Chapter Four: Friendship and a meal between worlds

Hermione woke the next morning feeling very confused. Why hadn't Draco told her of his fate? Ah, of course, he didn't know she was a werewolf. Or did he? He hadn't shown any surprise when he saw her. Or maybe he just didn't care. I wonder how long he's been a werewolf? Thought Hermione. She suddenly felt a wave of pity for Draco. He had been carrying this painful burden, unable to tell anyone. She looked over to the depression where Draco had been sleeping. He had already left for the castle by the time Hermione had woke up. Hermione strode over to the dent in the moss. it was still warm. She was happy to be back to normal, but the night in the shrieking shack complicated her already intricately tangled life. Hermione decided to catch up with Draco. She wasn't going to bring up the subjects on her mind. It seemed obvious he did not want to be bothered about the subject. One of the things that worried Hermione most was that look he had given her when he transformed. It was if he knew something about her that she didn't. She shivered. What did Draco know?

Draco was sitting in the common room. Now Hermione knew his secret. Now she knew part of why he wasn't such a mean guy this year. He expected she would be coming in to talk to him about last night. He sighed. Now she knew what it was like… The pain, the misery, the secrets. He knew now like he did in the great hall on the first day, that he had to reach out a hand of friendship to her. Just then she stepped into the portrait hole. She looked extremely pale and peaky. Draco knew the feeling.

"Here, come with me. We can eat breakfast in the common room." Said Draco in a voice slightly hoarse from the screams and howls of pain. Hermione looked shocked, then thoughtful.

"Yes lets. I don't exactly look healthy do I?"

"No," answered Draco truthfully. "Some food will help. Come on." Draco beckoned to her. She fallowed him to his room where he led her out onto a balcony. It was if the earth was torn between the worlds of night and day. The sun was coming up in a golden red glow, yet the moon and stars where up, sparkling brightly. There was a glass table set for two, probably by house elves. Hermione sat daintily down on a black silk cushioned chair. She jumped at every sound, wary of pranks and traps set up by Malfoy. Draco looking quite calm sat down and picked up a menu. Hermione followed his example. She ordered some waffles with strawberries. She looked up to see Draco staring confused and hungry looking at the same. Hermione looked at him and burst out laughing at his strange facial expression. Draco looked indignant, then confused again.

"What is THAT?" he asked incredulously.

"It's a waffle! Haven't you ever seen one before?"

"No, but it smells good."

" I have an idea. You order your favorite wizard dish and you can have the waffle and I'll have the wizard food." Suggested Hermione.

"Okay then…" said Draco looking at his menu then tapped on it and a strange dish appeared. It looked like a mix between crystal and jell-o! It reflected the light of the sun and the moon, casting a glow over the entire table. Draco smugly watched her look of wonder at the awe-inspiring dessert. The light reflecting off of the dessert sent a delicate glow over Hermione's face. Draco suddenly noticed that all those years behind the bushy brown hair Hermione had been hiding a finely featured face and large amber eyes. He was thankful that her hair had toned down a little. No longer was it frizzy or well, fro-ish. Draco wished someone in Slytherin was this pretty, he would go out with her in an instant! Draco slapped himself mentally, she was a Mudblood he couldn't like her! It wouldn't hurt to be friends with her though…as long as no one knew, of course… thought Draco. He focused on her face once more. She looked at him in amazement.

"What is it?" she asked in an awed voice.

"Crystalenta." Replied Draco, also eyeing the dessert hungrily. The waffle lay on Hermione's plate, forgotten. Hermione looked at the waffle and frowned.

"Well that's not a fair trade is it? I'll just order another one of these and get rid of this. Hermione muttered a charm and the waffle disappeared. She tapped her menu and another order of crystalenta appeared. It was letting off a wonderful scent that Hermione couldn't identify.

"How many times have you had it?" asked Hermione curiously.

"Only once," answered Draco truthfully. "Its really rare."

"Really, why?"

"It has to be made on a slate of ice floating in the middle of a stream or pond in the light of a full moon where a unicorn and a werewolf have drunk recently." said Draco glaring at the dessert as if it where mocking him in his misery. Hermione translated his venomous looks and said quietly,

Well, at least you're not the only one any more. I understand your pain now Draco." Draco stared at her in shocked silence. Then he sighed and said hesitantly.

"I think we should agree to be civil to each other for the rest of the year, it's hard accepting the fate of being werewolves. Its better to tell people then to hold it in. you're lucky you didn't spend your first moon alone." Hermione stared and then nodded her head determinedly. Draco grinned, his white teeth flashing in the moonlight. She knew that she would want someone to talk to on those long months of keeping secrets it would be nice to have someone to discus her misery with. Her and Draco ate their meal caught up in the beauty of the world and thoughts of the current events.