The events of the past two days had her head spinning. Her plate had always been full, that's how she liked it. But lately it was all too great, all the worrying was getting to her. It felt as though no one could see all the things to be nervous about, frighten of, all the things to think in a day.
No one else did worry like she though, she did to herself. She was making everyone else problems her own, and taking responsibility away from others. Because they would just do it wrong and she would have to redo it anyways. Or she just did want to hear about it, the whining.
After the tryouts had ended Harry, Ron and she ran into Hagrid. He wasn't too pleased to see them as they had all dropped Care of Magical Creatures from their schooling. Hermione couldn't do it with the classes she was taking and the boys didn't want anymore classes then necessary.
But in the end everything was straighten out with him, they had left for dinner however because Hagrid's cooking was horrid.
The issue of Cormac had come up with Harry though. As they approached the Great Hall, Cormac was trying to enter, he ended up walking in the frame the first attempt and hardly making it through the second.
Ron had thought it was worth a good laugh and strolled off in the hall after him. But Harry caught Hermione's arm, to hold her back asking her about the fact it seemed as though Cormac had been Confunded.
She had admitted to it but made her reasons known to why. Harry just teased her about being a prefect and how that was a dishonest thing to do.
Then Professor Slughorn had invited Harry and her to dinner the next night, ignoring Ron completing, which put him in a foul mood.
Harry had tried to get out of it, he had a detention with Professor Snape. But Hermione smirked when Slughorn said he would get Harry out of it.
It served him right she didn't want to go there alone, especially since Cormac would be there. The thought made her shutter, she would rather be there with Malfoy.
Back in the Common Room she did a stupid thing, she brought up Draco Malfoy. Only because it involved Ron's father though.
Mr. Weasley had searched the Malfoy house on Harry's tip, the fact they didn't find anything that just made Harry more keen that Malfoy must have something here.
Hermione brought up however he couldn't have anything because of the searching the went through coming into the school this year. And then Harry fought that as well, the mail. Because the mail wouldn't be checked if they were.
Surprisingly Ron just wanted Harry to drop it as Hermione did. Ron had stomped off in a fit soon after that which how Hermione ended up here in the library.
Hermione wasn't about to stay up with Harry as he glanced longingly at Ginny and plotted to take down Malfoy. She on the other hand was trying to figure out how to help Draco.
If worst came to worst and Harry wouldn't accept Draco coming to their side, which was reaching already, Harry couldn't go against Dumbledore.
She had already decided about tonight that she would try to not mouth off too much as not to upset him. And to hide her wand to be able to get away if need be.
As she had planned this, she thought to when she used to baby sit her small cousins and how similar she approached them and Malfoy. Why was it all these "men" she knew needed to be treated like such children?
But they insisted they didn't behave that way, it was she who irrational. Harry and Ron had hardly made their way through Hogwarts with her, how would they make it in the battle without her?
The time ticked pass as Hermione scanned various books filling her head with more knowledge. She had read along for almost all her classes, before she knew it was time to start patrolling.
She hurried to Gryffindor Tower to drop off her bag before starting up to The Astronomy Tower. Which was off limits to students except for classes, but many couples went up there to have it off.
Professor McGonagall had asked her to start there tonight and work her way down the lower floors. She had told of course she didn't mind but in reality she really didn't want to. Hermione didn't like heights, and climbing up the tiny ladder up there gave her chills.
By the time she was half way up the ladder her hands were sweating, which made her more nervous. That would just cause her to lose her hold and she would fall.
She could always cast a spell not to get hurt and if she did break something she could get it fixed in the Hospital Wing in no time. Growing up though her parents taught her to be safe or she would get hurt. What she learned as a Muggle sometime overran what she had learned being a witch.
The minutes drag on as she proceeded up but finally she reached the top of the Tower. She thanked her lucky stars Malfoy hadn't come looking for her, but then her thankfulness disappeared.
Sitting before her was Draco Malfoy, his white blonde hair glowed and his skin seemed to sparkle as the moon shone down on him. His face looked younger, he seemed very content in his little world up here.
Maybe she could just get down the ladder before he noticed her, but he had seen her out of the corner of his eye.
"Aren't you going to come away from the ladder, Granger? I have never known you as the graceful type, don't need you falling down the tower." He said softly, he didn't seem to be taunting her with that comment.
He tried to focus his own thoughts, he wouldn't have thought she would find him. He offered to patrol this part of the castle to be alone and think. Obviously the old bat thought he was getting into trouble.
He was glad Granger had come in at this time though, he was thinking far too much about Voldemort, his fellow Deatheaters and his mission. Mainly though how he got to the place of having this thing on his arm.
He remembered seeing the same mark on his father's arm when he was a small boy. He had thought it was quite unsightly and wondered why his father would want such a thing.
Asking him wasn't a smart choice, the elder Malfoy then decided it was time for young Draco to learn about his family, Mudbloods and his master.
Draco had always wished he never would have asked, maybe his childhood could have lasted a little longer. His mother playing with him, calming him when Father yelled, and letting him help the house elves in the kitchen.
But it turned into Draco getting lessons from his father screaming at him whenever he asked the wrong question and going on trips with his father's friends. He just hoped to be able to play with the other children but instead he had to watch people begged for their lives.
Learning the people who were dying were nothing but dirty below him, nothing to bother thinking about. But here stood before him a girl he had hated for all the wrong reasons.
Sure there were things to dislike about Granger, but nothing she did really made him hate her. The only thing was her blood, which next to his he was sure they would be the same.
Hermione had entered into the tower, she didn't know what to do next, where to go? She decided to stay standing in case she needed to run, but she did move closer to the window.
She stared out onto the beautiful grounds of Hogwarts and then lifted her eyes to the sky with the stars shining brightly.
Draco had stood to see what she was looking at, he could appreciate how wonderful Hogwarts was. He felt more safe here then in his own home, especially with the Dark Lord stopping by now.
Looking down at Granger though he realized not only his views on her had changed but she had changed. Her hair was less bushy, he had always thought it a dull brown color but now he realized it was warm brown with honey tones through it.
Her skin was clear and pale, not as much as his own but still fair and she had a radiance to her. Though he had notice before she had a light in her eyes, always big and bright. Now it was much duller. Her eyes were still the same brown though, deep chocolate brown and framed by thick lashes
She was attractive, he could admit that. And then the sinking feel went into his stomach, he had hurt her.
Draco would deny it but he was a mama's boy, Narcissa spoiled him even now. When his father started to take him on trips, she made he promise her to try not to hurt anyone but especially not women or children. She told him that those women were or would be someone's mother and how would he like if someone did that to her?
Now not only did he hurt a woman but he had left marks on her.
Hermione sensed Draco was close to her, he seemed to be staring out, thinking, she just wondered about what. He glanced at her and their eyes caught.
He could tell she was tense, worried about what would happen in seeing him this time. He wanted her to know he wasn't going to hurt her, he didn't want to keep scaring people. Well maybe Potter and Weasley, and a few first years. Those buggers needed to learn to listen.
"You don't have to be so afraid, Granger. I'm not going to hurt you again." He said sincerely, she glanced up at him pensively. "I am sorry for that, it's something I have never done. It shouldn't have gotten to that point."
She wasn't sure if she should believe him or not, but then again she did feel quite bad for hitting him. So giving him to benefit of the doubt she believed him, and then had the realization she would have to apologize too.
"Thank you, Draco." She responded slowly, "I'm sorry for slapping you."
He had a small smile at this statement and a look of confused crossed Hermione's face.
"What?" She snapped.
What did he think was funny? She should have just ignore his apology, obviously he didn't mean a word.
"I was merely curious if you are apologizing for slapping me yesterday or in the third year. Because that one still really hurts deep down." Draco joked.
Hermione was taken aback, this side of Draco Malfoy was one seldom had seen.
"If we are going to play the game where we apology for things that happen between us when we were younger, you will be going all night."
"Oh Princess, calm down, don't get your knickers in a twist." Draco continued.
He seemed to be pushing her buttons which he found humorous, she got worked up easily.
She blushed, "Would you stop calling me that I don't like?" She asserted.
"Oh, get over that. You are the Gryffindor Princess, deal with it. Embrace it." He said smirking.
"Just like you're the Slytherin Prince. Huh? Not all us like titles, Your Majesty." She said bowing slightly.
She couldn't believe she was just here joking with Malfoy, Harry would kill her if he knew. And Ron would kill Malfoy.
"Well I guess we are just the royalty of the school, Granger."
Author's Note: I hope you all liked this, let me know what you think. In the next chapter Hermione and Draco will continue on with their conversation. :] I hope you all are well.