A/N: Before I continue, I am one of those people who loves making Ron an asshole and making Hermione go through really terrible things. Don't like? Don't read.
xoxo
Chaos
Chapter Three
The next couple of weeks passed in much the same rhythm: Hermione avoided the dorm as much as possible, when she did come back, she would discover Draco otherwise occupied, and they would somehow manage to get their schoolwork done on time and without killing each other. The only excitement occurred when Ron stopped by, unannounced, while they were working on an assignment.
"Hey, 'Mione," he half slurred when she opened the door.
"Oh, Ron… Now's not such a good time…"
"Come on, babe. I haven't seen you in forever. Now that I don't have a girlfriend anymore, I thought I could take you up on your offer from when we were on the road."
"Have you been drinking?"
"Only a little bit," he said and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I could still, well, you know. How 'bout it? Your room's up there right?"
She responded with a punch that sobered him up slightly. "Get out of here."
"What did you do that for? You were the one who always wanted me! I figured I'd pity you-!"
She hit him again, this time busting his lip open. "I wouldn't want you if you were the last man on the face of the earth. Get the fuck out of here. Have Harry sober you up or something."
She closed the portrait in his face and sighed.
"You say fuck a lot," was all Draco said from behind her.
Despite herself, she laughed until her sides hurt and tears flowed down her face. "After everything that just happened, after all the comedic fodder that was just handed to you on a silver platter, that's all you could come up with? Gods, Malfoy, I think you're losing your edge."
"I thought the situation was more than embarrassing enough for you without my input. Seriously, though, when did you start to curse so much?"
"It's only when I'm angry, really. My censor slips. You should hear what I think half the time."
"I'm… Impressed? I think that's the right word."
"Thanks, Malfoy. That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
They had become civil over the last few weeks, but she hadn't been expecting a compliment any time soon. When she sat next to him, she found she could no longer focus on the assignment. "Can we finish this up tomorrow night? I lost my train of thought."
"Sure," he replied. "I was about to make some tea. You want some?"
"That would be great, actually. I'll clean this up while you get the water started."
He came back a few minutes later with a tray containing not only the tea, but cookies they had stashed in the cupboard.
"Are you feeling okay?" she joked. "A compliment, tea, and cookies? I'm almost worried."
He laughed. "Seeing you punch Weasley not once, but twice, put me in a good mood. What can I say? You surprised me, and for as much as I hate to admit it, I don't think I'll have to toss myself out the window to escape you this year."
She was about to comment when he pushed his sleeves up and began to pour the tea. Standing out against his milk colored skin was the Dark Mark. She had known it was there, known that he had been cleared of all crimes related to it since he hadn't actually done anything, but seeing the mark there, plain as day…
He followed her gaze and pulled his sleeve down quickly. "I'm sorry. I try to keep it covered. I just… forgot who I was with for a minute."
"No it's… it's okay," she said then added, without thinking about it, "Can I see it?"
He looked panicked for a minute, then resigned, before holding out his arm to her and pulling up his sleeve. She held his arm and looked closer. If she hadn't known it was the mark of a Death Eater, she thought as she traced her finger over the design, it would have passed as a lovely design.
"Death Eaters killed my parents, you know," she said offhandedly.
"I know. I'm sorry for that." She looked up and his eyes caught hers. "I was never really one of them, you know."
"I know."
Hermione and Draco didn't talk about their conversation. They got along better, something that didn't go unnoticed. Harry, Ron, and Ginny cornered Hermione outside of the Great Hall before lunch to ask her about it.
"What the hell is up with you and Malfoy? People are saying they saw the two of you hanging out by the lake yesterday," Harry spoke first.
"Yeah, and? We were working on that transfiguration project and didn't want to risk blowing up our dorm."
"Are you- are you becoming friends with the bloke?" Ron sputtered.
"I'm not sure, to be honest."
"That's disgusting!"
"What Ron means," Ginny cut in, "is that Malfoy's not a good person. The way he's always treated you… It's not right for you to overlook that."
"The last time I checked, I was a big girl who could make her own decisions. It's easier if we get along. We do work together, and we happen to share a dorm. It helps that we share an interest in the same music and books. I don't know why it matters to you guys so much."
"We're your friends, Hermione. We're just looking out for you."
"Yeah, hanging with Malfoy doesn't look good."
"For whom? I don't care what others thing of me. It's been you guys who've soaked up the fame. I've avoided it at all cost. Just forget it, guys. I don't even know if he and I are friends or whatever. We're just making it easier to live with each other."
She turned her back on them and made her way to the library to wait until her next class
