She awoke the next morning early despite her long night. Climbing out of bed she rushed to the bathroom, before any other comatose girl came out of the fog of their dreams to know what was going on. She stood over her suitcase, today was the first day of winter. She pulled on a black jacket over her pink vneck and tucked her black sweatpants into a pair of fur-lined, sequined covered boots. She pulled on a beanie and nudged Parvati awake. She too fell out of bed pulling on a robe and a pair of fuzzy slippers. She had her hair braided and pulled over one shoulder. They walked down the flights of stairs and Hermione confided into her dear friend all of the events from the night before.

Draco rolled, looking at his clock. One minute till eight o'clock on a Sunday morning. He was genuinely surprised at being able to wake up so early considering the time he went to sleep and the stressful events from then night before. He walked into his bathroom and took a cold shower to help wake him on up. Once he got out he pulled on white shirt, plaid pants, and a blue robe. He slipped into his loafers and walked down to the common room. He ran his hand over his head tousling his halfway dried hair. His African-American friend joined him in the common room shortly after watching his friend rub his temples leaned forward on the couch. He picked up the paper and walked to the dining hall with Blaise. They didn't speak of the night before, only walked sluggishly down the corridors of the dungeons up to the dining hall.

They walked into the dining hall, took a seat and looked around, noticing not many other students had managed to drag themselves down. He began to eat his bagel when he noticed a great ass walk into the dining hall. Long legs, a tiny waist, and long hair, the longer the hair, the healthier the hair, the more feminine the girl; Femininity was the quality of a girlfriend status. She looked across the room suddenly at the Ravenclaw table, noticing their friend from the night before had too managed to drag himself to the great hall. Undoubtedly he had performed a spell to help reduce the bruising and swelling of his face, because he looked like nothing had happened.
"He won't even look at her," He said snickering famous smirk on his face, eyes for one second cloudy with sadness, "She might actually prove me wrong."
"Nah bro, you just got to step up your game. Quit being such a dick all the damn time man!" He laughed.
"How can I do that when she's so used to me being this way? Why should I change my entire personality for this one girl? It's too much of a hassle." Draco said slamming his mug down. Irritation was evident in his voice. "You're only mad at yourself bro. You know that. It's not a hassle for you, come on, you're falling for this girl. I'm like your conscious man – listen to me! She became a hassle when she kept you from the sorting feast the first night, its October. You're not going to get anywhere unless you admit it to yourself first," Blaise said passionately. "Look, I been feelin this same way about Trae, I think I love her man. She's amazing; but I'll admit I was terrified to get close to this girl, she the ultimate weapon dude. She knows she's got me hooked and could emotionally damage me at any point beyond repair, but I trust her and I know she trusts me."
Draco closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nose, "Admit it to myself, huh?" "Yeah bro, the first step man, admitting you have the problem!" Blaise teased.
"But realtalk bro, you definitely need to at least try, you probably won't get the chance after this year. Who cares if this isn't your style, this might be it." Blaise said somberly.
"You know man, you're right." He said reluctantly. Butterflies in his stomach he watched Hermione walk to the table, and he noticed Tray walking into the dining hall. He took the opportunity before Harry or Ron came down to approach her.
"Alright man, I'm goin to go talk to her," He said. "Well don't have a panic attack on your way over there," He laughed. It was like they were twins sometimes, no matter what Draco was feeling, or how well he hid it, Blaise could always read him like a book. He stood breathing out through his mouth. So many thoughts flashed into his mind as he made the longest walk to the Gryffindor table.

She has the power to make me look like a fool. To completely take advantage of my pride… what if she doesn't

"Good morning," He said approaching. Hermione nearly choked on her coffee hearing his voice so close, knowing he was speaking directly to her – civilly – in public, in front of Parvati, a witness.
"Good morning Draco," She coughed out. He smiled pleasantly, "Mind if I join you two this morning?" Hermione looked at Parvati. Parvati smiled, "Yeah, sure of course!" She announced eccentrically, her middle-eastern accent thick. Parvati watched with eager eyes to see what Draco had to say, would it be on behalf of the night before, when he saved her dear friend from possible ravaging? Hermione quickly moved her bags and books out of the way and onto the floor. Draco sat down at the Gryffindor table slowly. Some people around him stared with curiosity. Parvati damn sure did, watched his every move, waiting for something to happen, some prank to occur. Hermione suddenly felt her friend's sense of caution as she too halfway expected him to snap from Draco to Mafloy in two point five.
"I've come to propose a truce," He said picking up a white napkin and waiving it. Smiling slightly he continued, "I want to be Draco to you. This was a very… difficult decision for me to make emotionally. But we're in October, and we're almost halfway through our last year. I want to be on an amicable level with you, Hermione Granger." He didn't break eye contact with her once during his spoken contract. Parvati stared at her friend in disbelief, the boy who had spent the majority of his time at Hogwarts terrorizing her dear friend, was on the verge of declaring his love for her.
"Wow, um… that's shocking." She whispered looking down at her hands.
"I know it's a lot to take in, trust me it's a lot for me to take in. I'm very nervous about this Hermione, but I trust you not to make a fool of me – you have a good heart and I want to gain your trust, I need someone like you in my life, to let the goodness in me live vicariously through you I absolutely refuse to be this way with anyone else." He admitted to her.
"I want to be Hermione to you – and I absolutely refuse to let you treat me like a rag doll. I can promise you that if you play with my emotions Draco, I'll curse you into oblivion." She said seriousness plaguing her face. He took her hand, "Trust me."

Harry and Ron walked into the dining hall in utter disbelief. Someone in the Slytherin house was sitting at the Gryffindor table, and it was Malfoy of all the Slytherin members. Harry and Ron approached cautiously walking up from behind Malfoy and sitting – Ron beside Parvati and Harry beside Hermione.
"Harry, Ronald," Hermione started, "Draco has issued a truce with me. While he may remain to be Malfoy to you, he has become Draco to me. Before you say anything, please at least make an attempt at accepting this." Harry sat and looked from Hermione to Parvati to Ron and finally to Draco, who stared back with an unreadable expression. He sat straddling the bench, cradling her hand with his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.
"I have indeed assorted a truce with Hermione," He paused. It was the first time he had ever said her name so much; it was a foreign word to him, and to be using it so often at once was intoxicating.
"… And she has agreed. I want to develop a friendship with her and hopefully more with given time. While it would be gracious of you to accept our friendship, it is not required. I will court her regardless of how you feel, until she turns me away I will remain by her side." He said face indescribable. He looked at her face though, measuring her reaction to what he had said. Harry saw for a moment in his eyes longing and happiness. The momentary glimpse of soft bliss in his eyes completely diminished almost everything he had built up against Draco. The indecisiveness that radiated from their dear friend Hermione was enough to make Harry agree now and question later.
"I think I can accept it, What about you Ron?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, must be mental," He said rolling his eyes. His ears were red, Harry knew his friend was upset with the turn of events, but it was what made Hermione happy, and while Ron had violet, and Harry had Cho, it wasn't exactly fair to expect Hermione to stand alone while her friends slowly started to settle into their maturing relationships.
"Great, glad we could all be mature about this thing," Draco said with a crooked smile, it was his best attempt at being civil with his old rival. He picked up her books for her when they finished breakfast and walked with her, with at least a foot of distance between them up to the library, where his little bookworm decided she would spend her day, hiding away from the world. He was establishing a friendship and was trying to gain her trust before the Christmas Break. They sat together in the library. She got dirty looks from girls, but the nastiest of all came from Pansy Parkinson. Hermione suddenly doubted that Draco had broken his affections for the brunette. She approached Hermione as she got up finding a reference book thinking Hermione was searching alone. What Pansy failed to notice was from the study room Draco watched her every move waiting for the perfect time to counteract her pounce.
"So what exactly do you think you're doing you little mudblood?" Pansy started.
"She isn't doing anything," Draco intervened, "I am. I was sitting with her, I want to be with her Pansy, not you, not anymore. Go find someone who can treat you right." Draco wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked away with her.
"So this is supposed to be a monogamous friendship?" She said.
"I would greatly appreciate it if you would conform to monogamy with me yes, no labels yet. I want to prove to you that I have self control and that I would treat you like the princess you are given the opportunity, which is why I would be pleased if you joined me for dinner at Beauxabotton's." Beauxabotton's was the most prestigious restaurant in London, only the most elegant and richest wizards and witches attended the balls and formal events held at the large Ballroom Castle.
"Friends don't take friends to prestigious restaurants," Hermione whispered. She slipped from beneath him, and turned to eyeball him.
"I'm going to let you have at this," He whispered leaning to press his forehead against hers.
"Where are you going?" She asked confused.
"To find Blaise, and tell him the good news." Draco said smiling. He hugged her tight to his body before leaving the library.

Draco continued back down into the dungeons. He walked into his dorm and pulled the robe off laying it on his bed. He turned around to look for more suitable clothes to put on and stopped suddenly, surprised by seeing his father standing there in the doorway of the bathroom. Although his face showed no signs of fear, surprise, or worry, he could feel his stomach turn with every step closer his father took to him.
"Father you're supposed to be in jail," He breathed.
"Failing potions?" He hissed, "Your house's specialty? If nothing you're supposed to be absolutely astounding in potions." His hand flew up and caught Draco's face, the Slytherin house ring on his finger cutting right below his right eye.
"Son of a bitch," Draco muttered holding his face. "I'll expect you to regain your honor status quickly," Lucius said before apparating.
"Fuck," He whispered holding his face in the mirror in the bathroom. The cut was pretty deep, his cheek was flushed red against the rest of his color deprived face. He hesitated as he thought of Hermione. Could he let her see him like that? She would question it. He could feel his pride swelling up in the pit of his stomach. He gripped both sides of the sink and hung his head taking a deep breath, he swallowed and stood up to change.