Hermione awoke with a start. Draco had vanished.
"A dream." she whispered to herself.
She sat up and looked around. It was dark outside the windows. The only thing that allowed her to see the room around her was the soft glow of candles. The curtain at Draco's bedside was still drawn, blocking her full view of him, but she could see his silhouette sitting up.
Then as her senses began to wake with the rest of her body, she heard soft sounds coming from across the room. It sounded like gasps, almost like someone was having trouble breathing. Draco's silhouette didn't look like he was in convulsions trying to breath if something was wrong. The sounds were definitely coming from him. Those particular sounds came when someone had breathing problems or when they were.....
Hermione felt her own breath get caught in her throat for a moment when the thought struck her. Was he crying? She debated for a few seconds on whether to go over there or not. She quickly and quietly slipped out of bed and approached the curtain. She made her decision based on she felt some sympathy for him and she was just plain curious to see if Draco Malfoy, the stuck up, selfish, nightmare, with a heart of ice was actually crying.
Granger carefully peered around the curtain. Draco sat on the side of his bed, now dressed in a black T-shirt and pajama pants. His green Quidditch uniform lay folded in his lap, his hands gripping it tightly. He was breathing heavily, though the breaths seemed to waver slightly whenever he inhaled. It was then Hermione realized he was not crying. It was more like he was trying to prevent himself from doing so, and he was clinging on to the uniform as one would cling to a life preserver out on a raging sea.
"Draco?" Hermione whispered softly at the same time wondering why she even spoke.
Draco spun around. For a single second his eyes revealed a mixture of sorrow, frustration pain and confusion, but then anger replaced everything as he realized who she was.
"What do you want Mudblood!?" He practically screamed out half in anger, half just being startled.
"I just wanted to see if you were all right."
"Of course I'm not all right! I was attacked in my own house, and got my arm cut up and vandalized by some sick bastard, who probably wants me dead! No I'm not all right!" He looked at her angrily, but also frantic almost hysterical. " Why are you even here?! Why do you even care!? Why am I even talking to you?!"
Draco looked away from Hermione and back down to the floor, running the hand on his uninjured arm through his hair.
Hermione tried to keep herself from spitting out her usual retorts to him, it would only make the situation worse, he would comeback at her retorts with his arsenal of insults and attitude which she was too tired to deal with right now. Then again she was just dying to take the chance to make him feel as lousy as he always made her feel many times before.
"Well as for why you are talking to me, your guess is as good as mine. As for caring, I'm not really sure my self considering I think you finally got you deserved, after all the times you picked on, insulted and mistreated someone just because they are a mudblood, now it's your turn, how does it feel? Horrible isn't it?" Hermione spoke coldly, but calmly.
Draco glared at her, a mixture of rage and shock in his eyes. "Did you dare do this to me?!"
"No, for three reasons. One, I've been in the hospital ever since this morning regrowing the bones in my arm after coming into contact with a wayward spell. Two, how could I possibly get into Slytherin and three how could a little Mudblood like me take down the big and powerful Draco Malfoy?" Hermione mocked.
Draco opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again. He had no answer. The rage had fallen away from Draco's eyes, and was replaced just by frustration and the familiar sorrow Hermione had seen in his eyes before. He looked back down at the Quidditch uniform. Apparently her words had some effect on him, he looked....hurt.
Hermione felt a wave of guilt hit when she realized, she had sunk to Draco's level, of taking advantage of someone's troubles and making fun of them, even if he did deserve it.
"Look I'm sorry that was a low strike." Hermione spoke softly.
"I don't need your pity." Draco spat.
"It's not pity! It's an apology! Why do I even bother?!" Hermione huffed and began to walk back to her bed. "No wonder you're so sad! You don't accept any kindness from anyone who tries to give it when you need it!"
"Wait." Draco came out from behind the curtain as Hermione stopped upon hearing his voice and turned around to face him. "Apology accepted. Thank you. Goodnight Mu.........Granger."
Then he disappeared behind the curtain again.
Hermione stood there for a few seconds with a very shocked look on her face. Then a small smile crept across as she walked back to her bed for some much needed sleep.
Okay I know you're probably thinking, 'oh God not another Draco/Hermione fic.' Well, I can tell you it's not going to be an "I love you, I need you to be complete." It's more like, "thank you for trying being nice to me when I needed it and acted like I didn't." Either way the story is not about just that particular relationship. But if you are a fan of DM/HG go ahead and think of it that way.
Now you are probably thinking, "What's a nice guy like Orlando doing in Slytherin?" well you'll found out in the next chapter.
As far as the timing of the Quidditch games, I admit it, I messed up big time, I forgot they only played 16 times a year, when I wrote that I had a brain lapse and thought they played a bunch of games during a certain season like in other sports. Stupid, stupid me. I'll go back and rewrite that when I have the time.
Anyway thank you for all of the lovely reviews, and please keep them coming I live on reviews. That's how I know I'm doing something right. Thank you so much!
Till Next Time
Vega Sailor
P.S. (smacks self in the head) It's "Malfoy", not "Malfroy" (SMACK )(SMACK) See I need you guys to keep me going straight at 12am. (Which is generally when I get my inspiration burst.)