Ch. 6

The next morning Malfoy knocked on her door and waited for Hermione to answer. The realization that they had become somewhat friends was weird for both of them, but it was still McGonigal's orders that they follow the same routine they had been. Plus, tonight, they had night patrols.

She came out of her room with her hair pulled back again and they headed out to breakfast. They didn't talk much on the way, they were both acting odd after last evening.

When they sat down Malfoy filled her cup, something he had never done before.

"Okay Malfoy, stop being nice to me, it's weirding me out!" She said to him in an irritated tone.

He put the jug back down as he smirked. "if it irritates you maybe I'll keep doing it…"

An owl had swooped down with a letter for her. As she untied it she saw that it was from Harry. "He's written back," she said as she gave the post owl a knut.

Malfoy continued his breakfast in silence and Hermione read her letter. He didn't get many letters anymore.

She scoffed as she read her letter, and after the fourth time Malfoy turned to her.

"What is it?" He asked to make her stop.

"He hasn't written the entire time I've been here, but writes now?"

"Who?" He pushed.

"Harry, apparently someone saw you go into my room last night and Harry wanted to make sure I was okay and asks me if we're dating! Gross…"

Draco choked on his drink and it sprayed out of his nose and mouth. Hermione tossed a napkin over to him and gave him a repulsed look.

"I know, and then he goes on to say it's none of his business. He's right about that part at least. We're barely even friends." She was incredulous.

He was relieved to hear her say the last part. He stared down the table at Neville who he knew had seen him going into Granger's the night before. He got up from his spot and headed down that way and took a seat next to Professor Longbottom.

"Longbottom," Malfoy began. "I don't appreciate you insinuating to Potter that there's something going on between me and Gr…anyone." He didn't want to say her name.

"Do you guys see how you're acting? I've never seen her like this, even with Ron. I'm not trying to get involved, but her friends should know what's going on." He finished.

"Going on? There's nothing going on. Mind your own business Longbottom." He said with a surly look as he got up and left the great hall. He was hoping to avoid this type of chit chat even last night, and in less than 24 hours he was already dealing with rumors. He had gotten along well with Neville since being a teacher, but now he had reached his limit.

Hermione watched as he left the great hall in a huff. She couldn't blame him, she was irritated too. She had lost her appetite and decided to go off to her class room and start her day early.

When she got to her classroom she had some extra time to spare so she began a reply to Harry when she heard a knock at the door. Neville entered with a sheepish smile on his face.

"Hi Hermione," he began. "I noticed you got a letter today, from Harry I'm assuming…" he tried to explain.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact I did," she thought his approach was odd.

"Last night I saw Malfoy going into your quarters and both of you have been spending a lot of time together. Harry had contacted me last night by fire and when we spoke I kind of mentioned what I had seen. After breakfast Malfoy approached me and I felt I owed you an explanation. I'm sorry Hermione."

"Neville, you?" She couldn't believe he could be the cause of the letter she had received. After all, her and Malfoy had been spending time together and that wouldn't have happened if the headmistress hadn't forced them to. She wanted to tell Neville right then and there, but knowing that he would take information right to her other friends made her think the better of it.

"I hope you're not too upset with me, but I can understand if you are." Neville's conscience was bothering him.

"I'm actually not upset Neville. I completely understand why all of this has caught you off guard. To be honest it's caught me off guard too. I have become friends with Malfoy, even though I never expected to be. I'm not sure how it even happened," she lied at the last part, knowing perfectly well. "Last night we met to talk about one of my Gryffindor students that received detention from him, that's why he was in my quarters." She replied.

"It's not like I need an explanation or anything…"

"No, you really don't, but I'm giving you one as my friend. Next time you're wondering about something, can you just ask me about it before talking to anyone else?"

"Sure Hermione, no problem. It's almost time for class, I'll see you at dinner." He said in a friendly tone as he left.

She made a deep sigh and put away the things she had to write her letter. She wasn't in the mood now. Students started filing in and she prepared to start her lesson.

In the evening if she hadn't gone to get Malfoy by a certain time he usually came to get her. He did his usual and walked in and waited against the wall. She hadn't heard or noticed him because of the noise in her own head that had been writing a reply to Harry all day. She put a stack of books away in a cupboard and when she turned around she was so startled that Malfoy was there that she jumped.

"My God you scared me!" she clutched her chest.

"Didn't you hear me come in? I wasn't trying to be quiet…"

"Do I look like I heard you?" she was exasperated, still coming down from being scared.

"No," he was looking at his fingernails. "Why don't you put this stuff away by magic, it will be much easier." He lifted some other things she needed put away and quickly put them away for her.

"I thought you were going to stop being nice," she asked him kind of severely.

"I'm not being nice to you, I'm hungry Granger, and I'm tired of waiting on you!" he said in a surly tone.

"Good, I'm ready to go." She said as they left through the door together.

"Make way for princess Granger," he muttered sarcastically as they walked through the hall.

When they sat down for dinner she saw Draco glaring over at Neville. Neville had caught his eye and looked away, and it reminded Hermione that she probably needed to talk to Draco about her conversation with him earlier. "Not at dinner," she thought. She didn't want to appear to talk to him too frequently and resolved from now on to say as little to him as possible when in front of other people so they didn't get the wrong idea like Neville had. She completely ignored him and made conversation with Hagrid about his classes.

The night patrol hadn't been a responsibility they had shared before because teachers routinely took it in pairs and rotated every few weeks. They were just starting their weekly rotation. After dinner they reported to the headmistress's office to get her directions.

As they went past the gargoyle and up the staircase to her office, Hermione misjudged a step and almost fell when Malfoy grabbed her arm and pulled her up. "Watch where you're walking, Granger," he said rudely as he stepped past her and into the office.

"Come on in and take a seat, I'll be with you both in a minute." Professor McGonigal's voice carried from another room.

They were both seated and waited when she came around and sat at her desk.

"First time at evening patrol…it's not difficult, just keeping watch for any students out of bed and maintaining a presence in the castle so we have an alert if needed. I only expect the teachers to patrol until eleven and then you are free to return to your quarters." She explained.

Both Hermione and Draco nodded and started to get up.

"Another thing while you both are here…it appears you are working together quite well. You're getting many compliments from the staff. Professor Malfoy, I heard of the circumstances surrounding Mr. Bone's punishment and feel it was very fitting. I heard that you communicated with Professor Granger so she could also have her own talk with him. I am glad to see you both took me seriously and have shown true professional behavior. That is all."

Hermione and Draco nodded again.

"Thanks professor," she added.

"Thank you," he echoed as they left the office.

Hermione was careful to watch her step better this time as they set off patrolling the castle with their wands lit.

"Sorry this morning was so awkward, I've been fuming all day." She whispered.

"Longbottom needs to learn how to mind his own business." He added.

"Well, yes, but he came to see me after breakfast,"

"And," he waited for the rest.

She told him about the interaction and how her and Draco really were hiding something and that would make some people naturally suspicious.

"You didn't tell him, did you?" he accused her, referring to the punishment McGonigal had set for them.

"No! We agreed not to!" She held her wand up to light up his face.

"So you'd rather your friends think we were…involved…than tell them the truth?"

"First of all, they should know me better than that," she replied as she lowered the light again.

Draco laughed, "Yes, even I know you better than that!"

"Plus, we made an agreement, and I plan to stick to it. You haven't told any of your friends, have you?" She hadn't heard him mention his friends, they normally didn't share personal info.

Draco sighed. "Nope."

"Good, what was that sigh about?" she asked, relieved.

"I didn't sigh Granger,"

"Yes you did! We have all night to patrol Malfoy, so I literally have all that time to bug you about it." She said in her favorite know it all voice that she knew irritated him.

"I came here to start my life over, and many of my old friends don't feel the way that I do. I don't keep in touch with anyone, once in a while my parents, but that's it. Are you happy now?" he felt vulnerable, and he didn't like showing her that side of him.

She had stopped walking and he saw her light slowing bobbing up to him in the dark.

"What?"

"…I didn't know…" she whispered softly.

"That I have no friends? Well you do now." He said with a grumpy tone.

She hesitated and then placed her hand on his shoulder, making him jump a little, he wasn't expecting her touch.

"I'm your friend," she said reassuringly as she lightly squeezed his shoulder and removed her hand. He started walking again and she kept pace with him.

He wanted to make a sarcastic comment but decided to keep it to himself for the time being. "So what about you and Weasley, didn't you have a thing for him?"

"I ask you one question and you start asking me about guys?" she looked at him skeptically.

"Um…"

"Joking, it's fine." It was her turn to sigh. "We had been friends for a long time and after the war we got together, but it didn't work out. He just wasn't a match for me."

"I could have told you that, you need someone who's uptight, like you," he laughed again.

"Hey!" She couldn't help it, she laughed too.

"What happened with Parkinson? Weren't you two a thing?"

"Why did you have to ask me about her?" he said, groaning.

"You asked about Ron, it's only fair…" she said in a smug voice.

"She didn't care for my…what did she call it…attitude change. She ended up breaking up with me to date Goyle."

"Seriously?" Hermione couldn't believe Malfoy's life had turned into an actual tragedy.

"No, I made it up." He lied sarcastically.

"That's terrible. Was it serious?"

"That's more questions than I asked you…"

Hermione took the hint and dropped the conversation.

When she didn't talk again he answered her question.

"Kind of, not like marriage or anything, but I liked her. She wouldn't fit into my current life, we didn't have the same views. Now let's talk about something else," he said as they started down another long corridor.

The time passed quickly and they had reached eleven before they knew it. They walked back to the common room and went their separate ways.

"Night," Hermione said as she reached her door and went inside.

"Evening," Draco returned as he stepped through his doorway and closed the door.