Chapter 3: Hermione's New…Friend?
After a few hours, the members and friends seemed to slowly trickle out of 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry had long since vanished into his room, he was exhausted. It was very late and Hermione was left sitting in the kitchen sipping on a cup of hot tea. Her head still hurt, as did her body from all the bruises she sustained in the battle just barely under two weeks ago. She had changed into jeans and a warm, comfy, sweater. She picked up her tea mug and walked into the sitting room, sitting slowly down in one of the chairs and bringing her knees up to her chest. She didn't know how long she had sat there, but it seemed like hours. She just sat there and stared out the window, letting single hot tears slide down her face as she thought about those who they'd lost. Hermione was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't hear someone else walk into the room.
Draco walked quietly into the sitting room but stopped short when he saw Hermione sitting in the chair staring out the window. She seemed so serine and at peace, even though it appeared that she was crying softly. He didn't want to bother her, but for some reason he didn't seem to be able to will himself to leave, so he just stood there in the doorway watching her. It was completely dark in the room but for a couple lit candles. She looked almost like an angel in the dim candlelight. He couldn't believe that he'd never seen her this way before, she was absolutely breathtaking. He shook his head…What is wrong with you, Malfoy? This is GRANGER after all, the little insufferable know-it-all! She absolutely hates you, and yet you cant take your eyes off of her…DAMMIT Draco! Snap out of it! Draco thought to himself, still watching Hermione stare out the window. He coughed, trying to be quiet.
Hermione heard a distant cough and snapped out of her thoughts. She took a sip of her tea, which almost scalded her throat as it went down. She took in a deep breath and then she noticed someone watching her. She turned her head and there, in the doorway, was Draco. He actually looked human, not only human but attractive. He was wearing black pants and deep green sweater and his platinum blonde locks fell seductively into his eyes. She motioned for him to come in and sit down and then she went back to staring out the window, not noticing that of all places, he chose to sit down in the chair closest to her.
"Hermione," Draco said, quietly.
"Yes? What can I do for you Malfoy?" she answered, not breaking her gaze from the window.
"I-I- um I just wanted to tell you thank you, and I'm sorry. I know it doesn't put anything right, but I just wanted to tell you." Draco said, again very quietly.
A new round of silent tears began to run down Hermione's face. This was all just too much for her to handle anymore. So much danger, so much death. And now her mortal enemy, Draco Malfoy, was sitting there behind her, telling her that he was sorry. She lowered her head and let the tears flow down her face, steadily. Draco got up from his chair and went to kneel next to her. He slowly and gently wiped a tear from her face and took the hot mug from her hands before she spilled it on herself and got burned.
"I don't expect you to forgive me. I will understand if I'm far beyond redemption. I have done many, many unspeakable things in my sixteen years and I'm not proud of any of them but I believed him when he told me I could change, that I had a choice. That's why I'm here. I made the choice to be here. I hope that someday you'll understand." He stood and turned around to leave. He took a step but then heard a faint whisper from behind him and turned back around to look at her.
"Wait." Hermione whispered softly. "Please, don't go. Just stay here for awhile." She looked longingly up into his beautiful gray eyes, her honey eyes reddened and still full of tears. Draco knelt back down beside her, not really sure what she wanted him to do or say. He wasn't really sure of much right now, but he was definitely sure that the Hermione Granger that he saw before him at that moment was definitely not the same girl he'd known before. This wasn't the strong willed, independent witch he'd come to loathe over the past six years; no this was a terrified little girl who had to grow up much faster than she should have had to.
"Um, okay, I'll stay. What do you need me to do?" Draco asked her, unsteadily. As if on cue, he got his answer when she threw her arms around his neck and began sobbing deeply into his neck. He cautiously put his arms around her as well, holding her tightly, and stroking her hair. He just sat there, holding her, for what seemed like eternity. Finally he broke away from her and pulled her to her feet, not really sure of what he was doing or why, he pulled her slowly over to the couch in the sitting room. He sat down and pulled her down onto the couch next to him, bring her head back down onto his chest. She never refused, just simply followed him. Hermione laid her head down on his chest and wrapped her arms around his sides. She felt him slide an arm around her, almost protectively, and felt the other hand resume stroking her hair. After what seemed like forever, he noticed her sobs had stopped and realized that Hermione Granger was asleep on his chest. Not only was this a very odd thing for him, but he almost enjoyed it. He did not want to wake her so he simply took out his wand and conjured a blanket over them and closed his eyes, falling deeply asleep himself.
"What in the BLOODY HELL is going on, " Harry yelled, walking into his sitting room the next morning to find Draco and Hermione asleep in each others arms. "Hermione, what the hell has gotten in to you? Sleeping with a Death Eater? Have you gone completely fucking crazy?"
Hermione awoke, dazed. "Harry what are you yelling about? Why would I be sleeping with a Dea…", she glanced over and saw that she had in fact been fast asleep, laying on Draco Malfoy himself. She jumped off the couch and glared at the sleepy eyed Slytherin. "What the hell happened Malfoy? How did I end up SLEEPING with you!"
"Relax, Granger, nothing happened." Draco said, lazily lifting himself off the couch to face her. "You were crying and then you threw yourself around my neck. My legs began to give out so I moved us to the couch. You fell asleep on my chest and for some fucked up reason, I didn't have the heart to move you. Now if you don't mind, Potter, could you kindly get that thing out of my face." Draco pushed Harry's wand aside, which had been pointing at him.
"Are you sure you'll be alright alone with him for a few days Hermione? I don't have to go." Harry asked, concernedly, pulling Hermione aside. "I just don't trust him."
"Yes Harry, I think I can handle myself. Besides, after what happened last night, "Hermione replied, glancing over her shoulder at the blond boy who had just sat back down on the couch with a slight twinkle in her eye. "Maybe it will give me a chance to see a different side of the Slytherin Prince."
Harry eyed her suspiciously after the last comment. "A different side? Just how different of a side are you looking for?"
"OH! No, no, Harry, " She answered, seeing his suspicious face. "Not that side, I have no desire EVER to see that side."
"Well okay then, you know how to reach me or Ron if anything happens. I'll see you at the Burrow in 4 days alright? Take care of yourself and be safe, Hermione." Harry eyed Draco one last time before giving his friend a hug and walking out of the house. Hermione turned and looked at the figure on the couch. She couldn't believe that she had slept on him all night BY CHOICE no less. Perhaps he really was changing… She tried to remember exactly what happened the night before and then it came back to her, including the words he spoke to her.
"I don't expect you to forgive me. I will understand if I'm far beyond redemption. I have done many, many unspeakable things in my sixteen years and I'm not proud of any of them but I believed him when he told me I could change, that I had a choice. That's why I'm here. I made the choice to be here. I hope that someday you'll understand."
She smiled slightly. "You hungry Malfoy? Let get something to eat.." She said offering her hand to the Slytherin and helping him off the couch. They walked into the kitchen. "Shoot, Kreature isn't going to listen to me, I totally forgot to have Harry order him to before he left. Guess we're on our own for food. Luckily I've spent enough time at the Burrow….this should be easy."
Hermione took out her wand and thinking for a moment, she remembered the spells that Mrs. Weasley always used and set to work conjuring up a wonderful meal for the two of them. In no time at all, Hermione had made up some pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage and filled two pitchers, one with milk and one with orange juice. She also filled up a pot with some coffee, not really knowing what Draco would like. She levitated all the food and drinks onto the table for them. Draco just sat there, at a loss for words. She actually seemed to be pleased to be doing this. A small smile danced on his lips for a moment. Hermione sat down next to him and smiled.
"Well, don't just sit there and stare at it. Eat up!" She laughed, pouring herself a cup of coffee. The ate in silence for a few moments. Finally Draco couldn't take the silence anymore.
"Why are you being so nice to me now? Just a week ago you were ready to blast me off my feet rather than speak to me and now you're making us breakfast? What's up with you, Granger? " Draco asked, curious for her response.
"Well I guess everyone deserves a second chance, Malfoy, even a foul, loathsome, evil, little cockroach such as yourself." Hermione winked at him, remembering the time third year when she decked him right in the face. "And besides, if you are going to be going with us for however long this takes, we mind-as-well learn to get along or else we'll end up killing each other, right?"
Draco couldn't believe it, Hermione was actually talking to him about being friends. Who would have ever thought, especially after everything that he'd done to her and her friends, that she'd just welcome him in to the fold with open arms. It seemed like everyone was just full of surprises. This might not have been such a bad choice after all.