Here it is! Chapter 8! Enjoy, guys! :)
Chapter 8: Good Wizards and Bad Wizards
"Are you telling me that you're going to go back –?"
"And get the book? Yeah, I am," replied Harry. "Listen, without the Prince I'd never have won the Felix Felicis. I'd never have known how to save Ron from poisoning. I'd never have–"
"– got a reputation for Potions brilliance you don't deserve!" Hermione shrieked.
Hermione couldn't deal with any of this anymore.
"Fine, Harry! Do whatever you damn well please! Don't come crying to me, though, when you've been expelled for using another unknown spell! I won't help you!" The knuckles on the hand that clutched her quill turned white.
Ginny snapped, "Give it a rest, Hermione!"
The sixth-year wasn't used to hearing her best friend react in such a way towards her. A staring match ensued until Hermione finally scoffed and picked up her bag. Without another word, she exited out the portrait hole, leaving the others in silence.
It wasn't past curfew, but the only sound in the corridor was Hermione's shoes clicking against the cold cement. Her body moved on auto-pilot as she climbed the stairs towards the Room of Requirement. She needed to find a new place to think. As hard as it was for her to admit it, she enjoyed Draco's company. She was sick of pouring her heart out to him, though. It made her feel vulnerable; having the prince of Slytherin knowing each of her secrets was a feeling that picked away at her. The things he knew about her and could tell to the others weren't exactly things she wanted to share.
Hermione sat for hours on the chair in front of the Vanishing Cabinet. She wanted to believe she stayed so long because it was calming not having to deal with Ron and Harry's problems, but deep down, she knew it was because she was hoping the Draco would show. After the first two hours, she gave up on waiting for him, but she didn't move. She couldn't bring herself to face Harry again, at least not tonight. She couldn't believe he was defending the damn book! It tells him a spell that slices up an enemy, and he defends it!
"You're only saying this because Draco was on the other end," a small voice inside her said.
"No!" she thought firmly. "I wouldn't have approved of it no matter whom Harry used it against!"
While it's true she would never approve of such a spell against anyone, the fact that the Slytherin was the one who took the hit made it seem exponentially worse.
When she decided that she had been out past curfew long enough, Hermione started to make her way out of the Room of Requirement. She managed to work her way halfway out of the maze when she heard shuffling. Her head turned this way and that, trying to figure out from which direction the sounds were coming.
"Young Malfoy, why have you brought Dobby here? You are no longer my master."
"Don't worry about it. Just listen."
"Dobby is a free elf! I don't have to obey you! Harry Potter says you are an evil boy. Harry Potter has made Dobby a free elf and I will trust Harry Potter."
"You're precious hero sent me to the hospital wing for a week for using dark magic! Yeah, wee little Potty isn't all glory, you dumb elf."
Hermione walked slowly towards the western wall of the room until the voices were right around the corner.
"Insults from master used to bother Dobby, but not anymore! I will not let you spread such lies about Harry Potter!"
"It's true," Hermione interjected.
Draco's head whipped up and the sneer on his face softened. His silver eyes stared at her as she continued, unaware of his gaze.
"Dobby," she continued as she knelt in front of the elf. "There are good wizards and there are bad wizards. However, good wizards do some bad things just like bad wizards do some good things."
Dobby stared up at Hermione with his big teacup eyes.
"Dobby understands, Miss Granger."
"Good," she patted him on the head. "Harry Potter is a good wizard, but he did do a bad thing to Malfoy. "
"So Mr. Malfoy is a bad wizard who does good things?"
"Why you little–" Draco began as Hermione chuckled.
"No," she smiled. "Malfoy is a good wizard, too. He just does a lot of bad things."
The elf nodded and Hermione stood up. She smiled at Malfoy and turned around to leave.
"Granger," he called. "Aren't you going to stay to pour your heart out? Surely you've talked to Potter about this, and you've gotten into a huge fight. That's why you're here, isn't it?"
She turned around and smiled yet again. He seemed to have that effect on her.
"I was, but it seems you need a moment, and you've found someone to talk to. I'll leave you be."
Before the blonde could say anything else, she walked towards the door and disappeared.
"Miss Granger is a nice girl," Dobby muttered. "She is right; Mr. Malfoy is a good wizard."
"Erm, thanks," Draco replied. He sat down on the ground. "So, can I talk to you now?"
"Dobby will listen."
"Granger," he started, "is one of the kindest witches I have ever met. I can't believe I'm admitting such a thing, but it's true."
Draco pulled up his sleeve and exposed his left forearm to the elf. He ignored the squeal.
"She knows about this, and she doesn't treat me any differently. She listens to what I have to say, and she looks past the evil. She sees the good in people when they don't see it in themselves."
"Like Dobby said before, Miss Granger is a good lady. She has always been kind to everyone; she's exceptionally kind to the elves. She tries to set us free. The elves in the kitchen are getting angry, though. She doesn't stop."
"I know what you mean. She's very stubborn. She's a bit whiney… alright, she's very whiney. Granger's an insufferable know-it-all, also. She could also do something about that hair of hers. It's out of control! Her teeth look better, though. Her eyes are nice, Dobby. Have you ever noticed them? Most brown eyes don't say much, but hers do. They're the kind of eyes that let you see straight into her soul; you can just tell she has nothing to hide. They also get a certain glimmer in them when she's studying."
Dobby nodded as he let the boy ramble on. When it seemed like he was finished speaking, he thought for a moment.
"Mr. Malfoy. If Dobby may, Dobby suggests telling Miss Granger. It can't hurt. She said it herself; you are a good wizard who has done bad things. She sees past these bad things; she seems to make you not only a good wizard, but a better wizard. For such a kind witch to see past the bad and find all the good, she must care."
"Um, thanks Dobby."
"You're welcome, Mr. Malfoy."
"Could I ask, maybe, just one more favor?"
Dobby inclined his head and raised one of his ears.
"Could you not mention this to Hermione? Or Potter? Or, well, to be on the safe side, anyone?"
"Dobby will not breathe a word, sir."
:::
Hermione quietly snuck out of the Room of Requirement smiling. She had heard ever word exchanged between the two. The kind words from Malfoy surprised her, but nothing made her smile more or meant more to her than the fact that he called her Hermione.
