It was dark and Hermione was running. Leaves and twigs snapped beneath her feet, while her arms swept through the air manically to remove stray tree branches from her path. They were being chased. Harry and Ron were there, running a few feet beside her with terrified looks on their dirt ridden faces. Spells flew past them and between them, missing by mere inches. The familiar snarls of the Death eaters were coming closer, it was only a matter of time. Within seconds, both Harry and Ron disappeared from her sides and she spun round to see what had happened. Darkness greeted her. No Harry, no Ron. No Death eaters. It was silent for a moment, before the screaming started.
"Hermione! Hermione!" It sounded like Harry.
"Hermione!" That was Ron. The witch turned on the spot frantically, but there was nothing. No one.
"Hermione!" Tears began to spill from her eyes, breathing ragged and hollow. She tried to call out, let them know she would find them, but no noise would leave her throat.
"Hermione!"
"Hermione!" The voices began to change, and her surroundings began to fade.
"Hermione!" Hermione's eyes snapped open, looking round wildly for Harry and Ron. It only took a moment for the witch to realise where she was. Harry and Ron weren't here, they were miles away. It wasn't their voices calling her name, it was Grace. She rubbed her eyes and straightened her back against the desk chair. This wasn't the first time she'd fallen asleep at her desk, it was starting to cause back pain.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Grace was very persistent, her voice laced with worry. It didn't take Hermione long to get to the door and open it. Her flatmate looked half concerned while the other half looked excited.
"Hi. Yes, I'm fine. What's going on?" The witch rubbed her eyes again, brushing hair from her face. She could see Mildred leaning against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed as if she were bored.
"That Malfoy guy you know, he's been beaten up. Mildred was there and said you were mentioned." The words didn't sink in straight away, and Hermione wondered what this had to do with her. Until it hit her, like a wet fish to the face.
"What? When? Where?" She couldn't get all the questions out fast enough. Grace stepped away to allow Hermione to exit her room.
"About ten minutes ago, outside the Great Hall. Rick Nelson smacked him a few times, before they were pulled apart. Malfoy's in the infirmary I think." Mildred didn't seem too deterred by the happening, putting an arm out for Grace to stand against her side. "Rick was shouting something about Malfoy ruining his chances with you." This interested both women a lot more than the actual fight itself. A switch flicked in Hermione's head at the name.
"Oh! Rick! That's his name." She frowned, glancing around the room.
"Yes. Are you two-" Mildred wasn't given the chance to finish her sentence.
"No! I didn't even know his name until now." The witch paused, uncertain if she should mention what happened yesterday. They were her flatmates, and she felt able to trust them. "He sort of came on to me yesterday. I tried to stop him, then Malfoy appeared out of nowhere and got him to go away." That was sufficient detail, they didn't need to know everything. She felt embarrassed enough as it was.
"Have you reported him, Hermione? If Malfoy had to step in, it must have been bad." Grace glanced up at Mildred with a worried frown, as if asking the other woman for validation. She got it.
"She's right, Hermione."
"I know. I'm going to report him today." But there was something else she needed to do first. "I'll get changed and go now." Hermione smiled her thanks at the women, before returning to her room and getting ready for a new day. Hopefully it wouldn't be as bad as the previous one. Telling the Headmistress wouldn't be particularly pleasant, but it had to be done. Not before she went to see Malfoy though, just to make sure he was okay. It was her fault he'd been hit in the first place, so she owed it to him.
Draco sat himself down on one of the infirmary beds, thoroughly unhappy he'd been made to come here. Attention was the last thing he wanted. Now several hundred students had seen him get punched by that twat Nelson. They'd be talking about it for weeks, gossiping like people do. Why couldn't he just have a simple life, with no drama. In fact, he already knew the answer to that. Damn Granger. Things had been fine until she came back into his life. Barely a sentence had left his lips in her direction, yet somehow he was beaten up because of her. His nose was bleeding, and his eye was swollen. The Healer had instructed him to sit, insisting she'd be right with him, before trotting off to help another student across the infirmary.
His nose didn't hurt so badly anymore, but his eye was throbbing. Draco couldn't remember the last time someone had physically hit- oh wait. Yes he could. Granger. That had been so many years ago, he'd almost forgotten. It really had knocked him for six, the last thing he'd ever expected the witch to do. His respect towards her had increased ever so slightly that day, which in the end had only made him despise her more. Who was she to challenge the way things were? No Muggleborn would have dreamed about touching a pure blood, until she came along.
Here they were 5 years down the line, and she was still at it. Insisting blood didn't make a difference in the wizarding world. She was persistent, he'd give her that. The thing was, people agreed with her now. Blood actually didn't matter to people any more. His grandparents, and great grandparents, and great, great grandparents would be turning in their graves. Time was a bastard that no one could run from, not even him.
"Malfoy?" A voice he knew all too well, snapped him out of his thoughts. Granger stood several feet away, her whole demeanour was different to what he was used to. She looked somewhat shy, not something he'd associate her with.
"What do you want?" Draco grumbled, resembling the pubescent school boy he once was.
"I came to see if you're alright?" Granger took a few steps towards the end of his bed, unsure where to look. His nose was bleeding and his eye had swollen considerably, she didn't like the sight.
"Do I look alright?" The blonde's voice dripped was resentment. Knowing she hadn't seen him get smacked was the only positive in their current situation.
"This is my fault, I'm sorry." She closed the gap between herself and the bed, standing awkwardly at the end of it. Draco rolled his eyes and shook his head, staring at the floor.
"Just leave me be, Granger. I'm fine." At this point he'd probably say anything to get her to go away, her presence was disconcerting.
"Let me help. The Healer is busy, so I'll do it." The witch got out her wand and summoned what looked like a piece of fabric.
"Granger, don't bother." Draco argued, shaking his head. This woman just didn't quit.
"Just let me do this." Hermione muttered, her eyes finally meeting his. They stared for a moment, and he could tell there was no point protesting anymore. "There's nothing better than a bit of ice to stop the swelling. An old Muggle remedy" She placed the fabric full of ice against his swelling eye, making him flinch. "Sorry." Her hands worked gently, voice even more gentle. Draco decided to stay silent, watching the witch as she cleaned the blood from beneath his nose. It only occurred to him a minute later what she'd actually said about her way of stopping his eye from swelling.
"They think of everything those Muggles, don't they?" It still bewildered him how Muggles got on with life when they had to do everything the hard way, but maybe the hard way was the better way. By the feel of his eye, the hard way definitely worked at least.
"They do." Hermione nodded firmly, attempting to conceal the smile fighting its way onto her face. That was probably the most complementary thing he'd ever said about Muggles. Draco caught the twitch of her lips and diverted his eyes to his lap. For some reason, his own lips were beginning to twitch, but he refused to let them move. After a few more minutes, Hermione removed the ice from his eye and took a good look at him. Something in the back of her mind had always told her he was good looking, but she'd never really noticed it until now. He wasn't the scrawny pale boy from Hogwarts, he'd gained a healthy amount of weight and there was new colour to his skin. Malfoy had become pleasing to the eye, to her eye. She didn't like that idea, and didn't dwell on it. "There you go, all fixed." Hermione put the damp fabric in a bowl and stepped back to give the man space.
"Have you told anymore about yesterday?" Draco suddenly blurted, finding himself unusually concerned. She'd been attacked, that pathetic excuse of a human being needed to be punished.
"Not yet. I'll go after I've helped some more here. You can probably go now." Hermione turned her back to him, not wanting to discuss it any further.
"You need to tell someone, or I will." Draco got to his feet and made his way to the exit, stopping momentarily to glance back at her. "Thanks, Granger." The blonde then left the infirmary as quickly as possible, hiding in his room sounded like a great idea right about now.
Hermione sat outside the Headmistress' office, hands clasped tightly in her lap. Mildred and Grace sat either side of her, after Grace had insisted they accompany their friend. It wasn't a pleasant thing she had to do, and some moral support would be nice. Or so Grace thought. Hermione would have rather been on her own, or with Harry and Ron. In fact, no. Both of them would be livid when they found out. Oh Merlin, she hoped they didn't find out.
"Miss Granger, Professor Fawley will see you now." The Headmistress' assistant said from her desk in the corner, nodding towards the large oak doors across from where Hermione sat.
"Want us to come in with you?" Grace asked, a helpful smile adorning her features.
"No, I'll be fine." Hermione smiled in return, despite feeling overly anxious and wishing one of the girls would come in with her. She had to do this alone, it was her problem not theirs. The perspiring witch got to her feet and slowly walked to the large doors, knocking twice. A voice told her to enter, and she did.
"Good morning, Miss Granger. Please, take a seat." Professor Fawley was a rather beautiful witch, and considering she was 59, time had been kind to her. Her hair was still blonde with no signs of grey, pulled into a bun atop her head. There were rumours she used hair colouring charms to fight the grey, but that wasn't exactly uncommon for witches her age. The professor was of slim build, dressed in a grey suit, the jacket of which was flung over the back of her chair neatly. "What can I help you with today?" Fawley asked as Hermione took a seat. It was evident something was bothering her student.
"It's about the fight between Rick Nelson and Draco Malfoy. Well, partly. Rick tried to kiss me, and wasn't take no for an answer. But Draco saw and stopped him, which is why I believe Rick hit him earlier." The younger witch fumbled over her words slightly, hoping it all made sense.
"Miss Granger, are you telling me Mr Nelson assaulted you? Because that is a very serious accusation." Professor Fawley leaned her elbows on her desk, before picking up a pen.
"Yes, Professor, I am. He – erm – he grabbed my arm and left this bruise." Hermione self-consciously tugged down her cardigan sleeve to reveal a bruise with a pattern to indicate fingers had caused it.
"Okay. Well I'm glad you decided to come and tell me, Miss Granger. Do you want to file a complaint against him? If so we'll have to inform the Ministry, and they'll conduct a full enquiry." It all sounded very official to Hermione, and if the Ministry were informed then there was no doubt Harry and Ron would find out. She didn't know what to do.
"I… Yes, okay." She nodded. It was the right thing to do.
"Right then, I will contact the Ministry post-haste. An officer will want to speak to you, and you'll have to decide if you want to settle this with or without the Wizengamot." Professor Fawley got to her feet and made her way around her desk. "If you need anything, Miss Granger, don't hesitate to ask." Hermione nodded with a thankful smile, taking it as her queue to leave.
"Thank you, Professor." The younger witch left the office in a bit of a daze, almost having forgotten Grace and Mildred were waiting.
"Hermione! Are you okay?" Grace leapt up from her seat, barely giving Hermione to time to close the office doors.
"Yes, I'm alright." The three friends left the Headmistress' reception area, and descended the staircase.
"Everything go okay?" Mildred asked, sounding the most caring she had since they'd started. Hermione nodded her reply.
"I'll have to make a statement to a Ministry official, and they'll take it from there." She spoke quietly. People passing them on the stairs were sending her sideways glances, and she didn't like it.
"So you're taking it to the Wizengamot?" Grace asked almost eagerly, never one for subtlety.
"I don't know yet." Their conversation has brought them to the Great Hall, and the subject faded away as they found a seat. Hermione discreetly looked round for Malfoy, but he was nowhere to be seen. However, someone else did catch her eye. "Who's that man over there? With Jacob Markham?" Hermione muttered to Mildred, who seemed to know almost everyone at the academy. All Hermione knew was that Jacob was Malfoy's flat mate, and a Muggleborn like her.
"Ah, that's Miles Selwyn. His dad is co-owner of the Daily Prophet." As soon as Mildred said his name, Hermione knew who he was, and who his father was. She'd read about the family, well known pure-bloods who infamously had no part in the war. The paper has been inherited by his father; Julius Selwyn, and Miles would inherit it from him. It meant their family affairs were kept out of print, and explained why Hermione didn't know what he looked like.
"He's also eligible." Grace added with a wink, amused grin playing on her lips. Mildred smirked, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
"Oh, no no no! That's not why I asked!" Hermione was quick to dismiss their insinuations, cheeks burning pink. Grace giggled, glancing over her shoulder at Miles.
"I can introduce you if you like?" Mildred asked, as Hermione's eyes drifted over to the Selwyn heir yet again. He was quite handsome, she had to admit. As she watched him, his eyes caught sight of her and the witch looked away hurriedly. Her cheeks burnt even more, eyes staring at the wood of the table.
"Hello, Mildred." An unfamiliar voice joined them at their table, and Hermione looked up to see the same eyes that had caught her across the room. Oh Merlin! Miles had taken the seat next to Mildred. She couldn't have been more embarrassed.
"Why hello, Miles. How are you?" Mildred was grinning, an expression one wouldn't usually see on her sharp features.
"Very well, thank you. How are you?" Miles was even better looking close up, and very eloquent. Hermione liked that, but continued to avoid his eyes.
"Good." She paused, glancing at Hermione before speaking again. "Oh, how rude of me! Have you met Hermione Granger, Miles?" Mildred gestured towards her flat mate, who was currently fiddling with her fork.
"I haven't." Miles held out his hand and Hermione disregarded her cutlery to shake it. "Miles Selwyn." The wizard introduced himself, charming smile lighting up his brown eyes.
"Nice to meet you." Hermione responded politely, fidgeting in her seat. Talking to men wasn't exactly something she'd done much of in the past, as Harry and Ron didn't count. When had she ever had time, school was for studying and there was no time for flirting during war.
"Miles is also studying to join the Law Enforcement department." Mildred informed her with a raised eyebrow, jabbing her elbow into Grace who had started to giggle again.
"Oh, really? Which area do you hope to go into?" Hermione was unbelievably thankful that her friend had moved the conversation onto something she enjoyed. Despite being a pure-blood, he didn't seem at all deterred by the fact she was a Muggleborn. She supposed his family had kept out of the war for a reason; he shouldn't be tarnished with the same brush as Malfoy.
"The more practical side, a Law Enforcement Officer would suffice. But I can guess you are hoping to do more good than me. If my sources are correct, you hope to help the house elves?" This question surprised her immensely, but she was also glad to get a chance to talk about it.
"And who, may I ask, is your source?" Hermione smiled, leaning her chin on her hand.
"Draco has told me a lot about you." This was even more surprising than his question, her eyebrows rising involuntarily. Mildred and Grace were looking confused as they eavesdropped.
"Not all bad, I hope." She acted as unbothered by his statement as possible, continuing with her attempts at flirting.
"Is there anything bad for him to tell?" Miles smirked, and although it reminded her of Malfoy, it had completely different meanings behind it.
"Maybe." Hermione tucked a stray hair behind her ear, quite glad this man had come to sit with them. Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end.
Miles glanced at his watch, smile fading. "I have a meeting to get to, but would you like to go for a drink at the weekend?" The wizard got to his feet, leaning both hands on the table to wait for her answer. It didn't take more than ten seconds for her to decide.
"Yes." Hermione beamed.
"Great. I'll pick you up at 7." With that, Miles left the Great Hall and they saw Jacob trail after him.
"Hermione has a date!" Grace exploded with a singsong voice, even more excited than Hermione was.
"It's not exactly a date, Grace. Just a drink." Who was she kidding, she also thought it was probably a date. She'd never really been on a date before, other than the Yule Ball with Victor Krum. "Anyway, I have some studying to do. So I'll see you both later." Hermione grinned at them both, before retreating to the one place she felt most comfortable. The library.
Draco was hidden in his usual place in the library, unable to stay in his room for much longer than an hour. He'd been incredibly bored, and against his better judgement decided to visit the library. No one tended to disturb him, due to his table being so secluded. The blonde was very thankful for that fact, due to his current reading topic. If anyone came across him reading '101 Muggle Inventions' they'd probably have a coronary.
Reading a book about Muggles hadn't been his plan, his plan had been to study for his 'Ministry Policies' class. He thought he'd find the book in seconds, but instead he'd been overwhelmed with books on Muggles. If only he hadn't had to search the M section. This book had informed him of numerous inventions he'd never heard of but they actually seemed helpful. Some things witches and wizards use were invented by Muggles too. He almost didn't believe it, and wanted to chuck the book out the nearest window. How had he lived for over seventeen years without knowing any of this? His eyes were being opened to the facts, that Muggles were just as intelligent as magical folk. It was all a lot to take in.
"Who are you and what have you done with Draco Malfoy?" His head shot up to see Granger pointing her wand at him. The blonde sat up, rolling his eyes.
"Very funny. The wands a bit extreme though, don't you think?" Draco placed his book on the table, shaking his head incredulously. She really was something.
"You're reading a book about Muggles, Malfoy. There was every possibility you'd been taken over by an Imperius Curse." Hermione lowered her wand, her other hand cradling several books against her chest.
"Well, I haven't." They remained in silence for several long moments, until the witch took the seat opposite him.
"So why are you reading it?" She was tremendously curious, if not a bit pleasantly surprised too.
"Not that it's any of your business, but what you said in the infirmary about the ice reducing swelling, got me thinking about what other weird things Muggles have come up with." Draco could feel happiness radiating off her, it annoyed him that she'd been right. About everything.
"Oh, lots of things." Hermione smiled, putting her books down and leaning forward to get a better look at his.
"I'll assume you know a Muggle invented the steam engine, which powers the Hogwarts Express?" Draco pushed his book across the table to her, and she picked it up eagerly.
"Of course. They also invented the light bulb allowing you to read this book in the first place, and the electricity that powers the light bulb." Both students looked up at the lantern hovering above them, which Draco had assumed contained a candle. Electricity had been in his book, it was intriguing to say the least.
"You do know wizards didn't invent these things because we had no need for them? Otherwise I guarantee a wizard would have invented it first." The blonde knew he was in denial, but refused to address it.
"Okay, Malfoy." Hermione knew he was clutching at straws now, and decided to leave him to it. It would take a while for Malfoy to accept the new things he'd learnt. His entire view on the world had been flipped upside down. "I'll leave you to it." With that, the witch returned his book, picked up her own, and walked away.