Chapter 10—Learning to Cope

September 2

Minny, darling,

I've come so close to destroying this damn wall. I don't know why I'm so intent on breaking out, as I have no bloody idea where youare. I wouldn't know where to start looking, wouldn't know if you're still waiting. Luckily, I don't have to worry about that for a while, for it'll take me some time to completely break down the barrier. That's saying that I don't get caught first. Bloody guards are too nosy for their own good.

In the meantime, I'm distracting myself from depressing thoughts about never finding you by reminiscing. I long for the day when I can hold you again, when I know we are together and safe. I miss you so much, love. I want you to know that my love for you hasn't waned in the slightest. Absence, after all, makes the heart grow fonder.

Forever yours,

Draco

He didn't know what had come over him.

One moment, Draco was instinctively helping Hermione to her feet. The next, his face was only centimeters away from hers, the brunette's lips slightly parted and just begging to be kissed.

The rational part of him was livid. What do you think you're doing, you idiot? it screamed. Get the hell away from her!

The other side of him, a strangely inhuman and relatively unfamiliar side, was refusing to oblige. She's a warm-blooded, willing girl that you obviously want to kiss! Plus, she's prettier than all of the girls you've dated before combined.

What a load of Dungbombs! his rational side screamed. Hermione Granger is not pretty!

Yes, she is. She's got an earthly, pure, real beauty about her.

Ugly!

Pretty!

Ugly!

Pretty!

By this time, he'd just about gone crazy. Draco had no idea whether to pull away or keep going. Thankfully, a frantic tapping was heard at the window of the Ancient Runes classroom. Hermione shot away from him, almost falling off the desk. He grabbed her hand to steady her, incomprehensibly desperate to protect her. She shot him a shy, grateful smile, and then lightly and far more gracefully jumped off the desk. She went over to the window and opened it for the tawny owl. After the letter was removed from its beak, the bird nipped the brunette's fingers gently before hooting and taking flight. Hermione turned back to the silver-haired boy, a confused look on her face.

"It's addressed to both of us," she informed him.

Draco calmly sauntered over to read it over her shoulder. She shivered, though it wasn't cold in the room. A highly sappy and unfamiliar feeling ran through him, and his rational mind couldn't quite name it. The new, strange side, however, identified it easily. Happiness. Love, it whispered. Love. Love. Love. Draco shook his blond head. It couldn't be love; just the thought was impossible! Or is it? the sentimental voice challenged. He decided to focus on the letter rather than his own internal qualms; he wasn't going to be distracted by arguing with himself.

"What are you waiting for, Granger?" he inquired quietly. "Open it."

She shivered once more before opening the envelope. His gray eyes read the words as his mind went wild trying to figure out what was happening. The letter didn't specify.

Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger, it read.

You both are needed in the Headmistress's office immediately. There is a matter to be discussed.

Sincerely,

Professor Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hermione turned to him, looking bewildered. "What do you think she wants?" she asked curiously.

The Slytherin chuckled. "There's only one way to find out." With that, he grabbed her arm and led her out. They encountered Professor Babbling, a kindly middle-aged witch, coming toward them and took the opportunity to explain the situation. The plump woman allowed the duo to miss part of the class.

Hermione and Draco walked briskly through the halls to the gargoyle statue. A thought struck them at the same time.

"What's the password?" they asked each other simultaneously. Smiling, she blushed. Malfoy allowed himself a smile and her eyes grew wide. He never had smiled at her before, he realized with a jolt. Suddenly, a glow came from her the parchment in her pocket, ruining the moment.

Flustered and inquisitive, the brightest witch of her generation pulled out her wand. She then cautiously removed the now-illuminated parchment from the Headmistress.

It now read, "Moldy oldy Voldy." Draco had to smirk at McGonagall's daring and amusing choice of a password.

"Moldy oldy Voldy," he told the gargoyle with a chuckle. It leaped aside to allow them entry. Grinning like fools for no apparent reason, the Reparations co-chairs stepped onto the staircase.

Within a minute, Hermione and Draco were at the door to McGonagall's office. He smirked slightly as Hermione bashfully knocked three times.

"Enter," the old witch called from within. The tall wizard opened the door and swept a hand through the air gallantly. "Ladies first," he said softly. Hermione blushed and the duo entered as he pondered what in Merlin's crazed mind made him do that.

"Ah, welcome, Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall greeted the students coolly. "Lemon drop?" she offered, in tribute to Dumbledore. The old man's portrait was winking merrily from behind the desk.

Both of them politely declined. Sitting in chairs before the desk, Malfoy had no patience for small talk. "You wanted to speak to us, Professor?" he said in a tone that was direct to the point of disrespect. He could see Hermione glaring from the corner of his eye, but ignored her.

Professor McGonagall didn't seem to mind. "Actually, yes, Mr. Malfoy. I trust you both received my letter about the Back-to-School Ball?" Both students nodded. "Well, I discussed this matter with Headmasters Dumbledore and Dippet, and we want to promote even more inter-House unity among the students. Seeing as you two are the chairs of the Reparations committee, which was founded to do just that, we thought this was quite an obvious choice." The wise old men were beaming, and suddenly Draco didn't like where this was going. "And we've decided to ask you to do one simple thing." Her tone of voice suggested that she was demanding it.

Hermione looked uncomfortable. "Yes, Professor?" she asked warily.

McGonagall sighed. "We want you to be each other's escorts to the Ball."

Hermione's chocolate eyes widened. "Sorry?" the curly-haired witch said incredulously.

"Escort, date, evening company. Whatever you'd like to call it," the Headmistress clarified.

Draco smirked to himself. Seeing Hermione so stricken was rather amusing. Sure, it didn't do much for his pride, but it was funny nevertheless.

Professor McGonagall was calm. "Will that be a problem, Miss Granger?" Slowly, Hermione came to her senses and shook her head, blushing madly. "Mr. Malfoy?" the Transfiguration professor asked him. The Slytherin shook his head, biting back his mirth.

Headmistress McGonagall looked content. "Well, that is all. Do not let us down. You are dismissed." As they exited, Professor Dumbledore's painting waved jovially. Draco heard him telling McGonagall, "This will help them, Minerva. They need this in order to open their eyes." He shut the door, slightly disturbed.

The pair descended the staircase in silence. Draco contemplated telling Hermione something that would likely confuse her, something vital to his plan to rid himself of Pansy. She would probably send him off to St. Mungo's, but it was necessary. Malfoy hoped she would actually speak to him first, though.

Miraculously, Hermione turned to face the taller boy as they passed the gargoyle statue. "Oh, Merlin! This is insane! What if we already had dates?" she lamented. Draco internally panicked a little when she said this, but he kept a careful neutral expression. "I mean, I didn't, but did you?" she ranted.

He shook his head, breathing an indiscernible sigh of relief. Hermione looked stunned.

"Really? I would've thought you, the Slytherin prince, would have had a date from the first day of the term!"

Draco smiled softly, his steely eyes dancing. "Actually, I did want to ask someone, but when I talk to her, the topic never comes up."

She looked a bit confused and slightly angry. "You do know you can't ask her now, right? You're going with me!"

His sly smirk grew wider. "I don't have to ask her now."

Now she definitely looked confused. Her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, you don't have to ask? You can't ask anyone!"

He grinned at her, startling her with another rare smile. "No, Hermione, I don't have to ask her. You're going with me…. I was going to ask you, but now I don't have to. I wanted you to be my date, and now you are my date without me needing to ask. I meant to today, but it seems like that's done now, eh?"

The look on her face was priceless.