Chapter Fourteen: Happy

It was Friday, several days after Draco had returned to Hogwarts. He had had a rough few days, put through more emotions than he had ever felt in his entire life, and that was saying something, seeing as how Malfoys never, ever showed their true emotions. Or at least they weren't supposed to. Draco wouldn't know. His Father always did find time to remind him of his faults.

Despite all of this, he had never felt better. He was feeling like he could walk right up to a hippogriff at this point. Of course, he knew this would be very foolish (he was still a little edgy when it came to magical creatures).

Classes had just ended, and Draco had a few hours until dinner. He decided to visit the library and see if Hermione was there.

Hermione.

Why did he want to see her anyway? Why had he even told her about the Mark? He had done it on impulse, and immediately mentally kicked himself for doing so. She had spent the next day and a half incessantly bothering him to go to Dumbledore, and the next two days telling him what he should say and how he should say it.

At first, going to Dumbledore seemed like a very stupid idea to Draco. He was a Death Eater now. He had a horrible mark on his arm to prove it, not to mention several family members who were also Death Eaters. Surely Dumbledore wasn't trusting enough to let him stay in the school?

But he had been. He had told Draco that everything would be worked out later, and that for now all he had to do was focus on his studies. This was confusing to him. Surely he had to do something? But Dumbledore, the old fool, didn't even seem to be surprised, about any of it. He had simply reassured Draco that he had done the right thing, and was in good hands, before dismissing him.

Once outside, he had met Hermione, who was bouncing on the balls of her feet, waiting for him to return. He was honestly glad now that she had forced him to see the Headmaster. He felt better than he ever had, as if a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders.

He tried very hard to understand why he trusted Hermione so much. There was really no explanation for it. He knew that there was a real reason, buried deep down, but he was stubborn, and refused to see it.

Blaise was, as a good friend should be, extremely supportive. Although the Zabinis had never shown any sort of affiliation with the War, Draco knew that they did not agree with the harsh actions of Voldemort and his followers. He suspected they wanted to avoid the wrath of one side or the other. Draco admired that, and wished his own family had chosen that path.

He was still a prejudiced bastard, that much was true. There are some things that partially stick to you forever, and sixteen years of pureblood supremacy did not just wash away when your best friend's sister turned out to be a former Muggleborn.

Chuckling quietly, Draco realized that Hermione had worked herself into his brain these past few months. Muggleborn, honestly, what had gotten into him?

Approaching the back of the library, Draco saw the object of his thoughts at a table in the corner, surrounded by books. One was flipped open in front of her, and her nose was buried within its pages. He smiled, a real smile, not a smirk. Unfortunately, this seemed to frighten a few nearby first years, and they ran quickly towards a more populated area of the library. Draco frowned at their retreating figures.

A quiet laugh interrupted his thoughts, and he looked around to see that Hermione had abandoned her book in order to observe him.

"What?" he asked.

"You." She sniggered.

"Me?" he questioned again.

"I'm afraid those younger students are not accustomed to seeing you smile, you seem to have frightened them off." She continued to laugh to herself. He threw himself unceremoniously into the chair opposite her.

"It's not my fault," he pouted.

"I suppose it's just something you'll have to work on."

"Well, don't get too used to it. The day I start smiling at everyone is the day Potter and I join forces."

"You're halfway there." There was a silence following this last comment. Draco had never said he wanted to join the Order or anything of that sort. He just knew he didn't want to be a Death Eater.

"So," she started. "How do you- feel, about everything?"

He considered her for a moment. "Good, actually. Hermione, I-" He faltered. Now here was something he was definitely not used to.

She looked at him, brows furrowed, trying to understand what he wanted to say.

"I-" There was nothing else for it. "T-thank you."

Hermione's face split into a huge grin. She jumped up out of her chair, and ran over to his side of the table. Before he knew what she was doing, she had hugged him. Well, that was nice.

After a few moments, she seemed to realize what she was doing and backed up quickly. She straightened herself out and then looked up at him.

"You're welcome." And then she smiled again, and Draco knew right then, that he could walk into a pack of hippogriffs, if only he could see that smile one more time.

Hermione's newfound friendship in Draco was more than she could have asked for. Things were back to the way they were before he had left. There was hardly a moment outside of class that she didn't spend with Blaise and Draco, or just Draco.

Naturally, Ron and Harry weren't too happy about this, but they could see that Hermione was happy, and if anyone deserved to be happy right now, it was her.

Hermione hadn't told anyone about the Dark Mark, not even Ginny. She knew that Harry would go ballistic, and Ron would be uncontrollable, and that was the last thing she wanted. She wanted to keep the peace for as long as possible.

Deep down though, Hermione knew that the peaceful last few days would not stay that way. One did not just go about becoming friendly with one's enemies without problems arising, even if said enemies were your twin brother and his best friend.

"Hey Hermione."

Harry glanced up at her and smiled as she plopped down on an armchair across from Harry in the Gryffindor common room.

"Hi Harry, Ron. What are you guys up to?" She looked from one to the other with a smile on her face. Harry opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by another voice issuing from behind her.

"Oh you know, the usual. Not doing homework, making plans to cause trouble."

Hermione smiled. "Hey Ginny."

"You haven't been here in a long time, what's up?"

"Just wanted to spend an evening with some of my favorite Gryffindors," she replied with a grin.

Ron interrupted the comfortable silence that followed by asking Harry whether he would like to play chess, and the two became absorbed in the game that ensued.

"So Hermione… You look happy."

"Of course I am Ginny, I'm hanging out with you guys."

Ginny made a sound of exasperation. "You know what I mean. Just lately. You've been… better."

Hermione nodded, becoming suddenly serious. "I am feeling better about… you know, everything. The summer, the beginning of the term…"

"I'm glad." She stopped for a second. "Is there something, or perhaps, someone, who is keeping you so happy?"

Hermione stared at her. She hesitated for a moment and then replied, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Ginny smiled. Although Hermione had not said anything really at all, she got the impression that she had said exactly what Ginny expected, or wanted, to hear.

And actually, Hermione knew exactly what she was talking about.

Draco Malfoy. The latest and most important interest in her life. He was keeping her happy, now that she thought about it. Of course, there was Blaise too, she loved having family around her at school, but Draco was different. She wasn't sure how, or why, he just was.

There were hardly any moments that she spent with Draco alone, without Blaise, but even during those times her and Draco seemed to get along better than ever. There was just something about him that kept a smile on her face. Even if they had just spent the last ten minutes or so bickering, she could still walk away in a generally good mood. It was as if their banter was superficial now.

Before Draco had left school, they had hung out a few times on their own, and had had some of the most fun ever. Now that he was back, and after the whole business with the Mark, they were closer than ever. They often stayed up long after Blaise had gone to bed just talking.

"Hello?!" Fingers snapped in front of her face, and Ron came into focus.

"Oh, sorry. Just thinking."

Ron looked at her for a moment as if she had just denounced elf rights. "You've been staring into space for almost half an hour. Anyway, Harry and I are going to bed."

"Alright, I'm just going to stick around for a little, Blaise and Draco are going to stop by for a little bit. Good night."

No sooner had Harry's feet disappeared from view than a knock was heard from the portrait entrance. Hermione got up and pushed it open. Smirking at her from the hall was Draco, but her brother was nowhere in sight.

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Where's Blaise?"

"Well, hello to you too."

"Sorry, I just haven't seen him in awhile."

"Yes well, he could stop getting himself detentions for nothing you know. Aren't you going to ask me in?"

She stepped aside and he followed her to the fireplace. He seated himself on the couch that Harry and Ron had recently vacated. They sat in silence for awhile, Hermione reveling in the comfortable feeling that she had when she was around Draco. Eventually she looked over at him. His white blond hair was falling into his eyes, and he had a stern look on his face.

"What's up?" She asked. "You look… worried."

"I'm not."

"Oh."

More silence. More time for thinking. This comfortable feeling when she was around him; the long talks, the way he made her smile… Merlin, did she fancy Draco Malfoy?

Suddenly he spoke up. "Actually, and it's all thanks to you really, for the first time in a long time, I'm not worried. I'm happier than I have been in months."

"I couldn't agree more."