[Flashback]
Hermione stormed out of her common room passing a confused Theodore who hadn't quite made it out of the hall yet. He watched her walk off with a puzzled expression.
"Boy who pissed her off this time?" He asked aloud as she disappeared from sight.
"Nott! Have you seen a very angry—" a redhead started as she and another brunette approached him.
"Granger? Yeah, she just stomped off that way...is she okay?" He asked as he nodded in the direction she went off in, he attempted to hide the concern in his voice.
" Aside from having an insensitive git of a boyfriend, yes, she's fine. Now move!" Ginny attempted to shove her way past him but he quickly stopped her.
"What did he do?" He growled.
"That's none of your business slytherin!" She snapped, then paused a confused look crossing her face. "Why do you even care? You've barely ever talked to Hermione in our time here."
Theodore dropped his hand and shrugged awkwardly, "Just...never mind." He muttered.
"Come on let's catch up to Mione." Harry Said quickly, ushering Ginny forward. She nodded and continued on. Harry however stopped and looked back at Theodore, " I'm not sure why you care but, Mione came back upset about having to share a dorm with Malfoy and well, Ron didn't take it well. He acted like an arse and upset her instead of comforting her. That's all."
A look of anger seemed to cross Theodores face before quickly disappearing, he hid his emotions quickly not wanting to reveal anything—at least, not yet. "Thanks Potter" he said through bared teeth, "Take care of her."
"You don't have to tell me that." Harry scoffed, walking off after Ginny and Hermione.
"I oughta beat the crap out of that Weasel" Theodore growled before continuing on his way back to his common room.
-
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Ginny tried to listen for any signs of Hermione, she heard a faint sniffling and made her way to a bathroom. She spotted a ghost girl standing by a stall.
"Oh it's you myrtle." She tried to hide her disappointment.
" Sure always crying myrtle right? Huh! The Audacity!" The braided haired ghost complained in a squeaky voice.
"What—so it wasn't you?" She cocked her head, turning as the sobbing continued from within a bathroom stall. "Mione is that you?" She waved the ghost off and knocked softly on the door.
The sobbing turned into sniffling and shuffling as the brunette attempted to wipe away her tears and play it cool.
"I uh— I was just using the toilet I'll be out soon!" Her voice slightly cracked as she tried to make up an excuse.
"Mione...I know you've been crying you can't lie to me. It's okay, come on out." The red head said softly.
There was silence before more shuffling commenced and finally the brunette exited the stall, her face was still moist and her eyes red and puffy.
"Oh Mione..c'mere!" The red head wrapped her arms around her friend comfortingly. "It seems my arse of a brother is always making you cry, he's so insensitive!" She growled.
" I don't know how long I can keep this up Gin...Ron he—he never listens to what I have to say!" Hermione broke down in Ginny's arms burying her face in the crook of her neck. " It's bad enough I have to share a room with my tormentor, my boyfriend not only doesn't empathize but clearly doesn't trust me—worse he thinks he has any say in my decisions!" She said the last part angrily, her brows furrowing in discontent.
Ginny stroked the brunettes hair gently letting her cry her heart out in her arms, when she seemed to finish she pulled away keeping her arms on her shoulders and giving them a tight squeeze. " Oh Mione, it's no secret my brothers a Jerk, I never did think he deserved you! Honestly if I were you I'd have dumped him and his inferiority complex ages ago." She said bluntly.
" He's my brother and I love him but honestly! He doesn't treat you like you deserve, he's so dense and well—immature. You need someone different Mione, someone intelligent, who'll protect you, be gentle with you, challenge you, someone—with the same interests as you, someone— "
"Different. I get it Gin." Hermione interrupted the red head before she could continue her rambling, she cracked a smile and sniffled once more wiping away her tears. "You're right, maybe Ron and I aren't meant to be.." She sighed.
"No, you'll find someone else...like Malfoy perhaps?" Ginny wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
Hermiones eyes widened at the mention of the blonde, "Draco Malfoy? Ginny are you mental?!"
"What? Think about it Mione! Sure, he's snarky and entitled, but have you seen the way he looks at you sometimes?! Honestly, I didn't say anything because he's an arse more than half the time but I'm starting to think his bullying you mostly started off as a way to get your attention—even if he didn't realize it himself." Ginny giggled, not quite convinced herself but intrigued by the idea.
" Get my attention? Bloody hell Ginny you're not implying that he likes me are you?" Hermione looked at her bewildered a warmth fluttering in her belly that she chose to ignore.
"That's exactly what I'm implying Mione. It sounds crazy—and I know, I know, he and harry are like big time enemies so I shouldn't be encouraging this but you gotta admit he's pretty attractive and you and him would totally make a cute couple!"
"Gin, first off; I still haven't broken things off with Ron. We can't be talking about this kind of stuff yet. Secondly, I'm not just going to find another boyfriend as soon as Ron and I break up—it's too soon! Also, really Malfoy? You said it yourself he's an arse and like our biggest enemy at school!" Hermione huffed completely shooting Ginny down.
"Okay okay I give in. At least give him a chance though, not as lovers yet, but try to befriend him. You've both gone through a lot and from what you've told me and seem to think yourself he's not completely bad." Ginny reasoned.
"Blimey Gin what makes you think I think he's not all that bad?"
"Well, for one, you defended him earlier today."
"That was just to calm everyone else's nerves."
"You were curious enough to follow him into the headmistresses office when she took him and Isla away"
"I was curious about Isla, not Draco. I know more than enough about him" Hermione scoffed, crossing her arms.
"I know you haven't forgotten about how he refused to tell bellatrix your identities back when you were captured by them."
Hermione flinched remembering how easily he could've given them away, but like her at the time his eyes were filled with fear and sadness. She hadn't failed to notice the way he purposefully missed all his spells while they escaped even "accidentally" hitting Bellatrix with an incantation in the process. Even when Harry fought him for the wands he had in his hold Draco had allowed him to take them easily, way too easily.
The brunette sighed " Okay fine, maybe he's not Evil, but that doesn't make him a good person. I guess I'll try to get along with him...help him with Isla. Don't expect more than friendship though Gin." She looked at her friend who only smiled back sheepishly.
"I'll handle Harry and Ron, you go find your new dorm and get some rest. You can talk things out with Ron tomorrow." Ginny ushered Hermione out of the bathroom.
"Thanks Ginny, you really are the best." Hermione gave her friend one more hug before scurrying off to find these new dorms. This new rule of having prefects share dorms unnerved her but she shook it off and decided to keep faith in her teachers. Surely they made this decision for good and important reasons.
She finally found the painting corresponding to her new dorm, she whispered the password to it slowly opening the door as she heard a groan from inside and the sound of someone falling onto the couch. She peered inside to see Draco laying on his back running his hands through his hair in frustration, his face illuminated by the dancing flames from the fireplace.
"Why am I such an Arse?"
He seemed to be thinking about something for a while before sitting up and reaching out to take a rose in his hand and lift it to his nose.
"The hell am I thinking?" More silence, then he returned the rose to it's original place and let out a sigh of defeat.
" She's right, I finally had the chance to have a somewhat normal family, a new sister who'd be on my side..something—someone for me to protect, and I totally blew it."
Hermione's heart sank, here he was looking vulnerable and against her better judgement—all she wanted to do was reach out and comfort the lonely boy in front of her who had yet to notice her. Before she could change her mind she stepped into the room and blurted out the first words that came to her mind.
"You're wrong."
His head snapped up, his icy grey eyes meeting hers. She seemed to get lost in them, his presence returning that warm tingly feeling to her belly and chest she had felt earlier. His eyes seemed to soften as they landed on hers, on the contrary she felt nervous and confused. No going back now.
