If you would have told Hermione that one day that her favorite study buddy would be Draco Malfoy she would have literally died from laughing so hard. Now the two of them set curled up on the couch in the eighth-year common room deep into their notes, burning down a Friday night studying for the few weeks left before the holidays. He really was very smart and nice when he wanted to be, it was a pity that his family had corrupted him for so long. It was not hard to imagine the kind of person he would have been had it not been for his family. Either way, she was proud of the person he was so quickly becoming, working on moving pasts the prejudice his family had raised him to believe in. Time passed so quickly while they were studying they managed to keep going right on through dinner before either one of them had any idea. Hermione's stomach began to grumble softly breaking her concentration from their notes.
"Damn we studied straight through dinner," Hermione said slightly irritated as she began sorting her notes back on to the table in front of them.
"Oh wow, I can't believe it's already that late," Malfoy exclaimed as he too started adding his notes back into the various piles on the table. "We could always run out to Hogsmeade, grab something from the Three Broomsticks."
"I am getting pretty hungry," she said looking up at him knowing that there was a good chance they would stay at the bar past dinner and well into the night, if not all night. They had spent the night together just last night, was two nights in a row mean that a pattern was emerging?
"Well c'mon then, let's get this mess sorted and fly on over," Draco said ever so smoothly as he swiftly sent his notes flying into his school bag.
"Alright," Hermione grinned back as she too filed the last of her notes away neatly into her bag before following Malfoy up the spiral staircase to where their rooms were. They quickly put their notes away and grabbed their winter cloaks and scarves for the trip over to Hogsmeade.
It did not take the pair too long to make their way downstairs and out to where Draco kept his broom. The halls were relatively empty, nothing unusual for a Friday night when the common rooms would be filled with students celebrating the weekend. Hermione waited while Draco grabbed his broom a mounted swiftly before holding out his hand to help her on to the back of it.
"Hold on Granger," Draco said slyly before taking off for Hogsmeade.
Hermione rolled her eyes but compliantly wrapped her arms around Malfoy's torso as they took off. He was so warm and the air was so icy she would not complain about being wrapped around him. Maybe she was completely enjoying the excuse to be so close to him, not that she would ever admit it – even to herself.
It took no time at all before they were landing at the front door of the Three Broomsticks which per usual was filled with locals. You could hear the crowd inside before even getting to the door, the sound erupting once they swung open the old wooden door. They heavy sent of alcohol, roasted chicken, and pipe smoke greeted them as they walked inside to the warmth of the tavern. The pair eventually made it through the crowd and up to the bar where they ordered large dinners and butterbeers from Madame Rosmerta. Once their orders were placed they made their way over to the other side of the tavern into a comfy corner booth.
"So, what were your after dinner plans anyway?" Hermione asked playfully.
"Secret after dinner plans," Malfoy retorted smugly.
The look on Hermione's face made how she felt about his reply more than clear.
"Maybe we can proceed with my after dinner plans after dinner, but I'm kind of set on trying to get you drunk two nights in a row now that the opportunity has presented itself," he laughed as their food was set in front of them.
"You're a real cad Malfoy," Hermione laughed back with a grin.
It took them no time at all to devour their dinner, several rounds of butterbeer and a bottle of fire whiskey. They were both a little buzzed, to say the least.
"You wanna get out of here?" Malfoy asked bluntly.
"Are you going to take me along on your secret after dinner plans?" Hermione replied without missing a beat.
"Only one way to find out," Draco said as he stood up holding out his hand to help her out of their cozy corner booth.
She let her hand sit softly in his as she got up and followed him back to the bar to close out their tab, which now had an entire bottle of fire whiskey added on to it.
"Your after dinner plans include more drinking?" Hermione asked playfully.
"Of course they do," he grinned back at her as they made their way back outside and on to his broom.
It felt like only moments before they arrived back at the school, Malfoy quickly stashing his broom before they made their way into the warmth of the hallways. Hermione followed Draco through the winding hallways and down towards the dungeons. Where on earth was he taking her? It didn't take them long to pass the potions classroom and start heading nearer the Slytherin common room.
"Where are we going?" She finally asked, half intrigued, and half concerned.
"You'll see," he said slyly as he turned down a narrow hallway and opened the door to a storeroom.
Hermione cautiously walked in, eyeing Malfoy as he held the door open for her before following her in and closing it behind them.
"Lumos," Draco said softly as he held up his wand in the dark room, illuminating the dusty shelves filled with old school supplies.
"You took me to a secret cupboard?" she asked sarcastically.
"Yes Granger, I took you to a secret cupboard," Draco replied equally sarcastic as he leaned up against one of the dusty shelves.
As his weight pressed into the shelf a low rumble filled the room and the shelf slowly began to move out from behind him. Draco grinned as he held out his hand for Hermione. Surprise and excitement rushed through her as she gently took his hand, allowing him to guide her.
Behind the shelf was an old green spiral staircase leading them down deeper under the school. The staircase quickly opened up into a tall stone room that was filled with a strange glistening light. It was so dark though it was hard to make out what was down here, even with Malfoy's wand illuminating the path in front of them. When they finally reached the bottom of the stairs Malfoy flourished his wand lighting a small fireplace pit in the center of the room, this caused a chain effect lighting several torches around the room.
It took her eyes a few moments to adjust to the fire's soft glow before Hermione realized where the glistening light was coming from. The entire wall in front of them was lined with large gothic windows allowing a clear view underneath the black lake.
"We're underneath the black lake aren't we?" Hermione asked excitedly.
"Brilliant observation Ms. Granger," Draco replied with a playful grin.
Hermione quickly made her way to one of the eighteen-foot gothic windows sitting on the built-in seating on the window pane. Outside the cool dark water of the black lake reflected the pale moonlight causing the glistening light that she had seen dancing across the stone walls.
"This is amazing Draco," she said as she watched fish swimming past them.
He smiled sweetly as he made his way over sitting next to her.
"I literally stumbled across this place fifth year," he laughed as he uncorked the bottle of fire whiskey he had stashed in his robes taking a big swig before offering the bottle to Hermione.
"No matter how much I think I know about this place it keeps surprising me," she smiled taking the bottle from Draco and pressing it to her lips taking a drink before passing it back to him.
They carried on like this for a while, passing the bottle of fire whiskey back and forth as Hermione stared out the window in the black waters of the lake, pointing out every creature that came close enough to be seen.
"This is really so amazing, thanks for bringing me down here," she said sweetly as she took another sip.
"Thanks for being there for me last night," Draco replied taking a large drink from their shared bottle.
"Anytime," she said as her hand brushed his as the bottle passed between them. Her eyes transfixed on his gleaming silver gaze until the rush of a shimmering school of fish caught her attention.
Before she had time to ask where they were off to in such a rush, the bioluminescence of the giant squid came into view as he rushed past the window chasing after the massive school of fish.
"Oh my god, did you see that!" she exclaimed standing up on the seat to watch him disappear in the distance. "I had no idea that the giant squid was bioluminescent!" She exclaimed as she looked back to catch Draco looking up at her, an expression she had never seen before painted so clearly across his face. "What's that look for?" she asked curiously as she sat back down next to him.
"Nothing," he smiled taking another drink. "I forget that not everyone gets to experience the black lake like the Slytherins do, although our view isn't this spectacular."
"I could stay down here for days just watching," she smiled taking the bottle from him. She could feel her face flush with her last sip, "I have to say I'm pretty impressed. You kept your after dinner plans and still managed to get me drunk two nights in a row," she finished with a laugh, handing the bottle back to him.
"Damn, I'm pretty impressed with myself too," he laughed taking another drink. "Now before I hand this back to you, am I going to have to carry you out of here if I let you keep drinking?"
"Let me keep drinking!?" she said taking the bottle out of his hand and pressing it to her lips.
"I am totally going to have to carry you back to your room tonight," he smiled playfully at her taking the bottle from her when she had finished.
"Possibly," she said as she leaned against him. "You are so warm," she added with a content smile.
"You are so drunk," Draco smiled back at her wrapping his arm around her, pulling her in closer.
"Possibly," she smiled enjoying how warm he really was. She had never really noticed how absolutely amazing he smelled. But what was really amazing was how comfortable she felt in his arms.
The pair sat snuggled up silently enjoying each other's company. She felt so comfortable, it was a peaceful comfort that she was not sure she should contribute to him or the amount of alcohol she had consumed. Either way, it was becoming increasingly clear to her how much Draco had changed and how clearly their relationship was evolving this year. From enemies to best friends in less than a year, but if she had to honest with herself maybe there was something else there. Maybe there was more, but clearly, she was not completely ready to face that yet.
Malfoy leaned over and kissed her softly on the forehead before scooping her up in his arms and slowly standing up.
"It's getting late, let's get you to bed," he said softly as he carefully made his way over to the stairs and began to climb up the winding flight. "I promise to bring you back here," he added as he left the storeroom and started through the empty castle hallway back up to the eighth-year dormitory.
The next thing she knew she was being laid down in bed and tucked in gently.
"Don't go," Hermione said softly.
"I wasn't planning on it," Draco replied as he climbed into bed next to her wrapping his arm around her as she snuggled back onto his chest. He kissed her softly on the forehead before she drifted off to sleep.