Chapter 4
A Tap on Her Shoulder
July 15th (continued)
"You look great!" Sara squealed as Hermione walked inside.
She firmly embraced the Gryffindor and Hermione returned the gesture somewhat uncomfortably.
"I might just have to steal that shirt from you, girl!" Sara continued wearing the biggest smile Hermione had ever seen.
"Oh, well then I'd best keep it on," Hermione replied, lamely executing a joke.
Sara laughed regardless, took Hermione's hand and led her to the living room.
"We just gotta wait for the others to arrive."
Hermione nodded and sat down on the sofa. "Nice apartment, by the way."
"Oh thanks," Sara replied, her smile growing impossibly wider.
The pair sat in an awkward silence for several minutes, Sara drumming her fingers on her knee and Hermione biting her lip and looking out the window.
The doorbell rang suddenly and Sara jumped up from the couch, as Hermione watched her exchange pleasantries with the three girls standing outside.
She listened as they chatted incessantly about all the latest gossip, before her attention began to wander and she turned her eyes to the mantel, where there were pictures of Sara and countless shots of friends at parties and get-togethers.
Hermione supposed the girl was already living on her own and briefly wondered why that was the case.
"Hermione!"
She quickly looked towards the door to see Sara and three other scantily clad women awaiting her with bright faces.
"Are you ready for a good time or what?"
"Oh yeah," Hermione replied, rising from the couch and forcing a smile. "I'm so ready."
As she followed the others into the night she couldn't suppress the feeling that maybe she was making a mistake.
About twenty-five minutes later, Hermione found herself standing in a dimly lit building full of people, with music playing loud and lights spinning in every direction.
Glancing at the bar she spotted several young guys hanging around another group of six or so girls, all itching for a look of approval or a gesture of attraction.
Turning her gaze to the dance floor, Hermione swallowed uncomfortably as she saw the way people were dancing with one another.
'A definite mistake,' she thought dejectedly. She would be caught dead if she were to dance in such a way.
Sara and the others, however, seemed to feel completely at home as they made their way to a lounge area and slumped onto the leather cushions. Hermione followed and sat at the far end next to a petite, Eurasian-looking girl, who was already beginning to flirt with her eyes at a young gent in the corner.
"Having fun yet?" Sara yelled over the music.
Hermione just nodded wordlessly.
Sara laughed, "Hasn't even started yet, girl!"
"Great!" Hermione shouted, conjuring a laugh.
"Oh, I'm Natalie by the way," the Eurasian introduced herself.
Hermione smiled, "Hermione."
Natalie laughed, "I'll have to practice that one."
The music suddenly changed to a more upbeat, techno style, which provoked a squeal of delight from all the other girls Hermione was sitting with.
"I love this song!" Sara yelled as loud as she could.
They began to move their hands in rhythm to the beat and Hermione looked away only to see a couple in the corner who were "dancing" in the most risqué fashion she'd ever seen.
'Oh Lord.'
Allowing her forehead to rest in her palm, she closed her eyes and focused on the music alone which, she had to admit, was actually rather enjoyable.
As the song changed she saw Natalie stand before the others followed her example.
"Let's do some dancing, Hermione," Sara urged, grabbing her arm.
Hermione just smiled and followed her group onto the floor.
Dancing was fun, perhaps if she just did that all night, and no drunken men approached her, she would have a good time.
Closing her eyes, she began to sway to the music, allowing her body to follow the beat and hoping she wouldn't look like too much of a fool.
Smiling, she felt herself becoming more comfortable and, opening her eyes she spotted Natalie and Sara applauding her.
Thrusting her arms forehead, she moved her hips in sync and nodded her head in rhythm.
Her grin grew ever wider as she lost herself to the many harmonies vibrating throughout the room, electricity running through her veins, and her heart as light as if she were soaring through the air.
Then, it happened, the first guy to dare venture towards her. He walked unsteadily and his breath smelled of liquor. Hermione simply glared into his eyes, causing him to falter in his steps before slowly turning and walking away.
Sara watched the exchange before high-fiving Hermione. "Wow that was brilliant, way to ward him off girl!"
Hermione shrugged, "They just gotta know you're not one for messing around."
"You're fearless," Natalie remarked, "backing down is not in your vocabulary."
Truth be told, Hermione had no idea how she was going to handle her first encounter with an intoxicated guy but, upon being confronted, the reaction had just come naturally.
The night commenced and for the next couple hours, Hermione was not interrupted again. She had actually gotten to the point where she was enjoying herself and felt happy she'd decided to come.
The music was all terrific and the lights were mesmerizing. She had even gone over to the bar and ordered herself a cocktail which tasted divine.
Sharing the sofa with the other girls, she laughed and conversed with them, feeling her worries slip away and the overall edge to her emotions dissipate.
Then, as she had just gotten up to dance to a particularly inviting tune, leaving the others sitting in the lounge, she felt a tap on her shoulder.
Whirling around, Hermione looked up into a pair of silver eyes, gleaming within the glow of the iridescence.
Draco Malfoy tilted his head and smirked, "Well I have to admit, this is not a place I expected to find you."
Hermione rolled her eyes and felt the first damper upon her evening. "No, nor I you."
"Well," Draco motioned over to the opposite corner of the room, towards the section for executive seating, "my father's here with some of his acquaintances, discussing private matters."
"I'm sure he is," Hermione replied flatly.
"And you," Draco continued crossing his arms, "Why are you here?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "not that it's any of your business but I'm actually here with friends."
"Mhm," Draco scanned his eyes about the room, "and where are they exactly?"
"In the lounge, sitting on one of the sofas."
At his wide smirk she rolled her eyes again, "What? You don't believe me?"
"I didn't say that," he shook his head.
People danced all around them, occasionally brushing against Hermione's forearm in the compact space. Smoke filled the air and the lights continued their electric dance to the heavy techno.
"So are you going to leave me alone anytime soon, Draco?"
Draco stepped forward, "would you like me to leave you alone?"
"Yep," Hermione nodded.
"Then no," he replied, smirking again.
Oh how she hated that smirk.
"Why not?"
"Because, we have a conversation to finish."
"Oh Lord," she rolled her eyes, "seriously, you're really still on about that?"
"Well, yeah," he replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Hermione laughed half-heartedly. "You know what, because you want to know so badly, my resolve to not tell you has strengthened."
"Now you're just being mean."
Hermione shrugged, "hey, I guess I'm just a mean person."
Draco glared, "Mudblood."
"Get out of my face."
At that a particularly wasted couple bumped into them, nearly knocking Hermione to the floor. Draco caught her on his arm and steadied her before turning and shoving the guy away.
"Watch yourself."
The guy's face turned crimson and he pointed a wavering finger in Draco's face. "You nee-oo ge-ow of vu way!" he spat.
Draco merely gave him an incredulous look.
The man wiped his mouth and continued pointing at Draco as he stumbled off, leaving the intoxicated girl he was with on her own.
Hermione couldn't help the laugh building up within her and as she released it she felt all of her previous annoyance begin to fade.
Draco turned to look at her and grinned before a chuckle escaped him as well.
"That guy really thought he had the upper hand on you," she stated between peals of laughter.
Draco shook his head, "Oh I know," he conceded, grin still in place, "People astound me."
Hermione continued laughing for several moments before she finally felt it die away, leaving her sides aching.
"You alright?" Draco asked, only mildly concerned.
Hermione nodded, "yeah, it really wasn't overly hilarious but I just couldn't stop laughing for some reason."
"Ah," Draco replied, "I wondered. I've never known you to find such things so amusing."
"The look on his face though," she continued, chuckling slightly, "was completely priceless."
Draco shook his head, "oh my God, you're starting all over again."
"No I'm not," she countered, catching her breath, "I'm done."
Draco raised his brows, and she smiled before chuckling softly despite herself.
"Uhuh," he stated crossing his arms.
Hermione closed her eyes and focused on the nightmare of failing an exam, something the complete opposite of funny in order to erase the image of the intoxicated man from her mind.
Opening them again, she found that it had worked like a charm and she smiled at her clever pun.
"You smile a lot," Draco observed suddenly.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak but couldn't quite think of a response for that. It had caught her off guard.
"Uhm," she bit her lip, "yeah, I guess so."
A silence ensued during which another beat began that appealed to Hermione's musical taste; she tilted her to one side as she listened to it.
She began to realize how awkward it was to be standing with Draco in the middle of a dance floor full of people "getting it on" and what not.
Draco seemed to acquire the same realization as he shifted uncomfortably.
Hermione looked away and towards the DJ on stage. She watched as he bobbed in perfect rhythm and nimbly spun his discs. She smiled as she thought of how fun a job like his could be.
Turning back to Draco, she appraised him curiously. He seemed extremely out of place in her world, and she wondered if the reason he approached her was because he needed the connection to something he understood.
"Thank you for not letting me fall to the floor earlier." She suddenly said.
Draco nodded as he saw the sincerity in her eyes. "I wouldn't let that happen to anybody. Not even you."
He seemed to think about what he'd just said for a moment before he shook his head, "actually, I would probably let it happen to your two idiot friends."
Hermione glared, "don't go on talking about idiot friends, Draco when you know that your two buddies far exceed mine on the moronic level."
Draco shrugged, "eh. Whatever."
At that moment, Hermione's group made their way over and eyed the pair inquisitively.
"Who's this?" asked Sara curiously.
"Allow me to introduce, Draco Malfoy, an acquaintance from school." Hermione proclaimed.
Draco smiled and nodded at them before turning to Hermione. "I guess I'll get back to my father."
Hermione smiled in return, "You go right ahead."
Draco turned to leave before Hermione suddenly called out to him.
"Hmm?" he replied.
"Goodbye, Draco."
There was an edge to her voice that seemed to slightly confuse him before he gathered his wits and nodded, "yeah, see ya around, Granger."
Hermione shook her head as she saw him walk away. It truly might have been the very last encounter she would have with the Malfoy boy and she didn't know whether to feel a measure of sadness or exuberant relief. Perhaps it was a mixture of both.
In any case, she hoped he would have a good life.
"Well that guy was…interesting." Sara announced.
Hermione nodded, "oh yeah, he's a real piece of work."
The rest of the evening passed without any more interruptions and Hermione eventually felt herself slip back into a sense of ease and comfort. The other girls were not as bad as she had initially presumed, especially Natalie, who actually seemed like a very intriguing person.
They talked and giggled, and occasionally got up and danced to another song or two. Hermione was beginning to see what she had always missed out on at Hogwarts by being reserved and isolating herself from the other girls' company.
It felt…safe to just be hanging out with a bunch of girlfriends and Hermione found that she immensely enjoyed chatting with them.
A yawn escaped Sara, which was followed by several more as the room gradually began to empty of its occupants. Natalie began to notice and as she turned to face the group she let out a long sigh.
"Well, you girls ready to go?"
Hermione nodded slowly, "yeah, I suppose."
They all rose and stretched before gathering their various belongings and stepping out into the chilled night air.
"What time is it?" Sara asked midst a yawn.
"2:37" Hermione replied shaking her head. "I had no idea it had gotten so late."
Natalie shrugged, "eh, it's summer, who cares?"
Sara giggled before a sudden thought entered her head. "Hermione, I don't think I ever asked you, what school do you go to?"
Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but faltered for an instant. "Uhm, well, it's a…" she looked up to the starry sky as she racked her brain for a fool-proof answer. "It's a boarding school, farther up north."
"A boarding school? Really?" Natalie inquired, eyes wide. "That's so cool. You must have wealthy parents. Mine were never able to afford it."
Hermione blushed but said nothing.
"What do your parents do anyway?"
"They're both dentists, actually." Hermione replied proudly.
Natalie smiled, "that's awesome, maybe I should start going to them."
They continued down the solitary street, the bustle of the day completely absent, leaving only figments and traces of its presence.
Hermione heard nothing but the occasional dog barking and the sound of her boots and her friends' heels clacking against the cobblestone.
Sticking her hands in the pockets of her jacket, she looked up to the sky and at the stars embedded there. They were so marvelously beautiful, glistening and beckoning to her heart.
She thought over her night and of the exhilaration dancing had made her feel. It felt as if she had released an internal, gnawing frustration and the results had been most liberating.
Upon reaching Sara's apartment they all exchanged goodbyes.
"It was nice meeting you, Hermione." Natalie stated as she gave her a tender hug.
Hermione smiled, "you too, I hope we get to hang out again sometime soon."
Then Natalie and the two she had arrived with, walked off in the opposite direction before Sara turned to Hermione and grinned.
"So did you have a good time?"
Hermione nodded, "I did, thank you for inviting me."
Sara shrugged, "anytime girl." Then she waved and walked inside, "see you at work Monday."
Hermione nodded and returned the wave before taking a sharp inhale of breath and looking down the dark abandoned street.
'Drat,' she thought, 'didn't take into account I'd be walking home alone.'
Biting her lip she fingered the phone in her pocket before deciding against calling her parents. It would be extremely inconsiderate of her to wake them at this hour.
Looking back at Sara's door she thought about asking the girl if she could stay the night, but the thought of possibly intruding when it wasn't offered felt completely rude.
Hermione's brow creased as she weighed her options. She suddenly wished she hadn't dressed herself up so much. It made her more vulnerable and attractive to potential dangers.
For an instant she thought she might have left her wand at home and mentally kicked herself before she was reminded that she had slipped it into her boot.
The thought comforted her and as she took the first step in the direction of her house, she felt utterly exposed and bare before the darkness and whatever presence might be lurking within it.
'Stupid girl,' she chided herself, 'you're supposed to think these things through.'
It were times such as these in which she most yearned for Ron and Harry. They were her protectors in all things, though she usually gave off the vibe that she didn't need any help from anyone, inside she always reveled in the comfort and security they offered.
She was just as skilled as any man and entirely as able to defend herself, but the mere and core fact that she was a woman created the potential for her to be exposed to certain things that men had no need to fear.
She let out a soft gasp as she heard a noise to her left, but with relief she saw it was only a cat, possibly the same one she had seen earlier.
As she continued walking she wondered how she always managed to end up in situations like this. Was she just that prone to danger?
Her nerves were on edge and her mind was reeling with ridiculous illusions. She closed her eyes and fought to control herself.
'Calm down,' she told herself, 'you're alright. Everything's fine.'
She felt so alone and vulnerable and the feeling only surmounted as she came around the corner to where several bars were located. She spotted many other individuals making their way home on unsteady feet. Loud, drunken voices wafted towards her and she shrank back behind a building in dread.
Alone in the streets on a Saturday night was not the wisest place to be, left to the mercy of brains lost to intoxication.
Hermione steadied her breathing before peering around the corner to see that the group was now walking in the opposite direction. Eying the back door of the bar she hoped with all heart that more would not come stumbling out within the next ten minutes.
Swallowing, she readied herself, prepared to run if she needed to.
Suddenly a figure leapt out from the adjacent wall and landed beside her.
Hermione instantly whirled around, her hand flying to her pounding chest and her mouth releasing a soft scream.
"Do you always go walking around by yourself in the middle of the night?" he laughed pleasantly.
"Draco! God," She replied removing her hand and trying to catch her breath. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I'm sorry," he held up his hands defensively. "I couldn't resist. The opportunity was just too perfect."
Hermione glared before stumbling against the wall behind her; her knees were so weak from the shock it took her a minute to steady herself.
She brought her hand to heart again and willed it's pounding to slow.
"You're pretty scared out here, huh?" he asked stepping towards her.
Hermione didn't answer just closed her eyes and willed away the sharp words that threatened to surface.
"Draco please don't ever do that to me again." She looked up at him with narrowed eyes, "that was horrible of you."
He swallowed, "I was only trying to have some fun."
"Well then we must differ greatly in our opinions of fun."
He nodded, "well, that's always been the case. You all thought it was bloody hilarious when mad-eye turned me into a ferret and bounced me up and down in front of the entire class."
Hermione's jaw dropped, "No," she retorted, "I didn't think that was funny at all, I told Harry off when he mentioned it. I actually felt sorry for you."
Draco's eyes widened," What? Really? Why?"
Hermione shrugged, "I don't know, maybe it was because you looked so much cuter as a ferret." She smiled mockingly.
Draco rolled his eyes before turning and gazing down the street, "You ready?"
Hermione stared at him in confusion, "what?"
Draco looked back at her, "are you ready to go home?"
Hermione hesitated before slowly moving away from the wall and walking ahead of him.
"You're going to walk me home?" she muttered, perplexed.
Draco shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged, "I really don't hate you enough to want to imagine you being assaulted by some drunk."
Hermione stared at him with doubt in her eyes, wondering if there could possibly be some hidden motive behind his civility.
As they strolled past the bar she saw another group of men stumble out and she swallowed nervously as they eyed her and grinned. However, as they saw Draco their interest instantly faded and they staggered on into the night.
Hermione looked over at Draco who was just staring straight ahead, his mouth set in a half-smile. He seemed entirely at ease and his face was bright and untroubled.
She wondered if perhaps he finally felt a sense of safety within the Muggle world; Away from Voldemort, from Hogwarts, and from the impending prospect of war.
Despite his words on how shameful it was to have been sent to such an "inferior" place, she imagined that he was actually quite content. She knew he had not wanted to become a death eater, as was proven by his failure to kill Dumbledore.
She had no idea what type of threats were imposed on him or what horrors he had seen whilst under the same roof as the Dark Lord.
"You're staring, Granger."
Hermione immediately averted her gaze and shook her head, "nope."
Draco shrugged, "deny it if you must."
Hermione rolled her eyes before deciding to change the subject, "so what are you doing out here anyway?"
Draco shrugged again, "I was just..you know, rummaging through trash, chasing some mice, licking my fur, stuff like that."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "So you're a cat huh?"
"That's right," he replied with a nod.
"Lord, nevermind," Hermione said shaking her head.
They continued on in silence for several minutes before Draco looked up at the sky and Hermione saw his eyes widen.
"Look!" he shouted excitedly pointing a finger towards a red orb of light, "Look at that light! I wonder what it could be? Perhaps it's a bit of magic, visible from the Wizarding World!"
Hermione furrowed her brows as she looked at a moving, blinking, red light. "Uhm, no. That would be an airplane, Draco."
"Ah," he replied, "what's that?"
Hermione thought for a moment, "It's a Muggle transportation vehicle. Consider it like our way of apparating."
"Huh," was all he said as they continued walking.
Hermione swallowed suddenly and looked at him confused, "why exactly are you being so civil towards me?"
Draco shrugged and kicked at a pebble on the ground, "just nice to see a familiar face is all."
Hermione bit her lip as she contemplated that. She supposed it could be quite possible that he felt somewhat out of place within a world he'd always scoffed at, yet didn't understand. Being that she was his first contact with the world he grew up in, she found that she understood exactly what he meant.
"Also," he continued, "you're actually a notch above the rest of the company we keep nowadays. I mean, at least you're actually a witch."
"Ah," Hermione replied with a slight smirk, thinking that this explanation seemed far more fitting to the boy she thought she knew, "so I'm just another connection of yours, huh?"
"You could put it that way I guess," he replied.
Hermione shook her head, "wow."
They walked on and as the wind began to pick up, Hermione shivered and wrapped her coat tighter around her torso.
"You're not cold?" Hermione asked looking over and seeing that he wore no jacket.
He shook his head, "no, this feels good."
Hermione shrugged and, as silence descended between them, found her mind slipping to the hold of her thoughts once more. She hated to admit to herself that she was thankful for Draco's presence. It had terrified her to walk home on her own, and the way the guys at the bar had stared at her, she shuddered to think what might have happened had Draco not been beside her.
As they arrived at her doorstep, Hermione desperately tried to say the words she had been thinking, but found it terribly difficult, considering who she was indebted to.
"Uhm," she struggled as she forced the words out of her mouth, "th-thank...you, Draco."
He looked uncomfortable and she started to regret having said it before he slowly nodded and replied with the tiniest of smiles, "sure thing, Granger."
The look on his face was almost humorous as he shifted his eyes back and forth and drove his hands deeper into his pockets.
"Has nobody ever thanked you for anything before?" she couldn't help but ask.
He hesitated before opening his mouth and stumbling over his own words, "well, uhm…well, no."
Hermione shook her head, "hmm, well that's too bad."
He cleared his throat and nodded but didn't say anything else.
Hermione sighed and then waved, "well goodnight."
"Oh, one thing," he suddenly said, halting her, "do you think you can tell me what that remark in the bistro was about now?"
Hermione's jaw dropped and she shook her head in disbelief. "Oh. My. God, Draco." She said grinning incredulously, "will you please just let that go? I am not gonna tell you."
Draco couldn't help but smirk at the familiarity of provoking her, the night had yielded one too many awkward situations.
He watched as she spun around, shaking her head yet smiling widely, and slammed the door.
"Goodnight, Granger!" she heard him holler, before listening to him walk away.
"Unbelievable," she muttered rolling her eyes. So perhaps there had been a hidden motive. Curiosity was obviously a major trait in Draco she had never picked up on. However, now that she knew this fact, she couldn't help but find it amusing how badly it was killing him to find out the secret behind her remark.
As she walked into her bedroom and changed into her pajamas, she continued to think over the entire evening, replaying it over and over within her mind. It had been such a strange experience, especially with Draco there. She had enjoyed herself, despite him, and decided she would try and go out with Sara and Natalie one more time before the summer ended.
As she lay in bed, breathing softly and reveling in the comfort of her mattress and the pillow beneath her head she truly felt, for the first time since the prospect of leaving Hogwarts had entered her mind, content.
She felt a sudden pressure against her back and, turning over she found that Crookshanks had curled up beside her.
Heart softening, she reached over to pet his ginger fur, "I'm really gonna miss you buddy."
He simply purred gently, and she felt another wave of sadness engulf her heart, reminding her again of all the things she was going to have to leave behind.
Her eyes slowly drifted closed, and she fell asleep thinking over all the memories of her childhood and listening to the steady hum of the purring cat beside her.