A/N: So I will be keeping all the years on one fic by a unanimous vote :)
Draco's fist smashed into Crabbe's already bloody face a third time. Then a fourth time. A fifth time. Crabbe fully lost consciousness at the fourth punch due to his weak jaw, but Draco was making a statement to not just him, but to everyone in the main Slytherin common room. Draco pulled his arm back for a sixth punch for good measure, but Pansy's hiccup/ screech combination broke him out of the rhythm he had started to slip into. Draco let go of Crabbe's sweater vest, allowing the bigger boy to fall back with a heavy thud. No one moved when Draco straightened up, not even Goyle who was struggling moments before as Theo and Blaise held him back.
Draco's platinum eyes fell to Goyle and he spoke after a few heavy breaths. "Let him go." They did, and Theo pushed Goyle so he stumbled forward over his long legs like a newborn deer. Draco kept his fists up in case Goyle made to attack him again, but he didn't. Goyle crouched down by Crabbe, warily watching Draco as he tried to get Crabbe to wake up. When it was made obvious to Draco that Goyle had no intention of attacking him, Draco kept his shoulders back and his chin high as his gaze swept over his housemates, challenging any of them to say something or step forward. Most of the crowd had heard what Crabbe had said, and even if they didn't, he wouldn't explain. Malfoys don't owe anyone an explanation his father would say.
Draco came back from the hospital wing pissed to find that Hermione had left during Sunday's breakfast. Crabbe, had decided then was the best time to try to confront Draco in front of everyone about what he saw in the infirmary Friday night:
"So our infamous blood-traitor has decided to grace us with his presence." Crabbe had a weak imitation of Draco's confident sneer on his face and Goyle stood behind Crabbe, copying him. "Were you visiting your little pet just now? The one who would be better off dead, but you decided to save her instead? What would your father think?" Draco's face had turned red and he already decided that he was going to have to officially remind Crabbe where he stood.
Draco strode towards Crabbe, hands in fists, with Theo who immediately dropped the he was reading to join his side. "I thought I told you I wouldn't repeat myself in telling you to stop insulting me or my family you third rate blood purist." Blaise caught up a moment later, whispering to Draco that 'Crabbe wasn't worth it', but Goyle stepped in front of Crabbe and swung at Draco. Theo lunged at Goyle before he could land the blow on Draco, but Crabbe had used Theo's charge as a distraction for him to land his punch on Draco. Thanks to Lucius though, Draco took the punch with ease and quickly gained the upper hand while Blaise helped Theo hold Goyle back.
Reaching his bed, Draco quickly unbuttoned his shirt and threw it into the rubbish bin. He could have magicked the blood stains on his cuff out, but he didn't feel the need to bother when he would just buy another shirt if he needed. He turned to his drawer and pulled out another shirt. As he was buttoning up the shirt, Pansy walked into the room, trying to stifle her sobs but failing. He gave her a dirty look from barging in, and turned his back to her as he finished buttoning the last few buttons of his shirt.
"He's been talking about you the whole morning. Saying you're a disappointment to the Sacred Twenty-Eight." He turned to face her as he started to roll the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows. It was a look he wore often on the weekends, as Hogwarts did not allow students to deform the school uniform when they were in class. His scowl deepened at the fact he chose not to roll up the sleeves this morning, which would have saved him the shirt, but reminded himself that clothes were easily replacable. Pansy had her hands crossed over her chest and a hand over her mouth. "Are you... Are you okay?" He took a moment to scourgify Crabbe's blood from his skin, leaving the area clean as if nothing happened.
"I'm fine, honestly, you're worse off than me." He finished rolling up his second sleeve as he opened a drawer to look for the bruising cream he kept and when he found it, he put a thin layer over the area where Crabbe's fist made contact. Pansy's crying didn't bother him as she whined or cried for everything, and even if it did, he found he wasn't the consoling type. "And what would Crabbe know about being a Pureblood? His family isn't a part of the Twenty-Eight like ours. He's a freaking half-blood." When Draco walked past her to go back down the stairs, he offered a handkerchief. She took it and blew her nose, following him down the steps of the boys dorm.
"Where are you going?" She asked between sniffles and Draco rolled his eyes.
"I need to get out of the dungeons, perhaps the library. Is that ok, mum?" He didn't slow his pace as he continued down the stairs and into the common room. Heads instantly whirled to give him their full attention, already whispering about what had just happened.
"I'll go with you!" She fast walked to maintain the same pace he had.
He nearly stopped and whirled around to tell her where she could go instead, but he needed the other Slytherins to think he was to be respected, not feared because he snapped on everyone who crossed his path. "I don't want company. I want to be left alone."
"You always want to be left alone! Unless you're with Blaise or Theo-" Draco glanced around the room quickly, only using his eyes. Speaking of, where had those two ran off to? Goyle was still on the floor with Crabbe while a seventh year Slytherin practiced their healing magic on him. While the school had Madam Pomfrey to utilize, when it came to inner-house feuds, Slytherin's cleaned up their own mess. Draco used to wonder if it was some secret Slytherin code but he realized over time that it was a learned behavior from how the old pureblood and halfblood families handled things. "You never want to hang out with me!" Pansy emphasized the last word with a whine and Draco thought that if students weren't staring at them before, they certainly were now. Draco opened the door and motioned for Pansy to walk in front of him without another word. Her face lightened up and she ran ahead, into the hallway that would lead them into the main dungeons.
Pansy nearly skipped out to the dungeon hall, she was so happy at the thought she was spending time with Draco that she hadn't noticed by the time she got to the staircase leading to the entrance hall, he had disappeared. He dipped into what looked like a regular alcove, but was actually an alternate hallway to another chamber in the dungeons. Draco moved quickly as he wasn't sure if Pansy knew about this hall, and did not want to have to try explaining to her a second time that he did not want to be bothered. To be sure he lost her, he moved through several of the hidden halls and small passage ways of the dungeons before emerging into the east wing of the ground floor. He didn't dare head for the library as he didn't put it past Pansy to actually step foot in there for once, trying to track him down after he ditched her.
He decided to head to the music room and after Draco got past the first two staircases, he stopped looking over his shoulder or trying to be careful. He didn't think Pansy would have thought to go anywhere above the second floor and he rolled his shoulders a few times, trying to relieve the built up tension in them. He was staring at the floor as he walked, his eyes furiously tracing the cracks in the stone as his adrenaline rush from the fight with Crabbe kept him alert, and sightly wired. Draco hoped the after affects of the rush would allow him to have more success when practicing the music pieces he was working on mastering. When he got to the end of the hall, he looked up and saw the gray tapestry in front of the music room door.
Draco made to turn around as he remembered that he wanted to find Theo and Blaise, but closed his eyes instead. He knew it was the tapestry trying to keep him away, but he had come by the music room so many times- even with other students in it- he was able to fight off the magic with some focus. He took a few steps forward, and he was reminded of all the homework he had not yet completed due at the end of the coming week. Draco was halfway to the door when the tapestry reminded him that his original werewolf essay Snape had asked the Defense Against the Dark Arts class to complete was pinned beneath his bed and bed side table. He was distracted for a second by the annoyance that ran through him as he had to rewrite the essay the night before it was due, since he had forgotten where it was. While Lupin said it wasn't needed, however, Snape still expected it from his god-son. When Draco was in front of the door, he could physically feel the magic wanting to push him away. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but he was determined to get into the room, and scare whoever was in the room off so he could have it to himself.
What he did not expect, was Hermione sitting on the floor with the etiquette books he dropped off to her the day before. When Draco opened then slammed the door behind him, she jumped, dropping the face fan she was holding in front of her. "Oh, it's you."
He paused, his annoyance evident on his face as he eyed the fan. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Hermione opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it and shook her head. "Nothing." She had not meant to sound rude but she was miffed he did not go back to the hospital wing yesterday when he said he would visit her again. Hermione told herself he was busy or couldn't get away, and said she would forgive him for not showing up. It was the least she could do when someone had just saved her life.
"Why are you practicing fan etiquette in a music room?" Draco gestured to the walls lined with song books, hymnals, and tune books for the string instruments that were on display and ready to be played around the room. Towards the back of the room, where she sat on the floor, was a Steinway & Sons grand piano.
Hermione picked up the fan from the floor and gripped it, she didn't look at him as she responded. "I snuck up here during breakfast. I didn't want to see Harry or Ron yet."
Draco walked forward, his annoyance thick in his voice as he thought about her disappearing after she asked him to visit her. "Couldn't have sent an owl telling me you were leaving the infirmary?" He walked past her, straight to the piano and sat in front of it. Draco accioed once of the piano sheet music books he often practiced out of. He was usually calm and collected, but his anger from Crabbe and Hermione got the best of him, causing the book to zoom across the room a bit faster than intended. He caught it though and acted like the spine hitting his palm did not bother him, even though it sent pain through his fingers if he tried to flex his hand.
She looked at him with narrowed eyes, her own anger emerging. "You didn't return yesterday so I assumed you did not plan on visiting me at all." She looked him up and down before looking away again. Hermione wondered if Hagrid was in his hut and if she would be able to stay with him for the day. She told herself she could be friendly another day if he was going to act like a prat.
Draco's annoyance eased up along with his tone as he realized she hadn't ditched him, but they misunderstood each other. "I went to the hospital wing today. I didn't think you wanted visitors after your therapist saw you."
Hermione nodded, not knowing what to say next while her anger dissolved. She never imagined that Draco could be so thoughtful, something that was rare from Ron and even more rare from Harry. She closed the fan etiquette book and reached for another book, suddenly feeling self-conscious for practicing something like fan etiquette. She always thought it to be not just fake, as muggle history books claimed the language to be, but asinine.
Draco hoped he had not said too much as he did not want Hemione to know he had eavesdropped on her yesterday. Draco had always hated not knowing things and even though he knew how personal the conversation was going to be, he couldn't help himself as he wanted to understand her more if they were going to choose to be friends. Friends- it was a topic he did want to bring up and make sure they were clear on. Both of them had expressed they did not want to be friends before, but their actions spoke differently, which made him think of something; "Did you drop the fan on purpose when I came in?" Draco lifted the keyboard cover on the piano as his eyes flicked over to where she was sitting, one eyebrow raised curiously. He was forced to study fan etiquette too when he was younger, as purebloods found it to be a relevant form of communication at parties. Draco just thought that most wizards looked stupid as they did not have much grace when using their fans.
"No." Hermione looked over to him, a questioning look on her face. "Does dropping your fan mean something?"
"No," He said quickly, causing Hermione to raise her eyebrows and reach for the fan etiquette book again, obviously not believing him. Shite, ofcourse it was an accident. He tried to think of other ways to distract her as she flipped through the book. He knew she would read the book and find the meaning eventually but he didn't want her to tease him on reading too far into things, now. "Fan etiquette of all things though? I would think you would need to study how to waltz properly or-"
"What makes you think I can't dance?" She looked back at him, slightly offended and the book temporarily forgotten.
Draco grinned at her as he accioed another piano sheet music book, this one flying at a regular speed. He thumbed through it, hardly paying attention to the titles as he flipped through the pages with his thumb. "I've heard muggles don't throw parties like we do so I imagine you have as much grace in a ballroom as you do on a broom." Hermione snorted and closed the book, plopping it on to the stack of books in front of her. Yes! Draco thought as he turned his attention to the titles in the musical book in front of him.
Hermione turned so she was facing him while she sat on the floor. It was no secret that she hated flying, when Madam Hooch came back after escorting Neville to Madam Pomfrey first year, she nearly hurled in front of the whole class when they tried flying again. "Do wizards not have 'regular' parties? Are they always galas or balls?"
Draco shrugged one shoulder. "At least for purebloods it is."
"So you've had a gala thrown for you every year for your birthday?" Hermione had an astonished look on her face, imagining a ballroom filled with steamers and balloons every year.
Draco made a face himself thinking about the people who appeared at the galas his parents threw or attended. They all smoked, bathed in their perfumes and laughed too loudly after drinking more than they should. He would have loved being the center of attention of a gala but doubted his father wouldn't use the gathering as an excuse to invite his allies and colleagues over to discuss business. "No, that's absurd. We usually travel."
"Oh." Hermione didn't know what to say to that and an awkwardness that they both had been avoiding settled over them. She felt as if there was an elephant in the room that neither of them were wanting to fully address yet. Hermione played with the hem of her jeans as she thought about what to say next. A thought crossed her mind and she almost dismissed it. It was a subject she had already approached with Harry and Ron, but they would have thought she was crazy if she would have said anything more about it. Worst he can do is call me a loon but... She thought back to when he found her in the Malfoy owlery over the summer. He already has.
Before she could stop herself she blurted out a question to test the waters: "Did you do the werewolf essay?"
Draco placed the music book on the piano's music rack, deciding to play Reverie by Debussy, before raising an eyebrow at her. "You want to talk about homework?" He had the tendency to get a little self-conscious when playing in front of other people and usually eased himself into playing the more difficult songs. He knew from experience that playing something soft would help him get used to playing with a mildly injured hand.
Draco played the first few notes and Hermione's attention shifted to the piano, completely surprised by what she was hearing. He plays so delicately... I didn't even know he played piano. Hermione couldn't help but listen for a few seconds before mentally shaking herself. If she learned anything from Dr. Augsen, it's that talking about things on her mind was an effective outlet, but this wasn't something she was able to approach someone from the Ministry about. Hermione almost let her distraction drop the subject as she feared Draco's rejection, but she reminded herself that the Malfoys had all seen parts of her no one else had, and she thought it silly to be scared when she considered it from a logical standpoint- at least when talking to Draco. She wouldn't want Narcissa to think she belonged in St. Mungo's. Plus... Lucius seemed to know something about Lupin that Draco might know. She strongly doubted it but she allowed herself to be entertained by the idea to gain courage from it.
"I think Professor Lupin is a werewolf." She said it softly as she was nearly entranced by the calming music of Debussy but Draco heard her regardless.
When she said 'werewolf', Draco's fingers slipped and hit three of the wrong keys, forcing him to come to a stop so abrupt her body gave a slight jerk and she looked up at him. He had thought the same thing about the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher but told no one, except Snape, as he knew how he would sound. The only reason why the idea was brought up to Snape was due to the fact that Snape started to ask questions about who Draco thought might have fit the description of a werewolf. Draco didn't say any of this though as he was still in shock from her mirroring his suspicions. "What?"
Hermione's emotions seemed to have caught up with her brain as she started to ramble in the panic that was filling her, ticking off each reason with her fingers. "Well, His boggart- it's the moon, you know. I thought it was a crystal ball at first, but that didn't make sense to me. Harry saw him drink a potion once that fit the description of Wolfsbane. I have a lunar chart from Divination and he's always absent-"
"Around the full moon." Draco had kept track of the chart himself and Lupin was always 'sick' the week of the full moon. It was rather obvious after he realized it and was happy he wasn't the only one who noticed. Draco wondered if Snape had wanted all of the third years to come to the same conclusion about Lupin.
Hermione's eyes widened as she leaned forward. "Did you realize it too?"
Draco looked into her big, doe eyes, bright with something he recognized as excitement. Draco wondered why he never thought her to be pretty before. With eyes like that, it was easy to look past her wild hair and buckteeth. Surprised at his own thoughts, he looked back to the music sheet instead, not wanting to look at her anymore in case anymore unsettling thoughts arose. "I did." Draco focused on the music again and started to play where he left off. When she didn't reply almost a minute afterwards, he risked a glance at her and saw she was sniffling quietly while she pressed the balls of her palms into her eyes. He wasn't immediately annoyed like he was with Pansy, but he was hesitant to say anything and kept playing.
After a while, his curiosity got the better of him again. "Why are you crying?" He wasn't sure if he should stop playing so he didn't in case she did not respond and the awkwardness settled again. It was a good call as she didn't respond until he turned the page and started to play 'Clair de Lune' by Debussy.
"I'm just happy I wasn't the only one to think so. I tried to tell Harry and Ron, but they wouldn't hear it." He glanced at her then and was relieved to see she stopped crying although her nose was the slightest bit pink. "They haven't spoken to me really since Christmas. The handful of times they did, we ended up yelling at each other and..." Her voice wavered, but she took a deep and shakey breath to collect herself. "They're my only friends. It hurts so much right now though that I don't even want to forgive them."
Draco had gotten halfway through the song, and started the part that required him to focus on the more complex notes. He appreciated that he had something to do as he listened as he wasn't good with being compassionate. "So don't. I don't see why you have to when they treated you so poorly." He didn't bring up the obvious fact that they were adding more stress after her parents had died. Draco heard Hermione shift her weight on the wood floor but he remained focused on the keys of the piano until the song looped into the beginning melody again. He thought carefully about what to say next as this was his opportunity to verify she wanted to be friends too. "And you have me," He glanced at her, and saw she was staring at him. "I think one of me makes up for the two of them any day."
Hermione didn't say anything so he finished the song before looking at her. He was frustrated that she had not laughed or responded to his attempt at faux arrogance, but saw her smiling mischievously when he looked up at her. "Are you saying we're friends, Malfoy?"
Draco was caught off guard by her smile and turned a page in the music book. He tried to make himself look as bored and disinterested as possible. "If you wanted. I believe it was you who first said you wanted to act as if nothing had changed when we returned to Hogwarts." Draco watched her head dip from his peripheral and regretted bringing up summer. "I didn't mean to-"
"No, you're right. It's fine." She looked up at him, the smile back on her face, but not as big as it was before. Hermione picked up the fan with her left hand half opening it in front of her face: I desire your acquaintance. Then she dropped it again, revealing her grin on her face: We will be friends. Draco hoped the heat that rose to his face didn't cause too red of a blush tipping her off to his embarrassment.
"You knew what it meant!" He crossed his arms over his chest but he was smiling.
"I didn't, I just happened to find the meaning when I flipped through the pages the second time." She ran both her hands over her head still smiling. Draco shook his head and positioned his hands to continue playing, but he stopped when she stood and walked over to his side. "I do have one request though." Draco narrowed his eyes, suspicious of what she wanted. "Stop playing Debussy, it's making me more depressed." They both gave a small laugh that wasn't as awkward as either of them expected it to be.
Draco moved over on the piano bench so she could sit next to him. She bit her lip contemplating sitting down before she did. "Why were you sitting on the floor? There are chairs everywhere in this room." Draco removed the music book off of the rack and looked through the first book he accioed over as she looked around the room again. He was right, there were chairs with almost every instrument around the enormous room. She wondered if the other three music rooms were this big.
"I'm just used to it. I don't know why but at home-" She paused as she felt her chest tighten from talking about her childhood home. "Where I- The place where-" Am I still allowed to call it that if I live at the manor? Is the Manor my home? She still didn't know.
"I know what you're trying to say. Go on." He didn't look up from the book as he pretended to be considering the Mozart piece in front of him. Instead, he used his other senses to assess her reaction. He listened to her breathing and any felt the air between them for any movements she made.
Hermione was grateful for Draco's relaxed attitude, as it allowed her to breath and think properly. He didn't treat her as if she was a crystal piece that was teeter tottering on the edge of a shelf, threatening to break- even after he saved her life. "When mum, dad, and I would spend time together in our living room, it didn't matter if I was watching the tele, reading, or listening to music- I somehow always ended up on the floor. It was just comfortable for me. Dad used to call me his little cabbage because of it."
Hermione had a sad smile on her face, but Draco didn't notice it as he buried his face in the music book, trying to stop his shoulders shaking with mirth from attempting to hold his laugh in as he thought of the French nickname. "Mon petite chou?"
"Yes, actually." Her voice was flat and Draco stopped laughing immediately. He removed the book from his face to see her face was pink with annoyance.
He made a face as he chastised himself again. "I didn't mean-"
"It's fine. It was silly." Hermione felt herself closing herself off. She wasn't sure if she wanted to stop talking to Draco, but her depression didn't give her a choice. She rubbed her arm, and looked at the pile of books she left on the floor. "I should go. Lunch will be starting soon and I hardly ate the food I was given this morning." Another partial lie, she didn't eat it at all. Hermione stood up and picked up the books from the floor.
Draco watched quietly, panicking, knowing he messed up again. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out as memories of Lucius flooded his mind.
Lucius pulled on Draco's collar rather roughly for a six year old. Draco had been wanting to run after one of his father's peacocks, but had been stopped. "Malfoy men don't chase after anyone or anything, Draco. Chasing is for the under classed. You're not a dreg are you?" Young Draco had shook his head in response and Lucius stuck his nose in the air as Narcissa fixed Draco's collar. "That's right, you're part of the elite." They continued walking, with Draco silently sulking as he watched the peacocks around him.
Hermione was more than half way to the door and Draco sat there watching, shame filling him and confusing him with what he was taught was right. "Wait."
"I admit a lot of the things I taught you or the ways I did teach you things were not the greatest." Lucius paced Draco's room, having a conversation that was both an apology, but not an apology. It was a memory from the winter holiday that Draco had thought about a lot until his head hurt. He did not understand his father's change in behavior or attitude towards him or Hermione. "It was wrong of me to ask you to make her miserable when she's hardly in the right mindset. I know you can't just return to Hogwarts with her as friends- not that I'm asking you to be friends with her-" Lucius made a disgusted face. "But don't overwhelm her if you can help it."
Draco realized that was one piece of advice his father passed along to him that he felt he could trust- he shouldn't overwhelm her or suffocate her in any situation. "Will you come back after lunch?"
Hermione dropped her eyes to the floor. "No, there's work I should be starting and it's in the common room." She didn't know why she lied or why she was leaving. Maybe it was due to how easy it was to talk to him about her parents or how she realized that her supposed-to-be nemesis is now a new ally. It scared her and made her think about things she had been avoiding. She looked up at him and was surprised to see him look a little worried. "Another time though." Hermione closed the door behind her and Draco turned back to the piano, putting his head in his hands causing his elbows to press into keys, sounding the frustration he aimed at himself.
Always messing things up. Draco withdrew his wand and checked the time, confirming a suspicion about her leaving, lunch wasn't for another hour and a half. He wondered if she still wanted to be friend's after he laughed, but reminded himself that worrying about something he could not fix right now would result in nothing but continued stress.
So Draco turned back to the piano and started to play, using the piano as he often did as a way to sort out his thoughts.
A week. Blaise wanted Draco to wait a week before approaching Hermione if she did not come to him first.
Draco vented to a perceptive Blaise and a sulking Theo the following day during potions about what had happened. He knew Blaise was more of a social butterfly than him and hoped he would have advice on what to do next. Theo wasn't fond of the idea of befriending a muggle born, but so long as he did not interfere with Draco's choices, Draco would not interfere with his. Draco, however, didn't expect the advice from Blaise to be waiting. It was difficult having most of the classes with her, and not being able to say anything, more so than before they agreed to be friends. Especially since he was willing to approach her anyway, but she was always surrounded by other Gryffindors- specifically Lavender and Parvarti. Draco hoped she would not go back to Harry and Ron, but was confused why the two female Gryffindors acted as her guard. He finally got his answer midday Thursday when both Harry and Ron tried to chase Hermione to talk to her, but Parvarti blocked them both while Lavender ran up the stairs with Hermione to their Divination class.
"You don't get to ignore her for two months then harass her when she refuses to accept your sorry excuse for apologies!"
"But we-" Ron started but Parvarti turned her full attention on him, shutting him up. Draco thought about chiming in but he had never seen the usually giggly, but quiet witch so bothered before, causing him to remain quiet.
The slender Indian was nearly as tall as Ron and had a temper that was as bad as his it seemed. "Twice you embarrassed her in our common room! Twice! Over a broom and a rat who couldn't even carry a message! After her parents died this summer? What kind of friends are you? I would never do any of that to Lavender!"
Draco couldn't help but grin ear to ear at how miserable Ron and Harry both looked as they hung their heads, following Parvarti to their Divination class. It was refreshing to see Harry be yelled at by someone in his house, instead of being praised.
Friday came along and Draco was back to wondering if Hermione was ever going to approach him when she sat next to him in Arithmancy that morning after breakfast. He looked over at her in surprise as there was another desk with Terry Boot still available, but quickly looked forward. Draco often sat with Theo in the back of Arithmancy, but Theo seemed to be running late. Draco crossed his arms on to the desk and laid on them, "What are you doing here?"
"I can't sit next to my friend?" Hermione looked down at him. She had been worried herself on if he hated her for running out on him, but she needed to be alone at that moment. It frustrated her that one day she was a blubbering mess for feeling as if she had no one, but the next day she insisted on being alone. Hermione wanted to approach Draco during the week, but she either had Pavarti and Lavender with her, Ron and Harry trying to corner her, or Draco had Pansy or Flint by his side.
"Are we friends?" He knew he sounded accusatory, but keeping people at arms length is what he had been taught. "Don't you have that Patil twin and her girlfriend- Lilac or something?"
Hermione glanced at Professor Vector at the front of the room, who was writing on the chalkboard on what their lesson for the day would cover, something she did before she started her lecture. When she saw that she still had time to speak she gave Draco a skeptical look. "I find it hard to believe that you don't know Pavarti or Lavender's names when you've had classes with them since we first year." He didn't say anything as he wanted her to address the other half of his statement. She huffed as she looked at the desk, somewhat sad. "And I don't think they see me as a friend. They're kind and have helped me in situations but... It's not exactly the same as a regular friendship. I think they believe I'm more a project for them to work on."
"Oh." Draco understood the feeling. Daphe had made him feel like that from time to time, especially since her little sister Astoria, started this year. It was aggrevating more than anything as he hated the feeling of not being seen. "I suppose I could make an exception for you to being a friend."
"You 'suppose'?" She had a smirk on her face and her eyes twinkled at him. "I think one of me makes up for Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy any day." Theo slunk into the room at that moment and was completely surprised to see Hermione in his seat. He glanced at Draco who gave the slightest shrug with one shoulder. Theo rolled his eyes and sat down next to Terry, dropping his bag with a loud thud. Professor Vector turned around and gave him a warning look for his attitude before turning back to the chalk board. "And maybe one of Theo, too. Not Blaise though." Hermione had Blaise to thank for distracting Theo in conversation so she could get to Arithmancy before him and take his seat by Draco. Hermione wasn't sure if it was intentional, but when she looked back while she was rushing to class, she saw Blaise wink at her.
"Not Blaise?" Draco bit the inside of his cheek so he could control the smile on his face.
"No. Blaise is alright. Not as much fun as a Gryffindor, but close." Hermione grinned as she removed parchment and a quill from her bag.
"'Not as much fun?'" Draco wasn't sure if Hermione was joking or not. "Are you having a lau-"
"Mr. Malfoy, would you like to teach the lesson today?" Professor Vector interrupted him as she turned to face the class, hands on her hips like they often were, even when she was in a good mood.
"No, professor." He straightened his posture so he was no longer slouching on the desk. "Forgive me, ma'am."
Professor Vector nodded then started her lecture. Hermione nor Draco made a move to communicate until they were working on problems from their text book after the lecture. Draco slide over a piece of parchment with a question on it:
Music room later?
Hermione thought for a second before writing her reply. Should she tell him she was working on Buckbeak's trial? She was always taught to put her best foot forward when making decisions, but that did not mean she had to trust him. The first time he suggested they should hang out was when he was trying to steal her wand.
I'm working on something for Hagrid due tonight.
Draco scrunched up is face, wondering what Hagrid would want done as he never gave out homework. He thought back to their classes together and didn't remember Hagrid mentioning anything to the class, but it was possible he gave the golden trio a special task. If Draco didn't have to work with Harry, Ron or Hagrid, he wouldn't mind assisting her.
What is it? Maybe I can help?
Hermione bit her lip as she thought about his offer. What am I doing? He saved my life, I should be able to trust him.
It's for Buckbeaks's trial. I'm helping Hagrid build a defense.
Draco's reply came much faster than his others:
I'd really like to help then, library later?
Hermione risked looking over at him, smiling and nodded. With a flick of his wand, a small flame consumed the parchment before he vanished the ashes it left behind.
Draco took his time after classes today going to the library. While he wanted to be friends with Hermione, he didn't want to seem overly eager to hang out with her, as interesting as he found her. He realized though when he got to the library, they should have at least determined where in the library they should meet up as he was unsure where her usual spot was. He walked past Madam Pince and the study tables that were mostly empty as students were still wondering what to do now that the day school day was over until they could go to the next Hogsmeade trip tomorrow. He didn't see Hermione in one of the open tables which he was grateful for. They hadn't discussed it, but the last thing either of them needed was the whole student body knowing about them becoming chums all of a sudden.
Draco walked past the many aisles with books, the first few aisles had a few of the younger years in them but it quickly became completely deserted the further he walked. He almost went down an aisle leading to the other side of the library, thinking she would not have been so far in to the library, until he until he heard books slamming and voices coming from behind the restricted section. Draco, being the busybody he was, slipped into the restricted section and into an aisle he was positive was right on the other side of the arguing party. With the books being in their special, gated shelves, he couldn't see the other side but he could hear them clearly trying to keep their voices down and failing.
"You can't stay mad at us!" The voice was male and familiar, but Draco couldn't put his finger on it.
"And why not?" Draco knew the suppressed, shrilly voice to be Hermione's even if the books between them kept her voice muffled. "I'm not allowed to ignore you for months like you did me?"
"Because we tried apologizing to you, 'Mione!" It was another male voice, and by the cadence of it he recognized it to be Ron's. Draco knew that if Ron was there, the other male voice had to be Harry. "I only wanted for you to apologize for Scabbers and admit that Crookshanks-"
"Where you going to admit that you and Harry were shoving Crookshanks into cabinets when I wasn't looking?" Draco's eyes widened at that. "So not only did I have to wait until March for you to talk to me, you were being cruel to an innocent cat?"
"That's not fair, we've tried talking to you since Sunday-" Ron interrupted, his determination wavering, and Draco rolled his eyes.
Hermione continued as if Ron had not spoke. "Tell me," Hermiones voice shook and Draco recognized she was going to start crying again. "If I hadn't fallen off Astronomy Tower Saturday, would you be trying to apologize?" Draco winced at that even though the question was not at him and he inched closer to the shelf waiting to hear their answer.
Neither Harry nor Ron spoke for a moment. Draco could hear Hermione's sniffling as she waited. When one of the boys spoke, it was Harry. "What were you doing at the top of Astronomy Tower?"
Hermione went completely silent for a second before a sob escaped. Idiots. "Get out."
"'Mione-"
"I said. Go. Away. I don't want to talk to either of you. I don't have to accept your apologies." Draco felt like he could hear the dams in her voice that were trying to hold back the floodgate of tears her body wanted to cry.
"Please talk-" Ron tried again but there was the sound of a book slamming loudly."
"Go away before I start yelling for Madam Pince!" Almost immediately, Draco heard the foot steps of Harry and Ron retreating down the aisle and Draco had only a few seconds to press himself into the shelf and hope they didn't notice him as they passed by. They didn't due to them both keeping their heads low as they rushed out, whispering to each other.
With her two housemates gone, Hermione burst into heart wrenching sobs, but she sounded as if she was trying to muffle the sounds in her robe sleeves. Draco stood there for a moment, debating if he should go around the corner and make his presence known or if he should act as if he stood her up. He hated having to deal with Pansy's crying, and there was always the possibility of Hermione not wanting anyone to be around her like last Saturday. Draco looked up at the high ceiling of the library, letting his head hit the books behind him. Draco knew he couldn't treat Hermione like he would Pansy and he knew if it was Pansy in hysterics for any of her usual reasons, he would walk away. He stood there for a moment, trying to ignore her sobs as he collected what courage he had and walked around the shelf.
Hermione was seated at the chair closest to the wall and window, borderline hyperventilating as she couldn't breath properly through her robe sleeves. Draco walked over to her and cast muffliato. "No one will be able to hear us with that charm." Draco didn't want Hermione to feel like she was disrupting the library with her crying and used a plural pronoun instead of a singular one.
Hermione immediately removed her arm from her mouth as a wail escaped her throat, causing Draco to wince at the loud sound. Hermione tried apologizing for scaring him, but her breathing patterns were too abnormal, "I'm so-so, s-s-s, sor," Draco watched her for a moment before he grabbed her hands as they started to wave wildly in front of her.
Draco had seen one of her panic attacks before and hoped what is mother taught him would work. "Hermione, you need to take even breaths." Hermione looked up at Draco suddenly, with her eyes wide and forced her body to listen. It took a few failed attempts, but she was able to get the hang of breathing in and out properly. "That's good." Draco let go of her hands and Hermione watched them return to his side of the desk. Suddenly unsure of what to do with his hands, he picked up a book that she had piled next to her, Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality.
He flipped open to the table of contents, looking for a chapter that looked like a promising starting point when she finally spoke. "You called me Hermione." Draco looked up at her then, then out of the window, not wanting to meet her intense stare. He thought back to what he just did and realized he had called her that on accident. "And you didn't wipe your hands off after touching me like you usually do."
Draco glanced back at her then out the window again, suddenly interested in the grime building up in the corner of the glass. He liked being the center of attention, but not this kind of attention. "Am I not allowed?" He refused to bring up that they agreed to be friends, in the event she thought about Ron and Harry again, causing her to cry harder.
"Only if I can't call you by your first name." He looked up at her and she gave a weak smile. Her face was red and blotchy but he liked how long her dark eyelashes were when wet. It was a weird thing to notice when she was emotionally distraught and an even weirder thing for him to think. "Would that be alright, Draco?"
Hearing his name come from her was something else he found weird but he didn't shy away from the fact that he liked it. He would try to suppress his other thoughts except that one. "I suppose that would be fine." He gave her a smile and she grabbed the other book she had, playfully smacking his arm with it. She gave a small laugh which he followed up with a weak one.
Hermione opened up the book she had along with the parchment on the desk to start taking notes. Draco thought about telling her then he hated being hit, even when horsing around, but hardly found the moment appropriate. Instead he allowed the only sound to come from either of them were their quills on the parchment, as they took notes until the sun had set and there was no more candle light to burn- forcing them to go to the main hall for dinner.
InsideTheFridge: I'm so happy to hear it isn't triggering for you and thank you. It's something I have also experienced and honestly, this fic does help with me getting those feelings out (although some chapters have triggered me) so if you do write a fic with depression/ suicide attempts in it, be careful. I wouldn't mind reading it either!
I love writing the Malfoys tbh. They're alot of fun lol.
Schaevon: I GOT YOU LOL
Alice Helena: It really is the worst feeling.
:)))))
Guest: Thank you for reading :D
FaeGhostReader: You got it lol
MotekElm: Done.
CharmedMistletoe: He really is and I am excited to write the world cup tbh.