A Real Smile
AN: Hey I hope you like this; it's the last one before the epilogue :'(.
Thank you to all my readers, followers, favouriters, and my reviewers:
Cat130: Thanks!
LadySarahj: Thank you! Glad you liked the lyrics and the Dalek mention.
CaribbeanTrinidadian: Thank you! You're welcome for updating it.
doctorwhonation: Thank you so much! It's awesome that you get all my StarKid, Doctor Who, and Cheers references. I'm so glad you like it!
SlytherinAmabel: Thank you! I think so too, people really need to stop jumping to conclusions. Thank you so much!
potterhead27: Thank you! Do you mean you're glad that Ginny found out? Yes, I'm a Whovian
hitsugaya-tomome: Yeah! Know the reference?
Cleocleo22: Thank you so much! It means a lot to know that I can create something that people can be obsessed with. Unfortunately it's actually ending now. I'm not going to drag it out to the last book as I would out of ideas and this is more about humour. I'm sorry if I disappointed you but I do plan on sometime in the future writing a long fic that takes place in HBP and DH. Also, I'm currently working on a one-shot of the scene in Malfoy Manor. Thank you again, and I hope you don't hate me xx.
Disclaimer: I OWN IT ALL! I don't really
Chapter 10
20th of September: (Hermione's birthday is 19th September)
"What's the password?" Ron asked, standing in front of the gargoyle.
"It was in your letter." Hermione huffed.
"Yeah, but I knew one of you would know it so why would I need to remember it?"
"RON! You can't expect people to do things for you all the time." Hermione scolded.
"I do things for myself too. Harry, what's the password?"
Harry opened his mouth to answer but someone else did instead.
"Sugar Quill." Draco appeared and told the gargoyle which promptly jumped aside. "You should be able to remember that Weasley, considering they're Granger's favourite."
"Sugar Quills aren't Hermione's favourite; her favourites are Sugared Butterfly Wings." Ron snapped.
"Actually Ron, Sugar Quills are her favourite." Harry said.
"Hermione?" Ron turned to her.
"Um, yeah they are." She confessed.
"Oh. Why does the ferret know that?" Ron inquired.
"Don't you think it's more important that you didn't know that?" Ron opened his mouth to retort but Draco stopped him. "I'm sorry to end our very important conversation on Granger's eating habits; but the Headmaster is waiting to see us."
"He's right let's go." Harry said and went up the stairs.
"Ladies first." Draco said to Ron, "Not that Granger isn't a lady what I mean is, you are more of one."
"Why you…"
"Ron, leave him." Hermione said dragging him upstairs.
Harry ushered Ron up the moving stairs and the other two followed. Harry tapped the door with the griffin door knocker. "Come in" Dumbledore's voice beckoned.
"Please, sit. Lemon drop?" They all politely declined.
"Professor, we were wondering why you called us here." Harry began.
"Yes well, now that Voldemort is back," Draco and Ron flinched. "we need all the help we can get, spies are most helpful and Mr Malfoy has offered us his services."
"Sorry Professor but did you say Malfoy was going to be a spy?" Harry asked.
"Yes, he has already supplied us with some valuable information and his connections make him an excellent infiltrator."
But sir, can we trust him?"
"I believe we can trust him."
"Sorry sir, but I don't think I can." Ron admitted.
"I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Ron." Harry confessed.
"I trust him." Hermione said.
"Thank you." Draco looked at Hermione.
"Hermione but he's…" Ron protested.
"He's what Mr Weasley?" Dumbledore asked.
"He's …Malfoy."
"His name does not answer my question as it does not define what or who he is. What is he Harry?" Dumbledore turned towards Harry.
"He's a bully sir; he's horrible to all three of us."
"You mean he was horrible to all three of you. Perhaps he still is a little coarse to you but I believe you may need to recalculate your numbers. What is Draco, Miss Granger?"
"He's…"She looked at him and saw his eyes were filled with the trust he had in her. "He's just a boy; he's been forced to be cruel to us because he's been taught that. He never had a choice and if we turn him away he'll have no alternative but to become a Death Eater. If we don't trust him, then we're as prejudiced as Death Eaters."
"That shows the brilliance of Miss Granger which surpasses Hogwarts' library. Perception is a gift you have, as are kindness and empathy. They cannot be learnt from books." Dumbledore said and Hermione smiled modestly.
"But why should we forgive him? He's still flawed." Ron asked.
"No one's perfect Ron, someone once told me 'overlooking someone's flaws is an important trait that one needs to forgive people', we all have flaws and we overlook each other's and forgive each other. So why can't we do the same for him?"
"That is very wise." Dumbledore mused.
"How do we know he isn't spying on us?" Ron defended.
"Professor, you trust him don't you?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, I do." Dumbledore answered.
"Might I ask, why?" Said Harry
"I can assure you Mr Malfoy is trustworthy. He made an unbreakable vow and he pledged himself to our side. I trust him as I trust Professor Snape, they both made colossal sacrifices to join this side. Both of them risked so much when joining, although there are many differences and Snape joined so long ago, they both had very similar reasons." Dumbledore looked Hermione straight in the eye. "Which is why I trust Draco completely, he would do anything for his reason. Wouldn't you, Mr Malfoy?"
"I would risk worse than death for h–it, sir." Draco declared.
"So can you trust him?" Dumbledore asked.
"I think so, maybe." Harry said.
"There's something I haven't told you two." Hermione confessed. "I've been friends with Draco for a while."
"What?" Ron shouted.
"Mr Weasley, lower your voice and allow Miss Granger to explain."
"He talked to me at the Yule Ball, and I realised he's just misunderstood. We became friends and he arranged for us to be Potions partners so that we could study in the library without it looking strange. He's not horrible –not to me he isn't. Remember Crabbe and Goyle? He did that to them just because they bullied me. He also prevented Snape from giving you two detentions for it."
"It was Mr Malfoy who had to take the detention when he admitted his crime to Professor Snape." Dumbledore added.
"You did that?" Harry asked Draco, looking stunned.
"Yes." He replied, looking at Harry.
"Why?"
"It was a brilliant idea; I couldn't let you take the credit." Draco smirked.
"Hermione, why didn't you tell us before?" Harry asked.
"I'm sorry, but you'd only get mad and start a fight." She explained calmly. "You wouldn't have believed me."
"We wouldn't believe you because he despises muggleborns, hates Gryffindor house, and his parents work for You-Know-Who. Ron explained. (Sound familiar? I had to paraphrase the speech a bit.)
"You can't judge someone because their parents made bad choices; he's a Slytherin so of course he hates Gryffindor with all the house rivalry. But he does not despise muggleborns or muggles."
"Oh, is that what he told you?" Ron replied.
"He spent an entire evening with my parents!"
"Did he, when?" Harry asked, interested.
"During the summer; and they thought he was a delightful person. I know you two have reasons to hate him but you have to put them aside because as Professor Dumbledore said, we need all the help we can get."
Harry stood up and walked over to Draco who rose from his seat as well. "If Professor Dumbledore and Hermione trust you, then I can too. We'll need you."
"Thank you Potter, I'll do my best and I'm sorry for how I've been. It's in my nature; I suppose I've always been quite jealous of your fame."
"Take it of you want." Harry chuckled. "According to what Hermione says you're not that bad, so here's something I should've done in first year." Harry held out his hand and Draco shook it. He then turned to Ron.
"I'm not saying you'll get over your hatred of me Weasley, or vice versa, but I'm willing to put it aside to work together."
"Me too." Ron shook Draco's hand.
"For the record, I never had anything against your family, just you."
"Okay." Ron replied, not sure what else to say.
"Well, since that's settled you may go." Dumbledore said.
They all exited his office and went down the stairs in silence.
"We'll be watching you, Malfoy." Ron warned when they reached the bottom.
"If you hurt Hermione we'll kill you." Harry added.
"If I ever hurt her, I'll be dead by the time you reach me; by my own hand." Draco answered before walking away.
***Space***
"What is Malfoy doing here?" Zacharias Smith interrogated Harry.
"He's on our side," He replied and then turned to address everyone in the Room of Requirement. "Okay guys, I know you don't like Malfoy but he's here to help, he's actually very good at duelling and he's not going to tell Umbridge or anything."
Harry knew Draco was good because he had practiced with him; he had spent more time with Draco and was starting to hate him a lot less. "He's a spy for Dumbledore but don't let any Slytherins know, he made an Unbreakable Vow to Dumbledore, we can trust him. Just give him a chance, he's not that bad."
"Thank you, Potter." Draco said.
"Um, you're welcome." Harry replied, not used to having Draco thank him. "Ok, I reckon we should divide into pairs and practise."
Everyone scuttled around the room, pairing up. People avoided Draco like he was the plague and he felt slightly saddened until a hand grabbed his and dragged him to an empty space. Hermione smiled at him and he saw Ginny grin at Hermione who blushed, glared at Ginny, and dropped Draco's hand before moving to stand facing him like the other pairs.
"I should have paired you with Cho; it would've made my day to see her set your hair on fire." Hermione smirked, seeing Cho Chang set her friend's hair alight after a few minutes had passed.
"Over my dead body." He replied, and then he saw Neville attempting to disarm Harry and instead broke a bookcase. "I'm glad I'm not with Longbottom, it would have been even worse than being with you."
"What's so wrong with me? I'm very good." She huffed.
"You're excellent Granger, that's the problem –if I was with either of you I would fear for my life."
"I guess that was a compliment so, thanks."
"You're welcome, and at least with you I only have to fear for my life. If I was with Chang then I'd fear for my hair; which you must understand is far worse."
She laughed at this. "You know she only had that accident because Harry distracted her."
"Girls are distracted by Potter? What has the world come to, why can't they find a more suitable distraction like me."
She rolled her eyes. "He's liked her for ages but he won't say anything to her."
"Yeah, you never tell a girl you like her it makes you look like an idiot." Ron appeared.
"Hello Weasley." Draco greeted.
"Malfoy."
"He's just being stupid, he should tell her." Hermione said.
"What if he's worried she doesn't like him back?" Draco asked.
"Look at them, it's obvious she does." She replied.
"Yes, I can see her making googly eyes at him." He shuddered. "But what if he can't?"
"How does he not see it?" Ron asked.
"Because he's blind?" Hermione offered.
"No, because he's paranoid and he's overthinking it; he doesn't notice certain things because he's busy looking for those things and don't you have a partner somewhere, Weasley?"
Ron grumbled and went back to his partner.
"So, you're saying he doesn't want to tell her because he doesn't think she likes him either?"
"Yes."
"You should tell him."
"No, Potter's not exactly very smooth with the ladies."
"Exactly, you can help him."
"Why?"
"Just to get him to like you."
"Ugh, but why me?"
"Because you seem to know enough to help him, Ron's not going to help and he won't listen to me."
"Fine."
"Thank you. So have you had experiences like this?"
"Why?"
"I'm just picturing you of all people being afraid to tell a girl he likes her."
"Well not that it's any of your business, but yes I have."
"So what happened, did you tell her?"
"You're showing a lot of interest in my love life, and I'll tell you later."
"Later, when is later? All I ever hear is later, Hermione, Hermione later." (Anyone know this?)
"I'll tell you tomorrow, I promise."
"Okay." She smiled, wondering why he couldn't tell her now.
"You can laugh at my misfortune tomorrow."
She laughed at this.
***Space***
"Good morning Hermione."
"Good morning Draco." He sat down and she waited a few seconds before she asked. "Are you here to tell me about the girl?"
"Yes, the girl. You see …she's not a thing of the past."
"Oh."
"I still haven't told her."
"Oh, tell me about her."
"She's really smart, and I love talking to her. She's beautiful although she doesn't care at all about her looks. She's kind, she always understands me. She makes me feel elated whenever she's around. I love her so much, every time I look at her I get these pains in my chest and I know it's her fault. That bitch!"
She laughed, hoping her heart would slow down.
"Would your parents approve of her?"
"No, but I don't care what they think about her blood lineage."
"I'm glad that you don't care, so she isn't a pureblood?"
"No, she's a half-blood."
Hermione's heart sank at the last word. "Oh, w-what house is she in?" She asked, wondering if her dad was secretly a wizard and told Draco but not her.
"Ravenclaw, in the year below us."
"What's her name?"
"Jeannette."
"That's a pretty name, is she French?"
"Yes."
"Oh." Great, I bet she's blond and gorgeous, with the kind of legs you'd like to suck on for a day. (Naked Gun, in case you thought I was randomly being weird.)"Why don't you tell her?"
"At first I was going to make her jealous, but now I realised I don't want to hurt her." His heart almost broke as he looked at her; he really didn't want to hurt her so he would have to change his strategy.
Suddenly Ginny walked into the library "Hey Hermione, Malfoy. Sorry am I interrupting something?"
"No, not really." Draco answered.
"Can I borrow Hermione for a second?" She asked and then dragged the brunette past a few bookshelves. "Well, have you told him?"
"He likes someone else." She replied glumly.
"Who?"
"Some Ravenclaw girl in your year, her name's Jeannette."
Ginny knew there was no Ravenclaw girl in her year called Jeannette. "Oh her, I would kill for her body." She lied.
"Not helping."
"Sorry, so why is he telling you?" She asked, hiding her evil grin.
"He says he has difficulty telling her."
"Aw."
"You're really not helping."
"Sorry, so are you going to tell him?"
"No. It's fine, I knew he didn't like me anyway, it's just the fact that he likes someone else means there's no hope for me; but it's fine, at least he's still my friend."
Ginny opened her mouth to protest but instead dragged Hermione back to where Draco was sitting.
"So Malfoy, what were you two talking about?"
"Ginny, it's kind of private." Hermione said.
"I was telling Hermione about this girl I like, and I wanted to ask her if she would help me tell the girl." He decided to tell the Weaslette as he trusted her somewhat and she could help him.
"Well 'Mione?" Ginny said.
"Uh yeah, sure." Hermione answered.
"So why haven't you told her yet?" Ginny asked, sitting down uninvited but Draco didn't mind. He looked down at his hands before replying.
"I was going to make her jealous for fun but then I realised I didn't want to hurt her, I'd rather just tell her but when I think about it I get really nervous. I'm not used to being nervous like this, but she can be a bit scary." Hermione remembered that at the Yule Ball he said she can be a bit scary. "But I like that about her, and what scares me the most is that she'll hate me if I tell her."
"Why would she hate you?" Hermione asked.
"A number of reasons." He said vaguely.
"Why ask Hermione for help?" Ginny asked.
"Well, because she's one of those rare people I can call my real friends. She's the only one who I'll feel comfortable talking to about these things –except for you who weaselled your way into the discussion." He smirked. "I apologise for the expression."
"It's ok, sorry about the intrusiveness."
"That's ok; I trust you somewhat and the more the merrier I guess, and I kind of owe it to you for how I've treated you in the past. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I also know a lot more than you think so I'm quite useful." Ginny gave Draco a meaningful look.
"I see." He smirked, indicating he knew what she meant.
"Well, I should go. Good luck Malfoy, I'm confident that she won't hate you. If she does, I'll protect you, because like Hermione; I'm pretty yet scary. Yes, I read the note." She walked off, smiling.
"So, what are you going to tell her?" Hermione asked.
"Um, not sure."
"Ok, practise with me. Pretend I'm her."
"Ok I'll try." He cleared his throat and looked into her eyes. "Jeanette, you are the most incredible person I have ever met. I remember seeing you on the train in your first year; I was disappointed when you weren't sorted into Slytherin. I mocked you for your blood and for being bookish, and even your appearance but I never meant to hurt you. I'm so sorry, I did that because I wanted to be like you and as time went by I wanted to be with you too. I know we sort of get along now, but I've probably ruined our friendship now; and you won't want to talk to me ever again because you're probably really mad that I didn't tell you sooner, and that I'm telling you like this.
I am so sorry for all I've done and I hope you can forgive me, I know you like me at least a little but I just want you to know that I love you. I became a spy for Dumbledore for you because I couldn't bear to fight against you; and also because you showed me which side was the right one to fight on. You are the kindest, bravest, gentlest, sexiest woman I've ever met." (Like Snape in AVPM)
Hermione felt her eyes prickling and she blinked rapidly. "That was…was beautiful. I hope you remember it all for when you tell her."
"Why would I need to remember it? I already told her."
"What did you need my help for then? Never mind, what did she say?"
"She hasn't said anything about it yet."
"What do you mean?"
"She hasn't realised what I said."
"Well, she doesn't belong on Ravenclaw if she didn't realise what you said if you said the same thing as you just did –it couldn't be clearer."
"Yes that's true, but she doesn't realise I was talking about her."
Hermione stared at him in disbelief, was he saying what she thought he was saying?
"Although I do agree, she doesn't belong in Ravenclaw. She has too many Gryffindor qualities –despite being the brightest with of her age." He smirked.
"Do you mean…"
"Yes you daft Gryffindor, I do mean you." The smirk fell and he looked at her seriously.
"You love me?"
"Yes."
She sat in silence for a few seconds then she got up, and walked around so she stood next to him. She then picked up the textbook she had been reading before he came in, and whacked him over the head.
"That's for telling me like that."
She hit his shoulder. "That's for making me feel jealous towards Pansy."
Another hit on his shoulder. "Also, some random person who is probably imaginary."
She hit his arm. "That's for taking so long to tell me."
She hit his arm again, but harder. "That's for the years of bullying."
She placed the textbook on the table with a thud. She clenched her fists and looked at him fiercely; he had received the attacks silently.
"This, is because…"
He winced, expecting the worst.
"Is because I love you too." Before he had time to react she grabbed his tie and smashed her lips onto his. He responded fervently and pulled her into his lap, he snaked his arms around her waist, and she grasped his hair and ran her fingers through it. They broke apart and Hermione was red as a tomato.
"So you love me too?" He asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." She smiled.
"For how long?"
"Not sure, I felt as though I might, sometime near the end of last school year but I denied it. Then I accepted it as a fact in July sometime. What about you?"
"I accepted it as soon as I realised it, there was no point in denying. I fell in love the day Hermione Granger punched me in the face."
She chuckled. "I should probably sit on a chair." She was about to get off his lap but he held onto her waist.
"Well, the world always looks brighter from on top of a lap."
She smiled then laid her head on his shoulder. "So now what?"
"I'm going to stick by you and fight this war and protect you. I'm also going to keep you as my sex slave."
"I will not be your sex slave." She raised her head and looked at him sternly.
"Fine girlfriend, same thing really. Do you accept?"
"Yes, I will be your girlfriend/sex slave." She said with a straight face.
Draco grinned happily in return.
"You're grinning!" She exclaimed, shocked.
"Of course I'm grinning; you've made me immeasurably happy."
"Same here." She grinned. "Draco?"
"Yes."
"What were you thinking about when you smiled on your birthday?"
"Oh that was um…" He looked down, feeling embarrassed.
"You said it wasn't the ring, did you not like it?"
"No, it's amazing; of course I liked it." He fiddled with a curl of hers and glanced at the ring on his right ring finger. "It was something that the ring made me think of."
"You had a faraway look in your eyes." She smiled.
"I had a vision, a vision of you putting another ring on my finger, but on my left hand. I pictured us getting married one day, and that's what made me smile. Sounds sappy I know."
"I think it's amazing." She kissed him again.
"So are we going to tell anyone?" He asked when they had broken apart.
"I'd like to tell Harry, Ron, and Ginny if you don't mind."
"Potter and Weasley won't be too pleased."
"They'll get over it."
"Okay, but I think Weaslette already knows."
"Of course, was Jeanette even a real person?"
"No."
"Arg, Ginny lied and pretended as if she was real just to make me jealous."
"Well it helped… I think. How did you not notice that I was describing you?"
"That's what I thought but then you said half-blood Ravenclaw."
"But Jeanette…Jean?"
"I didn't want to get my hopes up. Besides, I was too busy plotting her murder to notice her name."
"Your deviousness overpowered your intelligence. I think I've made you too Slytherin." He bit into her neck and she let out a small squeal.
"Come on, let's go get some breakfast."
"But I won't have you in my lap." He pouted.
"I'm sure you can find a replacement, how about Pansy?"
"I'd rather Potter." He grimaced.
"I always knew there was sexual tension between you two."
"Granger, I'm Draco Malfoy –there is sexual tension between me and everyone.
She laughed and they got up and started walking out of the library. "I'm worried what's going to happen with us. I mean, there's a war on now and I'm a muggleborn, and you're a Malfoy."
"So?"
"What about your father?"
"I already switched sides so there's no turning back, by the time he finds out that I've done that, and finds out about my girlfriend, Voldemort will be dead." He said the name without hesitation.
"That was a very brave thing for you to do –switching sides."
"Anything for the girl who taught me how to have a real smile, will you be there to make me smile?"
"Always."
"As will I." He leaned in and kissed her.
AN: What do you think? Review please!
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