Chapter 7
Hermione woke up groggy. She wasn't hung over exactly, the sober potion she had taken last night had helped avoid that, but she felt weird. Most of the night was a blur, the sober potion had stopped her from getting violently sick, but it didn't discount the fact that she had been very drunk for hours and had little recollection of the events.
Hermione did remember her confrontation with Ron. She had mixed feelings about the situation… And then there was all that happened between her and Draco. Were they still on a first-name basis? It had felt like they were really connecting last night, but she was struggling to remember the details. Merlin, hopefully she wasn't too embarrassing.
Hermione rolled over to find Ginny in her bed. Ginny had stayed with her after she went off on Ron, she remembered that part now. Hermione was relieved that Ginny had stayed by her side, the last thing she needed right now was for her friends to side with Ron. It was such a messy situation…
Hermione checked the time: 11:00 am. She would need to check on the potion soon and add a few more ingredients. Well, it had been fun for a moment last night forgetting about her responsibilities. Back to reality.
Ginny stirred and Hermione figured she should probably wake her up with a "Good Morning." Ginny likely had things to do today as Head Girl.
"Morning." Ginny mumbled back at her. She sat up in bed and rubbed at her eyes. "How do you feel?" Ginny stared at Hermione.
"Uhm, I'm okay. I am sorry I ran off on you last night. I know I could have told you what happened, and you would have left with me. Thank you for being my friend." Hermione responded.
"That's okay, Hermione. I was just really worried about you. I can't believe Ronald did that, I didn't even notice- or I would have smacked him too." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"What's done is done. I don't really feel like talking about it." Hermione shrugged, attempting to look indifferent and tried to ignore the pang in her chest.
"It seemed like you and Malfoy were having a good time though?" Ginny inquired, looking slightly suspicious.
Hermione blushed a bit. "Yeah, it was a good distraction to talk. I'm surprised you're not mad about that."
"I was at first but then when he helped you sober up, I could tell her was trying. He seemed genuinely concerned about you. It was bizarre." Ginny was staring at Hermione intensely.
That surprised Hermione. She knew Draco had changed, but she didn't necessarily think he cared about her- they weren't even quite friends yet, they just weren't enemies. Well, maybe now they were becoming friends…
"Hmm. Well, I know he is trying to make amends. He is different, he doesn't believe in what he used to. We've all changed in our own ways…" Hermione replied.
"I guess so. I still don't trust him - he is Malfoy after all. But I will say that he surprised me. I won't disapprove of you two working together anymore on the project." Ginny said. "The last thing you need is another person criticizing your choices." Ginny hugged Hermione.
"Thank you." Hermione felt her eyes well up with tears.
"So, I know last night wasn't ideal, BUT The Fantasy was such a so cool, right?" Ginny asked.
"It was! Leave it to Luna to create something so unique." Hermione smiled, remembering the atmosphere of the bar.
"We can go back just us sometime and make new memories there. We need a girl's night!" Ginny wiggled her eyebrows at Hermione.
Hermione giggled. "Gin! We both have so much work to do, I don't even know when that will be."
"Come off it Hermione. I know we have things to finish at Hogwarts but we've lived through a bloody war, I think we deserve to have fun! I am appointing myself now as your Head Girl of Fun. My duties include making sure you take more breaks to let loose." Ginny winked.
"Okay, okay. You're right – fine. Maybe in a few weeks or something. I need to get more of this potion testing done first though. Speaking of which, I need to get to some of that today." Hermione responded.
"Okay, fine. I'm hungry though so I'm going to head to the Great Hall for my hangover cure. You coming?" Ginny asked.
"No, I'm going to get started on the potion right away. I'll see you later Gin."
Draco was sitting in the library to get out of the common room. The sun was shining in brightly through the old windows. He had gotten here quite early, and it had been empty and quiet, but students were starting to fill the room with their chatter. It was beginning to irritate him.
Draco had barely slept all night, at most 3 hours. He couldn't stop thinking about the events that had unfolded, between him and Hermione, between Hermione and her friends. He was nervous to face her – would things be different?
Draco wasn't used to the honesty he had shared with Hermione. He felt vulnerable and uncomfortable. A part of him hated her for bringing that out of him, it felt too easy. He was a Slytherin for Merlin's sake, why had he been blabbing on about his feelings.
But he was also amazed that conversation flowed so easily between them. They understood each other. And she had been mesmerizing, he had never seen Hermione Granger so reckless. He envied her. When Draco was reckless, he was dangerous and cruel. When Hermione Granger was reckless, she was beautiful and powerful. There was something satisfying and addicting to seeing a tightly wound spring cut loose.
Draco got up to leave the library – too many damn first-years. At least he had gotten some of his self-study done. He was fairly used to the lack of sleep, but it did wear down his patience a bit.
He entered the common room to find Hermione at the large desk, adding ingredients to the potion. She glanced over towards him and smiled shyly. "Hey, I figured you may still be sleeping."
"No, I've been up for a bit. I'm surprised you're already back at it with the potion. Well, I guess not surprised since you are Hermione Granger." Draco smirked.
"Ha-ha. That joke gets old, you know. There are way too many expectations that come with my name now. I've really outdone myself with the reputation." Hermione rolled her eyes sarcastically.
"I'll trade you. My reputation is far worse. Do you want help?" Draco asked.
"Sure. Will you crush and chop these roots?" Hermione motioned to the ingredients on the table as she stirred the potion.
Draco started crushing and chopping the roots. They began working in a comfortable silence, but he wondered if he should say something about last night…
Draco cleared his throat, "Granger, about last night. I shouldn't have given you my Firewhiskey or joint. I didn't realize how much you had to drink."
"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm sorry I was a drunken mess." She laughed and Draco could see she was uncomfortable.
"I just want you to know it wasn't my intention." Draco insisted.
"Malfoy- Draco." He watched as she corrected herself. "I consider you my friend now. I no longer believe that you have bad intentions. Neither of us are the people we were and there's no use worrying about our past selves."
"Okay, Hermione- but my past self would have capitalized on your vulnerability. I don't understand how you can even pretend that I'm not that person." Draco was frustrated with her. She shouldn't be so willing to forgive him!
"Draco, my past self wouldn't have gotten so drunk. My past self wouldn't have given up on my relationship with Ron. It doesn't mean those thoughts aren't still in my head. It just means I don't have it in me to control my actions based on who I thought I was. It's too exhausting." Hermione looked at him.
He knew what she meant. He nodded and ran his fingers through his hair, breaking their eye-contact. "Fair. My past self didn't know you could be so fun. Even as a drunken mess." He winked at her.
Hermione smirked, "I'm glad that was entertaining for you."
"You almost became a Mer-person you know, if I hadn't stepped in." Draco moved to add the chopped ingredients to the potion.
Hermione laughed at Draco and looked up at him. "I vaguely remember that. I was ready to swim away and start a new life."
Their eye contact was intense. Draco looked away again. They spent the next hour adding to the potion and casually chatting. Draco hadn't felt so at ease, maybe ever.
