Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters.
The sun sunk slowly over the dark lagoon that sat perched in-between the tall mountains. The hazy light shone through the windows. Swirls of dust danced through the air, long shadows crept behind chairs and book cases, like long fingers crawling along the floor.
Hermione shivered.
She traced her fingers along the wood grain, biting her lip. She could feel it slowly starting to swell. She was nervous. Hermione sat alone, watching the occasional student idle by and listening to soft voices muttering earnestly.
She felt like a fool, did she really think Draco Malfoy would ask her, Hermione Granger, for help? Why in Merlin, was she truly hoping that he was?
A long sigh escaped from her parted lips. He had stood her up.
Draco was probably sitting with his fellow Slytherins snickering about how they got the smartest witch in their year to fall for a stupid trick, or even worse they could be watching her. Watching her wistfully glance to the door, hoping, praying that Draco would stride in. Long limbs clutching books, his silver hair glinting in the remaining daylight that filled the room. It was a fantastical notion.
Draco never came.
She reluctantly gathered her books, sending Madam Prince a quick smile before exiting the room. She trudged down the stairwell, her heavy footsteps echoing, bouncing off the walls.
There was something comforting about the monotonous sound her feet made, she knew at least, they would not let her down.
Hermione headed for the dining hall, she knew that Harry and Ron would be sitting down there. Possibly not even realising she was absent, probably stuffing their faces as per usual, cracking bad jokes and laughing.
There was a steady stream of students entering and departing from the Great hall, peering along the row of messy Gryffindors she found that in fact Harry and Ron were also absent. Hermione found a spare seat alongside the rows of Gryffindors, but, instead of making conversation, she pulled out her astronomy book.
She was in no mood to chat.
Flicking uninterested through the pages, she sipped on a goblet of sweet pumpkin juice. Her eyes floated upwards, as a scrunched piece of paper dropped down onto the open pages of her book.
Hermione searched the crowds, looking for the unknown sender. She opened it and read the simple wording scrawled elegantly along the parchment:
Hermione.
I am sorry. I was stuck in detention with Filch and
could not get away. Reschedule?
Yours,
Draco
Her eyes lingered upon the words: Yours, Draco. She studied the cursive loops of each letter, an unexpected happiness flooding her.
He hadn't stood her up, but had simply been stuck in detention. She quickly scribbled a reply, and whispered to the paper. Hermione watched it delicately fly back to its owner. Through the heads of people she saw Draco's cool eyes watching her, he quickly opened the message when it arrived.
After glancing at it, he looked back, giving her a small smile.
Draco sat across from her, the only thing between them was a small round table and a great stack of books. With every slight breath she made particles of dust would fly and catch in the dappled sunlight the shone through the window.
God, she loved Saturdays.
The library was close to empty, the castle was cleared out of students who instead were spilling out across the wide grassy lawn.
Draco was engrossed in a book, she sat watching out the window.
Studying the fragmented sunlight upon the lake.
Draco sighed and pushed the book away from him, rubbing his temple.
"I have a headache."
Hermione piled the books atop of each other and placed them on an empty shelf that stood at her shoulder.
Draco scrunched his nose and sprawled back into his chair, legs elegantly crossed. "I don't know why you bother with all this studying, you're a genius without it you know."
Hermione watched as he exposed the pale, secret curve of his neck, arching his back.
She looked out the window, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"I guess...I just want to make them proud."
Draco looked at her, hair spilling silkily onto his forehead. "Who? Dumbledore? McGonagall? They already worship you."
Hermione's eyes flashed. "Not them, you absolute git." She sighed and murmured absent-mindedly. "My parents. I thought at least you'd understand about having to live up to expectations."
Draco stiffened at the corner of her vision.
"What are they like?" He asked her softly, "Your parents."
"They're a lot like me, smart. They're really proud people, when I first got my Hogwarts letter I can remember how surprised they were, but they were very supportive and so proud. I think thats why I try so hard, I want to live up to their expectations of me. Make them happy."
"They'd still be proud of you. Im sure you could be the worst student in the year and they'd still love you. That would feel nice." Draco finished glumly, resting his hand on the table.
Hermione was at a loss for words, how could she comfort him when she had no idea of what his parents are like?
Considering his sour voice and gloomy face Hermione expected that she didn't want to.
"Im sorry." She placed her hand delicately on his to comfort him.
He looked at her and rubbed her palm with his smooth slender fingers.
Hermione hadn't felt her heart pound like this since she'd come to the thrilling conclusion in the end of Bathilda Bagshield epic trilogy.
"Its alright." He whispered, interrupting her trance.
She cleared her throat and removed her hand, instead holding it with her other one gingerly.
"Well, thats enough studying for today. Your getting better. Slowly, so don't get to cocky. But still soon enough I think you might just get as good as me, we can do a few more study sessions. Same time?" She waited for his response; a slight nod.
And with that she walked off through the library, dodging shelves and the occasional gliding book.
