CHAPTER 4

Hermione woke very happy and warm the next moment. It took her moment to trace that wonderful bliss that had her smiling so broadly. She stood up, stretched and dressed in a pair of dark hip hugger jeans and a pink tank top. She spread some earthy tones over her eyelids and a pink gloss on her lips. She slid her school robes over the ensemble and looked over to her bedside table. There was no band today so she left her flute in the drawer and swung her bag over her shoulder.

Hermione nearly skipped down the stairs, humming to herself and stealing a quick glance at Malfoy as she passed. Her smile broadened, if that was even possible, and she clambered out of the portrait hole and proceeded to the entrance hall to meet up with Harry and Ron for breakfast.

'Hey, Hermione,' Harry called, him and Ron waving at her from the bottom of the stairs. Hermione jumped the last three, something she had never even thought of doing before. She threw her arms around both the boys and squeezed them tight.

'Oh, thank you guys,' she said, still not letting them go even though they were turning purple from lack of oxygen. 'Thanks for giving me the courage to tell the rest of the school. I always thought people would laugh or make fun of me but you guys showed me that I was wrong and thank you so much for that,' she sincerely. Then, she noticed that the boys were now clawing at her arms in an attempt to free themselves. She quickly let go, smiling sheepishly. 'Sorry.'

'Hermione,' Ron said, sounding scandalized. 'Will you quit doing that?! You're going to do permanent damage to our necks!' Hermione smiled again. 'Anyways, you should have heard the common room last night,' he said, quickly changing the subject, his face lighting up with enthusiasm. 'Everyone was trying out their new instruments.'

'Yeah, and they all sucked,' Harry interjected. 'But that's what you get for putting a bunch of amateurs in the same room. There was such a ruckus that McGonagall had to come in and tell us to go to bed around three AM. It was hilarious!'

'Well, I'm glad you guys are practicing,' Hermione said, leading the boys into the Great Hall and sitting down about midway down the table. 'Are either of you getting any better yet? How about Ginny and Neville?'

'Well,' Harry said thoughtfully, sitting down next to Hermione and pulling a plate of bacon towards him. 'I got better last night. I can now reach up to a 'B' which is pretty good for only one days practice.'

'I can get from a low 'A' to a high 'F'' Ron said proudly, taking the seat across from her and tucking into a bowl of cream of wheat. 'Ginny was doing pretty good. She can play a whole scale now which is more than I can say for the rest of the flautists,' he added, remembering Hermione's inquiry about his little sister.

'And Neville,' Harry said, looking just awestruck. 'He is amazing! He can already play a scale in two octaves when the rest of the french horns are still trying to find what note the first scale starts on. He's a bloody musical genius!' Hermione smiled at this and glanced down the table at Neville. He was fingering his scales and he was practically glowing.

'Well, I knew he would be good at that,' Hermione said knowingly. 'He looks happier than I've ever seen him. It sounds like you're all enjoying your new hobby,' she said, turning back to Harry and Ron. They nodded and Hermione pulled a platter of scrambled eggs toward her.

The rest of breakfast was spent gossiping about who picked what instrument and if they thought they would be good at them. Hermione definitely thought that Lavender and Parvarti had made the right choice. They had both chosen the oboe, which had a high buzzing sound that reminded them all of busy bees spreading gossip and rumors.

By the time breakfast was over, they were all in a much better mood than usual when heading down to the dungeons. Potions had been a much less painful experience ever since Snape stopped teaching it. Professor Slughorn was a much more pleasant teacher and Potions was now only a minor annoyance as they still had it with the Slytherins.

Hermione took her usual seat with Harry and Ron at the back of the dungeon classroom and took a quick look at the other side. Malfoy was nonchalantly leaning his chair back on two legs and doodling on the edge of a piece of parchment. He glanced over and caught her eye. Hermione smiled at him and he smiled back, inclining his head in greeting.

'Did you just smile at Malfoy?' Harry asked in a disbelieving voice, following her gaze to the other side of the room. 'I thought you hated him.'

'Oh, he's okay, actually,' Hermione stated, ignoring Harry and Ron's accusing stares. 'We played a couple of duets last night and we talked. He's pretty nice when you get through his public image. Did you know that he watches muggle movies? And likes them?' Harry and Ron simply gaped at her and then at Malfoy and back again, very dubious looks on their faces.

'Come, come, now,' Professor Slughorn called, waddling to the front of the class and waving them all quiet. 'Today we will be making a complex potion that will be a month long project and should under no circumstances be drunk,' he said warningly, waggling a finger at them all. 'You will be making Polyjuice Potion, a potion that, when brewed properly, will allow you to take on the physical appearance of another person for one hour. It should never be used for non-human transformations, though, for that you would need transfiguration and that is not my subject.'

Hermione blushed scarlet and hid her face behind her book to hide it. She glanced at Harry and Ron and saw that they, too, looked worried. They did not need any instruction on the Polyjuice Potion as they had successfully produced one in their second year and used it to alter Harry and Ron into perfect replicas of Crabbe and Goyle. They silently pulled out the ingredients they would be working with that day and began to brew it without so much as glancing at the directions on the board.

They finished the lesson with the highest grades in the class, much to the chagrin of the Slytherins. The trio left to go to Charms, still worrying at whether Professor Slughorn would catch on that they already knew how to make the potion.

Charms was the perfect class to talk in because it was too noisy and chaotic to be overheard. They were practicing making a snuffbox walk upright and talk. It was very difficult and by the end of the lesson Hermione was the only who had been successful. Harry's was walking perfectly fine but wasn't making a sound while Ron's was jabbering incoherently but had remained firmly on the ground.

'Hermione, how did you have a civil conversation with Malfoy?' Harry asked, leaning across the table over Ron's squeaking snuffbox.

'I opened my mouth and sound came out with hitting him,' Hermione said as though it was a completely obvious concept. 'He didn't insult me so I didn't him. It shouldn't be this hard of a notion to grasp.'

'Hermione, this is the boy who attacked and insulted you at every opportunity. You hate him just as much as we do, remember?' Ron asked, looking at her as if she was out of her mind.

'No, Ronald, I don't,' Hermione said coolly. Ron flinched at the use of his real name and let the subject drop.

The rest of the lesson passed without incident and Harry and Ron both made a little more progress with their snuffboxes. Harry's now squeaked when touched and Ron's had four stubby little legs that didn't touch the floor but wriggled hopelessly in midair. They walked down to lunch with Ron still stinging from Hermione's reaction to he and Harry's worries.

They ate lunch once again in an awkward silence. Then Hermione went a different direction, back to her dormitory, for her free period. She had finally given up on taking every subject she could and was now taking only the subjects essential for aurors plus Arithmancy. Upon entering the common room, she was surprised to see Malfoy lounging on the couch with a book in hand.

'Hey, Hermione,' he said unconcernedly. Hermione gaped at him for a moment before sinking slowly into an armchair.

'Did you just call me by my first name?' she asked incredulously.

'Yeah,' he said, looking up from his book. He sat up, putting his book on the coffee table and staring at her contemplatively. 'Why shouldn't I?'

'Oh, well, I don't know,' Hermione replied. 'It's just sort of weird to hear someone who you thought you hated start calling me 'Hermione' after so many years of 'Granger', you know?' Malfoy nodded.

'So,' he said in a businesslike tone after a moment. 'Are we on first name terms now or is it too early for that?' Hermione thought her answer through thoroughly before smiling at him.

'Let us reintroduce ourselves,' she said in a haughty tone standing up. Malfoy stood as well and Hermione held out her hand for him to shake.

'I am Hermione Granger,' she said politely. Malfoy shook her hand and smiled at her again.

'Hello, Hermione. I am Draco Malfoy,' he said, just as polite.

'Hello, Draco. What are your interests?' she asked, sitting down prissily on the couch and pulling him down with her.

'Well, my main interest is playing the saxophone,' Draco said nonchalantly. 'What are yours?'

'Very similar, I do believe, as I play the flute,' she said as though this was exciting news. They spent the rest of the free period talking like this and acting silly, just talking over their pastimes and learning more about each other.

By the time their next class was about to start, they had learned quite a lot about one another and had plenty of fun. They left the Head's common room laughing and talking until they began to see other people drifting past them. Hermione began to think about how the other people would react. Harry and Ron had not been thrilled to believe that Draco was good and the rest of the school would probably be the same.

'Draco,' Hermione said hesitantly, holding out a hand to stop him. 'Should we tell people? You know, that we're friends now? Harry and Ron didn't respond too well and the rest of the school won't be much better.'

'Hermione,' he said putting his arm around her in a brotherly way. 'As long as you're by my side, they can jump off a cliff for all I care.'

Hermione smiled and the new friends walked into their Arithmancy class, indifferent to the astonished stares of their fellow students. Some looked shocked, some scandalized, some furious, and some nervous. No one said anything so they sat down at a table at the front of the room and began copying the assignment from the board with huge smiles plastered on their faces.

Whispers followed her wherever Hermione went that day but she paid them no heed. She was beaming all day but she was still very glad when the rumors and gossip died away as she climbed through the portrait hole and into the Head's common room. She ran to her room and pulled her flute out from her bedside table drawer. She unshrunk it, assembled it, and went out onto the balcony once again.

'Draco,' she called over her shoulder in the direction of his room, hoping he was in there. 'You want to play something?' For a moment there was silence. Hermione sighed, brought the flute to her lips and blew a high, keening note. A voice behind her made her jump, nearly dropping the flute in fright.

'Now, who said you could start without me?' Draco said, feigning indignation. Hermione pressed her hand over her heart and took a deep, steadying breath.

'Draco Malfoy,' she panted, pointing the index finger of her other hand at him. 'Don't you ever, I repeat ever, sneak up on me like that! You scared me half to death,' she gasped in real indignation. Draco laughed and sat down next to him, his saxophone hanging at playing height from a leather strap around his neck. Hermione noticed how his dark, brooding features transformed into a stunning visage when he smiled like that.

'So,' he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice, taking her flute from the bench where she had set it down and handing it to her. 'Is that offer still open or will I just have to play alone tonight?' Hermione smiled back at him, taking the flute from her hands and placing it to her lips. She began to play 'My Heart Will Go on' again and he joined in with a different harmony.

It soon became a routine. They would talk and joke for a while every night, then get their instruments and play that song and then they would play whatever else they could think of, often just making up songs and sometimes actually writing them down. Over the next two weeks, they grew to be very close and Hermione began to think that it might be time to introduce Harry and Ron to the new Draco.

'Come on, Harry,' Hermione urged tugging him toward the Head's common room. 'You , too, Ron. I have something I need to show you both.'

'Hermione, what is so important that you had to drag us away from dinner?' Ron groused, folding his arms over his chest and frowning, upset about having to forgo a meal. Harry gave up his struggle as well and walked along, mildly curious about this surprise.

'You will see when you get there, Ron,' she said peevishly. She was beginning to have second thoughts about this. 'Now, I know that you guys are going to have trouble with this but I still think you should know,' she cautioned. The look on Ron's face darkened, if that was possible, and Harry looked slightly disconcerted.

Hermione ushered them up to the portrait hole and whispered the password so that they couldn't hear. It swung forward to admit them and Draco was lounging on the couch casually. He beamed up at them.

'Hello, Hermione,' he said cheerfully, giving her a hug she gladly returned. 'Hello, Harry, Ron,' he addressed the boys who were now staring, open-mouthed at him. They held a gaze for a moment before Harry and Ron moved cautiously around Draco to sit in the armchairs by the fire. Hermione sat on the couch and tugged Draco down next to her.

'Hermione, what was it you wanted to show us?' Harry asked, eyeing Draco suspiciously. Hermione looked from him to Draco as if it was obvious.

'What do you think?' she asked condescendingly. 'Draco is what I wanted to show you. I want to reintroduce you to him like I did. I found we have a lot in common.' Ron seemed to be in shock and Harry looked dubious.

'Well, okay, if you say so,' he said with the air of someone walking up to the gallows. He stood and pulled Ron with him who had still not moved. Draco held out his hand and smiled at him.

'Hello, my name is Draco Malfoy. You?' he said formally. Harry took his hand and shook it briefly, looking at him warily, as though he expected Draco to curse him.

'Harry Potter,' he said. Then he shoved Ron forward, much to his protests and introduced him, too. 'And this is my friend Ron Weasley. If I have to do it, you do, too,' he hissed in Ron's ear. Ron reluctantly shook hands with him as well. Hermione beamed at the pair of them and pushed Harry and Ron back into their chairs.

'Now that we all know each other,' she said, reminding Harry of a therapist. 'I think I should leave you guys to talk everything over.' Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked briskly out, grinning evilly.

Draco stared incredulously at Hermione's retreating back. Then he turned to stare at Harry and Ron who were now looking murderous.

'Listen up, ferret,' Harry hissed, pointing a finger threateningly at Draco, leaning forward in his chair. 'If you do anything to hurt Hermione, anything at all, me and Ron will chase you down and make you pay.'

'We don't care if you 'didn't mean' it or 'it was an accident',' Ron said, adding air quotes and skeptical tones when necessary. 'We will find you and curse you into oblivion.'

Draco looked from one to the other, unsure of what he was supposed to do now. He eventually gave them a weak smile and spoke in what he hoped was a confident voice but sounded feeble and afraid.

'Listen you guys, I would never do anything to Hermione,' he said in a hurt voice. 'I thought that Hermione told you by now. I would say I've changed but that's not really true. I never was the way you thought I was. The only thing that's changed is that I have the courage to stand up to the people who keep telling me what to do, threatening me much like you two are right now,' he said, his voice becoming stronger, his temper flaring at the indignity of the stereotyping.

'Just because I come from a family of Dark wizards you automatically think I'm the same, don't you?' he asked, his voice raising, but he continued without waiting for an answer. 'You don't have any idea what it's like to have the Dark Lord breathing down your neck, and my father. I always wanted to make my father proud but I didn't have the guts to do what would make him happy so, eventually, I gave up. Now that I've stopped trying to avoid muggle-borns, I've come to really like one; this particular one; Hermione. And if you think that I would push away my only real friend, the only one that has ever bothered to listen to me or even try to understand and help me, just because you two tell me to is ludicrous. I don't care if you believe me! Hermione believes me and that's all I care about anymore! I love her!' Draco roared. He was standing but didn't remember standing up. His insides were writhing likes snakes.

Then, suddenly, he realized what he had just said and it felt as if the bottom had dropped out of his stomach. Harry and Ron were looking severely dumbstruck. Draco's eyes flitted from one to the other but he had yet to move. His chest was heaving. He saw Harry and Ron's eyes flutter to somewhere behind him. He heard a small noise and he spun around.

Hermione was standing there, clutching her flute to her chest, tears running silently down her cheeks. Draco felt his heart break in two. He caught her eye and felt his breath catch in his throat. Those eyes; they held him mesmerized, those cinnamon brown eyes that usually teemed with laughter but were now filled to burst with shimmering tears, that could bend him to her will with one look, that could melt his heart.

He whispered, 'Hermione?' and she ran from the room, her hair and robes billowing behind her.

Draco faintly heard Harry and Ron stand behind him but he paid them no heed. He felt them brush past him and follow Hermione out of the room. He sack back on the couch. He felt hollow, like she had taken of piece of his heart with him. He had just finished saying that he would never hurt her and what had happened? He had hurt her without even knowing it.

A knot seemed to tighten painfully in his chest. Then he realized; he had meant what he said. All of it. He loved Hermione. He buried his face in his hands. He sat there for what felt like hours but was, in reality, only a few minutes. Then he stood and trudged up to his room. He pulled his saxophone out from under the bed and assembled it, walking out onto the balcony. He sat on the familiar bench and began to play a slow, doleful tune, hoping all the while that Hermione would join in but no sound came.

Hermione stood by the door of her room, hoping to catch snippets of civil conversation, holding her flute. She was planning, as soon as they were getting along, to show the boys their trademark song. All was very quiet for a moment and then she began to distinguish Draco's voice. It got steadily louder and angrier until she caught the end of what seemed to be a long-winded rant.

'…and if you think that I would push away my only real friend, the only one that has ever bothered to listen to me or even try to understand and help me, just because you two tell me to is ludicrous. I don't care if you believe me! Hermione believes me and that's all I care about anymore! I love her!'

Hermione gasped. She felt a stinging pressure in the corners of her eyes and clutched her flute tighter. There was a long silence. Hermione pushed open her door and tiptoed down the stairs. Draco was standing, glaring at Harry and Ron. She vaguely noticed the boys attempts to make eye contact. She only had eyes for Draco. Tears were still streaming down her face when he turned to look at her, a stunned expression on his face.

'Hermione?' he said quietly, tentatively. Hermione couldn't stand it anymore; the turmoil in her head, the torrent of emotions flooding in her mind, those crystal eyes that burned with passion and love and bored into hers with such intensity that she had to look away, that could melt her heart.

Hermione ran. She ran out of the Head's common room and down the corridor, blinded by tears and not really caring where she ended up. She kept running until she could no longer hear Harry and Ron's footsteps as they tried to catch her. Finally, out of both breath and tears, she slumped against a wall and slid to the floor. She stared at the opposite wall for a moment or two before realizing what she was seeing.

She was a tapestry on which a goblin tried to teach trolls to perform ballet. This was the corridor for the Room of Requirement. She stood up and began to pace back and forth thinking very hard; 'I need a place to be alone where no one can disturb me.' After she passed three times, she glanced up and, sure enough, there was a polished wood door where moments before had been solid rock. She rushed into it and closed the door with a snap.

Hermione had never seen a more comforting room. The walls were a deep, dark blue. There was a fire roaring and crackling merrily in the corner. There was an overstuffed couch as well as a large canopy bed, both blue. And there was a row of bookshelves laden with American novels, her favorite kind. Also, to her great delight, there was a shelf of flute music and a chair with a stand set to playing height in front of it.

Hermione spent the rest of the day playing what ever she could read on her flute, and reading a bit. She stayed the night in the Room of Requirement so as to avoid seeing Draco long enough to think things over properly. They had only been at Hogwarts for a fortnight and already her life was a mess.