A/n: now, i might be taking longer to update because I'm gonna start making like three chapters at a time before updating one. So i apologize in advance for the long wait.
After the ball, Draco and Hermione have been having awkward moments. Whenever they're close together, they look lost, like they don't know what to do. Now in the beginning of November, winds picked up and it got chillier. In Potions class, everyone was sitting in there seats in silence. "Using the ingredients on the board and the directions in your text books, you all will pair up and make this potion correctly."
From the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Neville look her way. She really did not want to pair with Neville. "Although" Professor Snape continued. "I have chosen your pairs for you." (You know what comes next!) He picked up a parchment and read aloud. "Potter-Parkinson, Weasley-Longbottom, Patil-Crabbe, Finnigan-Goyle, Granger-Malfoy..." At the start of the list, everyone yelled in protest and groaned in disappointment. But when they heard that Hermione and Draco were paired together, they fell silent.
After the ball, no one thought that Hermione and Draco could be trusted alone together anymore. Everyone started to walk to their partners but they all kept their eyes on Hermione and Draco. Sitting next to him, Hermione took out her textbook and went to the page that was written on the board. "I'll go get the stuff" Draco mumbled. Hermione readied the cauldron and studied the directions.
When Draco came back with the ingredients, the two started the potion in silence. "Damn" Hermione whispered. "Hey, can I borrow a quill?" she asked. Hearing her voice, everyone looked over at them. Ignoring them, Draco dug into his bag and took out an extra quill. He passed it to her and she let out a light "Thanks." She began to write and pretended that no one was looking at her.
Draco was placing the ingredients in the cauldron and Hermione took notes. When Draco was about to put in an ingredient at the wrong time, Hermione grabbed his wrist to stop him. At this, everyone whispered. "You have to add the wolf's tooth before the elf's bone." she whispered. He nodded and put the small bone down. He applied the ingredients in the correct order again.
A few minutes later, Professor Snape spoke again. "If you're group is done, you will have to test it on one another and take notes on the outcome." Looking at their silvery potion, Draco and Hermione looked at it and back at each other. "You're going first" Hermione stated. Shaking his head, Draco retaliated, "No way, you're first." "Rock, paper, scissors?" Draco had a blank stare on his face. "What?"
It took a few seconds to teach Draco how to learn the game. Then they started. "1..2..3..shoot." they said. Draco had rock, Hermione had paper. She covered his hand with hers. "2 out of 3 ok?" He nodded. "1..2..3..shoot." Hermione had rock and Draco had scissors. She lightly hit his hand with hers. "One more." she stated. "1..2..3..shoot." Draco had scissors and Hermione had paper. "I still win" Hermione said smugly.
Shrugging, Draco kept his eyes at the potion. Hermione carefully poured some of it in a test tube and passed it to Draco. "Cheers" he said sarcastically. He gulped it down and put the tube down. "How do you feel?" Hermione asked, notebook and quill at the ready. "I don't really feel any different." he said. Frowning, Hermione looked into the cauldron. "I don't see what could've went wrong."
"Did you miss something?" Draco shook his head. "Maybe this is supposed to happen. Because we don't even know what this is supposed to do" he reasoned. Taking this to thought, she agreed. "Maybe it's a truth potion. Ask me a question." Thinking, she decided to think of a question that would make him want to lie. She came close to him, ignoring the watchers, and asked, "Did you like what happened at the ball?"
With that question asked, he wanted to lie. But he was not sure if this was a truth potion. But he took his chances. "N-n-yeah." That was it. He wanted and was going to say no. Although when he was about to say it, he felt as if he was being forced to answer correctly. He was so thankful that his answer came out as a whisper.
Hermione's eyes widened. She started to scribble something in her notebook. She didn't want to take the potion now. She stood, went to a nearby sink and poured a cup of water. She went back to the table and gave it to Draco. "It helps it wear off faster" she simply said. He drank the water and she pretended to be writing something in her notebook. "Your turn" he said once he realized what Hermione was doing.
She groaned, but made little resistance. She took a fresh test tube of the potion and gulped it down. From the look on Draco's face, he wanted revenge on the question she asked. "How do you feel?" he asked. "Well, I sorta feel kinda bubbly" she giggled. He took his own notebook and wrote this down. "Bubbly? Why would you feel bubbly?" "I don't know. I just do" she continued to giggle.
"Ok? Umm...well then, do you feel any different toward Weasley now?" he asked. Hermione's giggling stopped. "Yes. Now I think he's even more of a git then I thought before. But I guess I have to remember that he's still my best friend, no matter what he does." Draco wrote something down. "Er...What about Potter?" "Hey, I only asked you one question" she said, angrily. "Just answer the damn question." Sighing, she answered. "I have no problem with Harry. I just wish he was on my side more." He wrote something else down in his notebook.
Then Hermione stood up. "Where are you going?" Draco asked. "To get some water." Draco took hold of her arm. "No you're not. I still have some questions for you." She snatched her arm away. "Okay. Ask me later." Draco crossed his arms and pouted. She came back a minute later with a cup of water in her hands. "Stop being such a baby" she said once she saw Draco's facial expression. "I'm not being a baby" he said. The period bell suddenly rang.
Hermione gathered her things and left the classroom amongst the whisperers. Blaise came up to Draco while he packed up. "Hey" he said. Draco looked up at him. "Hey." Draco put his bag over his shoulder and walked with Blaise out of the classroom. They headed to Transfiguration class and sat in their seats. Blaise glanced over at Draco for a second before searching for his notebook.
Thinking she was totally oblivious, Draco stared at Hermione for the longest time. She knew he was watching her, she just didn't say anything. It made her uneasy at first but she got used to his eyes on her. She pretended she didn't know that he was watching her just so he can look at her even more. Susan saw Draco staring and nudged Hermione. "Er...Malfoy is looking at you" she whispered. Hermione turned her head but looked in Blaise's direction instead of Draco's.
She turned back to her notebook and giggled softly to herself. She continued with her notes until Professor McGonagall stopped them and assigned them their homework. "Now class, this assignment is due one week from today. Late assignments will not be accepted." Professor McGonagall assigned a foot and a half long essay on the difference between object, animal and human transfigurations. Harry and Ron were highly disappointed at this. They mumbled to each other and Harry laughed a little.
Charms wasn't much different. It wasn't that interesting. Professor Flitwick wanted to review as many charms he had given throughout all seven years as he could. He announced he would be doing that for a while. "Which year should we review today?" he asked the class in his squeaky voice. Since no one replied, he chose. "How about year one?" The class groaned and sucked their teeth.
He had given out feathers to every student and smiled. "Brings back memories doesn't it?" "Let's try not to blow our feather up this time Finnigan" Dean Thomas laughed. Seamus gave his friend a dirty look. "If you all remember so clearly, let's levitate our feathers so we can advance to later years then." As if on cue, the entire class spoke as one in saying "Wingardium Leviosa" and levitating their feathers.
Professor Flitwick sighed and looked through his book for another charm. Through the whole day, the class had only reviewed two first year charms and one second year charm. The class was quite chatty, considering no one was interested in the lesson. Hermione walked side by side with Harry and Ron in the hallway. "Well, that was purely boring." Ron commented. "I never expected a review on the charms we had done in all seven years." Harry said, agreeing with Ron.
"I was sort of expecting it but I personally think that it's a waste and helpful at the same time. But that's just me" Hermione mentioned, joining the conversation. "But McGonagall was..." Ron groaned, "A foot and a half?" "She's giving us a week. You can get it done by then" she said. "Maybe you can but I doubt I can." he said dully, "I just wanna go eat. C'mon, before the good stuff is taken."
Harry followed quickly behind as Hermione continued to go at a walking pace. She can see the great oak doors leading to the Great Hall up ahead. When she was passing a broom closet, she felt something tug her into it. The closet door closed and she couldn't see a thing. "Hello?" she half whispered. She felt along the narrow walls of the closet and found a light switch. A dim light turned on and she suddenly saw Draco's face.
She jumped and touched her heart. "What the hell? Are you trying to give me a fucking heart attack?" she asked, breathing deeply. Draco put his index finger over his lips. Hermione's eyebrows furrowed. "What am I doing here Draco?" she asked, looking around the dusty, wood closet in disgust. "I have questions for you" he simply said. Hermione realized what he was saying and rolled her eyes.
"Not now!" she said. "Yes now" he argued. "I have questions and I would like answers." Seeing that he wouldn't give up anytime soon, Hermione gave in. "Fine. And question one is...?" Smirking triumphantly, Draco started. "What did you think of that night at the ball?"
Hermione was now silent. She was debating whether to tell the truth. He had told her the truth on the subject, even if he was forced to. She doesn't have to tell him the truth right now. It would be unfair though.
After a silence, she spoke. "I-I guess I liked it a little." she mumbled. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Okay. I liked it a lot. Next question please." "If you could, would you do it again? With me?" Hermione was speechless. She looked up at him as he slowly stepped closer to her. Her mouth open a little, she gaped at him. "Well?" he whispered. "I...I. " She was unable to finish. Draco touched her cheek and softly placed his lips on hers.
The kiss was long, slow and gentle. It felt like an eternity that they had been standing there. When the finally parted to breathe, Hermione still couldn't say anything. She gazed into his eyes and asked softly, "What are we doing?" Looking down at her, Draco replied, "Something we both have been wanting to do all year." Looking to the ceiling for a second, she smiled and said, "Right."
The two didn't know how long they had been standing there. But by the time they had left the broom closet, students were departing from the Great Hall. "Shit" the two said in unison. They grabbed their bags and left for their next class with an empty stomach. The rest of the day went by dully. When Hermione had her free period, she went straight to the library to work on her Transfiguration essay.
Harry and Ron found her at one point and sat with her. "Hey 'Mione, where were you at lunch?" Ron asked. Hermione tried her best not to stammer or get her words or story mixed up. She did what anyone else would've done: change the subject. "Are you guys gonna work on your essays at anytime today?" Harry and Ron exchanged glances and looked back at Hermione. "It was assigned a few hours ago Hermione. And where were you at lunch?" Ron pushed.
Hermione still didn't say anything. She continued to write and when she stopped, she said, "I'm gonna take a break. Talk to you guys later." She stood, gathered her things and left very surprised, and confused Harry and Ron. She dropped off her things in her bedroom and changed out of her uniform. Into a pair of jeans, a pink t-shirt and white sneakers, she felt so much more comfortable than the school uniform.
She jogged downstairs and tripped over something. She rolled on the floor and looked up at Crabbe and Goyle's round faces. "What the hell?" Hermione stood up and dusted herself off. "Have you ever learned manners?" she said, angrily. They crossed their arms and stood straight like they were two guards ready to kick someone out. "Hey, I'm looking for my book. Have either one of you seen it?" Draco asked as he strolled down his own staircase. He looked from Crabbe, Goyle and Hermione who had had her hands on her hips.
"What's up Hermione?" he asked. He was messing with the collar of his black, cotton shirt. "Never mind. I'm going for a walk. I'm gonna be back for the rounds okay?" Draco nodded and watched her leave.
Draco straightened his shirt and picked up the book he was looking for. He headed out the common room with Crabbe and Goyle and headed toward the entrance. They passed a few second years who fled when they saw them. "You guys can go, I'm going to catch up on something" Draco dismissed. Crabbe and Goyle grunted and left by themselves as if uncomfortable to be walking the halls by themselves.
With his book, Draco left to the library to do his Transfiguration. After finishing half of it, he set it down and decided to continue to another time. He checked the library clock and noticed it was almost time for dinner. Hermione said she'd be back for rounds. Does that mean she'll be gone after dinner as well? He hoped not. The only thing that was passing his mind was the kiss he and Hermione shared earlier.
They had done it before at the ball but then they didn't know what they were doing. This time they were aware of their actions. He sighed and headed back to the common room to get ready for dinner. He walked down to the Great Hall and sat at his table. He noticed Hermione sitting with Ginny, Lavender, Parvati, and several other girls from Gryffindor.
At the Gryffindor table, the girls surrounded Hermione. "'Mione, we didn't see you at lunch. And the broom closet outside is always open. But I noticed that it was locked. What's up with that?" Parvati asked with a raised eyebrow. Hermione blushed and shook her head. "I have no idea. And I had things to do during lunch so...I couldn't make it." All the girls looked at each other and shared a "Mmm hmm."
Tucking her hair behind her ears, Hermione quickly glanced at Draco through Ginny and Lavender's slim figures. "Spill. Who were you with?" Ginny asked. Laughing, Hermione shook her head again. "I wasn't with anyone." she lied. "Hermione, you are a horrible liar. Now tell." Lavender commented. Trying her best to not look at Draco, Hermione did not tell. "Fine, then we'll ask every guy in Gryffindor." Parvati stated.
Hermione's jaw fell open. "Excuse me? You'll be doing no such thing." Lavender and Parvati did not listen. Lavender raced to the northern part of the table and Parvati headed for the southern part. Lavender reached Ron and whispered something in his ear. He nodded at what she said. Lavender smirked and strutted to Hermione. "That was easy. You could've just admitted it was Ron." Instead of her jaw falling open, she closed her mouth and her jaw clenched. "Well, then Ron is being a liar. I have never been with him. Plus, he was here at lunch." she said angrily. Lavender turned her head and glared at Ron.
"Then it was someone from a different house then?" Ginny asked. Hermione's lips moved but no words were coming out. She decided to just ignore them and eat. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten a complete meal. She had just realized how many lunches and dinners she had missed during the year. So she did something that she had thought she would never do: She ate like Ron for the first time.
By the end of dinner, Hermione left immediately. She ran through the hallways to the common room and collapsed on the couch, out of breath. A few minutes later, Draco entered the room as well and looked down at the tired Hermione. "Er...what happened to you? Ran the hundred meter dash?" She looked at Draco and rolled off the couch.
"No. I want to go the Pensive Room tonight. I feel like we're making progress." Draco didn't agree. After they go into the pensive, they never discuss it. How is that making progress? He was sure her head was still as blank as Professor Bins chalkboard. He agreed nonetheless and left into the Pensive Room with Hermione. An uncomfortable silence fell upon them as they gazed at the silvery substance.
"We've been through this before. Let's just go" Hermione said finally. She and Draco went into the pensive and landed roughly in a shady place. They stood up and realized they were standing in leaves. Hermione felt her knees get weak. They were standing in the wood Hermione had been in her dreams. Even just the crinkling of the leaves made her heart race. "Why are we here?" Draco asked. His face dropped when he saw Hermione's face pale.
In the distance, they heard laughing and cheerful screams come toward them. Draco turned and saw Young Hermione and Virginia running toward them. He backed away slowly and once they came close to him, they ran through him. He gasped. He took Hermione's arm and said, "C'mon, let's go after them." She looked at him and nodded slowly. She started to run next to him and chased her seven-year-old self.
Her heart raced and she began to get scared. This place gave her the absolute creeps. Pretty soon, she and Draco were behind Young Hermione and Virginia. "Hey Mimi, how much you wanna bet I make it to the Houston waterfall before you?" Virginia said to Young Hermione, slightly out of breath. Young Hermione shook her bushy head. "No way. I'll get to Houst-" Young Hermione tripped on something and fell to the ground.
Present Hermione suddenly stopped and watched. Young Hermione tried to get up but couldn't. "Hey, I'm stuck!" she yelled. Virginia came over to her. "How are you stuck?" she asked, looking down at her. "I don't know. But can you at least help me?" Virginia went on her knees and tried to help her friend up. No luck. It seemed like hours before Virginia had gotten Young Hermione to her feet.
By the time she had stood, it was dark, and windy. "Oh no" Virginia said. The wind grew stronger and now leaves and twigs hit their arms and faces. She took hold of Young Hermione's arm and helped her run away from the windy place. Then the scene faded away to a bright and sunny day. Preferably the day after the windy night in the woods. Young Hermione skipped to a brightly colored house with a large, well kept lawn.
She rang the doorbell and Virginia answered. "Yes" she asked. "You wanna go down to Crail street? I hear a street fair is being set up." Virginia scowled. "No. Sorry Mimi but I wanna be left alone today." Young Hermione's face fell but she kept her cheery tone up. "Oh, come on Gingy. It'll be great fun. Promise." "You can't promise that. People around here always tell promises they can't keep. Plus, I want to be left alone."
Young Hermione tugged lightly on Virginia's pajama sleeve. "Please, Gingy. I don't wanna go alone." "Then don't go at all. Now leave me alone" she snapped before closing the door. Young Hermione stood there, gaping at what had just happened. She guessed she should leave so she slowly turned around and left the lawn.
Everything so far was reminding Hermione greatly of her nightmares. She didn't like it at all. "Wait a minute" Draco said. "That can't be it." Confused, Hermione stared at him. "What do you mean?" Draco glanced at her and walked onward toward Virginia's home. He walked through the door and gestured to Hermione to follow him. She did so and looked around Virginia's living room. It seemed familiar but not so much to Hermione.
Portraits of Virginia alined the yellow walls of the livingroom. A beige, leather couch alongside the east wall of the room and a fair sized t.v. screen along the west side. On top of the t.v. were smaller pictures of Virginia and her mother, Virginia and her father, and pictures of Virginia and her friends. Draco paid no attention to this. He first went up the stairway and looked around. He went through one door and found his destination: Virginia's room.
A baby blue colored room, a high-raised bed with a white canopy hanging over it, white bar headboard with blue and pink flowers painted on it. The room seemed girly compared to the way Virginia acted. Draco spotted her in the corner, hunching over a wooden desk. He and Hermione walked over to her and looked over her shoulder. She was holding her necklace; her prized possession. She lightly touched the red, overgrown heart that hung on the chain. Up close, the red heart look extra fake.
"There's something about that necklace I find strange" Draco stated. Hermione looked at him and saw a look of concentration. She looked at the necklace as well. "Hmm...witches and wizards, spells and wands. Are those even real?" Virginia mumbled. She closed her eyes tight. Both Draco and Hermione furrowed their eyebrows, obviously lost. But they realized what it meant when the room started shaking violently.
As if during an earthquake, Hermione held onto Draco and hid her head in his chest. Pictures on the walls fell and pillows jumped. After a few seconds, the shaking stopped. Hermione released Draco a little and looked around and the minor damage Virginia had caused on her bedroom. "Oh my God" Hermione whispered. "Virginia is a witch?" Draco looked down at her and squeezed her hand lightly. "Let's go. I think I got something." Hermione rested her head on his chest and nodded.
The baby room disappeared and a dim, candle lit room replaced it. Hermione took her head off of Draco's chest and let go of him. She looked aimlessly around the room. "Hermione" Draco said. She turned and stared at him. "Do you still have that necklace?" She nodded. She left the room and jogged to her bedroom.
Securely, she took a small box from under her bed and unlocked it. She dug deep within it and took out the long, silver chain necklace with a fake looking, overgrown, red heart. Once she had reached eight years old, she had no idea why or where she had gotten the necklace from. She thought about throwing it away but something made her feel that it had sentimental value. So she kept it. For ten years she had kept the necklace in a secure box, locked under her bed.
She walked down her stairs with the necklace close to her chest. "Can I see it?" Draco asked. Opening her hands, Hermione showed the necklace. Draco took hold of it and looked at the red heart closely. "It is fake" he whispered. He touched the red heart and looked as if he was about to peel something off. "No. You'll break it." Hermione protested. "I won't" Draco assured. He peeled off the red heart and it showed a big, beautiful, silver ring.
"There's something engraved on it." he said. He read the engravings aloud. "To the witch we regretted giving up. We love you with all our hearts. V. N. M." "V. N. M." Hermione repeated. "She's a witch. Her initials are V. N. M. But what does she have to do with me?" Draco shrugged. "It can be anything. It can be nothing. It can be everything. But I have a question. When we were in those woods, why did you go all creepy ghost girl?"
Hermione bit her bottom lip. "You know those nightmares I have?" He nodded. "I was having nightmares about that same exact place. I run and someone is yelling at me. I fall and I can't get up. It's so scary. And it feels so real." A tear ran down her cheek and sat on the couch. "I don't know what I've done." Draco sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her. "Don't worry. We'll figure this out."
She wiped a tear from her cheek and looked at him. "Thanks. I really appreciate it." She kissed his cheek and rested her head on his shoulder. Draco watched the fire crackle in the fireplace. He thought about the months up ahead. He was debating whether he actually believe he and Hermione could figure out what was bothering her. He looked at Hermione and found her asleep on his shoulder.
Carefully, he maneuvered Hermione to get her into his arms. He slowly and cautiously carried her to her bedroom and rested her on her bed. Almost hesitantly, he kissed her forehead and covered her body with her quilt. He closed the door and left to his own bedroom. He thought about the whole day that linked to Hermione. It scared him a little bit. Six years of hate seemed to be dusted off in some way.
He couldn't understand it. It was like Hermione was one of those annoying pop songs that once they get stuck in your head, they never leave. He couldn't understand anything unless he talked to someone. But he had no one to talk to. His father was a TOTAL negative, he doubted Blaise would understand, Crabbe and Goyle weren't even near his thoughts. Maybe he could talk to a teacher. He groaned and covered his head with one of his many pillows.
In the other room, Hermione had awakened after a couple of hours in her bed. The last thing she remembered was sitting in silence with her head on Draco's shoulder. 'He must've brought me in here. I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep' she thought. She sighed. She stared at the ceiling and tried to think of something that would get her to sleep.
'Maybe trying to recap on the last History of Magic class would help' she thought. Although, that did not help. Everything lead to Draco's face, his smile, his laugh. At one point, she had fallen asleep with a smile on her face just by thinking about him.
A/n: omg! I really hope u liked this!