Hermione sat with Ginny under the Beech tree in the grounds at Hogwarts in the sunshine just before dinner. The boys were last minute cramming in the library but Ginny had taken the afternoon off, preferring to catch up with Hermione instead who'd arrived the night before. Harry and Ron having both been accepted into and completed the first year of auror training hadn't thought they needed NEWTS but were to their frustration very much mistaken and so were suddenly studying hard.
'So, How was your first year? We've missed you, I mean you weren't here last year but that was so different' Ginny said, glancing out over the lake. The giant squid was preening himself in the sunshine.
'You're always welcome to visit now Gin, see what it's like. It's been good, really good although so hard hiding the magic. Still, not as difficult for me as for' Hermione replied, blushing at the end and quickly changing subject. 'I've missed you and all this too, but escapism, it's just nice'.
'Tell me about it. This whole wedding, we're back under wraps again. It's like war but without the bigoted maniac, just an over enthusiastic and nosey wizarding world instead. Easter was terrible. Thank God I'm at school although I think McGonagall has had to temper the number of owls. Mum's been plagued with reporters, all the old enchantments are back up at home. I know we're young but' Ginny sighed. 'I'll be glad when it's all over'.
'Mrs Potter'
Hermione rolled around laughing, making Ginny smile. 'I know right! And straight out of school too. Mum is flipping but she and dad did it, it's not as uncommon for wizards as muggles. But honestly, I'm trying to study and there's owl after owl with boring things like centrepieces and table places. Will you try and put her off a bit? Five weeks left and I want to enjoy it. Head girl or no head girl George has some tricks he's sent me' she grinned.
'The last of the Weasley's' Hermione said sadly, recognising the end of an era.
'Until round two, but yup. I'm doing it for Fred. All of us really. We've run Hell through this school for nearly twenty years. Time for a Weasley send off' she grinned maniacally.
'Oh, I wish I was here to see that' Hermione laughed. 'Me too. It's not been the same for me without you, although Harry has come every Hogsmeade weekend. I'm so glad you're staying the summer. And don't worry. I won't tell the boys who you're studying with' Ginny said nonchalantly. 'Mmhmm, what? Hermione asked, cottoning on. 'I saw him last night, had to let him in. McGonagall asked how it was going and he glared daggers at me. I just zipped my mouth shut and he stalked off'.
'He's barely spoken to me except'
Hermione stopped as a body stepped in between her and the sun then flopped down beside her
'Except the night you got blind drunk and had to rely on me to rescue you' Malfoy said. 'I wasn't the only one' Hermione retorted sourly but he didn't even look at her as much as she silently willed him to.
'What do you want Malfoy?' Ginny demanded as Hermione coloured. 'I like this tree. Helps me think and believe we have exams tomorrow, although guess you don't need them marrying into the Potter fortune' he replied smoothly, eyes still shut.
'Come on Hermione, suddenly outside isn't as nice anymore' Ginny said, not noticing Hermione had gone bright red. Hermione glanced back but Malfoy was resolutely ignoring the world.
'What an arrogant arse prick git' Ginny seethed, marching back up to the castle. Hermione laughed outwardly although she felt the same. She'd slept with him, damnit and he'd just left without a word. She hadn't seen him since but was trying not to let it bother her. It's not like her head wanted a repeat performance but acknowledgement might have been nice.
'Don't let him get you, not worth the effort' she said quietly.
'You're chilled' Ginny said, mistaking her quietness for indifference and heading back in through the main entrance. 'How's the studying going?' She asked changing subject quickly as Harry and Ron appeared down the stairs.
'Mad. Why are we doing this again? Plus all the second years kept coming up and giggling at us. Can't bloody study' Ron grumbled.
'Ooh, mr famous' Ginny laughed, shoving her brother gently. 'Come on, I'm starving' Ron said.
'Always with the food' Hermione and Ginny chanted at the same time then burst out laughing.
'Too much hilarity here' said a familiar voice from behind them. Hermione swung round and threw her arms around Neville. 'Neville, what are you doing here?' She exclaimed. 'Apart from my exams again you mean? I'm coming to help Professor Sprout for the summer. How do you think the plants survive when there's no students here' he said, returning the hug and shaking hands with the boys. 'I'm not staying, I have a flat in Hogsmeade now but need to chat to Pomona about a few things. Catch up after dinner?' He asked as they all assented.
Saying goodbye, they entered the bustling Great Hall, busier than ever with the returning students and a large first year of all the students who hadn't come the year before. Some of their year had repeated the whole year, Goyle and Dean Thomas among them but some had just returned for the exams. It was the first time anything like this had been agreed too, but given the circumstances the Ministry felt it appropriate to allow those with disrupted education to repeat and McGonagall had been more than happy.
'Look at him just sitting there, how dare he come back. You think he'd have stayed holed up in his Manor like the rest of the year' Ron stated, shovelling food in as per usual. 'Ron. His mother saved Harry. You heard his trial and veritaserum interview. Stop it' Hermione chided.
'Yeah yeah, never going to like the git though' he grumbled. 'No one asked you to like him. Just drop it Ron. In fact' Hermione said, getting up and walking over to where Malfoy was sat alone. She felt everyone's eyes on her but luckily he was sat far enough away from others to not be overheard.
'What do you want Granger' he asked huffily as she sat down opposite him. 'We need to talk' she hissed quietly. 'Do we? Always with the talking are women. Not here. Now as politely as I can, go away' he said a little louder.
'Why?'
She was undeterred by his dismissive attitude. He sighed. 'Just crawl back into whatever ditch you came from' he said loudly as some Slytherins passed and glared at her, hoping she'd notice he wasn't sincere. 'Fine' she snapped, standing up but he caught her wrist and she felt him slip a piece of paper in it without anyone seeing.
'Granger, I' he said as she stood up. 'Save it Malfoy' she interrupted, catching his eye so he knew she got it, then turned on her heel.
'That went well then' Ron remarked as she sat back with them. 'Want me to hex him for you?' He hadn't heard the conversation but their body language gave it away. 'At least I tried Ronald' she snapped before changing subject.
Hermione stalked back up to her room and got on her bed, closing the curtains and letting out a sob. She wasn't upset really, just overwrought with emotion. She wasn't sure how she'd expected him to act but perhaps not as mean as that. She wasn't sure how to do the one night stand thing, she knew that's all it was and that's all she ever wanted but didn't help it was Malfoy. She quickly silenced the drapes although she knew no one else was there and cried for a few minutes, letting all the emotion and tension go. She hadn't allowed herself to think much before then in the past week, out of sight out of mind but seeing him brought back all that drunk regret. She unfurled the paper in her hand. It was blank. She hissed at it, then tapped it with her wand trying a revealing spell. Words appeared instantly. 'Potions, 10pm' was all it said. She screwed it up and set fire to it, sinking back on her pillows.
'Er, Hermione?'
She heard Ginny's voice call tentatively into the dorm.
'Just a minute' she called out, drying her eyes and trying to remove signs of her crying. She really didn't care about the ferret and had expected to be ignored or insulted but it still hurt and she didn't want anyone to suspect he'd made her cry. She didn't even really know why she had.
'Oh here he is, finally decided to grace my ditch with his presence' she started on him as soon as he entered the classroom, late but then she'd never expected him to be on time. He locked the door behind him and strode into the classroom, heading straight for the front.
'Start easy why don't you? What do you expect me to do? You put half those morons fathers in Azkaban, mine included. We're not suddenly about to be best friends.' He said, voice rising.
'So you wanted to save face? Rise above it, you don't need to be who you were anymore' she shouted back exasperatedly.
'I am who I was. I'll never not be that, I can't suddenly forget it all. I don't know how to be. This isn't hearts and flowers, Granger, it was just sex. It happens between adults sometimes. Doesn't have to mean anything'.
He stomped round the desk and paced up and down the front of the classroom. She perched on a desk in the front row and considered him.
'It obviously worked. I could see them all fawning over you from the other end of the table. At least I made an effort and spoke to you compared to those morons, and you still treated me like dirt off your shoe. You think I want it to mean anything when you can't rise above where and to whom I was born? You think I'm pining after you, dreaming of lost love? Give me some credit Malfoy' she snapped.
He stopped pacing and looked at her.
'You know I don't care who's magical now, I just don't need you to speak to me. As for pining, you seem that type. You were mooning over Weasel for years'.
He didn't know what he'd expected but he didn't think she had one offs in her vocabulary.
'Yes, and look how that ended up. I don't lie though, one off was all it could ever be. Not every girl you sleep with is going to pine after you, especially some one as delightful as you. You used me. I used you. Mutual fun' she replied. And it was bloody good, she thought but didn't let that slip. She did not want to go there again no matter how good it was. Since Ron she'd dated and slept with two muggles but despite them being all very lovely she'd fizzled both out as it just seemed perfunctory, preferring to be alone. It was easier. None of it had compared to Draco though but she was not seeking a repeat performance.
'As long as you don't expect anything' he said almost worried as Hermione laughed. 'What, a ring, five children and a dog? Don't think so somehow. Really? From you?'
'Good' he stormed, stopping and looking at her. 'Can I go now please?' She asked huffing.
'Yes. No. Wait' he said, a bit more gently this time. 'I'm sorry' he said eventually, coming a bit closer.
Hermione was taken aback, and just sat there before speaking 'for insulting me or?'
'You were vulnerable, I shouldn't have' he started.
'Shouldn't have what? I wasn't saying no' she replied defiantly.
'You' he said but she interrupted him again. 'I wasn't saying no. I'm not the virginal princess I'm made out to be. You had something I wanted, namely male, relatively attractive and not likely to want anything more or tell anyone. It was a blip, a very good, amazing blip but a blip. Now, can we get back to disdain, or ignorance, or whatever you like but maybe not so mean? I have exams tomorrow and Lord knows I've done enough of them lately'.
He stared wide eyed at her.
'Amazing?'
'Oh don't flatter yourself' she snapped.
He grinned that beautiful smile rarely seen. 'I guess anything would be better than Weasley'.
'Drop the put down Ron act' she interjected angrily, not finishing her sentence as Malfoy closed the gap and kissed her again, hard.
'What are you doing?' She asked, pushing him off quickly.
'Virginal princess?'
He was amused and stood looking down at her, stroking her face.
'Well, it might not be said but definitely thought. Why here?' She asked, confused why they were in their old classroom. He sighed. 'Close to the dungeons' he shrugged.
'So I have to walk further at greater risk ? Figures' she replied.
'Slytherin, Gryffindor. I'm cunning, you're brave. I make you walk further'
He grinned, pulling her tightly into him. She shook her head but felt warm and comfortable wrapped in his arms.
'What are you doing?' She shrieked as his hands roamed down and undid her bra through her clothes. He bent low and whispered in her ear. 'Slughorn's quarters are miles away. I dreamt of you once, bent over on this desk, splayed naked underneath me, writhing and moaning. This very desk' he whispered huskily.
'You dreamt of me?'
'Granger, I was a hormonal 15 year old, I would have shagged anything female with legs. Except perhaps Millicent Bulstrode. Yes definitely not her. But you were sat opposite me in potions, you're not particularly bad to look at and I could see you legs in a tight skirt, I was bored and fell asleep. It was a distraction' he offered as explanation.
'You're despicable' she hissed.
'You want me though. I could tell you what I was doing or I could show you' he replied, leaning over and kissing her again. Oh God, it was like fire. Hermione tried to fight it but she couldn't and gave in to his kisses.
'Was that as good as your dream then?' She asked, sitting up and pushing him off her gently where he'd collapsed on top of her, both of them sated.
'Hmmm, no. Better. Much better' he mumbled sleepily.
'Wake up. We have to get back to our rooms, we have more exams tomorrow'
'Ever the romantic you' he grunted, reluctantly getting up. 'Thought this wasn't hearts and flowers? Bruise your ego by not insisting we cuddle for ages or some such intimate gesture?'
'Oh, I was under no illusions of intimacy when you scratched me' he joked, righting his clothes. She had the grace to look embarrassed but wasn't particularly. Rough had seemed to be the order of the day, not that she minded.
'Until next time Granger' he said swiftly, chastely kissing her on the lips and walking out without a backward glance.
'Bloody arrogant piece of' She fumed, rapping her head to disappear and heading back up to bed.