DISCLAIMER: I own only the plot. Everything else is owned by JKRowling.
***
I slept in the next morning. After all, I had been up nearly all night. I awoke around midday. It took me a while to remember where I was but then it all came flooding back. Father. Voldemort. Dumbledore. Hermione.
Hermione! She would be here soon!
I quickly pulled on my robes and ran down. I wanted to get to the Entrance Hall as soon as possible to meet her when she arrived. But as I got into the Slytherin common room I stopped. Professor Snape was standing in the middle of the room, evidently waiting for me.
"Ah, Malfoy, I was wanting to speak to you." He smiled at me. I still hadn't forgiven him for humiliating Hermione over the "Witch Weekly" article. "I understand you have fallen for Granger."
"Her name is Hermione." I snapped before I could stop myself.
"Hermione then. It makes no difference. I want you to know that I wish you luck and I will not let any of the other Slytherins know when term starts." He wasn't being sarcastic as he usually was. He was genuinely being nice. He obviously noticed the look of surprise on my face because he continued, "I was in love with a Gryffindor when I was at school. She was with someone else though..." Snape drifted off for a moment, clearly back in his school days in his mind, "But anyway, what I mean is my Slytherin friends found out and hated me for it. The prejudices between Slytherin and Gryffindor are too great for most small-minded people to overcome. You have proved yourself better than this. And I wish you luck."
"Who was the Gryffindor you were in love with, Professor?" I asked. I knew it was a rather personal question but I couldn't help it.
A flicker of pain crossed Snape's face. "Even if I told you her name you wouldn't know who she was. Now go. Meet her."
As I walked out I thought I heard him say, in a voice that only he was meant to hear, "If only you'd chosen me, Lily..." But I decided to ignore it.
I ran down to the Entrance Hall and crashed straight into Professor Dumbledore. "Oof! Sorry Professor. I was in a rush that's all..." I tailed off.
"So I see, Draco. I think you will find Miss Granger in the Great Hall with Mr Potter. They are having a spot of lunch. I suggest you join them, eh?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, thank you." I said breathlessly.
I stood outside the door of the Great Hall for a full minute before I went in. I needed to compose myself. My first problem was Harry. I needed to make a truce with him. Then Hermione would see how sincere I was. Yes, that was it. That was what I'd do.
I walked into the Great Hall. Hermione and Harry were sat at the Gryffindor table. I walked over. "Can I join you two please?" I asked.
Harry looked too shocked to speak but Hermione said in her sweet voice, "Yes, Draco, sit down."
After eating a few sandwiches in silence I turned to Harry. "Look Harry. I know we've been, well, worst enemies since Day One but we're on the same side now and, well, even if we can't be best friends can we at least be civil to each other. Please."
Harry looked at me, completely shocked by this sudden outburst. Then he gave me a friendly grin, "OK Malf- I mean, Draco. You're on." I smiled back. Then I risked a look at Hermione. She was looking intently at her plate but I could tell she was smiling.
At that moment, Professor McGonagall arrived. "Potter!" she called over, "I would like to see you with Professor Dumbledore right now please." Harry got up, nodded at Hermione and me and walked out.
Hermione and I were alone at last.
"Hermione."
"Draco."
We both started talking at the same time. "You first." I smiled at her.
"Well," she began, "really I wanted to say that I am so sorry for that owl I sent you. I should've helped more and, well, it changed my feelings for you. Completely."
"You mean..."
"I feel the same way for you as you do for me, Draco. When you sent that first owl to me... I couldn't believe it! I suddenly realised how brave and stong you were. If you could overcome all your family's beliefs and, well, everything for me..." She tailed off.
I leaned across the table and kissed her. Softly at first but then more passionately. Months of lust, frustration and love were let out in that kiss. At that moment nothing worried me. Not Father, not even Voldemort.
But then a voice gasped, "Hermione, what do you think you're doing?!"
***
I slept in the next morning. After all, I had been up nearly all night. I awoke around midday. It took me a while to remember where I was but then it all came flooding back. Father. Voldemort. Dumbledore. Hermione.
Hermione! She would be here soon!
I quickly pulled on my robes and ran down. I wanted to get to the Entrance Hall as soon as possible to meet her when she arrived. But as I got into the Slytherin common room I stopped. Professor Snape was standing in the middle of the room, evidently waiting for me.
"Ah, Malfoy, I was wanting to speak to you." He smiled at me. I still hadn't forgiven him for humiliating Hermione over the "Witch Weekly" article. "I understand you have fallen for Granger."
"Her name is Hermione." I snapped before I could stop myself.
"Hermione then. It makes no difference. I want you to know that I wish you luck and I will not let any of the other Slytherins know when term starts." He wasn't being sarcastic as he usually was. He was genuinely being nice. He obviously noticed the look of surprise on my face because he continued, "I was in love with a Gryffindor when I was at school. She was with someone else though..." Snape drifted off for a moment, clearly back in his school days in his mind, "But anyway, what I mean is my Slytherin friends found out and hated me for it. The prejudices between Slytherin and Gryffindor are too great for most small-minded people to overcome. You have proved yourself better than this. And I wish you luck."
"Who was the Gryffindor you were in love with, Professor?" I asked. I knew it was a rather personal question but I couldn't help it.
A flicker of pain crossed Snape's face. "Even if I told you her name you wouldn't know who she was. Now go. Meet her."
As I walked out I thought I heard him say, in a voice that only he was meant to hear, "If only you'd chosen me, Lily..." But I decided to ignore it.
I ran down to the Entrance Hall and crashed straight into Professor Dumbledore. "Oof! Sorry Professor. I was in a rush that's all..." I tailed off.
"So I see, Draco. I think you will find Miss Granger in the Great Hall with Mr Potter. They are having a spot of lunch. I suggest you join them, eh?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, thank you." I said breathlessly.
I stood outside the door of the Great Hall for a full minute before I went in. I needed to compose myself. My first problem was Harry. I needed to make a truce with him. Then Hermione would see how sincere I was. Yes, that was it. That was what I'd do.
I walked into the Great Hall. Hermione and Harry were sat at the Gryffindor table. I walked over. "Can I join you two please?" I asked.
Harry looked too shocked to speak but Hermione said in her sweet voice, "Yes, Draco, sit down."
After eating a few sandwiches in silence I turned to Harry. "Look Harry. I know we've been, well, worst enemies since Day One but we're on the same side now and, well, even if we can't be best friends can we at least be civil to each other. Please."
Harry looked at me, completely shocked by this sudden outburst. Then he gave me a friendly grin, "OK Malf- I mean, Draco. You're on." I smiled back. Then I risked a look at Hermione. She was looking intently at her plate but I could tell she was smiling.
At that moment, Professor McGonagall arrived. "Potter!" she called over, "I would like to see you with Professor Dumbledore right now please." Harry got up, nodded at Hermione and me and walked out.
Hermione and I were alone at last.
"Hermione."
"Draco."
We both started talking at the same time. "You first." I smiled at her.
"Well," she began, "really I wanted to say that I am so sorry for that owl I sent you. I should've helped more and, well, it changed my feelings for you. Completely."
"You mean..."
"I feel the same way for you as you do for me, Draco. When you sent that first owl to me... I couldn't believe it! I suddenly realised how brave and stong you were. If you could overcome all your family's beliefs and, well, everything for me..." She tailed off.
I leaned across the table and kissed her. Softly at first but then more passionately. Months of lust, frustration and love were let out in that kiss. At that moment nothing worried me. Not Father, not even Voldemort.
But then a voice gasped, "Hermione, what do you think you're doing?!"