Disclaimer: nothing but the plot
Chapter 3: Hey
It was a warm morning and the whole neighborhood was covered in snow. A few kids were making snow angels on their small snow covered lawns. Hermione slowly opens her eyes and is blinded by the stream of sunlight directly shone on her face. She looked around and she realized that she was there sitting at the stone steps of her home. She was wrapped up in a heavy black cloak but has no memory of owning any.
"How did I get here? What happened to me?" she asked herself in a soft whisper her voice somewhat cracking. Her body felt sore in all places and she had a small migraine. "And who owns this cloak?" she said. She sniffed the cloak and it didn't have such a pleasant smell. It smelled of dried-up sweat and strangely, blood too.
She tried hard to remember what happened to her but it wasn't clear. She remembers a chilly sleazy voice, a chillier hand gripping her hand, and a man cloaked in black gliding towards her. She doesn't know why but she suddenly shivers because of these flashbacks as they rush to her mind. She wraps herself even more in the black cloak. Then she feels a pang of pain in her skull and she quickly places her hand on that part of her skull hoping that doing so would ease the pain. But she couldn't control the flashbacks as more of they came to her in bits and pieces. And these flashbacks didn't help in answering what else had happened to her because they were simply voices and visions. But she knew now that one way or another, she was attacked. For now, icy ill-willed voices filled her mind. She oddly feels like she's heard one of them before. She tucked in a curl of hair behind her ear and she felt something stuck there. What's this? She questioned herself pulling it from her ear and saw that it was a piece of parchment. She unrolled it to read its content.
Drink this.
That's it? She thought frowning with confusion. She turned the piece of parchment around to check if there was anything else but there was nothing written at the back. The letter, if it could be considered a letter having only two words, didn't even say who it was addressed to and who it was from. Must be some kid who thought I looked funny sleeping out here that he decided to stick some weird note on my ear. She shook her head. Nah. Too far-fetched. She thought dismissing that silly idea.
She turned her attention back to the letters content. It told her to drink something. "This? What will I drink?" She stood up and looked around once more to search for something she didn't even know what looked like. She did know she had to find it somehow. She saw a deep violet flask at the bottom of the stone steps lying there on the sidewalk. That must be it. She thought and she stood up leaving the cloak there for the reason that it was quite heavy being a large cloak. When she got a hold of the flask, she saw that it had a crack on the bottom part. She shook the bottle so that she could feel if it still had some liquid in it or if the whole thing had poured out from the crack. It still has ample liquid inside. She thought after shaking it. She pulled the cork out opening the flask and she smelled its contents. She came to the conclusion that it was a potion. It's instinct because she could tell if a liquid is a potion or if it wasn't, after making tons of it back in Hogwarts for the past six years.
The question remained: should she drink it or not. She stared at the flask for a few minutes when she decided that she won't drink it. She couldn't make herself drink something as mysterious as this since she didn't know who it came from. And it was also possible that the potion could harm her when she drank it. After all, her attacker did fail to silence her, if that was his intention because she's here; breathing, alive, and very much confused.
Then it struck her.
"My Food!" she shouted almost dropping the bottle and startling one of the kids who were building a snow man across her house. She didn't remember that she dropped her grocery bag as she tried to escape from her attacker last night. She scratched her head again wondering where her grocery bag had gone.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It was already two more days before Christmas Eve and Hermione's parents had just arrived from Finland. Their plans have changed from the initial plan because Hermione's grandmother insisted on caring for her mother at least for a week more because she had grown fond of taking care of the unborn baby. They even asked Hermione if she would want to fly to Finland because it was quite sad to be home alone but Hermione refused. She loved nature and Finland is a beautiful country filled with breath-taking mountains and a whole lot of greenery but she wished to avoid being close to loved ones after what happened to her. Being attacked and all. Because if her attacker did wish to harass her once more and she was anywhere near her family, they could be hurt in the process. Her mother can't afford to defend herself because she's pregnant and her father didn't stand a chance against magic especially the Unforgivable Curses. She knew very well that her parents cannot withstand such torture like that. She'd just have to sacrifice feeling lonely for just a few more days.
Nonetheless, her parents are home now and they have all started preparing for their small Christmas celebration. A simple celebration was done every year for Christmas. Just a scrumptious dish was prepared lovingly by her mother and they'd all sing Christmas carols for the hang of it. Hermione's parents were quite religious so when the clock strikes twelve they'll be silent for one minute then light candles all over their house. But this year had to be extra special because of the addition in their family, the baby. They were going to have an extra scrumptious dish and Hermione was asked by her parents to buy the meat together with all the fixings in the grocery store.
"Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king! ---" a group of little children sang at the top of their lungs outside the grocery store. They were all wearing white and wore elfish hats as well. Hermione stopped to watch along with the small crowd that had gathered around them. When they finished, she smiled at each of them as she fished her pockets for candy and handed it to them. All the children hid everything they received in their pockets except for one red-haired one. They all started to sing another Christmas carol entitled "O Holy Night". But the little girl unwrapped the candy Hermione gave her and gobbled it up with one finger. She sang while chewing it making her voice sound funny. Hermione smiled again at the red-haired child. She reminded her of Ginny somehow. Then she sighed. She missed Ron, Harry, and Ginny a whole lot. Heck, she missed everyone in Hogwarts.
She started walking back home singing a Christmas carol she learned to play in the piano. It was the first piece she ever learned and like most firsts, she treasured it. It's amusing though since she forgot the title but she cherishes the piece.
After a while she felt like she was being watched, again. The hairs at the back of her neck started to rise because she was scared. Then her mind started playing tricks on her. Maybe this guy had molested her even more after she blacked out. I hope nothing like that happened to me. She said frowning. It incensed her that she didn't have her wand with her tonight since she thought that it wasn't necessary to bring it. Her attacker hadn't bothered her for weeks now and she thought he didn't wish to continue tormenting her. How could she be so careless? She gritted her teeth in anger.
"I have to be brave. I will be brave. I will be brave." She told herself over and over again under her breath.
A plan suddenly struck her as she saw that the street where she was walking had a tiny alleyway just a few more steps ahead where she could turn. Of course whoever was following her would be furious because he had lost sight of her. He would quicken his pace as well. And before he can even pass that tiny alleyway, she'd smack him on the head with the leg of ham she was holding. The paper bag contained the leg of ham which was still frozen making it rock hard. I just hope this works. She thought. She was really nervous because this was her only plan and if it failed, she didn't have a back up plan making her vulnerable.
"I am brave." She said to herself even nodding her head at the process. She could still feel the eyes watching her. She breathed a sigh as she turned swiftly to the corner and executed her plan. She quickly pulled out the leg of ham from the grocery bag and she placed the paper bag on the ground. She gripped the leg in her hands and she was anticipating him. According to her calculations which she just presumed; he should reach her by approximately less than fifteen seconds.
But her calculations weren't accurate. He had not reached her in fifteen seconds. Not even 16 or 20 or 30. Her inquisitiveness got the best of her. She stepped out of her hiding place, still holding the frozen leg of ham and to her surprise she didn't see anyone behind her. Perhaps she has grown paranoid because of what had recently happened to her. Maybe there was no one that was following her in the first place. She scanned the whole block, first looking straight ahead to check for any suspicious looking man then she turned around and scanned the rest of the block. There really was no one who looked suspicious. She saw a mother holding her daughter's hand and they were discussing something and there were a group of carolers singing the night away. The people there looked like typical muggles enjoying the holiday season.
Then she saw a boy. A boy who had blonde hair walking with his hands in his jean pockets and his was back facing her.
"Malfoy." She found herself saying. He was the only she knew with that shade of hair her but then again she couldn't be sure. He was too far away now and she couldn't see his face. So she just stood there in the street, still clutching the leg of ham, and watched the boy's hair glistening as light bounced off it.
"Me and my hallucinations." She told herself. She got the grocery bag and placed back the meat in the bag and started to walk home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ha! She must think I'm dense if I was to fall for that simple trick. Draco thought as he saw Hermione disappear. He guessed that she turned into a small corner. He decided that there was no point in following her now, so he turned around and headed to the other direction.
"She must think I'm that low. That dim-witted." He talked to himself. "She's the stupid one. Not me. I'm Draco Malfoy coming from the untainted and almighty bloodline of the Malfoy's. She's the trying hard muggle-born"
Now, I'm talking to myself. First I spend my time following Granger around and now talking to myself? He shook his head in disgust. But then again he had to ask himself yet another question. He didn't have to question himself on why he was following her. His mother had asked him to check if Hermione was fine after receiving such beating like that. When he asked her why she cared about a muggle yet alone a mudblood, she said she felt like Hermione had a good heart. Good heart my ass. Malfoy thought. And when he asked her on why he had to this, she simply answered.
"I didn't say you had to do so, I have only asked you to do so."
So why was he doing this? Out of the goodness left in his heart. But he made it clear that he wasn't doing it for Hermione. He chose to do it because it was his mother's request.
"I'm going home now." He said ruffling his hair unaware that Hermione was now watching him from a distance.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hermione was sitting on her four-poster bed and she was playing her piano piece in her invisible piano in the air. She couldn't play the piano because the noise it would make would be loud and it would wake the whole household. She decided that it was hopeless practicing like this. She opened her bedside table to place the book filled with piano pieces in it. In the table, she found the flask that once contained the potion she found on the steps of her house weeks ago. She never drank it. She just threw all of it down her toilet 3 nights ago but upon realizing that if it was a potion containing some sort of poison; it could dissolve her marble toilet. Good thing that it wasn't a poisonous one so thankfully her toilet didn't dissolve.
They had just finished eating their Christmas dinner and had done all the rituals that needed to be done. She asked if she could spend some time alone in her room to practice playing her piano and her mother said yes. She had been practicing for just about thirty minutes before realizing that it was silly practicing like that. She looked at her clock and she learned that it was already 1:48 am. She stood up from her bed and turned her boom box on.
Beside the radio lay her Christmas presents from her friends in Hogwarts. Their owls had come one after the other before the clock struck twelve. Harry gave her a watch. At first she was wondering why she received a watch but it had a note that came with it. It said that if ever Hermione or any of the three of them need each other, they would just tap on the watch's surface five times and wear it on their left hand and they could already communicate with each other. Harry also gave Ron and Ginny a charmed watch. Ginny on the other hand gave her this beauty products filled kit complete from something called Taming Shampoo --which promises to straighten hair instantly and give it some luster-- to cosmetics that promised to make you beautiful. If the gift wasn't from Ginny, she would have given it away to charity this Christmas. Except for the shampoo. Maybe I should try it she thought after she ran her hands through her curly hair and her finger got tangled into one of the curls. She figured she didn't need anything else in the kit. She wasn't vain. The rest of her gifts were all similar: books, and anything that had to do with giving out information. They must think I'm the biggest book worm in the universe. She thought.
But the strangest gift yet to come was from Ron. His small clumsy owl, Pig, came whizzing in their dining room while they were having their meal. It was carrying with it a bouquet of white roses (although some were crushed thanks to Pig's awesome flying ability), a box of chocolates and a small box wrapped in red. The small box had a silver necklace on it with a tiny diamond. Her father, upon seeing the roses and chocolates assumed that the gift was from a suitor in Hogwarts and he had already started on his speech. He said something like Hermione could have a boy friend if she wanted to, granted that she still perform in school like she used to. Hermione started laughing hysterically because it wasn't from a suitor. It was from Ron.
She walked barefoot towards her large window. The window sill was wide enough that she could sit on it and watched the world from her window. She lifted her head up and turned her attention to the starry evening sky. She just sat there staring up at the sky, naming constellations she knew. She remembered the time she used to take Divination and she couldn't stand the way Professor Trelawney always connects everything happening with the movement of the stars and planets. She just had to quit that subject. It drove her nuts because she was never one who believed that stars hold everyone's destiny. It's ironic though. She loved the way stars twinkle and symbolize hope. She yawned and she was feeling sluggish already. She stood up and stretched just a little and then she saw him.
Malfoy.
She was sure this time that it was him. He was leaning against the right-side of the Maple tree's trunk smoking his cigarette. There was just this certain way Malfoy leaned against anything that would make him look cool but look incredibly self-centered. Not that he wasn't. You forgot the fact that he looks extremely hot like that. A voice said in her head. She scoffed at what she had just thought of.
"Why the hell is he here?" she asked her voice angry. Was he here to taunt her again? Would he give her a break already? As if she wasn't mocked enough in school already. She looked around her room to see if there was anything in there that could keep her warm. She saw the black cloak draped at the foot of her bed and she grabbed it, wore it and stormed downstairs.
"What in Merlin's name do you want?" she asked him after banging the front door open. She placed both her hands on her waist. Malfoy turned his head slowly to face her in a manner that would make any other girl drool with fascination but made Hermione want to puke her guts out. God, he's so egotistic.
"Keep your voice down Granger. Are you aware that muggles could be sleeping at the moment and your screechy voice can wake anyone up at this ungodly hour?" Malfoy said looking at her. He shrugged his broad shoulders. He wore his typical outfit. All black.
"And what might the respectful boy like you want from me?" she said with her face scowling with irritation.
"What gave you the impression that I wish to see your unsightly face?"
"Because you're here. Just in case you didn't check it says Granger at that metal thing there we muggles call a mailbox. This is my home." She pointed at the mailbox planted on the lawn.
"I didn't come here for you." He said rolling his eyes. He was walking towards her as and he threw away his cigarette. He reached her with just a little space between them. "Must you be so self-conceited?" He said looking down at her. He was tall, about a foot taller than her.
She looked intently into his eyes as he looked at hers. Hermione was now staring at the magnificence of his eyes. And the way that they didn't' show any emotion at all but still remained breathtaking was something that bothered Hermione. And he, he thought her eyes were just normal and dull from afar but they're different especially from a distance this close. They even glimmered in the evening but that was because she was irritated.
"I think you're talking about yourself." She said breaking the momentary silence.
"What I want is that."
"That? What do you mean by that?" she asked.
"My cloak."
"Oh, you mean this is yours?" she asked in surprise. He nodded. She sheepishly began to remove it so that she could return it to Draco but Draco placed his hand on her hand. This sent shivers throughout her body. His hand was extremely cold but it was also because it was Draco's hand on her hand.
"It's cold tonight. Keep it first." He said looking away. He removed his hand. Hermione was now staring at Malfoy and checking if it was the same git she knew. Did he just show an act of kindness to me?
"But it's yours, and you're not wearing anything to keep you warm in a cold weather like this." He just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really give a shit."
Hermione then asked him if he would like to go inside and for a hot drink regretting it as soon as the words escaped her mouth. He just shrugged as he followed her into her home. She led her to her kitchen. Malfoy tried to keep his hands to himself because he wanted to show Hermione that he didn't care about all the muggle appliances he was now encountering. Even though he would never admit it he was secretly interested over these things. So he walked with his hand in his pockets so that he wouldn't be tempted to touch those objects. Hermione was now asking herself, what she was doing. Letting her best friend's mortal enemy enter her home and she was even the one who offered him. What am I doing? She wondered again.
When they reached the kitchen, Hermione grabbed two mugs. She threw Malfoy's cloak on the countertop behind her. She asked him if he wanted hot chocolate, tea or coffee. He said he just wanted coffee. He looked around the kitchen. It was quite simple. Nothing grand like his in the Malfoy Manor with expensive silver cutlery and kitchen tools. It was a country kitchen with cherry wood glass cabinets with China displayed in them. There were appliances unfamiliar to him and there was also this huge bookcase filled with cookbooks. And on the center of the kitchen was a massive island with a black granite top and on its left were four bar stools.
He started to light a new cigarette.
"Stop smoking Malfoy. This is my home and my parents don't allow anyone to smoke in here. " She told him. She expected a rude remark like 'I'm going to do whatever I want to do where ever I may be' but none of that came from him. Malfoy said nothing. He just crushed the lit cigarette with his hand. If his hand hurt from crushing a lighted cigar, he didn't show it.
She tried to get to his bad side again because this Malfoy was just someone she wasn't used to. They say changes like this are better but she would be driven mad if Malfoy was going to act all civil and pleasant to her throughout the rest of the year. And she couldn't avoid him because they're both Head Boy and Head Girl.
"I meant my first statement. You should stop smoking. It could kill you." She said mixing Malfoy's coffee at the island. She waited for a rude remark but none of it came. He didn't even laugh or made a face. He just stood there staring at her.
"Okay." Then he sat down at one of the barstools.
Okay? Okay! Is that thing there even Malfoy? Malfoy never says okay. He always says 'fuck off' or 'leave me alone' but never okay. He never agrees with anything anyone says. She thought. She used her wand and made both mugs be filled with hot water instead of warm water.
"Are you're parents home?" he asked her. He looked into her eyes once again.
"Yeah. They're asleep at the moment."
"I should leave."
"No, it's alright. I told you they're asleep." She bit her tongue after saying that. She had just asked Malfoy to stay. Now he must think I secretly desire him. Gross. Do I? I know I don't. But even if she said that, she wasn't sure.
"Here." She said handing the mug filled with coffee to him. She sat down on the stool beside him and started drinking her tea. She drank it in silence. Malfoy didn't touch his. He just stared at the granite surface of the island.
"Soo.. How did I even get a hold of your cloak?" she asked breaking the deafening silence.
"I gave it to you before after I saved you from him." he said. He finally took a sip of his coffee.
"You saved me?" she asked filled with disbelief. She turned to face him. Was she really hearing words like this from the stuck-up Draco?
He only nodded. What's she so surprised for? It's not like I go around killing people. Tainting my hands with blood isn't exactly my cup of tea. He thought.
"But... but... how?" she was still looking at the boy seated next to her. He's aware that she's looking at him but he does not turn to face her.
"I was walking down this unfamiliar street and I see you. A man was on top of you. I believed that you were being robbed and you had fainted so I came and did you a favor." He explained. He fabricated his own simple story and left out the parts were his mother and father are included. Including them would mean more questions from Hermione. He also left out the parts where he took care of her in ways he cannot believe he did.
Hermione was amazed that the Malfoy sitting next to her; a boy who made her best friends' and her life desolate in Hogwarts is the very same man who actually saved her. She was staring at him wide-eyed still shocked.
"It's not that big a deal Granger. Stop staring at me." He said turning to face her. His hair was untidy and a blonde lock of hair fell on his eyes. His gaze was steady and his eyes were striking. Hermione thought he looked stunning but like what she did earlier, she brushed the thought away.
But she still blushed. And she had only noticed now that he had stopped calling her mudblood or any of those filthy names he called her. He now called her Granger, still not Hermione but better than those names.
"Granger?" he waved his hand in her face.
"Huh?" she asked confused. She was busy thinking about the changes in Draco.
"I just asked you a question."
"Oh you did? What was it?"
"I asked you if you knew a book entitled 'A Farewell to Arms'." Shit, lame topic. Draco thought.
"Yes. I have read it before. I reckon it's one of the best books in this world." She said her eyes twinkling. They remind me of stars. Draco thought. "Why are you asking? And why have you read a muggle book?"
"Because I've read it too." He smiled a half smile. He just smiled. A smile. Not a smirk. A smile. No malice with it. Has the world gone zany? She thought. And he smiled to me. The voice added. She frowned at the idea that she was joyful about Malfoy smiling at her.
"And the part on why I read the muggle book. I just read it." he said frowning slightly. Actually he had read it because it was the book that one of his father's victims were reading before he was murdered. He had gone with his father and before the man could grab his wand from the table nearby, he was dead. His father told him that the man betrayed them but ha had not expounded on the reason more. Draco got the book and read it.
They continued talking about anything that interested both of them. Hermione even opened a bag of chips and she giggled because Draco stared at it. Maybe he thought the puffed chips were poisonous or something because he hesitated to eat it. She told him not to worry because they tasted really good, even if they weren't healthy. And one bag of chips weren't enough. They ate while they talked. They didn't laugh. They didn't give foul comments. They just conversed but it was enough for the both of them to change their opinions on either one's personality. Malfoy changed his opinion on Hermione being a know-it- all because she wasn't. He knew a lot of facts that she didn't. Hermione also changed her opinion. She somehow saw Draco in a different light. He wasn't as half bad and as rude as he used to be. They were having their first real conversation after so many years of knowing and loathing each other.
Though they did not notice it and would never have admitted it anyway; they were both enjoying each other's company.
"What time is it?" Draco suddenly asked.
She looked at the cuckoo clock positioned above the refrigerator. "4:20 am."
Draco stood up and he walked out of the kitchen, Hermione following him. He reached the door and he turned around as he faced Hermione.
"Merry Christmas." he said. He didn't smile and he didn't seem merry at all. He reached out and touched her cheek. It felt smooth and soft. This too sent shivers through Hermione's body. Then he apparated.
Hermione frowned. "Did he just apparate? I didn't know he could do that." She touched the place on her cheek that Draco touched and she smiled.
And then she remembered that Draco forgot to give him his cloak. Damn. She went back to the kitchen to clean up then she went back to her room carrying the cloak with her.
Then she did something she knew she shouldn't have done. She smelt the cloak and this time, it did not smell like sweat or blood. She thought that it smelled like Draco.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Exactly a week before school, Hermione received a letter from her best friends. It said:
Dearest Hermione,
How are you? We hope that you're more than fine. Our trip to Holland was great! As promised, we saw the dragons. They're extremely huge. Larger the one's Harry had to face in the Tournament in his 4th year. But the one's we saw seem to be tamer. But even if that's the case, one dragon still felt like smushing humans. Glad it didn't and the men (that's us me, and Harry along with my brothers) got to tie it down before it stomped us. But it could still have been better with you around.
Would you like to spend sometime together with us in Diagon Alley? Before school starts? After all you weren't permitted by your parents for Holland. There's a big possibility that you could go this time. I mean you have to! We miss you soooooooooooooooo much.
Love lots, Ron, Harry and Gin
And just like what they presumed, Hermione was allowed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The four friends tapped the brick wall behind the Leaky Cauldron, three times up and two across and they found themselves in their destination.
"Who's up for some ice cream?" Harry asked his friends as soon as they stepped into the Diagon Alley. "My treat." He added. With the sound of 'my treat' everyone's face lit up.
"Sure." Hermione said smiling. They made their way Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
She was so glad to be with her friends again. She intended to make this day a day where she would worry about nothing. Just enjoy her the day with her friends who she missed so much over the winter break. They arrived at the parlor and they sat down on a chair and ordered some ice cream. They all ordered huge sundaes with equally huge helpings of hot fudge drizzled over the sundae. Within 5 minutes, a lady served them their sundaes.
"So what did happen in Holland?" she asked her three friends.
"Oh nothing much. Just dragons. I had this feeling that if you came, you would have been bored to death, like me." Ginny announced. She toyed with her sundae. And she spelled Harry's name with her teaspoon on one of the lumps of ice cream. Good thing she was sitting beside Hermione because her secret was safe with her and so that Harry wouldn't know. She eventually ate a spoonful of that lump of ice cream where Harry's name was once written.
"Aaand someone made a confession to me." Harry said. He looked at Ron who had devoured half of his sundae. His ears turned pink and he stopped eating momentarily. Then coming to his senses, he stepped on Harry's foot under the table.
"Ouch!!" Harry yelped in pain.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked. She had already started eating her sundae.
"I will be if Ron stops stepping on my foot." Harry said. "And it's not helping that he's wearing rubber shoes. I'm just wearing canvas sneakers."
"Ronald Weasley. Stop stepping on our best friend's foot." Reprimanded Hermione. She sounded like Ron's mother. With Hermione's order, Ron's ears turned red, maybe orange because its color almost matched his hair color. He stopped stepping on Harry's foot. Harry who was grateful but was still pained a little winked at Hermione.
"What's the wink for?" Hermione asked pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. Harry just shook his head with a grin on his face. He continued eating his chocolate sundae.
"Is there something that I do not know but I surely need to know?" Hermione asked. She was more than puzzled now. Ron's face started flushing now.
"I say that that confession was that my dear brother fancies someone, what do you think Hermione?" Ginny interrupted. Ron was a shade of deep red now and he just looked at his sundae. He gripped his teaspoon hard. Harry, you just wait. I'll kill you for this. Ron thought.
"So it is true." Ginny grinned evilly. She wanted to make her suffer because this served as revenge for all the times he humiliated her in front of Harry. Ha!! She thought. And she was also wanted to know who it was.
Hermione found herself interested. "Oh so that's the something that I don't know. Come on Ron, tell me who it is. I am your best friend after all." Hermione placed her elbows on the tabled in an upright position and rested her chin there. "Go on. I'm all ears." She said smiling at him.
Ron looked up at the smiling Hermione but he quickly looked down and stared at his sundae again.
"Come on bro, tell us." Ginny said urging his brother. She had finished her sundae and she called the waitress for another serving. You can't blame the girl for having a huge appetite for sweets.
"Hey Hermione," Harry swallowed the ice cream in his mouth before finishing his sentence because he sounded muffled with his mouth full. "I heard the Flourish and Blotts have a bunch of new books to be released just today."
At the sound of 'books', Hermione fell into Harry's trap. "Really? Could we go after this? I might need a few more references for school."
"Sure." He said.
"We're not going anywhere until Hermione and I know who my brother fancies. Don't try on changing the subject Harry." Ginny said still staring at her brother.
"You know, I really think you should go now. I hear the book is really helpful. It could be sold out even before you get there." Harry tried again.
"Can we go now please?" Hermione asked. One of her weaknesses is books.
"Ginny, could you kindly go with Hermione." Harry asked.
"I'm not going anywhere till I learn who it is."
"Please." He pleaded.
Ginny looked at Harry. He looks so adorable just like that. Wrinkling his forehead while pleading to me. To me! She thought.
"Fine. We'll go now. But what about the sundae I just ordered?" Ginny said.
"Ron will have the appetite for that."
When the girl's had already gone. Ron punched Harry on the shoulder.
"What's that for?"
"For almost letting my secret out."
"But I did fix the mess." Harry said stroking his shoulder.
Ron said nothing. He finished his melted sundae. The waitress placed Ginny's sundae and Ron devoured this one as well.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I didn't know you still liked Harry." Hermione said. Her arm was entwined into Ginny's.
"I never did fall out of it. I just wish he'd like me back." She sighed.
"Don't worry. He'll come to his senses soon enough." she said reassuring Ginny. She smiled at her.
They were outside Flourish and Blotts already. The girls were engaged in a conversation and Hermione already outstretched her hand to open the door. To her surprise, Draco came out of the door before she got to open it with Pansy Parkinson who clung to him like some leech. The four students stopped and looked at each other. Draco looked at Hermione eyes and she looked at his as well.
"If it isn't the maggot himself. What a way to ruin this day." Ginny said. She looked at Pansy with resentment. Slut. She thought.
Draco didn't say anything. He just continued looking at Hermione.
"Draco poochy, that Weasley girl just insulted you. Aren't you going to say something?" Pansy said. She tugged at his sleeve.
Hermione broke away from the stare and looked at her feet. If she didn't stop looking at his eyes, she could have been staring at him for forever. She didn't want Ginny see that.
"Hey." She whispered in a whisper so soft that she wondered if Draco even heard it. He snorted. He did hear it. She looked up again, back into his eyes. Draco was smirking really slyly. Without even saying a word, he dragged Pansy with him of to another shop in the Diagon Alley. Hermione stayed there staring of to outer space.
"What's that about?" Ginny asked. She followed Draco and Pansy with her eyes until she lost them to the crowd. "Mione, are you alright. You look bothered."
Hermione said nothing but she did smile at Ginny. Then they entered the bookstore together.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Harry you liar, you said there were a new stock of books in the shop but there weren't." Ginny said at Harry. The four of them were together again and they were sitting outside one of the small restaurants in the Diagon Alley. It seems like all they did today was to hangout at restaurants and eat.
"I told you if that if you didn't get there soon enough they would be sold out quickly."
"We asked the person in charge, Harry. She said there were no new books to be sold. The newest are over a month old." Ginny said.
"I guess my connections are wrong then." Harry said. He looked at Ron and he grinned. Ron grinned back.
"I knew it! It was just a plan of you guys so that you could get rid of us. That way, we wouldn't know who Ron likes." Ginny said. She crossed her arms on her chest.
"Oh come one Ginny. It's not what you think." Ron said sipping his butterbeer.
"Whatever." She said. "You let Hermione's hope go up and you brought it down when she knew that such books didn't exist. You know how much she loves reading and books, right Hermione?"
"Huh? Uh, no not really it's not that big a deal." She said softly. Her thoughts were occupied by what happened outside the bookstore.
Ginny sank deeper into her chair. She had lost the fight. She pursed her lips.
"Are you alright Hermione?" Harry asked. He noticed that she had been quiet ever since Ginny and she came back from the bookstore. Maybe he did offend her by his white lie about the books but he didn't know that he offended her that much.
"Yes I'm fine." She stood up. She smiled a little. "I'm just going to get this refilled." She said holding up her glass. It was more than halfway full. "Anyone want refills too?" she offered. Ginny held up her glass and so did Ron. She took it both and made her way in the restaurant.
She could have made the waitress refill it for them but she needed time alone to think. But about what? Malfoy. She thought irritated. What a git. He completely ignored me. She reached the bar and asked the man to refill it for her. Just then, a boy asked for his glass to be refilled too.
"Refill." He said. Hermione recognized the voice and she glanced sideways to make sure. It was Draco. The man took the glasses and went away.
"Hey." Draco said. Hermione didn't reply. Who does he think he is? And he thinks he has the right to greet me after ignoring me? Asswipe. She thought.
When she didn't reply Draco looked at Hermione's side view. He just stared at her with her hair falling reaching her shoulders and coiling there. He noticed that her hair wasn't as shriveled anymore. It was a little straighter now and had elegant waves. Thanks to Ginny's shampoo that worked. He resisted the urge to touch her hair. He had already failed on controlling himself before because he touched her face before.
She looked magical even if she was frowning.
The man came back with four glasses of refilled butterbeer.
Hermione gathered her three glasses and turned her back to Malfoy. She started walking and she stopped. She couldn't resist it.
"Hey." She said and she continued walking after.
Draco watched her until she laws outside already. He ran his hands through his hair and he got his glass. He gulped all of its contents down and asked for it to be refilled again.
.
Chapter 3: Hey
It was a warm morning and the whole neighborhood was covered in snow. A few kids were making snow angels on their small snow covered lawns. Hermione slowly opens her eyes and is blinded by the stream of sunlight directly shone on her face. She looked around and she realized that she was there sitting at the stone steps of her home. She was wrapped up in a heavy black cloak but has no memory of owning any.
"How did I get here? What happened to me?" she asked herself in a soft whisper her voice somewhat cracking. Her body felt sore in all places and she had a small migraine. "And who owns this cloak?" she said. She sniffed the cloak and it didn't have such a pleasant smell. It smelled of dried-up sweat and strangely, blood too.
She tried hard to remember what happened to her but it wasn't clear. She remembers a chilly sleazy voice, a chillier hand gripping her hand, and a man cloaked in black gliding towards her. She doesn't know why but she suddenly shivers because of these flashbacks as they rush to her mind. She wraps herself even more in the black cloak. Then she feels a pang of pain in her skull and she quickly places her hand on that part of her skull hoping that doing so would ease the pain. But she couldn't control the flashbacks as more of they came to her in bits and pieces. And these flashbacks didn't help in answering what else had happened to her because they were simply voices and visions. But she knew now that one way or another, she was attacked. For now, icy ill-willed voices filled her mind. She oddly feels like she's heard one of them before. She tucked in a curl of hair behind her ear and she felt something stuck there. What's this? She questioned herself pulling it from her ear and saw that it was a piece of parchment. She unrolled it to read its content.
Drink this.
That's it? She thought frowning with confusion. She turned the piece of parchment around to check if there was anything else but there was nothing written at the back. The letter, if it could be considered a letter having only two words, didn't even say who it was addressed to and who it was from. Must be some kid who thought I looked funny sleeping out here that he decided to stick some weird note on my ear. She shook her head. Nah. Too far-fetched. She thought dismissing that silly idea.
She turned her attention back to the letters content. It told her to drink something. "This? What will I drink?" She stood up and looked around once more to search for something she didn't even know what looked like. She did know she had to find it somehow. She saw a deep violet flask at the bottom of the stone steps lying there on the sidewalk. That must be it. She thought and she stood up leaving the cloak there for the reason that it was quite heavy being a large cloak. When she got a hold of the flask, she saw that it had a crack on the bottom part. She shook the bottle so that she could feel if it still had some liquid in it or if the whole thing had poured out from the crack. It still has ample liquid inside. She thought after shaking it. She pulled the cork out opening the flask and she smelled its contents. She came to the conclusion that it was a potion. It's instinct because she could tell if a liquid is a potion or if it wasn't, after making tons of it back in Hogwarts for the past six years.
The question remained: should she drink it or not. She stared at the flask for a few minutes when she decided that she won't drink it. She couldn't make herself drink something as mysterious as this since she didn't know who it came from. And it was also possible that the potion could harm her when she drank it. After all, her attacker did fail to silence her, if that was his intention because she's here; breathing, alive, and very much confused.
Then it struck her.
"My Food!" she shouted almost dropping the bottle and startling one of the kids who were building a snow man across her house. She didn't remember that she dropped her grocery bag as she tried to escape from her attacker last night. She scratched her head again wondering where her grocery bag had gone.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It was already two more days before Christmas Eve and Hermione's parents had just arrived from Finland. Their plans have changed from the initial plan because Hermione's grandmother insisted on caring for her mother at least for a week more because she had grown fond of taking care of the unborn baby. They even asked Hermione if she would want to fly to Finland because it was quite sad to be home alone but Hermione refused. She loved nature and Finland is a beautiful country filled with breath-taking mountains and a whole lot of greenery but she wished to avoid being close to loved ones after what happened to her. Being attacked and all. Because if her attacker did wish to harass her once more and she was anywhere near her family, they could be hurt in the process. Her mother can't afford to defend herself because she's pregnant and her father didn't stand a chance against magic especially the Unforgivable Curses. She knew very well that her parents cannot withstand such torture like that. She'd just have to sacrifice feeling lonely for just a few more days.
Nonetheless, her parents are home now and they have all started preparing for their small Christmas celebration. A simple celebration was done every year for Christmas. Just a scrumptious dish was prepared lovingly by her mother and they'd all sing Christmas carols for the hang of it. Hermione's parents were quite religious so when the clock strikes twelve they'll be silent for one minute then light candles all over their house. But this year had to be extra special because of the addition in their family, the baby. They were going to have an extra scrumptious dish and Hermione was asked by her parents to buy the meat together with all the fixings in the grocery store.
"Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king! ---" a group of little children sang at the top of their lungs outside the grocery store. They were all wearing white and wore elfish hats as well. Hermione stopped to watch along with the small crowd that had gathered around them. When they finished, she smiled at each of them as she fished her pockets for candy and handed it to them. All the children hid everything they received in their pockets except for one red-haired one. They all started to sing another Christmas carol entitled "O Holy Night". But the little girl unwrapped the candy Hermione gave her and gobbled it up with one finger. She sang while chewing it making her voice sound funny. Hermione smiled again at the red-haired child. She reminded her of Ginny somehow. Then she sighed. She missed Ron, Harry, and Ginny a whole lot. Heck, she missed everyone in Hogwarts.
She started walking back home singing a Christmas carol she learned to play in the piano. It was the first piece she ever learned and like most firsts, she treasured it. It's amusing though since she forgot the title but she cherishes the piece.
After a while she felt like she was being watched, again. The hairs at the back of her neck started to rise because she was scared. Then her mind started playing tricks on her. Maybe this guy had molested her even more after she blacked out. I hope nothing like that happened to me. She said frowning. It incensed her that she didn't have her wand with her tonight since she thought that it wasn't necessary to bring it. Her attacker hadn't bothered her for weeks now and she thought he didn't wish to continue tormenting her. How could she be so careless? She gritted her teeth in anger.
"I have to be brave. I will be brave. I will be brave." She told herself over and over again under her breath.
A plan suddenly struck her as she saw that the street where she was walking had a tiny alleyway just a few more steps ahead where she could turn. Of course whoever was following her would be furious because he had lost sight of her. He would quicken his pace as well. And before he can even pass that tiny alleyway, she'd smack him on the head with the leg of ham she was holding. The paper bag contained the leg of ham which was still frozen making it rock hard. I just hope this works. She thought. She was really nervous because this was her only plan and if it failed, she didn't have a back up plan making her vulnerable.
"I am brave." She said to herself even nodding her head at the process. She could still feel the eyes watching her. She breathed a sigh as she turned swiftly to the corner and executed her plan. She quickly pulled out the leg of ham from the grocery bag and she placed the paper bag on the ground. She gripped the leg in her hands and she was anticipating him. According to her calculations which she just presumed; he should reach her by approximately less than fifteen seconds.
But her calculations weren't accurate. He had not reached her in fifteen seconds. Not even 16 or 20 or 30. Her inquisitiveness got the best of her. She stepped out of her hiding place, still holding the frozen leg of ham and to her surprise she didn't see anyone behind her. Perhaps she has grown paranoid because of what had recently happened to her. Maybe there was no one that was following her in the first place. She scanned the whole block, first looking straight ahead to check for any suspicious looking man then she turned around and scanned the rest of the block. There really was no one who looked suspicious. She saw a mother holding her daughter's hand and they were discussing something and there were a group of carolers singing the night away. The people there looked like typical muggles enjoying the holiday season.
Then she saw a boy. A boy who had blonde hair walking with his hands in his jean pockets and his was back facing her.
"Malfoy." She found herself saying. He was the only she knew with that shade of hair her but then again she couldn't be sure. He was too far away now and she couldn't see his face. So she just stood there in the street, still clutching the leg of ham, and watched the boy's hair glistening as light bounced off it.
"Me and my hallucinations." She told herself. She got the grocery bag and placed back the meat in the bag and started to walk home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ha! She must think I'm dense if I was to fall for that simple trick. Draco thought as he saw Hermione disappear. He guessed that she turned into a small corner. He decided that there was no point in following her now, so he turned around and headed to the other direction.
"She must think I'm that low. That dim-witted." He talked to himself. "She's the stupid one. Not me. I'm Draco Malfoy coming from the untainted and almighty bloodline of the Malfoy's. She's the trying hard muggle-born"
Now, I'm talking to myself. First I spend my time following Granger around and now talking to myself? He shook his head in disgust. But then again he had to ask himself yet another question. He didn't have to question himself on why he was following her. His mother had asked him to check if Hermione was fine after receiving such beating like that. When he asked her why she cared about a muggle yet alone a mudblood, she said she felt like Hermione had a good heart. Good heart my ass. Malfoy thought. And when he asked her on why he had to this, she simply answered.
"I didn't say you had to do so, I have only asked you to do so."
So why was he doing this? Out of the goodness left in his heart. But he made it clear that he wasn't doing it for Hermione. He chose to do it because it was his mother's request.
"I'm going home now." He said ruffling his hair unaware that Hermione was now watching him from a distance.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hermione was sitting on her four-poster bed and she was playing her piano piece in her invisible piano in the air. She couldn't play the piano because the noise it would make would be loud and it would wake the whole household. She decided that it was hopeless practicing like this. She opened her bedside table to place the book filled with piano pieces in it. In the table, she found the flask that once contained the potion she found on the steps of her house weeks ago. She never drank it. She just threw all of it down her toilet 3 nights ago but upon realizing that if it was a potion containing some sort of poison; it could dissolve her marble toilet. Good thing that it wasn't a poisonous one so thankfully her toilet didn't dissolve.
They had just finished eating their Christmas dinner and had done all the rituals that needed to be done. She asked if she could spend some time alone in her room to practice playing her piano and her mother said yes. She had been practicing for just about thirty minutes before realizing that it was silly practicing like that. She looked at her clock and she learned that it was already 1:48 am. She stood up from her bed and turned her boom box on.
Beside the radio lay her Christmas presents from her friends in Hogwarts. Their owls had come one after the other before the clock struck twelve. Harry gave her a watch. At first she was wondering why she received a watch but it had a note that came with it. It said that if ever Hermione or any of the three of them need each other, they would just tap on the watch's surface five times and wear it on their left hand and they could already communicate with each other. Harry also gave Ron and Ginny a charmed watch. Ginny on the other hand gave her this beauty products filled kit complete from something called Taming Shampoo --which promises to straighten hair instantly and give it some luster-- to cosmetics that promised to make you beautiful. If the gift wasn't from Ginny, she would have given it away to charity this Christmas. Except for the shampoo. Maybe I should try it she thought after she ran her hands through her curly hair and her finger got tangled into one of the curls. She figured she didn't need anything else in the kit. She wasn't vain. The rest of her gifts were all similar: books, and anything that had to do with giving out information. They must think I'm the biggest book worm in the universe. She thought.
But the strangest gift yet to come was from Ron. His small clumsy owl, Pig, came whizzing in their dining room while they were having their meal. It was carrying with it a bouquet of white roses (although some were crushed thanks to Pig's awesome flying ability), a box of chocolates and a small box wrapped in red. The small box had a silver necklace on it with a tiny diamond. Her father, upon seeing the roses and chocolates assumed that the gift was from a suitor in Hogwarts and he had already started on his speech. He said something like Hermione could have a boy friend if she wanted to, granted that she still perform in school like she used to. Hermione started laughing hysterically because it wasn't from a suitor. It was from Ron.
She walked barefoot towards her large window. The window sill was wide enough that she could sit on it and watched the world from her window. She lifted her head up and turned her attention to the starry evening sky. She just sat there staring up at the sky, naming constellations she knew. She remembered the time she used to take Divination and she couldn't stand the way Professor Trelawney always connects everything happening with the movement of the stars and planets. She just had to quit that subject. It drove her nuts because she was never one who believed that stars hold everyone's destiny. It's ironic though. She loved the way stars twinkle and symbolize hope. She yawned and she was feeling sluggish already. She stood up and stretched just a little and then she saw him.
Malfoy.
She was sure this time that it was him. He was leaning against the right-side of the Maple tree's trunk smoking his cigarette. There was just this certain way Malfoy leaned against anything that would make him look cool but look incredibly self-centered. Not that he wasn't. You forgot the fact that he looks extremely hot like that. A voice said in her head. She scoffed at what she had just thought of.
"Why the hell is he here?" she asked her voice angry. Was he here to taunt her again? Would he give her a break already? As if she wasn't mocked enough in school already. She looked around her room to see if there was anything in there that could keep her warm. She saw the black cloak draped at the foot of her bed and she grabbed it, wore it and stormed downstairs.
"What in Merlin's name do you want?" she asked him after banging the front door open. She placed both her hands on her waist. Malfoy turned his head slowly to face her in a manner that would make any other girl drool with fascination but made Hermione want to puke her guts out. God, he's so egotistic.
"Keep your voice down Granger. Are you aware that muggles could be sleeping at the moment and your screechy voice can wake anyone up at this ungodly hour?" Malfoy said looking at her. He shrugged his broad shoulders. He wore his typical outfit. All black.
"And what might the respectful boy like you want from me?" she said with her face scowling with irritation.
"What gave you the impression that I wish to see your unsightly face?"
"Because you're here. Just in case you didn't check it says Granger at that metal thing there we muggles call a mailbox. This is my home." She pointed at the mailbox planted on the lawn.
"I didn't come here for you." He said rolling his eyes. He was walking towards her as and he threw away his cigarette. He reached her with just a little space between them. "Must you be so self-conceited?" He said looking down at her. He was tall, about a foot taller than her.
She looked intently into his eyes as he looked at hers. Hermione was now staring at the magnificence of his eyes. And the way that they didn't' show any emotion at all but still remained breathtaking was something that bothered Hermione. And he, he thought her eyes were just normal and dull from afar but they're different especially from a distance this close. They even glimmered in the evening but that was because she was irritated.
"I think you're talking about yourself." She said breaking the momentary silence.
"What I want is that."
"That? What do you mean by that?" she asked.
"My cloak."
"Oh, you mean this is yours?" she asked in surprise. He nodded. She sheepishly began to remove it so that she could return it to Draco but Draco placed his hand on her hand. This sent shivers throughout her body. His hand was extremely cold but it was also because it was Draco's hand on her hand.
"It's cold tonight. Keep it first." He said looking away. He removed his hand. Hermione was now staring at Malfoy and checking if it was the same git she knew. Did he just show an act of kindness to me?
"But it's yours, and you're not wearing anything to keep you warm in a cold weather like this." He just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't really give a shit."
Hermione then asked him if he would like to go inside and for a hot drink regretting it as soon as the words escaped her mouth. He just shrugged as he followed her into her home. She led her to her kitchen. Malfoy tried to keep his hands to himself because he wanted to show Hermione that he didn't care about all the muggle appliances he was now encountering. Even though he would never admit it he was secretly interested over these things. So he walked with his hand in his pockets so that he wouldn't be tempted to touch those objects. Hermione was now asking herself, what she was doing. Letting her best friend's mortal enemy enter her home and she was even the one who offered him. What am I doing? She wondered again.
When they reached the kitchen, Hermione grabbed two mugs. She threw Malfoy's cloak on the countertop behind her. She asked him if he wanted hot chocolate, tea or coffee. He said he just wanted coffee. He looked around the kitchen. It was quite simple. Nothing grand like his in the Malfoy Manor with expensive silver cutlery and kitchen tools. It was a country kitchen with cherry wood glass cabinets with China displayed in them. There were appliances unfamiliar to him and there was also this huge bookcase filled with cookbooks. And on the center of the kitchen was a massive island with a black granite top and on its left were four bar stools.
He started to light a new cigarette.
"Stop smoking Malfoy. This is my home and my parents don't allow anyone to smoke in here. " She told him. She expected a rude remark like 'I'm going to do whatever I want to do where ever I may be' but none of that came from him. Malfoy said nothing. He just crushed the lit cigarette with his hand. If his hand hurt from crushing a lighted cigar, he didn't show it.
She tried to get to his bad side again because this Malfoy was just someone she wasn't used to. They say changes like this are better but she would be driven mad if Malfoy was going to act all civil and pleasant to her throughout the rest of the year. And she couldn't avoid him because they're both Head Boy and Head Girl.
"I meant my first statement. You should stop smoking. It could kill you." She said mixing Malfoy's coffee at the island. She waited for a rude remark but none of it came. He didn't even laugh or made a face. He just stood there staring at her.
"Okay." Then he sat down at one of the barstools.
Okay? Okay! Is that thing there even Malfoy? Malfoy never says okay. He always says 'fuck off' or 'leave me alone' but never okay. He never agrees with anything anyone says. She thought. She used her wand and made both mugs be filled with hot water instead of warm water.
"Are you're parents home?" he asked her. He looked into her eyes once again.
"Yeah. They're asleep at the moment."
"I should leave."
"No, it's alright. I told you they're asleep." She bit her tongue after saying that. She had just asked Malfoy to stay. Now he must think I secretly desire him. Gross. Do I? I know I don't. But even if she said that, she wasn't sure.
"Here." She said handing the mug filled with coffee to him. She sat down on the stool beside him and started drinking her tea. She drank it in silence. Malfoy didn't touch his. He just stared at the granite surface of the island.
"Soo.. How did I even get a hold of your cloak?" she asked breaking the deafening silence.
"I gave it to you before after I saved you from him." he said. He finally took a sip of his coffee.
"You saved me?" she asked filled with disbelief. She turned to face him. Was she really hearing words like this from the stuck-up Draco?
He only nodded. What's she so surprised for? It's not like I go around killing people. Tainting my hands with blood isn't exactly my cup of tea. He thought.
"But... but... how?" she was still looking at the boy seated next to her. He's aware that she's looking at him but he does not turn to face her.
"I was walking down this unfamiliar street and I see you. A man was on top of you. I believed that you were being robbed and you had fainted so I came and did you a favor." He explained. He fabricated his own simple story and left out the parts were his mother and father are included. Including them would mean more questions from Hermione. He also left out the parts where he took care of her in ways he cannot believe he did.
Hermione was amazed that the Malfoy sitting next to her; a boy who made her best friends' and her life desolate in Hogwarts is the very same man who actually saved her. She was staring at him wide-eyed still shocked.
"It's not that big a deal Granger. Stop staring at me." He said turning to face her. His hair was untidy and a blonde lock of hair fell on his eyes. His gaze was steady and his eyes were striking. Hermione thought he looked stunning but like what she did earlier, she brushed the thought away.
But she still blushed. And she had only noticed now that he had stopped calling her mudblood or any of those filthy names he called her. He now called her Granger, still not Hermione but better than those names.
"Granger?" he waved his hand in her face.
"Huh?" she asked confused. She was busy thinking about the changes in Draco.
"I just asked you a question."
"Oh you did? What was it?"
"I asked you if you knew a book entitled 'A Farewell to Arms'." Shit, lame topic. Draco thought.
"Yes. I have read it before. I reckon it's one of the best books in this world." She said her eyes twinkling. They remind me of stars. Draco thought. "Why are you asking? And why have you read a muggle book?"
"Because I've read it too." He smiled a half smile. He just smiled. A smile. Not a smirk. A smile. No malice with it. Has the world gone zany? She thought. And he smiled to me. The voice added. She frowned at the idea that she was joyful about Malfoy smiling at her.
"And the part on why I read the muggle book. I just read it." he said frowning slightly. Actually he had read it because it was the book that one of his father's victims were reading before he was murdered. He had gone with his father and before the man could grab his wand from the table nearby, he was dead. His father told him that the man betrayed them but ha had not expounded on the reason more. Draco got the book and read it.
They continued talking about anything that interested both of them. Hermione even opened a bag of chips and she giggled because Draco stared at it. Maybe he thought the puffed chips were poisonous or something because he hesitated to eat it. She told him not to worry because they tasted really good, even if they weren't healthy. And one bag of chips weren't enough. They ate while they talked. They didn't laugh. They didn't give foul comments. They just conversed but it was enough for the both of them to change their opinions on either one's personality. Malfoy changed his opinion on Hermione being a know-it- all because she wasn't. He knew a lot of facts that she didn't. Hermione also changed her opinion. She somehow saw Draco in a different light. He wasn't as half bad and as rude as he used to be. They were having their first real conversation after so many years of knowing and loathing each other.
Though they did not notice it and would never have admitted it anyway; they were both enjoying each other's company.
"What time is it?" Draco suddenly asked.
She looked at the cuckoo clock positioned above the refrigerator. "4:20 am."
Draco stood up and he walked out of the kitchen, Hermione following him. He reached the door and he turned around as he faced Hermione.
"Merry Christmas." he said. He didn't smile and he didn't seem merry at all. He reached out and touched her cheek. It felt smooth and soft. This too sent shivers through Hermione's body. Then he apparated.
Hermione frowned. "Did he just apparate? I didn't know he could do that." She touched the place on her cheek that Draco touched and she smiled.
And then she remembered that Draco forgot to give him his cloak. Damn. She went back to the kitchen to clean up then she went back to her room carrying the cloak with her.
Then she did something she knew she shouldn't have done. She smelt the cloak and this time, it did not smell like sweat or blood. She thought that it smelled like Draco.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Exactly a week before school, Hermione received a letter from her best friends. It said:
Dearest Hermione,
How are you? We hope that you're more than fine. Our trip to Holland was great! As promised, we saw the dragons. They're extremely huge. Larger the one's Harry had to face in the Tournament in his 4th year. But the one's we saw seem to be tamer. But even if that's the case, one dragon still felt like smushing humans. Glad it didn't and the men (that's us me, and Harry along with my brothers) got to tie it down before it stomped us. But it could still have been better with you around.
Would you like to spend sometime together with us in Diagon Alley? Before school starts? After all you weren't permitted by your parents for Holland. There's a big possibility that you could go this time. I mean you have to! We miss you soooooooooooooooo much.
Love lots, Ron, Harry and Gin
And just like what they presumed, Hermione was allowed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The four friends tapped the brick wall behind the Leaky Cauldron, three times up and two across and they found themselves in their destination.
"Who's up for some ice cream?" Harry asked his friends as soon as they stepped into the Diagon Alley. "My treat." He added. With the sound of 'my treat' everyone's face lit up.
"Sure." Hermione said smiling. They made their way Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
She was so glad to be with her friends again. She intended to make this day a day where she would worry about nothing. Just enjoy her the day with her friends who she missed so much over the winter break. They arrived at the parlor and they sat down on a chair and ordered some ice cream. They all ordered huge sundaes with equally huge helpings of hot fudge drizzled over the sundae. Within 5 minutes, a lady served them their sundaes.
"So what did happen in Holland?" she asked her three friends.
"Oh nothing much. Just dragons. I had this feeling that if you came, you would have been bored to death, like me." Ginny announced. She toyed with her sundae. And she spelled Harry's name with her teaspoon on one of the lumps of ice cream. Good thing she was sitting beside Hermione because her secret was safe with her and so that Harry wouldn't know. She eventually ate a spoonful of that lump of ice cream where Harry's name was once written.
"Aaand someone made a confession to me." Harry said. He looked at Ron who had devoured half of his sundae. His ears turned pink and he stopped eating momentarily. Then coming to his senses, he stepped on Harry's foot under the table.
"Ouch!!" Harry yelped in pain.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked. She had already started eating her sundae.
"I will be if Ron stops stepping on my foot." Harry said. "And it's not helping that he's wearing rubber shoes. I'm just wearing canvas sneakers."
"Ronald Weasley. Stop stepping on our best friend's foot." Reprimanded Hermione. She sounded like Ron's mother. With Hermione's order, Ron's ears turned red, maybe orange because its color almost matched his hair color. He stopped stepping on Harry's foot. Harry who was grateful but was still pained a little winked at Hermione.
"What's the wink for?" Hermione asked pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. Harry just shook his head with a grin on his face. He continued eating his chocolate sundae.
"Is there something that I do not know but I surely need to know?" Hermione asked. She was more than puzzled now. Ron's face started flushing now.
"I say that that confession was that my dear brother fancies someone, what do you think Hermione?" Ginny interrupted. Ron was a shade of deep red now and he just looked at his sundae. He gripped his teaspoon hard. Harry, you just wait. I'll kill you for this. Ron thought.
"So it is true." Ginny grinned evilly. She wanted to make her suffer because this served as revenge for all the times he humiliated her in front of Harry. Ha!! She thought. And she was also wanted to know who it was.
Hermione found herself interested. "Oh so that's the something that I don't know. Come on Ron, tell me who it is. I am your best friend after all." Hermione placed her elbows on the tabled in an upright position and rested her chin there. "Go on. I'm all ears." She said smiling at him.
Ron looked up at the smiling Hermione but he quickly looked down and stared at his sundae again.
"Come on bro, tell us." Ginny said urging his brother. She had finished her sundae and she called the waitress for another serving. You can't blame the girl for having a huge appetite for sweets.
"Hey Hermione," Harry swallowed the ice cream in his mouth before finishing his sentence because he sounded muffled with his mouth full. "I heard the Flourish and Blotts have a bunch of new books to be released just today."
At the sound of 'books', Hermione fell into Harry's trap. "Really? Could we go after this? I might need a few more references for school."
"Sure." He said.
"We're not going anywhere until Hermione and I know who my brother fancies. Don't try on changing the subject Harry." Ginny said still staring at her brother.
"You know, I really think you should go now. I hear the book is really helpful. It could be sold out even before you get there." Harry tried again.
"Can we go now please?" Hermione asked. One of her weaknesses is books.
"Ginny, could you kindly go with Hermione." Harry asked.
"I'm not going anywhere till I learn who it is."
"Please." He pleaded.
Ginny looked at Harry. He looks so adorable just like that. Wrinkling his forehead while pleading to me. To me! She thought.
"Fine. We'll go now. But what about the sundae I just ordered?" Ginny said.
"Ron will have the appetite for that."
When the girl's had already gone. Ron punched Harry on the shoulder.
"What's that for?"
"For almost letting my secret out."
"But I did fix the mess." Harry said stroking his shoulder.
Ron said nothing. He finished his melted sundae. The waitress placed Ginny's sundae and Ron devoured this one as well.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I didn't know you still liked Harry." Hermione said. Her arm was entwined into Ginny's.
"I never did fall out of it. I just wish he'd like me back." She sighed.
"Don't worry. He'll come to his senses soon enough." she said reassuring Ginny. She smiled at her.
They were outside Flourish and Blotts already. The girls were engaged in a conversation and Hermione already outstretched her hand to open the door. To her surprise, Draco came out of the door before she got to open it with Pansy Parkinson who clung to him like some leech. The four students stopped and looked at each other. Draco looked at Hermione eyes and she looked at his as well.
"If it isn't the maggot himself. What a way to ruin this day." Ginny said. She looked at Pansy with resentment. Slut. She thought.
Draco didn't say anything. He just continued looking at Hermione.
"Draco poochy, that Weasley girl just insulted you. Aren't you going to say something?" Pansy said. She tugged at his sleeve.
Hermione broke away from the stare and looked at her feet. If she didn't stop looking at his eyes, she could have been staring at him for forever. She didn't want Ginny see that.
"Hey." She whispered in a whisper so soft that she wondered if Draco even heard it. He snorted. He did hear it. She looked up again, back into his eyes. Draco was smirking really slyly. Without even saying a word, he dragged Pansy with him of to another shop in the Diagon Alley. Hermione stayed there staring of to outer space.
"What's that about?" Ginny asked. She followed Draco and Pansy with her eyes until she lost them to the crowd. "Mione, are you alright. You look bothered."
Hermione said nothing but she did smile at Ginny. Then they entered the bookstore together.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Harry you liar, you said there were a new stock of books in the shop but there weren't." Ginny said at Harry. The four of them were together again and they were sitting outside one of the small restaurants in the Diagon Alley. It seems like all they did today was to hangout at restaurants and eat.
"I told you if that if you didn't get there soon enough they would be sold out quickly."
"We asked the person in charge, Harry. She said there were no new books to be sold. The newest are over a month old." Ginny said.
"I guess my connections are wrong then." Harry said. He looked at Ron and he grinned. Ron grinned back.
"I knew it! It was just a plan of you guys so that you could get rid of us. That way, we wouldn't know who Ron likes." Ginny said. She crossed her arms on her chest.
"Oh come one Ginny. It's not what you think." Ron said sipping his butterbeer.
"Whatever." She said. "You let Hermione's hope go up and you brought it down when she knew that such books didn't exist. You know how much she loves reading and books, right Hermione?"
"Huh? Uh, no not really it's not that big a deal." She said softly. Her thoughts were occupied by what happened outside the bookstore.
Ginny sank deeper into her chair. She had lost the fight. She pursed her lips.
"Are you alright Hermione?" Harry asked. He noticed that she had been quiet ever since Ginny and she came back from the bookstore. Maybe he did offend her by his white lie about the books but he didn't know that he offended her that much.
"Yes I'm fine." She stood up. She smiled a little. "I'm just going to get this refilled." She said holding up her glass. It was more than halfway full. "Anyone want refills too?" she offered. Ginny held up her glass and so did Ron. She took it both and made her way in the restaurant.
She could have made the waitress refill it for them but she needed time alone to think. But about what? Malfoy. She thought irritated. What a git. He completely ignored me. She reached the bar and asked the man to refill it for her. Just then, a boy asked for his glass to be refilled too.
"Refill." He said. Hermione recognized the voice and she glanced sideways to make sure. It was Draco. The man took the glasses and went away.
"Hey." Draco said. Hermione didn't reply. Who does he think he is? And he thinks he has the right to greet me after ignoring me? Asswipe. She thought.
When she didn't reply Draco looked at Hermione's side view. He just stared at her with her hair falling reaching her shoulders and coiling there. He noticed that her hair wasn't as shriveled anymore. It was a little straighter now and had elegant waves. Thanks to Ginny's shampoo that worked. He resisted the urge to touch her hair. He had already failed on controlling himself before because he touched her face before.
She looked magical even if she was frowning.
The man came back with four glasses of refilled butterbeer.
Hermione gathered her three glasses and turned her back to Malfoy. She started walking and she stopped. She couldn't resist it.
"Hey." She said and she continued walking after.
Draco watched her until she laws outside already. He ran his hands through his hair and he got his glass. He gulped all of its contents down and asked for it to be refilled again.
.