Chapter 5

Malfoy stormed furiously along the castle's corridors on his way down to the dungeons to give Snape Hermione's clothes, pushing people out of his way, but he looked so mad, nobody dared to complain.
He cursed himself for saying that Hermione had no reason to be embarrassed when her clothes went invisible, especially in front of Saint Potter! What on earth possessed him to say such a stupid thing? And out loud too?!!
There was only one thing for it, he would have to charm his mouth shut so that he couldn't talk.
He arrived at the door to Snape's dungeon, it was closed so he knocked and waited for a response from within.
None came, so he knocked again, this time a little louder, again, no answer.
Carefully, he pushed the door open and poked his head around and peered into the dimness.
He saw Snape hunched over something on his desk, Malfoy recognized it as a Pensieve. But why would Snape be using one of those right now?
Malfoy coughed. "Umm, Professor?"
Snape didn't move. "Come in Mr Malfoy." He said quietly.
Malfoy slipped into the dungeon. "I brought Granger's clothes, like you asked."
"Thank you, Mr Malfoy." Snape said turning and taking the invisible bundle from Malfoy.
Malfoy was looking curiously at the Pensieve. Snape saw this and surveyed the boy before him thoughtfully.
"You are wondering what I put in there." Snape said as-a-matter-of-factly.
Malfoy's grey eyes snapped up to Snape. "Yes." He admitted.
They stared at one another for a moment before Snape spoke again.
"I had to put a memory of Miss Granger without garments in there. I didn't think it was appropriate for the memory to remain in my mind. I would rather forget about it." Snape explained.
Malfoy nodded. "That's understandable."
Snape cocked an eyebrow then turned and looked at the Pensieve. "Would you like to be relieved of the memory too?" He offered, gesturing at the Pensieve.
Malfoy thought for a moment before answering. "No, that's alright. A simple memory charm will suffice, I think." He didn't like the idea of his memories swimming around in the pensieve for anyone to see!
Snape nodded. "Very well."

"I don't think I'll ever be able to look anyone in Potions in the face again!" Hermione moaned, turning red at the mere memory.
Harry patted her hand comfortingly while Ron stroked her hair.
"They all laughed, didn't they?" she asked.
"Who?" Ron asked.
"The whole class" she replied. "I heard them."
"Well, the Slytherin's laughed, but that's to be expected!" Ron told her with a shrug. "The Griffindor's didn't laugh at you at all. We were all trying to get our robes off to cover you, but Snape got there first!"
Realization hit Hermione hard, she began to tremble and stared wide eyed at the fire. She reminded Harry of a dear caught in headlights.
"Hermione, are you alright?" Harry asked, concerned.
"I've just remembered." She whispered in horror. "Snape saw me!" she turned to Harry "Snape saw me with no clothes on!" and with that said, she burst into tears.
"Mione, he's the potions master, I'm sure he's seen that and more before you!" Said Ron, trying to console his friend.
Just then, the portrait door opened and Professor McGonnagall stepped into the room. She rushed over to Hermione. "Oh Miss Granger, I just heard about the incident in Potions. Are you alright dear?"
Hermione looked up at her favorite professor with red puffy eyes. "Professor Snape saw me naked!" she wailed, and promptly threw herself across Harry's lap sobbing.
Harry looked at Professor McGonnagall, his green eyes pleading for help.
Professor McGonnagall sat down, Ron sqeezed himself to the side of the sofa to make room for her.
"There there, Miss Granger." She said soothingly, patting Hermione on the back. "Professor Snape informed Professor Dumbledore and I about exactly what happened while Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy were escorting you up here. We have agreed that you should take the rest of the day off, to recover from the shock."
Hermione looked up at her. "Thank you, Professor." She sniffed.
Harry handed her his hankerchief and she blew her nose.
"But what about Professor Snape? I won't be able to face him or the rest of the class ever again!" Hermione wailed, beginning to cry again.
"Now now, Miss Granger, you are not to worry about that." Professor McGonnagall hushed. "Professor Snape put the memory of it out of his head and into a pensieve, and as for the rest of the class, well, Dumbledore will take care of their memories too. Nobody will remember any of it, I promise you that."
This seemed to comfort Hermione and her crying subsided. She sat up and blew her nose again. "Thank you Professor," she sniffled and threw herself over Harry to hug Professor McGonnagall, who was surprised at first, but gave Hermione a quick hug back.
Then, McGonnagall stood up and looked at Harry and Ron. "You can stay with her if you like, she'll need all the support she can get. Build up her confidence again." She offered.
Harry and Ron nodded. "Okay Professor." They said in unison.
With that, McGonnagall swept out of the room and Harry and Ron set about rebuilding Hermione's confidence again.
Several hours later, they were getting hungry. Hermione refused to leave the common room, afraid that Dumbledore hadn't gotten around to doing whatever he was going to do to erase her classmate's memories of the unpleasant event, so they hadn't been down to the Great Hall for lunch or dinner. Harry and Ron didn't complain, however, they were more concerned about destressing Hermione.
They were sitting by the fire and Harry was reading to Hermione from one of her favorite books, while Ron rubbed her shoulders. She was feeling pampered and a lot less stressed about the whole thing. She dearly loved her two best friends and was feeling bad that they hadn't gotten to eat all day.
Suddenly, they heard the fat lady talking to someone. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you in!" she insisted.
"Come on!!!" came an exasperated voice. "I gave you the stupid password!"
"Yes," she agreed "But you are not of this house! I can't just let you waltz in there without being invited by a Griffindor!"
"Aarrrgh!" the angry voice growled "I'm a prefect you stupid hodgepodge of ancient oil!!"
Ron and Harry recognized the voice and Ron got up to investigate.
He opened the portrait and stuck his head out. Moments later, he was letting a very frustrated Draco Malfoy into the Griffindor common room.
Ron beamed at Harry and Hermione. "He's brought food!" He said happily, pointing at the huge tray that Malfoy was levitating using his wand. The tray carried four plates of chicken, potatoes, vegetables, and four other plates of chocolate cake, along with a flagon of pumpkin juice and four goblets.
Harry and Hermione looked at Malfoy, shocked.
"What?" Malfoy said defensively. "I thought you guys might be hungry, I didn't see you in the Great Hall at lunch or dinner!"
Harry stared at Malfoy. He had never expected this to come from Malfoy! What had gotten into him lately? Why was he being so nice all of a sudden. It didn't make any sense! "Thanks!" Harry finally managed to say.
"Are you joining us?" Hermione asked.
"If you don't mind." Malfoy said nodding. "I skipped dinner to get all this from the kitchens, I figured I would just eat here."
Harry looked at Ron, who was drooling at the food, but tore his eyes away for a minute to look at Harry. Ron nodded.
"No, we don't mind. Have a seat." Harry said, gesturing at an armchair by the fire.
Malfoy nodded and went and sat down.
Harry transfigured a pouf into a low dining table and Malfoy levitated the tray bearing food down onto the table.
Hermione stared at Malfoy, not quite believing what she was seeing. Malfoy was being nice to them, not to mention thoughtful and helpful. She couldn't understand it. Something had to be going on. She quickly looked away when Malfoy looked over at her.
Everyone loaded their plates and began to eat, except Hermione, who was looking from her
food to Malfoy and back again.
Malfoy noticed this, and part of him was offended. "I didn't poison it, y'know!" he stated, putting down his fork and picking up a chicken leg.
Hermione blushed. "I…I wasn't thinking that you had, Malfoy." She stammered. She timidly picked up her fork and speared a few carrots with it and ate them.
"Then what is it?" Malfoy asked, looking around at everyone.
Harry and Ron swallowed the mouthfuls of food they were eating and each took a gulp of pumpkin juice.
"I guess we're just a bit surprised at how nice you are being." Harry explained. "I mean, you spent five years tormenting and hating us, now all of a sudden, you are being nice to us. We're just shocked, that's all."
Malfoy looked uncomfortable for a moment. "Well, I figured that I might as well make an effort, after all, we have grown up a lot, it's time to be more mature about things." He finally said, staring at his plate.
Without warning, Hermione reached out her hand and touched his arm, causing him to jump with alarm. Nobody ever touched him! Well, except his mum!
"I'm Sorry!" She gasped pulling her hand away. "I just wanted to say that I appreciate you making the effort to be nice to us this year."
Malfoy stared at her, still recovering from the shock of being touched. After a few seconds, he relaxed a little and went back to pushing the carrots around on his plate. "You're welcome" he grunted. These Griffindor's were getting to him, and he hadn't banked on that happening. He had intended to win them over, gain their trust, but he hadn't expected to feel anything during the process. He had gone wrong somewhere, he just had to figure out where he had let his guard down.