Chapter Two: ButterBeer
Hermione stared at the person who stood before her, why does he have to show up?
Um, girl, your the one who came out looking for the guy.
Shut up, that didn't mean I actually wanted to find him.
What? That makes absolutly no sense!
Shut up, I just wanted to...to...
"Umm, Granger?"
Hermione snapped back to reality, and realized that she had been staring into Malfoy's eyes the whole time. Malfoy had a smirk on his face, and a sly glint in his eyes.
"..." Hermione had lost her ability to speak again.
Draco eyes lost the glint and took on a confused look, "Granger?"
"..." Hermione still couldn't speak, and she still had her eyes locked on Malfoy's, why can't I take my eyes off his?
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Draco looked at Granger in confustion, okay, does not know how to speak or what? No, that can't be it, usually no one can shut her up. Wait, could it be because of what happened over her summer?
Draco noticed Granger was looking him straight in the eye, he looked straight back into hers, I don't know why, but I want to know if she's okay.
Really? a voice echoed through Draco's mind, his eye grew wide, but then shrank to their normal size, and he answer the voice.
Yes, Draco thought, I want to know if you're alright.
Why?
Because...Draco tried to answer the question he was asked, but he didn't know the answer, I don't know, I just do.
The voice remained silent, but Draco could feel that the nervousness that pulsed through it's owners viens.
So, Draco encouraged, are you okay?
Draco waited while the silent voice battle over whether or not to tell him, then, in the softest voice he had ever heard he heard it, no, I'm not okay.
What's wrong? Draco asked the voice in his mind.
My friend, my best friend, she...the voice trailed off.
Oh, somthing concerning the littleweaselette? Draco asked.
No, not Ginny, the voice corrected him, it was my best muggle friend.
Oh, Draco said, so, what happened?
There was another pause, then again in that soft voice, she...she...
It's okay, Draco said, he could tell she was about to cry, you don't have to tell me.
But, the voice said, "I want to."
Draco shook his head that last bit hadn't echoed through his head like the voice usally did. Draco looked down slightly, and jumped back, when the hell did she get that close to me?
"Wait, what did you say?" Draco asked, blinking at Hermione.
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Hermione walked forward, without really realizing it, and stopped whenthey wereonly inches apart,but, Hermione spoke to the voice in her head that had been speaking to her, "I want to."
She watched Draco shake his head, then he looked down at her, and jumped back.
"Wait, what did you say?" Draco asked her, blinking.
"I want to," Hermione said, why does my voice come back to talk to Malfoy about it, but no one, "I want to tell you."
"Umm," Draco said in surprise, "sure, okay, but maybe we should get off the street."
Hermione nodded, and she felt a hand wrap around hers, and lead her to the street, and around the corner, to a run down little pub.
Draco led her inside and to a empty table. Draco pulled out a chair,and Hermione sat down in it, then Draco walked around the table, and sat down in the chair opposite her, all the while keeping her hand within his.
"Okay," Drao said, looking at Hermione, "What would you like to tell me?"
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"My friend, her name is...was, Elizabeth Scots." Hermione started.
Draco nodded, and gestured for her to continue when the bar man walked up to them, "What'll it be?"
Draco glanced at Hermione, who looked away, so Draco said, "Two butterbeer, please."
Hermione glanced at Draco who held up a hand before she could say anything, and said, "My treat."
Hermione's eyes smiled at him, but her face seemed to be stuck in an expressionless state.
When the bar man walked away, Draco looked at Hermione and said, "Please, continue."
"Well, Elizabeth, over the summer," Hermione explained, but Draco hearddeeper then average breath, which he knew meant that she was about to cry, he gave a small squeeze to her hand that was still within his.
"It's okay, remember, you don't have to tell me,"
Hermione nodded, but continued, "She comitted suicide."
"Suicide? What's suicide?" Draco asked.
"It's when you kill yourself." Hermione explained, in a surprisingly strong voice.
Draco jumped to his feet, and slapped the table with both hands, after letting go of Hermione's hand, "What? That's insane! Who would do such a thing?"
Hermione looked at him, and he automatically sat back down, and said, "I'm sorry, but, that's kind of sad to think about, that your friend would actually choose that!"
Hermione looked down sadly, Draco felt a small pang in his chest, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Hermione said, as the bar man walked up to there table carrying two bottles of butter beer, and two glasses, he place them on the table, and ask Draco for the money who gave it to him and he walked away.
Hermioneand Draco, both,drank it straight from the bottle, the glasses lay forgotten, Hermione had cast aside all lady-like qulities for the time being. They drank silently, until Draco saw the door to the pub open, and scarface walked in, quietly, Draco tapped Hermione on the hand, and pointed at her friend, she looked and looked back at Draco.
"I just go, now," Draco said, glancing between Hermione and Harry, who hadn't noticed them, yet.
Draco looked at Hermione one last time, and saw that her eyes were full of sadness, guess she's going to miss me.
Draco smirked slightly,as he grabbed his butterbeer, and walked around the perimeter of the bar, to avoid Potter,and out the door.
Draco glanced at back, over his shoulder, at the pub as he walked away, and sipped his butterbeer. That is, until he crash into something hard, that was blocking his path.
Draco fell backwards onto the ground, he looked into the cold eyes of a monster.
"Did you enjoy your little talk with the Mudblood, boy!"
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"Hermione! There you are!" Harry exclaimed.
Hermione glanced at him, but didn't look at him fully, she was afraid that if she did, she'd start crying, again.
Harry leaned down and gave her a hug, which she returned, but it was only small.
"Come on, Hermione," Harry said, "We should go back to the Leaky Cauldron, your parents have been so worried."
Hermione shook her head, and pointed to her butterbeer, I don't want to waste it, Draco bought it for me.
Did you just hear yourself? You just called him Draco!
No, I didn't!
Yes, you did!
No!
Do I have to rewind this scene!
Okay, okay, I called him Draco, so what?
So what? It means your starting to like him!
No, I'm not, Hermione argued with herself, although she grinned while she did so.
"Hermione? Earth to Hermione!" A voice broke into Hermione's thoughts, "Come in, Hermione!"
Hermione glanced up at Harry, still not meeting his eye, and he said, "I said that you can drink it on the way."
Hermione nodded reluctantly, stood up, and followed Harry outside, and down the street to the Leaky Cauldron, thinking to herself, I'm so glad Malfoy showed up.
Just a few minutes ago, you were thinking 'why does he have to show up?', what is with you girl?
I changed my mind.
Umm, I'm your mind if you haven't figured that out yet!
No your an annoying little voice in the back of my mind!
Okay, that's it, you've gone crazy!
Well, considering what I've been through this summer, that's pretty good.
Whatever.
"Hermione?"
Hermione looked ahead to were Harry was, still not saying anything to him.
"I heard you made Head Girl, congrats," Harry said, giving an odd smile.
Hermione stared at him, I'm Head Girl, Malfoy is Head Boy, and y'know, for the first time since I opened that letter, Hermione thought to herself, that doesn't sound all that bad.
Hermione looked at Harry and slowly a small smile creep across her face, making Harry's odd one turn into a real one, "You're smiling! That's great, Hermione!"
Hermione ran up to Harry's side, and, together, they walked back to the Leaky Cauldron, and Hermione happily drunk her Butterbeer.