The next day Hermione awoke with a pounding headache. Even so she refused to tell Madam Pomfrey as she did not want to risk missing a day of class. Luckily, Pomfrey gave her a few doses of her headache potion "just in case".
However, by the time lunch hit, Hermione was sitting at the table with her head in her hands. She flinched up at the sound of bags hitting the table. She looked up to see Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood sitting at the table across from her. She said hello, or so she thought, it was probably some sort of groan that exited her mouth.
"Well someone's in a good mood today" Ginny commented. "first Ron and Harry, not you too."
"just a headache" Hermione groaned.
"Late night?" Luna asked, "when I left the library last night, you and Malfoy had just left but you never came back to our room."
"shut up! You and Malfoy!" Ginny said way too loud causing heads to turn.
"No! no." Hermione lowered her voice "I was walking out of the library and slipped. I hit my head and started bleeding and Malfoy heard and got me to Pomfrey."
"Very Chivalrous of him" Luna commented.
"Ummm…. Yea, but then Harry and Ron saw him over my unconscious body and thought he attacked me. Everyone ended up freaking out and Harry and Ron got detention, and I have a headache and a healing gash in my head."
"This makes so much sense now." Ginny said, "So you and Malfoy didn't hook up!"
"No!" Hermione emphasized, blushing at the thought.
"I think she wants to" Luna chimed in.
Hermione's thoughts went back to Draco's body pinned against hers, making her blush even more at the thought of his chiseled body.
"Oh, she definitely does." Ginny agreed.
Hermione dropped her head back into her hands.
"You need toast." Luna stated.
"Yes, you need to be fed so you have the energy to cheer me on at the game tonight."
Hermione groaned at the thought of watching quidditch
Draco slapped Zabini over the head with his textbook as he sat down for lunch.
"What the bloody hell was that for?"
"That was for letting me oversleep for charms"
"Hey, thought my boy could use some goodnight sleep after he was out all night with Granger" Zabini winked, warranting another slap on the head.
"That was for not telling me everything you really knew about Granger!"
"Not too loud" Zabini whispered. "What did she tell you the truth in between rounds?"
"No! Merlin, no. In fact, maybe the complete opposite." Draco went on to tell Blaise exactly what had happened the previous night.
"Let me get this straight. She stalked you, you bashed her head in, almost got expelled or worse for attacking a fucking princess, you met the crowned princess, and then she covered for you?"
"Essentially." Draco's head fell in his hands. "I'm still trying to put this whole thing together though cause there's a lot of missing pieces in who in Merlin's name Hermione Granger actually is."
"I'll give you one, but when we're in a more private setting" Blaise said rolling his eyes towards the gaggling of 5th year girls sitting near them.
"Thank you. I still can't shake the feeling that she was actually following me last night."
"Maybe she was following you for a good shag in exchange for your essay"
This comment prompted another smack upside the head from Draco.
"Hey! You're going to concuss me!"
Draco laughed until he felt someone come far too close to him.
"Haven't you learned your lesson yet Malfoy?" Granger said whispering in his ear but loud enough for Blaise to hear. "You forgot this." She slid his Charms Essay in front of him.
"See you boys at the game" She stalked off, leaving both boys watching her exit.
"Damn" Blaise said, "That girl's talents are a waste in Ravenclaw."
After being force fed toast, Hermione began to bounce back during the rest of the day. That and taking another dose of Pomfrey's potion for her headache. Hermione flied into the stands with the rest of the school to see Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw for the opening quidditch game of the season.
Draco and Theo slid in next to her and Luna, with Blaise, Pansy in front of them.
"Cousin." Blaise said with a wink.
"Zabini" She grinned back. "Are you the bookie today?"
"I'm not going to comment, however if you were to slid me a sickle or two casually while saying who you believe will score the most points or catch the snitch today there might be a payout for ya"
"He's not a very sly bookie" Draco Murmured.
"He's conned me out of thousands of sickles at this point, starting from betting on which uncle would get the most drunk on family vacation."
"Well you were dumb to not bet on Uncle Biagio. The amount of fire whiskey the man could drink without drowning in the Lake was outstanding"
Hermione dug into her pockets, handing Blaise two sickles "Gryffindor will definitely score more, but it will be close. Harry will catch the snitch of course."
Draco huffed next to her "Of course you'd bet on Potter."
"I'm surprised Granger has any thoughts on sports. You know she's a book worm, keeping our Draco up studying all night." Pansy added.
"All I'm saying is Ravenclaw needs to watch out for the new Weasley. Ginny might be Gryffindors secret weapon this year." Hermione said, making Pansy roll her eyes.
"You might be right there, Granger." Theo said nodding up to Ginny Weasley around the quidditch field in warm up "Doesn't hurt that she's not horrible to look at- distraction for the boys up there."
"Maybe I'll see if I can put in a good word."
"She does have pretty glittery red hair" Luna added. "and I have seen her checking out Nott's butt when he walks by in the hall."
Nott started blushing immediately, which Hermione thought was endearing.
"Didn't know you liked quidditch at all." Draco said to Hermione
"I mean like is a strong word. My brother played a lot quidditch, so it was kind of forced on me to pay attention but flying still freaks me out."
Someone called her name, Hermione turned to wave hello, and Draco wondered what else he did not know about his partner.
Ginny did just as Hermione predicted. A mix of needing to move herself and adrenaline had her going to town on Ravenclaw, clearly angering Cho Chang- the captain of Ravenclaws team.
"Woo! Go Ginny!" Hermione and Luna cheered in unison as their friend scored again.
"Aren't you both supposed to be rooting for you own team?"
Hermione shrugged "my friend is kicking ass, and I live to see Cho squirm while I win money"
Draco laughed "Granger, you're too diabolical for Ravenclaw"
Suddenly the crowd erupting in cheers as Harry spotted the snitch and began to tail it. The whole stadium was on its feet- even the Slytherins- eagerly waiting to see if he would catch it as he bobbed and weaved between the poles surrounding the stadium. Draco and Hermione gripped hands as they watched in anticipation. Draco looked down at their hands but didn't dare to remove his. Looking at her face eager and excited, he knew this moment wouldn't last, but it was the first time he felt like a real teenager in a long time.
Harry caught the snitch, and Hermione released Draco's hand, putting both fists up in the air and screamed for her friend, before realizing it was slightly inappropriate to be rooting for her opposing team.
"Hope you're ready to pay up Zabini!"
Blaise grumbled and handed over the money due "I hate when you're right, Granger."
"So, you hate me 99.9% of the time. Noted. "Hermione chuckled.
"Are you guys coming to the post game shindig in the Gryffindor tower tonight?" Hermione asked Draco as they began to exit the stands.
"Possibly."
"Well if you do drinks are on Blaise" Hermione laughed waving her money in the air as she walked off with Luna.