Saturday morning poured itself into Hermione's window. There had been no house elf to wake them, no knock at the door. Hermione looked at the clock on her table, it was after 9 in the morning. She got out of bed and made her way into the common room. All was quiet. Surely, Draco had not taken off to work with out her but there was no sound from his room either. Hermione looked around the room until she found a note from Professor Dumbledore that must have been delivered by one of the house elves.
Dearest Draco and Hermione,
Thank you both for all your help and hard work this week. Take the day off, I am. Feel free to go to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, if you wish. Most other students have their supplies by now, but as you have been here with me, you aught use this time for any shopping that you have left. But for safety reasons, please stay together. And please return to the grounds by 8 o'clock tonight. There is floo powder waiting in the Great Hall. If you need anything today, please let Doby know, he knows where to find me.
Have a lovely day, Professor DumbledoreHermione decided that Draco must still be asleep since nothing had woken him, so she slipped in the bathroom to take a long shower.
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Draco woke to the sound of running water and the familiar smell of lavender. He knew it was later than usual because his room was already filled with sunlight. He groggily stumbled into the common room and found Dumbledore's note. He smirked; this is going to be a fun day!
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A short time later, Hermione and Draco where dressed and ready to go. Draco threw a pinch of floo powder into the humongous fireplace, "Hogsmeade" he said, and away they went. The pair spent the morning picking up textbooks and robes. This was usually a dull task but they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
At lunch, Draco and Hermione settled into a quiet corner table at Three Broomsticks with some lunch and beerbutter. He was the first to speak, "So, have you enjoyed your week?"
"Yes, honestly, I have. I mean, I never knew how much fun could be had at Hogwart's. I guess maybe I should get out of the library a little more often. How about you?"
Madame Rosmerta came and refilled their glasses.
"Yeah, well, I have a great time too. I guess I should get my head out of my arse a little more often and have fun with the best girl at Hogwarts." At that, Hermione blushed. Draco continued, "Look, Hermione, I know that we haven't been on exactly great terms for the last six years. In fact, I have been a total prat you and your friends, but I have really enjoyed being with you this week, and I don't want that to stop when everyone gets here."
Hermione nearly choked on her beerbutter, "So what are you saying exactly, Draco?"
Draco meant to ask Hermione to be his girl, but for the first time in his life, his nerve faltered. "Oh nothing really," he stammered, "I just want us to still be ok when school begins."
Hermione exhaled, she hadn't even noticed that she was holding her breath until her lungs began to ache. "Oh, yeah, right of course. I wouldn't dream of going back." She looked away to hide the disappointment in her eyes. Who was she kidding to think that Draco Malfoy would ask her out? Sure, she had seen a whole other Draco Malfoy this week, but the cold hard fact was that he was still a Slytherin and she was still a mudblood. That would never change.
After lunch, Draco and Hermione went to Quality Quidditch Supplies to pick up a broom polishing kit for Draco and to Magical Menagerie to pick up some snacks for Hermione's cat, Crookshanks. They stopped by Zonko's and a few other shops. The conversation at lunch had temporarily dampened Hermione's spirits but she bounced back. She couldn't image if Draco knew that she had actually thought of asking him asking her out. Draco was still furious with himself. Honestly, when had a Malfoy ever been afraid, much less of asking a girl out? The last stop they made was to Honeyduke's. Hermione usually blew the rest of her spending money there, but Dumbledore had loaded them down with so many sweets over the last week that she could barely look at a Jelly Slug.
Hermione and Draco flooed back to Hogwart's a little after 7 o'clock. House elves met them in the Great Hall to gather their packages. Dinner was served on the table at the head of the tower. Hermione and Draco sat down at the table. They ate in silence, the first time they hadn't been talking all day. Draco mentally kicked himself, why couldn't he just spit it out. Hermione had been a bit distant ever since the conversation at lunch. Two things ran through Draco's mind, either Hermione knew what he was thinking and was disappointed that he didn't say it, or Hermione knew what he was thinking and was didn't want him to try to say it again. Either was bad news for Draco. That meant that she either didn't like him or that she thought he was weak. Good one Draco ol' pal, he thought.
Hermione was still a little hurt as they sat there in silence. The sudden quiet made her doubt Draco's sincerity earlier. Could he really be nice to her once his friends were back? Did he regret even saying that now? She wanted to get away and think.
"If you will excuse me," Hermione said, and rushed out of the Great Room.
"Well," Draco said, "Either way that can't be good"
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