CHAPTER 3: Muggleborn

"Lately, I see clouds of sorrow in your eyes.

Some deep sadness you never quite disguise.

Now I'm scared to ask what it's leading to

But I'm more afraid of not asking you.

Is there something that you want to tell me?

Is there something that I ought to know?

Or should I simply let you go?"

-Is there Something, Christopher Cross-

September 6, 1991

(Thirteen days ago)

Double Potions with the Gryffindors was amusing for Draco, just seeing Harry Potter being embarrassed. He couldn't answer a single question from their Potions professor. The Slytherins laughed, the Gryffindors looked dejected. In the end, Draco was called to answer the questions and he earned 15 points for Slytherin.

When the class was dismissed, the Gryffindors were the first to exit the room. Crabbe and Goyle waited for him, but he told them to go ahead. He wanted to ask Professor Snape something.

Crabbe and Goyle left, and Draco was alone with his Head of House. He approached his desk. He was marking papers.

"Sir?"

Professor Snape looked up. "Draco," he said with a nod, and as friendly as he could be.

"Sir, I know it isn't really my business, but I'm just curious…" he began.

"Go ahead," he encouraged.

"I heard, Sir, that you awarded points to Hufflepuff; to Hermione Granger?" he said carefully.

He nodded. "I did."

"No offence, Sir, but… Is she related to the Dagworth-Grangers?" he inquired.

"No, Draco. She isn't related to them. In fact, she isn't related to any prominent wizarding family as she is a Muggle-born."

.

September 11, 1991

(Eight days ago)

"Today, we're going to try casting the Wand-Lighting Charm," Professor Flitwick explained to the class. "Don't fret, I do not expect you to perform the charm successfully at the first attempt. Only Miss Granger was able to do that."

That caught Draco's attention again. Granger. Hermione Granger. He couldn't bring himself to talk to her. She was a Muggle-born. His father told him that they should not associate themselves with Muggles and Muggle-borns because they were better than them. They were magical, and their blood was pure. Non-magical people and Muggleborns were beneath them.

But his father also told him that Hufflepuff was the worst house because people there were dumb. Hufflepuffs were not witty like Ravenclaws, brave like Gryffindor, and cunning like Slytherin. So, if a witch or a wizard were neither cunning, intelligent, or brave, then they belonged to Hufflepuff.

But Hermione Granger could perform a spell successfully on the first attempt. Even though she was a Hufflepuff; even though she was a Muggle-born. She was not dumb, Draco decided. She read a lot. She was always reading, always in the library even on the weekends, studying.

"Maybe she's trying to prove herself," came Daphne's voice.

"Who? Granger?" asked Theo.

Draco turned to his friends and saw Daphne nod. "Well, if I were a Muggle-born and in Hufflepuff, people might call me dumb. Maybe that's why she's always reading, always studying in advance."

.

September 19, 1998

(Hermione's past)

"Thanks again for the company, Theo," Hermione said as she and Theo left The Three Broomsticks and walked to the Apparition Point in Hogsmeade.

"You're welcome," he replied and patted her head in a brotherly manner.

"Are you sure you don't want to come home with me? My parents surely prepared something, and I don't have any friends coming over, so… be my guest."

"No, I'm fine. I think I'll just go home and be back tomorrow."

"All right, then."

"Oh, by the way, here." Theo reached for something inside the pocket of his robes and enlarged it until he was carrying a small paper bag with a Muggle brand printed on it. "Another gift."

Hermione frowned but smiled. "Thanks, but you've already given me a gift earlier."

Theo shrugged. "Not from me, but a secret admirer."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "A secret admirer?" she snorted.

"Yeah. A bit creepy if you ask me," he joked.

Hermione and Theo said their goodbyes again and she Apparated near her parents' home. Later that night, she opened her presents. Theo gave her a new set of quills, and a box of Sugar Quills, her favourite sweets. Her 'secret admirer' – according to Theo, gave her shampoo and perfume with the same scent: jasmines with cherry blossoms and she found herself liking them.

.

September 15, 1991

(Four days ago)

Hermione entertained herself with The Daily Prophet's crossword puzzle in the library after finishing her homework. Her housemates opted to study either in their common room or in the courtyard. She was the only Hufflepuff in the library at that time.

She bit her quill, brows furrowed. "An eleven-letter word for insipid?" she muttered to herself. "What's this?"

"Milquetoast."

Hermione's head moved upwards, and she was greeted by a grinning Theodore Nott. Hermione's heart leapt. This was not Draco, okay. Not the boy she wanted, but this was the mini version of her best friend in another life, the friend who stayed by her side when Harry, Ron, and Ginny weren't around.

"You're Hermione Granger," he stated as he sat across from her.

"You're Theodore Nott," she replied timidly.

"How did you know?" he asked curiously.

"Well, I have never seen someone who always reads, even during mealtimes," she shrugged.

"Only because you can't see yourself doing the same," he grinned.

She grinned back. "Maybe."

"And I don't read all the time –or as much as you do, someone told me."

.

September 19, 1991

(Present time)

Days passed by and Draco tried to ignore the presence of Hermione Granger. At the Slytherin table, he would sit with his back on the Hufflepuff table. It would not do any good if he would associate himself with a Muggle-born. His housemates might notice and tell his father. His father might drag him back home and punish him, lock him in the Manor dungeons until he couldn't see sunlight anymore.

But one Thursday morning, he heard Hufflepuffs singing 'happy birthday' during breakfast. Curious, he looked around. People were gathered around someone. A little while later, they took their seats at the table and Draco saw Hermione and Diggory sitting beside each other; her back still on Draco. He caught a glimpse of her hair in a ponytail and scrunchie. There were also cupcakes in front of the two of them.

So, they have the same birthday, he thought and then stabbed his sausage with his fork rather aggressively.

.

That night, Draco went to the library to work on the Defence Against the Dark Arts essay, set by Professor Quirrell, about werewolves and werewolf bites. He turned to the Magical Creatures section to look for reference books when he heard a familiar voice behind a bookcase.

"The cure for that… powdered silver and dittany and should be applied on the fresh wound. This is interesting," came Theo's voice.

Draco frowned, wondering who Theo was talking to. Theo seldom talked to other people. As far as he could remember, Daphne was in the common room, studying with Pansy. Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini were in their dormitory.

"I know, right?! But the victim will still suffer from lycanthropy. There were actually rumours that some victims begged for death rather than becoming werewolves for the rest of their lives!"

It was a female voice and the owner spoke with enthusiasm. She sounded so engaged on the topic. Draco wondered who it was, but then he caught the familiar flowery smell. He peered in between the books and saw a head with brown frizzy hair. Hermione?

"I've read that, too," chuckled Theo. "But that was in the old days, Hermione. Now, thanks to Sir Damocles Belby, there's Wolfsbane Potion."

"But that's extremely difficult to make and the ingredients are very expensive. Honestly, the Ministry should at least reopen Werewolf Support Services to aid lycanthropic people out there."

Draco could hear the sympathy in her voice. This was the first time he heard her speak lengthy words. He came across her in the corridors and heard her voice, but just calling her housemates' names, or replying 'yes' or 'no'. And Draco liked her voice. Who knew she could be chatty?

"Oh, shoot! It's fifteen minutes before curfew!" she exclaimed. "The basement is too far!"

Draco heard Theo chuckle. "Tell me about it; I live in the dungeons. Come on, let's walk together."

"All right. And thanks for the Sugar Quills, Theo."

Draco frowned and narrowed his eyes.

"Don't mention it; it's your birthday, after all."

.

"I didn't know you were chummy with Granger," Draco hissed to Theo when he approached his friend's bed that night.

Theo was casually lying on his stomach and reading a book. He was already in his green silk pyjamas.

Theo rolled his eyes. "Please, we're just friendly towards each other. Are you going to tell my father about it?"

"When did it start?" he asked curiously, sitting on the edge of Theo's bed and facing his friend.

"A few days ago, when you stopped gawking at her," he replied casually, looking down to his book again.

"I don't gawk!" he protested.

"Fine," Theo replied dismissively.

Draco sighed but said nothing.

Theo closed his book and turned to him; arms crossed over his chest. "What do you want?"

"Your father won't be pleased once he heard about you being friendly with a Muggle-born," he stated.

Theo scowled. "You perfectly know that I no longer believe anything my father says and my mother was raised by her Muggle-born step-mother who cares for me more than my father does."

"But he's going to punish you if he finds out."

" If, Draco. If. Are you going to rat me out? See, this is the reason why I prefer working by myself. Mate, you're my friend, but honestly, I feel suffocated being surrounded by the children of my father's associates. Hermione is a nice person and... look at her. She's a Muggle-born, but she's hardworking and intelligent. Crabbe and Goyle are Pure-blood, but they can't cast a single spell in Charms and Transfiguration."

Draco realized Theo was right. And Hermione didn't do anything wrong. She wasn't doing anything wrong. Hell, she wasn't even bothering him. And above all, it wasn't her fault she was a Muggle-born.

"She's nice, you know. Don't ruin our secret friendship, please, Draco. She's the only one I can talk with about anything interesting. You're too busy annoying and bullying Potter and Weasley," Theo chuckled.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Prat."

.

October 29, 1991

(Two days ago)

Hermione wanted to cry. She was getting frustrated. Draco had yet to talk to her even a single word. He also sat at his house table with his back to the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables.

Now, they both faced the walls during mealtimes. Hermione just did it to avoid Professor Snape's gaze and hide from the headmaster. If she could, she would want to always catch a glimpse of platinum blond hair every time she'd look up from her plate.

Patience, Hermione. Patience, she told herself. The other Draco Malfoy realized he had feelings for you when you were in the third year and after that, it took him six years to finally tell you.

She sighed. At least, she had Theo. Theo was also their common friend in her past life. Theo was the reason she and Draco got closer.

"Come on, it's time for Potions." Justin nudged her and rose to his feet. Hermione followed suit.

Potions class was uneventful. Professor Snape lectured about the uses of different plant ingredients and how to slice them, depending on the potions they were going to brew.

Since their first Potions class, Professor Snape hadn't awarded points anymore. He hadn't called her, either. However, in the two essays he set, Hermione had gotten Outstanding marks, much to her fellow Hufflepuffs' delight. The Ravenclaws didn't say anything. It wasn't in their nature to compare test results, at least not in front of others.

"Let's try if you all paid attention, shall we?" drawled Professor Snape when he finished his lecture. "Miss Brocklehurst."

Hermione was sitting behind her Ravenclaw classmate, Mandy Brocklehurst. She saw her almost jump from her seat but rose to her feet. "Sir?"

"Tell me the uses of aconite."

Mandy answered – no, recited all the uses of Aconite from the book.

Hermione wanted to facepalm when it reminded her of her old self. Are all Ravenclaws like this? she wondered. She'd never really noticed. Perhaps she was too busy thinking of other things.

"Ten points..."

The Ravenclaws' eyes widened and looked hopeful. And Hermione was also surprised. Maybe he's changing, she mused.

"From Ravenclaw for reciting every information from the book," he finished, much to everyone's dismay.

Oh, things just don't change. Hermione shook her head, but unfortunately for her, Professor Snape called her.

"Anything you would like to say, Miss Granger?" he raised an eyebrow, and his tone was challenging him.

She shook her head again. "No, Professor. Nothing," she replied politely. She hated it that he was taunting her. Again. Just like in her old life.

"Perhaps you could enlighten us about the most important ingredient we discussed today, asphodel."

Hermione slowly stood up, her hands gripping the desk. She tried to remember what Jiggers said in the book and she avoided saying those things.

"Asphodel is part of the lily family," she began, and something snapped in her mind.

Lily.

"Potter! What do I get if I add asphodel to the infusion of wormwood?"

The answer was Draught of the Living Dead.

Lily. Death.

He regrets Lily Potter's death, Hermione realized.

.

January 9, 2000

(Hermione's past)

Hermione and Draco exited The Three Broomsticks hand in hand and went to the graveyard where the Shrieking Shack stood years ago.

It was where Professor Snape died, and it also collapsed during the Final Battle. The Hogsmeade villagers decided to demolish the shack and turn it into a graveyard. Professor Snape and the others who died fighting during the Battle of Hogwarts were buried there.

Draco tightened his hand on her and led her to a gravestone.

Severus T. Snape

9 January 1960 - 2 May 1998

Hermione held her wand and silently Conjured lilies on the gravestone.

"He died loving her, Lily Potter. After all those years," Draco said rather emotionally. "He devoted his whole life protecting her son."

"And you, Draco. He did everything he could to save your soul, to make sure you wouldn't go to Azkaban," she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

Draco untangled their hands just so he could wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. In return, Hermione wrapped an arm around his torso.

"I owe him my life, Hermione. I wouldn't be here, being loved by you if he didn't save me. He was a good man."

"He was," she agreed.

.

October 29, 1991

(Two days ago)

"Miss Granger..."

Hermione drifted from her musings when Professor Snape called her name gently.

What? Gently?

Hermione saw his face. His facial expression softened, uncharacteristically. Then, she turned to the class. They were all looking at her and Professor Snape as if they had grown four heads.

"Everything we needed to know about Asphodel as potions ingredient is in the book, Professor. Mr Jiggers wrote it in detail. But what I can tell you more is, in the Muggle world, ancient Greeks associated lilies with death. Lily flowers, including asphodel, are usually planted in graves. So, if you're not at Hogwarts and you need asphodel, you might want to visit a graveyard, before faking your death."

.

Severus saw something again when his and Miss Granger's eyes locked.

He saw a gravestone. His gravestone. And she was visiting with Draco - the heir and only son of the most prejudiced Pure-blood family.

1998

He died in 1998 and his love for Lily and the protection of Harry Potter was known to the Wizarding world. It meant the war had ended.

He needed to know more. He wanted to know more, and this little witch should not just show him - or anyone what she knew. Didn't she realize what kind of danger she could be in? Or was the future inevitable and she already saw herself surviving the war?

"Five points to Hufflepuff," he found himself saying.

He needed the girl. He needed her close to him.

"Class dismissed. Miss Granger, please remain. I need to speak with you about your essay."

.

"But you got an O, right?" asked Justin, looking concerned.

She nodded to him. "Yes. Don't worry about me, go to Charms. I'm sure Professor Snape will give me a slip to explain my tardiness."

Her classmates gave her one final sympathetic look before leaving the classroom.

When she was alone with Professor Snape, she remained where she stood. Meanwhile, Professor Snape stood and leant casually on his desk. "Is there something you wish to tell me, Miss Granger?"

She shook her head. "No, Professor."

"Miss Granger, I hope you realize what danger you'll be in when someone else discovers your rare gift."

She nodded. "I know, Professor. But I trust you."

Professor Snape nodded. "Be careful, Miss Granger. If you need anything, you can come to me."

"Thank you, Sir."

.

October 31, 1991

(present time)

For the rest of the day, Hermione did her best to avoid Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. She knew things were different now, and she didn't share a single class with them, but who knew, Ron might say something he would regret later on, and she'd find herself again crying in a lavatory.

She made sure to stick with Justin and their other classmates. After her last class of the day, she immediately went to the library and read while waiting for the feast to begin. There were only a few people in the library.

She went to a secluded area, by the Ancient Runes section with windows overlooking the Quidditch pitch.

.

Draco really tried to keep her off his mind. But Hermione Granger earned points again from Professor Snape. Pansy and Daphne heard Mandy Brocklehurst, a Ravenclaw, crying two days ago at lunch because Professor Snape docked points off Ravenclaw for reciting what she memorized from the book, and Hermione Granger gave the professor a different answer.

"How did you start talking to her?" Draco asked Theo quietly. They were sitting next to each other in the library, doing some homework while waiting for the Halloween Feast.

Theo did not look up at him. "Crossword puzzle. She was talking to herself, and I told her the answer."

"She has just entered the library," he whispered. "And she's heading to... the Ancient Runes section?" He frowned and turned to Theo.

Theo smirked. "She likes reading in advance."

"Didn't she hesitate to talk to Slytherins?" he asked curiously.

"She noticed I prefer doing things on my own, so she got the impression that I don't fucking care what others say."

Draco toyed with his quill.

"You know what? Just go and talk to her," Theo said.

Maybe I just like her smell. Maybe she just piqued my interest. I should talk to her and find out if she's really interesting. If she's not, then at least I can get her off my mind, he decided.

He stood up and went to the Ancient Runes section. She was there, holding a book to her chest and looking outside the window. Much to his chagrin, Gryffindors were practising.

"So, you're Hermione Granger," he began, trying not to sound arrogant.

He saw her start and slowly turned her head in his direction. She looked shocked that he was talking to her. Draco felt pleased with himself. The Malfoy charm, he smirked.

"I am," she replied rather slowly and unsure.

Draco's eyes turned to her yellow and black tie. Hufflepuff. But her hair screamed Slytherin.

"You're the only non-Slytherin student who was awarded points by Professor Snape, twice," he mused. "And what do the professors usually say? Oh. 'Don't worry, only Miss Granger has ever done it at the first attempt .'"

Hermione sighed and moved away from the window, back to the bookshelves. "And you're Draco Malfoy. You're the reason Potter made it to the Gryffindor Quidditch team in his first year," she said matter-of-factly.

Draco was taken aback.

"Potter and Weasley always stick their noses to where they don't belong," she mumbled, still not looking at him.

"Potter's daft," he commented. "I first met him at Diagon Alley, in the robes' shop. I told him my mother was buying me a wand, and he believed it," he chuckled.

Hermione just shook her head. "He grew up with Muggles; he didn't know that the wand chooses the wizard. Just stay away from those two. And anyway, you're a Slytherin, they're Gryffindors. Everyone can be quite prejudiced, even professors and headmasters. Stay out of trouble."

He smirked and moved to Hermione's side but leaned his back against the bookcase. "Is Miss Granger concerned about me?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Is Draco Malfoy trying to be friendly with me?" She mimicked his tone, much to his amusement.

"Why not? I know about your secret friendship," he told her.

Hermione turned to her. Again, the moment their eyes met, he was lost in her brown eyes.

"I don't think you really know me. I'm Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born," she offered him a sad smile and left.

Draco huffed. Who cares if you're a Muggle-born? He wanted to say those words. But his father cared a great lot about the people he was associating himself with, unlike Theo's father who neglected him.

Sometimes he wished he had Theo's father instead. Or he could be like Theo – not caring about anything his father said.

But you still have your mother, a part of his mind said. Theo lost his mum.