1994 – Third Year
The Gryffindor common room was filled with chipper students, beaming from ear to ear due to the result of the Quidditch match. They had won the house cup, every member of the Quidditch team was exhilarated as Harry Potter had once again successfully caught the Golden Snitch.
Hermione sat alone on the sofa besides the fire, smiling to herself as she watched members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team receive praises off each student as they made their way around the room, all the while her mind flickered between the present and past recent events.
Her focus throughout the game had not been on her house team, instead they had been on a certain member of the opposing team and how moments before the match, she had found herself in a supply cupboard with her favourite Slytherin.
It would quite possibly be one of her happiest moments, that is until the memory of Professor Snape turning up intruded her thoughts. Her cheeks heated at the memory of her Professor's embarrassed and irritated face as he opened the door to his supply cupboard to find the two of them panting somewhat and flustered.
She let slip a groan as she sat forward, resting her elbows on her knees whilst her head dropped into her hands that moved to her face and began to rub at her temples. She tried desperately to block the embarrassing memory from her mind, when she felt her seat shift slightly, signalling that someone had sat down heavily on the sofa beside her.
"Did you know, you're the only person in here that hasn't said congratulations to me." Fred teased as he sat back on the sofa, his arm stretched out behind her, draping over the length of the back of the seat.
"Us." George added as he sat down on the other side of Hermione, "Quite frankly, I think its rude."
"My apologies. Congratulations boys."
"Then she adds insult to injury." George sat back to look at his twin.
"Boys, she calls us."
"I would have said Gent's if I thought you resembled anything remotely close to that." Hermione said with a smirk.
"My my, she just doesn't stop." George faked offence before he stood tall, looking down at her with his hand on his chest as he continued the act of being hurt by her words.
"Sometimes, you're just too harsh Hermione." He said before he moved away from her, all the while looking back and shaking his head, eventually getting lost in the crowed.
"He wasn't being serious, was he? I didn't really offend him, did I?" Hermione asked, her confidence in George's ability to take a joke wavered slightly.
"It would take a lot more than stating the obvious to offend one of us, Hermione, not everyone is as sensitive as my youngest brother." Fred spoke, causing Hermione to relax and smile back at him.
Fred's face grew serious as he glued his eyes to Hermione's, the concentration in his face made his gaze that more intensifying. It became uncomfortable for her quickly as she averted her eyes from him, looking back at her friends who had begun to start celebrating with drinks.
"Are you not wanting to partake in the festivities?" Hermione asked, not turning back to look at him.
"I think I've had just enough for the time being, perhaps later. I wanted to speak to you about something." Fred told her. He leant forward to rest his arms along his thighs, hanging his head low he stared down at his feet and inhaled deeply before he spoke again.
"I had originally wanted to talk to you on my birthday, but well… when I finally built up the courage, I couldn't find you."
Hermione's back stiffened at the mention of the twin's birthday, a night she remembered very well but wished she had drank enough, like her fellow students, to have forgotten the conversations she overheard.
She had been enjoying a game of exploding snap with Ginny and Dean Thomas when she overheard Fred talking to his Twin about some girl he wanted to talk to. They had tried to keep their voices low as they discussed the matter, however when George had advised his brother against it, for reasons she didn't hear, it was the mention of her own name that perked her ears.
Fred had said he liked Hermione and he planned to tell her. Unable to think of a way to respond to such a situation without hurting his feelings, Hermione decided the only way to prevent herself from having to do that, would be to avoid the situation entirely. With that, she left the Gryffindor common room, telling Ginny she didn't feel well and was going to see Madam Pomfrey.
Instead she went to her secret room and was later joined by Draco, who when he had asked why she was there so early, Hermione explained and told him the situation. He had pulled a face when she mentioned Fred's interest in her and said not a great deal on the matter. Looking back on it now, it was clear to Hermione that she had witnessed a glimpse into a jealous Draco that night.
She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, her awkwardness causing her to sit on her hands and glance through the sides of her eyes towards him. Fred still had his eyes glued on the floor, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to say until eventually, he started.
"On my birthday I had wanted to find you to tell you that, well, that I h-have feelings for you." He stuttered, his eyes still not moving from his feet. "But, when I couldn't find you in the common room, I asked around and Ginny said you went to the hospital wing. So I came to find you."
Her stomach flipped before the horrible turning sensation was replaced with a hollow pit of concern. Her heart began to race as she wandered how far Fred had searched for her that night and what he had discovered.
"The thing is, as you know, you wasn't there. So, I used the map to find you."
She looked at him confused, he turned to her and realised from her perplexed face that she had no clue what map he was talking about.
"I figured Harry would've told you by now. Me and George stole a map from Filtch's office back in first year. It's a map of the Hogwarts castle and grounds that shows everyone and where they are at all times. We gave it to him so that he could use it to sneak out to go to Hogsmeade, didn't think it was fair that he wasn't getting to go. But, I borrowed it from him that night."
"It shows everyone?"
"Everyone."
"No matter where they are."
"No matter…"
It took a few short seconds for his words to properly resonate with her, until it all clicked into place. He could only mean one thing. Unable to maintain eye contact with him any longer, she began to struggle to breath as she turned to face the floor.
Silence fell between them both, neither one knowing what to say next, what to ask. Hermione was still struggling to come to terms with the idea that somebody now knew where she was spending her evenings.
"Have you told anyone?" She asked, holding her breath as she waited for her answer.
"No."
Hermione exhaled and turned back to face him, her heart ached slightly as she saw the hurt in his eyes.
"I don't have any intention of doing so either." He added as he noticed the look of concern on her face. "I don't understand, never mind how the others would react. I'm not one to judge, Hermione, but… are you sure you know what you're doing?"
Hermione glanced around the room quickly, once she had confirmed that nobody was interested in their conversation, she decided the truth was the best thing in this situation.
"I'm sure, Fred. We've been friends since boarding the train in first year."
"But… In second year-"
"I'm not saying it's been perfect, we've had our fights."
"I'll say. He bully's you!" The disbelief and confusion caused his voice to raise slightly.
"It's an act. I've just had a fight with Ron that lasted months over something pathetic, he's still one of my best friends, why is this any different?"
"Because he's different, Hermione."
"How so? You don't know what he's like with me, what he's really like with me."
"He's a spoilt little Pureblood snob, what is there to like!?"
"How're we ever supposed to fight the battle for prejudice against Muggleborns like me if we can't even fight the prejudice against Purebloods in ourselves." She hissed; Fred sat back against the sofa in defeat.
"Look, I know you don't understand it, I don't expect you to, I don't expect anybody to which is why we haven't told anyone. So please, please keep it to yourself."
Fred stared at her for a moment longer, no matter how hard he tried, he simply could not understand. He rose from his seat and straightened himself out before he turned back to her, looking down at her face before he finally responded.
"I like you Hermione, and even though all you've mentioned is a friendship, something tells me whatever this thing is, it will be more than that one day and I hope for your sake, it doesn't end in tears." He sighed and turned away from her, "I promise, I'll take it to my grave." He finished before heading off into the crowed until she could no longer see him.
Hermione couldn't shake the sickly feeling that had formed in her stomach, Fred had finally caught up with her to tell her how he felt, but it was so much more than that, so much worse that what she had originally dreaded. She mentally kicked herself from running away in the first place, had she not done that, maybe her secret would not be out, even if it was just to one person, it didn't feel great.
The map Fred had mentioned suddenly popped into Hermione's head, such a curious item she was surprised Harry hadn't mentioned. Then, the incident with his Firebolt at Christmas ran through her mind. Maybe Harry hadn't completely forgiven and forgotten if he felt the need to hide the Map from her.
She could not help but think that the map was a slightly more dangerous gift to receive than the firebolt, even if he knew who this one had come from. In the wrong hands, the map could be exactly what Sirius Black needed to find Harry, regardless to whatever theories Lucius had expressed with Draco, it was still a dangerous thing to be knocking around.
Too many thoughts and emotions ran through Hermione's head before she decided she'd had enough. Tired and overwhelmed, she escaped to her dorm room where she then readied herself for bed.
She had just climbed under the sheets when she heard a knock at the door, the fact that the person didn't just walk into the room told her that it wasn't someone she was bunking with.
"Can I come in?" Ginny asked after Hermione had opened the door, however the small red head didn't wait for a response, before Hermione had chance to open her mouth Ginny was in the room discarding her shoes and robe.
"What's the matter Gin?" asked Hermione, curious as to why her friend looked so glum when everyone outside in the common room was celebrating a the result of a sport Ginny held quite close to her heart.
"I tried to talk to Harry, to congratulate him but he was too busy talking to Mati." She sighed before kicking of her jeans and jumping into Hermione's bed.
"Patel?" Ginny nodded in response and climbed further under the sheets.
Hermione sighed in defeat, judging from Ginny's positioning it was clear she wouldn't be leaving Hermione that night. She dimmed the light and climbed into bed next to Ginny, pulling the duvet up to their necks, tucking them both in.
"I don't think it would've meant anything."
"Still, he saw me, he saw that I tried and… well he just didn't seem interested in speaking to me."
"He's probably just overwhelmed with the attention."
"Yes, because that's not something he's used to." Ginny said sarcastically.
"True – But that's more of a reason to bask in it, its not often he's in the limelight for simply playing a sport. It usually involves a near death situation. Everyone wanted to celebrate with him. Besides, I should imagine your brothers have slipped him some alcohol whilst they were celebrating."
"Hmm." Was all Ginny could muster up as a response before she yawned.
"Let's go to sleep, you'll feel better in the morning, you can speak to him over breakfast. I'll save you a seat next to him."
Ginny grinned through the darkness at her friend before turning to lay facing towards her.
"You're the best Hermione." She beamed.
"I know, now go to sleep." She chuckled before flicking the light out completely.
~X~
The following morning, after the Quidditch final, it was clear to each house that the celebrating had not quite warn off for the victorious Gryffindors. Hermione watched as Harry and Ron tucked into their breakfast, still reminiscing about the game, envious of their lack of nerves so close to their final exams.
"Why aren't you eating, Mione?" Ron asked with his usual mouth full of food.
Hermione clenched her copy of the Study of Ancient Runes tightly against her chest as she watched him shovel another fork full of scrambled eggs into his mouth.
"I don't seem to have as much of an appetite since, y'know, the finals are coming up!"
"What're you getting so wound up about? We have plenty of time, not to mention you've studied every day for hours. Probably since birth." Harry gave a small laugh through his nose at Ron's words, Hermione still struggled to find the humour in the situation.
"I wouldn't put it past Hermione to have been studying since being in the womb." George added as he sat down at the table, the slight worn look on his face was evident enough of his hangover. Hermione noticed Fred beside him and expected him to sit beside her in his usual manor, however when he chose to sit next to George without even a glance towards her, it caused a the sinking feeling from the night before to return to her.
"Morning." Ginny's voice felt like a saving grace to Hermione in that moment. Hermione had fulfilled her promise and saved her a seat beside Harry, meaning she could quickly escape the uncomfortable situation she had found herself in.
"Morning Gin, take my seat, I need to go to the library and do some studying."
"But I've just got here." Ginny's face fell as she watched Hermione stand up from the table.
"I know, I'm sorry. I just want to get some work done before the library fills up. We'll talk later, I promise." She added once she noticed the confusion on Ginny's face, her words seem to settle her and Hermione felt confident Ginny wouldn't come looking for her. The last thing she needed was another Weasley finding out about her situation with Draco, and she always considered Ginny to be closer to the truth than anyone.
She grabbed the remainder of her books from the table and allowed herself one look back at Fred before she left, his eyes were still transfixed on the single bean he was moving around his plate.
"I'll see you later guys," She said quickly. On her exit out of the great hall her eyes flickered towards the Slytherin table where she found Draco looking up through his lashes with his head bowed, his eyes fixed on hers.
Just before she walked through the doors leaving the Great Hall, she gave him a small smile and help her necklace between her fingers, his smirk was the last thing she saw before she headed through the doors and up the stairs to their secret room.
~X~
"I'm sorry I didn't come by yesterday."
"It's fine, I figured you might be preoccupied with celebrations." Draco grumbled. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the face he pulled at the mention of the previous days Quidditch game. He took Quidditch so seriously, so a loss was almost like the end of the world to him.
"Well, I was for a while, but I went to bed early."
"D'you mean, you couldn't be away from your studying for too long and you left to do exactly that?"
"No, I actually went to bed." Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise. He knew her well enough to know that she would chose her study's over just about anything, no matter how tired she was or had been, over the past few years of him knowing her, she would study until she dropped when exams were so close.
"I had a lot on my mind, so I ended up needing my bed sooner than I'd hoped." His eyebrows dropped into a scowl as he waited for her to explain, his concern growing.
"It's fine, honestly don't worry about it, I just needed to catch up on my sleep."
He raised one eyebrow in response, still not convinced by the answer she had given and still not saying anything to her whilst he continued his wait.
"Are we going to have a whole conversation whereby you only respond with eyebrow gestures?!" She laughed as he wiggled them suggestively and winked at her. She swotted his arm and shook her head before she sat back in her seat and sighed, he wouldn't stop until she had given him the explanation he was looking for, no matter how much she didn't want to tell him.
"Fine, but you asked for this." Crossing her legs, she leant forward and rested her elbows on her knees and started. "Remember a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned that Fred had planned to tell me that he liked me?"
Draco felt his stomach twist as the question, he hadn't expected to be discussing this topic again so soon after he had discovered Fred Weasleys feelings for the girl he was already struggling with his own feelings for. It didn't make him feel great the first time he heard of the news, but now things had changed between him and Hermione, he liked being reminded of it even less.
"Well, he finally had that conversation with me yesterday, but it didn't just stop with his confession."
"Did he kiss you? Did you kiss him back? Wait…do you like him?"
"Draco calm down. To answer your questions – No, no and no." She watched as his shoulders relaxed again and the crease between his eyebrows loosened.
"He said he came to find me on his birthday, right after I left and came here to you. He explained that there is this map him and George have been using for the past few years. A map of Hogwarts that shows everybody in the castle, and where they are at all times."
"Everyone?"
"At all time's, Draco. I found it hard to believe also, but he said he used it to find out where I'd gone when he realised, I wasn't actually with Madam Pomfrey. That's when he discovered that I was here, with you."
"So he knows?"
"He does."
"Has he told anyone?"
"He said he hasn't, and that he won't."
"Do you believe him?"
Hermione gave herself a minute to think about the answer to that question. She believed that Fred wanted what was best for her, although he thought that wasn't Draco, people finding out about them would be the last thing she wanted, or needed for that matter. He would gain nothing from telling someone, and he wasn't one to want to intentionally hurt someone, not unless a prank was involved.
"Yes, I believe he wont tell anyone." She answered finally.
"Good, well that's fine then."
"How're you so chilled out about this!? I have been freaking out, he wont even look at me and he was furious. He couldn't understand it, he see's you as my bully, as someone who's nothing but mean to me and now he discovers I'm spending any of my free time that I'm not with Harry and Ron, with you. How does this not make you nervous."
"Because you said he wouldn't tell anyone. I trust your judgement, Hermione." She had stood up and began to pace the room, Draco had pushed himself to the edge of the window seat, resting his hands on his knees as he shrugged his shoulders before continuing.
"Look, there was always bound to be someone that found out about it. I'm fairly certain Theo knows about us, even if he hasn't directly said so, but as long as we make sure whoever does, doesn't tell anyone, everything will be fine. Relax, Hermione."
She dropped hers shoulders and sighed, walking over to his open arms and stopped before him. He reached forward and slip his fingers gently around her wrists.
"At the beginning of this conversation I thought you were going to tell me that he had said he likes you and you had decided that you also liked him. So to be honest, finding out that he had told you, but also told you that he knew about us, doesn't really compare if I'm honest."
Hermione smiled sheepishly through her blush, standing between his legs, her knees knocking against the solid wood of the window seat. Draco reached up to cup her face in her hands and smiled down at her before he swiftly pecked her lips with his, pulling away as quickly as he had lent down.
All doubts and concerns immediately left her mind the second his face was just an inch from hers, her worries melted away.
"Now, onto more pressing things. We haven't had chance to actually discuss yesterday."
"Mmm." Hermione hummed as her eyes danced between his and his lips.
Draco's smirk teased at his lips as he watched her eyes, growing more distracted the further she lost herself In her thoughts.
"So is all forgiven?"
"Hmm?" Her voice lifted with question, suddenly realising that she hadn't been paying any attention to what he was talking about. He gave a small chuckle before his hands slid into hers and he pulled them together in front of her.
"Does this, you being here, mean that all is forgiven, that you believe me? That the whole Pansy thing -"
"Draco, I wouldn't have kissed you back if that wasn't the case." Now it was his turn to feel a blush pinch across his cheeks.
"Although, I'm not sure Professor Snape will be forgiving us anytime soon."
Hermione was relieved to see from Draco's expression that she wasn't the only one who cringed deeply whenever she reminded herself of the unfortunate timing of their Professors arrival that day.
Draco shook his head and lifted it upright, his eyes focused on the ceiling for a brief moment whilst he pushed the memories of his professor out of his mind.
"Anyway." Draco said, diverting the subject away from that memory, lifting his head back to face her. "We haven't spent a morning together in a long time. What shall we do?"
~X~
Night times around Hogwarts were beginning to grow warmer, had it not been for the constant surrounding of Azkaban guards, the Dementors, causing everything to turn Baltic in their presence, the temperature would be bordering on perfect.
The moon looked angelic as its full reflection shone down bright over the castle grounds, exposing every creature bigger than an average house cat. Each burst of wind shuffled at the trees and the overgrown grass that surrounded the Dark Forest.
The sound of running echoed through the forest, the lower branches on the surrounding trees rustled, disturbing creatures small and large from their slumber as they were made aware of the strange presence lurking in the forest.
With each leap, the wind pulled at the runner's bristle hair, the pads of their feet ran raw from the rough surface of the forests floor. The dog bound forward with haste, deeper into the forest, it's destination still unknown.
The running began to slow as silence fell around the forest once more, not even an owl made a hoot as the one who had been running came to a gradual halt. The large scraggy dog, who's appearance looked so misplaced in a forest so enchanted, sat with pricked ears as it listened intently for any noises in the surrounding area.
With watchful eyes, the Scottish Dachshund observed the forest, waiting for something to move, for a rodent to surface so that it could eat for the first time in days. Being a wild animal in theory meant freedom like no other, the ability to come and go as one pleases, to have not a care in the world.
The hash reality of it was cold, wet nights when there was no shelter, uncomfortable sleeping arrangements as the hard, uneven surface of the forest floor dug into the dogs bony hips frequently. Having to hunt for food in a location where a dog despite such a scale was considered more prey than predator.
Freedom didn't see so great when that was the cost.
The noise of a small fly buzzed around the dogs head, tormenting it as a single ear twitched with each attempt the fly made to land.
The sound of a branch snapping caused the dogs eyes to widen and it's ears to erect whilst it listened further. Noises of distant laughter followed close after, flowing faintly around the dogs ears, signalling that those responsible for the noise had to be close by, on the outskirts if the forest.
The dog's curiosity peaked and with a low crouch, it slowly pushed forward with intent, getting closer to the sound. The mutt watched as it approached the one responsible for the noise, peering through the branches of a close by bush. With one fore-leg held doubled up, the dog waited, ready for it's next cautious step.
The moon reflected its light down, illuminating the ground around the boy stood in the clearing, making it possible for the dog to catch a glimpse of the person who had been responsible for the laughter. With a slight shift of his head, the person's facial features became clearer, the white hair glistened in the moon light, defining shadows grew visible across their face.
'Lucius?' the dog thought to itself, 'it can't be...'
The dog's eyes shifted to a scowl as the lifted paw touched back down to the ground, a vibrating growl began to ripple through its chest. The dog bowed its head and prepared to spring forward with a savage snarl, its canine teeth uncovered, and ears pressed close backwards on the head.
Before the dog leaped forward, a young girl came dancing into his view, smiling from ear to ear as she draped her arms around the boy before her, expressing soft laughter with each twirl he gave her. The dogs growl died down as it observed more closely and moved further around to get a better angle, keeping to the bushes, getting close to the couple who were bordering entry to the forest.
'Don't be stupid Sirius, that's not Lucius.' He thought to himself once more.
It had been years since Sirius Black had seen any of his former acquaintances before he was captured and sent to serve his time at Azkaban, and although the young boy before home bore a striking resemblance to the man he remembered so distinctly and grew up with, after closer inspection it was obvious that it was not him.
Instead, Sirius could see more clearly now that the boy in front of him was the Junior to his former classmate, Draco Malfoy. A boy whose name he had not been able to ignore since his first snooping around Hogwarts. Very few had something nice to say about him, and if they did, it had usually either been from the people feared and respected his last name, or had been girls with a painfully misplaced saving the damaged complex that he knew all too well from his younger days at Hogwarts.
As he watched Lucious Malfoy's son dance around with the young girl in front of him, his focus shifted to her, waiting to catch a glimpse of her face.
He recognised the face immediately and knew it belonged to Hermione Granger, a friend of Harry Potter, his godson. He knew enough about Hermione to know that the couple before him were having to keep their friendship hidden, and for a reason. Draco came from an old family or Purebloods, Voldemort fanatics, something he could relate to. Whereas from what he could gather, she was a Muggleborn and so they were asking for trouble.
Sirius stretched and shook himself, circling several times before dropping to the ground, eyes transfixed forward on the couple no more than 15ft away from him.
He took pity on the young couple, friendship bloomed between them, and yet to have any real kind of friendship, any kind of relationship with one another in the future, they faced more struggles than they were probably aware of.
However, no matter how much he pitied them, or how much Hermione appeared to trust the son of one of his former school rivals, the son of a former Death Eater, Sirius did not, and he wasn't prepared to wander off and leave her alone with him.
His original plans for that evening would have to wait another day.
Author Note:
Thank you all for sticking with this story so far. I hope you're all still enjoying it, keep the reviews coming, both good and bad, I like feed back so that I can improve on my story and my writing. Being dyslexic and trying to write without a beta is hard man!
I battled with myself during this chapter because I didn't want their secret to be out, but realistically, with the map floating around and their hangout area not being in the room of requirement, someone was bound to find out!