For the current leg of their trek through Diagon Alley, Hermione opted to try and not pay attention to the gawking onlookers. The operative word, though, was try. Every so often she found herself looking around to see how many eyes were glued onto the pair of them. Whenever she did, though, Draco was quick to point it out.
"Quit giving them the satisfaction. You were doing so well this time, too… we made twenty-seven steps."
Hermione snapped her eyes to meet his profile, an incredulous expression on her face. "You counted how many steps?"
He smirked. "Absolutely not. But I got you to stop thinking of the people staring for a second, didn't I?"
"You are not clever, Malfoy." Hermione mumbled, not wanting to admit that she was moderately impressed at his successful effort in distracting her.
He let out a short 'ha' while simultaneously placing his fingers on the small of her back to guide her out of the way of an enchanted rickety fruit cart approaching them. Either Hermione was imagining things or there was a literal transfer of electricity from his fingertips to her when he made contact.
"I think I was pretty clever," Draco replied, giving no indication that he felt anything remotely close to what Hermione felt.
Maybe it's all in my head. Maybe it's all of this… appreciation that I'm feeling because he took a curse for me. Just breathe, Jeanie. Hermione coached herself. You've known him for years. He's just another schoolmate. Nothing more and nothing less.
"Flourish and Blotts!" Hermione pointed.
Her tone reflected the excitement she felt upon seeing the bookstore. Ever since she was a little girl Hermione always had an affinity for bookshops. There was something about the ambiance in a bookshop that no other store could replicate. The scent, too, was very distinct; it was as if the essence of coffee married new and old book smell to create a wonderous new scent altogether.
Bookshops in the Wizarding World were no different; it was as if there existed a universal law that transcended the magical and non-magical realms which decreed bookshops around the world must have the same ambiance and smell. Whatever it was, it didn't take away from the fact that Hermione was in her happy place.
"Let's go then." Draco didn't miss a beat. He encircled Hermione's left wrist and began tugging her towards the bookshop. It was as if her body completely shut down: her legs were working on their own, following Draco's lead, and her mind was blank. The shock of him so effortlessly taking a hold of her wrist and guiding her stunned Hermione.
Her eyes trailed down to where his skin was in contact with hers and she saw, adorning his middle finger, an intricate gold and emerald ring. The band, from what Hermione could make of it, was a slithering snake that wrapped around his finger. The snake had its jaw wide open, revealing the Malfoy family crest.
The jingling of the shop door opening broke Hermione out of her reverie… it was either the jingling sound or the unexpected cold hair that greeted the spot on her wrist where Draco had been holding. Calm yourself down. What on earth is happening to me! Hermione made a note to self to visit Madam Pomfrey when they arrived at Hogwart… I must be coming down with the flu or something or another.
There was no other reason for her stomach to be doing somersaults and her hart to be skipping beats… no other plausible reason that is.
"Are you looking for anything specific?" Draco asked while nodding at a classmate that stared at them wide-eyed and jaw agape. Hermione knew the boy was from the Slytherin house but didn't know him by name.
"No," Hermione scanned the shelves. "Just wanted to take a look and see if there was anything new worth reading."
Because she was examining the shelves, she missed the twinkle in Draco's eyes. "You know, Granger, Hogwarts: A History doesn't exactly have a second volume."
If looks could kill, Draco would be pushing daisies. Deciding to not make a comment, Hermione walked away from Draco and towards a tucked away shelf on the eastern wall of the store. Draco snickered to himself before making his way to the shelf that held autobiographies of famous witches and wizards… for some reason, the autobiography of Gilderoy Lockhart caught his attention…
He picked it up, not for educational purposes… more for amusement.
Hermione, on the other hand, was running her fingers up and down the spine of several weathered books. It wasn't unusual for Flourish and Blotts to have used books on their shelves, but it was unusual for them to advertise such books as new. Hermione wasn't one to question the ins and outs of the magical world, though. She knew that not everything was what they seemed at first glance.
A particular book titled: The Empire of Dragons caught Hermione's attention almost immediately. The book was bound in what appeared to be leather with the title embossed into the spine in gold. Hermione absentmindedly chewed on her lower lip as she pulled the book off of the shelf and opened it to the first page.
Welcome, inquisitive mind. You must've reached for this title because you are curious about Dragons. We don't blame you for your interest; the Empire of Dragons remains a mystery to even the nosiest of researchers. They are, without a doubt, creatures of undeniable majesty.
The research in this text has been conducted by Isadora Ainsley Fernsby, née Gryffindor. We summarise the ideologies, philosophies, and beliefs of the Empire of Dragons in great detail. Isadora had the unique opportunity to live amongst these magnificent creatures. She has also earned the trust of their Emperor and has received permission to document her findings and publish them for those who are inclined to read it.
"What have you got there?"
Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt hot breath blow into her left ear. She whirled around and, without thinking, playfully punched Draco's shoulder. His shoulders shook, completely giving away the fact that he was trying to withhold his laughter.
"Blimey," Hermione groaned, "I nearly had a heart attack! You didn't have to get so close."
Draco shrugged playfully and ushered towards the book she was holding. "You're alive, Granger. You're a Gryffindor and not an actress… so, what have you got there?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at his comment. "Something about an Empire of Dragons." She muttered while slapping the book closed. She, then, quickly moved to return the book to its spot on the shelf.
Draco took a step back and watched with mild amusement. "You aren't going to buy it?"
Hermione shook her head. "No… not yet, at least. It seems interesting but I don't have time for pleasure reading this school year."
Draco hummed, agreeing with her foreshadow of how strenuous their upcoming school year was going to be. Given that their Hogwarts cohort hadn't technically graduated because they were participants in the Wizarding War, the Ministry of Magic had created a one-year extension program to accommodate those students to ensure they graduate Hogwarts with all applicable accreditations.
"You could buy it and put it on your to-read list?"
Hermione hated that he was right in assuming she had a growing to-read list.
"I could, but I won't. Don't you have to go to Madam Malkin's?"
"If memory serves correct, as do you." Draco was quick to reply. Hermione slid the book back onto the shelf and closely followed Draco out of Flourish and Blotts.
The sun was nearing its highest point in the sky, indicating that noon was upon them. That also meant that a lot of their Hogwarts peers would be out and about Diagon Alley… and that meant that the duo was more likely to be seen by their friends and acquaintances.
It wasn't so much the acquaintances that made Hermione nervous as it was the likelihood of friends seeing them. I'd rather tell them about my communication with Draco in person versus them seeing us together and jumping to conclusions. Hermione conspicuously (or, rather, she hoped conspicuously) scanned the crowds to see if she spotted anybody they knew.
"You're trying too hard to not care, Granger."
His voice was melodic against the harsh backdrop that was the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley in back-to-school season. Hermione played tried to play it cool, though, and acted as if she was simply casually looking around.
"What would you do if somebody saw us?"
Hermione shrugged and turned her attention back to him. "I don't know. Try to come up with a reason on the spot as to why I hadn't told them I have been in contact with you all summer.
He cocked an eyebrow. "That's your concern?"
She nodded and, surprisingly, Draco let out a chuckle. "Bloody hell… that's a lot more normal than I thought your reason would be."
Both of her eyebrows shot up. "Pardon me? And what did you think my reason was?"
Draco shrugged nonchalantly. "I honestly thought it was because you were ashamed with yourself for keeping in touch with me." Hermione opened her mouth to interject but Draco was quick to add his postscript: "And I wouldn't blame you, I've been an arse for seven years."
"I'm mildly offended you would think I was ashamed of myself." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't be ashamed in myself… maybe more disappointed."
It was Draco's turn to be surprised. "Is that so? Disappointed over ashamed? And why is that?"
"Shame stems from regret." Hermione started. "I don't regret corresponding with you. I think, in this hypothetical scenario, I'd feel disappointment in myself for forcing you to keep contact with me all summer… and then having to explain that to my friends."
"So, in other words, embarrassment?"
"Embarrassingly disappointed, yes."
Draco mulled that thought over for a few moments before giving Hermione his opinion: "I think I'd have preferred ashamed over disappointed."
"And why is that?"
Draco gently pushed Hermione to shuffle to the left to give way to a line of merchants trying to navigate the narrow alleyway. "I think feeling ashamed is something that I could justify in my mind. I've not exactly been the ideal classmate… being disappointed means you had higher expectations of yourself and you let yourself down as a result of me."
As much as Hermione hated to admit it, she was impressed. He's definitely matured.
"But neither is the case." Hermione finally said, wanting to shift away from the emotionally thick conversation. "The truth is I'd be the blubbering mess trying to come up with a rationale."
"Is there a rationale?" He was genuinely curious.
Hermione shook her head. "Not at all. I just didn't think it was something I had to bring up in my owls to my friends." She grinned up at him. "Us owling each other over the summer isn't something I can bring up in natural conversation."
Draco mocked as if he was in deep thought. "You make valid points, Granger. Tell you what-" the mischievous twinkle in his eyes was back "-if we happen to cross paths with any of your friends, I can have you vomit out some slugs."
Hermione was stunned. She had to stop walking just so that she could appropriately gawk at Draco. She certainly wasn't expecting their friendship (could they even call it that?) to be at the point where they could joke about their less-than-savoury history. The slug incident was one she wouldn't soon forget; Ron had suffered for quite some time over that little stunt.
"Slug got your tongue?" Draco teased over his shoulder. Hermione fisted her hand.
"Watch out, Malfoy, or I may just turn you into a useless little pest." Though her words were malicious, her tone was anything but. Draco turned around fully, as he was five steps or so from where Hermione had come to an abrupt halt, and raised his eyebrows challengingly.
"You can only hex me if you can catch me."
"Is that a challenge?"
As soon as the words left Hermione's mouth, Draco bolted. Suddenly, it was as if the world around them ceased to exist: Draco was dodging and manoeuvring around oncoming witches and wizards while Hermione tried to navigate around those that he dodged.
"Melon!"
The conniving Slytherin had thrown some kind of a melon at her from a fruit cart that he whizzed by. Hermione managed eviscerate the melon (thank you thigh-holster) with the blink of an eye. What compelled her to chase after him, she didn't know… but when Draco challenged her and immediately began running, she only had one thought: turn him into a ferret.
"Sorry!" Hermione called out to a wizard she both unintentionally and unceremoniously pushed out of the way. Draco was getting farther and farther away from her and Hermione knew she didn't have a snowball's chance in hell in catching up to him. So, she did the first thing that came to her mind:
"Accio Draco Malfoy!"
The tip of her wand glowed and, to Hermione's surprise, her spell worked! I didn't think it was going—oh crap! Hermione hadn't thought of the repercussions of trying to use the summoning spell on a person. She stood frozen in place as Draco's body hurtled towards her.
"What the bloody-" Draco was cut off as he crashed into Hermione. The impact of it sent Hermione flying backwards and straight into a display of enchanted robes.
Grunting in pain, and visibly out of breath, Draco pushed off of Hermione –who lay sprawled beneath him– and shoved aside the pile of robes that was burying them. Draco and Hermione were unaware of the crowd that was gathering, though, and an extremely angry Madam Malkin towering over them.
"What are the both of you doing?!" Her voice did not betray her anger. "Is Diagon Alley a place of business or mischief?!"
Draco scrambled to get up and reached out to help Hermione up as well. She grabbed his hand and was very much aware of the tingle that shot up her forearm. Deciding that it wasn't the time to dwell on the sensation, Hermione quickly got up and pushed her hair off of her face, hoping she looked moderately presentable.
"I asked you a question!" Madam Malkin repeated when neither moved to answer. Draco and Hermione glanced at each other from the corner of their eyes and a silent understanding passed between them. Draco took a step forward.
"Business, Madam Malkin." He said in an oh-so eloquent way. "We apologize, right…" he glanced over his shoulder, "Granger?"
Hermione nodded but she chose not to look at Draco. "We apologize. We simply had a… er… misunderstanding."
Madam Malkin huffed while waving her wand to fix her robe displays. "I was hoping you lot would mature after all you've been through, but some things never change! Mister Malfoy, your father has sent me an owl explaining your robes are missing their crests? Come on in, boy."
Draco was hastily shoved into the shop by Madam Malkin; it happened so quick that he didn't have the opportunity to look over his shoulder to give Hermione one final glance. Perhaps it was for the best, though. Deciding that getting her robes was no longer a priority, Hermione quickly hurried away from Madam Malkin's shop.
And away from Draco Malfoy.
It was close to midnight when Hermione heard a gentle knock on her room door. Stifling a yawn, she rolled out of bed (where she had been doing some casual reading… books from the Muggleverse!) and went to go see who on earth had the indecency to knock on her door at midnight!
Unsurprisingly, it was Draco Malfoy.
"Yes?" Hermione asked, painfully aware that he was wearing plaid pajama pants and a grey tank top. It wasn't as if she was in any better attire: pale blue sleeping shorts with an overly large and very worn t-shirt. But his arms… it bothered Hermione that noticed how toned his arms were.
"You aren't asleep?"
Draco pushed past Hermione and into her room without invitation. Hermione furrowed her brows and glared at her uninvited guest. "Obviously not. Why aren't you asleep and why are you here and how did you know I was awake?"
Draco plopped down on Hermione's bed and, gently, pushed Crookshanks out of the way. The half-cat half-kneazle made a sound of annoyance before making his way over to an armchair where he promptly fell back to sleep.
"I can't sleep, which is why I'm here. And I saw the light from under your room door, so I assumed you were awake."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "You peeked out of your room to see if I was awake?" She was not lost on the fact that her heart jumped when she realized that he put in an effort to find out whether she was asleep or not.
Draco grinned at her. "Pretty much. Did you end up getting your robes?"
Hermione sat on the bed as far away from Draco as possible. "I did, much later on though."
"Did she berate you?"
Hermione chewed on her lower lip. "She expressed disappointment…"
Draco's chest rumbled as a soft chuckle sounded from deep within him. "She did the same with me."
Hermione exhaled loudly and a deafening silence enveloped the room. Draco was staring at the ceiling and Hermione was trying to look everywhere other than the space that he was occupying on her bed. It was the first time that they were alone, together, without the possibility of somebody interrupting them…
That fact made Hermione's hairs stand on end.
"Thank you for coming to Diagon Alley earlier than planned." Draco's voice finally cut through the silence. "It's been an entertaining day, to say the least…"
Hermione bit her lower lip. "Don't mention it. I wanted to come…"
After months and months of corresponding with one another, the duo was finally rendered speechless. Hermione was scouring her mind to find something to say and she wondered if Draco was in the same boat as her. The sound of Crookshanks yawning interrupted the silence, but that lasted for all of two seconds. Before long, they were embraced by the quiet once again.
"Hermione…"
His husky voice caressed her senses. Hermione found that she no longer could speak… her throat was tight and the butterflies exploded deep within her core. She made a soft sound –hmm?– in lieu of speaking. It was all that she was capable of doing, but she didn't want Draco to know that.
Draco rolled onto his side and propped his head on his arm. "Will you have breakfast with me tomorrow?"
Stunned, Hermione gawked at him. At first, his face was void of emotion but slowly a smile crept onto his lips. He pushed himself off of the bed and took three long strides to position himself in front of Hermione. He reached his hand out to her and beckoned with his fingers for her to take his hand. Hermione looked at his extended arm and back up at his partially smiling face. She didn't know what came over her but she found herself reaching to grab Draco's hand.
Effortlessly, he pulled her to her feet.
"We can go back to Rosa Lee Teabag? Or," he gestured to the space around them. "We can have a breakfast picnic. Or…" Hermione didn't know when his hands moved to gently grip her hips. "You can say no."
Hermione was at a loss for words. Her eyes were locked on Draco's while the heat from his fingertips coursed through her veins. Her body was heating up and the only thought she had was to get him out of her room immediately. Inhaling deeply, Hermione sidestepped away from Draco. She needed to put space between her and him.
"I'm sure my friends will be here tomorrow…" Hermione missed the look that flashed across Draco's features. She was too busy trying to look anywhere but at him. "I'd like to have some time to spend with them?"
Distance. Put distance between you two.
Draco smirked, but nothing about it seemed natural. "Of course, Granger."
Her heart sank hearing her surname. The jolt of emotion she felt when she heard him whisper her first name was one she would not soon forget… and, as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to hear her name come from his lips again.
"Sorry to have bothered you so late at night." He tipped his head and moved to leave her room. "Goodnight."
Without a second look back, Draco left. Hermione gaped at the door while trying to process every thing that happened within the last ten minutes. Finding that she didn't have the strength to stand any longer, she sank to the floor and rested her head against the frame of the four-poster bed.
Why do I feel guilty for saying no…?