PLEASE READ THIS A/N!
Hello all! So this is a horribly long author's note, but it's to clarify a few things.
First of all, I'd like to clarify that this is an 'eighth year' fic, essentially, just not spanning the whole year, I don't know how long it's going to be yet.
Secondly, timeline: The way their break works for the sake of this story is they have 3 weeks off: 2 before Christmas, and one full week afterwards that takes them through New Years, students return on the second. Right now this is the first day of that first week off still.
Thirdly, I'm writing these chapters at like (in this case, 2:18 a.m.) so I can update for you all (which I have no problem doing, I love you all dearly and this is a lot of fun to write :D), but that just means that there will be errors since I don't have time to proofread again more than one scan before I upload. So if you see anything, even a minor mistake like capitalization, a quick PM or review or whatever is easiest is really appreciated, I don't like to have grammatically/spelling incorrect writing :P
One last quick note: any inaccuracies as far as the Wizarding World goes (if someone is alive who isn't supposed to be, if I've made them go somewhere that doesn't exist- i.e., the shops in Hogsmeade that aren't there in the actual books, they're only in Diagon Alley), it means I've changed it for the sake of the fanfic. If this bothers you, I'm very sorry. (If there's something COMPLETELY wrong and I don't address it within the story, let me know- I probably just forgot, it's been a while since I read the series all the way through).
Otherwise, carry on and see who knocked…
CHAPTER FOUR
HERMIONE'S POV
I heard Draco go to answer the door, and absentmindedly wandered over to where he stood now, looking out into the hall.
"Who was it?" I asked.
"No one, apparently," he muttered. Just then, the door slammed behind us, and we heard the sickening lock of the door. We looked at each other, then back to the room.
"Bunny's arse!" we both yelled. But the king in our portrait had disappeared. We tried every non-destructive unlocking spell we could possibly think of to open the door, but something was jamming it. Draco stooped to examine the lock.
"Something's been jammed in the keyhole!" he cried. I realized what was going on.
"Peeves!" I shrieked, and aimed my wand at the door. "Waddiwasi!" I cried, and the wad of gum came shooting out of the keyhole. Meanwhile, Draco had tracked down our elusive king, and forced him to open the portrait for us. We dashed inside, just as Peeves zoomed back out again, hovering outside the door and singing a song.
Malfoy and Granger,
Oh, what a danger,
And look here! What do you know,
Away's gone Potter,
And Weasley's a rotter,
As they're caught under the mistle-toooooe…
He blew a raspberry at us, until Draco threatened to call the Bloody Baron, and he flew away in terror, the coward he always was.
But that didn't mean Peeves' song didn't hold true- we were magically rooted to the spot under a fresh bunch of mistletoe.
"Bloody hell," Draco muttered.
"Hang on, I might know a way to fix this without McGonnagall," I said. "Winky! We could use your help, if you're not busy!" I cried, and not a moment later, with a resounding crack!, Winky the house elf from the kitchens was by my side and bowing deferentially.
"Oh, miss Granger, our savior in the war, how can Winky help, miss?" I smiled gratefully at Winky.
"There's no need for that, Winky, thank you. My... friend Malf- eh, Draco, here, and I, we got pranked by Peeves, and he stuck us under some mistletoe. Is there any chance you could clear it away for us, please?" I asked, and Winky nodded enthusiastically. Winky had really lost any aversion to me from fourth year and S.P.E.W.
"Anything Winky can do for miss, she will, she will," the little house elf squeaked as she waved a hand, and the magical parameter surrounding us because of the mistletoe above our heads disappeared along with it, and we were able to step back to a more comfortable, Malfoy-Granger distance.
"Thanks, Winky. Would you like anything before you go?" Malfoy shocked me by asking this.
"N-no, Master Malfoy. Winky is just fine, Winky will be off to the kitchens now, thank you," she said with another small bow, the weight of her large head bringing it to the floor and gently bumping each time she bowed before another crack! took her away. Malfoy and I milled about, unsure of what to do to fill the awkward time after, other than explore our rooms. Our bags were unpacked for us… finally we gave up, and decided to just go read the Prophet in the Great Hall until it was time for lunch to be served.
As it was only Malfoy and I, we sat together at the end of the teacher's table, leaving some space between us and the large group of teachers that had stayed still to help with repairs over holiday. We read through the Prophet, occasionally commenting and scoffing at inaccuracies or muttering over shocking articles, until finally the food appeared and occupied our time. As we ate in silence, it became clear what had to be done. If we were going to be roommates and not go mad of boredom for the next three weeks, we would have to get to know each other, and curse Merlin's pants if I was going to let Malfoy's uncomfortable moods hinder that.
"Malfoy, d'you want to go Christmas shopping in Hogsmeade with me?" I asked, out of the blue, after working up the nerve. "I'm utterly bored to death in the castle, and I need to get a head start so I don't send them late this year." I stood from the table, gathering my things, ready to go with or without him.
"What, and carry around your bags all day while you dilly-dally in every frilly shop imaginable? Not a chance," he snapped. I shrugged, and started out to the doors of the Great Hall, not even deigning his snarky words with a response. I could see that it wasn't him, that it was his old defenses coming up to bat, just like how mine always was to run to the library when something went wrong. But that didn't mean I had to stand there and take it until he learned some manners. To my surprise though, before I even made it to the staircase, I heard fast-paced footsteps behind me, and stopped to turn around just as Malfoy crashed into me.
"Why is it we're always running into each other like this?" I groaned as I picked myself up off the floor.
"I wanted to apologize, Granger. That was rude, and I don't really think you'd be the type. If you'll allow it, I would like to join you when you leave. I'll be out on the Quidditch pitch, just come and give a shout when you're ready to leave," he said, and I gave a curt nod.
"Fine. I'll be ready in about an hour, I need to compose a list first. I'll meet you then," I said. He nodded, before slightly jogging away towards the doors. I made my way up to our room, regretting now that it was on the seventh floor. I gathered a scrap bit of parchment discarded from Malfoy's homework (which had been quite impressive), and jotted down a few ideas for what I wished to get for each one on my list this year. Money was tight, I was dipping into my emergency savings at Gringott's since my parents hadn't been depositing anything for almost two years now, and I had used much of what was there to buy school supplies and other necessities. But this was worth it. The only problem was, next to Draco Malfoy's name, was a big question mark. I knew I would get him something, just out of the fact that we were roommates, if nothing else, and maybe to let him know that I didn't mind becoming friends, if he could live with that. I chuckled at the image in my head: Malfoy and Granger, Long Lost Friends, a Daily Prophet headline perhaps.
I folded up the parchment, hoping I'd gather some ideas whilst shopping, and left for the Quidditch pitch.
When I arrived at the base of the large arena and went through the entrance archway, I was surprised to see that Malfoy was nowhere in sight. I was about to turn around and head back to the castle to look for him there, when I finally caught sight of a Malfoy-sized speck shooting downwards, straight towards the ground. I fumbled for my wand, thinking he was going to crash, when, just as he was going to be a mess for Hagrid to clean up from the field, he let out a whoop of joy and freedom, and pulled out of the nosedive, shooting high above the hoops and stands once more. I chuckled, shaking with a sigh of relief. He hadn't seen me, so I watched him for a few more minutes, taking in the sight of him, laughing and doing tricks. This was the most carefree Malfoy I had ever caught a glimpse of, and it brought a huge grin to my face as I finally stepped out of the archway and revealed myself. Malfoy's expression faded away into one of shock as he touched down, unsure of how much I'd seen, probably. He carefully fixed a mask over his features once more though, and brushed past me to lock away his broomstick. I sighed to myself, wondering if he'd ever trust me.
"You're an amazing flyer, Malfoy," I said, nudging him with my elbow as we walked side by side to the entrance to Hogsmeade. We had a bit of a trek to get there though, and he was silent for a large part of it at first.
"Probably not half as good as your Potter," he mumbled, sighing.
"Wow, Malfoy, I never thought you'd be the type." He rolled his eyes.
"I'm not jealous, if that's what you're implying," he retorted sharply.
"Not at all, just that you're comparing yourself to your self-proclaimed arch nemesis?"
"He's not my 'arch nemesis.'"
"That's how it's always seemed, between you and him." He huffed, and looked away.
"Petty rivalries, that's all it ever was, Granger, we were just too naive to see it then." But now I was worked up into a fit.
"They didn't seem like petty rivalries when we fought a war over them. Not petty rivalries when people died for them."
"You think I don't grieve over that fact every day? You think I don't suffer as much as Weasley, or Potter, or you, because I was the bad guy? News flash, Granger, I suffered a great deal of loss as well. The only difference between him and me is that I'm condemned for it, and he is held above all else." The bitterness in his tone was unmistakable, and I knew that was a sham of an excuse. He kept trying to cover up, to hide the amount of hurt he was feeling, over losing his parents, over losing his dignity, over losing everything. He was right in one respect- we were only different in one way. At the end of the day, we still had loved ones supporting us to come home to and grieve with and receive comfort from. He never had that, and he obviously assumed he never would.
"Mal- Draco…" I started, feeling the foreign name slip off my tongue for only the second time. "I'm sorry that others can't recognize suffering, no matter what form it takes, but know that I, and I'm sure many others, are here for you. You are not your father, and you are not his teachings, and you are not the suffering he brought upon your mother, and yourself," I said as I reached out, placing a hand on his arm, before he flinched away.
"You don't know what I am."
"Then let me know. When you're ready, I'm here. Now I'm going to get some bloody shopping done, mopey mood or not, so are you coming or not?" I asked, turning around just inside the entrance to Hosmeade, as he rocked back and forth on his heels.
"I'd better come so you don't get yourself killed falling down a set of stairs or something," he half-joked, and he caught up with me. I blushed at the dismal pile of coins in the bottom of my change purse as I tried to portion out what I would probably need. Through the embarrassment though, I selected a careful amount, just enough for what I'd be buying and a little extra, and put the coins in a separate pocket in the bag. Draco raised an eyebrow at my expression, but didn't comment. We decided to get a few sweets from Honeydukes first, while we figured out where to start. We finally agreed on Zonko's to start. Fred and George's place was shut down temporarily, for obvious reasons, so I had to settle when I would much rather buy from George. Nevertheless, I got what I needed (a few toys for Teddy), and went on my way to meet Draco, who was next door in Madam Malkin's (an extension of her shop in Diagon Alley). His robes didn't fit anymore, and was having them resized while we were out. Then, I spotted it.
DRACO'S POV
We moved on to Flourish and Blotts (another local branch off of the Diagon Alley namesake), which was my epic mistake. Something caught her eye in the back of the store as soon as we walked in, and she disappeared into the sea of people bustling about, looking for gifts for the holidays. I searched around for nearly an hour, before finally spotting Hermione, curled up under a table around a book.
She appeared to be in a trance, she was so one-minded as she read while people pushed and shoved to get to the shelves and tables around her. I shook my head and chuckled, giving in and grabbing a book myself, seating myself underneath the table next to hers so as not to disturb her. I was done with my book long before hers, it was a massive tome and I couldn't tell the title, it was blocked by her legs.
I got up and stretched, and took a look round, before realizing that it was almost closing time already. I knocked on the table above Hermione, and she jumped. I bent over and gently pried the book from her hands.
"It's time to go, they're closing up for the evening," I said, and she groaned, before gasping as she stood up and stretched, and realized the time.
"Is it really that late?"
"I'm afraid so. Come on, let's go check out," I said, leading the way to the register with the book, which I finally read the title to be A Brief History of Muggleborns in Wizarding Events. I raised an eyebrow, but could understand why she was so curious. She caught up to me at the register.
"No, Draco, it's okay, I don't need it," she said, blushing as she tried to retrieve the book from my arms.
"You're quite involved in it now, Hermione, I can't let you go with it unfinished and no way to read it until next time," I said, and she blushed deeper.
"Well, I mean, the thing is- er, I haven't the money to buy it right now, not with everything else I still need to buy this month," she said quietly, looking away. I put two and two together then, realizing that without her parents, she was probably running dangerously low in her account after two years without another deposit. I shrugged.
"Fine. I'm buying it as an early Christmas present for you," I said, handing it to the man behind the counter and asking him to bill it to the Malfoy account. I got a flinch and a dirty look at the mention of my name, but ignored it (and Hermione's incessant protests), taking it back without a word and exiting the shop, before handing it to Hermione.
"Now that that's all settled, let's get back, I don't want to miss dinner," I said, taking her wrist and pulling her along even though she kept trying to find a reason and a way to return the book. "Save it, Hermione, you're not returning a Christmas gift now, are you?" I asked, and she sighed in defeat, knowing she couldn't get around it.
"Fine. But what do you want for Christmas?" she asked as she pulled her wrist from my grasp and willingly fell into step beside me.
"I don't need anything."
"Christmas isn't really about what you need though, is it? What do you want for Christmas, Draco Malfoy?" she asked, searching my expression with a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips. I didn't answer right away. No one had asked me what I'd wanted for Christmas in years. My parents stopped giving me gifts when I turned seven, and even before that it had mostly been my mother doting on me. If my friends bought me anything, it was usually something I'd been needing for ages, but my father was too 'busy' to send it to me. We just weren't so sentimental, as Hermione and her friends appeared to be.
"I don't really want anything either. Nothing material, anyway. Maybe some peace. Maybe for people to stop flinching at my name," I muttered bitterly at the thought of the cashier. Hermione put a hand on my shoulder. But I quickly composed myself again. "You don't owe me anything, Hermione Granger. Nothing at all," I said, and quickened my pace into the Great Hall, ending the conversation, for now at least.
I love you all, and sorry for taking ages to update, lots and lots of marching band going on lately :P Hope you enjoyed, see you soon! :)
