Chapter Seven: Pot of Tea

October turned into November all too soon, and Draco, true to his word, had worn purple hair not only to breakfast, but to Charms, Potions, and Muggle Studies as well.

"Halloween prank?" Blaise asked when Draco joined them in the Pub.

"Charm backfired. Hermione's fixing it tonight," Draco said, nursing his Butterbeer.

"Hermione eh?" Blaise nudged Draco's arm.

"Shut it Blaise."

"By the way, you changed the password."

"I know."

"Well…?"

"McGonagall caught you last time, didn't she?" Draco hissed. "I don't want to be blamed for your…sexcapades. Find an empty classroom or something."

"I could," Blaise hissed back. "But the best one, if you recall, was burnt out last year."

"That was Crabbe, not me," Draco rolled his eyes. "You could rent a room at Puddifoots. I hear she goes by the hour."

"And have little pink cherubs look at me the entire time?" Blaise snorted. "Yeah right."

"Better than have my roommate think it's me in there!" Draco snarled. "You know how hard it is to get respect from someonewhen they hear shagging coming from your room?"

"Can't be any worse than have McGonagall interrupt a shag," Blaise said.

"Good point," Draco said.

"Another Butterbeer?" Madame Rosmerta eyed his empty glass.

"No thanks," Draco said. "I have to get back to the castle. Get this hair put right."

"How did you manage that?" Madame Rosmerta asked.

"I'm rubbish at charms," Draco said. He garnered a few stares on the way back to Hogwarts, but he resisted giving the first years a matching hairstyle. He found simply smiling made them nearly wet themselves.

xXXx

"Ready?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, I've walked around with purple hair for a day, of course I'm ready," Draco said.

Hermione tried various spells, but succeeded in only turning his hair a variety of other colours.

"What exactly did you mutter?" She asked, trying one last spell. "Got it!"

"Thanks Hermione!" Draco said, relieved. He glanced at his reflection. He felt a little odd not seeing purple hair.

"You're welcome."

"So if I ever turn my hair different colours again, what's the counter spell?"

"I'm going to keep that to myself," Hermione said smugly.

"C'mon, Hermione!" Draco groaned.

"And deny me the pleasure of seeing you walk around with rainbow hair? No way!" Hermione laughed. "Anyway, I have to finish Snape's essay. Where'd you put my book?"

"You're not getting your book back until you tell me he counter spell," Draco said seriously, holding the heavy book out of her reach.

"Well, smooth move exlax," Hermione said sarcastically. "It's a heavy book. Your arm's going to get tired sooner or later."

"Isn't exlax that Muggle medicine we read about..?" Draco asked, confused. "Cures the Weasley's 'You No Poo' thing?" His face lit up. "Oh, I get it!"

"Shut up," Hermione said, swiping her book back. "HA!"

Draco leaned forward, bringing his lips to hers.

Hermione brought her book crashing down on her temple.

"What he fuck was that?" Hermione hissed.

"I could ask you the same thing!" Draco remarked angrily.

"I mean that, you kissed me!" Hermione fumed.

Draco grinned, pleased with himself. "I'm not as bad as I'm made out to be. Really, I'm a great guy if you get to know me."

"I hear you shagging other girls, Draco," Hermione rolled her eyes. "I don't want this if that's where this kiss is going."

"S'cuse me?" Draco looked genuinely bewildered. "Wait, that's not me! Honest!"

"Is this the same 'not you' as the one who called me a mud blood, or is this literally not you?" Hermione asked. She didn't want to let on that she knew Blaise had been in his room.

"Literally another person. My friend Blaise was sneaking into my room while I was away, and shagging Pansy," Draco smiled. Hermione knew he was telling the truth. "He's a stupid as a mountain troll. Can't even cast a..."

"Damn silencing charm," they said together.

"So you're idea of getting to know me is by kissing me?" Hermione was still wary.

"One part of you," Draco said. "I've always admired you because what you see is what you get. You're down to earth, smart, pretty. You're a real person."

"Thanks, I think," Hermione said. "I wish I could say that I really knew who you were, but I'm not so sure now. I mean, you've been nice for a while now, but seriously…"

"The main reason I act the way I do in public is to keep up my reputation as a Malfoy, but now with Voldemort gone, we can go back to being regular people. It's hard though, being yourself. I've always lived up to my family name, whioch was pretty horrible. You know, one of my ancestors put a charm on the family so every first born Malfoy was male?"

"That's terrible!" Hermione gasped.

"That's not the worst of it...the charm also prevented any future heirs from being born. It's more of a curse, really," Draco said, sitting down. He charmed the kettle over to the fire. "Imagine growing up with no brothers or sisters."

"I'm the same," Hermione said. "My mom and dad never had any more children after me."

"Why not?" Draco asked. "Don't Muggles have medicine and stuff like that to help?"

"My mom and dad decided one was enough," Hermione said. "I kind of like being an only child actually. It means I don't have to share!"

"I envied Ron for that, having all those brothers and a sister. Living in a cozy house where you can see everyone all the time. Never being bored," Draco gazed off into the distance. "Gods what I would give to have a sibling. You know, I teased him once that his whole family shared a room. I wish my family would have done that. Had a camp out."

"You've never shared a room?" Hermione asked. "Only at Hogwarts?"

"Never, not even to have a sleepover," Draco said sadly.

"Why not? I mean, every kid has friends that come and sleep over sometime or other!"

"Not me. Father wouldn't allow it, so I grew up with the Death Eater's kids. It was hell," Draco said. "Imagine not being able to play, really play, and just sitting around boasting about how big your house was, or how great your parents were."

"You missed how big your head was," Hermione added, getting up and pouring them both cups of tea.

"Hey! That was not called for!" Draco laughed as she handed him his.

"I said 'was' not 'is,'" Hermione pointed out taking a sip, and smiling over the rim of her cup.

"I have to keep my big brain safe somehow, now," Draco smiled.

"Shut up and do your essay," Hermione said. "By the way, I'm not forgiving you for kissing me."

"Why not?" Draco feigned being hurt.

"Because you're still a jerk."

"C'mon…" Draco groaned. "I'm being nice, yeah? We could be friends, couldn't we?"

"Friends don't kiss friends!" Hermione pointed out.

"Could we be more than friends?"

Hermione glared at him. "You're getting a bit cocky."

"Fine," Draco cleared his throat. "Will you, Hermione Granger, please be my friend?"

"Fine," Hermione rolled her eyes. "But just kind of friends, like classmate friends."

"I can do that."

"Friends," Hermione said, shaking his hand.

"I'm sorry I kissed you," Draco apologized. "I was just trying to shock you and get your book back."

"Well, it didn't work did it?" Hermione smirked slightly.

"Not really," Draco rubbed his temple. "Could you…"

"You deserved it," Hermione gave him no sympathy.

"You don't have a potion for headaches do you?" Draco groaned.

"Nope, but I'm sure Madame Pomfrey has one," Hermione closed her book.

"The essay can wait," she said begrudgingly. "C'mon, we can't have you fainting in the halls now can we?"

"Hermione, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Draco said, staggering through the portrait hole.

"I think I hit you harder than I imagined," Hermione said, making Draco laugh.