10.
12. 25. 94
Sleep did not come easy to Hermione that night, even though her tired body was begging for it. Her thoughts were running a mile a minute. Lisa had already been in bed when she had got to their dorm, as had Padma and Su. She would have to tell them what happened tomorrow. Though, she couldn't quite wrap her mind around it either.
Lisa confronting her had come as a shock, even more so had been Malfoy's help. The only thing she had decided out of her eventful night was that kindness, though foreign on Malfoy's face was not an unpleasant sight.
'I must be going mad if that's what's going on in my head right now.' she thought to herself, pressing her face into her pillow.
She'd have to speak with Dumbledore tomorrow. Disturbing the headmaster on Boxing Day wasn't ideal, especially with how he had been going about with the sherry alongside Trelawney, but it had to be done. A letter would have to be penned to her father as well, just as a precautionary measure.
She was going to skin Justin alive for all her trouble.
11. 26. 94
Hermione sighed tiredly as she left the headmaster's office. Her watch told her that it was already half-past nine, Sleep had almost been non-existent the night before, and she had woken up in the early hours of the morning, unable to shut her eyes again. A sane person would not be awake until noon the day after Christmas, and though she was entirely sure that Albus Dumbledore was not a sane person, she assumed he would still be asleep.
And she had been right, as she was most of the time, because after she had let out a bit of steam in her studio, finishing a rather angry ballet set, and freshened up, Hermione had trudged up to the Headmaster's office and found the wizard freshly out of the bath and sipping on a hot cup of lemon tea with his head cradled in his hands, vowing to his phoenix never to drink again.
It would have been quite a funny sight had she not been in her state of distress.
Dumbledore had taken her news rather well, though the serious look on his face begged otherwise. It seemed as though the old wizard had been expecting something to happen sooner or later, and although he was quite thankful she had handled the situation well, he would have to place a few Floo calls and call Miss Turpin to his office just in case.
Against her better judgement, just as she was going to take her leave, Hermione had allowed herself to say, "Headmaster? Draco Malfoy knows as well."
At her late admission, the man's brows shot up over his spectacles.
"And what did Mr Malfoy say, my dear?" he asked, sounding curious and worried at the same time.
"He said he would keep my secret - he made a Wizard's Oath." she said, frowning at the memory, "Sir, Malfoy has never been shy about showing his disdain for me and muggleborns as a whole, but recently he's been acting odd. I don't know what to make of it."
Dumbledore hummed knowingly, "Perhaps Mr Malfoy has found other things to attract his disdain, or maybe he has lost it altogether."
"But Sir, the Malfoy have always been -"
"Do not be so quick to put people in boxes, Lady Percy." Dumbledore smiled, "After all, is that not what he has been doing to you?"
Hermione quieted, feeling more confused than she had been a few moments ago.
"You may leave, Lady Percy, I'm sure your father would like to hear of this new development."
"Yes, Headmaster." she said, inclining her head respectfully before leaving.
And that was how she found herself alone in the Great Hall, writing a letter to her father, and a separate one to her mother, where she had included photographs of the night before - courtesy of a Gryffindor boy by the name of Colin Creevey.
It was an odd sight, seeing the Great Hall empty, even the houelves seemed to have gotten a late start to the day, only coming up to offer her tea and toast, which she had accepted gratefully.
She was walking to the Owlery, letters in hand, when Cedric bumped into her. He had a sticky bun lodged in between his lips, but other than that, looked nothing out of the ordinary, in jeans and a thick mustard jumper. A playful grin appeared on his face when he saw that it was her. His eyes roved over her figure, taking in the plaid black and blue wool skirt, the tight turtleneck sweater and the black tights.
"You look awfully put together for someone who was out dancing until the late hours of the night." he grinned, keeping up with her brisk pace easily.
"When have I ever not looked put together?" she grinned in return. "Also, do I not get a 'good morning'?"
He laughed, and placed a quick peck on her cheek, making her blush. Hermione had learned quite quickly that Cedric was a very affectionate person, and although his pecks and embraces were not unwelcome, she had yet to get used to it - something he knew all too well and had taken it upon himself to draw a blush out of her any chance he got.
"Morning, Princess," he said, "so, where are we going?"
"The Owlery." she said, thoughts back to her original objective, "I've a few letters to send."
"I can see that." he said, eyeing the envelopes in her hand, "Couldn't it have waited until later in the day?"
She shrugged, "I couldn't get back to sleep earlier and figured it was a good a time as any."
"Have you had anything to eat? You look a bit knackered, love." Cedric said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
She huffed indignantly, all too aware of the darkness under her eyes and her less than perfect hair, "I just need a bit of sleep. I've had tea and a bit of toast already, aren't you going down for breakfast?"
"I'll go later." he shrugged as he waved his sticky bun at her, "Nicked it from the kitchens before I left."
"I see that," she smiled knowingly, "I honestly don't know how you aren't three hundred pounds with all the food you keep stealing from those poor elves."
"Quidditch," Cedric grinned as they began the short trek up to the Owlery.
He received a scoff in reply, "Unfair! All you do in Quidditch is sit on a borom! I have to do hours of ballet to stay in shape!"
"You do ballet?" Cedric asked, an intrigued look on his face.
"Not the point, Cedric!" she huffed.
"Well, Quidditch is intense, and ballet is just dancing." he said this with a scrunched nose and a frown, making her simmer with annoyance.
"It isn't just anything. Ballet is more strenuous than most sports."
The Hufflepuff opened his mouth to reply, but upon seeing the growing ire on the witch's face, taught better of it. "Whatever you say, love."
Hermione huffed, knowing full well that he didn't understand at all.
12. 31. 1994
Hermione sighed as a shadow fell over her sketchbook. She had taken to drawing in the library recently because Cedric had become increasingly intrusive on where she disappeared to all the time. He reminded her quite a lot of Godric when he was a wee pup, always following her around and wanting to play - except the puppy was a sinfully handsome Hufflepuff and play to him meant stealing a kiss every moment he could
.
"Give me a minute, Cedric, I'm trying to finish this." she said, not even looking up.
"I'm not your boyfriend, Granger." came an unexpected voice.
Hermione's head shot up and her hand twitched making her wince at the dark line that appeared across the drawing of the library. She resisted the urge to erase the error immediately, choosing instead to set the charcoal pencil down.
"Malfoy," she said politely, though a creeping suspicion filled her at the sight of him, "how unexpected."
The Slytherin smiled shyly - an expression she had seen so rarely on his face, it made him look quite charming if she was being honest - less pinched.
"Yes, well," he lifted his hand to run it over his silver hair, "Everyone's left the library for the New Year's feast."
A quick survey of the abandoned room proved his words to be true. She quickly started packing her things up. "Thank you." she said with a small smile, "If you hadn't come up to me I might've missed the entire evening."
"It's nothing." he said as his gaze fell to her sketchbook. "You're quite good you know."
Hermione refrained from displaying the surprise on her face upon receiving the compliment, "Thanks, I should be, I've been drawing for years."
He nodded, looking as though he genuinely understood.
"Can I walk you to the Great Hall?" he asked suddenly, as she finished fixing her things.
This time, she couldn't stop her brows from raising, "Why?' she asked, eyes narrowed.
The boy merely shrugged, "No special reason."
"I'm sorry for saying I don't trust you, Malfoy." she said flatly, making him sigh in exasperation.
"I'm trying to make up for things, all right Granger? So give me your bag and let me walk you to the Great Hall." he said, extending his hand out expectantly.
Hermione couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her, "I don't think that's the proper way of going about this, Malfoy."
Draco sighed heavily, "Look, Granger, I know we aren't friends," at the peal of laughter that escaped her at his words, he shot her a look to silence her, "and I know I've been horrid to you all these years. But … I'm trying to change that. Something happened recently that's made me rethink about a few things, and well, I'm trying, alright? That's all you're getting out from me."
Hermione stared at him in shock, not quite sure about what she had been expecting. "I don't quite know what to say to that."
"Give me your ruddy bag, Granger." he muttered, awkwardly still holding up his hand.
Still a bit confused, she handed him her satchel, which he took and slung over his shoulder, then, he offered his arm to her, looking a little embarrassed, though she was quite pleased with it. No one had offered their arm to her in all her years in Hogwarts - excluding Cedric when he was feeling silly.
They slowed to a stop in front of the Great Hall, just out of sight of the rest.
"Thank you." she smiled, allowing her hand to fall to her side. He handed over her book bag, a small smile on his face.
"You're welcome."
"You know," Hermione said as she started to walk into the Great Hall, "You could start with an 'I'm sorry' before you go demanding to carry witches' bags for them.
He glared at her, "Baby steps, Granger."
Her laugh echoed through the halls as she disappeared into the Great Hall, sending a shiver down his spine. His arm was still warm where she had wrapped her hand around it, and his heart was beating rapidly in his chest.
That had gone better than he could have planned.
He was glad he hadn't stumbled over his words too much - which was to be expected since he had spent the whole morning rehearsing what he was going to say.
Draco had came to a decision two days prior about starting to make amends with Granger - the idea spurred on by the sight of her and Diggory on the steps of the Entrance Hall.
He had stumbled upon the couple on the way to lunch, and disregarding his Slytherin sensibilities, spied on the pair. Diggory had lifted Hermione up on the marble railing and was trying to pry a kiss from the witch, who kept glancing around uncomfortably.
He knew that look - she had been uncomfortable with how affectionate Diggory was being in public - in his own family and upbringing, displays of affection were kept to a minimum, and most especially, private. Draco had been somewhat smug about the fact that Diggory was having to work for a snog, but that smugness died quickly when the Ravenclaw had surrendered and pressed her lips against the other boy's - stopping only when she heard footsteps coming from the floor above.
Draco had glared at the back of Diggory's head all throughout lunch. Hadn't the tosser realized that Granger had been uneasy?
He didn't know what she saw in him.
a/n: Terribly sorry for my absence! I've been quite busy lately and just haven't had the time. I posted a new story yesterday for those who are interested. It's a Xover fic with Hermione in the Hobbit. Check it out if you want.