't mind by the way," Cynthia said when Eleanor got up to talk to him.

"Huh?"

"That you're friends with him."

"I thought you'd have an issue with it, considering his father was-."

"Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not about to make friendship bracelets for him or anything but, you're happier when you've been to see him. And if you're friends with him and he makes you happy, then I'll accept him."

"Besides," she adds before Eleanor can open the door, "You're going to have enough people telling you off about him, you don't need another person adding to that."

Eleanor smiles at her friend, marvelling at how accepting she was before she opens the door and steps out into the hallway.

"I just wanted to wish you luck. For the OWLs results," said Draco, looking out the window as the platform appeared, she thought she saw a woman on the platform that resembled Draco, standing alone and apart from the rest of the crowd.

"Here," she said quickly, snatching his hand and pulling a pen from her pocket, scrawling an address across his hand.

"It's my address, write to me, let me know how you went," she smiles, pocketing the pen again and noticing his enquiring gaze, "Oh, it's like a muggle quill." She waves off his confusion, grabbing hold of her basket containing Ollie from the carriage, bidding goodbye to Draco before she and Cynthia make their way off the train together.

"Everything's going to change now isn't it?" Cynthia asks as they step onto the platform.

"I think so, but as long as we have our friends, nothing else matters," Eleanor smiles, turning away from the train for another year.A/N Hi guys. So this is it for The Hufflepuff. I hope you all enjoyed reading it and I am already working on a sequel but I don't know when it will be up yet. Thank you so much for reading this story and please don't forget to vote and comment. xoxo.