"Hey, Granger, wait up!"
She stopped and glanced over her shoulder with mild surprise as she watched Malfoy hurrying towards her. She glanced around her at the other students who were continuing on their way to their afternoon classes from the Great Hall, none of them seemed to take any interest in the fact that the infamous Slytherin Prince was calling out to her. As he came to a stop in front of her she held her chin up in a confident expression, but instinctively held her books tighter to her chest. He seemed to take note of her weariness still in that small motion.
"I don't mean you any harm, Granger, I just wanted to speak with you for a minute if that's alright?"
She could hear the nervousness in his voice and felt a small sense of relief go through her. "What is it, Malfoy?"
"I wanted to apologize for what happened at the Manor earlier this year, I really didn't think Bellatrix would recognize you so quickly. I know all of your faces had been plastered everywhere on the streets, but she hadn't left the Manor in months; I just didn't think."
"Malfoy, it wouldn't have mattered if I had been someone else, as soon as she saw that sword any protection you'd given us by not identifying Harry was lost. She thought we had been in her vault; to her knowledge the Sword of Gryffindor was sealed in there among other things that were not meant for anyone else to know about. The fact that I turned out to be Harry's friend just made it worse, everyone knew that we were looking for a way to rid the world of Voldemort."
"But we received news that her vault was broken into."
"Oh we broke in to her vault alright, but not until days after the incident at the Manor. Her reaction to seeing something she believed to be in her vault gave us the excuse to believe something else was in there that shouldn't exist. And we were correct. I'm actually surprised Gringotts let the details out so quickly, but I suppose busting the roof off via dragon really puts them in an awkward situation if they tried to deny it."
He chuckled in response to her offhandedness regarding the stuffy goblins. "I also wanted to apologize for the way I have treated you in the past, I know it doesn't change the fact that I said some really horrible things to you over the years, but I would like a chance to prove I can be a better person than that."
"You're right, it won't change the fact you said those things," she saw his shoulders slump at her words. "However, it allows me to give you the benefit of doubt that you can change. I believe in second chances, Malfoy, so let's make the best of this one."
"Thank you, Granger."
"You're welcome." She leaned up and kissed his cheek before turning to leave, pausing she looked back over shoulder at him again. She could see a faint blush on his pale skin as he stared at her bewildered. "Don't be late to class, Malfoy, or I will have to dock points from Slytherin regardless if you are Head Boy."
She turned and walked away leaving him in the corridor alone.
"Whatever you say, Granger." He chuckled quietly as he watched her retreat.