Hermione spun around and came face to face with Draco Malfoy. It took away her breath. She hadn't been this close to him since the incident. She could feel his breath on her face. He lifted her chin so their eyes met but then dropped his hand and took a step back shaking his head. He opened his mouth to speak but then shut it.
"What?"
He looked at Hermione, really looked. She could feel him soaking in even aspect of her face. She saw his eyes drop downwards taking in the lump on her stomach.
"You're pregnant."
"Yeah."
Hermione wasn't really sure what to say to that. He was acting like he hadn't noticed before. Malfoy's eyes looked glazed over like he was deep in thought.
"You're going to have a child."
"Are you ok Malfoy?"
Malfoy looked up at her and shook his head. He opened his mouth again but then turned and left. Hermione stared after him in wonder but then ran after him when she remember something.
"Hey, Malfoy, have you seen my magazine?"
"You left it on the towel rack."
"Oh yeah thanks."
Malfoy didn't respond. He just turned back to the fire. Hermione shrugged and headed to the bathroom. When she entered it she was sudden struck by nausea but managed not to barf but instead grabbed the magazine and ran back to her room. Something about the bathroom had made her feel horrible. She'd just have to remember that. Sitting down on her bed she began to flip through the magazine and found the article about Narcissa Malfoy's affair. She never had actually read the article. Leaning over it she began to read and when she had finished she couldn't even move.
The magazine article claimed Narcissa had an affair and her husband found out. Enraged by her fidelity he murdered and then killed himself leaving there 8 year old son to fend for himself. She skimmed over the article again. From what she could tell, all they had gotten right was that they were dead and they had a son. Malfoy had never said anything, not once had he mentioned his parents. One thing caught her eye. The key witness was Severus Snape which meant he had been there when Malfoy's parents had died. Maybe she should go talk to him. She looked up when Malfoy knocked on her door.
"I was just wondering if we could talk later...so we could get to know each other better."
"Um…ok."
Malfoy turned and left. Hermione stared after him. He was acting weird but she preferred this to his mean self. As she stood up the magazine fell out of her lap and Crookshanks attacked it.
"You wouldn't want to miss one."
She left the room and walked down to the common room and past Malfoy and out the door. Just before the door swung shut, Malfoy's hand caught it and he came out after her.
"Mind if I come?"
"Um…I guess not."
Hermione and Malfoy walked in awkward silence to Snape's office. Since when did Malfoy want to go places with her? Hermione suspected he was up to something. When they got there Hermione turned to Malfoy.
"You should probably wait out here…this will only take a minute."
He just nodded his head and slid down the wall so he was sitting on the hard stone floor. Hermione felt sparks fly through her when his foot bumped hers.
"I…uh…yeah."
Hermione turned and went into Snape's office feeling like an idiot. He was bent over a cauldron that was creating purple smoke. Hermione cleared her throat and he spun around but seeing her turned back to his potion.
"One moment Miss Granger."
He reached up to the top shelf and poured in a red powder into the potion and it turned deep blue. He poured some in a bottle and corked it. Then he turned to Hermione.
"How may I help you?"
"I was just wondering what happened to Malfoy's parent."
"Homcide/Sucide…I'm sure you read about it."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It also said Malfoy was 8."
"Yes, well, they will always get some facts wrong."
"What really happened then?"
Snape looked at Hermione, considering her.
"Let's just put it this way…it was a very ugly death…it reeked of revenge…a revenge others might misplace."
Hermione waited for him to say more but he never did. Finally she just turned and left since he was ignoring her.
After Hermione went into Snape's office, Blaise walked around the corner. When he saw Draco he quickly turned and disappeared back down the hall. Draco sighed. He knew he needed to apologize to Blaise. Jumping up he ran after him. He slowed down as he caught up to him.
"Blaise, wait up!"
Blaise stopped and turned around, but his face was apprehensive. He opened his mouth to say something but Draco cut him off.
"I'm sorry man. I was wrong. I didn't…"
Draco trailed off as he realized Blaise hadn't overheard the whole story. Otherwise Blaise would have known he didn't know. How could he explain this? Should he explain it? It suddenly seemed too personal to share.
"I know you're telling the truth about what you overheard. I confirmed it with Snape. Apparently it was a case of mistaken identity."
"Well you're one lucky SOB." Blaise clapped him on the back before continuing. "Can you imagine what a scandal it would have been if her accusations had become public? A Malfoy and a mudblood!"
"Yeah." Malfoy muttered. He was not feeling great about his lie. Somehow it had turned into an attack on Hermione. He hadn't meant to imply she was a liar. He stopped. Since when did he care what anyone said about her? He realized Blaise had stopped as well and was watching him.
"You ok, man?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good, but I should go. I'll see you later."
Before Blaise could respond, Draco was gone.
He found her halfway back to the common room. She looked deep in thought. Draco reached out to touch her arm but thought better of it and waved his hand in her line of sight instead. Hermione jumped slightly, but her face slightly relaxed when she saw who it was. Draco noticed her body stayed tense. He could hardly blame her.
"I'm sorry about your parents."
The words came tumbling out of Hermione's mouth before she could stop them. She cringed. Generally people do not like to be reminded of their recently deceased parents, but Malfoy didn't miss a beat.
"Well I'm sorry about yours."
Hermione's face flashed up to look at him, startled.
"I know more about you then you think, Granger."
"Pfffft…I doubt it, Malfoy."
They made their way back to the common room as they argued who knew more. When they got back, Malfoy blocked the door.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
"I bet I know more about you than you know about me."
"How do you plan on proving that?"
"Let's play a game."
"Fine just let me in."
Malfoy moved out of her way and then followed her into the common room. She sat down on the couch and faced him. He was grinning wickedly.
"So how do we play this game?"
"I ask a question and you answer then you ask a question and I answer."
"Um…how is that a game?"
"It just is alright"
Malfoy's feelings sounded slightly hurt so Hermione just nodded her head instead of protesting.
"Also, all the questions are yes/no questions."
"Ok, let me ask first!"
"Fine."
Hermione thought for a minute before speaking.
"Did you beating up Blaise have anything to do with me?
