Early Autumn. Hogwarts, 1991.
Draco was so anxious, as he couldn't see Hermione at lessons and couldn't leave them for searching her. He was afraid of her leaving Hogwarts without telling him about that. As the lessons ended he hurried to search Hermione in the Common Room. Draco entered and asked the girl who was sitting on the sofa about Hermione, but she didn't know where went her fellow after the breakfast. Crabbe and Goyle entered the Common Room and Draco also asked them about Hermione.
"Well, Malfoy, we know where is your girl, but we want a reward for telling you this.", said Gregory Goyle looking at Draco with a strange smile on his face.
"What do you want?", asked Draco the two unpleasant boys.
"We will go to Hogsmeade this weekend, and you will pay for all our purchases, agree?".
"Agree, just tell me where is Hermione!", said Draco nervous.
Crabbe and Goyle laughed looking at him and Vincent said:"Hope you won't deceive us! She is in the library.".
Draco gushed through the two boys with great speed and went to the library. He opened the big door and entered, starting to search Hermione. He found her near the Potions section reading something in a book.
"Hey, here you are! I was close to think that you had already left Hogwarts.", said Draco.
"Oh, sorry, I was so busy and forgot about you.", said Hermione blushing.
"It's ok, but you should spend this afternoon with me! If you refuse, I'll Obliviate you and you'll forget about all your other plans!", replied Draco with a straight face.
Hermione laughed:"Ok, but first I'll go to professor Snape for instructions about Potions, he is the last on my list.".
"Wow, you're so fast, receiving all instructions in one day!", said Draco with astonishment.
Hermione felt proud of herself for a moment and proposed Draco to go together to their faculty dean – professor Severus Snape. The boy accepted and they went to the dungeons together. As they were walking and speaking, Hermione hit her head on something. Draco stopped speaking while Hermione raised her head and realized that professor Snape was standing in front of her and she hit him with her head two seconds earlier.
"You must be Miss Lestrange.", said Snape with a calm voice and a low pace, "You can't walk avoiding obstacles on your way, so how do you think you will study by yourself Hogwarts classes?!".
"Professor…", Hermione didn't have time to finish as Snape continued with the same voice:"You need attention in all you do, from walking to brewing a potion, and especially brewing potions, because a wrong component or dose can transform a potion in a poison!".
"I know professor, but…", Hermione's intent remained unfinished as Snape resumed his speech:"Don't try to justify yourself, because it ensures me more about my righteousness! Now, follow me and leave your silver brother here.", professor turned back to his cabinet and Hermione followed him squeezing her shoulders as Draco looked questioningly at her. After 30 minutes Hermione came out Snape's cabinet and Draco met her with relief:"Finally! I thought I will spend here all my life!".
"Well, he instructed me much better than the others, he takes very seriously his job!", said Hermione.
"He's just much more responsible for you being your faculty dean.", replied Draco, "Now you are free, right?".
"Right, and I'm gonna spend my afternoon in your company as I promised!", said Hermione smiling.
The two Slytherins went outside the castle finding a bench to sit.
"What did professor Snape mean by saying 'your silver brother', do you know?", asked Hermione as she sat on the bench.
"Well, if you still didn't noticed, my hair is silvery blonde!", said Draco with a kind of smile.
"Very funny!", replied Hermione, "People all around call you 'silver boy' and moreover I'm not blind! (Draco laughed) But what did he mean saying 'brother'?!".
"I don't know, maybe he meant fellow or friend, you know, Hogwarts houses are like families.", answered Draco.
"Maybe…", said Hermione thoughtfully, "Ok, let's give it up, better tell me, will you write to me, 'cause I need someone to tell me about what happens here and to be implicitly my link with Hogwarts and especially with professor Snape, it's him who told me about this!"
"Of course, but let's specify, you'll write for me separately, I don't want to share a letter with Snape!", said Draco smiling brightly.
"Ok!", Hermione laughed.
"But wait, how will I mail you letters, can an owl fly so far?", asked Draco.
"You can use muggle mail system, a postman will deliver your letters.", answered Hermione.
"Oh, but it's so difficult to mail letters this way, and it also costs!", replied Draco.
Hermione smiled:"I know that it's not so pleasant to interact with muggles, but it requests just a small effort from you, believe me, I have much more contact with muggles as I live with muggles as neighbours; I think I didn't ever met a witch or wizard in Prague, our family doesn't communicate with other magical families, I feel so lonely there and sometimes it's so pleasant to receive smiles from my muggle neighbours!".
"Yeah…", said Draco thoughtfully.