Chapter 4: The Meet Up

Draco was furious. How dare she think she could reach out to him, comfort him. No, not comfort, pity. Even being stripped of his Slytherin royalty, she was still inferior to him with he mudblood status.

He threw himself onto his bed. Trying to think the conversation through. Why was she being kind to him? It had to be a trick, right? He pulled up his sleeve, looking at his mark intently. Either way she wouldn't want to be friendly with him once she saw this. She would despise him. His thoughts were then interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Malfoy, I know I crossed the line... but if you ever do want to talk I'm here. We come from different places but i get what it feels like to be ostracized." He heard Granger sigh at the door. "Well you know where I am, have a good night."

He heard her start to walk away but before he could change his mind he hopped off the bed and opened the door. "Hey Granger, meet me tomorrow before Care for Magical Creatures. The hallway by the second floor girls room."

She nodded in acknowledgement as she turned to walk down the corridor. He knew not many people would interrupt them there, thanks to Moaning Myrtle.

He didn't understand why he felt the need to meet with her. He felt this weird pull toward her that intrigued and disgusted him. He always felt that pull toward her but he hid it under mocking and tormenting her. He needed to. Draco imagined what his father would have done if he befriended a mudblood and shuddered at the thought.

In then walked Theo looking confused. "Hey mate, do you know why that Granger girl was just in our corridor?"

"She was probably hanging out with Potter." Draco said, trying not to look guilty.

"Nah, he's dorming with Longbottom in the other wing."

"I don't know man, maybe she wanted to get a piece of Theodore Nott." He smirked, elbowing Theo.

"Yeah no thanks, I don't need any of that filth when i have Daphne Greengrass and her sister to chase." He said with a sly smile.

"Blimey i would be impressed if they even say 5 words to you."

"Fuck off Draco!" Theo exclaimed before giving Draco a friendly nudge. "Not all of us have Pansy riding our dick all the time." He winked and then climbed into his bed across from Draco's.

"Yeah well I'm getting tired of her anyway." Draco said while getting getting situated into his own bed.

That night he had the same scary dream. He is at Malfoy Manor alongside his aunt, father, mother, and Pettigrew. Granger is lying on the floor, blood dripping from her forearm where "mudblood" is carved into her skin.

"Kill her Draco! Kill her!" Shrieks Bellatrix

He then turns to look at his father. "You can do it boy, the Dark Lord believes in you."

This time though the nightmare changes. Suddenly their is silence and he looks around to see his family has disappeared, leaving only him and Granger.

"Draco" Hermione speaks with kind welcoming eyes as she sits up "Come here."

He walks over to her and sits in front of her. Confused as to what's going on.

"You saved me." She smiles as she leans over and gives him a kiss.

Draco is surprised but doesn't pull away. The kisses start to deepen as Hermione lays down, Draco climbing on top of her, his legs between hers. She pulls him in closer and wrapping her legs around his torso, letting out a purr as their bodies touch.

He then feels her tongue touching against his lips. He parts his mouth slightly, letting their tongues touch. He starts to grind his pelvis against hers. She moans into his mouth.

She then breaks from the kiss to say "Draco."

"Mmmm yes?" He asks

"Draco. Draco. Draco!"

Suddenly he opens his eyes to see Theo in his face. "Bloody hell mate, were gonna be late if you don't wake the fuck up."

"Erm, sorry I must've slept through my alarm."

"Judging by the tent your pitching i would say it was a good sleep." He winked as he walked out the door.

He laid there for a few moments trying to process the dream he had. Yes Granger was decent looking but he never looked at her like that.

The stiffness below his belly started to go away so he decided now was a good time to get up and get dressed before he was late.

Luckily Defense Against the Dark Arts was on the same floor as the hallway he was meeting Hermione at, but it did make him a little early.

He sat around for a few minutes, getting anxious and agitated she hadn't arrived yet. Maybe she was standing him up, a ploy to make him look pathetic.

He was about the leave when he heard a quiet "Hi" from behind him. He turned around to see Hermione staring at him

"The fuck Granger? I don't have all day to wait around for you."

"If you're going to be a git then I'll just leave." She started to turn away.

"Wait Granger." He pleaded, and then adjusted his tone. "Why the hell do you want to talk to me so bad?"

"Like I said, I can sympathize with what you're going through."

"I'm not going through anything. I'm fine." Draco said shortly.

"Come on Malfoy, I can see it in your eyes. When's the last time you slept a decent night?"

He looked away as he thought about the dream he had last night, and how well he slept "It doesn't matter."

"And have you been eating? I rarely see you in the dining hall."

"Who are you? My fucking mother?" He snapped, causing Hermione to flinch.

"My apologizes that I actually might care a little!"

He started to feel his anger building up. Why would this little fucking mudblood care? Taking steps toward her he could see her eyes change from frustration to concern as she backed up against the wall. Looking down at her, his face inches from hers he observed her face

"Why do you care about me?" He huffed. "In case you forgot I'm the enemy."

"Just because you were raised to be that way doesn't mean you have to believe it."

"Fucking hell Granger its more than just 'believing it'" He then stepped back, pulling up the sleeve of his jumper, a shocked look coming from Hermione. "I'm marked dammit!"

Hermione stood there in silence, staring from the dark mark to his face. Draco could see a hint of fear in her eyes. Instantly he felt a little tinge of guilt and pulled down his sleeve, softening his stance a little.

He rubbed his brow, being careful how he spoke next. "I don't expect you to under but-"

"It doesn't define you." Hermione interrupted to Draco's surprise. "Just like me being muggleborn doesn't define me."

"Its different." He said flatly.

"Its not.."

"It is. I'm expected to hold up to certain values, certain friends. That includes you never being one of those friends."

"But whose to dictate that?"

"How would Potter and your Weasel boyfriend act if you befriended me?"

"First off Ron and I are on a break..." At that Draco perked up "And secondly they know I'm a big girl and I can handle myself."

"Well my entire reputation would be ruined, befriending a mudblood like you."

At that Hermione lost her patience. "Maybe if you weren't such a pretentious dick, you would see someone who actually cares! But all you can see is blood status."

"Maybe-"

"No! I tried being kind because it seemed like maybe the war changed you. You're still the same selfish arse who only cares about pleasing daddy."

"Don't fucking talk about my father!"

Hermione turned to walk away, obviously tired and hurt by this conversation

"Don't turn away from me!"

"This conversation is over Malfoy! I thought I saw something in you but I was obviously wrong!"

On that note she was gone, leaving him frustrated and confused.

How dare he speak to her that way. She thought she saw some good in him. How could she have been so stupid. She would admit, seeing his dark mark and everything that it represented did scare her a little bit. What if he was still a deatheater? Why would McGonagall let him back? She pondered this as she bumped into someone.

"Hey 'Mione, I've been looking all over for you."

"Sorry Harry, I had to grab something from the library." Hermione hoped he couldn't tell she was lying.

"What did you need to grab?" Harry raised him eyebrow

"Oh...um... just a book on potions for expanding the mind...you can always use more knowledge."

"Hmm whatever you need to be the best." He said, unsure if he believed her but deciding to let it be.

"Maybe we should start heading down to Hagrids for class." She could feel herself getting flustered.

Her and Harry started walking across the field when they saw flecks of green in the group down the hill.

"Great we're paired up with Slytherin." Said Harry.

"Yeah terrible." She said, although she already knew that.

She then realized she would be stuck in the same class as Malfoy for an hour. Godric was she dreading this.

Her and Harry made it down with the class, Hagrid waiting for a couple others to arrive before beginning. She looked around and sighed a little in relief when she didn't see Malfoy's platinum hair in the group. Maybe he wont show up? That thought was shut down when she turned to see Malfoy and Zambini walking up to the group. Draco looked at her, doing a a quick half smirk. She didn't know what game he was playing but she sure as hell didn't want to be apart of it.

"A'right class today 'ere gonna talk about a small little bugg'r, the Billywig." He pointed to a tank with a dozen small blue and purple creatures. They were furry, almost mouse like, but with bug like wings, mouths, and legs.

"So these little guys are v'ry smart, they can sense your feelin's and feed off any negative emotions."

Hermione raised her hand. "What do you mean by negative emotions?"

"Anger, sadness, anxiety. All them kinds of emotions."

Hermione got a little nervous thinking about the turmoil her and Malfoy's earlier conversation created. She tried to calm herself, thinking of Pygmy Puffs and her favorite books. It definitely started to make her feel a little relaxed.

"A'right ev'ryone, now I'm gonna let them lose, I want you ter think of happy, good thoughts. I don't want anyone gettin' attacked."

Hermione watched as the Billywigs started flying around. Hearing a buzzing sound as they fluttered, smelling everyone. She kept herself calm, breathing deeply. She then scanned around at her classmates. She looked at their smiling faces until she landed on Draco, who was staring back at her.

Suddenly she felt herself lose track. Thoughts of their conversation flooding her mind. Then there was silence, which confused her until she released her stare. All the Billywigs stopped and sniffed the air, suddenly turning toward her.

"Er'mione duck." Bellowed Hagrid but it was too late, They all swarmed her, biting and attacking her. Hagrid opened up a jar and it distracted them. They stopped attacking her and flew toward it. The jar was tossed into the tank and Hagrid threw the lid on.

While this was all happening Hermione lost her balance from swatting them off, falling over and bracing for the landing. But she didn't hit the ground. Strong arms managed to catch her. She turned around to see Draco, holding under her arms with a slight smirk.

"You okay?" he mumbled before they both heard the gasp.

Everyone was staring at them in shock. Draco balanced Hermione and then walked away, mumbling something about saving his competition to Zambini and Nott.

"You okay "Mione?" Harry asked.

"Yeah yeah I'm okay. Just a little bit up." She looked at the bumps everywhere, similar to a mosquito bite but a bit larger.

Harry lowered his voice, "I'm surprised Draco helped you. I thought if anyone he would've let you get attacked"

Hermione giggled uncomfortably. "Yeah I'm just as surprised as you." And she truly was.