A/N: I hope you guys like this fic, starts off slowly getting into the swing of things, don't worry though. Won't torture you- not purposely. Ah well, with our further ado-
Chapter 1: How?
After two more classes Hermione headed back to her dorm to clean up a bit before her house mate arrived. After a thorough disinfecting spell, she trotted up the stairs to finish her Arithmacy homework for the next week. It was a good hour before she heard the portrait swing open and someone come up the stairs.
"Hello? Are you the Head Boy? I'm Hermione Granger," she sprinted down the stairs excited to meet them, "It's nice to meet-" as she walked into the common room her eyes were greeted with the last person she'd expect "...you." Without missing a beat Hermione pulled out her wand and marched toward him.
Draco slightly shocked, frantically searched for his wand.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" She shouted.
The spell hit him just after he casted his protection charm. She continued to slice through his shield, striking spell after spell; as soon as his shield began cracking, she casted them faster. Her anger fueled her magic, making it more destructive; making her more destructive. She kept going, putting her all into the spells– not baring it a second thought. He would try to fire back a spell, but she would always move right before.
Each minute made her arm seem heavier. She grew weary, and seeing the chance, he took it. In a split second Draco brought the shield down and pointed his wand at the furious witch, "EXPELLIARMUS!"
She gasped as her wand flew across the room. He sped toward her and held his wand to her neck. Both were breathing heavily, having not dueled with anyone in a while. Then. the two stood there in silence. Neither one dared to move. Hermione, despite being at a disadvantage, glowered at him. Draco's eyes were dead set on hers, his nostrils flailed and jaw clenched.
Hermione's gears began turning and in one motion she swung her fist.
Draco stumbled backwards colliding with the couch. Seeing the boy stumble back she retrieved her wand and turned to face him. They stood again, this time both of their wands were pointed at each other. Hermione would never want to back down, nor would she dare to break their stand still, but she needed an explanation.
"How" she spat.
"McGonagall made me."
She squinted at him, and tried to search his face for any lies. "Why?"
"I don't know."
"You DO know. Tell me how the bloody hell you of all people became Head Boy!"
"I don't know! Something about," Draco scowled and furrowed his brows, "...house unity and redemption for Slytherins."
Draco would never openly admit to something he didn't want to, Hermione Granger or not. What he said was true, however Draco purposely left out the reason he chose to accept—his future was at stake. He needed to restore the bridges he and his family burned.
"She's mad! Doesn't she know that we can't possibly be near each other? Why didn't you decline?" Hermione all but screeched.
"I did at first but… Now I can't."
She seemed a bit surprised at that reply, nevertheless she scoffed. "This can't work, we'll kill each other."
"Well"–-he shrugged and seemed to summon that arrogant façade he used to bear— "better you than me".
Hermione started taking several steps toward him, wand still up. "You are so full of-"
"Careful Granger," Draco gripped his wand tighter, "don't get too close".
Hermione glared at the arrogant boy, and with a small swish sent his wand flying into her hand. Draco's eyes grew, he had nothing to protect him and the crazy witch still hadn't lowered her wand. Hermione got closer to him, barely a foot away. Draco was pressed against the couch; he raised his chin high- but tried to limit his movements.
"If you ever raise your wand at me again... You will regret it."
He opened his eyes his to look at the witch; her eyes were lit up like flames, the amber of brown dead set on him. She seemed to dare him to say something. When he remained silent, she threw his wand onto a couch and turned. She walked all the way back to her room with a stoic expression, not giving Draco a second glance.
Draco should've been quaking in his shoes, he should have been panicking, but he remained in his place still. Then he remembered the reason why he came and began stressing out. The witch wanted to kill him, and he hadn't exactly responded the best way either. He hated her, no he despised her; the perfect Gryffindor Princess. She couldn't even let him explain properly now could she?
Soon he headed back to his room as well. It would be death but he had to make amends with her if he wanted anything to work out.
Both could hardly sleep that night, their heads full of questions and assumptions. How on earth would the year go on?
Draco rose early the next morning. He had a plan; he wasn't sure how well it would work out, but a plan none the less. The dorm was equipped with a mini kitchen, so the wizard decided to attempt an apology. It took all his power to not poison the bint. He heard shuffling down the stairs as he finished pouring the cup. The same cold expression was worn across Hermione's face; he took in a deep breath.
"Morning I made you... well here," Draco pointed awkwardly to the cup on a small table. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, pointed her wand at the cup and made it explode. "Well that's rude. I assumed even you had basic manners Granger."
She grit her teeth, it was much too early for these things. "What are you playing at Malfoy?"
Draco sighed; he knew this would be tough, but grin and barrette. "Look Granger, let's be honest, the decisions everyone made during the war... they were... chaotic. Some of us didn't make the right ones. In the end everyone understood who the real enemy was... and as much as we loathe each other... We know the real enemy was Voldemort and his vile followers."
"-Which you were a part of! How dare you stand there and act like you had no part in it! So many lives were lost and you did nothing!"
"What did you expect me to do?" His voice rose to the same level as his irritation began seeping through his words. "Join Dumbledore's army? Would you have even accepted me? No, you know would not have. Saint Potter has been against me since first year! Not one of you lot would've trusted me."
"You could have told Dumbledore!" She shouted, gesturing frantically. "You could have broken the cabinet! You could've... You could've-"
"Could've done what Granger?" He interrupted. "Voldemort and his followers were in my home. I was doomed from the start, just face it! I have." She felt the atmosphere shift as Draco's eyes became glossy. "They were in my home... He had my parents... He tortured them, tortured me! And you expected me to just turn and walk away? Well sorry Granger not everyone is a Golden Gryffindor."
Hermione stared at him for a long time. She didn't know what to say. She had pitied him for some of the decisions he was forced to make, but she hadn't know for sure what had happened, until now. She looked at the broken wizard in front of her. His skin was a sickly pale, not as bad as it was in their 6th year, but still horrible. "I'm- Malfoy, I'm sorry you had to go through that..."
"Don't pity me. I don't need to be pitied by a-"
"I do not pity you, but I am forgiving you. You did help us twice during all of this... even if you didn't really have a choice..." Hermione stared at the ground shuffling her feet. "So, I'm deciding to forgive you."
He scrunched his brows and took a step back. "Do you suppose-"
"Hold on Malfoy. We hated each other for so long. I can forgive your decisions in the war but I will not forget the way you treated me. The horrid way you spoke and strutted around, calling me awful names. Voldemort didn't make you do that. It was your own choice. So...I will not forget."
Draco's shoulders slumped, as he recalled those times. "That's fair but-"
"I will not forget but I did forgive. So I will agree to be civil. Civil is where I draw the line though." The boy simply nodded his head.
"Okay."
"Okay."
The two shook their hands and went their separate ways to begin their day at Hogwarts, both silently agreeing to avoid each other as much as possible.
And as luck would have it, after the conversation with Hermione, Draco began to feel a bit woozy. He decided to stay in the dorm for the first class.
.
.
In the great hall sat a red head with her jaw dropped practically to the floor as her best friend told her the surprising exchange she had gone through. "I can't believe you're sharing a common room with the ferret! Ron and Harry would practically turn purple if they knew!"
"Well they don't yet Ginny and I don't intend to tell them unless it becomes a problem, which I highly doubt after our conversation."
"That was a conversation? You practically hexed him a million times! What I would have given to see that!"
"He had a protection spell up." Hermione fiddled with her fingers. "It's not like he was unarmed..."
"Still, the Gryffindor Princess and the Silver Slytherin, together as Head Boy and Head Girl. The world has gone mad" she said with the back of her hand to her forehead.
"Don't be so dramatic. We've just agreed to act civil toward each other. If he so even makes one foul comment I will not hesitate to hex him."
"I guess," Ginny sighed. "But it might be nice having him around." Hermione laughed, "hey maybe you could change him. Plus you have to admit...when he's not scowling he doesn't look half bad."
Hermione gasped at her friend's remark. This is the evil loathsome little cockroach that attacked them every year. He was a Death Eater! The red head smirked and continued, just to annoy her friend.
Luna skipped over to a very shocked brunette and an extremely pleased red head. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Just the attractive characteristics of the one and only Draco Malfoy," Ginny mused.
"Despite being horrid he does have very nice eyes, and that whole mysterious brooding thing going for him." Luna airily added.
"You both have lost your minds! I'm going to class" Hermione huffed and spun on her heals toward the doors.
"In denial" Ginny chided.
"Yup."
.
.
Back at the Heads Dorm Draco was lying on the couch clutching his stomach wincing in pain. Sweat began to trickle down his flushed face. "I need to get to the hospital wing", he poor boy struggled to get up at first, but slowly made his way out the portrait.
He managed to avoid the majority of the student body on his journey. However he completely missed the person sifting through their bag walking toward him. As his body slammed against her bag he crashed onto the floor and let out hiss as he clutched the sides of his body.
"Oh no, are you ok?" Hermione said as she watched the boy crash onto the ground. She saw his famous pale hair and paused. "Malfoy" she called. "Malfoy," she repeated. "Can you hear me?" After hearing no response from the distraught boy, levitated him up and began speeding toward the hospital wing.
She burst through the doors. "Madam Pomphrey? Something's wrong with Malfoy!"
"Ms. Granger what are- oh no." The nurse stopped as she analyzed the situation. "Just set him down on the cot I'll handle it from here."
Hermione did as the nurse said and stepped back, never taking her eyes of the pale blonde boy. "Is he going to be alright? What exactly is wrong? I bumped into him on my way to class and he could barely move without wincing." As Madam Pomphrey ran a diagnostic spell she struggled to maintain her composure.
"Oh don't worry Ms. Granger you can go back to class, it's probably some stomach bug. But before you go can you go get the Headmistress for me?" Hermione nodded and bolted out the door.
As the griffin spun Hermione composed herself and walked into the office. "Professor, the nurse needs you."
"Hello Miss Granger" the headmistress greeted from her seat. "Why am I needed in the hospital wing?"
"Madam Pomphrey didn't say. I just dropped off Malfoy who seemed to be in excruciating pain. She said it might've just been a stomach bug."
"Very well Miss Granger please head back to class, I will be on my way." Right after the young witch left McGonagall quickly got up from her seat and hustled to the hospital wing.
Sneak Peek at next chapter:
His eyes were extremely dilated, practically black! She took her hand off his eyelid and went to grab her books, but when she tried, she couldn't. Her hand seemed to be stuck to Draco Malfoy's.