A/N: Hey!!!!!! Here is Chapter 5, and I hope you all like it! Thank you for reviewing! Oh, and I don't know if any of you read my old story "Never Say Never", but I took it down a loooooooong time ago, and I might be putting it back up. So, be on the look out!! :)
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Chapter 5: An Apology. . . From Malfoy
Hermione awoke with a start that Saturday morning in mid-October. She had that dream again. 'Maybe I should tell Professor Dumbledore.' She picked out her uniform from her wardrobe and hopped in the shower. She let the warm water rinse the sweat from her body. Then she closed her eyes and tried to remember the dream while washing her hair and body. "There's a girl crying. . ." She paused and tried to identify the face of the girl. She recognized the brown hair, brown eyes, and light freckles. "That's me! But why on earth am I crying?" Hermione opened her eyes and turned the water off. Climbing out and wrapping a maroon towel around herself, she continued, "There was also a fading white light. It was bright at first, then it faded away." She got dressed and continued on. "And a person yelling. It's a guy, but I can't think of who--"
"Talking to yourself? First sign of ending up in St. Mungo's," Malfoy said from the doorway. She'd been so busy talking, she didn't hear him come in.
"Shut up," Hermione said and left.
She arrived in the Great Hall 10 minutes later and sat down at the Gryffindor table by her best friends.
"'Morning, Hermione," Ron said, helping himself to a waffle, muffin, bagel, and toast. Hermione stared at his heaping plate and was wondering how he could eat all that, when Harry caught her gaze and laughed.
"What??" asked Ron defensively.
"Nothing," Hermione replied, buttering a piece of toast. "So," she began. "What are you guys doing today? Oh, and since its Saturday, have you two finished your Herbology essay?" She bit into her toast.
"What are you, my mother?" Ron asked.
Hermione made a face and turned to Harry. "I was thinking that maybe all three of us could have a picnic for lunch out by the Old Tree and lake."
"Sure," said Harry. Hermione was about to take another bite of her toast when she felt a small stab of pain in the back of her head. She dropped the toast onto her plate and brought her hands to her head. She gasped and closed her eyes tightly.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Both Ron and Harry asked in unison.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm okay. It's just a headache. I've been getting them lately, but its just a headache. It's nothing." Hermione replied, slowly lowering her hands. But Ron and Harry still looked unconvinced.
"Guys, I'm okay. See? My headache's gone. I'll see you at lunch, I'll bring the food." She put on her best smile, got up, and left, knowing very well that her headache had not disappeared.
Harry looked at Ron. Ron shrugged and bit into his bagel.
-ooooooo-
Hermione saw Harry and Ron sitting by the Old Tree, talking. 'Probably about Quidditch or something,' Hermione thought, smiling to herself. She looked back to see if the basket of food was still floating behind her; it was. She continued walking and when she reached them, she grabbed the basket and waved her wand. Food, plates, and silverware flew out and settled themselves neatly upon the blanket Harry had brought.
"How is sharing a tower with Malfoy? Has he done anything?" Harry asked, filling up his plate.
"It's not that bad, actually. We did fight. . . once, a while ago. But we haven't talked to each other since. Mostly we just stay out of each other's way."
"I figured you two would be fighting day and night," said Ron, surprised.
"No, not really. It's kind of nice. But last night I was thinking about what I said on the train. Maybe there's a side to Malfoy we don't know." Hermione bit into her sandwich.
"Hermione, we told you! We know the real Draco Malfoy!" Ron exclaimed.
"No, seriously, Ron." She set her sandwich down. "What if there really is a side to Draco Malfoy that we don't know about? He really could be a completely different person!"
"Yeah, that's why you punched him in 3rd year," Ron snorted.
"Have you had to use a hex or anything on him?" Harry asked.
"Well, yes. I've transformed him into a ferret, like Professor Moody did, but that's it!" She stifled a yawn. "Then you know the real Mal--" Harry started but was interrupted by Ron.
"You made him into a ferret?? How'd you do that?? That was one of my favorite parts of 4th year. . ."
'I hope Malfoy doesn't find out what I said about him,' Hermione thought as Ron rambled on about Malfoy the Ferret. But little did she know, Malfoy had heard her. He was standing behind the tree, listening to every word that was said about him. He crossed his arms over his chest and felt something he had never felt before. Ashamed. He felt ashamed of how he had treated Hermione through the past years and now. "What if there really is a side to Draco Malfoy that we don't know about? He really could be a completely different person!" Those words echoed through his head and his feeling deepened as he walked away, thinking, 'What the hell is wrong with me? I feel ashamed! Malfoys don't feel ashamed!!'
"Um, Harry, Ron, I really am feeling a bit tired, so is it ok if I just go ahead and leave?" Hermione asked, fighting back another yawn.
"Yeah, its okay," Ron said.
"Thanks," Hermione gave each of them a hug. "I'll see you l-l-later," her yawn escaped. She got up and started to walk back to the castle. She was surprised to see Malfoy ahead of her, shaking his head.
-ooooooo-
Hermione woke early the next day, Sunday, and went down to the Common Room, where she thought she'd be alone to touch up her homework. But she wasn't alone. Malfoy was down there as well, apparently doing the same thing.
She set her books down on the table and got to work. Malfoy kept his head bent to his work but lifted his eyes to look at Hermione. She was looking at him and he dropped his gaze back to his work. 'What is wrong with me? It's just Granger,' he thought.
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked, setting her quill down beside her parchment.
"What do you want?" He replied, still not meeting her eye.
"I- I just wanted to thank you for- for catching me when I fell off the broom. . . at Ron's house. . ."
Malfoy stopped writing and looked at her. They caught each others eye, and, for a split second, Hermione's heart jumped. Her eyes widened as she realized what had just happened. She had thanked Malfoy. Malfoy. She had thanked him. And her heart fluttered slightly when he looked at her. 'What is going on?' she asked herself. 'Since when did my heart do that?' The guilt inside Malfoy was building up, but he just pushed it away. "I- It's okay. . ." he replied. The guilt came back, stronger than ever. 'Aw, fuck it,' he thought. He set down his quill.
"Granger, I. . . I- I'm s-sorry about what I said to you at Weasel's house during the Quidditch." He looked down at his hands. He couldn't believe he was doing this. "And, about our first night here." Hermione stared at him. It was one thing for her to thank him, but for Malfoy to apologize?!
"Malfoy, are you felling okay?" She asked.
"I'm fine!" He stood up. "Look, this isn't easy for me, okay? I am not supposed to fell guilty or- or ashamed. Malfoy's do not feel that. But now I do. And I don't know why either, but whenever I see you, the guilt builds up and all the past years of tormenting you come back to haunt me. I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. You know what?" Malfoy laughed lightly. "Malfoys aren't supposed to apologize, either." He paused. "But I am."
Hermione stood, gathered, gathered her books and said while walking past him, "Maybe you do have a heart after all." She turned her head and gave him a small smile.
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A/N: HEY!!! How'd you like that?? Poor Draco......Sigh he is sooooooo unbelievably hott!!! Oh! And my friend, Ariel, (her ID is mermaidQt) has a story too! Its called "Don't touch what you can't have" its really good. But don't forget about me when you read it!!! I still need love and reviewers too! LoL. It'll be awhile before I can post chapter 6 cuz my chapter 7 is still under construction and I want to complete 7 and part of 8 before I post 6.
Dracoluver-13
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Chapter 5: An Apology. . . From Malfoy
Hermione awoke with a start that Saturday morning in mid-October. She had that dream again. 'Maybe I should tell Professor Dumbledore.' She picked out her uniform from her wardrobe and hopped in the shower. She let the warm water rinse the sweat from her body. Then she closed her eyes and tried to remember the dream while washing her hair and body. "There's a girl crying. . ." She paused and tried to identify the face of the girl. She recognized the brown hair, brown eyes, and light freckles. "That's me! But why on earth am I crying?" Hermione opened her eyes and turned the water off. Climbing out and wrapping a maroon towel around herself, she continued, "There was also a fading white light. It was bright at first, then it faded away." She got dressed and continued on. "And a person yelling. It's a guy, but I can't think of who--"
"Talking to yourself? First sign of ending up in St. Mungo's," Malfoy said from the doorway. She'd been so busy talking, she didn't hear him come in.
"Shut up," Hermione said and left.
She arrived in the Great Hall 10 minutes later and sat down at the Gryffindor table by her best friends.
"'Morning, Hermione," Ron said, helping himself to a waffle, muffin, bagel, and toast. Hermione stared at his heaping plate and was wondering how he could eat all that, when Harry caught her gaze and laughed.
"What??" asked Ron defensively.
"Nothing," Hermione replied, buttering a piece of toast. "So," she began. "What are you guys doing today? Oh, and since its Saturday, have you two finished your Herbology essay?" She bit into her toast.
"What are you, my mother?" Ron asked.
Hermione made a face and turned to Harry. "I was thinking that maybe all three of us could have a picnic for lunch out by the Old Tree and lake."
"Sure," said Harry. Hermione was about to take another bite of her toast when she felt a small stab of pain in the back of her head. She dropped the toast onto her plate and brought her hands to her head. She gasped and closed her eyes tightly.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Both Ron and Harry asked in unison.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm okay. It's just a headache. I've been getting them lately, but its just a headache. It's nothing." Hermione replied, slowly lowering her hands. But Ron and Harry still looked unconvinced.
"Guys, I'm okay. See? My headache's gone. I'll see you at lunch, I'll bring the food." She put on her best smile, got up, and left, knowing very well that her headache had not disappeared.
Harry looked at Ron. Ron shrugged and bit into his bagel.
-ooooooo-
Hermione saw Harry and Ron sitting by the Old Tree, talking. 'Probably about Quidditch or something,' Hermione thought, smiling to herself. She looked back to see if the basket of food was still floating behind her; it was. She continued walking and when she reached them, she grabbed the basket and waved her wand. Food, plates, and silverware flew out and settled themselves neatly upon the blanket Harry had brought.
"How is sharing a tower with Malfoy? Has he done anything?" Harry asked, filling up his plate.
"It's not that bad, actually. We did fight. . . once, a while ago. But we haven't talked to each other since. Mostly we just stay out of each other's way."
"I figured you two would be fighting day and night," said Ron, surprised.
"No, not really. It's kind of nice. But last night I was thinking about what I said on the train. Maybe there's a side to Malfoy we don't know." Hermione bit into her sandwich.
"Hermione, we told you! We know the real Draco Malfoy!" Ron exclaimed.
"No, seriously, Ron." She set her sandwich down. "What if there really is a side to Draco Malfoy that we don't know about? He really could be a completely different person!"
"Yeah, that's why you punched him in 3rd year," Ron snorted.
"Have you had to use a hex or anything on him?" Harry asked.
"Well, yes. I've transformed him into a ferret, like Professor Moody did, but that's it!" She stifled a yawn. "Then you know the real Mal--" Harry started but was interrupted by Ron.
"You made him into a ferret?? How'd you do that?? That was one of my favorite parts of 4th year. . ."
'I hope Malfoy doesn't find out what I said about him,' Hermione thought as Ron rambled on about Malfoy the Ferret. But little did she know, Malfoy had heard her. He was standing behind the tree, listening to every word that was said about him. He crossed his arms over his chest and felt something he had never felt before. Ashamed. He felt ashamed of how he had treated Hermione through the past years and now. "What if there really is a side to Draco Malfoy that we don't know about? He really could be a completely different person!" Those words echoed through his head and his feeling deepened as he walked away, thinking, 'What the hell is wrong with me? I feel ashamed! Malfoys don't feel ashamed!!'
"Um, Harry, Ron, I really am feeling a bit tired, so is it ok if I just go ahead and leave?" Hermione asked, fighting back another yawn.
"Yeah, its okay," Ron said.
"Thanks," Hermione gave each of them a hug. "I'll see you l-l-later," her yawn escaped. She got up and started to walk back to the castle. She was surprised to see Malfoy ahead of her, shaking his head.
-ooooooo-
Hermione woke early the next day, Sunday, and went down to the Common Room, where she thought she'd be alone to touch up her homework. But she wasn't alone. Malfoy was down there as well, apparently doing the same thing.
She set her books down on the table and got to work. Malfoy kept his head bent to his work but lifted his eyes to look at Hermione. She was looking at him and he dropped his gaze back to his work. 'What is wrong with me? It's just Granger,' he thought.
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked, setting her quill down beside her parchment.
"What do you want?" He replied, still not meeting her eye.
"I- I just wanted to thank you for- for catching me when I fell off the broom. . . at Ron's house. . ."
Malfoy stopped writing and looked at her. They caught each others eye, and, for a split second, Hermione's heart jumped. Her eyes widened as she realized what had just happened. She had thanked Malfoy. Malfoy. She had thanked him. And her heart fluttered slightly when he looked at her. 'What is going on?' she asked herself. 'Since when did my heart do that?' The guilt inside Malfoy was building up, but he just pushed it away. "I- It's okay. . ." he replied. The guilt came back, stronger than ever. 'Aw, fuck it,' he thought. He set down his quill.
"Granger, I. . . I- I'm s-sorry about what I said to you at Weasel's house during the Quidditch." He looked down at his hands. He couldn't believe he was doing this. "And, about our first night here." Hermione stared at him. It was one thing for her to thank him, but for Malfoy to apologize?!
"Malfoy, are you felling okay?" She asked.
"I'm fine!" He stood up. "Look, this isn't easy for me, okay? I am not supposed to fell guilty or- or ashamed. Malfoy's do not feel that. But now I do. And I don't know why either, but whenever I see you, the guilt builds up and all the past years of tormenting you come back to haunt me. I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. You know what?" Malfoy laughed lightly. "Malfoys aren't supposed to apologize, either." He paused. "But I am."
Hermione stood, gathered, gathered her books and said while walking past him, "Maybe you do have a heart after all." She turned her head and gave him a small smile.
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A/N: HEY!!! How'd you like that?? Poor Draco......Sigh he is sooooooo unbelievably hott!!! Oh! And my friend, Ariel, (her ID is mermaidQt) has a story too! Its called "Don't touch what you can't have" its really good. But don't forget about me when you read it!!! I still need love and reviewers too! LoL. It'll be awhile before I can post chapter 6 cuz my chapter 7 is still under construction and I want to complete 7 and part of 8 before I post 6.
Dracoluver-13