"Hermione!"
She started, looking up from her excessive staring at the Slytherin table, pondering where a certain blonde-haired boy was. Ron's voice had cut into her thoughts. She pasted on a smile and answered Ron. "Yes?"
"I was asking if you'll come to our Quidditch match this weekend? It's us against Slytherin." Ron continued, unfazed by the fake smile on his best friend's face.
A genuine smile came, "Of course I will," Hermione glanced at the clock and frowned in dismay. "I have to get a book from the library if you'll excuse me. It's so important, I can't believe I forgot! The library will close soon!"
Harry looked up from chatting with Ginny to smile and nod. Ron looked put out, but Lavender's constant fawning solved that.
She headed for the doors and shut out the endless roar with the heavy door. Her footsteps echoed down the empty hall as she hurried to the library before curfew.
"Where's the Mudblood going now?"
The voice stopped Hermione in her tracks and caused her to suck in a breath of suddenly cold air. She turned slowly to the source, a blank emotionless mask plastered on. She wasn't disappointed.
Malfoy stood there with his hands stuck deep into his pockets and a menacing blue-gray stare. His lips were curved into a smirk, his platinum blonde hair swept back with gel.
"What do you want?" Hermione replied.
"I believe I asked first, Granger," Draco said, pulling his hands out of his pockets and stepping forward.
She gave an exasperated huff and an eye roll. "If you must know, I'm heading for the library, which is down this hall. Although I wouldn't expect you to know where the library is since you never use it."
Malfoy sneered. He continued as if she never said the last part. "You should give up your studies, Granger. With blood like yours, no one would ever want you no matter how much knowledge you possess."
"Funny, my blood didn't matter to you before." Hermione seethed.
Draco's eyes hardened and he quickly push her against the wall with his arms standing guard on either side of her head. Her brown eyes widened in surprise, and when her senses came back, he already had her trapped.
"That was because you tricked me. You lied to me. I would never have even looked at you if I had known." He sneered.
"I didn't even do it on purpose! I thought you wouldn't care about my blood because you cared enough about me! Was it so wrong to think you cared?" Hermione hit him in the chest.
The boy laughed, a chilling sound in the stone hall. "That's the point. You think too much. You think that people care. That they love you. But they don't. They disappoint. They fool you. You, who thought too much." He looked up and sighed. His arms dropped and he turned his back on her.
After a slight pause, she spoke. "Is that what happened to you? Did your parents do that to you?"
He glanced back over his shoulder. "Perhaps. Perhaps my parents made me think they cared." He turned to face her with harsh eyes. "Or, if it ever crossed your puny mind, I was talking about you." With that, he swept his robes and walked down the hall to the Dining Hall.
He left Hermione with her mouth slightly open, and her heart clenching in pain. How dare he? Whenever she thought back on what happened, it was always him who did the wrong. Him who hurt her. Not the other way around. Was she really the one who had betrayed him? She shook her head clear of the questions, the doubts. She didn't have time for this. It had happened years ago. They should both let it go.
Hermione walked faster to the library, racing the clock. She found her book before the library closed, and hurried to the dorms.
Ginny was waiting for her in the commons. Seeing her friend who cared so much about her, Hermione couldn't hold back the tears. They came trailing down her pale cheeks, dripping down her chin onto her cloak.
"What's wrong?" Ginny rushed to her side and hugged her. "What happened?"
Hermione shook her head, dropping it onto Ginny's shoulder. "It hurts," she sobbed.
Ginny knew what she was talking about. Everyone knew. After Draco had found out, he had blurted it out to the world. Harry, Ron, and Ginny hadn't cared. Neither had all the rest of her friends.
"Oh, 'Mione," Ginny smoothed her bushy hair back. "It's alright. You know we love you. Who the hell cares what Draco Malfoy thinks?"
"That's the problem! I do. Even though he's hurt me so much, I can't stop thinking he's my friend. And he would be! If my blood wasn't- wasn't-"
"Stop it. No one cares about your blood. You're still our 'Mione. We love you. That's enough. You're part of the Golden Trio remember? You're strong. You can get over it." Ginny pulled her in tighter. "Malfoy can think whatever he wants; you will never be anything but my best friend."
Hermione nodded, and pulled away after wiping all her tears away. Sure, now her eyes looked raw, but her resolve was back and she wouldn't let a stupid Slytherin bring her down.
And it would have been easy. If she didn't think so damn much.
The weekend came so quickly. Hermione wrapped a red and gold scarf around her neck and red mittens. With her feet stuffed in winter boots, she headed out through the freezing air to the Quidditch stands. She sat by herself high in the bleachers and waved at Ginny and Harry who were warming up on the ground below.
As the game began, she cheered for her team and booed with her crowd when the Slytherins scored. When the game was getting close to the end, and the Gryffindors were in the chance of losing, Harry caught the Snitch. The bleachers erupted in cheers and everyone streamed onto the field when the players alighted.
"Hermione! Did you see that?" Ron scurried over, broom in hand. "Great game wasn't it? If Harry hadn't caught that Snitch, we would've lost!"
She smiled and nodded. "It was a wonderful game. Great save there by the way,"
Ron beamed with pride. "'Course it was. Been training lots. Hey, 'Mione, we got a party tonight for celebration. You coming?"
"Oh, um," She looked around.
Ginny came up with Harry. "You should really come." The redhead leaned in closer. "Take your mind off of things." She whispered, a knowing look in her eyes.
Hermione hesitated. "I don't know…"
Harry laughed. "If it's your studies, those can wait. Besides, it's the weekend!"
"Oh alright!" Hermione smiled. "Fine, I'll go."
"Well, come on, we got to get ready." Ginny said, pulling Ron and Harry by the arm towards the entrance to Hogwarts.
Hermione looked around, and spotted Draco in the center of the field, just standing there with a mask of indifference and his broom by his side. Seeing him there, all alone, caused her heart to ache and she glanced back at Ginny.
"I," She looked over her shoulder, "I think I'm gonna stay around a little longer. Enjoy the fresh air."
Ron took a step towards her. "I'll stay with you."
Ginny grabbed him back. She'd noticed Malfoy too. "I think she'd like to have some alone time,"
Hermione smiled. She waited for her friends to disappear before turning to walk towards Malfoy. He had turned and now he was watching the brunette walk towards him through the thin covering of fall leaves.
"What are you doing out here all alone?" Malfoy said, quirking his eyebrow. "Not afraid the big bad wolf will bite you again?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Hardly." Her tone turned softer. "I just thought you'd like some company."
He snorted. "And you thought you would be the best candidate."
"No, I came to apologize."
"For what? Being a Mudblood?" He looked at her skeptically.
"No. For last night. And how I never thought of it your way. And because I'm sorry things turned out the way they did. And because I do care about you." She pushed out. "I care about what you think about me and what you feel about the things I say and do. And- And nothing will ever change that."
He looked disbelieving. "Don't try to pretend you know me, Granger. You don't. You pretend you care and all it's for is to get back at me. I don't need you or any other blood traitor or mudblood." He leaned closer. "There's trouble coming and you know it."
"What do you know about Voldemort?" She narrowed her eyes. "You can't possibly be involved?"
He chuckled lowly, humorlessly. "Ah, I know enough. Don't underestimate me." He pushed past her and headed for the school.
She turned with him. "You didn't answer my question."
"I've answered all I wanted to." He replied, tightening his grip on his broom. She noticed this movement.
"You're nervous about something. You're worried. Who for, I wonder?" When no answer was met, she plowed on. "You aren't involved with You-Know-Who. Tell me. Please say you aren't in this."
He spun around, nearly knocking her over. "It's none of your bloody business."
"It is! If you are involved, you'll get hurt! You'll put everyone in danger!" Hermione snapped, pushing her hand on his chest. He raised his arms to push her back. She grabbed his left arm. She looked at him. "If you aren't a Death Eater, you'll let me look at your arm?"
He growled. "No, stop it."
She started pushing his sleeve up.
His hand flew out and grabbed hers. She looked up into his blue-gray eyes. "Don't. You-" He hesitated. "You won't like what you see either way. If it's there you're disappointed, if it isn't, you're still disappointed that you're wrong."
She shook her head. "I would never be disappointed at being wrong about this."
"Doesn't matter. You aren't looking at my arm and that's final. Let me go." The boy grinded out.
She looked back down. Once she spoke her voice was a whisper. "You would have told me if I wasn't a muggleborn?"
He sighed. "No."
She felt tears in the corner of her eyes. "Would you have told anyone else?"
"No, now let me go!"
Hermione looked up. "Fine. But I count this as a betrayal to Harry and Ron. If I ever get the chance again, you can bet I'm looking at your bloody arm." She flung his arm to the side and hurried back inside.
Tears threatened to spill over, but she sucked them back. Hermione Granger could not cry. She was strong, part of the Golden Trio. Not a blasted crybaby. She could get over this without stupid tears.
The night was fun, drinking pumpkin juice and eating chocolate frogs surrounded by friends, by Gryffindors. It was relaxing, after spending forever worrying about You-Know-Who and studies. She knew Ron and Harry really needed a break and she was glad that Quidditch had become useful for once.
"So," Ginny said, sitting by the fire with Hermione.
"Yeah?" She answered, knowing where this was going.
"How was your talk with Malfoy?"
She sighed. "I tried to apologize for not thinking about how he felt, but he totally blocked me out." She looked at Ginny. "I think he's a Death Eater Ginny."
Ginny looked surprised, but not a lot. "How do you know?"
"I wanted to look at his left arm, and he said no." Hermione put her head down on her knees. "Why would he say no if there wasn't anything there?"
"I," Ginny answered, taking a shallow sip of pumpkin juice. "I really don't know. But you shouldn't jump to conclusions. Maybe he just felt bad about not having one. Like he was a disgrace."
"Maybe." Hermione smiled. "Thanks, Ginny. I'm kind of tired. I want to take go to bed now. Have a great night."
"Good night," The girls hugged and parted ways.
After Hermione walked up the stairs and flopped onto her bed, she fell straight asleep.
"Hermione!" Draco shrieked. "You pushed me!"
She laughed, running through the garden with the wet boy chasing her. "Nu-uh! You tripped! Don't blame your clumsiness on me!"
Draco caught up to the giggling girl and tackled her into the daisy meadow. The seven-year olds tickled each other before rolling down the slight hill on top of each other. They landed apart from the other with their fingers touching.
"Draco?" She asked, her brown eyes glancing over at the blonde boy.
"Yeah?"
"Do you like me?" She rolled onto her side to stare at him. "I mean like like. Not just like."
Draco laughed. "You just said like twice."
Hermione blushed. "I'm trying to speak my feelings and all you're doing is pick on me!" She scooted over to the boy and hit him.
The boy laughed harder. "I don't want to tell you."
"Tell me!" She squealed, pushing him.
"No!" He got up, and grinned at her. "You'll have to catch me for me to say." He started running and the little girl got up and ran screaming after him.
"Teeeelllll mmmmeeeee!"
The scene changed and she was on the roof of the Malfoy Manor. There were muggle fireworks going off in the far distance and she was watching them with a wineglass of juice. It was New Year's Eve and she had been invited to the Malfoy's party because her parents were rather important in the wizarding society.
Draco had been ignoring her all night because she had taunted him about flirting with the girls at the party. When she had headed for the roof, she had noticed he was trying even harder and that he finally got a girl to go upstairs with him. That's when she left.
Hearing muffled footsteps behind her; she looked over her shoulder and Draco as he came and sat beside her. He was holding a bottle of champagne and two glasses.
"A toast?" He asked, lifting the bottle.
She nodded and he poured out two glasses of it. He handed her one and they clinked them together before each chugging down the bubbly liquid. Glancing over at him, she notice that his shirt was untucked and his tie tied horrendously.
"Was it fun?" She asked.
"What?" He looked at her.
She rolled her eyes before looking up at the fireworks again. "The girl. I assume something happened."
He laughed. "Oh her. No, we just made out for a while. She wasn't good enough for me."
She looked at him with a criticizing gaze. "You didn't leave her hanging did you?"
He gulped and looked away from her stare. "Um,"
"Draco Malfoy, I expect that you know how to treat a lady! You don't ever leave her like that! You're such a jerk." Hermione downed the rest of her glass while hiding her secret smile. So he wasn't that bad of a jerk as she thought he was. Bedding a girl just because she had taunted that no one would want him.
"Draco,"
"Yeah?"
"What time is it?"
He looked at his watch. "11:59. Right on time, Granger." He looked at her. "Have you ever heard of a New Year's Eve tradition?"
Hermione shook her head.
"You're supposed to kiss whoever's closest when the clock strikes twelve." He leaned closer. "Can I do that?"
She looked into his blue-gray eyes and blushed before nodding. So just after the adults downstairs burst into bottle-popping whooping New Year's cheer, Draco leaned in and placed his lips on hers. His lips where soft and tasted of the champagne along with a cherry flavor, most likely left over from the girl. She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
They pulled away and she looked into the sky of gleaming white stars. "That was my first kiss."
"Sorry," He said, looking away too.
She shook her head and smiled, grabbing his head to force him to look into her brown chocolate eyes. "It couldn't have been anyone better."
"Granger." He said, his tone serious.
"Yes?"
"I think, I think I'm falling for you. Are you falling for me?"
She laughed. "You'll have to catch me for me to answer that." She got up and headed for the stairs that lead into the house.
Draco smirked. "Damn."