After the incident at the lake tensions were high between Draco and Hermione. The latter kept trying to seek him out and talk, but Draco was avoiding her like the plague. He was still embarrassed and ashamed. While he was no stranger to his friends' concern for his drinking habits, he'd always brushed off their warnings. After a while both Blaise and Theo didn't see the point in even trying to warn their friend, instead just opting to take care of him when he was drunk or hungover. Truthfully, they didn't see it as much of a serious problem, neither did Draco. Everybody drank at their age, Draco just drank a little too much sometimes. At least, that's what they'd been trying to convince themselves of.
However, after Hermione expressed concern for him, Draco started really thinking about his habits. He didn't know why her words were the ones that hit him. Maybe it was just the situation they'd found themselves in. Draco couldn't believe he almost died. He was so close to death. If Hermione hadn't been there he would've drowned. Nobody else ever came to the lake either, so who knows if he would've even been found. It was a wake up call for Draco, which regrettably came with its downsides. He felt so foolish, so angry, so hurt. He didn't know how he could ever look Hermione in her eyes again, though he'd probably have to find out soon, as they still had their little project due. He wouldn't have to endure her for much longer, though. Christmas was nearing, which meant their deadline was too. After that, he probably wouldn't see her as much. They'd return to their social circles. Sure, they'd grown closer over the past semester, but the only times they spent the day together was when they were working. Draco feared it was the only thing actively bonding them, even though he didn't want to admit to a bond at all.
Hermione was still worried about her former enemy when she got up the next morning. She even went to breakfast for his sake, hoping to see him. To her dismay he wasn't there. She figured he might've been fighting off the hangover he no doubt had, so she kept an eye out for him the rest of the day. She didn't see him at lunch, around school, or at dinner. Her concern was starting to turn into anger as she realized he'd been purposefully avoiding her. Right after dinner she headed towards the dungeons, determined to give Draco a piece of her mind. On her way there she caught up to Blaise and Theo.
"Hey, boys. Any idea where your idiot friend is? Haven't seen him all day. The bastard seems to be avoiding me." Hermione bitterly revealed.
"He's probably in his room. Come with us, we'll let you into the dorms." Blaise said with a smile.
"Any idea why he's avoiding you?" Theo asked, interest spiking. Draco usually faced his problems head-on. It was out of character for him to be avoiding anyone, especially Hermione, since he's never held his tongue around her before, even when he definitely should have.
"Why do idiots do anything?" Hermione mused back. Draco had made her promise not to tell anyone of the events that occurred the previous night. Hermione reluctantly agreed to it, knowing he'd never forgive her otherwise.
When they reached the Slytherin common rooms, Hermione got a few glares from the students occupying it. Though most Slytherins were used to her presence due to her blooming friendship with Blaise (and Theo to an extent. Draco kept their friendship private) one first year, who no doubt thought it was 'cool' to hate muggle borns, called her a mudblood. Theo glared at the boy, while Blaise was about to give him a piece of his mind, but Hermione stopped him by putting her hand on his chest. She was here for one thing and didn't need any more delays.
Hermione didn't even bother to knock on Draco's door, instead aggressively pushing the door handle down. It didn't budge.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy! Open this door right the fuck now!" Hermione yelled and banged on his door.
"What do you think happened?" Theo whispered to Blaise as they were watching the scene unfold from a slight distance.
"No idea." Blaise whispered back.
"I know you're in there! You cannot fucking ignore me after last night!" Draco's door swung open as he pulled the girl into his room, hurriedly shutting the door behind them. Blaise and Theo looked at each other and quickly made their way to Draco's door, trying to eavesdrop.
"Last night? You think they shagged?" Theo asked.
"It's so unlike Hermione, though." Blaise stated, brow furrowed.
Before either boy could hear anything, Draco cast a silencio.
"Are you completely barmy? Anyone could've heard that!" Draco angrily told Hermione, who rolled her eyes in return.
"Well if you didn't ignore me all day we wouldn't be in this situation! Besides I doubt anyone would've guessed what happened last night even if they did hear." Hermione brushed it off.
"You promised you wouldn't tell!" Draco said angrily.
"And I haven't! Why have you been ignoring me?" Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips.
"You seriously have to ask?" Draco exclaimed. Hermione obviously wasn't going to budge, judging by the look on her face. "Merlin, Hermione. Can you just leave it? It's not like we're even going to see each other in two weeks. Just forget about it, about me!"
The flash of anger that washed over Hermione's face was fierce. Before he knew it, Draco found the back of his head being swatted by her hand. "You blithering idiot, Malfoy! Do you even remember what happened last night? What I said to you?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"So haven't we established that we are friends? That I care about you? Do you think I'm giving you the time of day because of a stupid project? You don't see me befriending Pansy. God, how are you second in our year? Obviously the alcohol has burned most of the brain cells in that thick head of yours-" It was Draco's turn to interrupt.
"I was embarrassed, okay! I just didn't know how to face you." When these words left Draco's mouth, Hermione pursed her lips and looked down. A silence settled in the room.
"You should be embarrassed. It's good that you're embarrassed. Now you see how much of an idiot you are." Hermione said, finally breaking the silence. She shot Draco a playful glance before turning around. With her hand on the doorknob, she glanced at the wall in his room one last time. "You fixed the hole." She commented, unsure of what she meant by it. The last time she was in his room, it ended quite traumatically. She was glad it was different this time.
Hermione had one foot out the door when Draco said one last thing. "Thank you, Granger."
"What are friends for?" Hermione said, back turned to the boy. She walked out of his room, only to see Draco's 2 best friends hovering outside it. She shot them a disapproving glance and shook her head. Blaise shot her a sheepish grin, before making his way into Draco's room. Theo followed.
Once they were sure Hermione was out of earshot, Theo spoke up. "So you're banging Granger?"
Draco was dumbfounded. "Wh- We're not- I didn't-" He stuttered out before collecting himself. He walked up to Theo and smacked the backside of his head. "No, I'm not banging Granger. What on earth would make you think I was? Have you forgotten our past?"
"Exactly, your past. She's known to be quite forgiving." Theo mused. "What's this talk about 'last night' then?"
Draco's heart stopped beating. Had Hermione told them something happened last night? She promised she wouldn't say a word. Draco's face turned, as his anger settled. "What has she told you?"
"Jeez. Were you that bad in bed yesterday? She didn't say anything to me, but she yelled at you for ignoring her today after 'what happened last night'. So what happened?" Theo explained. Relief visibly washed over Draco's face, though he was still a bit agitated about the scene Hermione caused. If other Slytherins overheard and had drawn the same conclusions as his friends, his reputation would go down the drain. And if it somehow made its way to his father, he was a dead man walking. It was no secret it was shameful for Purebloods to socialize with muggleborns, but a whole other level to have intimate relations with them. If Draco's father so much as suspected something going on between the two, he would have his head.
"I swear Draco, if you did anything to hurt her-" Blaise began to threaten. Although Draco was one of his eldest friends, Hermione had grown to be one of his closest. He trusted her with everything. Blaise loved his friends, but some particular topics were hard to discuss with Theo and Draco, but Hermione made it so easy for him.
"Oh calm down, calm down. We didn't shag, nor will we ever. Have you forgotten who I am?" Draco brushed it off, earning another scowl from Blaise.
"Draco, haven't we established that the muggleborn prejudice is bullshit?" Blaise told his friend, who he was getting awfully annoyed with.
"Have you met my father? It doesn't matter what I think, what he says goes." Draco retorted. Blaise knew to drop the subject now that Draco's father had come up. It was an unspoken rule in their friend group to quiet down when speaking about Draco's parents. Draco had never really confided in his friends about specific details, except for a few drunken slip ups that no one ever brought up again, but they knew it was bad.
"Well if you didn't shag, what did you do?" Theo inquired.
"I- we just- I kind of-" Draco's mind scrambled for an excuse. The thought of admitting the truth didn't even cross his mind. "I ran into her after curfew. She was going to take off points so I hexed her before she could."
"No wonder she was so angry. You're an idiot." Theo shook his head. Blaise didn't believe Draco. He knew Hermione better than Theo and knew she could take Draco in a battle. There was no way he could've hexed her. Still, he kept his mouth shut.