Malfoy was lounging across from her and pointedly staring at the ceiling. Hermione knew it was rude, but she couldn't help herself, she studied him. He had grown up nicely; even she had to admit to that; all muscle and tousled hair. Judging from the dark circles under his eyes, he couldn't have been sleeping much better than she was.
Is he having nightmares as well? Does he dream of the people he killed? Hermione asked herself. Cause I do. Does he hear screams? Does he wonder if it was worth coming out of it alive? Is the loss as unbearable for him? She wanted to ask him, but she couldn't because of what he still represented. He signified both the bad, or at least his family did, and the forgiveness that she herself should be exercising. Dumbledore forgave Malfoy; the rest of the wizarding world should too.
God Hermione laughed, when Ron hears me contemplating forgiving the ferret!
She stopped. Ron was dead. She'd forgotten again for a second. Ron was dead and Harry was hiding away from his fame, trying to outrun the fans and the crazy journalists. She was alone, no one to laugh with, no one to mourn with. She had friends, but her best friends weren't there, and that left her alone. Running her hands through her hair she found Malfoy's icy stare on her face. "What?" she demanded.
"You looked so dejected all of a sudden," he said quietly "that was a new expression for me."
She shrugged her shoulders, trying to look as nonchalant as he did, but in so doing she threw Ginny's head off her shoulder. Ginny sat up slowly and opened her eyes only to straighten violently and swear loudly, wand instantly in hand. "Malfoy!" she practically shouted.
Malfoy jumped up and pulled his own wand, pointing it in their direction. He said nothing, did nothing more, just waited, eyes weary.
"Ginny" Hermione began, reaching out for her friends shoulder only to find her friend had moved.
"I swear to God Malfoy!" Ginny was on her feet, and growing rapidly more agitated. "What the hell are you doing here you bastard?! Get out before I hurt you!"
"Ginny!" Hermione shouted, moving to place herself between the two. "Ginny will you just shut up and listen for a sec?" Ginny didn't move, but she stopped shouting, opting instead to glare suspiciously in Hermione's direction. Hermione could feel Malfoy shift slightly y next to her. "Ginny. Just calm down, Malfoy's here because I told him he could be."
"Well, actually you more like asked. If I recall correctly," Draco smirked. Hermione turned fully in his direction and rolled her eyes before glaring. "Really, ferret? Now is not the time. Just shut up and lower your wand." Surprisingly, he did as she said. Turning back to Ginny she found her friend standing with a strange expression, wand no longer raised.
"Did you say, you asked him to stay?" she questioned, disbelieving. "You asked the ferret? The Man responsible for Fred…for Fred…?
"Ginny" Hermione reached out. "Ginny, you know he didn't do that to Fred. You know it's not his fault. Remember what Dumbledore said."
"Yeah, but he's still a ferret!" Ginny replied petulantly, tears beginning to form as she sank backwards into the seat cushions. Hermione looked imploringly at Malfoy, not certain to ask him to stay or go.
"Don't worry" Malfoy told her "I can tell when I'm not wanted"
"Malfoy…" Hermione began.
"No, no. Really, I get it, it's not the time." He smiled at her sadly before straightening and shooting her his trademark, cocky grin. "Besides, I've got better things to do with my time." And with that he slid the door open and was gone.
Hermione staredat the empty space he left behind before turning back to her distraught friend. "Ginny," she whispered quietly. "Ginny" and she reached once more to envelope her friends in her arms.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione" Ginny sobbed as she clung to Hermione ,"I know you're hurting too. I just find it tough dealing with the reminders. Usually I'm okay, but seeing Malfoy…" She sniffed and straightened. "But really, I never truly asked. How are you holding up? How could you ask that monster to stay? Doesn't Malfoy bring up…memories?"
"It's fine Ginny" Hermione reassured her friend "You don't need to worry about me." Resting her cheek on top of Ginny's head she sighed. She was lying, she was as broken as Ginny, but she wasn't going to let that show. It wouldn't do anyone any good, and besides, Ginny and the others still needed her; she just needed to be tough.