Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise, nor anything affiliated with it. I also do not own any songs used in this fic, all rights to those songs belong to the artists, go support their work on Youtube, Spotify, or other music platforms.
Draco's POV
"You're kidding right? Hermione was the one who set Snape's robe on fire back in first year? Ms. Perfect Role Model? The Insufferable Tattle Tale?"
I can't stop laughing and Ron can't either. We're sitting in the Gryffindor common room and surprisingly I'm pretty comfortable in here. No one really bats an eye at the sight and there are actually a couple other students here from other houses. Since house relationships have been getting much better and the war showed people to cherish what they have, common rooms have become less exclusive.
"Oh my goodness, he got so upset about that! I'm not sure if you knew this, but Snape is my Godfather. That was his favourite set of robes. He was so moody, well more than usual at least, during the following days. He actually let McGonagall give me a detention instead of excusing me like usual. You know what, when I say it out loud it doesn't seem as bad. You guys must have served at least 80 in your time right?"
"I've lost track, but Hermione probably has it recorded in a secret journal with lots of tears smudging the pages and ink. I mean it's probably something she'd cry about. 'Dear Diary, today I got a detention. It's absolutely abhorable!'" I collapse into another fit of laughter at his imitation of Hermione's voice. "As she once said back in our third year I think, 'I have a reputation to uphold'. It was ridiculous."
It really does sound like something she would do, or at least she definitely would have done before the war. Now, maybe not.
"Do you have any more embarrassing stories about Hermione? Or anything you'd like to tell me now that we're somewhat friends?" I ask.
"Nah, I don't think so… wait, oh my gosh you don't know!" He looks like he's about to die from laughter now, but if he doesn't tell me what I don't know I'll probably die from curiosity, I mean it did kill the cat.
"What don't I know Weasel?" I ask in a semi-annoyed and exasperated voice. He just laughs harder and I fight the urge to smile at him. I give him a moment to calm down before glaring at him again.
"Fine I'll tell you, but the look on your face is priceless. I'd love to take a snapshot of it." I just continue to glare at him, waiting for him to move on. "Okay so back in Second Year, we all had this theory that you were the heir of Slytherin. You know, since you flaunted it so much. Well anyway Hermione hatched a plan to make a Polyjuice potion because she'd read ahead and already learnt it in theory. That way we could get information from you without arousing suspicion."
I'm a little puzzled by this discovery since I know that the potion requires many ingredients that are not readily available to the general student population, never mind a group of three second year students who were always causing trouble. Snape certainly wouldn't have given the ingredients to them. As if reading my thoughts, Ron continues.
"Harry and I didn't know where we might have gotten those ingredients from, but Hermione suggested we break into Snape's potion and ingredient stores to 'acquire' them." He pauses. "I know right, Hermione recommend we break into the stores of one of the most feared professors in history? What on earth has gotten into the golden girl?"
"Anyway we then stole them, I'm not telling you how since that's Harry's secret to tell." This just makes me immensely curious so I discreetly pull out a pen from my bag so that I can write a note on my hand to ask Potter about this later.
"Once we had them, we decided to brew it in one of the stalls in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom since no one wanted to go there. Hermione figured it would be pretty safe. Once the potion was ready, we got hairs from Crabbe, Goyle, and Bulstrode and put them in the potion. This was after we lured Crabbe and Goyle using cupcakes and tucked them out of the way in an empty closet. We put the hairs in and drank them in separate stalls. It was so weird, all of it. Anyway, Harry and I exited our stalls and we though it worked pretty well. Hermione took a while though. When we finally got her to come out, she slowly opened it and she was like this weird human-cat hybrid."
Weasel stops for a moment to let that sink in and I try to imagine that. It doesn't quite work since I don't have any idea what that would look like.
"You're confused aren't you?" No duh Weaselbee, I think to myself. "Okay well she had the same kind of size as she did back then, but she was covered in fur and her head was shaped like a cat's. It was hilarious. It turns out she had accidentally taken a piece of fur from Bulstrode, not a hair. She had to go to the hospital wing for that one and didn't come back till after the winter holidays, so for about a week or two."
Now that I have a frame of reference, the image I'm getting in my head is absolutely ridiculous and I burst out laughing. I can't stop and I make a very important mental note to tease Hermione about this later. I can't help but wonder how I've gotten to the point where I'm best friends with Hermione, okay maybe not anymore, goofing off and laughing with Weasel, and good terms with Potter.
"Weaselbee, though I hate to break up the laughs and amazing stories, I have to head up to the library to do some research for my Alchemy class. See you at dinner." I say. I grab my bag and sling it around my shoulder.
"Bye, see you later ferret!" He says before I turn around leave. Though we're pretty chummy now, we still call each other names because it'd be weird if we didn't. It's still weird to think that we went polar opposites with each in just about a month or two, calling each other by our given names would just be too much.
I exit through the Gryffindor portrait hole and head to the library. I almost get lost at one point since I'm quite new to walking this way. The sun has started to set so it's casting a beautiful orange glow on the hallway. Unfortunately it also means that the sun is blinding my eyes and I'm squinting like a mad person. Not the best when you're supposed to be one of the schools most proper students as well as a Malfoy.
When I finally get to the library I sit at a table next to a window, angled such that the remaining sun light can illuminate my papers and textbooks, but it won't get in my eyes. I don't really want to do my Alchemy homework, it's not like I'll need it for the jobs I'm thinking of. The only reason I'm bothered to do it at all is because I'd like to be able to get either the same kind of grades as Hermione or better. This would mean I have a high chance of being valedictorian, as well as the fact that my father may actually be proud of my achievements for once.
I'm not quite sure what to think about my father now. I have so many conflicting thoughts and opinions now so I mostly choose to not think of it at all. However when you don't want to do your work, those kinds of thoughts jump out at you so you can escape and wait till later. The easiest way to deal with this problem is to try and get all the conflicting arguments about my father organized in my mind.
First of all, when I was younger he was an abhorable father who never gave me any attention, love, praise, or joy. His only goal was to make me the best of the best to increase our family's standings. He wanted me to be the perfect poster child and cared nothing of the person I was. As a child I never got the praise I needed and I became a bully. He never loved or treated my mother well, and he threw us to the side whenever he had something that was worth more time in his views.
When Voldemort came back it got so much worse though. His teachings of prejudice and hatred grew even more. He tried to shove even more of it down my throat. He became more violent towards my mother and I, and I found it harder and harder to deal with all of that stress. It got worse when he wanted me to join the Death Eaters. In the end I did because I thought that he might be less violent and it might do me some good. Instead it became so much worse, because then I had not just my father trying to hurt me and use me, but the rest of the Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. Trying to stay out of their way was very difficult and was much harder when Voldemort tasked me with killing Dumbledore to make up for my father's mistakes. Yet another time my father failed me and made my life miserable.
But after the war he changed. Technically I don't really know what he was like immediately after the war because the only time I really saw him was during our trials. The rest of the time I spent locked away in my room. I did however climb out of my room at night when it was so late that there was barely any movement. I'd sit on the roof of the manor and watch the stars, just trying to find a sense of calm and to shut out the whispering voices in my head. While I was up there though, there were a couple instances where I'd see two figures walking in the garden. Dark robes and pale faces illuminated by the glow of the moon and stars. The first time it happened I thought I was just dreaming, but the subsequent times afterwards I merely watched them as they interacted with each other in a way I never thought they would. During those instances, I allowed myself a sliver of hope that perhaps our family would heal itself after almost 2 decades of pain. Unfortunately my father went to Azkaban and my mother died shortly afterwards.
Then I found out that my father is actually working with the Ministry now to help catch Death Eaters. That he'd known of my life at Hogwarts since I started this year. That he's been watching me this whole time. Influencing little bits of it, slowly coming back into the picture now. Even right now he's influencing my ability to concentrate, making it harder for me to get the good grades to impress him.
I honestly can't decide what to think of him now. I want to forgive him for everything, but he also hurt me so much and I'm not sure how it'll influence our relationship later on in life. There's just so much that's unclear and I haven't quite come to terms with. The best part is, I don't even know how he's getting updates on the Hogwarts' ongoings and what the details of that are like. I don't know how much he knows and it's actually kind of creepy.
I allow myself to get back and focused on my surroundings so that I can start my work, only to realize that it's now almost late enough for them to be finishing dinner down in the Great Hall. I have two options; either study now and get some leftovers from the kitchens, or pack up my stuff to get a proper meal and then have to come back here to do my work. I decide to take the former option.
I stand up to go search the shelves for some good books and research materials for my latest Alchemy assignment, and for what must have been the thousandth time this year, wished that I could just use my family's library. The whole thing is extensive and contains many journals and reference texts about a wide variety of topics. I also designed a new system of organizing it during my self-imposed exile in my room during the summer, so I have a very good idea of what books are in the library and which ones could help me right now.
When I select some good texts, I head back to the table I've set all my stuff up at and get to work. After all of the thinking I did earlier, I just push myself to get this paper done. Once I'm okay with how it's turned out, I take a quick glance at my watch, only to see that it's almost 9:45. Not that late if we're talking in general, but not very early for someone who would like some dinner. I gather my work together and pack it up in my bag. I then put the texts and journals into a pile so that I can put them back. I stand up after stretching my legs to make sure they won't collapse on me once I stand up. I then get up and get the stuff I have to return and do a weird hobble while doing so. Once I'm done with that I leave the library and head towards the kitchens.
I enter the kitchens and one of house elves I don't know very well comes to greet me.
"Hello sir. Would you like me to put together a meal for you?" He asks me. I'm surprised at his grammar and how he speaks with a very normal voice but I refuse to let that surprise show on my face or in my voice.
"Yes please, if you have time." I ask politely.
"Of course, please sit over here while I prepare everything." He then guides me to a small table with three small chairs around it. I guess a lot of students do this if the house elves actually set up a small waiting area. I only wait for about 5 minutes before he comes over with a small tea tray containing a piece of chicken, penne alfredo, and broccolini. I thank him before heading up to my dorm so I can go eat.
When I get upstairs I enter our portrait hole and put my bag down on a stool and my food on the counter of the kitchenette. I hear a faint noise of music so I try to go closer to it.
Well, they say people come
The say people go
This particular diamond was extra special
And though you might be gone, and the world may not know
Still I see you, celestial
I'm pretty sure that it's coming from up the stairs in either Hermione's room or the bathroom since I know she showers in the evening and may be doing that right now. I walk up the stairs and realize that it's coming from her room.
And I should but I can't let you go
But when I'm cold, I'm cold
Yeah, when I'm cold
Cold
There's a light that you give me when I'm in shadow
There's a feeling within me, an everglow
The piano melody is beautiful and I strain my ears to hear all of it. The lyrics and tune have a very melancholy feel to it and it just makes me feel so peaceful as well.
Like brothers in blood, or sisters who ride
Yeah we swore on that night we'd be friends 'til we die
But the changing of winds, and the way waters flow
Life is short as the falling of snow
And I'm gonna miss you, I know
I listen carefully and hear Hermione's voice mixed in with it as well. I lean against the wall just outside of her room and sit on the floor so that I'm just a little bit more comfortable. Then I try to listen and take in as much of the song as I can.
But when I'm cold, cold
In water rolled, salt
And I know that you're with me and the way you will show
And you're with me wherever I go
And you give me this feeling, this everglow
What I wouldn't give for just a moment to hold
Because, I live for this feeling, this everglow
So if you love someone, you should let them know
Oh, the light that you left me will everglow
When the song finishes, I quickly go down the stairs again and grab my laptop so that I can look up the song to listen to later. I type in a lyric from what I thought was the chorus based on what I could hear and type it into Google. From there, I find out that the song is called Everglow by Coldplay. I click on the first YouTube link and see a video with a figure skater performing a very beautiful dance. It's mesmerizing and I find that it's filled with so much emotion. I add it to a couple playlists before adding it to my phone as well.
I have my dinner at the counter before heading up to my own room and getting ready to get to sleep for a relatively early night. As I'm doing this, I remember that I had kind of promised Ron that I would be at dinner. I sort of failed there.
I put my earbuds into my phone and start to listen to Everglow again. Examining it again a little more closely, I realize that it mirrors my feelings for Hermione somewhat. The only difference is that I have let her know. I also know that she does care for me. However I know that she isn't quite at the same point I'm at and I'll wait for her till she's ready, even if it never happens. I'd hate to be in a relationship where she constantly feels uncomfortable, so for now I will be there to support her and care for her. Even if it hurts me like a knife in the heart and slowly kills me. Even if my days are never quite as happy as I'd like them to be. Because in the end, she's the light of my life and it can never be as sad as it could when she's around.
Author's Note: Almost to chapter 50! Yay, another milestone! The song I used in this was Everglow by Coldplay. Thanks for the support guys, but please review! Sorry about the later updates, I've had time but I'm getting a shortage of ideas and brain isn't working. I'm gonna stop promising dates for chapters. It'll be updated when it is. In the meantime feel free to leave feedback, both negative and positive, or ask questions. It'd be really nice by the way if we could get 20 reviews for the 50 chapters, two nice round numbers *nudge nudge*. By the way I can't respond to reviews if they're posted by a guest. You need to sign in or create an account if you want me to answer the question. Have a great week all of you, till next time!