YEAR SIX
Hey guys! So I tried something slightly different with this chapter, I hope you like it! Thanks so much for reading and I really hope you enjoy it^^
He couldn't believe his eyes. There she sat with her hair tied back in a ponytail, reading a book the size of the average wand with an intensity that literally had him feel slightly afraid of disturbing her.
Quietly, he sat on the wall opposite her and bent his knees, leaning his arms on legs. After a while she greeted him.
"Malfoy."
"Granger."
"I see you are, studying."
"Yes Malfoy yes I am."
'I see you are studying?! COME ON Malfoy what was that?! Thank Salazar I didn't stopped there.'
'Yes Malfoy yes I am?! Hermione, get a grip on yourself. This is Malfoy, not Ronald. You don't need to repeat everything you say.'
'She probably thinks I hate her now, what with how I've been. Oh well better finish up what I came here to do.'
'Say something Hermione!'
"Malfoy I,'
"No stop."
She stared at him in surprise, confusion clouding her eyes as his face turned emotionless with a hint of arrogance but a certain sadness in his eyes.
"We can't be friends anymore. I will stop coming to this place and treat you as the rest of the school population sees it."
The air hung tense and a shocked silence echoed in between them as Hermione blinked slowly, perfectly able but unconsciously unwilling to accept what she was hearing.
Her questioning why came out in a bare whisper, so soft he barely heard it as anxiousness and endless sadness filled her eyes and her shoulders turned limp.
'Because now I'm a…'
"This type of association will only cause inconvenience for both of us. We are sixth years now Granger, not a good age to be dilly dallying with the big boys."
He expected her to be infuriated, to come at him with hurtful words and even her fists but she just stood there and for a fearful moment he thought she might cry.
Instead she clenched her fists and said with a frighteningly steady voice-
"You said both of us." "What do you," "You said us."
He froze, his eyes widening. "Draco, what are you keeping from me?"
The way she so effortlessly seemed to figure out his secret sent a shiver down the Slytherin Prince's spine.
"None of your business. Run on back to your darling Weasel and leave me alone Granger."
"It isn't because of what Harry said is it? It's something else, something that has to do with the fact that you've been wearing long sleeves all semester…something to do with the anxiety in your eyes when Professor Dumbledore addresses the school right? Its something you won't tell me, no matter what I say."
He remained silent, fearful of what else she might tell him she had observed.
A heavy silence filled the air as she stared hard into him as if she was trying to drink in the silent words his eyes spoke. She suddenly seemed extremely too mature for her own age.
"Fine then. Go, but pay back what you owe. Show me your Patronus."
His mouth opened in half-hearted protest, spilling insincere and shallow excuses before finally he closed it in defeat and drew his wand, taking a single step towards her as he drew circles in the air.
"Expecto Patronum…"
A large sleek feline leaped in graceful circles around and between he and the curly-haired Gryffindor. Finally the snow leopard disappeared in a shimmer of blue light.
She stepped towards him, and using her own hand she pushed down his hence lowering his wand and leaned forward, her breath hot against his ear as she whispered words heavy with sadness and reluctant acceptance.
"The time you asked me to show you my Patronus, the memories I used to achieve it were memories I shared with you. And now that I've seen your Patronus I know your secret now."
With that she leaned back and sat back down on the floor, opening her book.
He was speechless for a moment.
"What do you mean you know my secret?"
She spoke without looking at him.
"Two secrets. Firstly, you were assigned a mission here that you have to do alone and no one can help you with. Hence the snow leopard-alone, yet powerful and agile, able to adapt easily just as you are adapting and coming up to solutions to deal with that mission you've received."
He stared at her with unhidden awe, surprise and fear. "A-and the se-second one?"
"Your Patronus circled us. Which is clear proof."
His eyes widened and slowly began to back away.
"-that you care about me."
He turned and nearly ran off muttering a soft farewell.
"Good-Bye Hermione," barely reached her ears.
"Good-Bye Draco," barely reached his.
With his back turned Draco hid his conflicted grey eyes from her.
With her hair down she hid the tears that slid down her cheeks silently as he walked away from her, from the space, from them.