You guys are the best! I'm glad everyone likes this fic so far. Since you've been so nice, here's another chapter!
Draco, Flipside
Day 3 of 7
It was almost impossible for Hermione to stay awake in the Astronomy class. She had gone to bed later than she usually did on the nights she had this class, after all. She might have fallen completely asleep if Harry and Ron hadn't have set her robes on fire by accident.
It was even harder to pay attention to the lesson because she was thinking about meeting Malfoy in Hogsmeade the next afternoon. Why had he asked her to go? He didn't actually likeher, did he? And what had come over her? She had accepted his invitation! Well, if Harry and Ron ever found out, she'd never hear the end of it.
Finally, at about one in the morning, she dragged herself listlessly back to the dormitory. When she approached her bed, she found another letter on her pillow. Thankful that Lavender and Parvati were too tired to notice her, she quickly opened it.
Hermione,
Thanks! I'll meet you at one-thirty.
Draco.
She groaned. What had she gotten herself into?
"You promise that when you get back, you'll finish helping me?" Neville's big eyes were pleading. He had been banned from this Hogsmeade trip for changing Professor McGonagall's robes into a skimpy stripper's getup. "I know, I've gotten one potion right, but I still don't understand what Snape was saying about the proper stewing of newt tails—"
"For pity's sake, Neville! Of course I'll help you when I come back," Hermione said, smiling. "You can copy the rest of my Potions notes, and I'll show you how to stew newt tails if we have time. All right?"
He beamed. "All right."
The students arrived in Hogsmeade at about one o'clock, eager to do some shopping. Harry and Ron automatically headed for Zonko's Joke Shop (perhaps they were planning to terrorise Filch by letting off a few Dungbombs in the corridor), and Hermione decided she'd go to the book shop to kill some time.
She entered Miss Justine's Book Emporium, happy to be finally back in her favourite store in Hogsmeade. Miss Justine herself was climbing an incredibly tall ladder, teetering dangerously as she stocked books onto the shelves. The whole place was warm, cozy, and smelled pleasantly like new books. Hermione sighed and made her way to the stacks.
As she was thumbing through a particularly large tome, someone laid their hand on her shoulder. She dropped the book, screaming.
"Relax, Hermione! It's only us!" Ron said to her, doubled over laughing.
"Ron!" she cried out. But she smiled. "Don't do that!"
He raised his hands in defence. "Hey, sorry!" he said, still laughing. "Malfoy just asked us where you were. He said something about you were supposed to meet him at one-thirty in the Three Broomsticks, and it's been ten minutes he's been waiting…"
She gasped. "Oh! I forgot!" she cried. "I was, um, going to discuss Arithmancy with him. Yeah. He's having trouble and he wanted my help…"
They looked dubious, but they seemed to buy it. "All right," Harry said. "You'd better go. He's in the table that's closest to the back."
"Thanks!" She raced out of the bookstore and straight across the street to the Three Broomsticks. She gave Madame Rosmerta a quick wave and plunked down in front of Malfoy at the table in the back.
"I'm so sorry!" she panted. "I guess I just lost track of time, and…"
"It's perfectly all right," he reassured her. "I haven't been waiting long."
She breathed a sigh of relief. At least he hadn't thought she was standing him up!
"Anyway," he continued, his voice low, "I've been meaning to talk to you for a while now, Hermione. You see, I've been having trouble with my Ancient Runes class, and I was wondering if you'd maybe like to help me." He lowered his gaze, his pale face flushed pink.
She gazed at him in astonishment. Was this a trick of some sort? But then she remembered the Congeniality Concoction and softened.
"Sure I'll help you out. But, uh, I'm going to be tutoring Neville tonight, you know, for our test in Potions…"
"How does tomorrow night sound?" he asked her quickly.
"Sounds good."
"All right. I'll meet you in the library tomorrow after dinner, OK?" He smiled and got up. "Thank you so much, Hermione. You're the best!"
Hermione watched him go, feeling confused. Suddenly, she wanted the old Malfoy back.
"So, how was it?"
Hermione flopped into an armchair in the Common Room. "It was awfully weird," she sighed. "Malfoy's never been so…agreeable before."
Neville grinned. "And all because of me. Well, Hermione, let's get going. Can't study for Potions with you sitting around!"
She smiled at him and opened her notes. "All right, Neville. Let's get cracking."