A few days later, Malfoy was fully healed and back to his normal schedule of classes and brewing, which hadn't surprised Hermione but what had was the fact that when she'd gone back to the infirmary to see him the next afternoon, which was a Sunday...Sally was sitting there with a couple of her friends and they were all laughing and having a good time.
The young Gryffindor has brought Malfoy some sweets which he took with a nod of thanks and when Sally left, she told Malfoy that she was glad that he was 'okay' and to try and not hurt himself too badly next time.
He'd just winked at her and said, "I won't make empty promises kiddo, but I'll do my very best to be a bit more careful in the future."
Sally's smile had left Hermione feeling several things simultaneously.
She was thrilled that Sally had found a friend in Malfoy, but there was another smaller part of her too, that felt cheated and angry that Malfoy had never been that kind to her when she was just Hermione Granger...Muggleborn.
Her mood hadn't improved much after that encounter and she'd been unusually quiet, ignoring the worried looks of her cousins and friends as they watched her with concern.
Even Malfoy knew something was up, but he wisely didn't comment on it either.
Wednesday morning Adrian's owl swooped in during breakfast to drop off a letter. She smiled softly as she took it and placed it into her book bag, deciding to read it later after classes were done for the day.
When she got to Runes, Theo was waiting for her as always.
Setting down her bookbag first, before reaching in and grabbing her assignment for the class period, she could see Theo staring at her.
"What?" She whispered and Theo shrugged.
"You seem off this week," he admitted with a small sigh. "Did something happen I need to know about?"
Hermione shook her head in the negative. She didn't need to share with Theo how ridiculous she was feeling because of some petty perceived slight that was in the past and couldn't be undone.
"I'm fine." She put her hand up to stop Theo's comment. "Just contemplative this week about some stuff."
"Good stuff?"
She shook her head again.
"Oh." He nodded and grabbed his quill, as he pondered what to say.
"It's fine, Theo. I'm just having a mental moment or three. I suppose with all the changes recently, it's inevitable that certain things would hit me unawares. I'm still processing."
"I can understand that." He lifted his lips in a half-smile. "You can talk to me though. You know that, right?"
Hermione patted his arm in solidarity. "I know Theo. I'm sure this is just a passing issue."
He nodded again, but didn't comment as Professor Babbling came into the room and got everyone's attention.
Then the rest of the class provided the necessary distraction that Hermione needed.
Transfiguration followed, a class she had with Malfoy, Theo, Harry and Ron...not to mention several other Slytherins and Gryffindors. She sat with Harry and Ron, as they went over the bird conjuring charm.
"So we say the spell oppungno, right?" Ron mumbled and Hermione grinned and nodded.
"Yes. Just wave your wand like this," She mimicked the wand movement with her hand and Ron nodded. "Then say the spell."
Ron tried it several times, but only got a burst of feathers shooting out of his wand on his last attempt causing both Harry and Hermione to snort in amusement as their red-headed friend choked on the feathers.
Professor McGonagall just pursed her lips and shook her head as she moved around the room helping the other students.
Harry's offering was only slightly better as he actually managed to conjure a single sickly bird, who made a pitiful sound and burst into feathers too...causing the entire room to guffaw in chortles.
Shaking her head, Hermione just smiled at her two best friends. "Well done."
"Shut it, Mione," Ron groused out petulantly as he pulled a feather off his jumper. "You do it then, you're so much smarter?"
"She is, Ron." Harry grinned as Hermione glared at Ron, but to his credit...Ron just lifted an eyebrow and said, "Well?"
The room went quiet as Hermione sighed and waved her hand, conjuring a while flock of yellow canaries causing Professor McGonagall to clap her hand proudly and announce, "Well done, Miss Prewett. Ten points to Gryffindor."
"What a show off," Hermione heard Pansy mutter under her breath to Therese Rowle, as the older witch sneered at her hatefully.
"Pumped up mudblood." Therese said scathingly and Hermione felt her blood boil as she glared at the two witches in earnest.
Her eye caught Theo and Malfoy's, as they were also glowering at their housemates in ire.
"She'll always be nothing but a mudblood." Pansy said with a triumphant smirk and before Hermione could second guess her actions, she said darkly, "oppugno" and watched in amusement as the canaries swarmed and then flew straight for the two witches.
Their screams were rather enjoyable.
McGonagall's expression was not as she waved her wand to vanish the birds and bit out with a tinge of disappointment, "Miss Prewett. That kind of behavior is unacceptable. Fifteen points from Gryffindor and you will be serving detention with me on Friday evening."
Hermione pursed her lips and nodded at her Head of House, secretly not upset in the slightest as she noticed everyone in the class laughing at Rowle and Parkinson. Their faces were bleeding, as were their arms and hands where they'd tried to cover themselves from the attack.
"Mr. Nott," McGonagall said primly, "please see Miss Rowle and Miss Parkinson to the infirmary and then return to class immediately."
Theo nodded and smirked at his cousin, giving her a subtle eye wink before he led his two whimpering housemates out of the classroom.
"Nice one, Mione," Ron grinned as Harry nodded his agreement too.
"Thank you, Ronald."
"No problem. I've said it before Mione. You're brilliant and scary."
The chuckles and nods throughout the room were rather funny.
"And she's got a mean right hook too." Malfoy quipped easily, causing Harry and Ron's heads to move up and down most enthusiastically.
Hermione blushed deeply and turned back towards the front of the class, suddenly shy of being the center of attention.
Theo returned about ten minutes later and class was dismissed not long after that.
As they walked out of the classroom, Theo bumped his shoulder with her's.
"That was oddly satisfying."
"Theodore!"
"What?" He replied, clearly not sorry for his comment. "They're two biddies that deserve each other. Despite being Slytherin, neither one of them are very intelligent nor particularly good at self-preservation and whilst green is our House color, it doesn't suit them well right now...does it?"
Hermione snorted and then covered her nose and mouth with her hand at the unladylike sound.
But Theo just laughed.
As did Harry, Ron and Malfoy.
"Are we done here?" She bit out eventually, trying to ignore the face that her face probably resembled a really red tomato right about now.
"Sure."
The five of them got as far as the staircases when Harry spoke up. "Are you going to Slughorn's Christmas Party, Malfoy?"
The Slytherin nodded.
"I was planning on it, why?."
"Slughorn mentioned that the Minister might be there."
Draco lifted an eyebrow in surprise, but didn't comment.
Even Theo and Ron seemed surprised by the information.
The quintet eventually found themselves at the library, and Hermione was quick to excuse herself as she wanted to get started on her Arithmancy homework that was due next week.
When she found her usually spot that overlooked the Black Lake, she placed her bookbag down on the seat next to her and opened it—getting her books and materials out when she noticed Adrian's letter.
Sighing, she fiddled with the parchment before she decided to open it.
Hey little witch,
I have been thinking about you this week and wondering how you're doing. I haven't heard from you in a couple weeks and I've been concerned.
Is everything alright?
The New Years Ball this year is being held at the the Rosier estate. I was hoping I might convince you to attend with me?
I know that classes are going well for you, and you're enjoying your study time as you always have. I'd imagine you're probably sitting in your favorite spot in the Library reading this even now. Did I ever tell you I'd watch you on many an occasion sitting there chewing on one of your favorite sugar quills while you'd relentlessly tackled your studies? Your brow would be furrowed in concentration while you'd suck on that quill.
I'd wished on more than once occasion that I could be that sugar quill.
Silly I know.
But if you're blushing right now, and it's my fervent hope you are...I'll take that as a win.
I miss you and can't wait to see you.
Yours,
Adrian
Hermione giggled softly and shook her head in exasperation even as the tell-tale blush colored her cheeks.
Then she sighed and placed the letter back into her bag.
The holidays were coming up soon, which meant more Pureblood events and soirées that she'd rather skip altogether.
But it simply wasn't an option.
Reaching for a quill and some parchment to write Adrian back, she was pulled up short when Malfoy say down across from her with a smirk on his face.
"Busy?"
"I'm studying for Arithmancy, which is due next week but I need to respond to a letter I received this morning."
Draco's expression closed of slightly as he hummed. "Adrian?"
"How?"
"I recognized his owl."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh." He pulled out his Herbology book along with some parchment and a quill. "Is it alright if I sit here and do my homework?"
"No, that's fine." She demurred as she quickly wrote out a response to Adrian while her thoughts were fresh in her mind.
Malfoy to his credit, and in spite of his earlier declaration was giving her some space to write her missive without comment, which she did in record time.
Folding it up, she placed in back into her book bag so she could deliver it to the owlry before dinner.
"Did you know about the New Years Ball?" She inquired softly and Draco's gaze lifted surprise as his expression registered surprise, then resignation as he nodded.
"Yes. It's at Rosier Manor this year."
"That's what Adrian said."
"He invited you?"
"Yes."
Malfoy hummed but didn't comment as he tilted his head back down and started on his homework. Hermione followed suit and it was a while before she worked up the courage to say what was on her mind.
"Did you mean it?"
"What?"
Malfoy replied, but didn't look up from his parchment as he was in the middle of writing a paragraph.
"What you said that night?"
The writing stopped as Hermione noticed Malfoy levy a small sigh.
"Prewett...Hermione?" Hermione's eyes widened slightly at the use of her given name. "Are we really going to have this conversation here, in the library?"
Waving her hand, Hermione immediately erected several privacy spells, causing Malfoy to sit back and narrow his gaze at her.
Apparently they were going to have this conversation.
They stared each other down for what seemed to be forever, until Hermione shook her head in exasperation.
"You're a prat."
"So I've been told." He drawled with a smirk. "I'm sure you can think of a few other choice euphemisms for my personality."
"You know what I don't get?"
"No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me?"
Folding her arms over her chest, Hermione's jaw clenched as she took in Malfoy's smug expression.
Punching him again seemed like a really good idea, right about now.
"Sally."
He blanched.
"What?"
"I don't get how you can go from a bigoted, prejudiced, hateful git against all things Muggleborn—to Sally."
Draco's posture mirrored her's as he stared at her curiously, noticing several things at once.
Hermione was angry, but underneath there was a level of curiosity...confusion and hurt.
It was the hurt that pulled Draco up short.
"Sally."
"Yes."
Draco nodded to himself as he pondered the question, and from where he was sitting he couldn't say it wasn't a legitimate one.
"Is this about Sally, or about how I treated you?"
Draco watched Hermione bite her lip as she considered how she wanted to answer that as he waited for her to respond.
"It's both." She admitted at last. "The Draco Malfoy I grew up with hated all things Muggle. He was mean, dismissive and downright nasty most days. Then I see you with Sally and it got me thinking. You were never as hateful to any other Muggleborn but me. You wished me dead at one point. So what was it about me you hated so much? Was it because I did better in our classes? Because I was friends with Harry? Or was it just me you hated?"
Draco stared at the witch across from him and groaned inwardly in shamed impotence.
"You want the truth?"
"That would be preferable." Her voice was bracing, and Draco could see she was anticipating something hurtful which caused him to run a hand through his hair in agitation.
"Okay," he began hesitantly. "The truth it is." Setting down his quill, he leant forward, his expression earnest and open which was a new experience for him.
"Before I came to Hogwarts my Father took me aside and all but demanded I try and make friends with Harry Potter. I had always been the leader of my group of friends, and before you insist that they're not...we all grew up together and it was widely known even as children that the Malfoy name was something to be revered. Proud of even."
Hermione just listened, somewhat surprised that Malfoy was actually being open with her.
"You remember what happened that day and while I'll admit, I handled it poorly...Potter based his immediate dislike of me solely on Weasley's own prejudices against Slytherin's. Needless to say, my Father wasn't pleased with me. I had been given two directives before I stated school. The first was to befriend Potter..."
"And the second?"
"That I wasn't allowed to associate, speak to or befriend any Muggleborns."
Hermione hissed our softly, as she noticed Draco's sheepish expression.
"Okay." Her voice was hard.
"Not really, but there it was." He admitted with a shrug. "I mostly ignored you first year. It wasn't until I went home during the summer that my Father found out I was second in class after you. He was angry and disappointed in me, and frankly...I was disappointed in myself. I'd always been the smartest, most magically gifted of my friends. And for all I'd been taught about honoring the traditions of my family, I had a hard time reconciling that a Muggleborn witch could be better at magic than I was."
"So when you wished me dead?"
"Did I mean it?"
She nodded and Draco sighed heavily.
"I suppose I did—in the way in which an angry twelve year old wishes that the one thing keeping him from being the best could be removed. Again, I didn't handle it well but my pride was hurt in more ways than one."
"The broom incident."
"Yes."
"And then I punched you."
Draco smirked and nodded. "Yes, you did. Trust me when I tell you that I had never been more shocked in my entire life than I was that day. No one would have ever done such a thing to a Malfoy and there you were, in all your righteous fury..."
Hermione's expression morphed into a grin. "You deserved it."
"I did."
The shock on her face was to be expected by that admission.
"Then in fourth year..."
"Yes," Malfoy cleared his throat awkwardly. "Krum and you. It was a surprise to most of us that year. Potter getting to compete in the Tri Wizard Tournament, you and Krum...rumors of the Dark Lord coming back...and instinctively knowing that my path was already carved out for me regardless of what I wanted."
"You didn't want to be a Death Eater?"
Draco seriously considered the question before he shook his head. "Maybe at one time I did." He admitted, "but that was before the Dark Lord came back and I saw first hand how unhinged he was. Sometimes, we think something seems like a good idea...brilliant even, but when faced with the reality..."
"It's not what we think it is."
Draco's lips quirked into a relieved smile and Hermione could see that he was telling the truth.
"So you weren't sad when you'd heard he was dead?"
"Nope." He admitted easily. "My Aunt Bella was..."
"Insane."
Draco chuckled sadly and nodded. "Yes, but my Mum loved her sister."
Hermione's face pinched but she knew that family was important to most people regardless of their questionable issues.
"You killed her, didn't you?" Draco whispered and Hermione's expression fell in shocked horror.
"What?"
"Don't worry," he said gently, "I'd guessed that for myself too."
"What else did you guess?"
Draco was thoughtful as he pondered how to answer that question, which he did after a moment.
"I'd made the correct assumption you'd killed the Dark Lord. I figured it out that same night you and Potter returned from the Ministry. Slytherin House was informed about the death of the Dark Lord and it was surmised fairly quickly that you were a Sorceress. I owled my Father looking for confirmation, which he couldn't give but the gist of his short reply let me know that my assumptions were likely the correct ones."
"I see." She murmured, her expression reflective as she stared at him.
"As for Sally, I suppose that day on the Hogwarts Express she reminded me so much of you that first year and it made me realize that perhaps I should've done things differently. If I had, things might've never gotten so ghastly between us."
"It's just hard to not think that perhaps your prejudice of Muggleborns had more to do with your negative feelings about me than anything else, especially when I see how kind you are to Sally and I was never afforded that concession in five years. I can't help but wonder if your sudden interest now has more to do with the fact of my new heritage than me."
Draco shook his head in chagrin, knowing that while he deserved this line of questioning and the doubt...it still didn't make it any easier to bear, hear or accept.
"I'm not going to tell you what your feelings aren't valid or that you don't have good reason to ask these questions. I know what Adrian told you that night out on the balcony of his home."
"So you were there, hiding under a disillusionment?"
Draco nodded, seeing the blush stealing over Hermione's cheeks.
It was fetching.
"I had gone out there some time before to get some fresh air and when I heard the door open I hid quickly. I listened mostly, as I couldn't avoid that but watching? Not so much."
"Oh."
"Oh." He repeated with a shrug. "But back to what I said before. Adrian was right to an extent. While Potter and Weasley were rather easy to rile, and I have been known to be a jealous wizard from time to time...my dynamic with Potter stemmed more from the anger I felt at being dismissed and not even given a chance for friendship. Sure, I handled it poorly, and we were eleven but as I'm sure you're aware...it's hard to forego..." he paused and Hermione said...
"Being hateful when that is all you're getting in return."
"Yeah. I think that's why I've tried to make the changes this year within my own House. Slytherins as a rule have been hated by everyone. Whether it's deserved or not, I won't debate the merits of that with you. You can't know what it's like being on the other side of the situation Hermione. Sometimes being mean is a defensive mechanism to ward off possible rejection. I offered my hand to Potter that day and he rejected it for the simple reason that Weasley told him my family hailed from Slytherin and all witches and wizards from my house are inherently bad...evil. It's easy to become what people perceive you to be when the alternative isn't an option."
"You didn't make it easy, Malfoy."
"And you did, Princess? You humiliated me, made assumptions not based in fact...punched me. Yes, I said hateful things, taunted you and inadvertently hexed you fourth year but neither one of us is exactly blameless here. You somehow still think that your truth is more valid than mine. That you're inherently right and good and I am still the evil Slytherin not capable of being a decent person."
Hermione's expression fell at that assertion and she bit her lip as she pondered Malfoy's words
Was he right?
"Hurt me before I hurt you?"
Draco nodded. "Something like that. Again, I've apologized...twice...which is something I've never done before for anyone. Yes, I'm a proud wizard and yes...my previous actions weren't well done of me but that doesn't change the sentiment of the things I've said to you. All of them. Whether or not you believe me, I've always noticed you and pulled your pigtails harder than most. And I won't lie to you about the fact that whether or not I'd wished to know Hermione Granger better, being who I am it wouldn't have been an easy thing to do. Next to impossible really. I'm sure Adrian has said as much too?"
Hermione nodded. "He did. He admitted that he'd always liked me but circumstances as they were...he wouldn't have been allowed to pursue anything."
"Exactly."
Hermione stared into endless stormy eyes that were watching her closely, and she felt her heart pounding faster at the intense look Malfoy was sending her way.
"Adrian wants to take me to the New Years Ball." She blurted out and watched disheartened as Malfoy's expression went from open to closed like a snap of her fingers.
"I see." His gaze moved back down to his paper, and Hermione swallowed as Malfoy picked up his quill effortlessly and turned a page in his Herbology book before he started writing again, signaling he was done with the conversation.
Hermione didn't know whether to feel dismayed or relieved.