Second Chance

Hermione's POV:

It was one thing to smile at each other. It was altogether different to survive each other in the same room. And that is what happened. Malfoy and I were now able to stay in the same room, alone without wanting to rip each other's head off. And I consider that a progress.

I had decided to give him the benefit of doubt, start with a clean slate. It felt nice to let go of all the wrong he has done to me. And if I decide to think about it, I lose my temper. I needed to know that he was the better person that he is portraying to be. Should I speak with him?

I sat at the Gryffindor Table, my eyes wandering. It rested on the boy whom I had hated all my life. The more I stared at him, the faster the resentment seemed to be fading away. Did I even really hate him anymore? I could notice his features from where I was sitting. With his strong, sharp jaw and striking grey eyes, he did look good. His long, sleek blonde hair fell over his face and my hand itched to feel it.

I looked away, feeling guilty at the direction of my thoughts. All those Ginny talks had gotten to the better of me. You do not like Draco Malfoy! I told myself firmly. That was not just impossible, it was also the worst thing I can imagine happening to me. There was not one likable quality about him. It was just Ginny's crappy words.

"Hermione, don't stab that bacon like that." A dreamy voice spoke, alerting me of Luna's arrival.

"Hey Luna. Sorry I was in my own thoughts," I said, guiltily staring down at my mutilated bacon. "How are you?"

"I am well, thank you." She said taking a seat opposite to mine. "I think I am doing well in Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid says I can take care of his creatures all the times."

"That is amazing! How are things with Nev?"

She turned pink, "They are great actually. I really like him. I told it to him the other day. We are official now."

"Wait, you told him? So, the chicken never asked you out?"

"I wasn't sure whether he was ready to ask me yet. So, I told him myself." She smiled.

"Well, either way, that's amazing. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks Hermione. How are things with Draco?"

"Um, what things? And how come you are on first name basis?" I frowned.

"Ever since we spoke by the lake. He was going through something and I was there to listen."

"Oh" was all that I could say. Malfoy spoke with Luna? The person whom his family had kept locked up? What was it that he was going through? I wanted to know so badly.

"He is hurting. And he is also repenting." She continued, dreamily.

"You think so?" I asked surprised.

"Most definitely. He is trying to be a better person. Ever since the day Harry, Ron and you were captured and brought to his manor. He just never got the chance till now. But he is self-deprecating and that is not doing him any good."

"Why are you telling me all this, Luna?" I asked slowly.

"I don't know. I just thought you should know. Maybe because you live with him now. Maybe knowing something about him would make that easier. Or maybe I just felt like telling it to you. Either way, now you know more about him than what you thought you knew."

I comprehended what she said and looked up towards the Slytherin Table. Malfoy was just leaving the Great Hall and he seemed annoyed at something. Self-deprecating. That is the word Luna used. Could it be true?

"Thanks Luna. You may be right. It may make it easier for me to live with him now."

Luna simply smiled and left the table. She came over to talk to me about Malfoy? At a time when I was so confused? But if Luna could forgive him, why couldn't I? She was starving in his basement. All he did to me was bully. I wanted Ginny here. I wished she were here instead of writing a foot-long essay in the library, taunting me about my feelings. In the end, she was always helpful.

I got up from the table and decided to go to my room for some peace of mind. I had patrol duty for the night and needed some rest. I climbed up to the First Floor, yawning.

"Candy Canes" I whispered after knocking and stepped inside. My heart stopped for a second when I saw the sight in front of me.

Draco Malfoy was sitting on the floor hugging his knees to his chest. His right knuckles were bleeding profusely, dropping blood on the carpet. A half-burnt piece of parchment lay beside him, crumpled. And his wand beside it. He looked up at me with bloodshot eyes and my senses kicked in.

"What the hell happened here!" I screamed and rushed to his side. I didn't think twice before picking up his arm and examining it. Glass pieces seemed to be embedded on his skin.

"Nothing happened." He said and tried to pull his hand away, but I held on forcefully, trying to get a better look at it. It seemed like he had punched through a glass of some sort. Why would he do this?

"It doesn't seem like nothing happened!" I said exasperated as I fished out the Essence of Dittany from my bag. I carefully removed the glass pieces from his knuckles and poured a few drops of dittany inside the wound. As the wound smoked, I pointed my wand at his knuckles and whispered "Ferula" making bandages wrap round his palm. I cleaned the excess blood on his hand and cleaned the carpet and burned the bowl containing the glass. He kept calm, letting me work in peace.

I sat a few paces back. What the heck was he up to? I glared at him till he looked up and our eyes met. He looked like he was struggling to tell me something but couldn't get it out. My anger faded away replacing it with relief and anxiety. 'Self-deprecating' is what Luna told he was.

"You owe me an explanation," I said softly. What did he do this for?

"I don't owe anybody anything." He snapped.

I gritted my teeth. He was testing my patience now, "My healing services are not for free. Tell me what happened here."

"I didn't ask you to heal me, Granger. You needn't have done that. I was good on my own."

"The heck you were!" I shouted. "I am trying here, Malfoy. Trying to make peace between us. I was even contemplating forgiving you for all that you have done to me in the past. I wanted a fresh start. And every time I try, you manage to piss me off! I am not having this again!"

"Well, maybe I am not worth forgiveness. Maybe you shouldn't try!" He lashed out, backing off to the couch.

I regretted shouting. I should have handled things better. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. I slowly stood up and sighed.

"Draco, I don't know what makes you feel this way but I can assure you that is not the case. I can see that something is bothering you but you don't want to talk about it. That is up to you. And if you ever want to talk about it, you can talk to me. I am sorry that you think that you are not worth the try, but I probably am not going to stop trying. I see that you are not the same Malfoy I used to know and that is a reason enough. You can thank me later for my help."

I turned around, not waiting for his reply. I bent down to pick up my bag and saw the burnt parchment. The words 'dreams come true' were left unburnt. The handwriting looked vaguely familiar. Before stepping into my room, I peeped into Draco's open room through the corner of my eyes. Apart from the flash of green, I saw a shattered mirror in the corner. I shook my head, making a mental note not to punch mirrors ever.

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Draco's POV:

I struggled to hold the quill and dropped it on the parchment. The pain was still there under the bandaged knuckles. I stared at it and remembered how Granger had healed it. Why did she do that for me? What have I ever done to deserve it?

I see that you are not the same Malfoy I used to know and that is a reason enough. What does she know about me now? As if I am any different. She was going to forgive me? I should tell her that she should stop trying. She'll probably end up hurting. People who try with me always end up getting hurt. Dumbledore, Snape, even my mother…

"Earth to Draco!" Blaise interrupted. Why was he always around?! 'He is your only friend!' my brain chose to remind me then. That was right I suppose.

"What do you want, Blaise?"

"What happened to your hand?" he sat in the chair beside mine. We were in the library but so was the whole of the school, so to speak.

"Nothing of your concern."

"Really, Draco? I am probably the only person who cares for you here. So yeah, are you going to tell me or not?"

I hesitated. I had not told Blaise about any of the letters I had gotten. Or the fact that Pansy had written them. You see, Blaise had been in love with Pansy. That is till he found out she had been using him to sleep with at the same that she was sleeping with me. Thankfully he did not hate me because I wasn't aware of what she was doing. Although it was fun to dump her arse together, I was afraid Blaise still cared about her. I hadn't told him about Goyle's confrontation either. I guess it is time he found out.

"I have been keeping something from you."

I told him everything, right from Pansy's warning to last night's letter. She had mentioned that she had managed to gather almost all of them and they would soon send their first warning shot and that would be at Hogwarts. I told him about Goyle's warning and waited for his response. He stared into the distance, comprehending the new information.

"Say something mate." I urged him.

"And you are sure Pansy wrote it?" he asked slowly.

"Positive. It cannot be anybody else."

"That bitch!" he said indignantly. "This has been my home, Draco. I can't let them do anything to it. Ambushing it once was bad enough."

"I know." I said, sighing with relief. Blaise was in fact on my side. "And she has Nott to support her from the inside."

"Should we warn McGonagall?"

"See, for all we know, this could all be bullshit. I am not saying we ignore it. Let us give some time. We will see how it goes."

"She sent you a letter last night?"

"Yes. And I tried to burn it because I was so pissed. But it wouldn't burn. She has charmed it to burn to crisp and then get back to normal. I don't know why she didn't want it destroyed. Granger almost saw the letter. I'm glad she didn't read it."

"Hold up, Granger was there too? She saw your hand this way?"

"She was the one who taped it for me, Zabini." I sighed. Why did I have to go and mention Granger?

He raised his eyebrows and stared at me. "And she didn't say anything?"

"She asked me but I did not tell her, of course. But she mentioned something about making peace between us and that she was going to forgive me and-"

"What?! She said forgive? Drake, are you friends now?"

"Don't be stupid, Blaise. We can never be friends. She thinks I have changed. She told me she wants to give me a 'clean slate'. Whatever she means by that."

"It means she is starting to like you." Blaise said, exasperated.

"What the fuck, Zabini? Why do you always have to go there?"

"No, not that way. She is just starting to like the change you have gone through. You have done nothing but bully her all these years. She hated you for it. Now, she sees you are different. She thinks she is capable of being friends with you and that is what she means by clean slate. She wants to give you a second chance."

I opened my mouth and closed it stupidly. I knew that much but I guess it never registered with me. I did want a fresh start but I didn't realise I wanted one from Granger until now. I gasped. It dawned on me finally. I did not just want a fresh start. What I wanted was redemption. I realised that I was done being guilty and suffering. Luna Lovegood had mentioned exactly that. I wanted to put the past behind me. I guess that is the reason why I had decided to come back to Hogwarts anyway, looking out for redemption.

"Are you gonna speak anything?" Blaise said.

"Thanks Blaise. You made me realise why I returned here. My nightmares have tormented me. But they all have told me only one thing. I need this fresh start. That starts with redemption."

Blaise smiled. "That is the spirit, my boy. So, what are you going to do now?"

"I am going to start by telling Granger about the letters."

"What? Why don't we tell it to McGonagall instead?"

"No. Granger and her friends had always had a knack for finding out stuff. If anything, she can help in this. Besides, she saw me at my worst state yesterday. She is right. I do owe her an explanation."

"As you wish, mate. Just be careful not to piss her off like you do."

I got up and packed my half-written homework. It's time I start do something good for the first time in my life.

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