Coffee was her salvation.
Hermione sipped it slowly as if every drop was golden. She pulled her leg up onto her leather chair and leaned over her table. Well, it wasn't her table. Technically it was Hogwart's table, but it was hers as far as any student was concerned. Her final year at Hogwarts had been a long one. Ron and Harry weren't here to be with her so she mostly hung out with Ginny and Luna. It was rather lonesome, but she felt like she needed the solitude to find herself again.
Adjusting to a normal life was more difficult than she had originally thought. She had dreamed so many times of living a normal life again in the tent, but now that it was actually here, it seemed so surreal. She pulled her sweater around her leg to adjust herself as she flipped her textbook, her new glasses sliding down her nose a bit. She didn't need her glasses often, but reading had become a bit of a nuisance without them. Especially when she was tired, like when she was studying for her N.E. .
The library was packed full of students studying, there was hardly a table open. She was lucky to have her big open table. She had parchment spread over half of it, and a few open textbooks. Studying was a bit of a moot point because exams were tomorrow, but she was going to use every spare moment.
She watched people move around looking for a table, and she tried not to be distracted by the black cloak that kept walking back and forth. She looked back down at her parchment and muttered to herself her notes. The black cloak walked by again. With a sigh, she looked up.
"Malfoy," She called to him, and he turned to face her, his eyes dark with anger, "I have plenty of room," She waved to the rest of her table.
"Why?" He asked, not putting his books down yet,
"It's a table, not an olive branch," She said, gripping her leg tightly, "And your constant pacing is distracting,"
He seemed mollified enough as he sat down.
At first, Hermione was distracted by his presence. As much as she tried not to be, she couldn't focus on anything else. She tried to think if she had seen him through out the year, and she had, but he had kept a low profile. Not surprising, given his reputation. Harry had testified at his trial, and Hermione had supported Harry through it—but she didn't remember seeing Malfoy much in the papers after that.
Focus.
She read through her notes on Ancient Runes. She had always loved Runes, she didn't think she would use it much once she graduated, but it had always been fun. Taking a deep and calming breath, she let her mind dive into the runes.
It was late in the night when she looked up and found the library mostly empty. She stretched her arms up and was surprised to find Malfoy still there. He was hunched over his notes. He looked tired, she was sure she did too. Her long and uncontrollable hair was piled on top of her head.
"I am going down to the kitchen to get some coffee, do you want some?" Hermione asked, and he looked up at her like she had three heads,
"You know the way to the kitchens?" He asked, he looked condescendingly at her, but she refused to indulge
"Being friends with rule breakers does have its benefits," She admitted, standing up,
"Lead the way, Granger," He told her, standing up as well.
She thought she would just bring it up to him, but now he wanted to be shown where the kitchens were?
"Then let's go," She said, before grabbing her wand. She muttered a spell to make sure their books and bags were not disturbed during their absence, and started walking out of the library.
Hermione didn't say two words to Malfoy as she led him to the kitchens, and she was always two steps ahead of him. When she reached the portrait of the bowl of fruit, she looked around for the step stool she used to reach the pear, but she didn't see it.
"Where are we?" Malfoy asked,
"Well, can you tickle the pear? My step stool isn't here, usually Winky keeps it out for me,"
"Winky?"
"A house elf—but can you reach up and tickle it?" She asked him.
As he was several inches taller, he had no problem reaching up and tickling the pear, and she sighed when it swung open.
"Hermione!" Several house elves cheered when she walked inside the portrait. Instantly, all sorts of pastries were shoved in her face.
"Oh, please, may I have some coffee?" She asked, and several house elves started brewing a pot, "And this is Draco Malfoy," She introduced, and the house elves went quiet.
"Dobby's former master?" A timid house elf asked, his big eyes looking at Hermione with tears in them. A wailing sound in the back would have been none other than Winky.
"My father was his former master," He said, his voice was deep and Hermione almost felt like it was apologetic.
"Master Malfoy, do you want a pastry?" A house elf asked him, holding up a few options,
"Thank you," Was his curt reply as he grabbed one,
Hermione took a spot at the island on a bar stool, eating a pastry and Malfoy took a spot next to her. It wasn't too much longer that hot coffee was placed in front of them, and she almost sighed as it hit her lips.
Yum.
Liquid gold.
"How did you find this place?" Malfoy asked her,
"Actually, Fred and George," She replied with a smile, and Malfoy frowned,
"How is George?" He asked, and she was surprised,
"He is doing well, considering everything. Ron is living with him and working in the shop,"
He nodded, drinking his coffee,
"How are your parents?" She asked him and she watched his body stiffen, "I don't believe anything Rita Skeeter says about them," She added, her tone exasperated. The articles about his parents in the Profit had been absolutely horrible.
"We are trying to figure out how she knows so much," Malfoy confessed, "But my parents are doing alright on house arrest,"
Hermione was quiet, debating on whether to say anything or not.
Once they had left the kitchens with a few more scones for their travel, they made their way up to the library. Hermione wasn't saying a word, still trying to figure out if she should say anything or not.
"Malfoy?" She asked, and he looked to her, "Look for a bug," She told him,
"What are you saying?" He asked, his tone impatient.
"Skeeter, she is an unregistered animagus. It's why she doesn't write anything too negative about Harry—she knows I would—retaliate," She grinned at him, "But she is a beetle. Just look for her—trap her—and she won't write such horrid things about your parents,"
"And you are so convinced they aren't true?" He asked her, his eyebrow raised,
Hermione was silent for a moment before answering, "Rita has a habit of taking a shred of truth and manipulating it to transform into whatever she wants it to be. That is how Harry and I became lovers in her article our fourth year, and that stuff about Dumbledore last year. Some of the things were facts, but her writing changes the facts for the worst. She is a horrid woman,"
They were outside the library, not wanting to go in just yet because Hermione didn't want to be hushed by Madam Pince.
"I will tell my parents," He told her, his tone condescending, and Hermione nodded before walking back into the library.
She found it much easier to focus when she made it back to her table. The pressure of Malfoy sitting at the table didn't seem so much anymore. When it was late, Madam Pince reminded the both of them that they shouldn't be caught out of their dormitories late at night.
After she packed up her things, she looked to Malfoy, "Goodnight, Malfoy,"
"Evening, Granger," He said, a cold edge on his voice.
Hermione always felt old at Hogwarts. She knew she was only a year older than everybody else, but it felt like decades. After all she had been through, it might as well have been decades. She sat outside the exam room for NEWTs with all the other seventh years. They were waiting to go inside.
"I mean, if you are nervous, I think I am going to die," Ginny said next to her, making Hermione laugh,
"You will be fine, Ginny. You have studied," Hermione assured her,
"You have found employment," Luna softly reminded Ginny,
"Yes, but I would rather be know for my brains and brawn," She replied, and both girls laughed,
"You may come in," McGonagall instructed them at the door entrance, and the students walked quickly into the exam room. Paper, quills and ink were provided as to keep students form cheating.
"Good luck, Malfoy," Hermione said as she walked past him
"You too," He replied,