Chapter 6

Friends

A few days later, Hermione sat alone in a corner of the Gryffindor common room. The other Gryffindors ignored her, and if they said anything, it was a snide remark. The only person who would talk to her was Ginny. Hermione looked across the room at Harry and Ron, who were talking quietly to each other, sending occasional glares her way,

Finally, Hermione stood and walked over to where her two friends were sitting.

"What is WRONG with you two?" She blurted, tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Harry. Did you hear something?" Ron asked, ignoring Hermione's presence.

"No, did you?" Harry said, staring straight at her as he said it.

A single tear fell down her cheek, "Please...You're my best friends...He's changed. I swear he has."

"Once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin, Hermione." Ron hissed, standing to face her, "Don't you see what he's doing? He's using you. He'll get what he wants from you then drop you like a bad habit."

Before she knew what she was doing, Hermione had swung her arm back and punched Ron full-force in the jaw. He stumbled back a step, rubbing his jaw, as Harry looked on in disbelief.

"How DARE you." She whispered, "You have NO idea who he is, Ron Weasley. TO think I came over here to try and EXPLAIN, to try and get my friends back. Well now I see you aren't my friends. Because if you were you would at least TRY to understand."

With that, Hermione fled the Common room, ducking out the portrait hole, and running as fast as she could away from the Gryffindor tower.

oOXOo

Draco breathed in the air, looking around the grounds. It was mid afternoon, and the sun was shining, making the Hogwarts grounds look as if it were spring, not fall. He walked down the steps of the school, and rounded the corner of the building, and stopped. He heard a noise only a few feet away. It sounded like...crying.

"Hello?" He called out, looking around. The crying continued, and he followed the sound down the side of the school, and around a corner, to find a girl sitting against the wall.

oOXOo

Ron had a lot to think about. He walked around the school for almost a half hour, thinking about Hermione and Malfoy. It was just...wrong. Wasn't it? A Slytherin and a Gryffindor. It was ridiculous. He headed outside, deciding to catch some of the sun that was shining down on Hogwarts. There probably wouldn't be more days like this after winter came.

Ron rounded the building and froze at what he saw. Hermione and Malfoy were sitting against the wall, and they looked so...friendly. Ron stopped and watched for a moment. Hermione was leaning her head on Malfoy's shoulder and his arm was around her, as they talked quietly to each other. Ron couldn't make out what they were saying but Hermione was smiling softly.

Something about the scene in front of him told Ron something. Hermione was intelligent. She would never say Malfoy had changed unless he had actually changed. There was no way she could be fooled by a fake new personality.

Ron stepped towards them and Hermione looked up.

"Hey." He mumbled, not looking at Malfoy.

"Hi." Hermione replied, gently moving Malfoy's arm from her shoulders and standing up, "Have you come to yell at me some more?"

"No, just as long as you promise not to hit me again." Ron said, touching the purple bruise on his jaw.

"Look, Ron..."

"Hermione, I'm sorry." Ron said, cutting her off, "I was a jerk. Harry too. I'll talk to him later. But for now, I am so sorry."

"Really?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, and Ron nodded. With a choked sob, she flung her arms around his neck.

"Er...Herm...ouch. Kinda choking me there." He said, pulling her arms out of their death-lock.

"Oh. Sorry." She said, looking down.

"Well. Anyway. I have to go get my stuff for Divination." Ron said, "Bye."

"Bye."

Hermione turned to Draco, and sat back down, "Wow."

"Yeah," He agreed, "That was weird. He didn't go after me. I thought for sure he would try and pick a fight."

"Me too."

"What class do you go to next?" Draco asked.

"I'm off till three, then I have Arithmancy." Hermione replied, "Why?"

"I have to show you something. Come on."

"Draco, where are we going?!" Hermione shrieked as he pulled her by the hand around the building.

"You'll see!" He replied with a smile.

Soon they came to a section of stone wall. It was the same type of stone as the rest of the exterior of the school, only...shinier. Anyone who wasn't looking for it never would have noticed.

Draco didn't slow down as they came to the wall and ran headlong into it, muttering something under his breath.

"Come on!" He said, pulling her inside and muttering the incantation again. "Lumos." He commanded his wand, and Hermione did the same.

They hurried down a dark corridor to a small archway. Draco led her through the archway and waved his wand, illuminating the room in a soft light.

"Wow..." Hermione breathed, looking around the circular room. There was a bookcase, and some old but squishy beanbag chairs, a rickety desk, and in one corner there was a stack of sleeping bags.

"This is my hide-out." Draco said with a smile.

"How'd you find it?"

"I dunno. Stumbled upon it. I come here when I want to get away from Crabbe and Goyle or Pansy." Draco replied, plopping down on one of the larger beanbags.

"You sleep here?" Hermione asked, gesturing to the sleeping bags.

"Once in a while. I stayed over for the holidays once and I was the only Slytherin. I didn't need that whole tower so I came down here. It's nice. I think I'm the only one who knows of it."

Hermione shrugged. It wasn't on the Marauder's Map, so she supposed he really was the only one who knew about it. She fell down next to him on the bean bag and settled herself against him and he slung his arm over her.

Draco grinned. He remembered when Pansy would try to "snuggle" with him and he'd been completely repulsed by the idea. But Hermione was different. He liked the way she fit against him.

"Finally ALONE." Hermione whispered with a tired sigh.

"Yeah. No Snape, no one." Draco agreed, leaning his cheek against her head.

When Draco opened his eyes, he found Hermione nestled against him. He squinted against the light and glanced at his wristwatch. It was 2:30. He sighed, nudging Hermione awake.

"Hermione. Wake up. You have Arithmacy in a half hour."

Hermione stirred, waking up slowly, "Oh why do I have to go."

"You don't. But Professor Vector won't appreciate it." Draco replied.

Hermione frowned, "This is the first time I've wanted to skip out on class."

Draco grinned, leaning down and kissing her forehead.

"Oh you can do better than that." Hermione teased, moving up closer to him and pressing her lips to his.

Draco returned the kiss gently, wrapping his arms around her slim frame.

"OK. Now I really don't want to go." Hermione said, as they pulled away.

"You have to. Come on." Draco said reluctantly, pulling her up off the beanbag with him.

"OK...I guess." Hermione said sulkily.

Draco laughed, "Come on."

"You have a nice laugh, Draco." Hermione said, "When it's a real laugh."

"Thank you. But don't change the subject. Let's go."

Hermione grumbled under her breath, but followed him out of the room. He waved his wand, and the light went out, and they headed down the corridor.

A/N: Hola peeps… I think the Arithmacy teachers name was professor Vector… or Maybe it was just one of those thingies that happens when you read too many fanfictions… o well… his name is Prof. Vector now…