Chapter 11: Our little secret
I was lazing around in the Common Room. Lately, I have been spending a lot of time there, and I didn't even know why.
Probably because Harry, Ron and Ginny suddenly became too busy to spend time with me.
With each passing day, I would spend less and less time with them. At times, I would wonder if they were purposely avoiding me. But I knew that was silly as they told me themselves that it was only because the curriculum made their daily lives super busy. And whenever they were free, I wouldn't be, with duties and meetings. As I sat in front of the fireplace and sipped a mug of hot chocolate, I was overcome with a wave of loneliness. Sure, I liked my alone-time. But I was starting to feel too alone.
And it was not a nice feeling at all.
"Ugh. What is that smell?" I heard Malfoy remark as he stepped into the room.
"Hot chocolate." I lazily replied, immediately wondering why I even bothered.
Sure, we did seem to be on civil terms with each other, but still, this was Malfoy.
"Of course. A Muggle drink." He muttered as he sat on the opposite couch and took out some homework.
I sighed and continued sipping from my mug as I stared into the flames of the fire, suddenly fascinated by how they danced around each other.
I happened to glance at Malfoy after some time as the flames became boring again, and I noticed that his face was scrunched up in confusion as he nibbled on the tip of the quill, scanning through the same line on his homework parchment.
Out of good nature and because I was so bloody bored, I decided to take the plunge and open my mouth.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
His head whipped up at the suddenness of my voice breaking the silence and his eyes narrowed.
"No. I do not need any help from you." He snarled and looked back down at his homework.
Couldn't say I didn't see it coming…
After about five minutes of watching him stare at his Arithmancy quiz in confusion, I sighed and opened my mouth again, getting fed up with his puzzlement.
"Malfoy, if you don't' know something, you can just ask me. I finished the quiz already." I patiently spoke.
Again, his head whipped up and he looked at me, annoyed.
"Look, just because you are considered the Gryffindor know-it-all bookworm, doesn't mean I need your help." He spat as he glared at me.
I was about to turn away when I noticed a hint of frustration and desperation in his eyes, which gave his icy cold act away immediately.
Placing my mug down on the table, I got up and made my way to him, with him eyeing me cautiously all the while. I stood before him and held out my hand expectantly.
Finally, after losing the glaring contest to me, he huffed and placed the parchment in my hand.
I looked through his homework and was shocked to say the least. All his answers were the same as mine, meaning they were correct.
Except the last few.
"Easy. It's options D, B, B then C." I stated before handing him back his parchment.
His face remained impassive as he scribbled down the answers before looking up at me curiously.
"Why are you still standing here?" he snapped.
"Is that the Malfoy way of saying thank you?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Look. Malfoys don't say thank you." He said as he placed his homework on the table, leaning back in his chair and propping his feet on the footrest.
"Well. You just did." I smirked as he glared at me.
"Whatever." He mumbled, staring into the fire with a look of irritation.
I shuffled on the spot a bit, feeling awkward, before a thought suddenly hit me.
"How could you not know the answers?" I questioned.
Malfoy turned to me with confusion etched on his face.
"I-I mean. Well, you are the only other student in this entire school who gets the same grades as me. You're a topper as well. I don't think you've ever not known something." I explained.
"Look Granger. Not everyone is a know-it-all like you." He replied almost exasperatedly.
"I didn't say you were that. I just meant, you're definitely smart enough to have known the answer to simple questions such as those." I answered.
"Pray tell, Granger, why do you want to know and why would I even tell you?" he smartly replied.
Good point.
"Well. Because…as Heads we need to look out for each other. If you're slipping in your studies, it reflects badly on both of us." I defended.
In all honest fact, it was mostly because I was curious as to how Malfoy, the smartest Slytherin of his age, would not know answers to a simple Arithmancy quiz.
Also, though none of us admitted it aloud, I knew we both became closer in the past few weeks. Him opening up to me was a sign that he no longer saw me as the 'filthy little Mudblood'. And though he would never ever admit it, and neither would I, we did form a special type of friendship. It was sort of like…Friendly Enemies, with more of the friendly and less of the enemy.
Malfoy knew this all too well which was why he finally gave up just glaring at me and answered.
"If you must know, I haven't really been concentrating in class this whole week. I've…I've had to prepare for…well for…" he trailed off as his gaze shifted to the floor and his eyes got misty.
That was when it hit me.
His mother's funeral.
I suddenly felt so guilty for almost demanding him an answer like that, when it was only because he was focusing more on laying his mother to rest rather than his academics at the moment.
"Oh. I'm…I'm sorry, Malfoy. I get what you're trying to say." I spoke softly with my head slightly bowed. For some reason, I couldn't quite look him in the eye.
Malfoy looked up at me for a second before turning his attention back to the fire. I could tell he was trying his best not to appear weak and pitiful.
"Listen Malfoy. I-I was wondering. Perhaps I could help you with all of this." I said as I sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of him.
Oh my god, where did that come from?
Why did you just ask him that?
Of course he wouldn't want help from you!
Now, he's just going to shout at you.
Seriously, Hermione, you call yourself the brightest witch of your age.
More like the dumbest.
As I continued berating myself in my mind, I watched Malfoy as he turned to me with an expression I couldn't quite make out. I prepared myself for the worst as I bit my lip in waiting for his answer.
"I don't need your pity, Granger."
It was ironic how his voice sounded so pitiful and helpless when he said that.
"It's not pity." I replied almost too fast.
"It's just…Malfoy I know what you're going through…"
Before I could continue, he laughed bitterly.
"Ya right. How could the spoilt, pampered little Gryffindor princess know what someone like me would be going through?" He shook his head as he looked away into the fire again.
I was about to go off on him about his rude remarks, but I held my tongue as I realized he didn't know the truth and he was going through a really tough time.
And so, I just breathed in deeply and carried on.
"Nonetheless, I know you're hurting. And I want to help you out. Not as a pity or sympathy act. But…as an act of respect to your mother. Just consider it a…friendly gesture." I finished off with a small smile
"Y-You really want to help me…with this?" he whispered almost in confusion and shock. I was quite taken aback by how genuinely his emotions were displayed on his face when he said that. There was not a trace of anger or protest.
I nodded slowly, trying to show him that I was not joking. Though I was not that comfortable and ready with sharing with Malfoy what actually happened, I still knew the pain he was going through. I would never wish that type of trauma onto anyone, even Malfoy.
Finally, Malfoy looked down and almost sheepishly replied.
"That would be helpful for me. I'll…let you know if I need anything."
I smiled and nodded satisfactorily and got up, making my way to my bedroom.
"Um…Granger…" he called out and I turned around to face him.
"Don't you dare utter a word of this to anyone, or I will murder you." He spoke firmly and icily, but I could see the amusement and gratefulness in his eyes.
Smiling, I shook my head slightly.
"Don't worry, Malfoy. It's our little secret.