re-edited 2015, see first chapter for notes

Chapter 14: New Friend

A few weeks earlier, when Hermione and Malfoy were standing side by side, Hermione having just promised to be Malfoy's friend; while "Violet" Mingled with Society.

"Yes," said Malfoy. "I suppose you could start by…um…bringing me a drink."

Hermione stared at him. "That's not how you be friends with someone."

"It's not?" he asked.

"No," said Hermione. "Being friends is when you…do stuff together. That you both like doing."

"What do you like doing that I like doing?" he asked.

"Well, that's what you have to figure out," Hermione explained. "That's how you get to be friends with someone."

"Oh. Well. Okay. I like Quidditch."

"I… don't like Quidditch very much."

"Oh," he said. "Well…I like making potions sometimes."

"Um…" said Hermione.

"You don't like that either?" said Malfoy.

"Well, not really," she hedged.

"Um, I like…"

"Do you like reading?" Hermione said quickly.

"A little bit…" Malfoy said, sounding a bit surprised.

"I like reading…I like reading all kinds of things."

"That's all?" he asked incredulously. "You don't like to do anything except read?"

"Well, no!" she said. "I like to do other stuff!"

"Like what?"

"I can…um…um…well…"

"Yes?" he asked.

"Um, well, ah, well… we can do Potions together!"

"You said you didn't like doing Potions," Malfoy pointed out.

"Well I don't dislike it."

"But you said friends have to do stuff that they both like doing."

"I do like doing Potions."

"But you said you didn't like doing Potions."

"Well, I— I— I didn't say that."

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't!"

"Yes you did."

"No, I didn't!"

They kept arguing, getting louder and louder, until finally, they realized people were staring at them. They quieted down at once.

Everyone began to look away, until they were again ignored in their corner of the room.

"Um, Hermione?" Malfoy said.

"What?"

"Sorry," he whispered quickly.

Hermione stared at him without answer. She was so surprised she couldn't think of anything to say.

Malfoy looked embarrassed the longer she didn't answer. Finally, he turned to walk away. "That's all right," he said, "It doesn't matter, just forget about it—"

"Wait!" said Hermione. "I mean, I, I, Iforgiveyou—I mean, um, I'm sorry too."

"Oh," he said, after a moment. He smiled.

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