Around midnight Hogwarts halls were mostly empty, only ghosts, cats and a few hurried professors could sometimes be heard. But one room was still in a full rush - the kitchen. And that was the place where Draco intended to sneak into.
Fleeing the Slytherin common room, he could not walk fast enough to get away from his so-called friends. The only thing he wanted was a few minutes of peace, a glass of an apple juice and a piece of cake.
Down in the kitchen, Hermione was working a full shift this evening. She was determined to help the house elves any way she knew.
Nobody understood her urge to help them. Those born in wizarding families never had to physically work for anything, those muggle-born seemed to forget what it's like, even Harry who was maltreated and who did feel sympathy for them didn't want to help. But she couldn't just sit aside and watch.
She was the last person he expected to see there. "Great, a perfect sight to lose my appetite to. I hope you haven't contaminated the food." Malfoy growled when he saw Granger over the dishes. Hermione rolled her eyes and ignored his comment. She wouldn't be baited into a fight right now.
"What!? No smart remarks tonight? Maybe working alongside servants finally taught you some manners. They at least have brains enough to know when to obey those better than them."
Hermione just stood over the sink, messy hair falling over her face, hands deep in water. She started trembling. One moment she was so so tired and ready to let everything go, the other she was out of herself. She took a plate from the sink and threw it at Malfoy as hard as she could. It flew like a fanged frisbee and hit him across the face. In an instant, sounds of dishes, water and conversations of dozens of elves stopped and a loud clatter echoed across the room. Blood drippled from Malfoys cheek. Wide-eyed, he reached for his wand.
Dobby was standing beside them quietly this whole time, but now he jumped in front of Hermione in an instant.
"Leave, sir. Now." Were the only words Dobby said to Draco. He stood protectively in front of her glaring at Malfoy. Draco knew very well that his former elf would not hesitate from cursing him, but he could not just let this all go.
He swung his wand, but the elf was faster.
Draco ended up flying through the kitchen door and landed on his back. Half crying, he set there staring at the slammed door. How could have this evening gone so wrong so fast.
In the kitchen, Hermione fell to the floor. After the initial shock had passed, she started sobbing. The pressure in her had was immense. She couldn't hold it anymore. "Here Miss have a seat." Dobby gently pushed her in the direction of the chair. "You need to rest Miss. You've been helping us a lot, there is no need to kill yourself along the way" Hermione couldn't utter a word, all the fatigue and the rage suffocated her.
After a few minutes she felt some movement nearby and saw Dobby purring her some lemonade and placing a piece of strawberry cake for her. He then sat on the chair next to her, keeping the lemonade cold and stroking her hair until she was able to move again. The last tear left her eye, the one for the gentle house elf, her friend.
Draco sat on the edge of the fountain watching the laceration heal. Of course he saw her blood shot eyes and black circles, her scratched hands and her all too thin figure. He noticed she was drowsy in classes lately. But she was one of them, she was the enemy, he couldn't go easy on her. The entire evening, he listened others spiting poison over Potter and his friends. the entire evening, he was questioned over and over about the intentions of the Dark Lord. They all wanted him to do something for the cause. And now Draco sat alone on the edge of the fountain watching the laceration heal.