CHAPTER 5:
November 23, 1991
(One week ago)
It was raining. Hermione leaned the left side of her body on the window, her eyes fixed outside – at the empty Quidditch pitch and the wet and student-free courtyard. Her mind was elsewhere – to Harry and Quirrell/Voldemort.
Would it be wise to tell Professor Snape that she wasn't really a Seer, but this was her second life? Would he believe her?
He already does.
But how could Voldemort be free from Quirrell's body? How could the Second Wizarding War and Final Battle happen with Quirrell around? Sometimes Hermione just wanted to snatch Peter Pettigrew and bring him to McGonagall and reveal his secret. But who would help Voldemort gain a corporeal form? Quirrell? If Hermione allowed Quirrell to get away, Voldemort might rise to power sooner than expected.
Should she just wait and watch things happen again? What about Draco? How could she save him from being a Death Eater?
"Do you like flying?"
Hermione recognized the voice and smiled. When she drifted away from her musings, she noticed that the sky was getting clear, and there were Quidditch players on the pitch, ready to fly. They were wearing green and silver colours.
"Maybe it's a good thing Hufflepuffs didn't have the flying lesson with Slytherins. Otherwise, you would have seen that I couldn't summon my broom."
Draco moved and stood beside her. "So, there's something Hermione Granger cannot do?" he asked, amused.
Hermione glanced at him, and he was giving her a crooked smile. Her heart leapt, and there were butterflies in her stomach. "There are many things we can't learn by just reading."
Draco's eyes darted to the picturesque view in front of them. "I could teach you, you know," he offered. "I love flying. It gives me the feeling that I'm free. I can be anyone I want," he said softly, noting the absence of arrogance in his voice.
She glanced at him and offered him a sincere smile. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't think flying will be useful to me in the future. You should try out next year for the Quidditch team. Just don't taunt Potter during the game if you play against each other, or you might miss the Snitch."
Draco's eyes widened at her. "You think I can be a Seeker?"
Hermione smiled. "Only if you want to. I heard that you're a good flyer," she lied. She didn't hear. She saw it for the first time, in her previous life.
Draco frowned but looked smug. "Were you spying on me, Miss Granger?"
She chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Don't let it get into your head, Draco Malfoy. People talk, and sometimes I hear things even if I'm not interested."
"Oh, I wonder what things you're interested in."
She looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Is that why you're here, talking to me despite my blood status? Because you're curious?" There was no malice in her voice. She just said it in a conversational manner, not wanting to offend Draco and eventually send him away. He was the most important person in her life right now, next to her parents. She would really feel lonely if he stopped talking to her.
"Maybe I don't care about your blood status," he shrugged. "And yes, I find you interesting. If you can be secret friends with Theo, why can't we?" He smiled sincerely.
Hermione just wanted to hug him and tell him everything. She missed her Draco so much. "Secret friends…" Then, she nodded. "All right. Just make sure your father won't hear about us."
Draco gave her an apologetic look that almost made Hermione's heart melt.
.
November 30, 1991
(One day ago)
A week later, they were sitting again on the floor beneath the windows in the Ancient Runes section. Unknown to Draco, Hermione had cast the 'notice me not' charm. Upper-class students who were taking Ancient Runes might notice them. Almost everyone knew by know that she was a Muggle-born, and Draco's family was prominent for being highly prejudiced. They didn't see each other for the past six days, except during mealtimes. Hermione still faced the wall during meals at the Great Hall, but she would always glance at Draco on her way in and out. Sometimes they would exchange smiles briefly.
And today, they didn't have any agreement about meeting in the library, but he found her there. He sat beside her, their shoulders and legs touching.
After a while, Draco placed his book down and shifted so he was facing her, eyeing her very Muggle attire, the same types of clothing she always wore under her robes during weekends: a casual button-up shirt, a pair of straight-leg denim trousers, and navy-blue trainers. Her black plain robe was folded neatly beside her. The library had warming charms, so even if it was a bit chilly because it was almost winter, Hermione didn't feel cold. Draco, on the other hand, was dressed rather formally – a pair of black trousers, a grey button-up shirt that matched his eyes, and black leather boots. His crisp black robe was also folded neatly beside him, near his satchel.
"What do your parents do?" he asked conversationally.
"They're teeth healers," she replied, giving him a quick glance and reading her Herbology book again.
Draco snatched her book.
"Hey!" she protested.
Draco moved the book out of her reach and turned the pages, probably looking for a bookmark, but he found a dried sunflower. He turned to her with an amused look. "This is your bookmark?" he asked.
"Yeah. We have a lot of sunflowers in our common room and dormitory and we're free to utilize them," she replied.
"Jasmines and cherry blossom suit you better," he said, placing the dried sunflower on the page she was reading, then he closed the book. He placed it on top of his own book.
"Jasmines and cherry blossoms?" she asked with a frown.
Draco blushed and reached out to run his hand on her head; her hair was in a neat ponytail, so there were no loose curls. "Your hair always smells like jasmines and cherry blossoms."
"Oh," she felt her cheeks blushing as well. "It's the shampoo I'm using. Muggle brand."
Draco drew back his hand and placed it on his lap. "You always smell nice."
"Thank you." She gave him a timid smile. Hermione sometimes – or most of the time – felt like an adult because of her memories; of her past. But when she was with Draco, she always felt like a normal young girl. There were butterflies in her stomach, her heart leaping with joy, her cheeks blushing, and her heartbeat doubled. All because of him.
"So, explain to me what teeth healers do," he requested.
Instead of answering his question, right away, she asked a question of her own. "What did you do when you had teeth problems when you were young? When you first lost a tooth?"
"Mother called a healer from St. Mungo's Hospital, and the healer asked me to open my mouth and she cast some spells. After one minute, I was as right as rain," he replied matter-of-factly.
"Wow, that's fast," she said, impressed. "Well, my parents fix people's teeth without magic. They have tools."
Draco made an uncomfortable look. "They put those tools inside people's mouths?" He looked like he was about to vomit.
She laughed. "They don't have magic, Draco. Not everyone's gifted with magic."
Draco looked at her fondly. For a moment, Hermione could see an innocent boy, a kind-hearted boy. "Then, you must be one of a kind."
She beamed. "Maybe I'm special."
He nodded, still smiling. "I think so, too."
.
December 1, 1991
(The present)
Her classmates were already panicking because Professor Snape announced the schedule of their written test. It would be after the Christmas holidays. That was more than a month from now, but then, Hermione's classmates belonged to Hufflepuff, hardworking and busy as bees and Ravenclaw, the competitive ones.
People like Mandy Brocklehurst, Isobel MacDougal, and Lisa Turpin sneered every time she would meet their eyes. It wasn't really her fault that they couldn't beat them. One time, in Defence Against the Dark Arts, another class first-year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws shared, Professor Quirrell gave a quiz, mostly essay questions. Hermione wrote all the things she could remember and finished the quiz in just twenty minutes. Professor Quirrell even asked if she was sure if she answered everything. She politely said she was done and sure of her answers. She left the classroom and spent the rest of the time in the library. At the next meeting, Professor Quirrell praised her for getting full marks on the quiz, despite spending only twenty minutes answering. Some Ravenclaw girls gave her annoyed looks, and some of them look insulted.
Now, she was in the library again, on a Sunday, just reviewing her notes in Potions, when Theo walked in, wearing green normal day robes and approached her table. They didn't mind being seen. After all, Slytherins didn't really mind Theo because her preferred doing things on his own.
"What's up with you and my best mate?" Theo asked as he sat across from her.
She shrugged. "He said he was curious about me."
"Always be careful, yeah?" Theo said softly. "His mother might be tolerant with him speaking with a Muggle-born, but if his father heard about it, Draco might be punished."
Hermione saw the deep concern in Theo's face. She nodded. She did not need to be told twice. "Always," she replied rather absent-mindedly.
"So, you're studying Potions. Has Professor Snape scheduled your test early?" he teased.
She chuckled. "Don't be daft, Theo. Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs are panicking."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course, you do."
"I wonder why you're not in Ravenclaw. You're probably the smartest wizard in our year."
"Excuse you," came a protesting voice behind her.
She laughed and turned her head to see Draco in a handsome set of green and grey robes. He could pass as Madam Malkin's robes model, if only his arms weren't crossed over his chest, looking at her unhappily.
" I'm the best wizard in our year," he said, moving to stand beside her. He didn't sit down. He couldn't because there were a few people in the library.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Always so competitive. Why aren't you in Ravenclaw, then?"
"Same reason as Theo," he replied promptly. To other people's eyes, it looked like they were fighting, but Hermione knew deep inside Draco wasn't fighting with her. "Our fathers would demand us to be Sorted again. No one in the family should be in other houses."
"So, you asked the Hat to put you in Slytherin?" she asked the two wizards.
"Theo did. I didn't," replied Draco defensively.
"The Hat already shouted Slytherin even before it touched Draco's head," Theo recalled. "On the other hand, Hermione, why are you in Hufflepuff?"
"Yeah," quipped Draco, sounding rather cold. "I remember your Sorting. You were a Hatstall. Why did you spend fourteen minutes there if you're just going to end up in Hufflepuff?"
"The Hat wanted to put me in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor," she admitted.
Theo laughed. "Gryffindor?"
"Thank Salazar you didn't end up there. Otherwise, I would never, ever be friends with you no matter how interesting you are," whispered Draco in relief.
"Well, why didn't you want to be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor?" inquired Theo.
She made a face. "Ravenclaws are too competitive, and I've heard they have the tendency to backstab people just to be the best. And Gryffindors… Well, I don't want to spend my years of education arguing with everyone just to display my bravery, courage, or nerve. I want a peaceful life. Thanks for giving it to me, by the way," she said to Draco. Daphne Greengrass and Pansy Parkinson passed by with an older female Slytherin, so Hermione tried to sound sarcastic.
Draco smirked. "My pleasure, Granger." Then, he left and followed Pansy and Daphne.
Theo gave her a proud smirk. "Well done," he whispered.
.
December 12, 1998
(Hermione's past)
"All packed?"
Hermione turned around and saw Theo walking towards her, carrying his trunk. He eyed her beaded bag. Crookshanks was at her feet, patiently waiting.
Today was the day Hogwarts Express was scheduled to fetch students who wished to spend their Christmas break away from Hogwarts. Hermione, Theo, and the other 'eighth' years were just Apparating in Hogsmeade. They didn't need to ride the Hogwarts Express, according to Headmistress McGonagall.
"Yeah, all packed," she patted her beaded bag.
"The bag that saved the world," Theo grinned. "You had it registered, then? I heard from Rita Skeeter that the newly-appointed Minister for Magic allowed you to get away with a bag with unregistered Extendable Charm."
"Well, thanks to the unregistered bag, she could live in a Voldemort-free world," she sneered.
Theo laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. "So, you wanna meet up during the break? You know, go to some pubs and drink, then meet my girlfriend and other best friends."
She looked up at him. "And be the only lion amongst the snakes?"
Theo grinned. "Why not?"
Hermione considered it. Theo was actually her constant companion at Hogwarts. Luna would also often speak with her, but she was mostly busy on the weekends going home to her father and helping him with the Quibbler.
"Only if you agreed to meet my parents in a Muggle home."
Theo's eyes widened, utterly shocked. "You would trust me to meet your parents?"
She elbowed him. "Of course, prat! You're my friend. If I have to spend time with snakes, you have to spend time in a Muggle home."
But Theo froze. Hermione thought he was hesitant.
"But you can bring Daphne, or Draco if you like… Or if they like," she offered.
Then, Theo beamed. "Brilliant! I'll take Draco and Daphne. So, you'll owl me?"
She shook her head. "I don't have an owl."
"Right. I'll send you an owl… or a house-elf –"
She elbowed him again. "Don't you dare!" she warned.
"Merlin, Granger, I pity your future boyfriend, you're too violent," he faked a pained look.
.
December 15, 1998
(Hermione's past)
The pub was nice… and fancy and Hermione felt like she was under-dressed even if she was wearing a red knee-length wrap dress with full sleeves and suede wedges. Her hair was in its usual ponytail. When she spotted Daphne Greengrass and Pansy Parkinson, she suddenly felt like going to the loo just to change her hairstyle. The two Slytherin girls looked like they spent a great effort styling their hair. Daphne's usual straight blonde hair was in elegant ringlets and Pansy's long, black hair was in a high ponytail, gathered at the top of her head. They were also wearing fancier clothes and heels.
Beside Pansy was Draco Malfoy and he was looking around the room and only stopped when he spotted her. Their eyes locked in a moment and Hermione offered him a small smile, which he returned with a polite nod. He leant forward to say something to Theo. Theo was quickly on his feet and turned in her direction.
"Hermione! Over here!" called Theo, grinning. He walked toward her to give her a quick hug.
"I feel nervous," she whispered to him.
Theo placed an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her in a brotherly way. "You're the Great Hermione Granger! You've faced Voldemort! You can face little Slytherins."
Hermione smiled and allowed Theo to lead her to his friends. "My dear friends, make way for the Great Hermione Granger!"
Hermione elbowed Theo but turned to his friends timidly. Daphne was the first to greet her. "Hello, Hermione. Theo's told me so much about you. Thanks for being his friend."
Hermione returned the hug. "He's a good man," she told her.
"Hey, Granger." Surprisingly, Pansy gave her a hesitant but friendly smile. She was also on her feet and moved closer to her. "I hope you will forgive me for being anti-Hermione Granger back at Hogwarts."
Hermione smiled. "Theo told me how much of a good best friend you are. Please forgive me, too, for judging you so quickly."
Pansy nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Hermione ."
"Thanks, too, Pansy."
Hermione felt Theo's comforting squeeze on her arm. "Come on, Hermione, let's get you some drinks."
Blaise Zabini was not there. Theo said he was in Italy, but he wouldn't really mind about her joining them if he were around. Daphne talked about her work at the Department of Magical Transportation for Hermione's benefit, she knew. Much to Daphne's chagrin, Percy Weasley was her immediate supervisor.
"He and Clearwater broke up, you know. He's now seeing a witch from the Department of Magical Education; one of N.E.W.T. testers," Daphne was telling her. "Audrey, I believe."
"And his ex-girlfriend, Penelope, is our new Charms professor," she replied. "I wonder where Professor Flitwick is now. I was kind of looking forward to having him again as a professor."
"Ah, maybe somewhere tropical, sunbathing and drinking dirty vodka martini," quipped Theo.
"Enough about wizards," Pansy interrupted. "I've been dying to ask Hermione about Ronan!" She sounded so excited, and she was beaming at her.
She frowned. "Ronan?"
As she was sitting next to Draco at the round table, she heard him sigh. "Ronan, the boyband member with blond hair and blue eyes, the one who always wears a scarf," he whispered but did not lean closer to her.
Hermione's eyes widened. "How did you know Ronan?!" she almost exclaimed, and Pansy's smile widened.
"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" Pansy squealed.
"Oh, Salazar, just take me away from here," groaned Draco but she just smiled at him, and Hermione subconsciously reached for his leg under the table, giving him a pat. It was too late before she realized what she did, and Draco froze.
"Sorry," she muttered and drew her hand away. Draco nodded curtly.
"Pansy has been a fan of Ronan's band for a few months now," Daphne told her light-heartedly. "Can you imagine, she bought a CD player just to listen to Ronan every single day!"
"I don't blame you," she told Pansy. "Pale skin, blond hair, styled neatly, piercing blue eyes. I love the way he sings!"
Of course, he knew the singer and his band since 1993. Hermione and his mother were fans. But since 1996, she never had the chance to listen to the band again. She almost forgot how handsome Ronan was until Pansy mentioned him.
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "So, you like pale-skinned blond guys?" she teased.
Hermione knew her mouth formed a small 'o'. Blond. Pale skin. Just like Draco Malfoy!
Theo chuckled. "Do you have someone in mind, Miss Granger?"
She rolled her eyes at Theo. "I like handsome blond guys that could sweep me off my feet, all right? Like Ronan." And the one sitting beside me. Then, she turned to Pansy. "So, what's their newest album? I'm not updated."
Finally, Hermione and Pansy found something in common and it was not just Ronan, the blond-haired, blue-eyed singer, but also Muggle clothing. Pansy mentioned going to Tiffany and other shops in Muggle London. Hermione even found herself promising a shopping date with her and Daphne.
It had been a while since she felt so carefree, happy, and normal. It had been a while since she spoke to girls her age. Before the night ended, Hermione thanked Theo for inviting her over. She missed having fun. The last time she remembered having fun was in 1996, in their sixth year, when she was with Harry and Ron at Hogsmeade. Before Katie Bell was cursed.
"Hey, Draco, will you walk the Great Hermione Granger home?" Theo called his friend when they were at the Apparition point. "Have to take my girl and Pansy home."
"Sure."
"No, I'm fine."
They spoke together. Theo turned to her. "Hermione, it's late. At least, let Draco escort you home. Your parents might think your new friends don't have manners," he grinned. "And you said your parents don't like it when you Apparate in front of your home."
"All right," she surrendered and turned to Draco. She looked up at him because he was so tall, and he was moving closer to her. Again, she felt butterflies in her stomach. "If it's not a bother to you…"
Draco smiled and offered his right arm. "It's totally fine. Shall we?"
She took his offered arm and Apparated the two of them to the nearest magical village in her parents' place.
"Sorry, this is the closes Apparition point, the Babraham Road. We're in Cambridge," she told him and untangled her arm from him.
"It's all right," Draco replied gently. "Imagine if you're alone at this hour," he said, looking around. They were surrounded by green fields.
"My parents' house is twenty minutes from here," she said and started walking on the pavement facing oncoming traffic. Draco stayed on her right.
"I'm glad your parents are all right now," he muttered.
She glanced at him. "Me, too. And they had forgiven me. As much as I want to get my own flat, they ordered me to stay under their roof until I got a job. I want to be their obedient daughter just for once and gain their trust again, so I don't have my own place yet."
"I'm sorry you had to modify their memories because of the danger they were in. I wish I could've helped…"
"What could you have done?" she said with a smile.
"I could've warned you about them through Theo… Although I'm not sure you'd trust him. Or I should've asked someone to bring them to a safe house…" he said solemnly.
Hermione thought about Harry and the Order. No one among them thought of her parents' safety. That was why she had to modify their memories. It was the best solution she came up with. But Draco Malfoy… Now, he was talking about what he could've done for her parents.
"It's all in the past now," she said softly. "By the way, how's Teddy? And your aunt?"
Draco smiled and glanced at her sideways. "He's becoming more and more adorable each day," he chuckled. "He calls me 'Drey'. He soiled the library carpet the other day while I was studying, I didn't notice until Pinky popped into the room."
She laughed at the image of Draco, studying while an infant was crawling in a manor library – probably similar to the library at Grimmauld Place.
And then, an image of Harry came into her mind. "Draco," she called him carefully. "Harry was named Teddy's godfather. Does he visit him?"
Draco gave her a sad smile and shook his head. "Aunt Dromeda hasn't mentioned anything."
She just nodded and turned to the road again. What's happening to Harry? I hope he, Ginny, and Ron are fine…
Neither of them spoke until they reached her parents' doorstep. To her surprise, her father was waiting in the garage. He was leaning on his car, arms over his chest.
"Dad?"
Dr Granger looked up and his eyes darted to Draco. "Princess, you have company."
Her father was in his mid-fifties, but his curly hair was still dark brown –almost black, thanks to the hair dye he regularly used, but when he didn't shave, his beard was salt and pepper. But today, he was sporting a five o'clock shadow. He was also tall, with broad shoulders, piercing brown eyes, and a Roman nose. Hermione's father was handsome, yet he could be intimidating. Just like Draco Malfoy.
She suddenly had an image of an older Draco Malfoy, looking cross and trying to be intimidating while waiting for his daughter. Hermione inwardly shook her head and walked towards her father and kissed his cheek. "Waiting for me?"
"Of course," he replied.
She stood on her father's side and faced Draco. "Dad, this is my friend and former classmate, Draco Malfoy. Draco, this is my dad, Dr William Granger."
The two men shook hands. "Good evening, Dr Granger. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Hermione's dad narrowed his eyes to Draco but nodded. Then, he turned to her. "Princess, I thought your friend's name is Theo and he's still your classmate."
"Yes, Dad. I met Theo and his best friends today and Draco's one of them. Theo couldn't escort me home because we had two other female companions," she explained.
"Draco Malfoy," his father said dangerously. "I recall reading your name in Hermione's letters from second to the third year. You're the first boy she punched."
Draco bowed his head, to Hermione's surprise, like how some Asians did when they give respect to someone older. "I'm not proud of the things I said and did to Hermione in the past, Dr Granger, and I could only hope Hermione would forgive me."
"I've forgiven you a long time ago, Draco," she said softly. "When you refused to identify us back in Easter."
Hermione didn't tell her parents in detail about her torture and where it happened exactly. And now was not the perfect time to tell her father everything.
"Dad," she looked up to her father. "He's now my friend."
Dr Granger looked at Draco, then back to her. "Your mother and I would like to meet all of your new friends, Hermione. I hope Mr Malfoy will consider our invitation for lunch in our Muggle home. I'll go inside and tell your mum you are home. Good evening, Mr Malfoy."
Hermione looked at Draco hesitantly. "I'm sorry about my dad."
"Nothing I don't deserve, Hermione," he replied sincerely.
"Thank you for walking me home."
He smiled and nodded. "My pleasure, Hermione. Good night."
"Good night, Draco," she whispered. She watched as Draco walked away until he was out of her view.