After leaving Blaise, Draco went to check the library for Hermione. The library was empty, which was not surprising for a Friday afternoon. What was surprising was that Hermione was no where insight.
Draco looked out the window. Today was a surprisingly sunny day for the end of October. The lawn was full of students, either sitting together or playing games. In the distance, Draco spotted Hermione's hair peaking out from behind a tree towards the lake.
She was alone, reading a book of course. Knowing this was the one opportunity he had to talk to her without interruption, Draco headed outside.
As he breathed in the fresh air, Draco realized the only time he'd bee outside this school year and not in the library or working on his task was during quidditch practice. Draco walked up to where Hermione was and leaned against the tree.
"I like your hair better black than blonde." He said trying to get her attention.
She didn't even flinch up from what she was writing to acknowledge him.
"Who are you writing to?" Draco asked craning his neck to see.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" she said still not looking up.
"I wanted to apologize." He said, sitting down next to her.
"For kissing me? Or for running away?" she retorted, still writing.
Draco paused before answering truthfully, "for running away".
Hermione took and breath and looked up at him, then reached into her bag and pulled out his book "you left this."
"thanks" Draco said putting it into his backpack.
"I don't understand you Malfoy."
"Well the feeling is very mutual Granger, or whatever your name really is."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but a smile cracked through a little.
"I do want to get to know you better, Hermione."
"Well the feeling is very mutual, Draco" chills went down Draco's spine when he heard her say his name.
"So, what's the deal with the hair?" Draco said teasingly playing with her curls.
Hermione smacked his hand away, hen pointed towards the gate heading into Hogsmeade. "See those reporters?" Draco nodded as he spotted several reporters with their cameras looking through the gates "they're looking for me."
"Why?"
"cause I've been "missing" from the media" Hermione said "my brother-" she waved her letter in the air "got engaged at the beginning of summer and I used the attention just on them to escaped into the background."
"Smart"
"Well it was until the headlines read 'WHERE'S THE PRINCESS'?"
"Wait, seriously?"
Hermione went into her bag and pulled out a prophet from a few days ago "my brother sent this to me, along with a letter begging me to show my face."
Draco looked at the paper, it was a picture of her family without her and a big question mark- LAST TIME PRINCESS HERMIONE GRIMALDI OF MONACO WAS SEEN WAS AT A PARTY ON THE COAST AT THE END OF JUNE. "Hence your mother's comment about the hair?"
"Exactly. She thinks I'm not doing my duty by hiding. I'm surprised she hasn't sent me a howler."
"Well what does your dad say about this? He must have some idea of royal versus not royal life."
"He passed away when I was 10."
"Oh… I'm so sorry Hermione I didn't- "
"I know. It's not your fault. I think he'd have my back, but he was always the voice of reason for the family."
"well are you hiding from your duties?"
"I mean I've been hiding here for the past 7 years, and even outside I'm photographed on occasion in Monaco, but not crazy until this year. Probably because I just became of age, so not they have no respect."
"Does your brother understand?" Draco said gesturing towards the letter.
"He pretends to, but his life revolves around this kind of attention since he was born. Honestly this whole situation makes me not even want to go to Hogsmeade this weekend."
"No- don't let them stop your life."
"That's easy for you to say. The papers love you and your family."
"They didn't always." Draco retorted "trust me, come to Hogsmeade with me. We'll get drinks and hang out, plus they definitely won't know it's you all blonde."
"Fine" Hermione signed "but you're buying."
Hermione was nervous as she walked downstairs to meet Draco to head into Hogsmeade.
"You seem antsy" Luna said popping up next to her.
"a little bit yea" Hermione said forcing a smile.
"Meeting a special someone?" Luna questioned, making Hermione glared at her "Ginny told me."
"That rat" Hermione chuckled "I told her to come to the Three Broomsticks and hang out in case I needed assistance."
"Oh right. Ginny asked me to accompany her, but I had already promised Neville I'd go to the shops with him. Good Luck!" Luna said as she bounced off to meet Neville.
Hermione spotted Draco waiting with Blaise, Theo and Pansy. Her confidence dropped like a pit into her stomach
"Stop that" she whispered to herself "You're a smart, and gorgeous witch, not to mention a rich ass princess, you can talk to a boy with his very intimidating pure blood friends."
She let her hair out of its bun as she bounced over to Draco. "Hey Malfoy" she smirked then looked to his friends "Nott. Parkinson. Cousin."
Blaise gave her a wink and the tilt of his head, making her roll her eyes.
They started to walk towards town.
"So where are we going guys?" Pansy said, right at Draco and Hermione's heels.
"Well Granger and I are going to get drinks at the Three Broomsticks." Draco said throwing his arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"Right. Well then" Pansy tutted "Lets go Theo." She stalked off with Theo at her heels.
Blaise laughed heartily next to them "Merlin, you scared her off."
"Blaise." Draco said looking at him
"Oh, right I'll go."
"No, wait." Hermione said, receiving questioning looks from both boys.
Hermione stopped and turned around looking into the crowd walking towards Hogsmeade behind them. She spotted her red headed friend walking along side Harry and Ron "Ginny!"
Ginny looked up, and Hermione waved her toward them, to which Ginny quickened her step to join the group.
"Boys." Ginny said acknowledging Blaise and Draco.
"Come to the Three Broomsticks with us."
"Don't have to ask me twice if it involves a handsome man buying me a drink." Ginny said winking at Blaise.
"cheeky ginger minx you are" he grinned back.
As they approached the gate, Hermione spotted a few photographers waiting at the gate looking into the crowd of students "Fuck."
Draco pulled her closer to him "Don't worry they won't even look at you twice."
"Malfoy's right, not with those nasty locks" Blaise added, Hermione hitting him in the arm.
As they passed them, Hermione realized Draco was right. The photographers didn't even look at her as if she could be anything but a random Ravenclaw girl. One they saw Harry they got even more distracted. As the photographers began to yell things at the chosen one, Hermione felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
"Lucky to have someone just as famous as you are around here." Ginny said.
They were at the Three Broomsticks for a few hours, and all was going surprisingly well. Blaise and Ginny's banter was enough to keep them entertained. Hermione was also glad to get out from under Draco's microscope.
"Weasley, I wish you could've seen Longbottom's face when our potion exploded."
"Don't be mean to Neville!" Ginny said defensively.
"Not mean" Blaise said taking a sip of his butterbeer. "Very nice bloke but-"
"Entertaining to make flinch" Draco chimed.
"Like she said, mean mean mean" Hermione said.
A group of girls from their year walked into the bar. A few went over to sit with Harry and Ron, while Katie Bell and her friend, Leanna, came over to their table.
"Hey Gin" They rang in unison.
"Thank God you guys are here. Someone to distract my brother from shooting daggers through me and Hermione"
"Well what do you expect" Leanne said, "you're hanging with the enemy."
"Hey Leanne, you didn't say that when I was in your bed last week." Blaise winked, causing Leanne to roll her eyes.
"Less about Blaise, and more about you two sitting with Slytherin's seeker and king over here" Katie said gesturing toward Draco who just shrugged, taking a sip of his butterbeer.
"Offended he's your version of a king and not me, Bell."
The girls chuckled as they said their goodbye's "Don't forget to get your stuff for our costume, Ginny!"
"Costume?" Hermione questioned
"For the Halloween party next Friday" Ginny responded.
"I totally forgot that was next week."
"I think I'm going to have to dress as a king now that Malfoy's attempted to take my title away. What are you going as?" Blaise asked.
"The girls on the team are all going as the Holyhead Harpies."
As Blaise and Ginny chatted, Hermione looked at Draco, who seemed distracted.
"You okay?" she said touching his hand, making him flinch slightly.
"Yea yea" he forced a smile, "we should go together."
"to the Halloween party?"
"yea why not?" Draco said, finishing his beer.
"Sure, as long as it doesn't involve a couples costume."
"Merlin, no" He said standing up "I'll be right back."
Hermione turned towards Ginny and Blaise and was greeted with them both staring at her oddly. "What?"
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Blaise asked Ginny.
"If you're talking about two kids very smitten with each other than yes."
"We're not looking in the mirror, Weasley, be serious."
Ginny smacked Blaise upside the head "all I'm saying is you're cute together."
"We're not together" Hermione emphasized.
"Yet" Ginny said, "you need to wear something Hot Friday."
"Not really my style"
"You need to help her" Blaise said to Ginny, "trying to get my best friend laid here."
"Merlin" Hermione literally face palmed "I'm not a prost-"
"What are we talking about?" Draco said as he sat down.
"Nothing!" "You." "Sex." The three shouted over each other at the same time.
"I don't even want to know" Draco Laughed, "Speaking of sex, did you actually do it with Leanne?"
"Oh no, well not yet" Blaise said, "She's just so good to tease."
They all burst into laughter until they were cut off by a loud shriek from outside. Ginny and Hermione jumped into action and ran outside where they saw Katie Bell in the air at the end of the road. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Draco and Blaise exit the pub before she booked it down the road with Ginny. As she reached Katie, she collapsed to the ground.
Hermione, Ginny, Harry, and Ron carefully approached her before Leanne said, "Don't touch the necklace, I think it's dark magic."
Just as she said that, several teachers apparated in front of them.
"Everyone stay back." Dumbledore yelled as a crowd appeared behind them. "Severus, Pomfrey, take her to St. Mungo's. Leanne go with them."
"You for" McGonagall said pointing at the, "come with me."