Chapter Three

Muggle Blood

Hermione woke up tired and rubbed her eyes. It had been hard enough to sleep and she envied Ginny when she saw her get up fresh as a daisy.

The next time she saw her drink the dreamless potion she'd ask for some. The bad news was that, if taken often, it could become addictive and many people couldn't sleep without drinking it first. So Hermione preferred to endure the nightmares, but she needed to be rested to be able to perform during the day.

The three girls took turns showering and, once they were ready, they went down to the Great Hall together for breakfast. Neville and Seamus were already at the Gryffindor table so they sat down opposite them.

Hermione grabbed a piece of toast and smiled as Neville filled her cup with juice.

"How was your first night back at the castle?" Seamus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Normal. I slept well," Parvati commented.

"Me too," added Ginny, shrugging one of her shoulders.

Neville let out a long sigh.

"I still can't get any rest from the nightmares."

Hermione glanced at her friend and felt a small knot in her stomach at the sight of the dark circles under his eyes.

"Someday we'll be able to sleep like we used to... but it's all still so fresh in our minds. We need more time," she whispered, placing her hand on his.

He looked up in surprise.

"Is it the same for you?"

"Yes, and Harry, and Ron... We all have trouble sleeping."

Neville gave her a small smile and turned his attention back to his food.

"You've got the meeting now, don't you?" Ginny asked, glancing sideways at the huge clock hanging behind the teachers' table.

Hermione snorted.

"Yes... and I don't want to be a prefect again, but I couldn't say no when McGonagall gave me that look," she complained, wrinkling her nose.

Ginny, Neville and Parvati laughed quietly.

"We'll be fine, Hermione. Besides, it'll keep us distracted at night and it might help us sleep better," he commented, taking a bite of his apple.

He was right. Maybe the nightmares would leave them alone if they were tired after patrolling the castle and fell asleep quickly.

A spotted owl landed next to Ginny, stretching out its leg towards her. She untied the piece of parchment and the bird took flight again, flying through one of the windows of the Great Hall.

Seeing the smile on her face, Hermione knew who it was from.

"Charlie, right?" she asked in a low voice.

Ginny nodded, standing up.

"I'm going to the owlery to answer him. I'll see you later."

"I'll go with you," Parvati said, standing up and following her.

"I'm off, too. I want to practice for the quidditch tryouts," Seamus added, patting Neville's shoulder before getting to his feet.

Hermione looked at him and sighed. They were practically alone at the Gryffindor table.

"Shall we go now?" Neville asked, pursing his lips.

They both walked towards the front door and heard a familiar voice.

"Wait for me!"

Luna came up to them with her usual smile lighting up her face.

"Are you going to be a prefect too?" Hermione asked.

She nodded as the three of them walked down the corridors, answering questions from the first years who didn't know the castle yet.

"Who's going to be your partner?" Neville questioned in a curious voice, opening the door.

"Terry Boot. He's a good guy," commented Luna, giving him a smile before stepping through the doorway.

Hermione and Neville exchanged a glance before following in her footsteps. The small room that was used for prefects' meetings was already almost full.

She muttered a curse as she saw Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson sitting at one of the desks and whispering to each other.

"I knew they were going to repeat, too," Neville breathed, trying to make himself heard only by the two of them.

When all eight prefects were seated, Hannah Abbott stood up and cleared her throat to get their attention.

"I see that we're almost all the same year, and I think it will make it easier to understand each other," she looked around and, seeing them nod, continued. "If anyone wants to change partners for any reason, they can always make an agreement with another prefect," she added, her eyes fixed on the two Slytherins who were giving her a dark look.

When no one said anything against it, Hannah placed the tip of her wand on a piece of parchment and the eight names appeared on a weekly schedule.

"Here are this week's shifts. The parchment is enchanted to change only when necessary. If no one has any questions, the meeting is over," she glanced sideways at Zacharias and smiled, "It's a great day to be out of the castle and we should take advantage of the good weather."

They all nodded and she hung the parchment on one of the walls.

When Hermione and Neville came over to look, her worst nightmares were confirmed. She felt a knot in her stomach as she saw the name written below hers.

"Tonight you're with Malfoy, and I'm with Parkinson. Great," Neville clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"Do you think we're more excited about it than you are?"

They both turned to find Parkinson right behind them, her arms crossed and her expression annoyed.

Hermione looked up and saw those grey eyes on her again.

She hid the shiver that ran down her back by tucking a curl behind her ear and didn't look away.

If Malfoy wanted to intimidate her he would have to try harder.

"Nine o'clock at the foot of the astronomy tower?"

"If there's no remedy," he replied, shrugging and walking away from them with a grimace.

Neville grabbed her hand and, after doing the same with Luna's, the three of them left the room and went downstairs.

"It's the second day and I've already had enough," he grumbled angrily.

Luna chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Come on, Neville. You can put up with those Slytherins and a thousand more, don't be such a moaner."

The three of them walked out of the castle and saw that Hannah was right. The sky was clear and the sun was shining down on the grounds all the way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. In the distance, down the hill were dozens of students gathered around the lake to enjoy the morning without classes.

Hermione stopped.

"I'm going to get a book and I'll find you later."

Her two friends nodded and she walked back into the castle, up the stairs to the third floor.

She had been wanting to visit the library since she got on the train.

His footsteps echoed down the stone corridor. The castle was practically empty.

Draco loosened the knot in his tie slightly, gritting his teeth in anger. He thought he had it under control, but he had been wrong.

He needed to do it now. He couldn't wait any longer.

The night before he'd been on the verge of uncovering himself after grabbing the girl who bumped into him, who turned out to be Granger. It had been so close to everything going to shit because of her.

He walked on in silence, feeling the anxiety rising in his chest and the familiar feeling growing stronger. Turning a corner, he came upon a fifth-year girl walking down the corridor, all alone and with a small backpack on her back.

His lips curved into a crooked smile and he crept towards her.

He had a bit of luck at last.

Hermione was only a few feet away from the library doors when she heard a strange noise.

She looked around, checking that she was alone, and retraced her steps as she tried to find where the sound was coming from.

Suddenly, the door to one of the classrooms burst open. She gasped and hid behind the statue of a witch with her heart pounding.

Her body's reaction surprised her. She was scared and her hair stood on end.

She peeked out, careful not to be spotted, and saw Malfoy coming out of the door, pulling his robes on neatly and with one of his trademark smirks on his face. After running a hand through his hair, combing it back, he made his way silently towards the stairs, the sun's rays streaming in through the windows pulling glints from his platinum blond hair.

Hermione waited until his figure disappeared and emerged from her hiding place, walking to the threshold of that door, which was still open.

A Ravenclaw girl she only knew by sight sat on the floor, her back against the stone wall and her gaze lost in infinity.

Her blood ran cold. What had happened?

Hermione ran to her and put her hands on her shoulders, shaking her until she reacted.

"Are you all right? What's wrong?" she asked, watching her face with concern.

She looked up and blinked several times.

"I'm fine. I just felt like being alone for a while."

Hermione frowned. It hadn't been a minute since Malfoy had left that classroom and she had to have seen him.

"It's none of my business, but you weren't exactly alone."

"What?" asked the girl, accepting her hand and standing up.

Hermione caught her as she staggered.

"That you weren't alone. I saw Malfoy leave this classroom a moment ago."

"Malfoy?" she repeated, furrowing her brow in thought. She took a step back, shaking her head and slung a backpack over her shoulder. "I've been sitting here for over half an hour and I assure you, no one has come in but you," she added, staring at her as if she were mad.

Hermione pursed her lips but decided not to answer. If she wanted to lie and deny that she had been with Malfoy, it wasn't her problem.

"So you're all right then? He didn't do anything to you?"

She laughed nervously.

"I'm perfectly fine and I've been alone. I don't know why you don't believe me."

The two of them left the classroom and Hermione closed the door, huffing as the dark-haired girl walked off in the direction of the central corridor. She shook her head and went into the library in search of an interesting book to distract herself with.

She had no interest whatsoever in Malfoy's love life or who his lovers were, but this girl had seemed confused when she'd found her.

Besides... Weren't Malfoy and Parkinson supposed to be a couple?

At least she remembered seeing them together during her sixth year. Hermione didn't know about the year after that because she hadn't been in the castle and now it seemed like they were still a thing, or getting along with each other.

She didn't mind at all anyway, though she couldn't get the encounter with the Ravenclaw girl out of her head.

Hermione was so deep in thought that she walked back out of the castle without being aware of her own steps, heading down the hill towards the lake to look for her friends.

She recognised the almost blinding glow of Malfoy's hair. He was sitting in the shade of a tree with Parkinson, Nott, Zabini and other Slytherins around him.

Hermione snorted and continued on her way to the rocks where Luna, Ginny and Neville were. She knew in her gut that she wouldn't sleep until she knew what was going on... and she would find out sooner or later.

No one solved mysteries better than she did. If Malfoy was up to no good, he wouldn't get very far.

The girl's expressionless face was still etched in her memory. Had he taken advantage of her and then erased her memories?

That seemed pretty twisted, even for someone like him. Hermione had watched him strut around the castle for years, repeating his name and the importance of his family with dozens of girls from his house following him and laughing at his tasteless jokes.

If Hermione found out he was doing that she would use the Cruciatus curse on him herself, regardless of the consequences.

If he really was as remorseful as he admitted at his trial and in the letters he sent to both Harry and her a few days later, he shouldn't be trying to hurt anyone or use his influence again.

Hermione smiled at the thought that she was going to do just what Harry had done in sixth year... Spy on Malfoy to find out what he was doing.

She sat down next to Neville and her friend moved to the side, making more room for her on the huge rock. A few minutes later Parvati joined them and the five of them watched the reflection of the sun's rays on the surface of the lake, smiling as the giant squid broke it with one of its tentacles to catch the piece of toast that some second years had thrown to it.

Hermione opened the book in her lap, reading absently as the others chatted.

Any topic was good except the war and all the lives that had been lost fighting Voldemort and his followers.

When the sun was high in the sky they returned to the castle with the rest of the students, sitting down at their tables to enjoy lunch.

They spent the afternoon in the Gryffindor common room and Hermione took the opportunity to try and get some rest in one of the armchairs by the fireplace.

Ginny woke her when Fred had just died and she gasped, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her robes.

Bloody nightmares.

At dinner, Hermione barely ate. The first patrol with Malfoy was just a few minutes away and her stomach was in a knot.

Neville, Ginny and she were the last ones at the table. He had his head resting on his arms, his eyes closed and was breathing deeply while Ginny was staring up at the enchanted sky of the Great Hall with glassy eyes.

Hermione sighed and slipped an arm around her waist, resting her head on her shoulder. Ginny closed her eyes and smiled sadly, catching one of her friend's curls between her fingers.

"He wouldn't want to see you like this, Ginny. He'll always be with you even if you can't see him, don't forget that."

Ginny nodded, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. Fred's death haunted her and that was why she needed to take a potion every night.

Hermione still remembered her screams in the Burrow at night.

She wrapped her arms around her and left a kiss on her cheek, resting both hands on the table and standing up.

"I'll see you later. Try to get some rest."

She rounded the table and put her hands on Neville's shoulders, startling him. She and Ginny laughed at his frightened expression.

"Time for patrol with the Slytherins," Hermione whispered in his ear.

Neville grunted and rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up.

"The sooner we get there, the sooner we'll be done," he muttered, getting to his feet.

He slung an arm around Hermione's shoulders and the two of them walked together towards the door. Even though she didn't have Harry or Ron, she was glad Neville was there.

And he was taking very seriously the request Harry had made to him as he said goodbye to them on Platform 9 and 3/4.

Take care of Hermione for me.

Their paths diverged as they reached the stairs leading down to the dungeons. Neville had to go there with Parkinson.

Hermione squared her shoulders and craned her neck, mentally preparing herself to spend two hours with her particular bully as Neville disappeared into the darkness. She walked slowly to the foot of the astronomy tower and sighed when she saw that Malfoy was already there, leaning against the door.

He was wearing one of his black suits with the Slytherin crest on the lapel and was staring down at the nails of his left hand with a frown.

He looked up as he heard her footsteps and looked at her until she stopped a metre away.

Hermione clenched her fists.

"Shall we start with this tower?"

Malfoy nodded and moved away from the wall, walking a few steps behind her. They climbed the stairs without speaking, checking every nook and cranny of the gigantic tower to make sure it was empty. When they reached the top, the gigantic room was too dark so Hermione pulled out her wand.

"Lumos."

She walked around the room, opening the three doors to the Astronomy classrooms and peering inside.

Malfoy took slow steps to one of the windows and looked down, squaring his jaw.

"Bad memories?"

He turned sharply, narrowing his eyes as he met Hermione's cold gaze. Her arms were crossed and her chin was raised in defiance.

"You know very well that I had no choice."

His deep voice made her hair stand on end.

"That's an excuse. You always have a choice," she replied, turning her back on him and heading back toward the stairs.

She heard him curse under his breath and he hurried down the steps until he caught up with her, grabbing one of her arms and forcing her to stop.

"If you have something to say to me go ahead, Granger."

She looked down at the hand that was gripping her forearm and Malfoy released it as if he had been burned, taking a step back. Once she was free, Hermione looked him in the eye.

"You were wrong and you know it. I just hope you've learned from your mistakes."

He arched an eyebrow.

"I thought you wouldn't hate me anymore."

Hermione snorted, throwing her hands up in the air and waving them angrily.

"Do you really think one stupid apology is going to make me forget years of insults and humiliation?"

She continued down the stairs and he mimicked her, catching up with her again easily thanks to his long legs.

"Why did you come to my trial, Granger? Why did you defend me?"

Hermione pursed her lips.

"What you did under Voldemort's rule was because you feared for your life and the lives of your family. No one deserves to go to Azkaban for that," she muttered, avoiding his gaze. "What you did to me and many others over the years is another matter."

They stepped out into the corridor and turned right, heading for the trophy room. Malfoy sighed.

"If it wasn't for you and Potter I'd probably be behind bars."

Hermione bit her tongue. Was that gratitude?

All that cordiality just made her even more suspicious. Malfoy would not forgive or thank anyone, least of all someone like her.

"I hope I don't regret it," she replied, opening the door to the room.

"I won't insult you again if that's what you're worried about."

Hermione let him in first. She wanted him in her line of sight.

"Your insults no longer affect me, Malfoy. You'd better make the most of this second chance you've been given."

He nodded, drawing his wand.

"My parents' bullshit about blood purity is nonsense. Blood is the same in all of us, even Muggles."

He began to walk among the shelves full of prizes as Hermione tried to recover from what she had just heard.

Had Malfoy really said that?

Hermione shook her head and walked to the other end of the room. Between the two of them, they saw that it was empty except for a ghost staring at his own trophy that was over two centuries old.

They went back out into the main corridor and peered into all the classrooms on that floor, going up the stairs to the second floor and doing the same. Hermione closed the last door and turned to look at him.

"I think we're done for the day. We should go back to our common rooms."

She turned right, looking over her shoulder as she heard footsteps. Malfoy was following her.

"I'll walk with you, Granger."

"You don't have to. I can go by myself," Hermione protested when he caught up with her.

Malfoy ignored her and continued walking beside her, though she saw one corner of his lips curl upwards. They walked up the stairs until they reached the Fat Lady's portrait and he ran a hand through his hair, glancing sideways at her.

"Good night."

Hermione stood watching him as he made his way down the stairs, back to the dungeons.

"Malfoy!"

He stopped on one of the steps and looked over his shoulder, waiting for her to speak.

"When did you realise?"

"Realised what?"

"That everything your family has believed in for so many years is a big lie."

She heard him snort as he turned his body until he could face her. Malfoy ran his eyes over her face, scanning it for something.

"The day the Dark Lord gave me this," he whispered, his fingers circling his left forearm.

Hermione frowned and didn't move as he descended the stairs. One of her hands wrapped around her right forearm unconsciously, covering the scar Bellatrix had left the day she tortured her.

She had that word she had learnt thanks to Malfoy etched into her skin and would have it for the rest of her life.

Once his figure was gone Hermione walked through the hole and up the stairs to her dormitory.

Something in the back of her mind told her that this was not normal. Malfoy seemed genuinely sorry, but there was something else. He was hiding something and she wasn't going to stop until she knew what it was.

Draco relaxed his shoulders as he entered the Slytherin common room, sighing through his nose.

What he had told Granger was true. Besides, if word got out about what had happened he would no longer be considered a pureblood.

Both magical and Muggle blood was no different and no one knew that better than he did.

They all tasted the same.