"Granger? Is that you?" Of course it is. Who else would be crying in a library! And of all people to notice that I was, Draco Malfoy.
"Please don't, Malfoy. I'm really not in the mood."
"Well, I wasn't saying you were Granger, I noticed you were crying and neither Weasel or Potter are around. They finally get tired of your mudblood?"
"I said don't Malfoy." I mumbled through tear stained eyes. "I am dealing with enough without you and your names."
"Well, I'm kinda here alone, so uh…if you won't tell Blaise, I won't tell Potter and Weasley…"
"Won't tell them what, might I ask?" Now he had my attention. Draco never wanted anything to do with me. According to him, I didn't even deserve to be here because of my muggle parents. All the more reason I had to work to become a prefect, so that I could show him that I could work magic just as well as any of his pure-bloods.
"Well," He said, groaning as he sat down beside me, amongst the aisles of books, putting his arm around my shoulder, "I may be a single child, but I still know how to listen when someone has a problem."
I couldn't help but laugh, even through the tears. How would a spoiled brat like Malfoy even understand what I could be going through.
"Thanks but no thanks Malfoy, I think this is kinda out of your league."
"Come on, please Hermione, just talk to me, it'll help I promise."
I don't know what I was thinking at that point. Maybe I was just that lonely that I needed someone, anyone to talk to. Maybe it was the fact that for the first time ever, he called me by my first name. Or maybe, it had nothing to do with him, and was just that fact that I had to get it all out. I don't know. But for some reason, when he said that, I just let it all out.
"Well, the Yule Ball is coming up and the only reason why I think Viktor even asked me is because I was the only girl who wasn't drooling all over him. I was competition. Ron didn't even ask me to the dance until he ran out of other options. I'm not even a girl to any of them, more like a living book. My parents can't understand what I'm going through, and I can't even show them anything new that I learn here, because they are muggles and the Ministry forbids it. I just want a break, you know?"
Draco just stares at me for a second, like he can't exactly figure out what to say. Finally, he just looks from side to side to make sure no one is coming, looks down at his lap, and sighs.
"I understand. You may not think I do, you don't have to think I do, but I understand." Then, I got to thinking about it, he did understand. His dad only cared about Voldermort and taking down Harry, so he didn't get to show off his new wand tricks at home, except to his mom, when she wasn't with his dad, and he really didn't get too many girls interested in dating him, mostly just because he's a jerk, but still.
"Yea, I…I guess you do. Thanks Malfoy." I got up, and started to walk away, feeling much better.
"Hey Granger" He said after me.
Smiling, I turned around. "Yes?"
"Can I…I mean…Can we maybe do this again sometime, you know? On the down low like this?"
"Yea, I think I'd like that." I say, laughing as I turn around again to leave.
