Disclaimer: I do not own or take credit for any of J.K.R's Harry Potter characters or ideas used in this fanfic. Anything mentioned in this about HP or J.K.R is not mine. The whole thing is basically about the Harry Potter series or JKR and I own nothing.
Heartless.
Chapter One
Hermione Granger.
.
A pair of silvery grey eyes met hers from across the room and the boy smiled and nodded his head in acknowledgement of her presence. Hermione ducked her head and blushed as she hastily opened the novel she had brought to breakfast with her at a random page and pretended to read.
They had never been friendly. Never. It was an unspoken rule; Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger had always been indifferent and cold to each other. But in their seventh year, they were learning to be civil. The war was over. They had chosen their sides. And nobody was more surprised than Hermione Granger that Draco Malfoy had chosen to defy the only way of life he had ever known and joined the light side. It was a fete nobody had ever thought they would live to see.
But then, there's a first for everything, she thought to herself as she sat alone at the Gryffindor table, eating scrambled eggs and bacon while waiting for Harry and Ron to hurry up and get out of bed.
'Morning 'Mione.' Ron said blearily as he dropped down at the table next to her. He then began heaping his plate full of breakfast pastries, sausages and bacon.
'You're up early Ronald.' Hermione teased, nudging her best friend playfully in the ribs as he was stuffing his face. She snapped her novel shut and focused on Ronald rather than the silver eyes boring holes into her from across the room.
'Blame Harry. He woke me up when he went out to Quidditch practice.' Ron replied, his tone wavering between grumpy at being woken up so early on a Friday morning and happy that he and Hermione were back on speaking terms after their awkward, mutual breakup just a few weeks ago.
'Shouldn't you be practicing as well then? Your keeper skills aren't going to improve themselves, are they?' Hermione asked lightly, while unfolding this morning's edition of the Daily Prophet.
'My keeper skills are top notch, thank you very much.' Ron quipped, reading the paper over Hermione's shoulder, just like he had done since their first year.
'Oh look, Harry's in the paper again.' Hermione squealed, shoving the paper under Ron's nose and pointing to the moving pictures of Harry that were taken during the tryouts for several high profile Quidditch teams. Just in case he ever wanted to change his mind of being an auror he would still have his options open in the realm of Quidditch.
'We were there Hermione, I saw it all happen, and so if you could kindly remove your paper from my breakfast, it would be much appreciated.' Ron said, uninterested, while liberally spreading marmalade all over three pieces of well-cooked toast.
'You're such a killjoy in the morning's, aren't you.' Hermione said, making a statement rather then asking a question.
'I just don't enjoy having Harry's crotch on a broomstick shoved under my nose while I'm trying to eat my breakfast.' Ron replied with his usual witty banter picking up slowly as he bit into his piece of toast, shoving half of it in his mouth and downing an entire glass or pumpkin juice in one gulp.
Hermione stared at him, disgusted with his manners. 'Ronald, you eat like a pig.'
Ron shrugged, 'I'm hungry,' he said with his mouth full.
'Morning 'Mione. Morning Ron.' Harry said brightly, clapping the two of them on the back, hard, before he sat down.
The force of Harry's good-morning-pat-on-the-back was enough to send Hermione's upper body careening into the table and have Ron choking on his large, unswallowed piece of toast.
'Merlin Harry, are you trying to kill me?' Ron asked, clutching his throat and swallowing his food, fearful that Harry might have another joyous fit and smack him on the back again.
'Lovely morning isn't it?' Harry asked; his face full of life and his voice oddly chipper for a Friday.
'You're awfully cheery this morning.' Hermione smiled at her other best friend as she scooted over to make room for Harry to sit comfortably between herself and Ron.
'I've got quidditch tryouts today. Watched everyone practice this morning and after classes I'm holding tryout. And Ron, you'd better be there.' Harry said as he started to slather two pieces of toast with butter, then sandwiching a spoonful of scrambled eggs and crispy bacon in between them.
Rom grumbled a reply, but neither Harry nor Hermione could make out what he actually said.
'Oh, look Harry.' Hermione said brightly, shoving her open copy of the Daily Prophet under Harry's nose and pointing to a picture of him flying at lightning speed around a quidditch pitch in Bulgaria.
Harry studied the paper for a moment, before turning the page. 'Skeeter wrote more about my looks then about the quidditch tryouts themselves.'
Hermione shrugged, 'Aren't you used to that by now? She's been doing it left right and centre since fourth year.'
Harry waved his hand like he couldn't care less about himself, 'Ginny was at those tryouts too, and the only thing Skeeter said about her was that she and I were dating.'
'Right, well you two have a nice conversation about my sister, and I'll just get going to class shall I?' Ron asked, obviously more then a little peeved that he didn't feel included in the conversation.
'Oh Ron, don't be a sourpuss. We'll go with you.' Hermione smiled at Ron, watching his face soften considerably as she did so.
'Right, class, yeah.' Harry mumbled, grabbing a napkin from the table and shoving a handful of well-cooked bacon rashers into it for the walk to the dungeons. 'Potions here we come.'
Hermione stood up from the table after her friends, folding the newspaper and her flattened novel back into her messenger bag and checking to see that neither of the boys had left anything behind.
Harry and Ron moved ahead of her, already engaged in a heated conversation about his afternoons impending quidditch trials that were so important to them. This then left Hermione alone to gather her belongings and ready herself for yet another tedious potions lesson.
As she hoisted her bag onto her shoulder, pushing her long curly brown hair out of her face as she did so, she looked straight ahead of her, and was quite startled to see a pair of silvery grey eyes still staring intently at her, watching her every move, a small smile playing on the owners marble lips, offset by pale sculpted skin and platinum blonde hair.
It seemed like today Draco Malfoy was all up for the progression from civil to friendly. Or maybe civil to creepy was a little more accurate.
Its short I know, but bear with me, they will get better.
Okay so, they are attending Hogwarts in their seventh year, Dumbledore is alive and kicking after all, the war is finally over – having ended at the end of their sixth year, any damage to Hogwarts has been repaired, Harry is quidditch captain again, Ron is still a keeper, Hermione is still a loveable know-it-all, and for some reason, Draco Malfoy is now a goodie not a baddie.
Does that about sum up any queries you might have been having?
If not, review and let me know and I will be more then happy to answer them for you.
Guess what! Heartless now has a banner, courtesy of me lol. Check it out at http:/photobucket(dot)com(slash)jaspersgirl93 and tell me what you think of my first attempt at banner making.
Please review and tell me what you think people – remember reviews make more then instant connections happen between Draco and Hermione. Reviews also reveal exactly what has Ron Weasley in such a foul mood.
- Love,
R.
