"You didn't really think that they would let you roam this place without getting informed about your where abouts. I find it quite strange that you came here. Well actually maybe after last night you…" Draco choked on this words as he saw her
Hermione had conjured up tears in her eyes but they had not yet fallen. She assumed that playing the sympathy card was her only way out of this mess, and as this was out of character Hermione needed to sell her story, really though all she wanted to do was call him a ferret and scoff in his face but she needed his help right now.
Draco strode forward as if he was going to comfort her again.
Hermione shrank back without a thought, "please don't," she sniffled, "I don't need, nor want your pity."
Hermione knew she had his attention but now she needed to get him to allow her to use his owl, she hated that she even needed his permission now, "I'm sorry, I was only in here to send a letter before anyone could stop me," she stuttered out.
Draco was about to speak but Hermione cut him off with her movements. She walked towards him, letter still in hand all of a sudden stopping at a picture of herself. The portrait was another on of Draco from a recent year but in the background she could see herself laughing at something Ron had said. Seeing this almost broke Hermione's heart but now at least her unshed tears were more convincing.
"I wish I could be her again," Hermione started, "Thinking I knew the world, surrounded by people that loved her, Hermione Granger."
"Hermione your…"
She cut him off in a flash of anger, "better, loved, I can't believe those things if I can't see them. Draco I ask one thing of you, please let me feel a little bit like myself, please send this letter so that even if I'm not ok they believe I am."
Draco took the letter from her hand, read it over, nooded and called his owl over. Draco pet his owl. Making Hermione think of her own pet who was gone. Another wave of sadness washed over her, but she wouldn't let it hit her too hard as she had just won a letter to her friends.
Draco walked over to the window and sent the owl off. "If you ever move out of here and into the Lestrange manor I shall make your parents buy you an owl and then you shall have a little bit of your freedom back, until then you may use mine, with my permission of course. Use your letters wisly Hermione."
Hermione nodded knowing that if she was ever caught trying to send "traitor" letters or anything of the sort she would be cut off from her friends, "Thank you."
Even if Hermione had just put on a show she realized that a little bit of trust had just formed between the two of them and in a castle full of snakes an allie could be useful.
Draco felt like shit, as soon as Hermione left the room he had called his owl back. He untied the note from his wing and walked over to the fire place. Snapping his fingers a fire started and he held Hermione's letter over it. He felt so much guilt for betraying her trust but he would feel pain if he didnt. He knew that Hermione was not aloud to be sending out letters and if their families found out that they were, they would both be in trouble. Draco knew that talking to either of their parents about trying to get a letter out would be pointless, if it could endanger the Dark Lord it was a no. Draco knew that he was doing this for her, helping her, but still he couldn't shake the guilt.
Stupid, stupid. He told her that she could keep sending them. He knew he had lied to her, every letter she sent out he would just take back and burn but he couldn't tell her that, as she was almost crying again.
Draco always thought that he would give anything to be Hermiones one to just be there for her, but so far it was painful for both of them as she was hurt and he had to watch her suffering knowing he would do very little to help, that's when he realized he could do this for her, "send out her letters", it would help her short term, gain comfort in her new surrounding's, and hopefully long term and if she ever found out by that point he prayed that they would be close enough to overcome this betrayal.
Draco's hand shook as he tried to open it, but he couldn't drop the letter into the fire, to much guilt. Instead he strode over to his desk throw open a draw and shoved the letter far in the back. He closed the drawer and hoped that he would soon forget about the letter.
Draco jumped onto his bed with a sigh laying face down. He knew it was unbecoming of him but who was here to stop him. He rolled over staring at the ceiling. He had seen how her trust worked today, if he kept doing good things for her maybe just maybe he could be considered a true friend by the end of this vacation, and Draco knew just the thing that would help him gain her friendship.