Draco had always been Hermione's best friend. The first friend she had made at Hogwarts. The one who had been there for her in first year when she was alone and upset and had no friends. He was the only one who had spoken to her, comforted her. It was he who had risked getting caught out of bed after hours to give her a get well soon card after she had been turned into a cat in the second year. And now it was Draco Malfoy she was running after desperately calling after him to stop.
She hadn't meant to punch him. He had been so supportive when Harry and Ron had stopped talking to her. She knew he hated Ron and Harry, but still, he had respected the friendship she held between Harry and Ron and recognised that it caused her hurt and had comforted her. And then what had she done to repay him? She had punched him in the face.
She ran after him, fighting the tightness in her chest and both fatigue and panic overcame her.
"Draco!" She called desperately. "Please."
Draco spun around on his heal. There was a darkening bruise on his left cheekbone.
"Sorry Draco. I am so sorry." Hermione whispered.
He spun back around and stalked into an empty classroom. After a few moments' hesitation she followed.
She found him sitting on a desk. She went over and sat next to him. Neither of them spoke for several minutes. Eventuly Hermione pulled her wand and a small handkerchief from her bag and uttered a simple freezing spell. She offered the frozen hankie to Draco.
"Put it on your face. It will help the bruise."
He took it without looking at her and pressed it to his face. She heard him gasp as he touched the spot where she had hit him.
After a few moments Draco spoke.
"I'm sorry I said that about Hagrid. You know I didn't mean it right?"
Hermione nodded mutely.
"You know I didn't mean to punch you right?"
Draco smiled and nodded.
"I know."
Hermione's shoulders relaxed, she let out a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding.
"So were still friends?" She asked to her knees, not daring herself to look up.
Draco grabbed Hermione's arms, turning her to face him.
"Of course were still friend's, you were upset, I shouldn't have mentioned Hagrid. I was just so angry at Ron and Harry for making you so upset these last few months and then going on like nothing happened."
Hermione sniffed. Draco pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in a hug.
"You could punch me a million times and I would still be your best friend. You were my first friend and whatever happens; wherever we go after Hogwarts I promise you will always be my best friend."
Hermione sobbed. She hadn't realised how worried she had been that she might lose him. Draco tightened his hold on her and waiting till she flushed months of worry and hurt out of her system.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break down completely" She mumbled against his shoulder. She could hear his heart, beating steadily, as sure sounding as a second on a clock.
Draco bent his head down and kissed her forehead.
"It's fine." He whispered his voice Hermione would recall later, trembled slightly. "Don't be sorry."
They stayed like that for some time. And as she listened to his heart drumming its soft steady beat in the silence and felt the press of his lips on her forehead she began to realise just how much she needed him, how much she had some to rely on his steadiness these past few months.
The lunch bell rang then, shattering the silence in the empty classroom. Hermione jumped back with a startled gasp. She looked at Draco and saw he was looking around with a dazed expression. The bruise on his cheek was purple now, creating a fake shadow across his face.
"We had better get back to our dormitories. Are you okay now?" Draco asked.
She nodded and they left the classroom together. Hermione turning left, Draco turning right. Back to their separate friends and separate houses but together in their minds.
