Hermione stood still for a few seconds, watching the wall were the blond wizard had stand. She felt like being hit with a Stupefy, she was shocked from head to toe.

As she thought a few months back that, it would be best for her to return to school, she had hoped that none of the Slytherins of her year would return. However, when she saw Malfoy leaving the train with Parkinson on his arm, her disappointment was spread across her whole body. Shit! - she thought at that moment because of the lack of seventh year students the classes wouldn't be divided. All Houses would attend most of the classes together. Of course she had a few classes where she knew that no Slytherins would be in but most of the time she would have to face the slimy git.

And now, after she successful managed to ignore Malfoy for the past four months he dared to wait for her. She thought that ignoring her didn't fit him and his made up apology was just that - made up so she wouldn't ignore him anymore. She simply didn't believe in his whole I was through a lot of shit and it changed me – crap. Seriously, what was he thinking to apologise to her of all people? Didn't he have better things to do? Like maybe, shagging Parkinson remaining brain cells out? But then again she thought about what Harry had told her about Dumbledores death two years ago. How Malfoy struggled to accomplish his mission. How he nearly cried because he knew if he didn't kill he would be killed. He hadn't done it. He couldn't. Still... he let Death Eaters into the castle and risked the lives of innocent students and the staff. Then again, he did it out of fear. Fear that he could lose his mother.

Hermione sighed. Either Malfoy was sincere with his apology or he tried to distract her to a point that she won't be able to focus on her studies.

Maybe a good night of deep sleep would help her to rethink what she heard from Malfoy? With another sigh, Hermione went to the Hospital Wink to get a vial of Dreamless Sleep Potion which Madame Pomfrey hands to her occasionally when Hermione's dreams become unbearable to sleep through the whole night for more than two days. After that, she would go to lunch and chat with Ginny before going to her next class, which to her disappointment would be Potions.

After her last class – Charms – Hermione went downstairs to dinner. While sitting next to Ginny, her gaze searched the Great Hall and it was fixed on a pair of grey eyes watching her. She thought about dropping her face but the look on Malfoy's face kept her locked with his eyes.

She still expected to see his typical Malfoy – face but the way he watched her was thoughtful, like he was not looking at her but through her. Seeming not hungry, Hermione excused herself and went off to the library.

While walking down the empty halls towards her favourite place aside from their Common Room, Hermione's thoughts went back to the blond wizard. Was he sincere? Could she trust something, anything coming out of his mouth? What exactly was he planning? Did he really plan to apologise to her? She felt like her head was spinning, she felt dizzy and could barely keep her balance. Hermione was still far away from the library and already out of earshot from the Great Hall. If she passes out now, no one would find her immediately. Feeling her feet gave away and cold stone, she passed out.

Sunlight tickled her nose. The smell of fresh flowers laid around her. Hermione hesitantly opened her eyes. She blinked two times and realised that she was in the Hospital Wing. Why was she here? Sitting up she looked around, searching for the Mediwitch.

While looking for Madame Pomfrey she saw the flowers at her bedside table and a Get-well card next to them. Picking the card up and thinking that maybe Ginny or Luna sent it to her; she opened it and read:

Granger,

I hope you will be well soon and that not the things I said to you were the reasons to your condition. Don't think too much about it. I wanted to stay 'till you wake up but considering our past I don't think that it would be great if someone saw me sitting at your bed in the Hospital Wing. I hope to hear something from you concerning my apology. I was honest with it. I truly feel like shit when I think back to our past and how I behaved towards you, especially you. Don't overthink it. Simply say what's on your mind about it. If you feel like talking, I'm all ears. Just owl me.

Get well soon.

DM

Blinking rapidly, Hermione again felt like being hit with a Stupefy.

He had send her a card and flowers? He actually wanted to stay until she wakes up? What the Hell was wrong with him? Or was something wrong with her?

"Oh good. You're awake", she heard Madame Pomfrey approaching her. Still looking at the card in her hands, Hermione heard herself asking, why exactly she woke up in the Hospital Wing.

"Mister Malfoy brought you in. He found you unconscious not far from the library. I actually thought that he brought you to this condition but then again he wouldn't bring you in, now would he? Moreover, not levitating you in front of him but carrying you on his arms." Madame Pomfrey shook her head while looking over Hermione and checking her. "You can go", the Mediwitch said, "breakfast will be served soon."

Nodding Hermione stood up, changed into her school uniform and headed towards the Great Hall. Now she had to thank Malfoy for not leaving her to her fate. What was he up to?

Entering the Great Hall, Hermione immediately searched the Slytherin table. Seeing that not much students had already arrived for breakfast – it was half past six – she saw that Malfoy was sitting all by himself. No one around him. Looking over her own table, she saw a few first years who were fixed on their food and wouldn't look up no matter what.

Inflating her lungs, straighten her body, Hermione made her way over to the blond wizard.

Draco nearly chocked on his eggs when he saw Granger approaching him. Looking up, he tried to look indifferent but couldn't keep it. Instead, he looked surprised.

"If you don't swallow you'll chock", said Granger. Draco closed his mouth, swallowed and tried to hide his obviously surprised face. Trying to get a grip on his behaver, he wanted to ask Granger how she felt but again felt his eyes widen as Granger made to sit on the bench across from him at the Slytherin table! Was he still asleep? If he tried to pinch himself, would Granger notice? Not knowing how to start a conversation, Draco passed a plate with eggs and toast to Granger. Now it was her turn to look surprised. "Eat", was all he said before dropping his face on his own plate.

They ate in silence for about fifteen minutes before Granger spoke up.

"Thank you for not leaving me on the floor"

"Your welcome", said Draco without looking up. Silence fell upon them again before Draco found the courage to open his mouth. "How do you feel?", he asked. Still not looking at her.

"Better", she replayed. Again, silence. Hearing her inhale, Draco looked up waiting for her to speak.

"You said you're all ears if I want to talk" Draco just nodded, not actually trusting his voice.

What was wrong with him? And why does he react this way around her?

"I would like to talk" Draco blinked. Raising one brow.

"Now?" Granger, biting her lower lip nodded.

"Here?" She shook her head.

"Where?" He could see that Granger was nervous. Suggesting to meet at the Whomping Willow, Draco watched Granger heading to the Gryffindor table. Breathing out heavy, Draco didn't notice that he held his breath while watching her leave.

Nervously passing around the magical tree, Hermione wasn't sure if Malfoy would show up. If he wouldn't she'll be sure that he wasn't honest with his apology. If he would show up…then what? Hermione had so many questions to ask that she didn't know where to start.

His whole view on the Post-War? His behaviour in the Manor? He clearly recognized them. But why didn't he say so? Why not really fighting them while they tried to escape?

Hermione sat down on a stub near the tree, looking at her covered scar. Having nightmares about that incident that left her screaming in tears. She could glamour it but that won't make her nightmares vanish.

She always held her head up high, tried not to show her weakness. She was always bullied. Even before her letter to Hogwarts. She was different. Always was, always will.

There was no point during her childhood that she felt accepted outside her house. Kids called her a freak because she could do things others couldn't.

Looking up at the sky, she thought about her first year in Hogwarts. How she desperately wanted to belong here but felt again that she wasn't accepted. Not before Halloween and the incident with the troll. That memory made her smile. That was the moment she, Harry and Ron became best friends.

Thinking about Ron made Hermione's stomach flatter. She was in love with him and while she was visiting them during Christmas, they slept the first time together. She truly could see her future with him. She had a crush on him for quite a while and tried to be patient with him. Even sneaking him on the Quidditch Team during their sixth year. And how had he thanked her? By kissing Brown. All right, he didn't really know that Hermione helped him on the team.

Thinking about their first kiss down in the Chamber of Secrets made Hermione smile again. But that smile disappeared immediately when she heard a male voice asking: "Thinking about me?"

Short…I think.

TBC

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