Draco is going to be a bit of a prat for a bit...be patient...all will be revealed!
Saturday morning was bright and sunny, and Hermione groaned as she rolled over in bed—trying to burrow herself under her covers for a few more precious minutes of sleep.
She hadn't slept much the past two nights, her mind reluctant to shut off and stop overthinking her decision to lock away that damn memory in Malfoy's subconscious. His voice inside her head at the beginning of their silent exchange had been amused and playful but at the end—it lacked emotion.
He'd sounded resigned.
Distant.
Hermione knew she didn't need to feel guilty about her decision...Draco Malfoy was not part of the equation that was her life. She had Harry and Theo and Adrian...who she was excited to see today!
Deciding to let it go for now, she went to get ready for the day.
When she got near the Great Hall—she noticed Parkinson walking in with Shardlow and Edgecombe. All three of them giving her icy stares, while Hermione just smirked at them. All three witches got dentition with their respective Head's of Houses for the remainder of term every Saturday and a Sunday evening for two hours. Dumbledore had Minerva come to her for the counter-jinx—which she'd been reluctant to do but hadn't wanted to get points taken away for Gryffindor House.
All three girls were essential back to normal except for Marietta's scar on her forehead. Hermione had refused to lift that hex as it had nothing to do with the incident in question.
Dumbledore had given some kind of speech about tolerance and some other such rubbish and when he was done, she had politely informed his he could take it up with her Grandmother if he was so inclined.
Her Grandmother, having been informed of the incident had sent letters to all three witch's families and Hermione could only imagine what the fall-out from that was going to be.
As she made her way inside...breakfast was in full swing and looking around—her gaze caught on Theo's who smiled and nodded. When her eyes landed on Malfoy, he glanced up at her with a blank stare and then went back to his breakfast.
That was odd?
Shrugging, she made her way to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Harry.
"Hey." Harry greeted with a soft smile until her got a closer look at his sister. "You're looking a bit tired. Sleeping okay?"
Hermione nodded. She hadn't told Harry about the other night, as she didn't want to get any grief from him and knowing Harry as she did, he might try and confront Malfoy—which wouldn't be a good idea since the Slytherin had no memory of the previous nights exploits.
"What are you doing today?" She asked.
"Ron and I are going to the pitch after I do my Hogsmeade rounds this morning. You get Theo to hang out today?"
"It'll be fine Harry."
Her brother nodded and let the topic drop as he finished his breakfast, so she did the same. When she was finished, Hermione made her way over to the Slytherin table which she'd never done previously but figured it would be easier to catch Theo before she headed back upstairs to grab a few things.
"Hey Theo."
"Hey Hermione, what's up?"
Hermione's eye caught Blaise's, who nodded in greeting while Malfoy just ignored her presence all together.
He was talking with some witch she wasn't familiar with.
"I'm meeting Adrian this morning at Hogsmeade around eleven at the Three Broomsticks. Harry is doing patrols."
"Okay. I'll walk you down—just meet me in the courtyard in about an hour."
"Sure." She smiled and left, unsure why she was feeling so uncomfortable all of a sudden.
That feeling persisted throughout the morning and when she and Theo finally made their way down to Hogsmeade and the Three Broomsticks—Adrian was waiting for her with a bouquet of flowers and a large grin on his face.
"There you are, little witch." He sauntered over and reached for her hand, placing a heated kiss on the back of her knuckles while his eyes raked over her outfit with appreciation.
She had chosen to wear a tartan skirt that just fell to her knee caps. The colors of dark brown, tan and creme—offset her creme colored fitted sweater with a scoop neckline and bell sleeves. Her stockings were a creme silk with garters and a matching bra that was fairly demure. Her dragonhide boots were simple buckled two inch knee length, that were also dark brown.
She had pulled her hair back into a long low ponytail and her makeup was simple, but minimal.
Adrian was wearing casual dress robes, charcoal slacks and a white fitted shirt under a crew neck deep evergreen sweater. His dragonhide shoes were polished perfectly and his hair was windswept causally. He made effortless cool look chic without trying too hard.
"Hello Adrian."
Her wizard handed over the flowers and nodded the Theo.
"How's school going, Theo?"
"Good." Her cousin grinned. "So far it's been fairly straightforward."
"That's always a good thing." Adrian clapped his friend on the shoulder. "I thought we'd hit up Honeydukes and then perhaps Scrivenshafts. There's a new bookstore just opened on the far side of High Street just down the way from Tomes and Scrolls."
"Really?" Hermione eyes gleamed with interest and Adrian smiled.
"Yes. Perhaps we could have lunch first though, before I lose you for a few hours?"
Hermione blushed, while Theo chuckled knowingly.
"You're a brave wizard, mate. Going into a bookstore with Hermione. You might never find her again!"
Hermione just glared at her cousin before smirking and sending a wandless stinging jinx his way.
Theo yelped, then rubbed his backside with a petulant scowl.
"Impressive." Adrian chuckled as he took Hermione's arm into his. "I have your gift in my robes and I will give it to you a bit later. I'm afraid if I give it to you now, I'll miss my chance of spending a few hours in your company today."
Hermione lifted an intrigued eyebrow and said, "Is it a book?"
Adrian just leant down and kissed the tip of her nose affectionately and winked...but didn't answer the question.
Sneaky Slytherin.
They did make it into Honeydukes and browsed the aisles, Adrian asking what her favorites were. Hermione picked out a few things: sugar quills, ice mice and fizzing whizzbees while Adrian grabbed a couple pumpkin pasties and a cauldron cake.
When they got to Scrivenshafts, Hermione browsed some of the new journals they had. One was a very nice leather bound, with the Gryffindor crest on it. Adrian teased her about it and then handed her a Slytherin one which caused them both to snicker at how even in a stationary store, the separation of Houses was still a very real thing.
Theo just followed and watched his cousin with Adrian and he had to admit—they looked good together. It was clear that Adrian was besotted with Hermione—while she was flattered by his interest, and attracted to his intelligence and good looks.
But there was something missing that Theo couldn't quite put his finger on.
So he followed them and observed quietly and when it was time for lunch, he excused himself so could have a few moments alone together.
"Theo really seems to have genuinely found a place with you." Adrian said as he watched his fellow Slytherin go over to where Harry and Ron were sitting with Ginny, Dean and Seamus. It wasn't too long later that Luna came and joined them.
"Yes," Hermione admitted with a soft smile, "he seems to smile more and in general is happier, I think."
"That's good. Theo has always been a bit of a loner—which is strange for being an Heir to a Sacred 28 House, but his Father doesn't seem to be too concerned about finding Theo a betrothal."
"I just think that's so odd."
Adrian pulled her a bit closer to his side as he placed a sweet kiss to her temple.
"Love, I know all this is a bit odd for you."
Hermione melted into Adrian's side as she linked her hand with his under the table.
"I suppose that's true." She hummed as Adrian gently caressed her fingers in and out with his own. "But oddly enough, I'd be lying if I didn't say that there has been some unexpectedly positive things that have happened too."
"Such as?"
Hermione's gaze wandered for a second as she noticed Malfoy walking into the the pub with a witch on his arm. Her expression faltered for a second as she recognized the witch as the same one he'd been talking to this morning.
"Who's that?"
Adrian looked over and followed Hermione's gaze to the entrance and he chuckled.
"That is Therese Rowle. She's a seventh year Slytherin."
"Isn't Thorfinn Rowle her brother?" Hermione's mouth thinned into a grimace at the thought of the burly Slytherin who had tormented her quite a bit her first year and his seventh.
"Yes, younger sister. I didn't know that she and Draco were seeing each other?"
Neither did Hermione—and as she watched Draco move across the room with the leggy blonde who had piercing blue eyes and a figure to die for—she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
"They look good together." Adrian mused, as he caught Malfoy's eye and the younger wizard lifted his chin in greeting before heading their way.
Hermione inwardly groaned at Malfoy's approach, while another part of her eyed the other witch and felt herself severely lacking as a result.
Those breasts couldn't be real? Could they?
Shaking her head, she turned her face towards Adrian and waited for the banal pleasantries to pass so she could get back to her date.
"Adrian." Malfoy drawled.
"Hey Draco. How have you been?"
"Good." Draco smirked at his mate but when his eyes landed on Hermione, his expression closed off completely. "You remember Therese?"
"I do." Adrian stood up and greeted his former classmate. "How have you been?"
"Very well." The blonde witch purred in her throaty, sexy voice that made Hermione want to groan.
There was no way that was her normal voice!
The blonde Slytherin witch looked down her nose at her and Hermione just stared back mutinously.
"I had heard you and the Prewett Heiress were seeing each other." Therese patted Draco's arm and then rubbed her hand along it.
"Hermione and I have been seeing each other since summer, which you would've known had you not been away all season. But please allow me to formally introduce you both. Hermione Prewett this is Therese Rowle. Her brother Thorfinn plays Quidditch for the English team. I do believe that was where you were all summer?"
"Yes." She smiled at Adrian genuinely before her blue eyes locked with Hermione's. "I do believe my brother might've mentioned you once or twice some years ago, Miss Prewett. Of course, you went by another name at that time."
The older witch's smirk was clearly meant to infer exactly what kind of name that was.
Hermione noticed Draco stiffen as he gently placed a warning hand over the blonde witch's own, and Hermione noticed the Slytherin witch bow her head slightly at the silent reprimand.
"If you'll both excuse us. I promised Therese lunch."
"Of course." Adrian's friendly demeanor was a bit less so, as he nodded to his friend and his date. "Good to see you mate."
"You too."
Malfoy then gave Hermione a dismissive nod of his head before moving away with the buxom blonde.
"She's a charmer." Hermione deadpanned and Adrian snickered.
"Not really, but most of the young wizard's in Slytherin have tried to court the witch. She's Sacred 28 so..."
"Her choice of suitors."
Adrian nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I wouldn't have pegged Draco as being one though."
"Why not?"
"Therese is pretty to be sure, but she's not exactly intelligent. I think 'vapid and pretentious' was a description that Draco used at one point last year."
"Then why is he with her?"
Adrian chuckled at Hermione's confused look and leant down to whisper into her ear suggestively.
"Therese does love a good snog now and then. She's rather fond of broom closets too."
Hermione moved her head back sharply with a long look that was not exactly disgusted...more disdainful.
"So you're saying the only reason Malfoy is spending time with her is in the hopes to snog the witch?"
"Normally I'd say yes, but Draco has never been one of those wizard's. He and Pansy did snog a bit last year, but it wasn't anything serious."
"Oh." Now she was confused.
And Hermione definitely didn't like feeling this confused about anything regarding Draco Malfoy.
Time to change the subject.
"Do I get my gift now?"
Adrian chuckled at pulled out the package from his robes, enlarging it before handing it to her.
Hermione grinned as she opened the package carefully, her eyes widening in surprise as the gift was revealed to her.
"Oh Adrian! Where did you get this?"
"Are you familiar with Dirk Cresswell?"
Hermione shook her head in the negative.
"He's the head of the Goblin Liason Office at the Ministry. He's also Muggleborn. I started my internship this year for my Magical Law license and I'm working with Dirk. Learning the different laws to do with Gringotts, banking and contracts. Anyway, I told him that we were seeing each other and he recognized the name Hermione Granger immediately. I explained that I wanted to find this book and he was very helpful getting me in contact with a wizard who works with a rare books store in Muggle London. Harrington's I think..."
"Peter Harrington."
Adrian nodded. "Yes. I told them what I wanted and they were able to track this down for me. I hope you like it."
"I love it!" Hermione gazed down in wonder at the first edition of Jane Eyre. It was in fairly good condition too. She couldn't imagine how many galleons this must have cost.
She leant up and kissed Adrian lightly on the lips and blushed at his pleased smirk.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome love."
Hermione beamed and tilted her head down on Adrian's shoulder, feeling his lips as he placed a couple gentle kisses on the crown of her head.
Smirking, Hermione waved her hand and erected a privacy charm as well as a silencing spell.
"Kiss me." She whispered and Adrian's eyes widened as he looked around but no one was paying them any mind.
"Love, we're in public."
"I erected a few charms to keep out the onlookers for a few minutes."
"Oh?" His grin went from playful to wolfish instantly.
"Oh." She mimed back and tilted her head up in an unspoken offering, which Adrian didn't prevaricate about taking advantage of...deepening the kiss almost immediately upon contact.
Gripping her hands into his hair, she felt her body hum nicely as she returned her wizard's affections.
They stayed like that for several minutes just taking sustenance from each other until Adrian groaned unhappily and pulled back.
"Wicked witch," his eyes were bright, mouth swollen and hair mussed from how vigorously Hermione had run her fingers through it. "But I'm not complaining."
Her blush couldn't be helped as the look Adrian was giving her was positively sinful.
Clearing her throat primly, Hermione did her very best to put them both back to rights before cancelling the privacy spells. When she finally gazed up, no one was paying them any mind or looking their way except Malfoy...who's expression was...
Emotionless.
Hermione averted her eyes downward and bit her lip and the sickening pit growing in her stomach.
Would she never be able to look at Malfoy again and not feel guilty for what she'd done?
Did it matter since he'd agreed?
But there was a little voice inside her head that whispered bitterly, you didn't give him a choice. Not really. You didn't even give him a chance to take a vow, or take him at his word. Theo told you that Malfoy was loyal to those who were loyal to him. You've seen his mind. There's no way he could've betrayed your secret. You didn't give him a chance and you'll have to live with the consequences of that decision.
Consequences?
Shaking her head slightly, Hermione decided she was being ridiculous. There was no way she could trust Draco Malfoy after everything he'd done.
Right?
Adrian had walked with she and Theo back to the castle later that afternoon and gave her a kiss goodbye, promising to write. She thanked him again for the lovely gift and waved as he walked back down towards Hogsmeade...turning every few steps to give her a wink, or a smile.
When he was finally out of sight, Theo pulled her with him inside the castle and the two of them meandered for a bit before dinner started.
The Great Hall was fairly full of students by the time Hermione took her seat and she was happy to see her friends laughing and joking with each other. Ron seemed particularly pleased.
"Practice is coming along great Mione. Tryouts are next Saturday afternoon at two. You gonna come and watch like you promised?"
Hermione just smiled and nodded. "I'm happy to come and watch, Ron."
"You can come watch Weasley and I go head to head...Prewett. I'm sure the better wizard will end up on top."
Cormac winked at her and Hermione just rolled her eyes while Ron scowled.
"Just ignore him Ron." Hermione mumbled lowly. "He's just trying to get under your skin."
There was a burst of laughter down the table where Cormac was sitting with a couple other seventh year boys and Katie Bell—who was sitting with Faye Dunbar and Alicia Spinnet. Katie looked down her way and mimicked Hermione's expression.
Harry had decided he was going to start from scratch this year and that anyone who wanted to try out could do so. Katie, having been a chaser previously had been fine with it. Ginny was also trying out for a chaser slot and there were a few seventh year Gryffindor boys who had been chomping at the bit to try out for the beater positions now that Fred and George were gone.
"I'll never understand why you get so worked up about Quidditch."
Ron snorted, while Harry just grinned at his sister. "You could play, you know?"
The dismayed and disgusted look on Hermione's face had all within her house—who had heard Harry's offer, laughing hysterically—while she just folded her arms over her chest and scowled.
"That's not funny, Brother Mine."
"So is." He quipped back easily. "How was your date with Adrian?"
Hermione tried her best to tamp down the tell-tale blush that wanted to break free as she replied, "It was lovely, thank you."
"I'll bet it was." Ron grumbled getting an incredulous glare from his cousin and best friend.
"Ignore him." Ginny piped in, before her eyes narrowed at something across the way. "I'm more intrigued with Malfoy's new paramour."
"Huh?" Ron looked over at his sister like she was mad, while Hermione just stared down at her plate refusing to engage in any speculation about Malfoy's love life.
"Malfoy was at the Three Broomsticks with Therese Rowle. Everyone was gossiping about it this afternoon. Apparently everyone is speculating that they might be courting officially."
Lavender peeked her head around Ginny to give her two knuts to the discussion.
"Therese was briefly linked to some Drumstrang Wizard this last summer in the Prophet but no one really knows for sure what that was all about. They do appear cosy."
Hermione tilted her head up and glanced over at the Slytherin table, immediately noticing Malfoy and Rowle's heads together discussing something. The witch was smiling and Malfoy had that infuriating smirk on his face.
That damn pit in her stomach was back, and she grabbed her glass of pumpkin juice to take a fortifying swallow before trying her very best to ignore the remaining chatter going on around her.
It was another month before she started to realize that this unsettled feeling might be more than just misplaced guilt.