My Heart Belongs to You
Chapter 8
By Serene Riddle
A/N: Standard disclaimer applies.
It was about a week after the return to Hogwarts that Hermione received a letter from Dumbledore, requesting her presence in his office. As soon as receiving the letter, Hermione wrote to Draco via the notebook, which had come in handy.
'Draco,
Dumbledore wants to see me. What now?'
She glanced across the Great Hall to see Draco reading her note and writing a reply. The answer appeared before her, written in his elegant script.
'Don't tell him. Tell him anything to keep him happy. As soon as you get back, let me know. It'll be okay, Mione.'
Hermione made her way to Professor Dumbledore's office, slowly. Looking up at the gargoyle guarding the doorway, she spoke the password given to her.
"Snicker doodle."
The gargoyle sprang to life and moved aside for her, bowing. Hermione nodded her head, and proceeded to climb the winding stairs. Knocking at the Headmaster's door, she felt her stomach drop.
"Come in." Professor Dumbledore called.
Hermione entered and stood quietly. Dumbledore looked up, his eyes twinkling as usual.
"Ah, Miss Granger! I see you received my letter. Please, sit." He said, indicating to a chair across from him. Hermione seated herself in the plush red chair before looking at him curiously.
"You had wished to speak with me, Professor?"
The elder wizard smiled. "Lemon drop?" He questioned. Hermione stifled a giggle. Dumbledore certainly loved muggle candies.
"No, thank you sir."
Dumbledore smiled and steepled his hands before him.
"Miss Granger, I've become aware of some interesting changes."
Hermione tensed a bit. Did he know?
"For starters, it seems you and Misters Potter and Weasely to not converse much anymore."
Hermione offered him a weak smile. "We've…drifted apart, sir. It seems they have found better things to do then to be with me."
"I see. Understandable. All friendships seem to do so. I'm also pleased to notice that you've mended ways with Mister Malfoy."
'When will he say it already?!' Hermione fretted. "It was hard, Professor, getting through that thick skull of his. But I managed, somehow."
Dumbledore chuckled appreciatively. "One more thing and you're free to go. I wanted to tell you that if you ever needed someone to speak to, you're more then welcome to come here. I have a feeling that things will become rather difficult in the near future."
"Thank you, Professor."
"You're quite welcome." Dumbledore glanced down at her wrist, smiling slightly. "That's a painful looking bruise you have there."
Hermione looked at her wrist, the one which held the dark mark. "This? I just hit it last night on the sink when I slipped. The girls in 3rd year can be so messy. Left water everywhere."
"I see. Well, do be careful, Miss Granger. I don't want one of my best students getting hurt now." Hermione smiled and headed for the door, pausing to incline her head. "Thank you professor."
Dumbledore inclined his head in return, and Hermione made her way back downstairs. His smile faded as he watched the young witch go. He had heard the stories from Severus, and felt sorry for Hermione and the young Malfoy. You shouldn't have to prove yourself to be loved.
Hermione entered potions a few minutes earlier then everyone else. Taking a seat at her normal work station, she waited for everyone to file in. She smiled as Draco winked at her, sitting down next to Crabbe and Goyle. Harry and Ron slid into their seats next to her, asking her what Dumbledore had wanted.
"It was nothing." Hermione shrugged. "Test grades, that's all. Apparently, I've improved even more." It was getting easier and easier to lie to them. Harry and Ron shared a grin and turned to face the front when Professor Snape stormed into the room.
"Today, you will all be making a healing drought for the temporary blind." Snape smirked as he listened to the Gryffindors groan. Taking out a parchment, he snickered to himself.
"I will be setting you in pairs. Crabbe and Padma, Weasely and Parkinson, Potter and Buelstrode, Granger and Malfoy….." The list went on to pair off the rest of the class. Snape flicked his wand at the board, the instructions appearing. "Get to work!" He snapped, going to his desk, his robes swirling around him. Hermione smirked and went to grab the ingredients, making her way to Draco.
"So…Mister Malfoy…It seems we have to civil once more.." She drawled loud enough for the class to hear.
Draco sneered, playing his part perfectly. Of course, he had years of training. "Like I want to be civil with a mud blood."
Hermione quirked an eyebrow. "Tough luck." She took her place next to him, as Snape rolled his eyes at the couple and barked. "Granger, Malfoy! I don't want to hear anymore of your conversation! Get to work!"
Hermione and Draco shared a grin. Carefully and quietly, they began to make the potion, conversing in whispers.
"Did Dumbledore say anything."
"No, he didn't mention anything about the DM. Just said I can come to him to talk anytime."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Weird old man."
"True." Hermione noticed Harry and Ron glancing over at them, to make sure she was okay, so she muttered out of the corner of her mouth. "Make a face, they're watching."
Draco almost laughed, but covered it up with a snort just in time. Hermione rolled her eyes, pretending to be completely disgusted at the fact she had to work with Draco. Harry gave her a smile and returned to his work.
"Time's up! Each one of you are to fill a vial, label it, and place it on my desk. Dismissed." Snape shot a glare at Neville, who gulped visibly. He had the tendency to mess up.
Hermione spooned an amount of the bluish liquid into her vial and looked to Draco. "Here goes nothing." She said softly, bringing it up to the desk. Snape eyed her for a moment, then nodded. Hermione let out a sigh of relief, going back to the desk to clean up.
Once out of the classroom, Harry and Ron caught up to her. "Why did that slimy git make us create such a potion? That's for advanced students!" Ron whined.
"In case you hadn't noticed, Ron, we ARE advanced students." Hermione stated.
Harry laughed at the two. Ron looked at her. "So, what was Malfoy saying to you? Anything we can pound him for?"
Hermione looked aghast. "Ronald Weasely! Do you really want to get expelled?! Besides, it was just the usual complaints about working with me."
"…Oh…Well, that's no fun."
Harry grinned. "Come on, McGonagall will give us a new head if we're late."
The trio hurried to class, Hermione coming up last. She kept a smile on her face, thinking about Draco. Only a couple more hours until lunch and study hall.
Transfigurations, for once, bored Hermione. Usually, she was extremely interested in the subject and asked all questions possible, but today, she just pretended to write notes and pay attention. A small tingle alerted her, and she looked down at her notebook.
'This is bloody boring…'
Hermione smiled slightly and wrote back. 'Aww…poor baby. And what would you rather be doing? Torturing first years?'
'Actually, I'd rather be with you.' Came the reply
Hermione blushed lightly, thankful that her hair hid her face. 'I'd rather be with you as well.'
'Meet me outside at lunch?'
'Where?'
'How about the Quidditch pitch? Normally, only Slytherins hang out there during lunch.'
'Works fine with me. I'll see you there.'
Transfigurations ended and Hermione hurried outside, too fast for Ron and Harry to notice her absence. They figured her to be in the library and shrugged it off, heading to the Great Hall for lunch.
As she made her way to the pitch, Hermione took notice of all the students mingling on the grounds. It was nice to see that the students were bonding together, instead of always causing havoc for the teachers. It was slightly amusing, however, to see Gryffindors mixing with Slytherins. She could have sworn she saw Ginny with Blaise over by the lake. Shrugging it off, she made her way into the stands, taking a seat. Hermione watched silently as Draco and a few of his teammates practiced on the field. Even though they were a ruthless team, they were elegant fliers. Hermione smiled at Draco's dive for the snitch. Holding up the golden ball, he smirked at his teammates.
"Practice over." He announced. "Let's get the balls back in the chest."
The few of them quickly cleaned up and walked off to the showers. Draco walked over to the stands and smiled. "Enjoy the show?"
"Very much. I believe you'll beat Harry this time." Hermione replied, with a smirk of her own.
Draco jumped into the stands and settled himself next to her. "I better. I've a got a great girl to win for."
"Oh really?" Hermione feigned not knowing. "And what do you get if you win?"
"Hmm.." Draco looked thoughtful. "An entire day in her presence without her sidekicks, and a couple kisses."
Hermione leaned over and kissed him on the lips softly. "There. That's your good luck kiss."
Draco grinned boyishly. "Now I'll win for sure."
"Good." Hermione said, getting up. "Now you, my love, need a shower." She stated, leading him to the Quidditch locker rooms. Draco grinned impishly. "You coming in with me?"
Hermione stopped and looked at him, mouth agape.
"Draco Malfoy! What would your father say?!"
Draco laughed. "Probably something along the lines of 'nice choice, now if you leave her, you die'."
Hermione shook her head, but couldn't suppress a grin. "You prat. Go shower. I'll meet you in the Astronomy Tower tonight."
Draco saluted her. "Yes mam!" He sauntered off. Hermione hurried to her next class before she was late. All through the afternoon, she kept a smirk on her face. She couldn't wait.
