Double potions finished and Hermione had seen a completely different side to Draco, he'd been polite to her, helped with her potions and not once insulted her. She also found out all about the issues with his family and how he was obliged to become a deatheater because he belonged to the Malfoy family and the only ones who were proper Malfoy's, not blood traitors. Draco had also learnt a thing or two, like the issues between her, Ron and Lavender in more detail and all about little Teddy Lupin; the truth about Sirius and a fair bit about the family he was forbidden from seeing.
Hermione walked out of the dungeons alongside Draco contently, it was very strange how he was being so friendly with her at the moment. She was intrigued to see what he would be like around his friends. Draco approached his little group of Slytherin followers. "Stupid mudblood." He snapped. Hermione's eyes widened and she looked down more than a little hurt. She should have expected it; he did have a reputation to keep. "Hermione!" Harry called. Hermione scowled before turning to face Harry, "What?" She spat. Harry looked a little taken aback.
"Have you got a free now?" He began.
"Yes." Hermione said coldly. "All year eights do." She continued in the same cold tone.
"Wanna come to-"
"No." Hermione hissed. "I am not going anywhere with you. She turned on her heel and ran out of the grand doors –watched by a guilt ridden Harry and sympathetic Malfoy- and straight down to Hagrid's rebuilt hut. She hammered on the door, tears streaming down her face.
The door swung open and she was greeted by the gentle giant who looked surprised to see the ever so confident Hermione in tears before him. "Hermione?" Hagrid asked, "Wha's the matter? Come in, come in." He said gently stepping back so she could slip past. Hermione walked in and sank into a soft armchair before breaking down completely. "Hermione. . . Wha's 'appened?" Hagrid asked kneeling in front of her. "R-R-Ron has been ch-cheating on me with Lav-Lav-Lavender Brown and Ha-Harry and Gi-Gi-Ginny knew." She choked burying her face in her hands. Hagrid gasped and peered up to see a furious Hagrid looking at her. "Why didn't they tell ya?" He demanded, getting her in a rib cracking hug. "I don't know!" Hermione sobbed.
"Well I hope ya dumped the guy." Hagrid said gently. Hermione nodded and rubbed her eyes.
"He doesn't care; he was going to dump me first but I beat him to it because of Malfoy." Hermione hiccoughed. "Malfoy?" Hagrid repeated bemused. Hermione nodded and explained her conversations with Draco, sniffling occasionally. "I never thought the boy had a good bone in hi' body." Hagrid mused. "Listen, you go an' do somethin' to take ya mind off things and I'll 'ave a word with them if any of 'em come down to me." Hagrid said, releasing Hermione from the bone breaking hug. Hermione nodded and hugged Hagrid around the waist before tickling Fang behind his ear and leaving solemnly.
Hermione walked to the black lake and made her way to Dumbledore's grave. She settled on the floor beside the grave and looked out over the water, watching the giant squid basking in the weak autumn sun, getting as much warmth as possible. She began to cry again and this time didn't try to cease the tears, just let them flow freely. She thought for what felt like an eternity before she heard the school bell echo across the grounds signalling she had five minutes to get to her next lesson, she pulled her timetable out of her bag and scanned it. She now had double charms. She thought this time she had to endure Lavender not Ron, which to her was much worse. She sighed before standing up and wiping the remaining tears from her eyes and slowly made her way through the grounds until she reached the oak doors. She adjusted her uniform and bag before taking a deep breath and walking through the doors and up the marble staircase to her next lesson.
She entered the charms room and took a seat at the back where no one was seated, yet. Lavender skipped in and shot Hermione a smirk which didn't pass unnoticed by her or the blonde haired snake who had entered the room behind her. Draco scanned the room, noted that none of the Slytherin's – who he was bothered about – were in the room so took a seat beside Hermione. "Granger." He greeted with a curt nod. Hermione scowled.
"Nice of you to treat me like a human this time." She said sarcastically. Draco sighed heavily. He wasn't going to apologise directly, that wasn't him, he would apologise to her somehow though he decided. He looked at Hermione for a minute before tilting his head. "You've been crying again." He observed. "Bravo you're not blind." Hermione mumbled rubbing her eyes vigorously to get rid of any further tears from falling. "This has really got you down, hasn't it?" Draco continued in a gentle tone, for a Slytherin, Hermione nodded in reply before turning her attention to Flitwick. Draco sighed softly and watched the heartbroken brunette a little longer before looking to Flitwick also.He