Hermione collapsed onto the floor in a heap of tears. They weren't really tears of sadness and rejection but tears of happiness. She felt like the world was doing her the biggest favour. She felt all hurt and wounds she had received from Ron disintegrate into nothing. She felt anew and she felt more confident than she'd ever felt in a long time.
She felt strong arms lift her up and she wept uncontrollably as she was carried to her room. She felt herself being tucked in and the covers being wrapped around her.
"Hermione?" Draco whispered moving a strand of hair away from her face. She inhaled a few times and wiped away the tears. "He's gone. No one will ever hurt you like that again."
She sobbed even harder and for the first time. That moment. That single moment in time. Tht second, she realized, she loved Draco Malfoy.
Maybe as a friend. Maybe as a best friend. Maybe even as a brother. Maybe...more?
He wrapped an arm around her and she squeezed his torso and cried into his chest. Her eyes were puffy and her face was flushed and tears were trailing down her cheek. But she never felt better. She had never felt more free.
Hermione walked to her arithmancy class and sat down. It was her last class of the day and she felt eager to finish it and get her homework done.
Professor Vector marched in and began writing on the board. She finally turned to address the class.
"Please take out a quill and a piece of parchment and copy the following." she said before whisking off to her desk.
Hermione reached into her bag and retrieved a quill. She was rummaging for a piece of spare parchment when her finger glazed a coin. She withdrew the coin to discover it was a galleon. It was the Dumbledore's Army galleon. She looked to see Vector still writing at her desk and she set the date for this Friday night at 8.
She smiled to herself and continued the rest of the class in a more cheerful mood.
As Hermione exited the class, she bumped into an excited Neville and Ginny.
"I can't believe it! I'm so glad we're restarting the D.A!" Ginny exclaimed. Neville nodding his agreement.
"I think it's time. Besides, I received a letter from Harry this morning on how glad he is that we're restarting the club." Hermione responded smiling.
"Well I'm glad you're restarting it. I can't wait!" Neville beamed before rushing off.
"Ginny?" Hermione asked nervously. Ginny turned towards her and raised an eyebrow. Hermione cleared her throat. "Well...you know Draco?"
Ginny suppressed a smirk. "Yes I know him."
Hermione fidgeted before replying. "Well he and I have become quite friendly. I think I've told you this but anyways, he does want to be a better person and I want to ask him to join the D.A." Hermione managed to squeak out.
Ginny considered this for a moment. "And you...really trust him enough to ask him to join?!" she asked incredulously.
Hermione nodded firmly but anxiously, as she waited for Ginny's verdict.
"Well…..I don't trust him. Yet, I suppose. But I guess I do trust you and you're a smart girl, you know what you're doing and if you want to ask him, as the leader of the D.A, I fully support you." Ginny sighed. Hermione beamed as she crushed Ginny in a hug.
"Thank you! What would I do without you?" Hermione asked smiling.
Ginny smiled back. "You'd probably be a lost little girl that got out even less." she joked. Hermione laughed and strolled to the heads dorm where hopefully Draco would say yes.
She walked in and found herself, unconsciously doing homework rapidly when Draco tromped in, clad in quidditch robes.
"Tired?" Hermione asked looking up from her parchment.
"Exhausted." he muttered throwing his broom on the floor and dramatically falling beside Hermione.
She growled. "You just messed up my organized essay!" she complained. He feigned fainting and she couldn't help but smile.
He grinned cheekily and threw off some shin pads behind the couch.
"You know you have to pick that up right?" Hermione asked shaking her head.
He groaned. Hermione laughed and swatted his stomach. "You should probably lose some weight."
He looked offended as he replied hastily. "I do not need to lose weight. I have abs and muscles like you wouldn't believe."
Hermione scoffed. "Go clean up! You're sweating near me!"
He grinned wickedly. "Want a hug?" he asked holding out his arms. Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust and picked up her wand.
"Stupefy." she said smiling. He scowled as he was stunned. Hermione happily levitated him to their shared bathroom. She locked the door and placed a charm so that he could come out when he was clean. She removed the spell and she could hear his cries of anger from within.
She laughed to herself and continued with her homework.
When Draco came out half an hour later he looked mock angry at Hermione and snuck up behind her. She felt her books being levitated high where she couldn't reach and her books were packed away and sent to her room.
"Hey!" she said reaching for her wand. With his seeker reflexes, he managed to snatch it away and hold it firmly in his grasp. "Draco I have to finish that essay!"
Draco rolled his eyes. "It's not due till next week! Besides, this is revenge for harassing me!"
"Harassing you?" Hermione asked incredulously. "Me?! I beg to differ! You were being completely unreasonable!"
"Me? And why would I dream of bothering the ever so perfect Hermione Granger?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow.
"I believe you just complimented me." Hermione said laughing.
"I was mock complimenting you." Draco corrected.
"A compliment is a compliment." Hermione said waving a hand. She focused her mind and said a nonverbal spell stupefying him again. He looked furious as Hermione laughed and clutched her sides.
She sympathized him and released him. He looked infuriated as he tackled Hermione to the ground.
She shrieked as they fell and he had her trapped beneath him.
They stared at one another. Brown eyes meeting grey ones. The intensity was indescribable in the most imaginable, magical way. She felt her heart beat speed up and sparks of electricity burst from deep within her. Something she hadn't felt in a long time.
He was so close that she could feel his chest mere cm away from her and his breath mixing with hers.
There was a peck on the window from an owl that effectively snapped them out of their reverie. Hermione gulped and Draco hastily removed himself to go get the owl.
What. Was. That?
The next day passed in complete and utter awkwardness and embarrassment between the two.
Why were things completely strange and abnormal now? Why weren't they acting like they usually were? Why did things happen the way they did last night?
Every time they spotted one another, they were turn red and look away.
Was she blushing? She scowled at her behaviour and forced her hand to copy down the notes Flitwick wrote although she knew the material by heart.
She exited class quickly, trying to avoid Draco. She didn't know why. She still wanted to be his friend but after last night, whatever she felt, it was making things...different between them. Different in a good way or bad...she wasn't sure yet.
At least she had D.A. tomorrow night to distract her. She had decided they would practice patronus' again and then move on to practicing their bat-bogey hexes which she was positive that Ginny would love.
She rounded the corner to see Draco making his way from the other end to their dorm. They both paused and stood to stare at one another for a while before she turned in embarrassment and stalked off to the library.
She longed for when things would go back to normal. Whatever happened last night, was an accident. She couldn't deny the electricity and sparks she had felt but she wouldn't get caught up in lost hope. Not again. She wasn't as vulnerable anymore. Never again.
Hermione walked cautiously towards the empty, abandoned classroom on the seventh floor where they were having D.A., since the Room of Requirement was destroyed.
She walked inside and placed a charm that blocked their voices, locked the door and only D.A members knew the wand movements to enter. That charm had taken a while to teach everyone.
Minutes later, the room was filling in with the other members.
"It's so good to see everyone again." Hermione said when everyone had made their way inside. Everyone smiled in response. Her eyes landed on Ginny and she made a questioning look as she searched the room. She would probably have to answer why Draco hadn't been informed yet.
"Anyways," she said nervously. "I thought since today was the first day, we could just go over some things but I wanted to tell you all why we are restarting the D.A. As you know, death eaters have been back striking again in revenge from the death of their leader. Well, they are particularly targeting people who fought for the ministry. That's why we need to be prepared. So practice your patronus' because the death eaters still have reign over the dementors so we should be prepared. Half way through we'll switch for the bat-bogey hex." Hermione finished. Everyone dispersed and found a partner. Ginny made her way towards Hermione.
She raised an eyebrow in question. Hermione sighed and shook her head. Ginny didn't look satisfied but made her way to practice her patronus.
Hermione inhaled and thought of a happy memory. The thought of Draco so close to her that night brought flutters to her stomach and she muttered the spell and before she knew it, the familiar otter came flying out.
Hermione took a step back in alarm and blinked several shook her head and began circling the room.
She had told them, she would coordinate the meetings with their quidditch practices and let them know when the next one was and after making sure the hallway was clear, she made her way towards her dorm.
She entered carefully and looked around. No one was insight and by no one, she meant Draco.
She hurried to her room as quietly as she could. She reached the door handle when a hand held the door shut and the other on the wall beside her. She slowly turned to meet the grey eyes she had been avoiding for such a long time. She felt exposed and shy as they looked at each other.
"Draco…." Hermione said lightly brushing his hand on the knob. It remained where it was and she found herself lost in his eyes again.
"Why are we ignoring each other?" he asked. Good question, she thought. Because I would like to know as well.
"I don't know." she finally responded.
"Can we stop?" Draco asked sounding desperate. Hermione felt herself sigh in relief and nod. She hugged Draco tightly and felt his strong arms wrap around her. She felt safe again.
"We're so weird." Draco said laughing lightly. Hermione smiled and felt herself refuse to let go.
"I missed you." she breathed inhaling his scent.
"Did Hermione Granger, just say she missed me?" Draco asked sounding amused.
"You ruin every moment." Hermione complained swatting his arm. He laughed and pulled her closer.
"For what it's worth, I missed you too." Draco said sincerely. Hermione felt herself smile and sighed.
"Hermione?" Draco asked shyly. Hermione was taken aback and looked up. He looked awkward and completely self conscious as he stood there. "Why were things so weird and different after...after…?"
Hermione sighed and collapsed on the couch. "I don't know. I think maybe we were so used to being friends and we're really good friends and then we were suddenly in this new, different, out of our comfort zone area and we were shocked. We were caught up in the moment and maybe things trailed off awkwardly. Then we felt embarrassed at the previous event because it was strange and I don't if you feel the same as I do on these events but it was not because of anything I swear and-" she felt his finger press into her lip.
"You're rambling Granger." Draco teased. Hermione scowled.
"I don't like being interrupted!" she snapped. Although there was humour in her eyes.
"And I don't like homework! Life happens." Draco said joining her on the couch.
"Can we promise whatever…...stage of awkwardness between us won't ever happen again?" Hermione asked dreading another time when they would avoid one another.
"Yes. You can count on it. I missed teasing and bantering you for like 2 bloody days!" Draco said teasingly.
Hermione shook her head. "You really know how to ruin a moment."
"I also know how to make one memorable." Draco said smiling as he hugged her tightly.
It felt good to feel safe and normal again. Although, if that owl hadn't come that night and interrupted them, who knows what could have happened. She couldn't help but want...more.
Hermione sat down after their 45 minutes of D.A and wiped sweat off her brow. It was getting chilly but Giurbin had created an obstacle course for their practice for N.E.W.T.'s outside. It was terribly long and when she reached the boggart she had lost major points there.
"Pair up with your House Unity partners and prepare for your first challenge. Remember, the pair with the most winnings will get top grades. Everyone else either gets an average or below. I will explain in a few moments." Giurbin instructed before turning away.
Draco was at her side and sitting down lazily within moments.
"Look Draco, I really want the top grade." Hermione said unable to hold it in anymore. Draco turned his head and a knowing grin spread on his face.
"I do too. We're head boy and girl. The smartest witch and wizard. We'll obviously work our asses off to snag that top grade." Draco said confidently and jokingly.
"Thank you." Hermione said sincerely. Giurbin had cleared his throat and was no speaking again.
"This challenge will be based off of the trust sort of. One partner will be blindfolded while the other must lead them around the castle and the first pair to work together to find the burgundy snitch," Giurbin said monotone as he held up a burgundy snitch for us to see. "Wins the top grade for this challenge. The pair with most wins gets the top grade for your N.E.W.T.'s. The clue to finding the snitch is as follows: I'm small and burgundy as you can see.
I'm, hidden somewhere where words are knowledge.
I'm in the one with the most quantity.
I'm wonderfully transfigured and animated." Giurbin read. Hermione scribbled down the clue. He flicked his wand and Hermione felt cloth cover her eyes tightly and she inhaled sharply.
"Since this is your last class, you have till dinner at 6. Go." Giurbin said expressionless.
"Where shall we start?" Hermione asked looking at wherever she guessed Draco was. She felt his fingers tilt her chin a little to the right and she smiled gingerly.
"Well….it says: Somewhere where words are knowledge." Draco read.
"The library." Hermione said immediately. She could sense him smiling.
"Of course that's the first place you think of." Draco teased. "Alright it sounds right. Let's go." He grabbed her hand and led her out of the room. She felt perfectly at ease at being led by Draco Malfoy. She had no doubt she would reach the library.
"We're reaching a staircase." Draco said suddenly as they came to a stop. She felt a wave of fear for a flicker of a second. She felt Draco's hand hold hers tightly and his body going lower than hers. She took a step carefully and felt her foot reach solid ground. His body went lower and then hers followed. They repeated that sequence until they were safely at the bottom.
"That took forever." Hermione said anxiously. "What time is it?"
"Four," Draco answered. They continued walking. In the distance they could hear partners bickering and yelling at one another.
"I'm glad we're not them." Draco said before announcing they were in the library.
"Okay. It says they're in the one with most quantity." Hermione said off her memory.
"Quantity means the amount, less or more. Maybe the most expensive book?" he asked sounding confused.
"All Hogwarts' books are fairly old and aren't all that expensive." Hermione replied.
"Oldest? Maybe it's referring to-" Draco said before he stopped. She felt confused before he continued. "It's probably referring to how many pages are in the book." Draco whispered excitedly. Hermione grinned and reached for his hand as he led them to Madam Pince.
"Miss. Granger, how can I help you and ?" Pince asked sounding surprised at the pair.
"Can we have the thickest book you have in this library?" Hermione asked politely.
"Of course." she said sounding surprised. She whispered an incantation and heard Draco thanking her and accepting the book.
"On friendly terms with the librarian are we?" Draco asked as he led them to a table.
"I see her a lot and she sees me." Hermione shrugged.
"It's not here!" Draco said sounding frustrated. "It's not in the book! Where else could most quantity be referring to?"
"Oldest maybe? You suggested it earlier. How about you go ask Pince for the oldest books in the library and we'll check all of them. Hand me the thickest one and let me feel through." Hermione suggested. She felt the heavy book fall into her hold and disappearing footsteps.
She fingered through each page and felt annoyed that she couldn't see nor help in the finding of the book. So all she could do was use her brain and help. She fanned through the pages and finding nothing felt disappointed.
She heard returning footsteps and the sound of books dropping to the table.
"Bloody hell Hermione. These books are heavy! How do you carry them around for pleasure? I read, but not obsessively." Draco remarked. Even though he couldn't see, she rolled her eyes.
"I know you're rolling your eyes." Draco said knowingly. Hermione could feel the smirk vibrating off of him.
"How did you know?" Hermione asked nevertheless surprised. Draco laughed.
"That's the typical Hermione intuition." he said. Hermione laughed.
"And I can feel you smirking." she said smiling.
"This banter is amusing and all and I'd love to continue later, but I do want a good mark as much as you." Draco reminded. Hermione jerked straight and felt ashamed at how off topic he had gotten her.
"It's already 5." Draco said sitting down.
"Okay. Hand me half of the books and we can flip through the pages in search for the blasted snitch." Hermione said eagerly flipping through. Draco laughed but obeyed.
"Don't forget the last line of the poem is "I'm wonderfully transfigured and animated."" Hermione said paging through a lengthy book.
After 30 minutes, they had come to another dead end.
Draco groaned in exasperation.
Hermione sighed. She also wished she could see. Seeing things brought things to her attention. The vibrant colour and depth and design in pictures that were real and live before her. Picture. Colour. Burgundy snitch!
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed standing up abruptly. Realization settled into her face.
"What? What's wrong?" Draco asked in alarm.
""I'm small and burgundy as you can see. It means the snitch as we know.
I'm, hidden somewhere where words are knowledge. Library, we've covered that.
I'm in the one with the most quantity. You are right! I'm positive it means thickest.
I'm wonderfully transfigured and animated. It means pictures. So the burgundy snitch, which is different from the regular one and easy to isolate, is in the library, in the thickest book, on a picture!" Hermione whispered excitedly.
She could tell Draco was beaming. "And by transfigured it probably meant, Giurbin had transfigured the snitch into a picture and we can transfigure it out!" he replied fumbling for the thickest book again.
Hermione anxiously waited, knowing that time was ticking by.
"Hermione!" Draco cried happily as the blind folds disappeared. She was glowing as she saw the burgundy snitch that had been transfigured out by Draco. She leaped into Draco's ready arms and hugged him fiercely. He hugged her back, the snitch fluttering against her back. He pulled back enough to see her face.
"We better return this to Giurbin." Draco grinned. Hermione nodded and they raced back to the D.A.D.A classroom. She was absolutely thrilled with their progress.
"Hanging with a mudblood are we Malfoy?" a voice sneered. They turned to see Flint standing there arrogantly with 2 other Slytherins. She saw Draco move slightly in front of her to block her. She felt herself shatter at his gesture.
"Back off Flint. I wouldn't think of anything funny." Draco threatened.
"What's funny is what a muggle lover you've become and how you've stooped so low. It's sickening and ashaming." Flint growled advancing slightly. Hermione pulled out her wand. They were outnumbered but she wasn't giving up without a fight.
"Back off," Draco warned. She could see his muscles tense up and how angry he was getting.
"Make me." Flint breathed evilly.
"Leave it Malfoy. Go win that top grade with Granger. I have some unfinished business I have with...permanent scowl over here." Zabini's voice echoed from behind. They turned to see Zabini and Nott standing there with angry looks on their faces.
"Come on," Draco said tugging on her arm. Hermione followed. "Thanks." he added to the other two.
They rounded the corner and Hermione leaned into Draco. It was times like this that she could evidently see the change in him.
Author's Note
Hope you enjoy and I'm so sorry for the slow updates. Thank you for the support anyways.
Reviews?
