AN: Thanks for reading this far! :)
It had been an incredibly long day filled with organization and new students. Hermione knew that the first few weeks were always the craziest. Most students had a hard time figuring out their classes and which books to check out. She had always been eager to help but after a while she got a bit worn out from all the questions.
After seeing Malfoy several days previous, Hermione had a hard time keeping him out of her mind. Every time she passed him in the halls she wanted to stop him. She wanted to talk to him about so much. Hermione continued to try to remind herself of the cruelties that his family put her and her friends through but deep down she knew that he was different then his father.
She glanced down the table at the new Potions professor. He was sitting quietly not even touching his plate. As the other teachers talked, Malfoy sat silently without one word. Out of nowhere he looked down towards Hermione. She gulped wondering if he knew how long she had been looking at him. The former Gryffindor gave a polite smile to Draco and looked back at her plate.
"Miss Granger," Headmistress McGonagall called down the hall. Hermione spun around to see her.
"Headmistress," she gave a polite smile to one of her favorite former teachers, "is there anything I can help you with?"
"I believe there is," Minerva said. Hermione pursed her lips and stepped closer to the older woman. She hardly ever asked for help with anything.
"What is it, ma'am?"
"I heard that you and Professor Malfoy met the other day in the library."
"Yes," Hermione answered unsure where the conversation was going. "He was looking for books for his class, I assume. We didn't talk that much...I...I suppose neither of us had much to say..."
"Yes," McGonagall stated with a bit of a sad expression that Hermione noticed. "I know about what happened, durring the war, I mean...between you and his...Bellatrix. I am not asking you to forget the part he played but...you understand that-"
"It wasn't his fault," the librarian said, "none of it was, he was forced into the positions that he was in. It was his family's doings, not his. I don't...I'm not angry with him any longer. And I know that in a way he helped us escape...if he was anything like Lucius or...Bellatrix he would have killed Harry, Ron, and myself..."
"You have become a very wise woman," said the older lady, "I was worried about the two of you working in the same building. But I am glad that you were able to put the past behind you. It is not only wise of you, but couragous. I can only hope that you will indeed help each other in the future."
"Of course, Headmistress," Hermione nodded. With a smile McGonagall turned and walked towards her office.
Miss Granger walked back to the library to close up. She was surprised that the Headmistress had pulled her aside just for that. It seemed strange that she wanted her to be friends with Malfoy, but she knew that the old woman knew more about him then she did.
...
Draco leaned back against the wall as Hermione walked back to the library. He couldn't believe that the Granger girl said that she wasn't mad with him. Draco couldn't tell if she was telling the truth but he smiled either way. Maybe she was safe? Maybe she could be his friend after all.
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