The Gryffindor girls' bedrooms were oddly quiet. It was Friday, so the majority of the students were spending it anywhere they could, but here. Someone was still at the Great Hall chatting, several demurs could be found in the library, and the others wandered around the castle. Only two voices filled the bedroom.
"This fucker!" Ginny looked as if Professor Snape gave her detentions till the end of the semester. "You know what, Hermione, we are going to Hogsmeade, and we are having fun. You need a distraction and I definitely need some fun after the exams, before I go back to the annoying mess, that I call my brothers, at the Burrow for holidays"
"Ginny, I really can't go with you now." Hermione was almost pleading.
"Mione, we've been dying to have some butterbeer in 3 Brooms for the whole week even before all this, andyou can't seriously consider denying yourself some fun because of that idiot with a weird accent." Ginny was not the one to easily deny.
"He. Is. Not. An. Idiot!" Hermione's eyes flickered with anger.
"Yeah, he is not an idiot because…? Name me one good reason, I dare you."
"Well, he is … he is … nice and 's gaze fell down, she knew there was no way of convincing her friend.
"Yeah, right. Nice and handsome is half of Durmstrang, Mione. And he is definitely not nice after breaking up with you via owl mail." Ginny raised one eyebrow and had such a sarcastic look, that Hermione knew she had no chance of reviving Krum's reputation. Well, it's not like he deserved it anyway, but her kind heart was always an issue in such situations. Despite being angry, she wanted to believe he had good reasons. That it wasn't just the distance and interests, that he couldn't handle, as he stated in his letter. Hermione's mind started spiraling once more through the events of the last hour or so.
Hermione was not the type for purposeless wandering around the castle or whatever the students had on their minds on Friday evenings. She was sitting on the bed with another book on her lap, when something knocked on the window. It was so quiet, that she thought it to be just someone playing snowballs at first. But knocking became louder and more frequent, and she couldn't concentrate on the book anymore. Hermione stood up from her bed, stretched, and lazily trudged to the window. There was a black owl. She knew it so well. It brought a smile to her face. She let the owl in, and it grounded on her wrist.
"Hello, Bandit! Nice to see you again." It was then, that Hermione noticed there was a small piece of parchment, tied to its paw. It was rather small, comparing to the usual letters, Krum sent her. That was odd, but she was excited nevertheless. He was supposed to tell her about the new method of training, that their new DADA professor invented. Hermione thought if it was something decent, she could propose to do the same in Hogwarts, because what they were doing now with Professor Snape wasn't really something efficient. He was spending more time making sarcastic comments and giving detentions left and right. Hermione straightened the parchment and the smile left her face, when her eyes ran over the first two lines of the letter.
"Dear Hermione,
I'm so sorry to say this, and even more sorry to do it in such a way. But our relationship can't go on like this. It is mostly due to the fact, that I can't handle this distance. But I also couldn't help, but notice, that we have mostly, if not completely, different interests. I'm all into sports and Quidditch, and you are more of a science and history girl. So I thought we are just wasting each other's time. Don't get me wrong, this year and each minute of it, that I spent with you was amazing. But there were too few of those minutes. I really hope you can find someone gorgeous, who would admire and love you the way you are. And I certainly do hope we can stay friends.
Sorry.
Yours
Victor"
Hermione felt hot tears rolling down her cheeks, felt her hands trembling and her knees weakening. She fell to the ground and was just shaking. The owl jumped to the floor from such a drastic change of position and was curiously gazing at the broken girl on the floor. Hermione's mind was spiraling with "Why's" "What did I do wrong's" and "What now's". But desperation and sorrow were quickly replaced by anger. Deep down she knew their relationship was falling apart, but she wanted to fix it, to offer to spend holidays together. How could he do it like this? Not even say it to her face, like she mattered so little to him. Now all she wanted was revenge. Not something evil, no. The best revenge is to show him how good she is without him and what he had lost – a sweet revenge.
"Not into sports?" She said to herself. "I'll show you how I'm not into sports." She knew what she wanted to do, but didn't know how.
How would I do it? I'm still a loser, who can't even keep herself on the broom, let alone play Quidditch. I'm just not capable. Why? Why can't I be like the others? Why can't I be good in everything like HER? – she stood up slowly, opened the drawer at her bed and took out a picture, or more precisely, a cutout photo from the Daily Prophet, released several months ago. Afew tears, that dripped down on her chin, fell on the photo and Hermione cursed herself for being so sloppy.
She quickly dried the photo with the Drought Charm and looked at it once more.
Hermione was compelled to admire and be fascinated by a woman, she was looking at, who no witch or wizard could uphold to the right standards of pure-blood nobility. All the attention everywhere and always was fixed on her despite the fact that she did not wear a wizarding elite outfit or had her hair worn in a high bun or her neck, adorned with priceless gems. The Head of the Department of Aurors, Bellatrix Black. She was so wild, so uncontrollable and independent. Her auror uniform was visible through her untamed locks, which cascaded down her back and shoulders like rushing rivers. Nothing had altered the smothering power she effortlessly wielded, and time had done nothing except age her flawlessly, filling out a toned physique till it resembled the weapon it had been designed to be. So feminine, and yet perfectly crafted.
Black was holding another prisoner. But it wasn't just "another prisoner". The man had a mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his shoulders. If eyes hadn't been shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. The man was on his knees, scowling at his cousin. Yes, it could not be anyone else, but a famous Sirius Black. Bellatrix looked prouder on this photo, than ever, but there was something behind her eyes, giving a hint, that it wasn't such a pleasure for her. Hermione remembered dead well the scandalous header of the article. "Bellatrix Black – Head Auror helped her cousin Sirius Black get away with several murders!" It wasn't true, of course. Hermione knew Bellatrix did nothing of the sort. That lying piece of shit, Skeeter, just wanted to sell her miserable newspaper. Hermione was collecting everything that contained even the smallest mention of Bellatrix Black, so she had to buy this one too, fighting her disgust and hatred towards itseditor. She wasn't subscribed to any newspapers, because the only news she was interested in was about this woman. And it's not like you can miss something important, when students discuss each dirty lie Skeeter releases. So she was just buying the specific ones. Hermione admired everything in Black. She wanted to be like her, not famous, no, but to succeed in everything she touches.
Even now at this moment, when Hermione wanted to curl up on the bed and cry her eyes out, one glance at this woman, and she knew she couldn't afford to be weak. She knew she didn't want anyone to see her like this. Hermione put the photo back into the drawer, covered it with some books and took one out. She decided to try to distract herself with reading something, anything really, it wasn't important now. She petted the owl, gave him some treats. Hermione looked at Bandit one last time, she supposed she won't be seeing him anytime soon, opened the window and the small ball of black feathers disappeared into the night. It's not like she would grand Krum any response. She left the window slightly open, some fresh air wouldn't hurt. It was always so hot in their quarters in winter, like house elves had no other work, but to keep students from freezing at school. Hermione sat back on her bed, leaning back on the pillow and tuned in for at least an hour of calm to clear her thoughts, process the information and decide what to do next. The urge to wipe Krum's nose about her lack of interest in sports didn't leave, and she couldn't concentrate on reading. Hermione thought about it for a moment and an image of a certain someone, who could help her, popped in her mind. She knew just the guy for the task. That was the moment, when her time for herself was interrupted by her red-headed friend, who stormed through the door excited as hell. But Hermione had to tell someone about all this mess, and who to tell, if not her best friend. Ginny's expression changed from excited to angry and annoyed in a matter of seconds.
"Hello! The Earth calls Hermione Granger!" Ginny snapped fingers in front of her face.
"Yeah, sorry, you were saying?" Hermione's eyes focused once more on her friend.
"I was saying, you are not denying me butterbeer and fun this weekend!" Ginny crossed arms on her chest and looked slightly annoyed.
"I didn't say you couldn't go without me. I don't want to spoil fun anyway, and I'm just not in the mood." Hermione leaned back on the pillow and pulled her legs closer.
"And I didn't say I gave you any choice. You're not staying here all miserable and sad. You are coming. That's final." Ginny stated and got up from Hermione's bed, rushing towards her own.
"I'm not miserable, nor sad!" Hermione jumped up from her bed, arms crossed on her chest, nostrils flaring from anger.
"If you say so, Miss I'm-Not-In-The-Mood. All the more reasons to go" Ginny answered, not even giving her friend a glance.
"Ugh, you're insufferable! Fine! Besides, I need to talk to someone before the holidays." Hermione started to change to her sleepwear and undoing the bed.
"Oh? Who and what about?" Ginny rolled on her bed, so she was facing Hermione again.
"Miss Not-In-The-Mood, remember?" Hermione answered, turning the lights off and closing the curtains around her bed.
Hermione was drained, sick and tired, so it didn't take much time to fall asleep. She didn't want to think any more today. Tomorrow is a new day.
She woke up, when someone was poking her side.
"What…5 more minutes, mom…" Hermione wrapped herself fully with the blanket.
"I'm not your mom, nor am I giving you any 5 minutes. Wake up, sleepy head!" Ginny started pulling off the blanket.
"God, Ginny, already?" Hermione opened one eye to take a glance at her friend, who was already dressed and ready.
"Yes, you already overslept, and we're late for breakfast, if you don't hurry up!" Ginny tugged her arm in such a way, that Hermione was half-falling from the bed.
"Fine! Fine! No need for assault and battery!" Hermione stopped herself from falling with one hand and stood up.
"Now you have about 10 minutes to get ready, or you're going like this. I don't care. Chop-Chop, Mione!" Ginny theatrically hit her wrist several times, like there was some kind of watch.
Hermione rolled her eyes and rushed to the bathroom. Looking like a total mess was the last thing she wanted, so she took a quick shower and dedicated the most time to brush her teeth. It doesn't matter in how much rush she is, her teeth had to look perfect. That was the one thing Hermione learned growing up in the family of dentists.
"2 minutes!" a voice reached Hermione, when she was rushing back to her bedroom. She quickly changed from pajamas to a warm sweeter, jeans and was already lacing up her winter boots, when Ginny handed her the coat.
"Thanks" Hermione took the coat and rushed after her friend, who was already at the Fat Lady's portrait.
Breakfast was thankfully uneventful, mostly due to the fact, that everybody was divided into companies and chatting excitedly about their plans on today's trip. Ron and Harry were nowhere to be seen. As Ginny explained to her, they had something to discuss with Hagrid before leaving for Hogsmeade, so they left early. The girls finished their breakfast and went out of the castle. Almost all the way, Hermione spent in her thoughts of how to ask a certain someone to help her with the sweet revenge.
"So, are you going to tell me who is that secret someone you need to talk to before the holidays?" Ginny tugged Hermione back to reality.
"You'll see yourself and I do so love annoying you, so you'll have to wait" Hermione had to take revenge on Ginny at least somehow for all her mockery.
"Ugh. Fine. We are going straight to 3 Brooms. Maybe I'll even persuade Madam Rosmerta to give me actual alcoholic butterbeer again." Ginny rolled her eyes, took Hermione's hand and tugged her in the general direction of the pub.
"Again? God, my best friend is an alcoholic and a criminal for underage drinking" Hermione theatrically widened her eyes and pouted.
"Technically, Madam Rosmerta is a criminal for selling it to me in the first place…" Ginny whispered to Hermione, while opening the door to the pub.
"Oh, shut up."
The girls took their favorite table in the cozy corner near the window. Hermione took a glance at the people around, but the one she needed to talk to wasn't there. That was odd because the only thing he always went to Hogsmeade for, was to have some butterbear with his Slytherin buddies and talk shit about Snape, while he wasn't around to hear it.
"May I offer you some drinks, ladies?" a voice tugged Hermione from her thoughts. Madam Rosmerta seemed to be impersonating Cheshire with her smile. She enjoyed the weekends, when Hogwarts' students came over, and she could overhear some stupid teenagers' dramas and gossips. But what she loved the most was hearing those particular teenagers complaining about professors. It was always so much fun to tell professors what students think of them, when they are not being watched. Or so they thought.
"Yes. Two butterbeers please." Hermione answered, glancing at Ginny with a warning look.
"Be right back." Rosmerta turned around and was about to go prepare the order.
"Oh, and, Madam Rosmerta?" Ginny added.
"Yes?"
"Could you maybe make my beer like that time I came here alone and crying over that miserable Slytherin guy?" Ginny looked like a puppy pleading for one last treat. Hermione hid her smile with a hand and rolled her eyes.
"Is there a new reason worth crying over, Miss Weasley?" Rosmerta's Cheshire impersonation came back.
"Kind of." Ginny sighed theatrically and looked like she was about to cry.
"Then I can't deny, can I? But, promise me, it'll be our little secret and only on rare occasions" Rosmerta leaned to whisper in Ginny's ear.
"Of course." Ginny gave her a look straight into her eyes, like she was promising not to tell anyone the deepest, darkest secret this world ever had. With that, Madam Rosmerta gave the girls a smile and rushed back to the bar counter.
"You are insufferable, Ginny" Hermione giggled, and the red-headed witch winked at her.
The girls chatted for a while about how Ginny was sick and tired of exams and detentions from Snape. Ginny wanted to ask Hermione how she truly felt about the whole Krum situation, but her friend asked her not to bring up the topic back when they were having breakfast in the morning. When they finished the drinks and were about to leave for Honeydukes to buy something to cheer them up between the classes on the next week, the door to the pub spread open and a tall, slender boy with a pale, pointed face, sleek blond hair, and ice gray eyes walked in. Another followed after him. A tall boy, with high cheekbones, dark skin, and long, brown slanting eyes. They took the table near the exit and were quick to wave a hand at Rosmerta to make an order.
"God, not him!" Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes.
"What? You hate Draco that much?" Hermione brought her gaze back to her best friend.
"I'm not talking about Draco. I still don't like him, mind you. But I'm talking about Blaise." She spat out the last word with such venom.
"Ginny, that was on our 3 year. Get over it!" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Get over Blaise choosing Lavanda Brown over me?! ME?" Ginny looked like she was going to turn Hermione into ashes just with her eyes.
"Goodness." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'll be right back" She stood up from her chair and went to the boys' table, before Ginny could say anything else.
Draco met her eyes first and stood up to give her a hug.
"Hey, Mione! Not an everyday situation to see you here. Came for some butterbear and gossips?" Draco leaned back from her a little and smiled.
"It's rather Ginny came here for that and tugged me along." Hermione answered with a nervous laugh. "Hello to you too, Blaise" she turned to another boy, sitting at the table.
"Sorry, got lost in the thoughts. Hello, Hermione." Blaise shook his head a little and gave her an awkward high-five.
"Can I steal your companion for a few minutes?" Hermione asked.
Blaise waved them off, and Draco raised one eyebrow in question.
Hermione headed towards the exit with Draco behind her. He only overtook her in the last moment to open the door and let her out first. He was raised as a gentleman, after all. Hermione got used to it already and just smiled and nodded in silent, thank you. When they went out, a huge snowflake fell on the tip of her nose. It started snowing, while they were inside. It reminded Hermione about the night when their friendship with Draco started.
It was a few hours after all the students were sent to their bedrooms. All except one. Hermione was sitting at the top of Astronomy Tower. She stretched out her arm. Huge snowflakes started falling into her hand. Hermione liked this place, because it was quiet, and she enjoyed a beautiful view on the Black Lake and the Forbidden Forest. She was always coming here when she wanted some time to herself. This night, she had too much on her mind. Their relationship with Victor were not in the best state. Last time Hermione saw him was at the Quidditch World Cup. And even then they had so little time for themselves. All the fans and that sneaky bitch Skeeter caught them everywhere they went. Their letters to each other seemed more like friends talking and definitely not a couple. Little "Love You's" here and there did little to save the situation. It almost felt like none of them really meant the words. She was thinking when was the point it all started falling apart. Hermione was so lost in her thoughts, that she didn't notice footsteps behind. When someone awkwardly cleared their throat behind her, she squeaked and turned to face the staircase.
"Sorry, didn't want to scare you, Granger." Draco lowered his eyes to the floor. "Insomnia?" he asked, coming closer.
"Something like that" Hermione answered, not wanting to go into details and still trying to steady her breath. "You?"
"Wanna hear the truth?" Draco finally looked her in the eyes.
"What's the point in lying? Furthermore, you look like you need someone to talk to." Hermione came back to where she was standing before.
"Guess you're right. Even if I don't want you to consider me miserable, I think my face says it all." Draco looked at the clouds.
Hermione had nothing to say. He really looked miserable. But she didn't look better herself.
"Pansy dumped me." He continued leaning his back on one of the columns. An awkward silence followed. Hermione didn't think she was in the right place to cheer someone up after the breakup, since she was not that far away from being in the same situation. So she just said, what felt right.
"I'm sorry"
Draco let out a nervous huff.
"Don't be. Tell me, Granger, is being more mature than your peers that bad?" He seemed truly interested in her opinion.
"I suppose it's a good trait. Why?" Hermione asked confused.
"Pansy. She told me I act like a forty-year-old gentleman, who took courting lessons from her grandfather."He put both his hands on the railing and let out a sigh.
It took all her will for Hermione to escape a giggle.
"Well, maybe she just is not the one. I consider maturity a good trait, and gentlemen are a dying breed. I'm more into older ones myself, because of that." Hermione took a place at Draco's side and leaned over the railing. He let out a laugh.
"Are you flirting with me after I just told you a girl dumped me?" Draco looked at her, smirking.
"I did nothing of the sort. Just being honest." Hermione rolled her eyes and flushed.
"I appreciate that. If we are being honest today, what brought you here at this time?" He leaned back at the column and crossed his arms on the chest.
Hermione looked down for a moment, hesitating. She didn't know if she wanted to burden him with her problems, since he had his own. But Draco asked, didn't he? She needed to talk about this to someone, who wasn't Ginny, because every time discussing this topic with her just finished with "Dump him already! He's so boring!". So she decided sharing it with someone else won't hurt.
"Well, I'm not that far away from your situation myself, to be honest." Hermione started. "I've been dating Victor for half a year now. It all started so nice. At the time, I saw distance as something romantic and not as a problem. It seemed like a fairy tale. We met at the Yule Ball, since I spent all the Triwizard Tournament in the infirmary after falling off that damn broom on Madam Hooch's exam."
Draco couldn't help, but giggle at the memory. Hermione just poked him in the shoulder.
"We spent some time together then. I'm not going into details, don't look at me like that. He left after, and we were exchanging letters every week. Then I saw him at the Quidditch World Cup, but we had so little time for each other. And after that, it was like everything started falling apart. We were mostly like friends and not a couple. I feel like he becomes more and more estranged. And I just don't know what to do. So I came here to process everything and think of something to save our relationship" Hermione sighed and leaned back at the railing, feeling like she might cry.
"What was it you said? Maybe he just is not the one?" Draco pouted his lips.
"Ugh, not you too…Ginny always tells me to dump him any time I ask her for advice. Maybe you're both right after all…" Hermione rolled her eyes and faced Draco once more.
"Well, if you want to give it one last chance, I'd propose offering him to spend some time on the upcoming holidays together. You could talk, sort things out, find when and what went wrong, you know?" Draco offered. He seemed to truly listen and process everything she said. It almost seemed like he cared.
"That might actually work. There's no better solution to sort thing out, than to talk about it, right?" For the first time, since she came here, Hermione felt like her thoughts were back in order, and she had some kind of plan. "You know what?" She continued. Draco raised one eyebrow in question. "I was not planning going to Hogsmeade tomorrow at all, since Ginny has a pack of essays she needs to write for Snape, which she was procrastinating. But I guess we both need a distraction. So what you say? 3 Brooms, some butterbeer and no mentioning of this mess?" Hermione looked him in the eyes.
"Deal. But we need to get some sleep, or we won't ever even wake up till noon." Draco smiled and gestured at the staircase. Hermione smiled and lazily stumbled down the stairs. They split up at the exit from the tower and went straight to their bedrooms. All the way to her bed, Hermione was processing what just happened. She never considered Draco so thoughtful and such a good listener. It felt like he really cared. Hermione decided it would be good to have another friend, except for Ginny. Without further thinking, she changed into her sleepwear as quietly as possible and fell asleep.
Draco touched the tip of her nose and the snowflake melted away. She smiled.
"So, what is this about, Hermione?" He started.
Hermione sighed.
"I have a weird request." She shifted from foot to foot and nervously rubbed her palms. Draco raised one eyebrow in a sign for her to continue.
"Just don't ask questions, okay?" Hermione looked him in the eyes. "I need you to teach me how to play Quidditch." She blurted out, like it was some dirty secret she was trying to tell him for years.
Draco's eyes widened, his eyebrows went up to the sky. And then he chuckled, then laughed so hard and loud, that it seemed like he'll stop breathing in a few seconds. Hermione crossed arms on her chest and furrowed her eyebrows. When he finally stopped laughing and steadied his breath, he looked at her one more time and seemed confused.
"Wait. You're serious?" He widened his eyes one more time. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'm dead serious, Malfoy. I need you to be my coach." She answered with lack of any emotion, except a little annoyance.
"You never cease to amaze me, Hermione. Since, I don't think you'll answer any of my questions, although I have about a thousand of those, mind you, I guess I'll just have to accept. This would probably be the hardest and most hopeless challenge in my life. Although …"
Hermione didn't give him time to finish and smiling like a Cheshire jumped at him with hugs, whispering about a hundred "Thank you's" in his ear.
"Although…" He continued, when she finally leaned back from him a little. "I'll ask you something in return."