"Just where exactly do you plan on taking me?" Hermione asked him.
"I was thinking Diagon Alley."
Hermione smiled. She hadn't been there in a while, and she was itching to find some new books in Flourish and Blotts.
"If that's ok with you, that is." Malfoy added hastily.
"Of course. Let's go." She smiled and took his hand, disapparating a second after.
They stood in front of the Leaky Cauldron moments after, and Hermione smiled fondly at the familiar sign. They were still holding each other's hand, but Malfoy didn't release it. He was also gazing at the sign, but a hint of sadness dulled his eyes. Hermione looked over at him, still smiling.
"Draco?"
Malfoy's eyes widened in shock, like he was being pulled from his thoughts too abruptly. He released her hand quickly, like it was a hot potato. Hermione thought nothing of it. She just smiled and grabbed it again, pulling him toward the Leaky Cauldron. He didn't object.
The bell rang as they entered the musty old tavern, causing the few witches in wizards in the pub to glance over. The Leaky Cauldron hadn't changed a bit. Even Tom still worked there, which surprised Hermione quite a bit. They walked out to the brick wall, and Hermione tapped it three up and two across. The bricks on the wall unsheathed themselves and moved out of the way in a jigsaw like manner. Hermione still reveled in how much she loved the magical world. Diagon Alley was her first experience with something like this, and it held a special place in her heart.
"Hermione, are we going to stand here and stare at the bloody wall, or are we going to get a move on?" Malfoy asked, halfway joking.
"Oh, right, sorry." She stepped through the archway the bricks had made and fixed her eyes on the magical world before her.
A witch shoved past her clutching a crying child saying, "Shh, don't cause a scene, I'll not pay seven galleons for such a thing!"
Hermione was taken aback, but she giggled at the little boy. She could remember when she wanted to buy everything in her reach when she was younger.
"Any sort of place you'd like to go? I was hoping you'd accompany me to Flourish and Blotts."
Malfoy said, interrupting her thoughts.
Hermione smiled and turned to face him.
"You read?"
"Yes, Granger, you aren't the only one. I just don't read as MUCH as you. But then again, that's damned near impossible, isn't it?"
"I'll take that as a compliment?" she asked instead of stated.
"You should. That's the nicest I'm going to give out, I'm afraid."
The corners of his mouth pulled up into a smile. He grasped her hand and pulled her along until they got to Flourish and Blotts. Hermione tried to repress a squeal that was budding in her throat. She'd been in desperate need of new reading material. Without thinking, she ran up to the door, flung it open, and sprinted in the store to marvel at the tons of books around her. She felt like she was eleven years old again.
"Excited, are we?" Malfoy said with a teasing tone.
"You have no idea…" Hermione mumbled.
"Well have a look around; I've got to see if they got a special book I've been wanting in stock."
"What is it?" Hermione asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Erm – I'd rather not say." He said, pink tinging his cheeks.
Hermione decided it was best not to ask questions. She didn't want to make him mad when they'd just started their outing. She began thumbing through some spell books, hoping to find something that she'd never encountered before. It was wishful thinking, of course. Hermione had torn through nearly every book in existence when she'd lived at Hogwarts.
After a while of sorting through the books, she sighed in defeat. Nothing caught her eye, so she looked at a book filled with hair potions. She could do with a bit more selection, and she'd lost the recipe for the Sleazeaky potion, anyways.
When she was diving into the book, Malfoy returned clutching a parcel.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Hermione asked, not looking up.
She was far too engrossed with the intricate directions for the potion.
"Er, yes, I did." Malfoy said awkwardly.
Hermione noticed the strange tone in his voice and looked at him. He was wearing a strange expression, like he was up to something and didn't want her to know about it. She decided to dismiss it and said,
"I think I've found something."
"That's great – what is it?" Malfoy asked, sounding like he actually wanted to know.
She held up the book for him to see. He laughed.
"What?" she demanded, her tone defensive.
"Granger, you really DO need that book." He sputtered.
"What is THAT supposed to mean, MALFOY?" she used his last name to show how menacing she wanted to sound.
Malfoy was starting look as if he wished he hadn't said anything.
"I was j-just joking." He said, the sincerity reflecting in his eyes.
"You're going to have to pay for that one." She swatted him with the book.
"Oh? And what are the consequences?"
Hermione attempted to grin deviously.
"You have to accompany me to the apothecary to get the ingredients for this potion I so desperately need."
Malfoy faked a wince, like it was the most horrible thing he could possibly have to do.
"I suppose I could go with that." The smile stretching across his face betrayed the fake annoyance in his voice.
"Good, because you HAVE to." Hermione said as she walked up to the register to pay.
"Very Slytherin of you, Granger." Malfoy smirked
Hermione rolled her eyes, but smiled secretly when her back was turned to him.
About an hour later, Hermione and Malfoy came stumbling out of the apothecary holding their sides. They were laughing uncontrollably, and Hermione's ingredients nearly came tumbling out of her hands because she was shaking with giggles.
"Hahaha! I can't believe you slipped in it!" Hermione yelled, not caring about the people looking towards them strangely.
"That's because YOU spilled it, Granger!" He roared, more laughter erupting from the inside of his chest.
Malfoy's laughter echoed deeply, an overall pleasant sound. Hermione couldn't help but continue to laugh with him.
Their adventure in the apothecary had been an embarrassing one. Hermione could hardly hold on to the slippery ingredients required to make the potion. Malfoy had slipped in a puddle she'd accidentally made, making a fool of himself in front of the entire store. The owner had to ask the two to be quiet several times because of their overbearing laughter.
They both stayed quiet for a moment, trying to regain their breath.
"Hermione, you're not too bad." Malfoy admitted when he caught his breath.
"Thanks, Draco. You aren't as much as insufferable ars*e, yourself."
She caught his eye and smirked.
"Let's go get something to eat." Malfoy suggested.
"After all of that laughing, I'm sure I've burned off more calories than I care to lose."
"It's a bit surprising to see you laugh, you know. You're always so… "
"Cold? Unapproachable?" Malfoy prompted.
Hermione chuckled.
"Yes, exactly."
"I suppose it's the Slytherin in me." He said solemnly.
"Well, let's get going. I'm so hungry, I could eat a hippogriff."
Malfoy's eyes grew wide and he looked at her like she was mad.
"What?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Hippogriffs aren't a creature I'm very fond of." He sneered.
"Oh!" Hermione began laughing again.
"It isn't funny, Granger!" He snarled.
"You're still scarred after our third year, Malfoy? That was so long ago! He didn't even terrible hurt you!"
"That bloody chicken lost me the use of my arm for about a month, Granger. Let's not forget who's the victim in this situation."
"Draco, you are positively ridiculous. I'll bet you went up to your dormitory and cried after I hit you!" Hermione teased.
Malfoy smiled a bit at this memory.
"I'd never thought I'd be able to laugh at being hit by a girl, but here's that moment."
"You had it coming." She stated.
"You know, Granger, with this hostile attitude, it surprises me you weren't a Slytherin." He
said approvingly.
"Mudblood, remember?" She winced even when it was her using the word.
Malfoy's face turned dark.
"I'm sorry… for all of those years." He said sincerely.
Hermione managed to pull together her expression and smiled up at him. Her shining eyes conveyed happiness and made Malfoy want to smile back at her. Her happiness was almost contagious.
"Let's go eat." Hermione said, taking his arm and pulling him along the cobblestone path.
They chose a café with a sitting area filled with brightly colored umbrellas. They adorned each table and changed colors every minute. Malfoy sat down and looked at the menu while
Hermione adjusted her cloak.
"What'll you have to drink?" A brunette waitress asked.
"Butterbeer." Hermione said without hesitation.
Malfoy thought for a moment, then said, "Firewhiskey."
Hermione smirked at this, and the waitress left.
"Really?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What? It's been a hard week!" He said defensively.
Hermione just rolled her eyes; the most common reaction to whenever Malfoy did or said something stupid.
"You could use one of those, once in a while, too." He added.
She gave him a dirty look.
"Granger, for Merlin's sake, don't be so serious. And besides, with the workload you've got, you deserve some time to yourself. A little pick-me up couldn't hurt."
The waitress arrived at their table and levitated their drinks onto it nicely.
"What would you like to eat? The special for the day is steak and kidney pie."
Malfoy grimaced.
"Actually, I'll pass on that. Just a turkey sandwich."
"I'll have the same." Hermione said.
The waitress summoned the sandwiches and left without a word, off to help another table. Hermione took a bite of her sandwich, looking up at the umbrella on their table. She really was astounded by magic. She almost couldn't believe it was a part of her life.
"Granger, you know something?" Malfoy said suddenly.
"What, Draco?"
"I used to tease you mercilessly in school, but I think it's because – well, I envied you, Hermione."
"YOU envied ME?" she said in disbelief.
"You seemed to have real friendships that weren't built on the premise of control or galleons." He said, a little too quietly.
"But Crabbe and Goyle -"
Malfoy winced at the mention of Crabbe. He still hadn't completely gotten over his friends' death.
"I'm not talking about them, Granger. I mean - " He hesitated, at a loss for words.
"Granger, the Slytherins would always talk about what a know – it – all you were, but the others…. They all looked up to you. You were a loyal friend, obviously. I don't care for Potter or Weasley, but they trail after you like dogs. It's a little pathetic." He looked into her eyes, as if he were trying to figure her out.
Hermione laughed.
"I never thought that anyone looked up to me. They all mocked me, quite mercilessly, actually." She smirked.
"Granger, your hand shot up every time a teacher asked a question, of course they'd tease you a bit. But you had real friends. Merlin, Hermione. What I wouldn't have done to been in your position. I grew up with a family of extremely strict pure-bloods. Nearly everyone feared us, my father mostly. That's the only reason people wanted to befriend me."
Hermione didn't know what to say. She never thought she'd hear anything of this sort come from his mouth. She touched his hand.
"I'm sorry you didn't grow up in the er- best environment. I know it's been hard on you, and
it's not your fault. We can't pick our parents, Draco."
He didn't pull his hand away this time, but left it. Hermione's soft skin made Draco's feel ten
degrees hotter. He cleared his throat.
"Well, I can honestly say, you're a great friend, Hermione."
"MERLIN'S PANTS!" Hermione screeched.
Malfoy looked startled.
"What is it?"
"I told Harry I'd be at the burrow for lunch, he'll be furious!"
"He controls where you go? Blimey, Granger. I thought you'd have a bit of a longer leash than that. Do both of your boyfriends get this upset whenever you aren't with them?" He sneered, the end of his sentence a bit harsher than he'd meant for it to sound.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"They're good people. And for the record, neither one of them is my boyfriend."
"Bet they'd like that, wouldn't they, though?" Malfoy muttered under his voice.
"What was that?" Hermione demanded.
"Nothing at all." Malfoy smirked.
They finished their lunch, and Hermione checked her watch.
"Hel|, they're going to murder me!" she groaned.
"Bet they'll be even more angry when they find out you were with me, huh?" Malfoy sounded hopeful.
"Draco, we aren't looking for trouble here." Hermione hit him on the arm.
"Let's get a move on, I need to ask Harry something, anyways."
Malfoy sighed, took her arm, and they disapparated.