Chapter 2 – Going Home
During the train ride home, Draco and Hermione shared the Head Boy and Girl carriage, where they played Exploding Snap, ate Chocolate Frogs and talked. A year earlier, Hermione would have laughed if anyone told her she would be such good friends with Draco, but it was true. She was very good friends with him and, though she would never have admitted it, she was also a little attracted to him. She was not immune to his charm or his good looks, but she didn't think that he felt the same about her and so she continued being good friends with him. It suited her fine and she even forgot the crush she had had on him at the beginning. Now it was just a slight attraction and she could ignore it.
"What're you thinking about, Herms?" asked Draco, at a point when she had been just staring out of the window. "I'm thinking about Hogwarts – all our memories there, everything we've all been through," she replied, a little wistfully. "Hmmm...we've had a good time there," replied Draco, popping a Chocolate Frog into his mouth. "Yeah...Draco?" asked Hermione. "Mmmm?" he replied, examining a Bertie Bott's Bean. "Let's play a game," said Hermione. "It's kind of like a Muggle game called 'Truth', only in this we can only ask each other questions about Hogwarts." "Truth? What game is that?" asked Draco. "See, we both ask each other questions, about Hogwarts, in this case, and the other person has to answer completely truthfully," replied Hermione. "And we have to swear that whatever anyone says does not leave this carriage." "I don't know..." said Draco. "Why? Have you got some deep dark secrets you don't want me to know?" she teased. "I just might," he replied with a wink. "Oh come on! It'll be fun! It's a great way to pass the time," pleaded Hermione. "Oh...all right," said Draco reluctantly. "Great, so I'll go first," said Hermione. "What's your favourite memory at Hogwarts?" "Hmmm...let's see," he said. "It would have to be the time when I got an 'Outstanding' remark in Transfiguration; it was the first and last time. We held a celebration in our Common Room." Hermione laughed. "Your turn." "Hmmm...let me think," he said, scratching his head. "Have you ever done badly in a subject?" "Oh no! Don't ask me this!" she begged. "Hey, you don't have a choice! You have to answer!" replied Draco, looking pleased with himself. She sighed. "All right. If you must know, it was in the third year, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin had set us an obstacle course and I was doing fine, but I messed up at the end with the boggart. I only got 87%." Draco looked disappointed. "Are you sure that's the worst you've done in any subject?" "Yes, thank God!" replied Hermione. "Oh." "My turn!" she cried. "Which year was the best and why?"
So they went on, teasing each other and laughing. Finally, Draco asked, "Who's the boy you have or had the biggest crush on?" Hermione coloured. "No," she said simply. "Uh uh, Herms, there's no getting out of it!" teased Draco. She didn't reply for a while. "Well, I had a crush on Martin Feathers, who was in the seventh year when we were in the first. Luckily for me (now that I think of it), he graduated, so that was the end of it." "That doesn't sound like a big crush," said Draco, filled with suspicion. "Well, it was, so there!" snapped Hermione. "Okay, okay, there's no need to get all defensive!" said Draco, realizing he should drop the subject. "My turn now. The same question, except it's girl in your case," she said. Now it was Draco's turn to colour. "I...uh...er..." "Come on, come on, Draco! There's no getting out of it!" said Hermione, thoroughly enjoying herself. "I, uh, had a crush on this girl," he cleared his throat. "I've, er, forgotten her name. She graduated some years back. She had dark brown hair and brown eyes." Hermione looked suspicious. "How can you not remember her name?" "See, I never knew it to begin with. She was much older than me," he replied. Hermione still looked suspicious, but dropped the subject.
The rest of the journey passed uneventfully. There seemed to be an invisible barrier between them that had suddenly come up. They discussed neutral topics until they reached the London Station. As they were getting off the train, Draco helping Hermione with her stuff, he said, "Uh, Hermione?" "Yeah?" "Let's, er, meet up sometime. At Diagon Alley. How about Tuesday?" "Sounds good to me." "Great, at that coffee shop near the turn to Knockturn Alley?" he asked. "Sure, I'll come at about six," replied Hermione. "Good, see you then," he said. He squeezed her hand and left.
Hermione turned around to find Harry and Ron waving at her. "Hey, Herms, had a good journey back? Malfoy didn't give you any trouble, did he?" asked Ron. "No, Ron, he did not!" she replied. Ron looked disappointed. "Well, anyway..." "Listen, Hermione, we've decided to stay at Diagon Alley for a week or two," said Harry. "We, as in, Ron, Ginny, Neville and I. Would you like to come?" "Sure, but when?" asked Hermione. "Details by post," replied Ron. "All right," said Hermione. They all said their goodbyes and Hermione was finally able to leave with her parents after a half hour. Then she went home and collapsed on her bed.
A/N - Okay, people, this is probably my last chapter for a while. Next chapter comes at the beginning of July. In the mean time, PLEASE R & R! Thank you, Dranzer3431, for being the first reviewer.