1993 - Second Year
Hermione stood still, staring up at the dragon statue in front of her. Once she spotted Draco making his way out of the great hall, she waited a moment before she excused herself from the Gryffindor table and made her way after him. Although she had no idea where he had gone, Hermione could only guess he was heading to the same place she wanted to go too - his family's secret room - their old room.
She waited for nearly fifteen minutes outside of the room, staring into the eyes of the statue. Her heart pounded against her chest, it had been months since she stepped foot into the room in front of her and she wasn't even sure if she still could. Another minute went by as she tried to build up the courage to step forward and she inhaled deeply. Before she could slowly exhale she was quickly made aware of the burning inside her pocket, something she hadn't felt for a while. Reaching in, she pulled out a note, scrawled in Draco familiar handwriting. It read, 'Meet me in our room, we need to talk.'
Hermione inhaled once more as she stepped forward and pushed past the veil and into the room. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the dim light but once they did, she spotted Draco from across the room. He sat on the armchair next to the fire, his body leant forward, elbows resting on his knees as he stared into the flames. She soon realised that her presence had gone unnoticed as she moved further into the room and her eyes remained on the Slytherin in front of her.
She cleared her throat, causing his head to spin in her direction and his eyes glued to hers as he rose from his seat.
"That was quick." He said.
Hermione breathed a small laugh through her nose. She could not only feel but see the awkwardness emitting from him, he looked as uncomfortable as she felt.
"I was already outside when you sent the note," She told him, trying to maintain a serious tone.
"Ah, right," he said lamely. She watched as his arm went up to the back of his head, his hand resting at the top of his neck whilst his other hand slid into his pocket as he awkwardly fidgeted on the spot.
"So... you asked me to come here?" Hermione went on. She knew why he had asked her there, of course, but she wanted to make him squirm just a little while longer. He looked back up at her and removed his hand from the back of his head, placing it in his other pocket.
"Yes.. erm... Well, I needed to speak to you," He started, the faintest sign of a blush appeared on his cheeks. "I wanted to apologise, I wanted to -"
"You're a complete ass, Draco Malfoy." Hermione interrupted, causing Draco to inhale sharply and stare wide-eyed at her. A small smile started to grow on her lips before it turned into a grin.
"You - you heard me?" Draco asked frantically, moving closer to her whilst she nodded, "How?!"
"It's hard to explain. At first, I thought it was a dream but then, in the great hall, the way you looked at me. You haven't looked at me like that since the start of the year. So I thought I'd follow you here to confront you, to see if it really happened," she told him. His mouth still hung open as she continued, "I can remember the conversations that happened around me but I don't remember the faces. I didn't see anything."
Draco finally closed his mouth and shook his head before he made his way over to the window seat, sitting down with his body turned to Hermione.
"So, did you mean it?" She asked, joining him at the window, "What you said to me in the hospital?"
"I meant all of it," he told her and she blushed as she looked down towards her now fidgeting hands. "I really am sorry, for everything."
"I know. You don't have to say it again, I know how uncomfortable apologising makes you feel," she chuckled.
"But I mean it, I just want to start over... Do you think that's possible?" he asked with hope in his eyes. Hermione looked back up at him and stared at him for a moment. He had done a lot to hurt her, said a lot but she could feel how sorry he was. She trusted that he regretted everything he had done.
"I haven't said my response to your first confession yet." She watched as his face fell slightly before he nodded for her to continue, "On the train to Hogwarts, I did not ask Fred nor George to take the piss out of you for my entertainment - "
"I know that now, I just-"
"Draco, this is going to take forever if you keep interrupting me," She said in a stern voice.
He snapped his jaw shut and looked down at his lap as she continued.
"As I was saying, I appreciate that our friendship left us in a bit of a predicament when our other friends were around, but I would never have encouraged people to make fun of you. As for the situation with the Pixies - if I'm honest - no I didn't think about you for a second when Lockhart let them loose, because you're very skilled in what magic you already know. I couldn't imagine you being in Neville's position when you know as much as you do already. Whereas Ron, he doesn't know as much, he was right next to me and he has a broken wand. I shouldn't have to explain myself, those actions should not have been a cause for the words you said afterwards." Hermione took a deep breath and tried to steady her ever-quickening heart rate as she relived the past few months over again in her head.
"When you called me a Mudblood, it hurt. Not just because of the word, I've been called it before by Blaise and it didn't hurt half as much when he said it. It hurt because we were friends, I considered you just as much a friend if not more than Harry and Ron. We have discussed my blood status time and time again, so for the words to fall so easily out of your mouth... Its something I'll never be able to forget Draco."
He turned to look at her with hurt in his eyes. His expression only distracted her from what she wanted to say and so she stood up to walk away from him.
"When I found out you wanted me to be the person that got killed, well - it was the final nail on the coffin. Whether you meant it or not, to find out that someone you once considered a close friend would happily see you dead as some sort of joke..." Hermione could feel the tears building up in eyes and she tried to blink them away.
"Hermione I didn't mean it, I told you why I said that -"
"I know that now, but it doesn't change the fact that I went for weeks believing that's how you felt. What happens if we have another argument in the future? Are you going to call me a Mudblood every time I piss you off? Write off our friendship every time Pansy whispers in your ear?"
"No of course not, I've learnt my lesson-"
"What happens after this summer, when we go a whole two months without seeing each other and we get back to school with you thinking something has changed again? How long will it be before you're snapping at me and laughing at me with your friends?"
"Hermione, stop!" Draco snapped as he stood up from his seat. She froze on the spot, her breathing so frantic now that it echoed through the room. He made his way over to her and stood in front of her with his hands fisted at his sides.
"Listen to me," He started, his voice clear and full of determination, "I won't do this to you again Hermione, I promise. I have learnt my lesson and I have apologised countless times. I won't intentionally hurt you, and by extension, myself, ever again. I need this friendship, I need my best friend back."
She looked up at him as he finished, he moved his hands forward and paused slightly just before her face, almost waiting for her permission. When she didn't say anything, he moved his hands to wipe away the tears that had fell down her cheeks.
In one swift movement, Hermione moved his hands away and launched herself forward, wrapping her arms around him as she hugged him closely and her head resting on his chest just below his chin. Draco didn't even have to think about reacting before his arms wrapped around her and he released a long breath, relaxing his shoulders that had been tense since the moment she had entered the room. They stood in silence like that for a few moments wrapped in each other's arms.
"I've missed you," she whispered to him.
"I've missed me too," he teased. She tried to pull away in protest but his arms only tightened his hold as he chuckled into her hair, "I'm kidding, I've missed you too."
After a few more moments they finally separated and moved back to their window seat. Hermione shifted to the back, pulling her legs up so that she was sat with them crossed, her hands in her lap. Draco stretched his legs out across the seat, watching her as she looked out of the window.
"I'd forgotten how beautiful this view could be, especially as the sun sets," She said quietly.
He smiled at the sight before him, content that he had his friend back. He watched as the low glow of the setting sun rested on her face, defining each freckle that laid upon her cheeks. The orange and red sky reflected off of her eyes, mixing with honey brown to make a warm colour that took Draco's breath away.
"So, Tom Riddles' Diary, explain." She turned back to him, a demanding tone to her voice.
'Trust her to ruin the moment,' he thought. He sighed before answering her question and repositioned himself to get comfy.
"A week before school started in September, I attended another meeting with my father. It was the last of seven or maybe eight, I can't remember. Anyway, in the meeting he told everyone about the diary, he said that the Dark Lord gave it to him before his downfall. Apparently, he told my father that it was the key to opening up the Chamber of Secrets. He didn't say how, only that he would one day call upon my father to use it but he died before that could happen. So my father decided that this year was the year he was going to use it, especially now that Potter is here."
"I remembered the stories he told me when I was little. They were similar to the stories most magical families would've been told, only my father told me what the monster was, he told me about the Basilisk. He told everyone in the meeting that he planned to send the diary to Hogwarts, that he would find his victim in Diagon Alley. I knew I had a limited amount of time to find the information I needed that would eventually help you. When I found it in our library, I then went to search for the same information in a book that wasn't in my library, so that I could remove the page without raising suspicion later down the line."
"So this was your father plan? He wanted to rid the school of Muggleborns and hoped that, what, Harry would be killed in the process?" Hermione asked and Draco nodded at her before he continued.
"He figured that Potter would find a way to get himself involved. He put the diary in Weaselettes cauldron in Diagon Alley, the day you saw us in Flourish and Blotts. I very nearly gave you the page there and then but I was too concerned I would get caught."
"Draco I appreciate the help regardless of when you gave it to me. Without your help I could've died, Ginny could've died too," Hermione told him.
He frowned, "Yes, but I should've told you sooner."
"Well, it was your mirror that stopped me from stepping out into the middle of the library and getting killed. It was your information that made me realize the final pieces, and then, later on, helped Ron and Harry to realise." Draco's face screwed up at the mention of their names, "Look, I know you don't like them very much-"
Draco snorted, "That's an understatement-"
"-But they're my friends too, don't make it difficult for me. I don't pull my face at your friends. Speaking of which, why is Blaise giving you such a hard time?" she asked.
"Like I said, he sees things. In first year, when you, Potty, and Weasel went on your little mission to find the Philosophers stone, as soon as you were back and in the hospital the whole school had found out about it. I couldn't help but react when he came back to the common room, laughing about it. He noticed my expression and I left not long after that, which raised more suspicion. Whenever someone mentions your name, if they say something nasty, sometimes I just ignore it but sometimes I can't control my face, and Blaise sees it. I snapped at him last year about it and he hasn't done it as much since, but Theo's made a comment and Pansy has too. I can tell his words don't get completely ignored by them, which is why I said what I said to Crabbe and Goyle."
She nodded, listening intently and Draco narrowed his eyes at her, "Come to think of it, how did you know that's what I'd said?"
Hermione blushed at his question. This was the one thing that she had hoped he wouldn't ask her, but she knew she could trust him. He was telling her so much, she couldn't help but do the same.
"We wanted to know who was opening the Chamber of Secrets. Ron was convinced you were the Heir of Slytherin. Harry wasn't far behind until he started to think it was himself when he was speaking parseltongue but he just wasn't aware of what he was doing. So I came up with a plan to find out and we drugged Crabbe and Goyle with cake. Once they were knocked out, Harry and Ron stole some of their hair and I added it to a Polyjuice potion I'd been brewing..." Hermione told him, his face turning from a mixture of shock to annoyance and then to amazement.
"So, when I stood there and asked them if there was anyone worse than Dumbledore..."
"Harry said himself," Hermione nodded.
"I did wonder why they were acting so weird, but why did they run off so quickly? They were barely there for 10 minutes."
"Because it took them so long to find the Slytherin common room that by the time they got there, the potion was pretty much wearing off."
Draco nodded at her, processing this new information. "Wait," he said as another piece fell into place, "So that night I came to the hospital wing and you were in bed with ears, was that a result of a Polyjuice Potion gone wrong?"
Hermione pinched her face, "Yes, I ended up with cat hair instead, which is why it took so long to wear off."
Draco started to laugh at her, unable to hide it behind his hand and she smacked his arm playfully. "Does Harry have an invisibility cloak?" Draco asked, rather off-topic.
"He does, why?"
"I followed my father down to Hagrid's the day he and Dumbledore were escorted off the premises and when they all left, Harry and Ron ran into the Forbidden Forest, but they just appeared out of thin air," Draco told her.
"It was a gift from his father," Hermione said and she watched as the confusion splashed across his face. "He left it with someone before he died."
Draco nodded at her and turned back to the window.
"So, your fathers getting you more involved then?" she asked.
"Yes, but we always knew that was going to happen." He sighed, "The meetings are just a bunch of former Death Eaters reminding each other about the good old days whilst they all argue with each other about who has the best plan to bring the Dark Lord back."
"Don't worry, they're not even close," he added as her face paled at the thought of Voldemort returning. "I hate that I have to go to them but I can't say no to my father."
She nodded at him, hating once more the situation his father put him in. "There was something I was wondering. It sounded like Professor Snape was in the hospital wing at one point, why? He doesn't hide his annoyance towards me. I'm his least favourite student, and that's saying something because I'm pretty sure he hates children in general."
Draco chuckled before he responded, "Yes, he was there to remind me that I'd been an idiot not to warn you sooner about what was happening. He knew my father had planned something and knew about it. He also knows from our previous Occlumency lessons that we had a close relationship. Snape warned me that one day, Father is going to ask something of me, and I'll need to decide what's more important; following his orders or saving the people I care about."
Hermione blushed once more as she listened to him, filled with worry for when that day may come, "Do you think he was in a similar situation? Perhaps he was presented with a choice and he made the wrong one. Its almost like he's warning you not to follow in his footsteps."
"Maybe... I haven't really thought about it but that does make sense. I'll ask him one day when he's in a good mood."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, the thought of Snape being in a good mood was funny to them both as they both broke out in laughter. Their laughter eventually died down and smiles remained on both of their faces.
"It's good to have you back, Granger," Draco told her.
"Don't backtrack now, you've called me Hermione so many times today!" she scolded him and he held up his hands in surrender.
"Sorry Hermione, It won't happen again," he winked at her.
"So, the summer holidays are coming up, am I still not going to be able to write to you?" Hermione asked, dreading the answer.
"I've decided to screw the old plan, we will write to each other. Don't sign any though, and send them the way you did last time - our way," he told her and a smile lit up her face.
"If you wanted, we could even meet up over the holidays?" Draco asked hesitantly and he nervously waited for the answer.
Hermione shifted in her seat, wondering how it would be possible. She was confident, however, that they would find a way, "That sounds lovely, two months is a long time not to see each other. I might just forget what you look like," She teased.
"You couldn't forget these dashing good looks," Draco joked, earning a cushion to the face from Hermione.
"Careful, otherwise I'll leave you off my list of people to see through the holidays!" Hermione laughed.
Draco sobered slightly as he remembered her other friends, "Hermione, I'm never going to be ok with Potter and Weasel, you know that, don't you?"
His words made her frown, "I don't understand why, but yes."
"I don't suppose Potter has had a chance to tell you what happened in his discussion with him and my father?" The look in Hermione's eyes clearly indicated that her answer was no.
"I wasn't aware he had even spoken with your father..."
"Well he did, the morning after he saved the Weaselette from the Chamber. Potter went to see Dumbledore and afterwards, he had a little confrontation with my father. Dobby, my house-elf was there." Draco paused, remembering that he was never going to see his favourite house-elf again. It made him feel uneasy, he would be returning home this year and be completely alone.
"When you were little and you got poorly, your parents would look after you, right? Bring your medicine, sit with you when you couldn't sleep, tuck you in once you'd drifted?" She nodded at his question.
"How about if you were grounded - scratch that, I can't imagine you ever getting grounded. What about nights where you weren't with your friends, your parents would play games with you? Entertain you?" she nodded once more.
"If you were upset about something, one of them would comfort you, cheer you up if need be?"
Confused, she nodded again and waited patiently for him to reach his point.
"My parents weren't like that for me, but Dobby was. Potter passed Tom Riddles diary back to my father knowing he would hand it to Dobby and he hid a sock inside."
The realisation of what Draco was saying to her dawned on her and her stomach dropped, "Draco I'm so sorry." She moved to put a hand on his arm to comfort him.
"It's not your fault. I suppose it's what's be and all because Potter felt like he had the right to make that decision. What's worse... Dobby was so happy to be free, I wonder if he even cared that he wouldn't see me again."
"Harry probably didn't realise what he was doing. I'm sure if he did, he wouldn't have done it." Hermione tried.
"He would," Draco told her, his tone serious. This wasn't an argument she wanted to engage in considering they had just made up.
"Well, I'm sorry, Draco. I know he meant a lot to you, even if you could never admit it and I'm sure you were just as important to him. Don't you think, though, that it's good he's been freed? I'm sure as important to you as he was, your father didn't feel the same way. I can only imagine how horrible it must be, to be a slave to someone like him."
Draco shoulders slumped at her words and realized she was right, "Yes, as much as I'll miss him, I know he had it much worse than I did."
"Hey, if you need someone to comfort you when you're at home, just write to me. I'll cheer you up," she said with a smile on her face and he chuckled at her efforts. "So its a deal then, I'll write to you and we will arrange a time and a place to meet over the holidays," Hermione said as she stood up.
"Its a date," He confirmed and rose to his feet to join her, she grinned and nodded at him.
"We better head back anyway. I've only just got out of the hospital, people will wonder where I am. If I don't see you before we head home, I expect a letter upon your arrival!" she said giddily before she hugged him once more. This one was shorter than their last, but they both needed it from being away from each other for so long.
"See you later, Hermione," he whispered as he let her go and Hermione turned and left the room. He wandered back to the window, unable to remove the smile from his face.
He had her back, his bushy-haired, know-it-all Gryffindor friend was back.
~X~
"I am absolutely dreading getting home. I've missed my parents but they're going to suffocate me!" Hermione told Harry and Ron as they sat on the Hogwarts Express heading back to Kings Cross.
"They'll be fine, they're just protective that's all," Ron tried to comfort her, but she knew what she was returning home to.
Her dad was the overprotective type who had expressed his concerns for her safety in her first year at Christmas break. She had spent the duration of the holidays convincing him that she would be fine in the wizarding world, no harm would come to her and she could handle things herself.
Once Hermione was petrified, Headmaster Dumbledore informed her parents of the situation. She had imagined the looks on their faces when they were told about what it meant to be petrified and how it happens. She was told by Madame Pomfrey that it had taken at least a week for her parents to eventually leave and trust that she was in capable hands. Once she was cured, if it wasn't for the fact that school was so closed to being finished and she would be home shortly, they would have stepped on the next train to see her.
"I know, it could be worse. I imagine your mum isn't even going to let Ginny out of the house this summer," She said to Ron.
"Well, luckily for her, our parents are taking us to Egypt for the summer. We leave the week after next, so there isn't anywhere for her to go without one of us anyway. That won't stop mum from watching her like a hawk though," Ron told her through a mouthful of chocolate.
"What're your plans for over the summer, Harry?" Harry turned to her once he managed to peel his eyes away from watching Ron try to swallow the load of chocolate he had shoved into his mouth.
"Nothing too exciting, I'll probably just hide under the stairs and stay out of Dudley's way. Plus, Uncle Vernon's sister is coming over and I'm not quite sure when that's happening. She is someone I will be staying well away from if I can help it," He responded.
"Do you think they'll let you see us this time? Or at least write to us?" She asked.
"I'm not sure, but at least this time I'm going to get any letters you send me."
"What happened to Dobby?" Hermione asked.
"Dumbledore offered him a job in the kitchens, he's getting paid and everything. Its a whole load better than where he was anyway."
She couldn't bring herself to comment. Although he may have been right, not being under the control of Lucius Malfoy was the best thing for Dobby, she couldn't help but feel sad when she thought about the little creature that Draco would be missing intensely this summer.
~X~
What're everyone's plans for the summer then?" Blaise asked his Slytherin friends as they all sat in the open compartments at the head of the train.
"My father is sending my mother and me to France for the first few weeks of the holidays like he does every year. I cannot wait to go shopping in Paris," Pansy squealed to herself and many eyes rolled around her.
"We have the annual Masquerade to look forward to, is Cissy hosting it this year?" Blaise asked Draco.
"Blaise, I don't know how many times I've told you this, stop calling my mother Cissy. You know she would slap you if she ever found out." Draco huffed, "But yes, she is hosting it this year. Which means when I arrive home, no doubt that will be the main topic of conversation so I shall be making myself scarce for the next few weeks until it's over with"
"Slap me? Cissy would never!" Blaise joked, "Well at least we can all get together, I say this year we make our own party down near the lake," he suggested to the group.
Crabbe and Goyle both nodded their heads enthusiastically and Draco stroked the side of his face whilst he pondered over what Blaise was saying. He debated how they would get away with sneaking away from the party without their parents noticing. He turned to his friend Theo who sat with his feet stretched out resting on the bench opposite him. His arms were folded with his head leant back in the seat and his hair was tied up out of his face, almost as if he was trying to sleep.
"Will there be alcohol at this party?" Theo asked as he felt multiple eyes burning into him as he tried to rest.
"We could sneak some, I could put it in place before the event, hide it down by the lake," Draco suggested.
"And will Narcissa allow for it?" Theo asked, again without opening his eyes.
The alcohol or the separate party?"
"Both."
"Well, no to the alcohol, but we can keep that a secret. Everyone will just have to refrain from getting overly drunk. The party... I'm not sure, I'll speak to her about it. I'll make up something about how their party is boring for us 'kids' and this would be an excellent bonding experience outside of school," Draco laughed, the plan seemed ridiculous but it could work.
"Ooo, I feel like I have to go outfit shopping now!" Pansy clapped her hands excitedly.
"Pansy, you've just said you're going to Paris, can't you find one there?" Blaise asked.
Pansy scowled at him as she waved his question off without giving him a reply, "Daphne, come shopping with me for an outfit?" Pansy asked the tall, dark-haired girl that sat in the compartment behind her.
"I suppose..." Daphne drawled.
"Hey Greengrass, you do realise this means you'll have to get your head out of that book to come and have fun with the rest of us?" Theo said to Daphne as he opened his eyes.
"Are you going?" She asked Theo, moving her book slightly to the side to get a better look at him.
"Of course," he winked at her.
Her face remained blank as she moved back behind her book, "Well then, I can't imagine there's going to be much fun to be had with you around, Theodore."
Draco and Blaise shot eyes and shocked expressions at each other before they both turned to Theo and burst out in fits of laughter. Theo finally closed his jaw from the shock, clenching it before he scowled at his friends. Not long after, he relaxed once more and closed his eyes, returning to his previous position.
"Any other plans Draco?" Blaise asked, changing the subject as they both calmed down from their laughter.
"Not really, I imagine I'll be doing the usual, attending meetings with father, travelling to France with mother for a week. Same shit, different year," Draco answered, looking very uninterested.
He left out the part he was most excited about - his plan to meet up with Hermione. He turned away from his friends and looked out of the window whilst he tried to figure out where he was going to meet her. He smiled to himself as he thought about the perfect place he could take her where nobody would find them.
"What're you grinning about over there?" Blaise asked with a mischievous smile on his face.
"Just thinking about the party," Draco lied before turned back to look out the window.
Author Note:
Disclaimer - I do not own the world of Harry Potter, I wish I did, but I don't.
MASSIVE shout out to KoraKunkle for being the best beta through all of this!