X Chapter 3: A New Normality
Hermione's fifth visit was unlike the rest. She came in Muggle clothes, clad in a soft, flowing turquoise skirt and a fitting white button-up blouse. Its long sleeves stopped just soon enough to expose her hands, revealing a glittering bracelet around her left wrist. She carried a folded coat in her arms, conservatively beige but of smoothest suede. Her hair lay in loose ringlets around her shoulders, catching the faintest light and giving the curls an almost golden glow. Draco had never felt more underdressed.
She didn't have her ever-present folder with her either. Instead she placed a section of The Daily Prophet on the table. She pushed it across the invisible barrier so he could read it, anxiously watching his face.
His eyes widened as he read a title blazoned across the front. It was the sports section. The pictures showed various Quidditch players flying across the frames, chasing the Quaffle, guarding the posts, or dodging a Bludger. The next page revealed the season standings and the week's scores were posted in neat columns.
He looked up to meet her eyes and saw she was smiling timidly. She had one elbow propped on the table, her hand cupping her chin as she watched him read.
It seemed like she was waiting for something, for some response from him that showed if he appreciated her gesture or not.
For the first time since he was in Azkaban, Draco smiled. It was a real smile, one filled with thought and gratitude. It was a new sensation for his lips, not completely comfortable but not necessarily unpleasant either.
The look on Hermione's face was one he would never forget. She radiated her delight, pleased that she had finally cracked his unfeeling exterior. Her entire countenance seemed to glow. He wondered at how someone could show such outward emotion so shamelessly.
Timidly, as though he wasn't sure if he should or not, he finally broke the silence that stretched between them. "Thanks, Granger."
"You're welcome. I know you don't get much here. There's a pretty well written article on page three about the upcoming Quidditch Cup."
He gazed at her incredulously. "You actually read it? I thought you hated Quidditch."
She smirked amusedly. "Everyone seems to think that. Just because I'm not good at flying doesn't mean I can't appreciate the sport. I'm not a dedicated fan, but I know the rules and try to keep up at least enough to make decent small talk with strangers. Besides, I wanted to know what I was giving you."
Draco shook his head ruefully. She would never cease to amaze him.
His unusual cheer was cut short when she spoke again.
"Well, I can't stay. I called in sick so I could have the day off and I'm going out with a friend. I just wanted to drop that off for you." She said it matter-of-factly, like she was simply reading off ingredients on a potion list.
He raised his eyebrows skeptically as he teased, "Sick? You don't look sick, Granger. Far from it, you look the best I've ever seen you. Straight-laced Granger lied to her boss. I never thought it would happen."
Her cheeks colored at his words, but she lifted her chin defiantly. "I needed some time off. I work ten hours a day, six days a week. Don't you think I deserve to have a little fun?"
He laughed lightly. "I'm sure you do, Granger, I'm sure you do. Well, I hope your date goes well."
"It's not a date," she paused to cast a withering glance at him, "I'm going to lunch with Ginny Weasley."
Draco held his hands up defensively. "Sorry, didn't know. Have fun on your lunch then." He smirked happily as he stood up, holding the newspaper in one hand.
"See you later, Granger." Then he disappeared through the solid, heavy door he had come through only a few minutes before. He didn't see a look of disappointment flash across Hermione's face as he turned away.
X
Draco soon found that Hermione's shorter than usual visit didn't leave him feeling content for very long. He realized that he wanted to see her more, be in her positive presence longer. He wasn't satisfied with a few minutes of her.
She had finally come again, wearing her suit robes as usual, her professional front in place, and with the cream-colored folder. Draco had smirked at the return to her previous predictability.
The next two weeks followed the normal routine, with one slight difference. Hermione still came at precisely the same time every seven days, but now she always brought a copy of the Quidditch section of the newspaper for him to read. The first ten minutes of her visits now were spent with him reading scores and game summaries while she watched contently.
The third week after she had brought him the first copy of The Daily Prophet, she seemed tighter and more closed than usual.
Draco lowered himself onto his chair, his lithe legs stretching out beneath the table as he slumped relaxedly. Hermione sat rigidly, her shoulders tense, her arms resting gently on the table. Her mouth was drawn in a tight line and her eyes revealed her anxiety.
She pushed The Daily Prophet across the table to him swiftly and re-clasped her hands in front of her, quietly allowing him to read.
He raised his brows at her attitude, but chose not to comment. For several minutes, they sat in silence while he read. Hermione's hands wouldn't stay still, rubbing and fidgeting.
Usually, Draco could always feel her eyes on him when he read. At first it had made him uncomfortable, knowing and feeling her eyes trace his form as he sat, but soon he was used to the action. He began to appreciate it too, secretly smiling to himself.
But today was different. The lack of her eyes on him seemed alarmingly conspicuous. Immediately, he knew something was bothering her. Quickly, he finished reading, fastidiously folded the paper, and set it on the table.
He gazed at her inquisitively, questioning with his eyes as to her upset. She didn't meet his eyes, instead looking over his shoulder at the wall. For several moments they sat in a charged hush.
Finally, she ended the silence with a clipped statement. She didn't look at him, just glassily stared like her mind was somewhere else.
"Your hearing is tomorrow."
Draco raised his eyebrows further in surprise. It was already January 23? No wonder Granger was so stressed. Tomorrow she would have to present the case of one of the most known and hated Death Eaters to a biased jury.
He wasn't quite sure what to say. "Oh."
Her eyes flickered to his face. She had a puzzled expression on her face at his indifference. "Aren't you nervous? This could determine the rest of your life."
He shook his head. "I probably deserve whatever punishment they give me. I was prepared for this when I first arrived back at Malfoy Manor the day of the raid." He looked at her strongly before continuing. "Besides, I have a brilliant lawyer."
She raised her dark brows skeptically with a small sardonic half-smirk gracing her face. "At least that makes one of us."
His voice rolled as he chuckled, filled with real amusement.
After a few moments of laughter, during which she watched him with a timid smile, he sobered and leaned onto the table so he was looking directly into her eyes. "But really, Granger, you have no reason to be nervous. God knows you've done your research. If anyone could get me out of this mess, it would be you."
A femininely pink tint rose to her cheeks briefly at his compliment. Her eyes flitted down to her pale hands as she spoke again.
"You'll be taken to the Court of Magical Law at the Ministry of Magic at eight-thirty, then brought before the Council at nine. I'll have already shared a brief account of your crimes and stated my evaluation of an appropriate sentence. In return, you'll be asked to trade everything you know about Voldemort and his followers. Then several armed guards will escort you back to Azkaban while the jury deliberates."
"That's all I have to do?"
She nodded in certainty. "It's going to be brief. There will be no witnesses because everyone already knows what you've done and because the rest of the Wizarding world is involved in other aspects of the war. It won't even have media coverage.
He smirked. "What a shame. I'm very photogenic."
She sent him a withering glance but smiled none-the-less. "I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the proceedings. I have to go and take care of some last minute details, but I'll see you early tomorrow."
He nodded and slid his chair back. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow at the Ministry."
With a short sigh, he turned away and knocked on the door. He lifted a hand in farewell as he disappeared through the door into the dark.
Hermione sighed wearily and ran a shaking hand through her unruly curls. Then she too, turned and left to get prepared for the case.
X
A/N: I can't believe I managed to get this up on time, my laptop was giving me major problems. But I couldn't let you guys down, so here it is. Thanks so much to Marionette, D.M Lover, aperfectattitude, yummy food, witch, WinnieThaPooh92, and Punkindoodle for reviewing chapter 2. You guys are the best.
The big day is coming up! What's his sentence going to be? You'll have to wait and read. After that, there's only going to be one or two more chapters (It's a short fic).
Reviews are thoroughly appreciated!
