Author's Note
Hello To The Many People On The Internet! It has only been a day since I uploaded the first chapter of this new fan-fiction and its already got 92 hits! Thank You so much, I'm so glad to see that people are already enjoying this story and it warms my heart to wake up and see my Iphone bursting with notifications. But In all, I'll keep updating as fast as I can and don't be shy to leave a comment telling me if I'm lacking something in my writing or just to give your opinion, I really appreciate any kind of review, they are all helpful.
PS. Also today I am boarding a plane to South America to visit my family for the first time! Its all exciting but one thing that I'm not sure of is how many times I'm going to be able to update while I'm there, its not that there isn't any internet at the place I will be staying at, its just I'm just going to be extremely busy but I promise I will try my best to update at least once or twice a week. I am completely dedicated to this story; I have given it too much thought to in the end decide not to finish it.
But now lets get to the story shall we,
Here's the second installment of:
"Insert Title Here"
Chapter 2
Just as I finished washing all the discarded plates in the sink and set off to drying them all to put the in their place, did I begin to let my mind wander. I couldn't help but let my mind wander to Ginny's words earlier,
"You know I wouldn't, that's just plain cruel. But 'Mione, don't you think its time you tell him? I mean it has been 2 years already. What if he decides to get married, you can't tell him then. You two are best friends, it won't change anything."
The words played on a constant loop in my head, causing me to shake my head and sigh loudly at the fact that that phrase alone has more than enough reasons for me to tell Draco my feelings, but… I just can't.
Ginny had the sneaky ability of being extremely right at times and those times usually pertain to anything romance related and as my love life has been nonexistent and consists of nothing but watching that of my friends love lives, she has taken it upon herself to do something about my major crush on Draco. But that's all that it is, a crush, its bound to go away right…
Rolling my eyes at my own stupid question I knew that it was more than a crush, hell I've had this crush for more than 2 years! That has to say something about how pathetic I am…
… or how possibly I am of already being in love with him…
As I slowly dragged a dishrag across the wet plate that I had in hand I couldn't help but try and justify my actions. I mean yes, its been 2 years and I haven't said a thing about these romantic feelings to anyone but Ginny but its not like I haven't thought about telling other people it just seems to complicated to explain in the first place. I mean really, Draco and I being best friends is one thing but Draco and I being romantically involved is something only possible in a parallel universe or something. And it's not like confessing to Harry or Ron or other people that I love– wait no 'have a crush on' Draco would make them want to take me to a mental clinic or anything, on the contrary they would be more than fine with it seeing as after they got past their childish prejudices they all became really close and now even play Quidditch together every now and again. Its just that telling them could make my feelings even more real and substantial and the idea that it might slip from someone's mouth and Draco could find out would literally be the death of me.
Draco and I became best of friends in the middle of our 8TH year at Hogwarts which was really supposed to be our 7th but no one really learned anything in their 7th year due to fighting in a war, so they just made everyone attend an 8th after the war so we could take our N.E.W.T.S and get jobs at the ministry and whatever. Draco and I were made Head Boy and Head Girl, meaning that we would have to work together so we made a truce of sorts to be civil to one another so that we could get work done without complications. Everything went great after this truce was made like in mid-September it was only a few weeks after Christmas break that this truce was sort of forget about and the time in which Draco and I became some what of friends.
Its funny to think that the Pureblood heir to the Malfoy fortune, Draco Malfoy would ever want to become friends with the supposed poster child for all Muggleborn witches and wizards out there, but it happened and not in the simple manner of one of us asking the other to become friends, as most things that happen between us the start of our friendship was based on an argument a small meaningless fight about why I wouldn't tell him why I was crying earlier that day in the back of the Library when he went to go look for me so that I could keep my promise that I made earlier that week on helping him on cast his patronous charm needed to pass the Defense Against The Dark Arts N.E.W.T.S we all had to take at the end of the school year.
Putting away all the dry dishes back into the cupboards, I let my memory bring up the memory of the day Draco Malfoy and me became more than acquaintances to that of friends.
FLASHBACK
We're actually over… Done with. I still can't sort of believe it. As I sat in my seat in the back of the library, a fat Ancient Ruins Tomb open in front of me. As I sat at the table in the back of the library I let my mind try to process the events of earlier today. Its all happened rather quickly, he walked in, kissed my cheek said he wanted to break up with me, gave me plentiful reasons as to why and then left, just like that. I didn't even say anything I just let him talk…
As I sat there recollecting my thoughts I hadn't realized that I had let a few tears slip past the brim of my eyes until I felt them roll down my cheeks and onto the open book in front of me, leaving behind small circular wet stain on the pages of the ancient book. Raising my hand to wipe away the tears I felt a monsoon of pent up emotions hit me right in the chest leaving me breathless for a matter of seconds. As I blinked my eyes to clear away the tears that where already there, it did no help whatsoever to the tears pushing on my tear ducts that wanted to pour out. Grabbing my wand, as a precaution I cast a nonverbal 'Muffliato' spell, so that no one would come to investigate the now full out sobbing and crying sounds that where pouring out of me like water from a faucet.
I didn't restrain the tears in any way. It let myself waddle in my self-pity for a while. Was I seriously that bad of a girlfriend that I can't even keep a guy happy under any circumstance? I couldn't help but ask myself as I continued to cry. Could I really be this pathetic?
"Maybe" I replied to myself in a way of self-confirmation, once I finished sobbing.
With a sigh of indignation I pushed a few strands of my hair that had come out of my messy bun, behind my ears.
"Talking to yourself again, Granger?"
Stopping mid-sniffle I felt my ears actually perk up at hearing a voice, the one voice I could really do without at a moment like this. Looking up I saw none other than Draco Malfoy in all his glory leaning against the bookshelf in front of me potions book and school side bag in hand.
Telling my body to relax from its stiff position I looked back down at the ancient ruins book in front of me, in hope that he wouldn't look to closely at my face and see my red eyes and tear stained cheeks. Reaching over to close the book and go put it back in its place in the bookshelf behind me, I heard Malfoy pull out the chair across from mine at the table and sit down with pure grace. I couldn't help but envy his ability of looking completely graceful even when doing the stupidest of things. Must be the so-called pureblood in him…
"Oh no! Grange, have you decided on giving me the silent treatment? Well then, what help are you going to be to me then?"
I heard Malfoy's voice drawl out in a bored tone this simple statement, his face probably as blank and emotionless as always. Not confused by his comment I turned around and placed the book in the bookshelf behind me, secretly wiping my eyes to make sure all traces of possible tears were completely gone before turning around to face the emotionless Malfoy sitting across from where I was standing.
"Malfoy, I'm not giving you the silent treatment I just don't have anything to say at the moment, is that a problem?"
Smirking he replied, "No, not at all. I must say you quiet is something I can enjoy very much."
Not wanting to be insulted in a civil manner I grabbed my bag and pushed my chair in before replying,
"Whatever Malfoy, now come on lets get this over with. We have to go to an empty class room to practice this stupid charm."
As I walked out of the library, I hear Malfoy's footsteps fall behind mine, then unfortunately, right next to me.
"Granger, did you just call a charm stupid? You sure you're getting enough sleep?"
His voice, as charming as it could be for some of the girls here at Hogwarts was nothing but completely aggravating to my eardrums. Stopping in the middle of the hallway I clenched my jaw tightly before saying
"I'm sleeping fine thank you. Why do you ask, are you worried about me Malfoy or do you want to know if I can still sleep, when across the hall all I can hear is moans and groans from whatever girl you're shacking up with that night?"
I saw his jaw clench tightly, enjoying the fact that I could get a rise out of him I smiled in what I new completely portrayed complete sarcasm. Completely forgetting that he could see my face as clear as day. I quickly saw his jaw unclench and his eyebrows furrow for no more than a few seconds. His eyes seemed to light up for a bit as if an emotion was evident in them, before it was completely wiped away. Returning to his usual blank look he started walking again, down the hallway towards a classroom that I could only guess was completely empty. Jogging to catch up to him, I walked into the dust-covered classroom that looked as if hadn't been used in years. I set down my bag and looked over at Malfoy's retreating form, hoping that he saw nothing in my face that could possible hint at the fact that I had been crying earlier in the library a few minutes before he found me. Pulling out my wand from my robe. I shut the door and cast a silencing charm, just in case.
Turning to face Malfoy, who was sitting on the top of a dustless desk waiting for further instruction from me.
Taking in a deep breath I asked,
"Well Malfoy, do you know the basics on what is needed to cast the Patronous charm?"
He nodded his head, his hair getting out place, since he obviously stopped using gel a few month ago, the fact that I knew that was slightly alarming in a way. Blinking quickly to get rid of that train of thought, so that I could pay attention to what Malfoy was about to say,
"Yeah, it's used to ward off dementors, you need to have the right pattern movement memorized and a happy memory that you can tap into to bring forth the charm."
Nodding my head in agreement at his statement I mimicked the movement pattern with my wand checking to see if I still had it down, not casting the spell though.
"So which is it do you need help on, the movement or the memory?"
All I got for a response was a raised eyebrow as if to say ' do you really need to ask'.
I guess after a few moments of silence he decided to humor me and reply, although dryly to my initial question.
"The memory, Granger."
"Well, choose a memory from which you feel the most happiest, be it when you rode your first broom. Got a hug from your mum. Ummm… anything you consider happy."
Scoffing, Malfoy hopped of the desk and began pacing the length of the room. I had taken residence on leaning on the side of a desk near the front of the classroom. Leaving me with a perfect view of him pacing back and forth.
"Granger, do you really think I would be here asking for YOUR help if I knew which bloody memory to use. I mean honestly? I've tried every damn memory I can possibly remember in which I felt remotely 'happy' and nothing works. So I need you to give me another way to cast this charm or I'm completely screwed for my Defense Against The Dark Arts N.E.W.T.S."
His pacing got more erratic and he seemed to be near going off on a complete rant. Breathing in deeply I pushed myself off the desk and walked to where he was now standing, finally not pacing anymore.
"Malfoy, using the happiness from a memory in which you are feeling the happiest is the only source of power that can be used to cast the patronous. Dementors feed off of a persons fear, if you repel them with happiness their not going to come anywhere near you."
Trying to put this in the simplest way possible, I couldn't help but notice that Malfoy's shoulders seem to drop as if in defeat. Not wanting to point it out, I let him come up with a response.
I waited…
And waited…
And waited…
Yet all he did was stand there in front of me, although not looking at me at all. He just stared at the ground, as if completely entranced by it.
Not taking it any longer I cleared my throat to see if I could get a response out of him.
Nothing…
I did it again, once again got nothing. Rolling my eyes in frustration I said his name loudly which seemed to bring him out of his trance-like state,
"MALFOY!"
He raised his head and looked at me for a moment, his eyes narrowed as if trying to look into my soul or something, which was completely creepy of him, but hell he's a creepy, arrogant bastard. Nothing surprising there.
"Granger, have you been crying?"
I felt my lungs being sucked out of air, completely. Trying to act blasé I raised an eyebrow at him and said,
"Why do you want to know, that is if I have been crying, not that I have been…" I swear I just confused myself with that statement alone, nice try at lying self, I mentally said to myself.
Uncrossing his arms Malloy smirked lightly at me, running his hands to put it back in place, I couldn't help but think; how conceded can one get before you become completely oblivious to the world around you, I had a good feeling that maybe Malfoy would know.
"Granger, I hope no one has every told you that your good at lying because obviously THEY were lying. I can see it all over your face. Your eyes are blood-shot. You sound stuffy and your nose looks red, plus the fact that I can see the tear stains on your cheeks might also give me a hint."
Clenching my jaw, I couldn't help but regret trying to lie to a slytherin, of all people.
"Okay, fine, so what do you care?"
"I didn't cause it, I want to know who did." He said as if it were the most normal response imaginable.
I felt completely filled with anger at his response; I walked right up to him. So close I could see the small flecks of blue in his silver grey eyes.
"I don't have to tell you anything."
Shrugging his shoulders. "I know you don't. I can simply guess. Was it Potter? Ginny?..."
"Weasel?"
I felt my face flush red at the last one. Dammit, I absolutely suck at lying. How I have been able to keep Harry's, Ron's, and my own little escapades a secret from our professors really never ceases to stun me.
"Ahh, so it was Weasley! What did the moron do this time?"
I couldn't help but looked confused at that question. I felt my mind go blank and my eyebrows furrow. What the bloody hell did he mean by 'This Time'.
"What the bloody hell are you talking about, when you say 'This Time'?" I took a few steps away from him toward the large windowsill, which I sat on.
Malfoy turned around to face me and rolled his eyes,
"Do you think I'm stupid Granger, because if you o you are sorely mistaken. I'm Head Boy which serves to show that I do have way more working brain cells than that moron that you have as a boyfriend."
His voice was tight and clipped, as if he was restraining himself from yelling at me.
Even if Ron wasn't my boyfriend anymore, I wasn't about to let Malfoy insult him in my presence every chance he got. Feeling the anger bubble up in the pit of my stomach I felt my nostrils flare and before I could bite my tongue it all came pouring out.
"Shut up Malfoy, just shut up alright. Ronald is not my boyfriend but he's still my best friend and i'm not going to let you insult him in front of me. Sure he may not be the brightest guy out there but at least he has the decency to have compassion for people. He doesn't insult them just so that he can feel better about himself, he's kind and sweet something you will never be."
It seemed like I pushed a few too many of Malfoy's buttons because before I knew it he had blasted a chair near me to toothpicks. Reaching for his book he shoved it in his school bag roughly before slinging it onto his shoulder. I sat motionless, scared shitless at what he did to the chair next to me, that now lay in a heap of pieces of wood.
I heard him turn around to face me after getting his bag, he looked upset and angry and something other emotion that I couldn't decipher.
"Granger, don't go about saying things you know absolutely nothing about. You don't know a thing about me so don't make assumptions and then telling them to people, only to in the end look like a complete arse when you find out that it isn't true, alright. I was simply asking you a simple question, in best attempt at being civil with you like we agreed on being with one another for the remainder of the school year. But no! You have to go all sarcastic and act all defensive as if I just tried to make a pass at you or something worse. Stop with your righteous bullshit, already we have all done things that we are ashamed of, so don't make me out to be the bad guy here 'cause all I'm trying to do is be civil. But what do you care what I say or even think, I don't need your help to get this charm done. I'll figure it out on my own."
He looked not angry but broken as if he had finally taken enough shit from people since the end of the war. The after affects of the war were not pretty, many of the pureblooded families went to Azkaban for being involved with Voldemort as Death Eaters and the Malfoy's weren't excused. Malfoy's father was in Azkaban for life, his mother was in on house arrest for the next year and a half and the Malfoy name was dragged through the mud, big time.
Shocked at the core to see such emotion coming from Malfoy and such a response and the possibility that I might of actually hurt his feelings, feelings that he actually had, I hadn't noticed Malfoy leaving the classroom until I saw the edge of his robes behind him.
The feeling of complete regret consumed me in a matter of minutes. I 'Accioed' my bag and ran out of the room to see Malfoy already all the way down the hall. Running up to him I grasped his forearm tightly.
"I–I'm Sor–Sorry" Out of breathe I tried to stabilize myself, completely forgetting my hand on his forearm. Only then when I could breathe without feeling like my lungs were on fire, did I acknowledge our physical contact. Blushing red for no reason other then the fact that I had touched Draco Malfoy and that I wasn't repulsed or disgusted, made me want to keep my hand there, but before I let my brain process that tought I took my hand away. He hadn't flinched at my touch, maybe he doesn't care that I'm a muggleborn as most people want to believe…
With a sigh, Malfoy looked down at me and said,
"It doesn't matter Granger. Think me made of stone, but I'm not. People want to believe that im nothing but a no good dirty rotten, muggleborn hater, Ex-Death Eater then let them, no matter what I do I wont change their minds."
I couldn't take it, he seemed so human it hurt to look at him, past that cold exterior he always puts up in front of people was just there to hide all the hurt and horrible haunting thoughts that didn't give him any sense of peace whatsoever.
I closed my eyes tightly and thought about what to say next, that wouldn't sound either to corny or mushy or me just trying to make up for being such a bitch earlier.
"Malfoy, listen to me– I know you don't like to but for just this once, listen, okay…"
He nodded his head in consent
A small smile on my face I looked at him and said "I'm sorry, I'm not sure how much that means to you but– well it's not important right now. After what you told me in there I cant help but feel horrible for everything that I have assumed about you over the years. It's just that– sigh– It's just that you're so cold around people we cant help but think that you're nothing but a hateful and spiteful pureblood like all the others. I know that this can't excuse my horrible behavior but its just that when you're that cold people think you don't care so people decide to talk shit about you. If you hate that the you that people think they know isn't really who you are then prove them wrong, do everything that the person they think you are wouldn't do. Don't become what they say you are be who you think you want to be."
I said all this with nothing but caring emotion for Malfoy, which kind of shocked me but from what he seemed to reveal in the past hour showed that he does have feelings and is human and that maybe he is the complete opposite of what I thought him to be.
For the first time since I have ever-meet Draco Malfoy, I saw him smile. And boy did he have one hell of a smile it made him seem warm and kind, it light up his whole persona. Not being able to resist I smiled back brightly.
If someone where to walk by us and see us smiling at each other, they would think we had finally lost our minds from trying to work together because seeing Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger smiling at one another was something from either a nightmare or a completely alternate universe.
With this thought running through my mind I chuckled, which then turned into a full-blown fit of laughter. I almost lost my balance from laughing to hard but was surprisingly caught by Malfoy.
Smirking he said "Granger, first talking to yourself now laughing to yourself. You sure you don't want to go to the Infirmary." He said in a tone of voice that showed no venom or malice only teasing.
Taking the risk I smacked him playfully on the arm.
"Well, I could do with some sleep but no I don't think I need to go to the infirmary" I teased back.
"Then why the complete fit of laughter?" He asked his voice laced with mild confusion.
Smiling I said " I was just thinking how absolutely ridiculous we would look to a person passing by, since we are smiling at each other and laughing and well– simply getting along they must think that we have either lost our minds trying to work together or they have entered some sort of strange and demented alternative universe."
Malfoy chuckled! Actually chuckled, at my response. And the best thing was that it wasn't a sarcastic, evil snarky chuckle it was a happy 'youre absolutely ridiculous' sort of chuckle. He seemed truly endearing… Wait what? Shaking my head at the sometimes random thoughts that popped in my head.
"Well I kind of have to agree with you on that one, people would think that we had finally lost it, but I don't think we have, have we?" He teased
Shaking my head no I smirked a bit before asking
"So… Are you going to try to prove people wrong?"
He turned serious for a minute then sent a small smile my way.
"I guess as of now it appears to be the best way to get people to see me for who I really am not for what they think I am would be to do the opposite of what they think I would do, as confusing as that sounds I get it."
"Good then, lets start now."
With confusion written on his face he asked, "And how exactly do you propose I do that."
Smirking at my brilliant idea.
I said, "like this…"
"Hi, its nice to meet you. My names Hermione Granger, you can call me Hermione. I'm a complete bookworm, aspire to be a healer and an a muggleborn witch."
I extended my hand for Malfoy to shake it, this was to be a peace offering a start of a possible friendship... I hoped.
Shaking his head at my ridiculous exaggeration of my introduction, he reciprocated. Taking my hand he, turned it up and pulled it towards his lips and kiss my knuckles lightly.
"Hi, the pleasure is all mine, I'm Draco Malfoy, but you can call me Draco, I don't know who I really am but I'm hoping with the help of someone I may find out thought. I'm a pureblood wizard and I aspire to be an auror."
I offered a mock curtsy, after his introduction I let out a chuckle, that Draco joined into.
I smiled. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you Draco"
With a smirk he replied "The pleasure is all mine to finally get to know you Hermione."
Hearing the clock bell that signaled it was 6 o'clock and dinner time in the great hall, we began walking towards the great hall.
At the entrance, I sighed and said
"Well Draco, I'll see you in our common room after dinner. To see if we can discover who you really are and all, you know…"
Rolling his eyes, he nodded. "Most assured, Hermione, I'll see you after dinner."
With a nod he entered before me, I followed in 5 minutes after. This start to our possible friendship would best due to be kept secret for now, so that it can grow. Its nice that he thought the same thing that I did and I didn't have to even say it. With a smile on my face due to that thought alone. I walked in to join both Ron, Harry, and Ginny at the Gryffindor table. Not knowing that our friendship would become even closer than that of mine with Harry and that slowly but most assuredly I was already beginning to fall in love with the one person I thought I would live my whole life hating.
END FLASHBACK
Well Guys, this is the second chapter of my fan-fiction as you can see it is much much longer than the first chapter and it is mostly consisting of Hermione having a flashback as to how and when Her and Draco became friends. I hope this is all to your liking and I hope you continue reading this story and all my other stories to come in the future. Not to worry in the next chapter is where the really good action stuff start to happen.
PS. Oh and by the way if there are grammatical errors more than in the first chapter please accept my sincere apologies. I typed this up on a plane, that has been to be exact an 8-hour flight from Boston to Colombia in South America, so I'm sorry. I'll try to update by no later than Friday night of this week.
'Till Next Time, My fellow readers!
Songs used for inspiration:
Break Even – The Script
Paradise – Coldplay
Arms – Christina Perri this song is always reoccurring in all my chapters, because I have decided to make it the theme song for this story!
Cosmic Love – Florence + The Machine (This group is AMAZING! I have almost all their music)
Howl – Florence + The Machine
Pressure – Paramore
Pictures Of You – The Last Goodnight (Please check out this bands stuff they only have like 3 songs that I could fin on youtube and in my opinion they are all pretty amazing)