Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't own anything.
Author's Note: Chapter six is finally here! Enjoy! And please remember to review.
-poostix
Hermione was there in the courtyard alone, once again as it all started from when they first yelled at each other. She wept for several minutes, which felt like they were hours, but all of a sudden she saw a shadow, and a feel of a hand upon her shoulder. She looked up. It was Professor McGonagall.
"Why… Hermione," she said, surprised. "I haven't seen you for awhile now. But what on earth are you doing out here?"
"Oh, just getting some fresh air," Hermione smiled.
"Looks like you've got the allergies too, your eyes are all red. A particular Muggle symptom," Professor said, sighing.
"Yeah…" Hermione continued, wiping her eyes.
With that, Hermione got up and asked Professor McGonagall where the reunion was being held, for she wasn't in the mood for small talk. Professor McGonagall nodded, smiling and told her it was in the Great Hall, which was down the corridor to the left. With that, Hermione bid her old professor goodbye and was on her way down to the dining hall.
When she arrived she bumped into Harry and Cho, madly kissing one another, Hermione quickly turned the other way in disgust. She walked around the back way and there saw Draco lighting a cigarette and looking out towards the courtyard. Hermione examined him for a moment. His hair wasn't as slicked back as he had when he was a youth. Now, it was scragglier, which made him look like one of those American models in the Abercrombie and Fitch catalogs (which was a very awful sight) however, it made him look more attractive. Draco was also a bit taller and less pale. He had a bit more color to his skin and looked more professional.
"I suppose you would like to join me," Draco said looking at Hermione. Hermione, a bit embarrassed answered, "I suppose… It seems I have no other choice anyway. For there isn't anything else more exciting to do around here."
"But you haven't even entered the dining hall, Granger." Draco laughed. "I suppose you bumped into Potter and Chang on the way here, showing their feelings to each other," Draco continued, frowning a little, "I think I lost my appetite too." he said again laughing this time as he threw his cigarette down on the floor.
"Malfoy!" Hermione cried, shocked at what she just heard.
"What?" Draco laughed, as he stared at her with a fake puzzled look, although he certainly knew what Hermione meant.
"I should give you a slap across the face, you bloody idiot…" Hermione grumbled. "Questioning as well as budging into my business!"
"Hermione—" Draco began.
"What?" Hermione snapped, still a little shocked that he had called her "Hermione". He looked at her, a little unsure of what he was about to ask her.
"Would you like to, er… maybe join Ron and me at our apartment this after this… er… How should I put it…?" Draco mumbled as he paced around, looking for the right word.
"Er… this, hmm. This reuniting of our fellow classmates," he finished. With that, there was a long pause. He cleared his throat, and opened his mouth to speak again. "So? Granger? Do you accept my offer or not?" Draco asked, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I, er…suppose…" Hermione replied, looking at him curiously.
"Excellent!" Draco said, smiling a genuine smile. Hermione widened her eyes in wonder. She had never seen him smile, and she actually liked it. It suddenly erased all the bad memories of his mockery and trouble he gave her. She was suddenly brought back to reality with his voice. "I just purchased tickets for this Broadway show that just got aired in on 42nd street."
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" Draco said, smiling again. "Besides, you can just join us for the evening and then go back to wherever you came from…"
"Why… why, thank you," Hermione continued. Taking Draco's hands in hers, she slowly brought them off her shoulders. He looked deep into her cinnamon eyes with his silver ones. She shivered slightly, looking into those eyes.
"I do suppose we can all catch up on what's going on within our lives Hermione." Draco said. "I'm a new man. So is Ron and we're all out in the big city…"
"Draco—" Hermione interrupted, surprising him with calling him by his first name.
"Yes?" Draco replied.
"When did you pick up smoking?" she asked.
"Oh, that? I've just been er… stressed, lately,"
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yes, Hermione, I'm just stressed… Ron and I haven't been doing well in our stocks," he said, sighing.
"One more thing…" she started. He nodded at her, allowing her to continue. She looked at him.
"Take care of yourself." she mumbled and looked down at the floor.
"Hermione—" he began, confused at the conversation they were sharing. She raised her eyes to look at him. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked. With that there was a pause, as Draco combed through his hair with his hand. Finally Hermione spoke.
"I—I… I think Ron told you about—about—"
"Harry?" he finished for her. She nodded, looking concerned.
"Well er…" he began.
"Did he?!" Hermione snapped as tears started to form.
"I'm sorry, Hermione but…" he started. She frowned and interrupted him.
"So this is why you are being so nice to me, huh…? This is why you haven't called me a bloody mudblood. This is why you are inviting me to join you and Ron to that bloody play—this is why… why—" Hermione stopped and leaned against the wall, wiping away her tears. She sniffed and looked at him again, mad for what he was doing. She didn't need any damn sympathy. 'Not from anyone!' she thought to herself.
"You are just one heck of a damn fraud aren't you, Malfoy? Just some guy who wants to look good, just to make people feel better and—" she was cut off by a very angry Draco.
"Hermione… Just shut up." Draco said. "I was just doing this to just make you look at life as if there is more to it than that stupid pothead over there madly kissing that bitch, Cho. Hermione…" Draco said cupping her face in his hands. He looked deep into her eyes. "You are better than Cho and you certainly don't need Potter to complete you. Potter doesn't deserve you to complete him. You are better than him and Cho placed together. You better start shaping up," he said. She looked back at him, taking in every word he was saying, with her face cupped in his hands. He smiled gently at her.
"…because right now you sure aren't acting as smart as I know you are." Draco finished. With that, it was silent with only the sun shining, and a brisk wind blowing between them. Finally Draco walked away towards the dining hall, as if he had said enough.