All the Little Things

by aplacefarawayfromhere

Hermione has never resisted a challenge from Draco Malfoy. But when that challenge involves the betrayal of the heart for three people, will she play his game, or will he play into hers?

21. We're All Just Friends

Disclaimer:

Hermione: You can't make me go out for tea with him. He's my Professor!

Me: You two were fighting over the color yellow! I think this little fight was about more than just a color that doesn't even represent your house.

Snape: I'm not paying for her.

Hermione: I don't even want to go!

Me: Fine, don't.

Snape: Wooohoooooo!

Me: (looks around)

Hermione?

Snape: She left. At least she was smart enough to do that.

Well, Hermione left and Snape threatened to kill me, so I don't own anything. JKR allows them to have bigger paychecks anyways.

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Reviewer Shout Out: Once again, thank you to my reviewers. I will try my best to get them together...maybe. I'm just kidding. That's one of the predictable parts of the story. They will always end up together. And, excuse the errors. I didn't get a chance to edt much. I will try to rewrite some of the chapters once this story is done. Well, I have nothing else to say, so here's your long awaited chapter.

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I was friends with Draco Malfoy.

How weird does that sound?

We were friends, and he was acting like one. Well, he was acting like a Slytherin who remotely cared about you. I guess you could say they thought of you as a friend if they thought of you like that.

It was like we both forgot about that kissing in confusion thing. In fact, he's been discussing Pansy with me from time to time. I didn't know she was actually special to him.

I rapped my cloak tighter around my body.

I had just seen that green thing in the forest for a whole week now, and it's been driving me crazy. I already ruled out Voldemort's snake, since that green thing never seemed to move. Or maybe it was Voldemort's snake, and it was observing from a distance.

Crookshanks, who had been bundled in my cloak, was there with me in case something happened. I was hoping that he would go and get Harry just in case I died or something.

You get used to the jokes in the face of danger after a while.

Especially when you almost reach the destination. It was coming closer in a very slow pace. Walking through the left over snow was slowing me down, since it was still about a couple of feet deep. But, I got there nonetheless.

It definitely wasn't what I expected. It was just a vine. Since when had a vine been there? Well, Harry and I usually use the West entrance near Hagrid's hut instead of the North entrance. That was probably why I haven't noticed it.

And I wasn't about to touch it. There was no way I was about to touch it. In fact, it was a complete waste of time to come out and see it.

I rolled my eyes, turned around, and got hit in the stomach with a snowball. I immediately saw a robe with yellow trim laying in the snow. Justin had been stalking me for a week now that he's figured out that I'm "the one."

I looked at his robes in the snow and found the there was space left to fill his body.

He's such an idiot.

Like I wouldn't know that he used the camouflage charm we used last year. Well, we weren't supposed to learn about until this year, but we weren't in a very good situation last year. It was all because of a certain power hungry wizard of our generation that just had to kill people for Friday night entertainment.

I undid the charm, and he looked up at me surprised. I shook my head at him and kicked him on his side. Crookshanks hissed at him.

He yelped in a girlish manner.

I know it sounds cruel, you know, kicking something when they're down, but it's not like he was a puppy or something. And, he was stalking me, which was way worse. Stalking just spelled arrested all over it.

"What were you doing!?" I asked furious.

"I was doing what I call playful," he said trying to sound joyful.

"Well...don't," I said. Getting upset would make him try to hug me again.

I started walking away...and he followed me. "You know, you're going to have to talk to me somehow. Hufflepuffs are supposed to be determined too you know."

"Justin, just...let's just be friends first, okay?" I asked sweetly. Maybe this will get him off my back.

"Whatever you want, Hermione," he said putting his arm around me. "Friend."

I rolled my eyes and opened the doors to the castle. I started walking up the stairs to the workroom. I needed some chocolate. I hadn't paid any attention to that Valentine's Day present ever since last week. Plus, Draco and I need to brainstorm ideas for the 7th year gift to the school. And, Justin wasn't allowed into the workroom.

"You know, me and you walking like this could signal to people that we're in a relationship," he said in a matter-of-fact way.

Before I could answer, someone came up behind Justin and pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. I saw this as my chance and muttered the sticking charm. He would freak out or at least twenty minutes before he realized that his wand was still with him.

Meanwhile, Blaise was laughing hysterically. I smiled, and he put a finger over his lips to signify that we shouldn't talk. I nodded and we headed towards the workroom.

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"Is that really what he tried to pull on you? Even I never tried to get a girl like that," Blaise said laughing his way into the workroom.

"Well, I've never been stalked and proposed to that much in the same week, but I'll live. But, unfortunately, it doesn't make me feel appreciated," I said cocking my head to one side as if I was confused.

"Yes, I'm the only one with that power," Blaise said patting his chest in a "manly" way.

Draco was at his desk with what looked like a Herbology essay. "Hey Draco."

"Busy," he muttered.

He must be on a roll if he's not paying attention to me. I shook it off, got my chocolate box out of the big drawer in my desk, and went to sit by Blaise on my couch.

"I don't think diving in the snow would be the best thing for him, since you know, color tends to stand out," Blaise continued.

"He probably thought I wouldn't notice. But, there wasn't any place to dive besides...the snow," I reasoned.

"Oh, you're reasoning for him now," Blaise teased.

"Well," I started sheepishly. "I said that we should be friends."

"You what!" screamed Blaise. I could've sworn Draco gave a little snort to that one.

"Look, it was just to get him off my back," I said defensively. I heard another little snort.

Blaise stared at me in the eye with that sarcasm he always has. I challenged his stare back. After about a minute he said, "You do realize that you have to be nice to him now?"

I leaned back in a huff on the couch and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I know. That requires a lot of patience." I took a chocolate from the box.

"Maybe I should, like, guard you are something. Instead, this time, I could do the secret mission thing and... pull his cloak over while I'm levitating above him," Blaise said with childish enthusiasm.

"I don't think me...or Justin is worth the levitating. Plus, he's probably going to start watching his back for a day or so," I said logically.

"You're right, I should just stick him to the floor and burn his eyes or something," Blaise said looking at me innocently.

I smacked him playfully on the arm. "Blaise!"

"Only a suggestion, babe. The farthest I would go would probably be stealing his undergarments or making him look like a girl for a day without him knowing," Blaise said pretending to check his nails.

I looked at him for a second.

He looked up. "What?"

"How would you know if his undergarments were dirty or not?" I asked smiling.

He thought for a second. "You're right. Maybe I shouldn't steal yours for my own enjoyment then."

"Blaise you perve!"

This time he grabbed my hands. "The only time you get to touch me is when you do it for love."

I rolled my eyes and wrapped my arms around him.

He grabbed a chocolate. "Now that's better."

I pinched him on the side...hard.

"OOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! HERMIONE!"

I started laughing.

He then lunged and me and started tickling my sides. "You shouldn't have confessed where you were ticklish, babe."

"Blaise...haaaahhaaaaa.....stop...hahahahahahahahahaha....can't hehehehehehehee (gasp) breath!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

He stopped. "You didn't even have to give up this time. I'm nice like that."

"I never give up," I said eating another chocolate.

"Which is why you're my, dare I say it, favorite Gryffindor in the world," he said tousling my hair.

I smiled at him.

He cleared his throat. "I just found something out that might help you through something."

Why was he whispering? Oh yeah...Draco. "Sure, same place."

"Yeah. It's important," he whispered back.

"And you're telling me this now!" I whispered loudly.

"There was never a good time."

"Oh, ok," I said understanding. "So, got any plans today?"

"Well," he said whispering again. "I've noticed that there's a three hour gap every Sunday in Victoria's room. Madame Pomfrey usually doesn't check on her until seven, which is dinnertime. So I'm going to-."

"Visit her? You have fun...babe," I said smiling.

"Babe is my word, and thanks," he said grabbing another chocolate.

I looked at the clock and saw that it was two o'clock. "You have to leave. I promised Harry that we would do something today."

"Kicking me out so soon?"

"Yes."

Blaise pouted. "Fine. After dinner right?"

"Yeah," I said opening the stonewall for him.

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I found Harry heading towards the direction of Dumbledore's office. I found this weird since we haven't found anything out about anything at all. The only thing I was able to come up with are random facts, which I was ashamed of. Like Harry said, we usually have a pretty good idea about what's going to happen around this time of year. This year was totally...random. We weren't doing a very good job with the whole war thing.

"Harry!" I yelled running to catch up.

"Hermione!" he yelled turning around. "Dumbledore wasn't planning on getting you here before speaking to me, but I guess you could come. It'd be a total waste of time trying to get you from the common room."

"Sure?" I said a little confused. "Why are we going to Dumbledore's office though?"

"I have no clue," Harry said arriving at the Headmasters gargoyle. "Cockroach Clusters."

The gargoyle opened.

"Then again, do we ever have a clue? Usually, we go up there thinking we're in trouble, but we never are, and I just jinxed it didn't I?"

I rolled my eyes. "Is Ron coming?"

Harry looked at me strangely. "He should already be up there. Snape found him somewhere and took Ron with him."

I nodded, trying not to lose my smile. "I wonder if we'll come to any use this time. You would think the-."

"Don't talk anymore," Harry shushed. "Someone is always going to eavesdrop."

"How would they find a way into Dumbledore's office without alerting us?" I asked. Harry looked at me, and I blushed. "Oh yeah. Anything is possible. I'm just thinking about what he's going to talk to us about."

Harry nodded and knocked on the door. It magically opened to let us in. I found Ron sitting in the chair on the right, so I decided the one on the left was good for me. Harry can take the one in the middle.

"Good afternoon students," greeted Dumbledore somewhat less cheerfully. "I'm sure you've guessed about what this is about."

We all nodded in unison.

Snape cut in. "The Order is working on spying, and the Aurors are working on battle tactics. A small group is trying to find that blasted man, Fudge. And, we know that the Golden Trio has to be working on something."

Harry and I both looked at each other. Like I said before, we only researched random facts about every location possible. Nevertheless, we did a hell of a lot of researching.

The silence went on for a couple of seconds before Harry nudged me to fill them in. "Well, Professors, we've researched a lot about everything. So-."

"Tell me, Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore interrupted. "Excuse for interrupting, but I was wondering about what you've been researching for more than just a couple fo months."

"Goblins."

"Goblins?" Snape asked raising an inquisitive eyebrow.

I stared at him challengingly. It was better than glaring, which would get me in trouble. "Yes, Goblins. They used to have tunnels around Hogsmeade that lead to who knows where. All I know is that a night seeing, non-human creature can find the tunnels."

"Well, I think we might have solved the riddle of where it is," said Dumbledore cheerfully again. "We know what the Death Eaters were looking for. Now, we just have to find it before them."

"I'll get to work," Snape informed leaving swiftly. He was a little more snappy than usual today.

Once he left, Dumbledore answered my question. "He went on a mission to the mansion that Voldemort is currently staying at. Apparently, there is a fireplace that is connected to the Floo Network."

I gave him the 'oh' expression.

"Professor, I'm sorry for saying this, but we're kind of in the dark," said Ron a little untactful. He always was a little too blunt.

"Actually, Mr. Weasley, what Miss Granger found out helped us greatly. Now we have an idea of where it's supposed to be. All we need to know now is what Voldemort wants," said Dumbledore with a smile.

I guess this is the part where we leave. "Thank you Professor."

"No, thank you Miss Granger," he said waving us off.

I nodded and turned around to open the door.

'So, the little piece of information you found wasn't really useless.'

'Harry, right?'

'Yeah. Since talking out loud would cause Ron to hear, I figured you would like it better if we talked like this.'

'He can still hear if he wants.'

'Well, if he wanted to hear, he would've done it already.'

'True.'

'Anyway, I guess the DA should know about this tidbit. I don't think there's any need for a meeting though.'

'Well, I could make little messages appear for them randomly. Like, I could make the information appear in their food or bed cover.'

'How will you manage that?'

'Just a small incantation. Sending the information by mail is kind of risky.'

'I kind of figured.'

'Well, I'll do that and then do my homework. There's that Tranfiguration essay due in two weeks.'

'Yeah right. Okay, bye Hermione.'

'Bye Harry.'

And then we both parted ways. The whole exchange seemed kind of strange to Ron. And by the looks of it, he didn't overhear. Now the only thing left for me to do today is wait until after dinner for Blaise.

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"You're late," accused Blaise as I walked into the classroom we always meet in.

"I'm sorry if I don't have the ability to scarf down my food like some people," I said sarcastically. "And plus, I am never late."

"Fine. Well anyways, you need to read this letter that I got from daddy dearest yesterday," he said in a hateful tone while extending his hand to give me the letter.

"I'm assuming it's not good," I said grabbing his letter.

"You have no idea."

I opened the envelope it was in.

Blaise,

Yes, I haven't written you this year as of yet. I have been busy with business, as you can say. Of course, you haven't written me of happenings at Hogwarts either. I am sure that you've been taking your spying duty seriously. You know when your ceremony is supposed to take place. I am certain that you will be attending. Like I've said before, it will be a ceremony like no other.

Mr. Zambini

I looked at Blaise after I finished reading. "So being initiated is a bad thing?"

Blaise sighed. "To all the little kids who dreamed of being a Death Eater when they were five, yes."

"Wait," I said cutting him off. "Silencio. Okay, continue."

"Anyways. To me, it's hell considering that my own father wants to kill me," he said in that dangerous tone of his.

I looked at him wide eyed. "How do you know?"

"This ceremony will be none like the other. That's your first clue. Second, Draco hasn't made it obvious, but he's dropped clues that that will happen for the past few months. I know that it's true, because he's the only wizard attending Hogwarts allowed to attend some of the Death Eater meetings. He's the favorite, because he's a Malfoy after all. He's the purest pureblood of them all. And, Voldemort is trying to 'trim the fat' as you can say. I'm not a pureblood. I'm friends with you. So, theirs a slight chance that they would want me killed," he said talking in a fast agitated manner. "My own father."

This was the chance I was hoping for. I never wanted to fight against Blaise when the final battle started. "Join our side."

"What?"

"Join 'the light side,' as every one calls it. I'm sure no one would want to kill you on our side. Plus, you've got me," I said almost pleading. There is a slight chance that he would rather die on this one.

"Are you sure you can trust me, Hermione?" he asked unsure of himself.

"You've never betrayed me before, Blaise. And, let me have a chance to protect you. After all, you do know I love you like my very own brother," I said hugging him. I want him to say yes so bad. He's to good to go on a killing spree or follow orders from a beast who doesn't care about what happens to you in the process.

"Alright, I'll join your trio and make it a quartet," he said happily and letting me go. "Plus, it's either that or get tortured for nine days before I die."

"Blaise," I said slapping him lightly. "You do know what you have to do now right?"

"Can't you talk to Dumbledore for me?" he sighed.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll be there with you, but you have to be the one to talk."

"Fine," he said sighing again. Now, all Dumbledore needs to do is work out a plan for Blaise, and then he can be with me, on my side.

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After the meeting with Dumbledore, Blaise found out that he will get new sleeping quarters next month. It won't be safe in the Slytherin Common Room. One of the Slytherins might get the order to get him to his 'ceremony'.

We parted ways content...for now. I went towards the workroom, because it felt like I forgot something. I didn't do something today. And when I opened the stonewall, Draco was there writing furiously.

"Are you still on that Herbology Essay?" I asked almost absentmindedly.

"Actually, no. I was...brainstorming," he replied while putting his quill down.

"For what?"

"The thing you forgot today. The 7th year gift to the school. I was going to tell you before you left, but I didn't want you to keep Wonder Boy waiting," he said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes and summoned my chair over to his desk so I could sit across from him. "Well, I'm here now. So what have you brainstormed so far?"

He gave me the list. There were things like a new Hogwarts banner with all our names under our house symbol to a statue completely made of glass with something all our houses had in common to a sort of wizard audio yearbook with memories from all our seven years. I looked up at him. "These are really good."

"Well, that's the problem. Now I can't decide which one to do," he said a little frustrated.

"Well, I like the whole memory of all our seven years thing. But, it has to promote house unity, which seems to be the theme," I said looking it over again. "Plus, we should , definitely comedy."

"How are we supposed to do that?" he asked trying to think.

"Well, I'm sure the Weasley twins have something. They always seem to help out whenever I need something. Plus, I always get it free or for a very nice discount," I said thinking out loud. "I should send them a letter."

"Well, that certainly takes the load off of me," he said relaxing a bit in his chair.

I back to my desk, wrote the letter, and then settled on my couch to read. After that meeting with Dumbledore, I was determined to find out every piece of information I could on this whole Goblin thing.

"What are you reading," Draco asked casually.

"It's the book on Goblins I've been trying to read for ages," I replied while flipping to my booked marked page.

"Is it interesting?"

"Very."

I then started reading. Or at least, I tried.

"Since when did you get so interested?"

"I found some information on it while I was reading up on Hogsmeade. It interested me," I replied. He's quite the questionable one isn't he?

"You know, I find it sort of weird that you can talk to Blaise as freely as you can talk to Potter but not me," he said casually again.

Was that really how he was taking this conversation?

I turned to look at him. "It's not that, Draco. I'm just in the reading mood, that's all."

He had a smirk on his face. "I was just kidding, Hermione. You just seemed sort of distant. Anyways, it is true that our conversation doesn't flow like yours and Blaise's does."

"Well, our conversations do flow when we're arguing," I said putting my bookmark back inside the page. I had a feeling this was going to take a while.

"Well, yes. Actually, we haven't argued in a week, and we haven't talked much since then," he said thoughtfully.

"Well, it's better than us thinking up death threats for each other whenever we make eye contact," I said smirking to match his expression.

"That is true. But, since we do have a friendship, I was thinking that I can...umm...interview you," he said sort of unsure. Actually, he did it with all the confidence in the world, but I've learned to see past that.

I got up and returned to my previous position across him at his desk. "Go ahead. Ask away."

He took out a sheet of parchment.

"You wrote them down?!" I asked half incredulous, half amused.

He looked at me sort of hurt. "I had a feeling I would forget what questions to ask. So, lets start with favorite color."

"Well-."

And it continued on like that. He asked me things from my favorite food to what happened during my childhood. I think he has a pen magically taking notes. Or at least, I had a suspicion that that's what he was doing.

It finally ended on what kinds of pet do I like. Crookshanks jumped up on my desk as if to signify that he was the obvious answer.

"Smart cat you got there," he said staring at Crookshanks with his eyebrow quirked.

"He's also half kneazle," I said half correcting him. "Smartest thing I've encountered since...you."

He looked at me. "Flattery will get you anywhere, Hermione. What do you want? Money? Cause I got plenty of that."

I rolled my eyes. "I mean it, Draco. Can't you take a compliment?"

"Sure, I get them everyday," he said smirking arrogantly.

I rolled my eyes and summoned my book. I then got up to leave. As much as this conversation was mildly intriguing me, I wanted to go read. "Well, Draco, thanks for wanting to know about...me. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah," he said waving.

I waved back and headed towards the Head Girl room a little...elated. It's not everyday somebody sits down, prepares a list of questions (which actually took some thought), and wants to know about you like he did. This was way out of character for him. Well, being friends with me was out of character for him as well. I guess you could say I was surprisingly pleased...in a way.

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Chapter Explanation: Well, I was really busy these past two weeks, so I could only write a tidbit every other day or so. Well, about the vine thing, I know it was cliché, but it all goes along with the vine. Yes, it is really important in the story. As for other things, now that Draco cares about Hermione, he's supposed to be out of character. Well, anyways, just needed to make a few point before you review. No hostile intention though. Just review, criticize (nicely), and I hope you enjoyed reading.