Chapter two.
On the following Wednesday Hermione had double potions with the Slytherins, she hated potions. It was bad enough having to work on her own not speaking to anyone, as she and Ron were no longer speaking and Harry seemed to be taking his side. But what was even worse was to have Slughorn simpering over Harry, not noticing that he was cheating.
The two full hours passed terribly slowly. Hermione noticed that Draco had switched work places now and was sitting on his own at a smaller abandoned table in the front of the classroom instead of with the Slytherins. He looked terrible, his bruises were gone but there were dark circles under his eyes, and he looked like he were about to faint. But that didn't seem to stop him gazing in her direction, she met his eyes every time she looked in up. Most times he quickly looked away, but once or twice his eyes flicked up and down searchingly.
Hermione wasn't the only one who noticed apparently, she overheard Ron and Harry muttering darkly together as their Babbling Beverages simmered.
As the bell rang Hermione was a little later than usual gathering her things together, she had broken a jar of Jobberknoll feathers and had had to stay behind to clean up. It hadn't taken more than a few seconds but by the time she had finished everyone had already headed up for dinner.
In the corridor outside the classroom Hermione noticed Draco, slouching against the wall, alone.
She didn't say anything, walking past him. The Draco she had known once would have hexed her, but this knew lonely, depressed Draco didn't look like he had it in him.
"Granger!"
She was only a few steps ahead of him, her back to him heading up the stairs. But hearing her name called out she froze, spinning on the spot.
"Yes?" she asked curtly, maybe she was mistaken, maybe he was going to hex her. Would he though? After she practically saved his life.
"I just wanted to say, err well thanks I guess." He mumbled looking at the floor.
"Right, you're welcome Malfoy I…"
"It's Draco." He said in a clipped voice.
His tone got on her nerves, why was he doing this. He was Draco Malfoy mudblood hater. If anything she would have thought that he'd be disgusted by the thought that it had been she who had helped him.
"You're welcome Draco." She said spinning round and starting up the stairs, then she stopped her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Who did it?" She asked, turning to face him again, the word's slipped from her mouth and she blushed, wondering whether he would answer her or just tell her to fuck off.
Draco didn't say anything, he just eyed her suspiciously. Hermione sighed and turned, heading up for dinner.
She hadn't told anyone about her helping Malfoy so there was no reason to tell anyone that he's thanked her. She was feeling quite befuddled at his actions though. He had been so, civil towards her. As if they were only meeting for the second time, as if he had put their 5 year feud behind him. Hermione sighed as she pushed her chicken around her plate, contemplating the homework she had to do. These days she seemed to have more free time than ever, she figured this were mainly due to the fact that she had nothing to do, other than home work. She only had one assignment unfinished and that wasn't due until Friday.
She looked up as Harry heaved himself onto the bench opposite Hermione, looking a little worse for wear.
"Hey, you okay?" He said as he piled food onto his plate.
"Fine, you? Going to practice?" Hermione said taking in his appearance.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Oh, yeah we have a game coming up in only a month and we need to be prepared. We're setting up this new strategy, it was Ron's idea he…" Harry trailed of, catching the look on Hermione's face. He sighed.
"Well, I bet Wonwon is having the time of his life." She said laughing bitterly.
"Yeah, well I wouldn't know." Harry said a little sadly.
Hermione didn't feel like adding to the conversation, as far as she was concerned Ron could go snog his girlfriend all he wanted. She didn't need him, and she didn't need Harry mentioning him every chance he got. As if Hermione would all of a sudden remember how great Ron was and go running back to him, begging forgiveness.
"Hermione please, can't you try and make peace with the situation? He didn't mean to hurt you!" Harry said giving Hermione a look she knew all too well. He thought she was being stubborn and overly dramatic.
"Harry leave it!" Hermione snapped at Harry. She was in no mood to get into a fight and this had all the makings of one.
Just then Ron sidled over, his arm around Lavender, who was as always giggling.
"Well, that's my queue to leave." Hermione said under her breath to Harry, who sighed and started shoving the rest of his potatoes into his mouth.
As she hurriedly stood up Hermione banged into the bench, her bag fell to the ground half it's contents fell on to the floor. Rolls of parchment bouncing in all directions, Hermione's face burned as she bent down to pick up her things. She heard Ron and Lavender have a hearty laugh, evidently at her expense. As she stood up she even heard Lavender whisper some snarky comment about her hair to Ron.
Face red as a brick and her eyes burning with the tears that were threatening to spill over Hermione half ran out of the great hall and out of the front doors of the castle.
It was January and the grounds were covered in snow the air a couple degrees below 0, but still.
Hermione didn't feel the cold as she sprinted towards the east bridge. She needed air, she needed to clear her head, to get the image out of her head. Ron and Lavender, Lavender and Ron, Wonwon and Lavlav. It was too much.
She hadn't been looking ahead as she ran and she shirked as she slammed into a tall figure.
They both toppled to the ground, Hermione landing on top of this, someone. She felt the stings as snow got up under her skirt onto her thighs and down her blouse onto her chest.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking, I didn't see you."
Hermione said clambering up awkwardly as she tried to get up without soaking herself in snow once more.
"Well obviously, what were you thinking? Decided just to go out for a little jog did you?" A very familiar voice sneered.
AN: So chapter three will hopefully be up asap. Also I love ALL reviews, good and bad ;)
