Hello friends, I think I'm going to update like once a week... honestly I'm so into reading right now that writing isn't even in my mind, so I just write when I feel like it. Once again thanks to all those who favourited, followed and reviewed! And keep in mind that there will be songs that may or may not agree with the timeline of this story, but I hope you'll be able to get your imagination around it.
Friday morning, Hermione woke once again to the sound of soft whimpering from the other side of the bed. Since they had decided to share, Hermione's nightmares had subsided, but since he didn't have to look after her anymore, Draco's had come back. Like every night for the past three days, Hermione snuggled closer to her roommate and began to sing to calm him down and to let him know not to worry, that she would take care of him as he had with her. Softly, the words flowed out of her mouth, quiet enough not to wake him, and he immediately began to settle.
The song came from one of her favourite films, Pocahontas. She had loved that film all her life and knew the songs by heart. Now that she had grown, she remembered her parents, how they all sang together at the top of their voices with wide grins or tears in their eyes. As she let go of the words, though, a whole knew meaning dawned on her. You think I'm an ignorant savage... You think the only people who are people are the people who look and think like you... If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew... Yes... Although Draco hadn't shown any sign of bigotry since the beginning of the year, old habits die hard and Hermione knew that he couldn't accept them until he understood them, and he couldn't understand them without seeing them. Preferably while having fun.
An idea formed in her mind and a smile splayed across her face as she came up with a plan, a brilliant plan that could change her whole relationship with Malfoy, before remembering that it was only four in the morning and that she still had three hours to sleep.
She woke again at 6.30, plan still fresh in her mind. Deciding not wait until seven, she quietly got up and strolled into the bathroom. When she emerged, 20 minutes had gone by and Draco was just starting to wake up. She flashed him a small smile before making her bag and heading down to get breakfast. She was once of the first present, along with Dennis Creevey, a Hufflepuff named Charlotte and Headmistress McGonagall herself. She hurried to eat her full English, keeping an eye on the professor to make sure she didn't leave. Finally, she stood, straightened her robes and strode confidently up to the teacher's table.
"Good morning, Miss Granger." Said Professor McGonagall as she saw Hermione come over.
"Hello, Headmistress. I was wondering if I could... ask a favour."
"Go ahead."
"Well seen my ... situation... and the history Malfoy and I have, I was wondering if we could spend the weekend in the Muggle world... to get him to walk in my shoes, if you will. Since it's a Hogsmeade weekend, I thought it would be good to choose this weekend instead of later. And we wouldn't come back until Sunday evening."
Hermione sure looked calm and confident, but inside she was shaking with excitement and hope. She almost sighed with relief when the Headmistress finally spoke :
"Well, I wouldn't normally allow it, but I think I can trust you to be responsible, and to control Mr. Malfoy. I think this would be a good experience for him, yes. Very well, you have my permission."
She could have squealed in delight and jumped up and down clapping her hands, but decided to control herself. Giving a smile and a nod in thanks, she skipped away towards her first class : Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Draco strode to take his seat in class, followed by the rest of the students and Professor Collins. He chose a seat in a dark corner at the back, to avoid drawing attention to himself and the bags under his eyes that he couldn't get rid of. He knew Hermione did the best she could, he knew she kept the nightmares away when they got to be too much to handle, she helped. A lot. But he always managed to have bags under his eyes anyway.
He waited for everyone to be seated, catching a flash of long red hair next to a waterfall of wavy mouse coloured locks. When the professor finally spoke, his eyes tore away from the pair to fix themselves on the ex-auror.
"Morning everyone! So! We've been her a month, and during that month, we've studied hexes, jinxes and curses to do with expelling the inner demons that are sadness and despair. For the next two weeks, we will be working on something extremely hard, though I think a few people have already perfected it." His eyes fell upon the pair of girls that Draco was staring at shortly before. " These will be the last lessons to boost moral however. After this, we will get down to the real demons of the world. Back on topic! Who can tell me what a Patronus is?"
As expected, Hermione's hand flew up. What wasn't expected though, was that half of the class' hands also flew up. The professor looked slightly taken aback at such knowledge, but wuickly recomposed himself. He nodded to a Hufflepuff, Ernie McMillan, to answer.
"A Patronus is a physical representation of joy, which, when done well, takes the form of an animal that is unique to the spellcaster. It's the only known defence against Dementors." At this, Draco sat straight in chair. "Albus Dumbledore also found a way for them to carry messages, I hear."
"Very good. Five points to Hufflepuff. If I may, how do so many of you know of it?"
"During our Fifth year we had a terrible teacher who didn't teach us anything, so Hermione and Harry Potter started teaching us in the room of requirement. All those part of the DA know how to cast a Patronus."
"Wow. And how which of you were part of this DA?"
Almost half of the class raised their hands, including Ginny, Hermione, Ernie, Michael Corner and Luna Lovegood, who until this point had been staring into space. The professor took a moment to take in all he saw before speaking again :
"Well this makes my life that much easier. All those who know how to cast a corporeal Partonus, find a partner that was never part of this DA. Those who don't have partners will be working with me for the next two weeks."
Everyone bustled about, bumping into each other, asking people if they had partners or not. Draco honestly expected to have to work with the professor, or at least be the last picked, but Hermione started making her way over to him almost immediately.
"Hey. Need a partner?"
"Yeah. By the way I have a letter for you. It came this morning but you weren't there. I'll give it to you after class."
"OK, great. I have to warn you, this is one of the only spells I've had trouble with, but I have it down now."
Draco just shrugged and they spent the rest of the class discussing memories. Before they knew it, the class was over, the professor was almost hyperventilating at the sight of the Patronuses of the DA members, and Hermione had her letter.
