Sorry for the delay. I started back at school and things have been a bit nuts as I'm trying to get use to the new schedule and the classes I'm taking. The classes are a bit more involved like human anatomy… Do you have any idea how gross the human body really is? Best not scar you for life on details, but I am sorry for the delay. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Draco watched out of the frosted window as most of the students boarded the train home for winter holidays. He sighed as he watched the happy faces, all excited about going home to see their parents and other family members for what would most likely be a Christmas to remember. It seemed that with the war playing behind the scenes, almost everyone was trying to make this year the best Christmas ever as no one was sure what the following months would bring.
He had surprised himself when he realized that he wasn't particularly upset with the fact that he wasn't going home. Maybe a few years ago he would have thrown a fit, but over the last year in particular, things had changed drastically and the pressures that his father and Voldemort had been putting him under had been steadily increasing.
The winter holidays were no longer about getting gifts and seeing friends like they had been in his younger years, no, they had now turned into an opportunity for further training and other unpleasant duties. The idea that Voldemort was staying in the manor was another situation all together. He tried to imagine what Christmas would be like with Voldemort around and the atmosphere that the mad man created was anything but cheerful.
He watched as the train pulled away and once it was out of sight, he turned to head to his private rooms where he would no doubt be holed up for the next few weeks. Christmas cheer and all that rot was the last thing on his mind.
As he walked he noticed how empty the castle felt. He had always returned to the manor this time of year and it was a whole new experience to see the castle so… quiet. It hadn't even seemed this quiet when he has brought Granger here before the summer was over.
He turned down the hall that led to his rooms and groaned when he noticed a figure standing at his door. He didn't want to deal with anyone right now, he wanted to go to his room and think, to let the entire situation sink in so that he could start coming to grasps with what his new 'normal' would be.
She smiled at him which unsettled him as he approached. He had briefly thought about turning around and walking away, but his room was his little slice of the world and he wasn't about to be run off from what little he had left.
"Granger." He greeted coldly as he pushed passed her to get closer to the portrait so he could whisper his password and hopefully slip inside without any further talk, but the fates were apparently against him when she cleared her throat and stepped in front of him.
"Listen, Malfoy," She started out quietly, "I just – I just wanted to say thank you, you know, for everything you did for me during the summer. I wanted to say thanks sooner but with everything that has been going on, the timing just didn't seem right."
Draco let out a breath and finally made eye contact with the girl who had turned his entire life upside down.
"I didn't do it for you." He said plainly, "No need to thank me for anything." He turned again towards the portrait.
"But why then?" She asked, "I mean, I know you and I haven't exactly been friendly, but why would you do what you did?"
Draco sneered, "If was self serving I can assure you. Regardless of what you and your lot think of me, I want Scarhead to win this thing and I knew he couldn't do it without you. It's as simple as that."
Hermione nodded in understanding, "Well, even so, thanks." And with that, she turned on her heals and started to walk away. She had finally pulled up the courage to say when she had been wanting to say and if she was being honest with herself, she didn't expect Malfoy to be friendly or even grateful that she had thanked him, but it was, if nothing else, a load off of her mind and she hoped that she could finally start moving forward and setting herself to rights.
She walked swiftly, not turning around or slowing down till she was out of sight. She heard the wheeze start up again, but had taken comfort that over the last two weeks or so, the sound was becoming quieter and quieter and didn't last but for a minute or so. She was finally healing, body and mind, which is what she had hoped to gain by staying at Hogwarts instead of going to the Burrow for the holidays. She needed time to herself, something Harry understood but left Ron grumpy and a tad angry.
000 000 000 000
Professor McGonagall looked over to a smiling Hermione as she brushed out her long black hair, "I should have thought about his ages ago." The elder woman commented as she looked herself over in the mirror.
Hermione smiled as her head of house turned to look at her behind in the mirror. It was amusing to see what a well placed Glamour could do for ones spirit.
The two had planned on visiting Hogsmead to do a bit of shopping, unfortunately, or fortunately, however you viewed it, Hermione couldn't go there looking like herself and her head of house said it would be too suspicious if she didn't put on a glamour too. Hermione suspected that it was nothing more than her head of house wanting and having a reason to play with her appearance, but the whole thing was amusing none the less.
"Dear heavens," her professor said with a smile as she peered down her shirt, looking at the set of full breast that looked to belong to a twenty year old, "Well, we should be on our way. The glamours should hold for six hours, but better safe than sorry."
Hermione nodded and smiled again. It wasn't everyday that one got to see their strict professor looking well, hot… especially since said professor was old and probably hadn't looked this good in many, many years, but still, her professor looked happy to be able to experience a young body again and while she wouldn't say she was exactly comfortable with her own new looks, she chalked it up to being another experience she would never forget… and far better than polyjuice.
They arrived at Hogsmead and Hermione felt like a weight had once again been lifted off of her. She had missed being in public places terribly and wanted to make sure she got the most out of the trip. She had made a large list of things she wanted to buy, not only for herself, but for her friends as well.
The air was cold, snow covered the ground, and yet, she felt warm and at peace. She was excited and couldn't help but laugh as her professor blushed when she noticed the many eyes of passing men, staring as if she was the only thing around.
"I should have thought of this years ago." Her professor said once again, clearly enjoying the change of pace.
The pair walked around for nearly three hours, each taking the time to buy Christmas gifts for their friends, only parting briefly to get gifts for each other. Hermione had managed to get everything she needed as well, but seemed to teeter with the last name on her list.
It had been one of those things that she didn't know how to approach. Part of her said not to bother, while another part of her screamed that she should, but how would Malfoy take to receiving a gift from her? He had made it clear that the only reason he had done what he did was self-serving… but still.
Her professor glanced down at the list and smiled, placing her warm hand on the younger girls shoulder, "He's been having a tough time, though he won't admit it." She said with a sigh, "I suspect he is a bit lonely and probably not in the best frame of mind right now… and like us all, he needs a friend."
Hermione shook her head, "I agree, but I think he would rather hang himself then even consider me a friend." Hermione sat down on a bench, careful to relax her leg as she did so to avoid another embarrassing moment, "Truth is, I have Ron, Harry, and everyone else with the exception of Slytherin, but he has no one. I see him eating alone, never talking to anyone, and despite our past dealings, I want to reach out to him so that he is not alone, especially after the risk he took in saving my life, but it seems as though he would rather go it alone."
Her professor smiled warmly and took the seat next to Hermione, "Do you think that is what he really wants? To be alone and to feel like he has nothing left in the world?" She sighed, "I believe Mr. Malfoy is far too stubborn for his own good, pride and all that rot, but I think maybe if you were to… extend the olive branch, so to speak, that he may just come around in due time. He has been raised differently then you have, no hiding that, but beyond his anger at life, he is still a human being and humans need each other whether they want to admit it or not." She sighed again, drawing with her foot in the snow, "The fact that he saved you speaks louder than anyone wants to hear. He could have let everything happen, he could have let you be killed, but the simple fact of the matter is that he did not, and to me, that shows that despite how he was raised and what he was led to believe, he has his own mind and I believe that with a little friendliness, he may just come round."
Hermione agreed silently, her mind made up, she stood, "What do you suspect he would want? I haven't a clue as to where to begin."
Her professor smiled, "I think I might have a few ideas." She stated as she stood, leading the younger girl back into the fray of shopping.
Ooopopopop
Hermione was pleased with herself. She, with the help from her professor, had managed to secure a few tid bits for Malfoy, she just hoped he liked them and didn't throw them straight away. She glanced around from her spot on the bench, watching nervously for her professor to return. She had only been gone a few minutes, but alone she felt exposed, like even though she was glamoured to look nothing like Hermione Granger, that everyone just knew. She suspected she was perhaps a bit more paranoid then she had initially thought.
The crowd of people that swarmed the streets seemed to slowly be clearing up as more and more people finished their shopping and went home. She had been trying to not pay close attention to everyone, especially families, but she found she couldn't help but to stare a little bit.
She would notice things that she wished she didn't like the girl, roughly around ten years old, clutching her father's hand or the little boy that clung to his mother's leg, crying that she wouldn't buy him the sweets he wanted. It brought on small pangs of jealousy that they still had their parents and she, well she was an orphan now but things couldn't always be changed and she knew that this year, the first year without them, was going to be harder than the rest.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, realizing that while she had lost her parents, she still had her life and for that, she was thankful.
"Lovely day today, is it not?"
Hermione froze stiff as fear gripped her. That voice, she knew that voice and wanted nothing more than to run away screaming at the top of her lungs. She opened her eyes a small fraction, enough to look at her skin and notice that she still had an olive complexion and the glamour was still holding.
"F fine day." She said softly, glancing at the boot that was next to her own feet.
She wished, now more than ever before, that her professor would hurry up and come back. She was scared more than she would have ever admitted to anyone, and she hoped with all hope that Lucius Malfoy didn't pick up on it.
"I do not believe I have ever seen you around here before, such a lovely creature that you are, I am positive I would have noticed you long ago."
Hermione was close to freaking out.
"Just visiting for the day." She replied nervously, "My sister and I."
"I see." Lucius stated, "And your sister, is she as lovely as you?"
Hermione nodded.
It was at that moment that the older version of herself decided to step forward, "There you are sister, I had been looking for you everywhere."
Hermione visibly sagged with relief as her professor stepped forward; ignoring Lucius as he smiled at her in what he thought was a charming grin.
"Tis getting late, we should be getting home."
Hermione nodded quickly and stood, "Yes, father would be most upset." She replied, playing along.
Neither woman bothered to look back at the man still sitting on the bench as they hurried quickly away.
Opopopopopopop
Once back to the safety of school grounds, Hermione couldn't help to tears that were freely falling. To be face to face, or side to side, with Lucius Malfoy stirred up more emotions than even she thought she was capable of. It was panic, she realized, as his voice brought back memories that she would just assume bury and never bring to the surface. Panic that he would know it was her and that she would end up back with his lot, being tortured and knowing that there would have been no one there to save her this time.
Once again she felt her professor's hand on her shoulder, comforting her, and letting her know that she was okay, and that she was safe.
It took only a moment or two before she calmed down, telling herself that they would not win. She was strong and she just had to remind herself of that.
When she looked up, she noticed the glamours had worn off and she was thankful. She felt like herself and seeing a familiar face helped her calm.
"I would have never left you if I had known he was there." Her professor said calmly, "But, I needed to get you something and I couldn't risk bringing you."
Hermione nodded as the remaining tears started to dry on her cheeks. She took the bag that the professor held out to her.
"Tis not your gift, but it is something that I believe will help you."
Hermione looked in the bag and pulled out a small vial of a purplish potion, noting that she didn't recognize it.
"It is not a common potion or one that is easily obtained… I just happened to know a person who… who keeps some on hand." She said nervously, "And it's not exactly legal because of a few of the ingredients."
"What is it?" Hermione asked as she rolled it in her fingers, looking at the consistency.
"An advanced healing potion. One that works very well on the entire body and fixes or greatly improves any ailment. It takes a few months to brew and I had asked a friend to get started on it for you."
Hermione was thankful, but confused. A healing potion should hardly be illegal.
"What makes it illegal?" She asked.
"Have you heard of stem cell research that muggles are experimenting with? This is sort of along those lines, slightly different, but works in much the same way."
Hermione nodded in understanding and gave her professor a hug, thanking her for the chance of possibly being healed.