Chapter 6

Draco glared scowled at the scene with wide eyes. He walked into the Great Hall just as Ron had started shouting at Hermione. By Ron's last sentence, he was practically fuming. Making a quick decision, he ran after Hermione as she ushed past him, tears streaming down her face. He tried to keep up with her and found her in the library's restricted section, sobbing silently to herself.

"Granger? Are you crying?" he asked, approaching her cautiously. "No Malfoy, I'm impersonating a water fountain," she said skeptically, not looking at him. "I-I'm sorry. I saw what happened, an-" he began, but was rudely cut off by Hermione.

"And what? Thought that making fun of me and insulting me while I'm crying will be the most fun thing possible? No thank you, I already feel horrible and I certainly do not need your help," she roared at him between sobs.

Draco clenched his jaw and sat down a few feet from her. "Look Granger, I'm not here to ridicule you, or to jeer at you. I heard what that barmy plonker said, and I saw you crying, so I wanted to make sure that you were okay?" he said. "You wanted to see if I was okay?" she looked puzzled.

"Yeah. And, I wanted to apologize," he said, looking at her.

"Apologize? For what?"

"For making you cry. Several times over the past seven years. I didn't know you, and I didn't know that you were a brilliant witch," he began. "I had always been taught that Muggle-Borns were scum and that they were beneath me. Now I know that it was wrong. Everything that I have ever said to you was wrong, and I'm sorry," he said, his vision blurry with tears that he had been trying to hold back.

Hermione's expression softened and she smiled slightly while drying her eyes. "Um, I forgive you," she said. "And, thank you. For coming here to see if I was okay." Draco nodded and smiled.

Clearing her throat, she stood up. "Um, I need to get my books," she said and left him on the floor. Draco sat there by himself for a few minutes in peace, before remembering to get up and go to his first class.

Hermione cautiously walked into the Great Hall to grab her bookbag and saw that it was mostly empty. She found Ginny and Harry waiting for her to come and get her bag, and she noticed that Ron was nowhere to be found.

Ginny stood up as she saw her approaching, she quickly stood up and ran to embrace her. Harry followed suit and hugged her tightly. Hermione smiled slightly and felt safe in her friends' arms. "Are you okay?" asked Ginny, releasing her. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, smiling. "I'm so sorry. That bloody git. I swear Harry, if you wouldn't have stopped me, I would've blasted him into a million pieces," Ginny said, fuming.

"It's a good thing he did stop you, or you would've gotten into trouble over that idiot. Speaking of idiots," she turned to Harry, "Is he okay?"

"Yeah. He has a broken nose and cut lip," he said, frowning. "That daft bugger. Hermione, you know what he said wasn't true, right? You are the most brilliant witch I have ever met, and if I could do it all over, I'd still pick you as my best friend. If it wasn't for you, none of us would be here," Harry said, holding her hands tightly.

Smiling, she said, "I know that Harry, but, hearing those words from him, it made me feel like maybe they were true. But, I know now, that it's not. He was my first love, and listening to him say those things made me overwhelmed. But I'm fine now. And, we need to get to class. We have Potions first period!" Hermione grabbed her bookbag and lead the way to the dungeons.

UPDATE: Dramione for life!

ScoutGinerva: Thank you so much. And about Lavender and Ron, I'm planning something for them, so, fingers crossed that you'll like it. (They will get along eventually)

Auntie Bees: I'm actually new here, so if that happened, I wouldn't know. If it did happen, and if a mod contacts me, I'll put this story on hold.

Guest: Oh yeah, Ginny is amazing! I've always seen her as the fierce one in the Silver Trio, so I made sure she reflects that here too.

Vision173: I know! I've always thought that he was an absolute idiot when it came to Hermione. He just didn't deserve her, and he never truly appreciated her. But that's just my opinion, and I hope I didn't offend anyone.

scrappy8: Thank you so much :)

Qween87: He has always been one ;)

Bright Dawn: I can't say I agree with you. I think that Hermione has always strived to reach her full potential, and that's just her natural personality. She can't help it. I'm in many ways like her, and honestly, I can't help it either. And as for the statement about them choosing her as friends, that was FATE. If they wouldn't have been friends, she still would've been an amazing witch. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and we have different ones. :)

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Until Next Time,

Cheerio!