Hogsmead Village

When we received our timetables the night of the feast I saw that on Monday I had Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, followed by Astrology (there was only one astrology class so there was a mix of houses) and Potions with the Slytherins. I pondered how potions would be now Malfoy had decided to drop the sneering.

This year the first of September fell on a Saturday so we had Sunday to just relax. After the constant arguing with Ron and being forced into each other's presence, I decided that a day apart was needed, so that morning when I woke up I checked the weather and dressed appropriately – in my high wasted shorts, long socks and a loose vest with the name of a muggle band my mother likes on it, with a warm jacket in case it got chilly. Then I headed down to the great hall with Ginny for breakfast, after also sorting my hair out and making myself look human – concealer was needed for under the eyes after a rough night's sleep!

When we reached the great hall we sat with Neville, Harry, Ron, Seamus and Dean who were already tucking into mountains of crispy bacon, sunny eggs, golden toast, towered pancakes and more. I helped myself to 2 rashes of bacon, a slice of toast, a fried egg and some beans, as I was feeling particularly hungry today.
Ron, Harry and Ginny were planning on going down to the quidich try-outs to get a team back together – Harry was still captain and still had Ron, Ginny and Katy on the team so all they needed were another chaser and two beaters, but if anyone on the try-outs were better than one of them they'd have to decide who stay and who goes… which could be awkward.

"What are you doing today Hermione?" Ron asked when they finished their in-depth quidich conversation.

I thought for a moment and said "I think I'll go to –"

Ron and harry cut me off and said in sync "The library" and both grinned.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes "Actually I was thinking of going to Hogsmead. There's a nice quiet place down there where I can read this book I've taken out of the library about all the flying magical creatures – it seems really interesting…" I smiled, having missed reading all the weird and wonderful books that came with going to Hogwarts.

When we finished our breakfast we headed back up to the tower and all sat around the fireplace. I was sat, curled up in the arm chair with Ron sat with his head on my lap, on the floor, while Ginny and Harry were snuggled up on the sofa and Neville was in the other arm chair writing on a small piece of parchment.

"What's that you're writing Neville?" I asked curiously

He looked up and smiled "Oh, Luna asked me to meet her today so I'm replying." Ron, Harry, Ginny and I exchanged looks and smiles, expecting the two of them to be in a relationship shortly. "We've been going out a couple of months now." Neville added casually, and we all whipped our heads around and looked at him.

"Well you could have told us mate! Nice one though" Ron said smiling, and Harry said something along the same line.

I started playing with Ron's hair absent-mindedly, drifting off in my own world of thoughts, before Ginny spoke up "It's ten past ten, we need to go set up boys."

Ron sighed as he had to get up and I rolled my eyes "What?" He asked in a harsh tone.

I furrowed my eyebrows and said "Nothing, you're just always sighing when you move. There's much harder things to do in life than move." I meant it lightly but he wasn't taking it apparently.

Ron huffed angrily and stomped out of the portrait hole, shortly followed by Harry, and then Ginny after she said "He's just lazy and grumpy." Sounding apologetic.

I was quite shocked that Ron even reacted at all to my rolling my eyes; he usually doesn't even notice such things.

After they left I went back up to the dormitory and got my bag with my books, reading glasses that I now needed, some parchment, a quill and ink, mascara and chap-stick just in case, and the little money I had, before heading off out of the castle prepared to walk to Hogsmead seeing as the weather was nice. However when I was about 5 minutes down the road, beyond the Hogwarts gate it started to rain, and it rained hard. I sighed and grabbed my wand casting a sort of shield above my head to protect me from getting too soaked, though now my bare thighs were freezing.

Still, I carried on walking with determination when unexpectedly; one of the carriages went past me pulled by two Thestrals – which I could now see, sadly. When the carriage was a few yards in front of me it stopped and Draco Malfoy jumped out, beckoning me towards him. I was shocked to see him and my movement of concentration meant that my wand umbrella failed on me and the torrential downfall was pelting straight at me, soaking me in seconds. I ran toward him after squealing like a small girl at the feeling of the icy rain running down my back.

He laughed at the sight of me when we sat under the roof of the carriage and I frowned at him, my body shaking from the cold. "You're looking rather disgruntled Granger." He said winking at me, as he sat next to me and gave me his big warm cloak. I put it over my shoulders and hugged it around myself – it smelt fabulous.

I frowned, fake sadness and sniffled "You don't look to clever yourself." I said – a complete lie of course. He looked like a model, just finished shooting for a hair gel advert. His blond hair matted obscurely, but somehow looking good, dripping down his face, his eyes shining and his grin looking smug and sexy. I went pink and looked away. "Thanks" I added motioning to the coat with my nose.

"No problem." He said smiling at me. "You look like you needed warming up."
Just then he grabbed a jar from the other side of the carriage and performed a little wandless-wordless magic to create a pretty blue flame that was emanating lots of heat – far more heat than mine had ever managed that's for sure.

"You're a very good wizard Draco." I noted and glanced up at him. His name felt odd on my tongue.

He grinned and put his arm on the back of the seat behind me, not quite touching me but almost. "Well, I don't like to brag but…" He blew his fingers and wiped then on his chest then winked at me and I smiled at him, shaking my head. "I didn't think anyone's magic could look good to you when you're like, so smart that you probably have 7 books in your bag on a daily basis." He looked at my tiny bag and added "And you use an extension charm so you can carry them around." Then chuckled and nudged me with his body.

I shrugged and said "I only have one actually…" then smiled at him. My face was incredibly close to his and I had to think about breathing – how did he make me feel like this?! Just then a shiver ran through me and he dropped his arm from behind me, onto my shoulder and wrapped it round me and moved even closer to me to warm me up. Suddenly my entire body was hyperaware of his body pressing against mine; I could feel currents off electricity as though they were passing from him through to me.

I glanced up at him again and he said "You don't mind me being this close do you? You seemed cold." He asked, sounding as though he actually doubted whether I wanted him there.

"No." I said straight away and then added "You're nice and warm." But the glint in his eyes as he grinned at me made me think he saw through it and my cheeks went pink.

His smile changed and he was giving me a sort of appraising look. He considered his words before he spoke. "That's cute. I think I might just make it my mission to make you blush at least once a day." He chuckled "If not several."
Just as he had on the train, he swooped his hand round to my face and stroked my pink cheeks with the back of his fingers, making them go even pinker and he smiled. This time when he did it his hand was slower, softer, as if more determined to really feel me.

My cheeks were definitely bright red now and all I wanted to do was lean a little closer… Then I remembered Ron and bit my lip guiltily, looking back down at my lap – but even as I did that I rested my head on Draco's shoulder without realising.

We were silent for a few long seconds as the carriage bumped along the cobbles then he said quietly "I like this."
I thought for a second about the possible implications of that statement but then he carried on "You're a really nice girl Hermione. I never thought I'd grow as fond of you as I have, and only in a short space of time."

I smiled to myself and nodded slightly "I like this too."
I can't believe I'm saying this, or even in this situation. Not even a week ago I pretty much despised Draco Malfoy and now I find myself liking him! I thought to myself as I sat leaning on him. More than like a small voice added in the back of my head and my cheeks warmed again, but he couldn't see this time.

Just then the carriage stopped and the Thestrals were making strange noises. Draco jumped out into the rain and had a look, and then a couple of minutes later stuck his soaking wet face back in "Looks like we're walking the rest of the way."

I pulled a face "Why? What's going on?" I asked worriedly.

"A huge tree's fallen and I can't lift it with my magic. Not so good after all aye?" He said shaking his head in mock disgrace then grinned at me. "Come on Granger, bit of rain never killed anyone."

I got out of the carriage grimacing and was once again pelted with masses of rain. "Ugh I hate rain." I said as I looked up at the fallen tree that had disgruntled the Thestrals. Draco then turned them around and sent them back towards the castle with the carriage.

"Right, I think if we both do it, we should be able to lift it long enough to go under, but when I tried I just felt like I was going to have a nose bleed and it didn't move at all."

I nodded and pulled out my wand, his already raised. We both chanted the old levitation spell, and with a struggle, we managed to lift it enough to duck under and then lowered it back down.

Sadly Draco's cloak didn't have a hood, why I didn't know – it must not be from Madam Malkin's as all her cloaks are hooded... Now that I thought about it, it was also made out of a much softer more expensive feeling material. "Where's this from?" I asked him, gesturing to the cloak.

"Oh, um… Sweden or Norway I forget which… Apparently the Durmstrang boy's aren't afraid of a little rain; there wasn't a hood in sight, sorry." He said winking at me "Say, weren't you seeing a Durmstrang boy for a while – The Quidich player, Victor Krum?"

I was taken aback slightly; someone had been paying attention to me. "Yes I guess you could say that… We kept in touch for a couple of months after he went back but then nothing came of it." I said shrugging.

He was silent for a moment then chuckled "How does a girl like you go from Victor Krum – 'best seeker in the world' to Ron Weasley – an oversized prick?"

I furrowed my eyebrows "Ron's not that bad."

He chuckled again but looked at me seriously "The fact that his girlfriend just referred to him as 'not that bad' says everything."

I shook my head and rolled my eyes, then thought for moment "What do you mean a girl like me?" I asked narrowing my eyes at him through the rain.

He smiled and shook his head "It made sense when you were with a famous quidich player. I mean, Jesus, you're beautiful you could get any guy you want!" He looked shocked with himself, as though he didn't mean for me to hear those words.

"You think I'm beautiful?" I asked incredulously; how did this beautiful boy think that of a perfectly average girl?

He smiled looking embarrassed "Hermione, you're soaking wet, hair stuck to your face, black under your eyes, and you're still more beautiful than any other witch I've ever seen." I blushed furiously and he grinned "Oh, there they are again, those little red cheeks." He stepped closer to me so he was right in front of me and then bent down slightly so he was on my level and held my cheek in his hand, looking into my eyes.

We stayed like that for what seemed hours, but then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath in before stepping back and dropping his hand. He started walking in front and said "Come on." Without looking back. I started walking after him to catch up with his fast pace but my legs felt like jelly and my head was spinning – I think I may have forgotten to breathe. My light-headedness failed to subside and I could feel myself losing consciousness as I fell to the ground.

I came back around to the feeling of cold rain hitting my face, but it was softer than before, and I fluttered my eyes open "Ugh" I said quietly, wondering if Draco hadn't realised I wasn't following him, but then his face appeared above mine, only upside down – I went cross eyed as I tried to focus.

"You need to stop passing out on me Granger; it's scary." He said, his face inches from mine, and I decided to sit up rather than risk another fainting spell because of his close proximity.

"Sorry." I said weakly. "I don't even know what happened. I just went dizzy and…" I shook my head lightly and rested it in my hands.

Draco was knelt on one knee, as though ready to propose next to me, but his slid his arms around me and pulled me up, still hugging me against him when we were both upright. "How do you feel on your feet?"

I breathed in his beautiful aroma and said "Unstable." But I still pushed away from him and started walking towards Hogsmead – it was only about eight minutes from here. "I'll manage." I said turning and gestured him towards me.

He was next to me again in a few strides and we walked to Hogsmead chatting happily, but as we approached Hogsmead a large figure came out of the trees and shot a spell at us but completely missed, and Draco instinctively grabbed my hand and pulled me behind him as he turned to face the unwanted attacker. "Goyle?" He said sounding disbelieving "How are you even alive? You can't even aim a spell at someone who's 50 yards from you and wandless, you useless oaf." Draco said harshly pulling out his wand and aiming it at the chest of his old school friend, Gregory Goyle.

"What the fuck are you doing Malfoy?! She's a mudblood and you're protecting her?! And you're still in school?! You're supposed to be on our side!" Goyle said angrily in his deep voice and then shouted "Stupefy!" and a jet of red light came at us, but Draco flicked his want slightly and it repelled, aiming straight back at Goyle.

It didn't do much to him, just knocking him back; Goyle wasn't great with spells apparently.
"I'm doing what's right! I'm sorting my life out and I'm going to become something! Unlike you, I'm now able to act on my own free will, rather than blindly follow my father. How is daddy anyway? Is he enjoying life with the dementors or have they already given him a quick snog?" Draco sniggered and I stepped out from behind him to be next to him – he looked at me worriedly.

Goyle made an angry noise and screamed "Crucio!"

Draco dropped to the floor and writhed slightly, his face creased in pain "Draco!" I shouted then quickly shouted "Stupefy!" The spell hit Goyle right in the centre of his chest with as much force as I could muster. I bend down and stroked Draco's hair out of his face and placed my hand on his chest.

He coughed a little "I'm fine. Bind him and I'll alert the ministry. They can deal with him."

"Ok." I said weakly, taking his hand and squeezing his fingers before leaving him.
I reached Goyle and took his wand before hovering his unconscious body to the nearby lamppost. I bound his hands together around the post, behind his back and he leaned against it, his head lolling to one side.

I turned back to Draco and saw that he was stood, wand pointing at the sky, sending up a white beam through the light rain and blue light was emanating over him. I could see his mouth moving quickly as he spoke.
He then dropped his arm and breathed steadily a couple of times then looked at me "There's a flask in my cloak, could you pass it me please."

I felt in both pockets and pulled the hip-flask out and passed it to him. He had a few sips and immediately looked better then passed it back to me and hugged me. As he hugged me he was increasing the amount of weight he put on me and I suddenly choked out "you're getting too heavy for me!" And I started to lean back, my weight moving off my legs. Luckily he stood normally and caught me before I fell to the floor. I hit his arm playfully.

"Whoa! What do you think you're doing?"

We both laughed and our faces were getting closer together – his hands on my hips. His nose brushed the side of mine and his lips were not even a centimetre away from mine. My breathing stuttered and I blinked rapidly.
Just then we heard the loud 'crack' of someone apparating in and we quickly moved away from each other. I caught my breath, breathing jaggedly as we approached Kingsley and Dawlish accompanied by a wizard I didn't recognise.

"Good work Mr Malfoy –" Kingsley started in his slow calm voice, then paused as he saw me "And Miss Granger" He nodded slowly "We've only got 3 more known people still on the run now and a fair few more smugglers who aren't known to us. I can't understand why this one was so stupid as to come up to Hogsmead though unless there's something going on, so Dawlish and Savage are going to check out the village while I take Mr Goyle here to the Ministry and decide what needs to be done. He's not a death eater but he clearly isn't going to co-operate with our way of living – however we have to give him a chance 'innocent until proven guilty' and such."

"Okay, no problem… Who else is there still? Jugson, Mulciber and…?" Draco asked

Savage nodded and Kingsley finished "Notts. But I doubt you'll come across anyone else now. Those three are too cunning to even think of coming round these parts."

Kingsley said goodbye and disapparated with Goyle, while Savage and Dawlish disapparated as well, but separately

As Draco and I carried on walking, the rain started to pick up again, and before we knew it, it was back to a painful speed. I sighed and exclaimed "It was supposed to be sunny today! I was going to read on the clearing through the trees behind The Three Broomsticks!"

Draco chuckled at me "Personally, I like the rain, but that's probably because I have short hair and I'm dressed sensibly." He winked at me then carried on "but hey, now you can sit with me, inside The Three Broomsticks, surely that's better?" He wagged his eyebrows at me, grinning and my stomach fluttered.

"Hmm is it better or isn't it, that is the question…" He raised an eyebrow at me and I went on "It's a pretty interesting book, but then again you're pretty good company…"

He opened his mouth and his eyes turned into a wide O shape "You said I'm pretty! You said I'm pretty!" He then started dancing around me. When he was behind me, after dancing, he wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his cheek on my shoulder, looking at me with big eyes "Do you mean it?"

I laughed and said "I said you're pretty good company" He stuck his bottom lip out in mock sadness and I knocked him off and pulled him by his hand so he was walking by my side again.

When we reached The Three Broomsticks I went straight into the ladies room and cast a drying spell on myself then redid my hair, relaxing and straightening it this time. I then wiped the black from under my eyes; applied more mascara and put on some chap-stick. Feeling refreshed I walked back out and found Draco leaning against the wall. "I feel much better." I said smiling at him.

He looked back at me, taking in my appearance and then nodded "10/10 would bang." He laughed at my shocked expression and winked as my face turned pink. "You don't realise how much I enjoy making you blush." He said matter-of-factly.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes as we sat at a small table in the corner with a candle floating overhead "I hate the fact that I blush so easily and so much."

He looked at me in shock for a moment then said "You shouldn't; It's cute… Your hair looks really nice straight by the way.

"Thank you." I said still blushing.

We talked for literally hours over a couple of butter beers then when it reached 4 o'clock we decided to head back up to the castle, however because it was still raining heavily we decided to apparate up to the gate, and then wondered idly why on earth we didn't apparate to Hogsmead. When we finally reached the entrance to the great hall it had turned 4:30 and food had already been served so we headed inside and said goodbye to each other at the door.
I looked up the Gryffindor table until I found Ron, Harry and Ginny then made room for myself next to Harry, opposite Ron.

"Have you had a good day?" Ron asked, taking me by surprise; I think this is the first time he's asked me that – ever.

"Yes." I nodded "It was rather eventful to say the least."

Apparently that was all the conversation Ron could handle when there was food around because he zoned straight back out, and I helped myself to some vegetable pie and gravy.

Ginny however had actually listened to me and asked "What happened?"

"Oh, I'll explain later, it's a long story." I laughed slightly and ate my food.

That night, after a long soak in the prefect's bathroom, I stayed up for a while with Ginny by the fire. We sat under a blanket on the small sofa and talked; I told her about running into Draco and then Goyle and Kingsley, then went on to talk about how insanely nice and slightly flirtatiously inappropriate Draco is with me.

Just before we headed up to bed Ginny turned to ask me "Hermione, what's going on with you and Ron? Cause you guys are pretty much either not talking or screaming at each other?"

I sighed and shook my head "I really don't know… Something just feels different with him since Australia." I said sadly.

She thought for a moment then said "Well, if things don't work out we're not letting it affect our friendship. I love you like a sister."

I smiled a small smile "I love you too Gin."