"Look, guys, just give him a chance, okay?" Hermione offered a peace treaty to Harry and Ron. "He's changed. He's no longer a jerk. He's one of the good guys now."
Hermione was getting frustrated. She and Draco were fast in becoming good friends. Much to everyone's surprise, they sat together for almost every lesson. Needless to say, Professor McGonagall was pleased that Hermione was able to befriend Draco. At least it showed that there was someone to aid Draco along the course of his studies at Hogwarts.
Maybe Ron and Harry were jealous, Hermione guessed. After all, she seldom had meals with them in the Great Hall. All her food was delivered to the Heads' room, along with Draco's. Hermione had wanted to spend more time with her new friend, and at the same time, discovering who he really was. Her efforts paid off.
Draco was an undeniably brilliant Potions student. When Snape was still a Hogwarts teacher, he had favoured Draco not only because of the Unbreakable Vow and friendship he had with Narcissa, but also because he saw Draco's potential in the subject. Even after Professor Slughorn became the new Potions teacher, he was able to cope with it. If there was any occasion where he did his potions horribly, it was just for the sake of enjoyment.
Once, after successfully concocting a Simple Truth potion (which was almost similar to the Veritaserum, but with a much weaker effect) with Draco, Hermione had asked him how he managed to do quite well in the fairly difficult subject. She had expected the answer, however. Seeing that he was quite close to Snape, it made perfect sense that Snape must have imparted some of his skills to Draco.
If he was friends with Ron and Harry, they wouldn't waste time in copying his work, Hermione thought wryly.
Ron remained silent, pondering over Hermione's words. Sure, Draco was exceptionally nice to them for the past few weeks, although it seemed to be forced. He stopped by to flash a smile, no longer called him Weasel (only on front of Hermione, anyway) and helped them out in Potions. But, could they really start trusting him now?
"I don't know, Hermione," Ron digressed. "You know, I really think Harry and I should discuss this."
"Fine, I'll wait," Hermione retorted, viciously flipping open the large heavy tome which was her Arithmancy textbook. "Tell me when you've gotten over your puerility."
Ron snorted as he got up grumpily. Harry followed him out of the study area in the library. Settling themselves on the staircases, they huddled together and discussed about Draco.
Draco signed off. He read the note once through before folding it. Gathering his books, he cut his eyes across the Great Hall, looking out for any familiar faces in Gryffindor. He caught sight of a small red-haired girl. Without haste, he ran after her.
"Weasley! Ginny Weasley! Wait up!" he called out.
Ginny paused, turning around. Her friends glanced at the advancing Draco quizzically. Not unlike them, Ginny was wondering what Draco wanted with her, "What do you want, Malfoy?"
He handed her the folded note. "Could you pass this to Hermione? Don't lose it, alright? Thanks."
Ginny nodded. Looking slightly embarrassed, Draco walked away, heading for the Heads' room. He felt awkward, asking a Weasley to do a favour for him. After all, he had been horrid to them, and used to consider them blood traitors.
He cast his feelings aside and thought of what he was going to say to Hermione. Draco beamed slightly. He hoped she would not be too taken aback by his words. He was tired of hiding his feelings away. Even when they were studying together in the Heads' Common Room, he ended up staring at her rather than listening to her explanation for the transfiguration of humans into animals.
"Hello, Malfoy," an all-too-familiar voice ended Draco's thoughts.
"Hello, Blaise," Draco replied, equally cool. "Anything I can help you with?"
Blaise stepped out of the shadows so he was standing directly in front of Draco, face to face. He gazed at his former friend steadily. Draco was not the least inundated. He held Blaise's gaze, lifting an eyebrow slightly, a small sign of his inarguable superiority over the student population.
"I have something to tell you," Blaise started seriously. "You know, we Slytherins have a problem in saying this word, but if I don't say it, I'm going to feel guilty. So you'd better hear me out."
Ginny skirted past her brother and Harry, who were acutely aware that they were hampering the stairway. She kicked Ron on purpose, much to his disdain.
"Oi! Are you blind?" Ron shouted. "That was on purpose, wasn't it? Wait till Mom hears about this."
"Well, if you had kept to the one side, I wouldn't have kicked you," she shot back. When she noticed Harry, she blushed, "Sorry, Harry. Didn't see you there. I was only scolding Ron, not you. Guess I'd better go."
Ron stared after her. "Did you see that?" he blurted out furiously. "She's so ridiculous! She scolds me for blocking the stairs, but she apologises to you? I know she's your girlfriend, but seriously, Harry. She's gone cuckoo!"
Luckily for Ron, Ginny was far enough not to hear his words. Her eyes scanned the study area, trying to find Hermione. She finally caught sight of her bushy-haired friend burying her face in a book.
"This is for you," Ginny announced, proudly handing the folded note Hermione. She sat down and whispered, "It's from Malfoy."
Upon hearing his name, Hermione slammed her book shut, frantically reaching out for the note. With trembling hands, she unfolded the note to read what Draco had written:
Could you meet me at the Heads' room now? There's something I want to tell – and give – you. It's a special surprise, I promise.
Your friend,
Draco Malfoy
"What did he write?" Ginny asked excitedly.
A small smile played on Hermione's lips. She simply handed the note to Ginny to read it. At 'special surprise', her eyebrows shot up. Ginny returned the note to Hermione, smiling slyly.
"What have you done to Malfoy and where have you hidden the old one?" Ginny teased. At Hermione's broader smile, she prodded, "I'm serious, Hermione. He sounded so…changed."
"Well, that's because he's changed," Hermione agreed. At her next words, she blushed, "You know, if you actually spend time to sit around and get to know him, you'd be surprised how sweet and nice he really can be. I mean, sure, he's more or less cynical, but still …"
Ginny gaped at Hermione in disbelief. This was the first time she ever heard Hermione positively commenting Draco. Seeing Hermione smiling and blushing, she sensed that there was more than meet the eye.
"Admit it now, Hermione," Ginny pressed on. "You like Malfoy. No girl in the right mind will talk about him like that."
"I – well, uh…" Hermione attempted to deny but failed miserably. "You could put it that way."
Ginny resisted the urge to shriek. Instead, she grabbed Hermione by the wrist and ran out of the study area. She took in amouthful of air to calm herself down.
"Your hair's in place, your clothes are neat," she scrutinised Hermione quickly before shoving her towards the stairs. "Now go and see him!"
Hermione flashed a shy smile at Ginny before she took off. Ron called out after her but Ginny silenced him.
"We still haven't decided if we'll accept Malfoy as our friend!" he protested.
"You can tell her that later," Ginny remarked absently. Deep down, she was brimming with excitement for Hermione. She wondered what was the surprise Draco had in store for her friend.
"Listen, Malfoy," Blaise continued. "I'm… well…I'm sorry. I mean, you're my friend but I denigrated you, called you a Death Eater, flashed the finger. I was irate, you know, after hearing what happened last year. I don't like Dumbledore, but I'd never kill him.not that you would, of course, but knowing that your Dad's a Death Eater…"
Blaise ended off weakly, "Well, if you want to punch my face, go ahead."
Draco persisted to keep a straight face. Blaise had apologised to him. It seemed so surreal. When Blaise had been completely mean to him, Draco had to admit that he felt a twinge of hurt. Crabbe and Goyle were just brainless if not, loyal, acolytes of his, but Blaise was one of those few human beings he actually regarded as a friend.
"Sure, I'll punch you," Draco grinned. "On the fist."
Blaise broke out into a wide grin. Whistling happily, the two boys connected their fists, reviving their spark of friendship. Draco was relieved that he had won back his friend's trust. They walked along the corridor, updating each other about their lives. The Slytherin Quidditch team had a new Seeker, a lean boy from the fourth year. Thanks to him, the Slytherin team had thrashed both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff with whopping two hundred plus – nil wins.
When Blaise told him that he was seeing a fifth-year Slytherin girl, Draco suddenly remembered his note, "Speaking of girls, if I don't make it to the Heads' room, I'll be late for my date!"
"Who's the lucky girl?" Blaise tried to fish for information. "It's not Pansy, isn't it?"
Draco shook his head in disgust. "Nah," he drawled. "But if I tell you who she is, you'd either not believe me or you wouldn't like her."
"That's for me to decide," Blaise commented, intrigued. "Who's the girl?"
Draco still refused to tell him. Instead, he said, "If she says yes, I'll tell you."