Chapter 10:

Hermione looked at Draco, anticipating. 'So, what is it you want from me?' She looked at him, noticing he didn't look good. His expression was tired and there were some weird marks over his face. 'That's not blood, is it?', she asked.

He shook his head, still not giving an answer.

'Why aren't you still at home?', Hermione went on.

He sighed. 'You really are curious. Watch out for yourself, it might cost you your life one day.'

She smirked. 'Thanks, but I think I can take care of myself.' Hermione leaned her head against the wall. She was still wondering what Malfoy could want from her. 'There is a reason you came to see me tonight.'

He shrugged. 'Does their always have to be a reason? It was you who was so eager to make everyone get the chance to catch a glimpse of the two of us standing in a corridor or the library together. Nothing to wonder about.'

She stared at him. 'So you merely came to see me to, well, see me?' He shrugged. 'Suppose. Mind you, we're over with this anyway soon, so I can at least do a good job until then.'

'Well', Hermione said, uncertain. 'Thanks.'

There was an akward moment of silence. 'So', Hermione said, 'how are things at, at your house?' She had to remind her strongly that she was talking about the Malfoy household. Weirdly, her view on the Malfoys had actually changed a slightly bit the last days.

She noticed how Malfoy bit on his lip. 'Well, you know. I mean, I didn't really bear it there any longer. Things have changed since-' He looked at the ground, and Hermione eyed him in utter surprise and shock. Was Malfoy actually, well, almost, crying? But then he rose his gaze again and looked her directly into the eyes, somewhat furious.

'I'm sorry', Hermione said, not noticing how Draco's expression had changed. The next second she flinched by the sound of her voice. Did she actually pity Draco? For his father being arrested out of justice? Nothing more than justice? But then also the picture of a dementor came to her mind, and she shuddered by the thought to have to spent one night in Azkaban, even if you did deserve it... And if there was one person she knew Malfoy cared about, it was his father... And his mother, probably.

'Yeah, right you are', she heard him say, and there was clear loathing in his voice. 'If it wasn't for you, he'd be at home, if it wasn't for you I didn't have to...' She tried to make eye contact, but Draco avoided her.

'Malfoy, are you that thick?', she asked annoyed. 'Your father was so close to kill all of us! Of course we had to defend ourse- well, forget about it. If you'd been there you would've fought on his side, I know.'

'Of course I would've', Draco said.

'Why, Malfoy, why?', she said, almost shouting desperatly. 'Because of him or because of Voldemort?' She didn't even know what she felt right now. Pity? Anger? Dread? Somehow it was all of it, and nothing.

Malfoy stared at her. 'I don't have to listen to such mud, mudblood', he said furiously. 'Once we stop pretending this dumb couple-thing I will attend to you, and your stupid friends and you will regret what you have just said.' He turned around, just before Hermione could notice the little tears in his eyes.

'Fine', she shouted, 'd'you think I'm scared now?' But he didn't hear her. Grimly, she looked after him. 'We're not finished, Malfoy', she murmed under her breath.

VVVV

'What did he want?' It was the first time in days Ginny looked her into the eyes.

'Erm', Hermione said. 'Er, well, he just dropped by to tell me he's back.'

'Ah, well', Ginny said. 'Listen, Hermione – he treats you alright, doesn't he?'

'Yeah, he does.'

'He's kind to you?'

'Yeah, he is.' Hermione's voice was motionless.

Ginny looked at her. 'Good', she said, 'because you'd better be careful, with his father being a death eater... Has it ever occurred you this might only be arranged by them?'

The word arranged made Hermione's head shoot into the air so quickly it made Ginny jump. Then she got a grip of herself. 'Ginny, it's fine, really', she said, not able to prevent her voice from shaking. 'We're fine.'

Ginny stared at her. 'You haven't been crying, have you?' Hermione winced. Were her tears still visible? Had Malfoy seen them? Ginny still looked at her, waiting for an answer.

'Have you had a fight or something? You look so... weird.' Hermione forced herself to smile. 'No, nothing like that. We're fine. I'm just a bit tired. I think I'll go to bed, it's gotten late...' With those words, she got up and, without another look at Ginny, she went into her dormitory.

The next day, it was Malfoy who took her aside. 'Listen, Granger', he said quietly. 'About yesterday. I guess I was a little tensed.'

His words caught her in surprise. Was this Malfoy's way to apologize? Was he apologizing to her?

'Erm...', she said, not quite getting what was going on here.

He shrugged. 'Well, we'll see each other in the library, won't we?' He still didn't look happier or less exhausted than yesterday. Maybe even worse. Hermione spotted a bag in his hand and she wondered what might be in it. And she couldn't help but feeling sorry for him. His father being arrested seemed to be a little too much for him, yet she struggled feeling sympathy towards this boy, after all the time she knew him, after all the things he'd done... There was too much hate... But anyway, he had apologized. Somehow. She didn't really care about the reason, and she appreciated it completley.

'Yeah, see you, and Malfoy-', he turned to her, 'well, it's fine', she said, trying for a smile. It could've been a trick of the light, but it seemed as if Malfoy was returning it.

Where villains spend the weekend/The deep end/We're swimming with the sharks until we drown

I don't know, I feel like this is the worst chapter I've written so far... I don't know what I did there but I'm not very happy about it... Anyway, very soon it'll be the Christmas party and I'm so looking forward to write it! This story is way more fun than I'd thought it would be. I also had never planned to write that many chapters. I'm not even close to the end (at least not if I stick to my rough plan) I also can't believe people are reading this story xD