Hermione was taking a book back to the library early in the evening. She was thinking about her next day's lessons and trying to decide how best to ask Draco to the baby announcement party that weekend… without making it sound like it was a date. Not that it would be bad to date him, but it's not exactly like I'm his type, she thought with a giggle.
Rounding the corner toward the library near the entrance hall, she spotted a shocking sight. Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were walking down the hall together. The clicking of Lucius' cane and Narcissa's heels on the stone brought her attention to them immediately. I'll just walk past them with a nod if I make eye contact. That seems right. She nodded to herself and walked a bit faster to pass them.
As she came closer, she kept her eyes forward and back straight, trying to just get past them. Narcissa saw her and nudged Lucius. Of course she saw me. I have just the worst luck.
"Good evening Miss Granger," Lucius said cordially.
Narcissa smiled and nodded to her as well.
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said. Ok, there, pleasantries done and I'll just keep walking…
"Miss Granger, I wonder if we might have a word?" Narcissa said, her voice still practiced and polished.
Hermione stopped walking, "Uh, sure." Great. This is where they tell me to never speak to their Pureblooded son ever again and tell me I'm worthless. She thought, resisting the urge to touch her left forearm.
"We've just come to see our son, and he's informed us of your… position at the school." Lucius said, sounding… nervous?
Hermione's eyes flicked between the two. "Yes, I am now the Professor of History of Magic."
"How impressive for someone your age," Narcissa said… Was that genuine?
"I suppose so, but your son is the Potions Professor, and we are the same age."
"Yes, but Potions and History of Magic are vastly different wouldn't you say? And he tells us you even graduated top of your class?" Narcissa continued.
Hermione smiled shyly, "I did. He gave me a challenge but I graduated before he did."
"Why that's very impressive, isn't it Lucius?"
"Very impressive. You may not know this, Miss Granger, but Narcissa is a bit of a history lover herself." Narcissa gave Lucius a strange look.
"Why yes I am." Narcissa said, turning to Hermione with a calculated expression. "Perhaps one day we might have you for tea. If that's not too forward?"
Hermione gaped. "Tea? With you?"
"Yes, well, I can imagine our unfavorable history might present a problem. I'll send you an invite, and you can have some time to think, how's that?"
"That… would be fine," Hermione stammered. What the hell is going on?
Narcissa smiled, "Wonderful. Then we shall take our leave. Good evening Miss Granger." Narcissa said.
"Good evening," Lucius echoed. When Hermione looked at him he… Is he crying? Was he in pain? It would be rude to ask, right?
"Uh, good evening Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." Hermione said and then walked past them toward the library.
Hermione continued on her way, deeply confused about what had just happened. She was considering seeking out Draco to see if he knew what was happening with his parents, but she was meant to meet Harry to go over plans for when they took the students to Hogsmeade. I'll see him in the morning anyway, she told herself as she turned back to her rooms.
She knocked on Harry's door and he called for her to come in. "Ready to talk about Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked as she entered his room.
Like hers, Harry's room was more of a one bedroom apartment, with a sitting area and a kitchenette, with one door leading to the bathroom and another leading to the bedroom. His sitting room was tidy with a couch and an armchair both in an unusual shade of tan. Harry himself was sitting in the armchair in a t-shirt and jeans, hastily covering something on the coffee table. "Yes, of course. Sorry Hermione, I forgot you were coming by. Uh, let me just grab my notes and stuff."
Hermione pretended she hadn't seen what Harry was trying to hide. Most likely it was either some kind of dirty magazine or a parenting book.
She was aware that men looked at images of… pornography, but she never really had. Just once when she wondered what a penis looked like. Hermione liked men just fine, her sexuality had never been a question, but she had never been particularly interested in any male she had ever met. Not even Ron. Well except maybe one… but it doesn't matter. That ship is meant for a different harbor. She thought, smiling at her own wit.
Harry offered her refreshments and she accepted some tea and biscuits before they started to work. "Harry, do you have any sugar? I only see honey here."
"Oh, sure, let me grab it for you," Harry said as he stood. When he brushed by the coffee table, his leg brushed by the papers he had used to cover the book he had tried to hide when she arrived.
Hermione looked, mostly because her eyes had been drawn by the movement. The title of the book was A Veela Life Cycle: From Birth to Death. Hermione frowned in thought, but picked up her notes, deciding not to comment on the issue.
When Harry came back, she felt him tense as soon as he saw the title exposed and he made a very not subtle effort to cover the title while he handed her the sugar. She thanked him absently and stirred her sugar into her chamomile tea. If he wants to tell me, he can. She told herself. Maybe I should look into Veela before he inevitably asks me for more information? Maybe it's just for a class. I don't really know much of anything about Veela. I should look into the history of Veela just in case he wants to work together on a project. These thoughts raced through her mind as she stirred her tea. Harry began to speak and she made a mental note to research Veela later in the week if she had time.
She stayed at Harry's for a few hours, mostly talking about the Hogsmeade trip but also often digressing to other topics. Harry made sure she knew the birth announcement party would take place that weekend (Hannah already told her), the location in Muggle London (Hannah already told her), and the time (which, coincidentally, Hermione had suggested to Hannah when they had been speaking about this party last week). But Hermione nodded and expressed her excitement earnestly. He hinted at revealing the gender at the party and Hermione clapped in her excitement (it was going to be a boy).
When she went back to her own room, it was almost curfew for the students. She was smiling as she walked down the corridor. Things seemed to be going just fine in Hermione's life. Sure she could probably be happier, but she was content where she was at in life.
So when a sudden burst of sorrow overcame her, she was unprepared. She felt as if her heart was breaking. The feeling was so strong that she actually collapsed against a wall, struggling not to cry uncontrollably. She had not felt this level of sorrow since the end of the war when so many had been lost. She pulled her wand out with great difficulty and used a spell to bring Madam Pomfrey to her. The use of her magic finally broke her and she collapsed in a faint.
When she awoke, she was in the infirmary. "Hermione? Are you with us?" She blinked and saw the silver gaze of Draco Malfoy looking at her, worried.
"Yes, I'm… I'm awake." Hermione said, her head was pounding and she did not want to move. "My head hurts."
"Can you tell us what happened?" Draco asked, offering her a glass of water.
"I was… is there a straw? I don't think I can sit up." A bright pink flexible plastic straw was offered to Malfoy from his left. She moved her head and saw Madam Pomfrey was holding it, looking stern and worried at once.
"Thank you," She sipped the straw. Feeling a bit better once the chilled water hit her throat, she said, "I went to see Harry. We had some tea and we were talking. Then I was walking in the corridor and…" She felt stupid saying it, but they would need to know if anyone was to ever figure out why she fainted. Draco nodded, encouraging her to continue. He placed a hand gently on her arm and Hermione felt a bit better. "I felt this overwhelming sadness, like a dementor, but… well it was even worse than that, if you can believe it. I sent for Poppy, I think, but it's a bit fuzzy."
"What could make someone feel worse than a dementor?" Madam Pomfrey asked of the room.
Draco's thumb was rubbing gentle circles on her bicep and Hermione asked him, "Could it have been poison, Draco?"
"There are several that would indeed make you feel that way, but you would have been killed by them. Could it have been a ghost?" He looked over the bed and Hermione turned her head, seeing Harry was there, looking massively distraught.
"From what I know of the facts so far, there's only a few possibilities and a ghost is one of them. Can you remember anything else, Hermione?" Harry asked.
She closed her eyes for a moment and thought back. Trying to recreate the sadness feeling in her mind. "I was thinking everything was just fine right before the sadness hit, but I don't think that would have anything to do with it."
When she opened her eyes she happened to look right at Draco. "What time is it? It was about 10 when I left Harry."
Draco looked at the clock on the wall, "It's only just turned 11. You were taken here at, when Poppy?"
"I came to her call at 10:15 or so."
"So there's no real time missing. Aside from your head, does anything else feel sore or wrong?" Harry asked.
"No, just the headache. Mostly on my right side. Did I hit it, maybe?"
Draco reached forward cautiously, looking at her for permission. She nodded, idly wondering if her hair looked like a birds nest after all this.
His fingers touched the silk of her hair and he could hardly believe she had let him. Focus he thought angrily to himself. After a brief exploration of her skull, she winced as he felt a swollen lump near her ear. "Poppy?" He said, turning to the mediwitch, but she was gone. Before Draco could begin to ask Harry where she had gone, she was back and putting a premeasured dose of pain potion and swelling cream in his hand. He smiled his thanks and gently applied the cream just after Hermione took the medicine.
Hermione wondered for a moment why Draco was the one administering the medications, but as the pain subsided, she realized that he would be just as able to apply the medicines as he was to make them. It really made no matter.
Draco, on the other hand was grateful that everyone knew he was a Veela. Well, everyone except Hermione. Poppy would know that Draco would have difficulty allowing her to help, and so had stood aside. Thankfully, Hermione wasn't making a big deal of it either. Gods, I am so stupid. I knew that she was beginning to sense the bond and yet I still couldn't control my emotions. Crying like a child because I can't have what I want, honestly. And what has it brought me? An injured mate which is again my fault.
Hermione sighed as he finished and the swelling started going down. She looked up at him gratefully and his heart filled a thousand times over. He smiled without realizing it. "Thanks Draco," She said softly.
"Well, I guess you're alright now?" Harry said, maybe a little too loudly. "Want me to wait to walk you back?"
"No, that's alright, Harry. I can walk back myself." Hermione answered.
"The hell you can. Go on, Potter. I'll make sure she's alright." Draco said… maybe a little too roughly.
Hermione rolled her eyes at Madam Pomfrey, "Go on Harry. Draco can walk me back like the big strong man he is," She said, sarcastically.
Harry snorted. "Alright Hermione. I'll see you for breakfast."
Harry left and Madam Pomfrey said, "Just wait long enough for the pain medicine to work. It will take about ten more minutes and then you can go. I'm going back to bed, so lock the door, won't you?"
"Yes ma'am," Draco said solemnly.
She left and Hermione said, "Why are you always so serious?"
Draco looked at her, amused. "I've a dry wit, Granger."
"Dry as the Sahara?"
He chuckled, "Drier." He wondered how long he could fight off the Veela today. He had more contact with her in the last day than he possibly ever had in one day. Would it be easier or harder to resist her allure with more contact?
"We're you sleeping when they called you? Wait, why were you called? Did they think I was poisoned?"
"I was not sleeping and they did think you had been poisoned. I was reading, if you must know."
"Oh? What were you reading?" She asked, perking up adorably.
"A boring book on Potions. I was glad for the distraction."
"Boring? I shudder to think what you find boring."
He scoffed, "Are you implying I'm boring, Miss Granger?"
She grinned, "I'll reserve judgement."
"Oh? But how am I to convince you I'm not?"
She looked at him momentarily, a calculating look taking over for her grin. "Well, I can think of many many things, but I suppose I will settle for this: Tell me something about yourself. I hardly know you, as Harry pointed out today."
He leaned forward and rested his head on a hand. "You mean I'm worthy of being a conversational topic of the Brightest Witch of Our Age and The Boy Who Lived? I believe that simply proves I'm not as boring as you might paint me."
She laughed, "Fair point, but my point still stands."
"Hmm, what about my absolutely not boring life would convince you…" No, really, he had no idea what to say. Then, suddenly he realized he could tell her at least one thing. "I'm secretly a monster." He said. Regret flooded him. This was not the right time.
She laughed, "I very much doubt that."
Thank the gods, she thinks it's a joke. "Won't fall for it, eh?"
She touched his arm softly, "I think you're secretly a decent person, Draco Malfoy."
He felt his soul leaping for joy, "As long as you can keep that a secret, I think we can still be friends."
She smiled, her beauty nearly overwhelming, "That sounds good to me."
"Alright, Granger 10 minutes is up, you want to try standing?" He said, mostly to stop himself from snogging her furiously.
She nodded and sat up slowly. "Just a little dizzy," She said as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. He held his hands out, ready to catch her if she fell. She stood normally, feeling alright. "I think I'm ok, Malfoy," she said, smiling. Realization struck her and she said, "I was going to talk to you in the morning."
He stepped back and gestured for her to go before him. "About what?" He asked trying valiantly to not stare at her perfect ass encased in the most wonderful torture device known to man- the denim trousers they call jeans.
She picked up her cardigan from a chair and pulled it over her, it's long hem partly covering her rear end and most of her curves and Draco mentally thanked her. "About your parents. And also about Harry."
His parents? His Veela addled mind caught on that one. "My parents?"
She was still walking in front of him when they exited the infirmary, so Draco locked the door. She turned partly to watch him and his heart stopped for a second when he saw how beautiful and wonderful and homey she looked. Gods he wanted to- stop it. He growled to the Veela. Soon. Not tonight. What the hell does homey mean anyway?
"I saw your parents briefly today." She told him.
He looked down at her as they started walking next to each other. "Did you see them as they were arriving or leaving?"
"Why would that matter?"
"Well, it would have made their… attitude different from one to the other."
She looked at him sympathetically. "Were they upset at you? Well, rest assured, you must have calmed them down considerably because they were perfectly pleasant. Disturbingly pleasant, as it was me they were speaking to."
He chuckled, "Yes, well, I fear they are getting their way even if I don't want it."
She puzzled over this and wondered what it could be. "Were… you don't have to answer if this is too personal, but were they in Azkaban?"
He nodded, pressing his lips together. He cleared his throat and then said, "They were released this month."
"Do you have… a good relationship with them?"
He smiled wearily, "Always questions with you, Granger."
She smiled, "Yes, I'm sorry. I don't know if I should run tomorrow, what do you think?"
By the gods he wanted to hug her then. How sweet she was. How compassionate! "Maybe just a short one. Or a walk. I think a walk would be best. Don't worry, Granger. I'll still walk with you. I made an appointment and I'll keep it."
She laughed again. "You are so strange."
He grinned, "I am. But I rather like it about myself. Apparently you do as well, as you keep talking to me."
"I do, it matches well with my own strangeness."
"It does indeed." He risked his sanity, but he took her arm and placed it on his elbow. She gave him an uncomprehending look and he said, "I am a gentleman, Granger."
They were crossing the entry hall and her peals of laughter rebounded against the high ceiling. One day I'll kiss the laughter from her lips and taste her joy, he thought, feeling that old longing fill him once more. It was banished when Hermione hugged his arm.
"I'm glad we're friends Draco." She said softly.
He patted her hand, "Me too, Granger. Me too."
"Will you come to a party with me where you might get ripped to shreds by the Weasley family?" She asked suddenly.
Her honey eyes were glowing with a smile when he looked down at her, frowning, "What?"
"I… er… well Harry is having a baby, well not Harry but his wife Hannah is having a baby. They're having an announcement party this weekend and…" She dropped her gaze, shyly, "I just thought maybe you might want to come. You know… if you're not busy."
He smirked, "Are you asking me on a date, Granger?"
She blushed, "No, I just meant like as friends, you know. I mean it's not like I'm your type, anyway."
They were turning down the hallway by her room. Draco needed a second to process it and Hermione took his hesitation as rejection, "It's ok you don't have to-"
"Of course I'll go," Draco interrupted. "But if I come home with a single red hair on my jacket, it's you who will pay the price, Granger."
"Really?" She was smiling up at him with so much happiness and excitement. He really couldn't help himself. He kissed her. When he drew back, her eyes were wide. He was so incredibly grateful he had kissed her cheek.
"Really. Goodnight Granger. I'll see you in the morning." He turned and walked away. Hermione stood stock still for at least 30 seconds, shocked that he had kissed her cheek and that he had accepted and did he think this was a date now?
A/N: Gosh, you guys. What a response! Thanks for all the reviews, and favorites/follows! Don't forget to drop a review on your way out! I'm curious about your theories! I'm about 2 chapters ahead and closing in on the