Chapter 8

A Conversation

"Always jump to the worst conclusions, don't you?"

Hermione threw a dark look at her best friend. "That spell jerked Ron out of his bed like a rag doll, Harry. It's one thing to use helpful tips, but you were trying out a spell which you knew nothing about! I'm starting to think to think thus Prince character was a bit dodgy."

Both Harry and Ron started shouting at her that it was just a laugh.

"Dangling people upside down by the ankle?" she questioned. "Who puts their time and energy into making up spells like that?" Hermione hated the idea of that stupid spell. Tossing someone about like he or she were an object.

"Fred and George," Ron defended, "it's their kind of thing. And er —"

"My dad," Harry interrupted. "My dad used this spell. I – Lupin told me about it."

"Maybe your dad did use it, Harry," her voice softened, not wanting to imply anything negative about her best friend's father, "but he's not the only one. We've seen a whole bunch of people use it, in case you've forgotten. Dangling people in the air. Making them float along, asleep, helplessly." She would never forget that trip to the Quidditch World Cup. Something that was supposed to be a wonderful outing with the people whom she considered family had been plagued by Death Eaters.

Ron defended Harry, saying they were just having fun. "You don't like the Prince, Hermione, because he's better at potions than you."

The accusation appalled Hermione. Did Ron really think she was that petty? Her tone turned venomous. "It's got nothing to do with that, Ronald. And how dare you think so lowly of me? What it does have to do with is the fact that I think this person might have been dangerous."

"I don't see where you get that from," Harry said heatedly, ignoring her tone. "If he'd been a budding Death Eater he wouldn't have been boasting about being a 'half-blood,' would he?"

She let out a mirthless laugh and narrowed her eyes at Harry. She lowered her voice, causing the venom in her voice to become more noticeable. "The Death Eaters can't all be pure-blood, there aren't enough pure-bloods left. I expect most of them are half-bloods pretending to be pure. It's really Muggle-borns who they hate. And 'blood traitors' like the Weasleys who welcome people like me with welcome arms. That book of yours may have a spell in there that was designed to hurt people like me, Harry."

Harry and Ron were quiet, but the anger of losing the argument was bubbling just beneath the surface.

"You mark my words, Harry Potter, that book is going to cause someone to get hurt. I only hope it won't be you." Hermione stood up from the breakfast table and collected her things, not wanting to talk about it anymore. "And I would just like to remind you – based on what you told Ron and I about the memory you saw with Dumbledore – Voldemort is a half-blood."

She marched out of the Great Hall and huffed in annoyance. She knew that she was being uncharacteristically harsh with them, but the most important thing was keeping them safe. And it wasn't like what she said wasn't true. Harry told them all about his lesson with Dumbledore and what he learned about Voldemort. The fact was, Voldemort was a half-blood. She couldn't just let them forget that. But Harry wanted to keep playing with fire, and Ron was just standing aside watching the flames grow. It frustrated her immensely that they wouldn't take her seriously. She realized that growing up they never took her too seriously, but now it was time for them to grow up.

She considered, not for the first time, stealing the blasted book and setting it on fire. That, however, would require Harry letting it out of his sight. Realistically, that was not going to happen. And she couldn't just wrestle it away from him. Though she knew Harry would never hurt her, he was still bigger than she was physically. Plus, Ron would definitely be assisting him.

Consumed by her thoughts, she failed to notice the figure approaching her and collided with said individual.

For the second time, she discovered that she had run into none other than Draco Malfoy.

They both straightened, sizing each other up. She felt the anger and frustration melt away as it was replaced by uneasiness. They'd had no interaction since she ran into him on her patrol. He and his lackeys didn't take the time to stop and harass her and her best friends anymore. Admittedly, it was strange. Not that she missed it, but Malfoy was definitely breaking from his routine.

Deciding she didn't want to stand around and stare like they had weeks ago, she decided to be the first to speak. "Sorry. I was a bit preoccupied with my thoughts."

He surprised her when he scoffed. "No surprise there, Granger."

Relieved that they weren't going to have another standoff like before, she moved to leave. Then a thought stopped her. "Why aren't you heading out of the castle? The Hogsmeade trip is today."

"Detention."

After a moment, she realized that was all she was going to get out of him. "Sorry."

He looked away from her and shrugged. He started to go and she found herself watching him walk away. At least that was more of a conversation than they'd had previously. He'd managed, what, five words?

She mentally groaned when Harry and Ronald joined Malfoy's retreating figure in her line of sight.

She waited for them to reach her. Saying nothing, they all began to walk out together.

Hermione found herself wondering what Malfoy had done to land himself in detention. Then she found herself wondering why she was wondering about him at all. He was acting unlike himself, but that wasn't really her concern. In fact, it was a good thing that he was leaving her and her friends alone.

Harry had brought up his theory about Malfoy being a Death Eater again, but she and Ron dismissed it once again. She and Ronald were on the same page about that, at least.

"I think Draco Malfoy gave Katie the necklace, Professor."

"Harry!" the exclamation flew out of Hermione's mouth before she even realized it had happened.

Professor McGonagall looked surprised at the young witch's outburst, but focused on Harry. "That's a very serious accusation, Potter. Do you have any proof?"

Resisting the urge to say no, he did not have any proof, Hermione let Harry explain his theory to their professor.

Thankfully, her dear professor seemed just as skeptical as Hermione had been. After a while of going back, Harry theorized that Malfoy slipped the necklace to Katie while they were in Hogsmeade.

"That's not possible, Harry," Hermione said, shooting him down, "Malfoy had detention today. He wasn't in Hogsmeade."

"Miss Granger is quite right, Mister Potter. Mister Malfoy has been serving detention with me all day. Now if you will all excuse me, I have to go check on Miss Bell in the hospital wing."

McGonagall ushered them out of her office and quickly left them behind.

As soon as their professor was out of sight, Harry whirled around to face Hermione. "How did you know Malfoy was in detention?"

"Yeah Hermione, I know you know everything, but that's not your normal knowledge," Ron chimed in.

Taken aback by their suddenness, Hermione sputtered for an explanation. "I – I…" She decided the truth would have to do. "I ran into him early. Literally. We collided as I was leaving the castle. I wanted to know why he wasn't heading out, and he told me he had detention."

Both Harry and Ron were looking at her as though she had grown two heads.

"You had a conversation with Malfoy?" Ron looked utterly disgusted.

"So that's it, then? An empty apology and a conversation, and suddenly you're defending him?"

Hermione bristled. Now she was really glad she hadn't mentioned her patrol to Harry or Ron. Hermione had been worried telling them about her brief encounter with Malfoy while on patrol would give more fuel to Harry's Death Eater theory. She never expected her best friend would accuse her of defending someone who spent years torturing them.

"No Harry, I am not defending him!" she spat. "I was pointing out a flaw in your theory. I'm sorry that I'm not as willing to believe that a child is a Death Eater! He is still underage, Harry! He is still a student! Under no circumstances would Voldemort see Malfoy as more than just a child!"

"Still I don't understand why Malfoy would talk to you," Ron interjected.

This conversation was becoming exhausting. "He said five words to me, Ron. It wasn't exactly a heart to heart."

"You counted how many words he said?" Harry asked curiously.

She let out an exasperated sigh. "It was five words. I can recall an infinite amount of definitions verbatim, so remembering five words isn't exactly a difficult feat. I don't understand why Malfoy chose to say five words to me. But it happened. Can we please just stop talking about this?"

The boys said nothing, but as they walked back to their dorm together she knew this was not something they would be letting go of any time soon.

A/N: So I know this was on the shorter side, but I felt it was a good place to end. I will be updating again tomorrow night, and that will have the first major interaction between our beloved should-have-been couple. So worry not, you will be getting more in about 24 hours (give or take).

I also want to apologize if anyone feels this is moving to slowly for him or her. I realize that not a lot has happened, but I think the build up is important. And we will be getting more of their relationship starting with the next chapter. Please keep in mind, Hogwarts wasn't rebuilt in a day.

Thank you for reading, darlings! Expect to see more from me tomorrow.