Chapter 9

Dec 5th 1994

Draco was finally free. He finished his school hours on the ship and made his way to the library in Hogwarts as fast as he could. There was an announcement planned for tonight in the great hall, so he couldn't spend as much time with Hermione as he would have liked, but he would take any amount right now.

He still wasn't used to this feeling, but he planned on not focusing on it too much and enjoying his time. He entered the library, found a free table, and started reading the book he had brought.

It wasn't long before he heard the loud door signaling someone's arrival, and he saw the bushy brown hair he had missed. Hermione turned the corner, and when she saw him, her smile brightened.

He stood and smiled back at her. Her body moved on its own. She rushed up to him, wrapped her arms around him, and rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes closed as she took it in.

His body stiffened with surprise. "Um, Granger…"

"...Shush," she whispered. He complied, and his body relaxed. "This is me saying sorry for how I acted and what I said."

Draco smirked. When she didn't pull away, he wrapped his arms around her and rested them on the small of her back. He felt his heartbeat increase rapidly and hoped Hermione couldn't feel it.

Unknown to Draco, Hermione silently hoped he couldn't feel her own rapid heartbeat. She didn't know what had come over her. This hug wasn't pre-planned. As soon as she saw him, her body took over. She thought fast and said it was her form of apology. She loved his earthy scent that had a hint of apple to it.

They broke apart, and Hermione hoped she wasn't blushing as much as she felt like she was. "No sarcastic comment during that?" she asked.

Draco felt himself smirk. "I wouldn't dare interrupt an apology. Especially when I'm owed one," it felt too good to tease her again. He even missed the slightly annoyed face that she was giving him now.

Hermione smacked his chest playfully. "It's the only apology I will ever need to give you."

She took her seat and heard Draco mutter, "We will see Granger," as he took his seat.

"How does it feel to be free? I can't imagine what it must be like being kept on a ship for two weeks," Hermione asked.

"I think I would consider a cell in Azkaban rather than spending another moment on that ship," he joked. Hermione stared at him with a deadpan expression. "I said consider," he offered with a smile.

"You're hopeless," she muttered with a smirk.

"I've been called worse," he responded teasingly. Hermione remembered her talk with Krum. She had thought about it a few times, but that comment made her wonder if something happened to Malfoy to make him the way he acted at Durmstrang. She put it to the back of her brain for now. They had other things to discuss.

"What's been going on around here then? I heard Potter did something amazing in the dragon event," Draco commented.

"He did," she confirmed with a smile. "He was the fastest to get his egg from the dragon."

Draco felt his stomach do a flip. He couldn't help but like how supportive she was with her friends. "I heard Karkaroff yelling about something on that day. The next day my class was talking about nothing but Potter."

"Now you know why," she beamed. They stared at each other and started getting lost in the other's eyes like they had done many times before. "I've missed you," she whispered. Almost too scared to say it out loud.

"I've missed you too," He replied softly. He didn't worry about being open with her. Well, not when she starts it, anyway.

Hermione felt herself fighting a blush again. She wished she could stay in this moment with him for longer, but she had to tell him about what happened with Theo, and they had less time due to the announcement later.

She told him everything that happened yesterday evening. When she finished, she couldn't tell how he was feeling from the look on his face. "Is Theo ok?" he asked.

"Yes, and Blaise and Pansy said they would look after him," she answered. She saw some tension ease from his body.

"And are you ok?" he asked.

That question took her aback. He noticed her surprise and explained, "Flint has been bullying you for years, and it sounds like he went after Theo after you and Theo spoke. You shouldn't blame yourself for that because it's not your fault. I know you do blame yourself, though."

Hermione felt a few things at that moment. She felt shocked and embarrassed because he knew exactly what she was thinking. After all, she was blaming herself and was annoyed that he was once again correct.

"Is it that obvious?" She asked.

"Only with my well-honed senses" he tried to make a joke to ease the tension, but it failed.

She sighed and adjusted herself in her seat. "I know that it wasn't my fault. I'm not responsible for what Flint does because of his bigoted views," she stopped.

Draco gave her some time before he asked, "But?"

"But Theo shouldn't suffer for just talking to me" It hurt him to hear the sadness in her voice.

"You're right, he shouldn't, and no one should suffer over something like that," he spoke with such passion it stunned Hermione. "But you have to remember what you just said. None of this is your fault" his voice and eyes were now filled with comfort.

"Thank you," she whispered, smiling softly at him. She was genuinely touched that he understood how she felt.

"Hey, you two," someone called. Draco and Hermione looked up to see Pansy making her way toward them.

"Pansy?" Draco asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Theo said you two might be here. I hate to interrupt," she sounded way too cheerful to mean that, "but Blaise and I wanted to talk to you about this Theo situation."

"Where are Blaise and Theo?" Hermione asked.

"They are outside. We didn't know if Flint would be in here or not," Pansy explained before leaving to go and get the boys.

Draco looked over at Hermione. "Are you ok with this?"

She looked confused, so he continued, "Sitting with a Durmstrang student and three Slytherin students. Won't your house have an issue with that?"

Hermione thought about it momentarily before responding, "I imagine some would have an issue with it, but someone shouldn't be judged for the company they keep."

"Perfect answer for a contest or something, but you understand why I asked, right?"

"I do, and I thank you for your concern, but I will be fine" She knew he was worried that she would be treated similarly to how Harry was.

Draco responded with a nod and smile. He trusted her to know what she was doing.

"Sorry for interrupting your library date," Blaise called. "However, I thought a Malfoy would do much more than a library date."

With a smirk, Draco responded, "You got to know what a lady likes, Blaise. Not everyone likes the fancy stuff. Also, this isn't a date."

"Well.." Blaise started.

"Ok, guys. Can we stop this wand-measuring contest and get down to business? We don't have long until we have to head to the hall," Pansy scolded the boys and rolled her eyes.

Hermione suppressed a giggle. Knowing it was similar to how she scolded her own boys.

"What have you got planned so far? Granger already told me everything," Draco stated.

"Not much," Pansy answered honestly. "It was tense in the common room last night. Many Slytherins were glaring in our direction. Blaise and I stayed close with Theo."

"Flint has always been a bully," Blaise commented, sending a sympathetic look to Hermione, "but he's never attacked one of his housemates before. He firmly believes that Slytherins are above the rest."

Draco nodded slowly. He knew that type of wizard. His father came to mind. "What's changed with him then?"

The group settled into a discussion about that very topic. They came up with a few ideas, but nothing they could say was the cause of Flint's behavior.

Despite the importance of their discussion, Hermione was surprised that she felt entirely at ease with them. She was fitting in with the group's banter as if she had been around them for years. More importantly, she found that they all gave her their full attention when she spoke.

They were about to change the topic to what they could do to stop Flint's behavior, but time wasn't on their side. Theo informed them that they had to leave for the announcement in the hall.

Draco sighed. "We better get going then. We can pick this up another time."

"I wonder what the announcement will be," Blaise wondered out loud.

"Who knows, could be another deadly tournament starting soon?" Pansy joked.

"I hope not. Knowing Harry, he would somehow get involved in that one, too," Hermione muttered. The group headed down a hallway. If anyone saw them, they would stare in disbelief, Hermione the Gryffindor genius walking with three Slytherin students and the Malfoy heir.

"He has a habit of getting into these situations, does he?" Draco asked.

Hermione chuckled. "You have no idea."

"I highly doubt another tournament would be starting," Theo stated. Draco sensed that Theo wasn't used to being around so many people. He had seemed less himself tonight. Maybe he was shaken by what Flint tried.

"Maybe it's an announcement about punishments for flying on a broom," Hermione commented while giving a sly grin towards Draco.

"Oh, I do like her," Pansy cooed. Both girls received a glare from the blonde wizard.

"You like anyone who annoys Draco," Blaise chuckled.

"That would be correct," Pansy laughed.

"She's fun," Hermione whispered to Draco as the Slytherins enjoyed a laugh.

"You and them getting along is going to be bad for me, isn't it?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"I'm afraid so," Hermione replied, not looking sorry about it at all.

/

Hermione decided to enter the grand hall alone. She meant every word she had said to Malfoy about not caring who saw her with him or the others. However, walking into the grand hall with them would have caused such commotion for all of them.

The four others waited a few minutes before entering the hall after Hermione. The Durmstrang students still sat at the Slytherin table, so it made sense. The four of them sat together, with Blaise sitting opposite Flint. A move to show they weren't intimidated by him.

Ron and Harry asked where she was, but they lost interest as soon as she mentioned the library. She caught Draco staring at her. He flashed her a small smile before turning his attention back to Theo.

Hermione hoped she wasn't blushing because she felt the butterflies in her stomach causing a fuss. Those butterflies only increased when Dumbledore announced the Yule ball.

Life does get in the way doesn't it? updates will likely be slow but they are coming. hope you all enjoyed.