The trio were in the library looking for potion ingredients for Snape. It had been a while since Hermione or anyone brought up the topic of Harry teaching DADA. Truth be told, Hermione was a little scared to broach the subject because of how negatively Harry had reacted the first time. But she was a damn Gryffindor and he was her best friend.
"So Harry, I was wondering... if you have given my suggestion any thought," she said making sure to be as secretive as possible considering they were in such a public area where Umbridge could just be lurking about.
Harry paused from reading but then continued feigning as if he was.
Hermione went back to trying to do her work to give him some time to answer. She knew he didn't like feeling rushed.
"I- I mean... yeah I have. A bit hard not to."
"And?" Hermione asked.
"I dunno," Harry replied.
Hermione elbowed Ron in the ribs and he coughed out. "Right, well mate, I thought it was a good idea from the start."
"I just don't think I can do it, to be honest with you both. If I did go through with it, what if it's not enough? What if-"
Hermione placed a hand on his to calm him down. "Don't stress about the what if's. Mistakes happen but you learn along the way, that's the whole point. Don't look at yourself as a teacher look at yourself more like a tutor or guidance. You'll help us get better with what you know then anything we all don't know we'll master it together."
"I just don't know, Hermione."
"Well, Viktor always did say-"
"Wait a minute, you're still in touch with Vicky?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "And so what if I am, that wouldn't be your business," she said effectively dismissing him.
Honestly, she and Viktor did keep in touch but with him being a professional quidditch player and her with well, pretty much everything, it wasn't as often as Ron was probably assuming. Yes, she did have a crush on him but that was before. Now, she really just enjoyed catching up and hearing his stories about all the places he's visited.
"Anyways, he said you knew more things than he did despite him being in his final year of Durmstrang."
Harry thought about it then nodded, albeit hesitantly.
Hermione immediately perked up. "So you'll do it?"
Harry sighed. "If it's just you two then yeah."
Hermione pursed her lips and then looked at him sheepishly. "Okay, promise me you won't fly off the handles, but I was thinking maybe also others who would be interested."
Harry combed a hand through his hair. "I don't think anyone would be considering I'm the nutter, remember? 'The Boy Who Lies,' " he said, reciting the Prophet headlines about him.
"You'll be surprised. Let's just spread the word to anyone who's interested to meet at Hogsmeade in the village," Hermione suggested.
Harry shrugged his shoulders and returned to his book but he wasn't really paying attention to it.
"So you and Krum are still in contact?" Ron asked.
Hermione groaned. "And we're still talking about this because?"
Ron's eyes widened and he spluttered. "B-because he's just using you!" He exclaimed louder than appropriate for the library.
"We're just pen-pals," she said, feeling her ire and tone rise.
Harry tried his best to ignore the bickering like he usually tried to. He knew Ron was speaking out his arse but he also knew he had a crush on Hermione so it was best he kept his mouth shut. If things got out of hand he'd cut in. If they were to go through with DADA lessons, he couldn't have the people who pushed him to do it at odds either.
"He wants to be more than just a pen-pal," Ron scoffed.
Hermione slammed her book shut. "And so what if he does? Like I said before, it's none of your business so just please leave it."
With that, she magicked her belongings into her bag and stormed off but as soon as she walked out of their little area she paused finding her brother, Draco Malfoy, and Blaise Zabini sitting at a table within earshot and she just knew they heard.
Her brother looked none too pleased as she'd expect. He'd always been vocal about Viktor being too old for her.
Draco was avoiding looking at her and she didn't notice how much more pale his hand was from gripping his quill too hard.
Blaise on the other hand didn't say anything and just tipped his head in her direction.
At that moment she felt her bracelet warm her wrist up and she finally got her legs to move, storming out of the library.
Hermione once again found herself at the astronomy tower enjoying the very cool breeze.
"So you've found my secret hiding spot," A voice startled Hermione, causing her to jump.
When she saw it was only Draco she sighed and turned back around. "I don't think you can call it a hiding spot if it's not you know- hidden."
Draco smirked and stood next to her, leaning on the rail.
"Why are you here?" She asked after a long lapse of silence.
Draco glanced at her then back to the horizon. "I could ask you the same thing."
Hermione rolled her eyes. She didn't owe him an answer but for some reason, she just needed to simply talk to someone even if it was Malfoy. She found it rather easy to talk to him when he wasn't being the world's biggest prat.
"I needed to breathe," she answered quietly.
Draco was surprised she was actually confiding in him but of course, he held in his shock. He just remained silent and waited for her to finish her thought.
"Sometimes the expectations surrounding me get a little...suffocating. The expectation to be the best, the expectation to be the brains of the Golden Trio, of proving that my blood doesn't define me..."
Draco turned his head to look at her but she was toying with her locket. He straightened his spine and turned his body around to lean on the rail but was now able to look at her more clearly.
"So when things get overwhelming I find myself here because while the breeze is a breath of fresh air, the view is a reminder that there's still beauty in the world surrounded by so much darkness."
Draco wanted to say that in his world of darkness she was the beauty in it, the light that kept him going sometimes.
To him, Hermione Granger was the epitome of light. It seemed to just emanate from her and Draco wondered if that came from her ability to carry so much love and care in that bleeding heart of hers. It was almost like she gave a part of her lightness to everything she touched and Draco watched that light begin to fade over the years as if the hope and strength in her were dimming like a light bulb that had been used for so long it was starting to run out and Draco hated it.
"And what darkness is that," he finally said speaking up because it was all he could say.
Hermione looked at him and frowned. "I've come to the realization that humans- yes us wizards and witches too- are the most primitive and dangerous beings in existence."
Draco scoffed, "Clearly you've never seen a dragon."
Hermione chuckled and the sound was like a small twinkle that Draco could imagine himself relaxing too.
"No, I haven't quite had the pleasure like Harry had, but no, not even dragons could rival our danger. See with other living beings their sole purpose is to survive and thrive whereas us humans, while we're capable of such greatness, but we're also capable of such heinous things. We even go as far as inflicting pain on those innocent for our own gains whether it be animals, nature, other humans..."
Draco felt his mouth dry and his hands clench. She was right and even if she wasn't referring to herself, Draco saw her as the innocent and the thought of someone stripping away that innocence for their selfish gain was almost gut-wrenching and he knew he had been one of those people. He had relentlessly bullied her, her friends, and so many others for his own gains, and that only made the self-deprecation worse. He was selfish to think he would ever be good enough for her that she could ever forgive someone like him. He didn't want to pollute her lightness yet he couldn't fathom not having her in his life, even at a distance.
"That wasn't a jab at you, you know," she said softly and Draco realized he hadn't said anything because he was too frozen with realization.
"Why are you talking to me," he asked genuinely. "Seriously, I've been nothing but a foul git and made you and your friends lives hell... so why?"
Hermione tilted her head and looked at him. "I think it's because even I know you have beauty in you that's been obscured by darkness."
At that moment, Draco felt like he could drop to her knees and beg her for forgivenes because never in his life would he have imagined Hermione believing him capable of goodness. It only fueled his need- his want to help the order. To hell with Voldemort or his father hunting him down if they ever found out, because Hermione freaking Granger believed he wasn't truly a bad person.
"How can you be so sure?" He asked, hope blooming in his chest.
Hermione shrugged one shoulder and gave him a small smile before looking back at the view. "You're many things, Draco Malfoy, but you're not evil."
She gave him a conspiratorial smile and whispered, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, not even my friends, that in private you're not such a wanker."
Draco let out a chuckle then leaned his head down so his face was much closer to hers. "Then what am I? You said I'm many things and since you know me so well, tell me, what am I?"
Hermione gazed into his eyes and noticed that the silver-blue pools sparkled in the afternoon sun. His shaggy white-blond hair was blowing with the wind giving him a bit of a just got out of bed look and with his face so up close she didn't realize how tall he actually was compared to her now that he was practically looming over her and all she could think about was her childhood crush on him. The way she watched those eyes through Theo's memories sparkle with mischief, that smirk playing on his lips that held back wit... It had been easy falling for his carefree attitude but it had also been easy getting over that crush when she learned just how nasty he could be.
However, standing here and watching that same playful expression that she so vividly recognized from watching so much, she wondered.
Since the beginning of term, he'd teased her, yes, but it never held any malice. She recalled their run-in on the train then in the library where he basically complimented her and told her how much she was underappreciated. And now, here he was looking at her with those same eyes and smile from those memories and she felt herself wanting to stare at them and get lost in them all day.
That's when Hermione realized she never stopped watching him. She's watched him grow into the child his parents molded him to be and over the years she's watched as he slowly started coming into his own person... she just hoped that with Voldemort and his family heavily influencing him into supporting Voldemort's regime that he'd one day give himself a choice.
Hermione pulled away from his reach and turned to walk down to the Great Hall for dinner. She just needed space between them. Seeing him in a new light caused buried feelings to resurface and she couldn't risk doing or saying something stupid.
Draco felt his stomach drop and he swallowed hard to get the lump out his throat. He was just about to curse himself but then she turned around slightly and said in the most gentle of voices, "You, Draco Malfoy, are capable of being whoever you want to be." She nodded and then left without another glance back.
Draco finally let the breath he was holding out and after a moment a smile crept up to his face. She was right. He can be whomever he wanted to be and what he wanted to be was worthy enough for her, worthy enough for himself. He vowed to himself he'd do anything to make sure Voldemort is taken down so he'd be able to live in a world where he and Hermione could have a chance- where people like them could have a chance. He didn't care if that meant playing a dangerous role if it meant keeping his mother and Hermione safe. The next opportunity he got, he'd go straight to Dumbledore and pledge his allegiance to work as a spy.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron were now enjoying a pint of butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. They had all decided to head there after the meeting which surprisingly went extremely well.
"See that wasn't too bad, Harry," Hermione chirped up.
Harry threw her a pointed glare but then sighed and nodded. "As usual, you were right."
Hermione gave him a smug look then took a big gulp of her drink.
"Speaking of the meeting," she started. "I noticed Cho couldn't seem to take her eyes off of you."
Harry's pale cheeks turned pink. "I don't know what you mean."
"Come on mate, its obvious isn't it? She fancies you!" Ron exclaimed.
"And it's obvious you still fancy her," Hermione continued.
Harry looked out the window and ignored the pair. He didn't even pay attention as they started bickering about Ginny dating Michael Corner.
Just then Malfoy and his Slytherin posse consisting of Theo, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle all came in and sat at a table not too far from them.
Hermione watched Draco as he walked in with his usual air of confidence, paying no mind to Ron's grumbling about them.
When Draco had turned and caught her eye, she swore she saw the ghost of a smirk appear on his face but now he looked just as aloof as ever.
"D'you think Malfoy knows just what daddy dearest is up to these days?" Ron whispered, referring to Harry seeing Lucius at the Ministry.
Harry glanced over to them then back, "Who knows, he might even be a Death Eater in training."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "That's completely barbaric. Malfoy may be a ferret but I don't think he'd be capable of those things. I don't think he's anything like his father."
Both Ron and Harry looked at her as if she had gone completely mental.
"Hermione, this is the same person who bullied you for years and threatened you all because of your blood," Harry said.
"And let's not forget, the whole lot of them are as bigoted as they come. Harry even said their fathers had all been summoned by You-Know-Who himself last year," Ron hissed.
Hermione pursed her lips, "Yes, but I mean do you really think Malfoy would ever be one of them?"
Ron and Harry shared a look then turned back to her.
"Out of that lot," Harry gestured with his head over to the Slytherins, "I'd bet all my galleons Malfoy would be the most inclined to. He'd probably be the first to volunteer."
Hermione glanced sideways to Draco and saw him laughing with his friends and remembering all their run-ins together this year. No, she definitely didn't agree with Harry.
She chugged down her butterbeer, much to her two friends amusement, and stood.
"Where you going?" Ron asked.
"I forgot I needed to get a new quill. I'm just going to stop by Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. I'll meet you both back at the castle." She wrapped her scarf around her neck and put on her jacket, bidding them both goodbye.
As she walked out of the pub she spared a glance at Malfoy who was already watching her. The short period of eye contact had her almost fumbling into the door but luckily she managed to regain her balance.
Draco hadn't expected to see Hermione in the pub but he was grateful that he did. However, that gratitude was short-lived when she made an exit not too long after he arrived and he wondered if it was because of him. He did notice her and her friends watching him and knew immediately he was the topic of their conversation.
He so badly wanted to go right after her but he restrained himself. If he did it would be too obvious, that and he needed to stop seeking her out. It does not bode too well for him or anyone really for him to suddenly make nice with the Gryffindor princess with all things considered. But he just couldn't help himself sometimes. Draco was a selfish man and he was never one to deny that.
When he heard the shrill voices of Pansy and her group of girl friends, one of whom was Astoria Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass' little sister. The younger girl had a massive crush on Draco and it was already annoying enough having Pansy and so many of the other girls trying to bag him up, but Astoria was almost as annoying as Pansy and he just couldn't deal with both at the same time.
He tried sinking into his chair and hiding behind Crabbe's much larger frame but it was no use, Pansy had seen him.
"Draco!" She exclaimed and the group of girls all started making their way over to them.
He outwardly groaned and sneered when his friends began laughing.
"D'you think if I up and leg it right now they won't catch me?"
"No," Theo grinned then watched in amusement as the girls pulled up chairs to sit at their table, Astoria and Pansy squeezing themselves at either side of him.
The two girls glared dirtily at each other but didn't want to say anything at the risk of upsetting Daphne.
"Ladies," Blaise acknowledged, shooting Draco a smirk.
Draco rolled his eyes and had to pull his arm away from Pansy's wandering hands.
"So, Draco. Since we're both here-" Pansy started but was immediately cut off.
"-Would you like to grab a drink with me?" Astoria rushed out.
Pansy shot her the most terrifying look but the younger girl ignored it, unfazed.
Draco raised a bored brow then stood and dusted off his robes. "I'm afraid I have some things to attend to but I'm sure these other gentlemen would be glad to join you ladies."
"What?" Blaise and Theo said in alarm. Draco knew how annoyed they got of the constant girly gossip and he basked in their dread. Served them right. Now, he had an opportunity to go find Hermione.
As he walked out of the Three Broomsticks, he silently told himself he wasn't going to approach her. He just wanted to see her and if by any constellation she approached him then Draco wouldn't stop that either.
She had been easy to find. Standing outside Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, she was looking through the window at one of the most luxurious quills there. He knew because it was the one he owned. In fact, all of his quills were the same model. After all, only the best for the Malfoy's.
He watched from a distance as she made her way in and once he deemed it appropriately long enough, he followed in.
Hermione was way in the back of the shop at the till browsing at the handsome quills on display in the glass case. He made sure he was out of sight but was able to see her and hear her.
She took her time but in the end, she had purchased a nice dark green pheasant-feather quill and the thought that she bought that specific one for him caused an odd flutter feeling in his stomach. Could she have?
"Thank you," she called out as she left and Draco finally stepped out of the shadows.
"Hello, dear. How can I help you?" the petite old witch asked him with a kind smile.
"Hello, may I get 1 gold nib goose feather quill and another in green?"
"Certainly, dear," the lady nodded and went to get them.
She opened the leather boxes and allowed him to look at them and make sure they were up to his standards. She clearly knew exactly who he was.
Draco nodded in satisfaction and she went to bag them up but he stopped her.
"I was wondering if you'd be able to gift wrap the green one."
The lady only looked at him for a moment before she nodded and did as he asked. A secret smile was playing on her lips as she wrapped the box carefully and neatly but Draco didn't notice. He was too excited picturing Hermione's reaction come morning when the owls came with the post.
A/N: Welp lovely readers, I hope you enjoyed yet another chapter filled with much more Dramione! To be honest, this one had me a little excited to write and post. I was originally going to publish yesterday but I was having a bit of trouble trying to figure out how to make it flow but i hope you enjoyed nonetheless! Thank you so much for reading 3
Love Always,
to-be-Slytherin xX