In a surprising and fortuitous turn of events, things were going very well since resolving things with Draco. At first, interactions were still a bit awkward and felt rather like old rusty gears were grinding slowly into motion. But within a reasonable amount of time they managed to find a good rhythm. McGonagall picked up on the change near-instantly and was prompt in commending their efforts.
Yet, though they were working well together, they were still far from being friends. The line was still firmly set. Buisness first.
Draco, while never insulting or crass with her, was still a Slytherin. He still had the tendency to be just as proud and just as arrogant, though, mercifully, Hermione found that he was much easier to stomach than he ever had been prior. She had never expected him to suddenly act like, Iris Findlay, for example, but often thought bitterly that it couldn't hurt for him to try.
He was more intelligent than she had ever noticed in their previous years of school. She had never thought of Draco as the intellectual type. After all, he had spent a majority of their growing up years spending time with people like Crabbe and Goyle. But he was always well-spoken and rational in their disagreements. Hermione found it refreshing in a way. It was much better than the coarseness with which they had communicated previously.
Though their arguments were not particularly frequent, banter had quickly become their default mode of communication. Each had managed to throw away enough pride to stomach each other's presence, but neither would give an inch more than they had to beyond there. And really there was no need to. After all, they had already accomplished their primary goal: working amicably together.
She hated to admit it, but in all fairness, she had started the witticism competition. It had happened late one afternoon while they were in the library working on a new assignment from McGonagall. They had been tasked to discuss the specifics and possible implementation of several plans the teachers had already concocted as well as compile a list of their own ideas for the betterment of the school. They had already been brainstorming for a few hours and Hermione had been growing steadily more irritable as the dinner hour grew closer when Draco threw out the idea of bringing back the dueling club.
Instantly, Hermione's mind jumped back to their second year and the unpleasant memory of Harry's duel with the boy sitting in front of her. As she remembered the incidence with distaste, she couldn't resist a chance to take a jab at him. "What, you think you've actually got a chance now that Harry's not here?" she jeered testily.
Draco's face morphed into one of unamused displeasure. "Do I sense jealousy, Granger? Must be rough now that your golden boy isn't around to flaunt his mediocrity. Or, perhaps, are you scared because Weasle-bee isn't here to hold your hand?"
Hermione flushed. "What about you? Don't have Crabbe and Goyle to cower behind anymore. You've got no chance against a well-aimed stupefy." She eyed him threateningly, daring him to incense her further, prepared for her retort. To her bewilderment, he burst into laughter. She eyed him skeptically. "And what, may I ask, is so funny?"
"Granger, if you could see the look on your face. It's like a puppy trying to look dangerous." He snickered. "And, if I may add, it's not a crime to use a few conveniently placed dimwits as a strategy."
She cracked a smile in spite of her earnest attempt not to do so. "Touché, Malfoy." Realizing his victory, Draco's devilish smirk materialized.
After that, they both agreed to break for the evening to head to dinner and pick back up with it another time. Since then, they'd been attempting to limit the amount of time they spent together when either of them was hungry, but from then on good-natured jabs and a healthy amount of sarcasm were commonplace.
While their relationship was far from healthy, she was at least grateful that it was somewhat enjoyable. Though not by choice, she was spending more time with him than anyone else. Even Ginny.
The Gryffindor quidditch captain was still as busy as ever, but the two had been able to spend some much-needed quality time during a trip to Hogsmeade one brisk fall afternoon. They talked over a couple of butterbeers in the Three Broomsticks along with a box of assorted Honeydukes confections. Hermione took the opportunity to congratulate her on the on their team's most recent quidditch victory.
"Your team did absolutely brilliant, Gin. You've done such a good job with them," Hermione praised.
"Aww, thank you. But really, I think I just got insanely lucky this year. Everyone on the team has been very patient with me from the start and we all seem to get along pretty well too. They're the brilliant ones. I have to admit though, we've been practicing really hard since day one, but I was really nervous about our first game."
"Oh please," said Hermione. "Ravenclaw didn't even know what hit them. Two-hundred seventy to fifty? You guys are smashing it this year."
"Yeah, I guess we did do pretty well didn't we?" Both giggled.
Her smile fading, Ginny then said solemnly, "I still wish Harry were here though."
"Yeah… I know what you mean. I miss them too sometimes. It's just not the same without them chattering about in class. But I think they're really happy at the aurors office."
"Oh, definitely." Ginny nodded. "Those two were made for that job. It's funny though, you'd think that Harry would want to live more quietly since he's been such a magnet for danger over the years, but nope. He's just as attracted to danger as it is to him." Her grin faded. "Truthfully, I'm so glad to have him back. I can't count how many times I was scared I'd lost him. And then when we broke up two years ago because he was going off to hunt horcruxes…" She trailed off. "I wasn't scared for me, I was scared for him. But he insisted that we had to separate. I'm just thankful that everything has gone back to normal. Still, I can't wait to finish school so I can spend time with him again. After that, I don't think I'll ever let him out of my sight. "
Hermione grinned. A softness overcame her as she thought fondly of Ron. She understood what Ginny meant. She missed her boyfriend dearly. They hadn't actually gotten to spend much time together. Between the end of the war madness, the two boys moving out, and Hermione going back to school, they had shared very few experiences as a couple. Little waves of sadness spread through her at the dreary sentiment. She tried to change the subject.
"So what do you think of McGonagall's new plans as headmistress? Some of them are pretty cool don't you think?"
"Yeah, I think it's pretty amazing that she's trying to tackle so much in her first year. But honestly she's done brilliantly thus far. I don't think just anyone could have whipped Hogwarts back into top shape after what happened last spring, much less in a few short months, but she pulled it off."
Hermione nodded her ascent. "Draco and I have been looking through some of the ideas the teachers have been talking about this year, and though I don't think I'm allowed to tell you what they are, I will tell you that they're pretty cool. McGonagall is really outdoing herself."
"Which reminds me, I've been wanting to check up with you about that. I've just been so busy, I can't remember half of what I'm supposed to. How are things with him anyways?" Ginny popped a handful of chocolate into her mouth. Hermione pondered the best way to address the subject.
"Well, he's actually being really good." Ginny gave her a glance full to the brim with skepticism. Hermione rushed into her defense. "I know what you're thinking and honestly I was as shocked as you are. But he apologized to me, you know, for being such a prejudiced twat, and we discussed it and we've just sort of agreed to put our differences aside and focus on our duties as head boy and girl."
Ginny's eyes were wide. "We are talking about the same Draco Malfoy?" Hermione grinned.
"I know, it's hard to believe, but we are. I don't know, I can't believe I'm saying this, but, he's really not that bad once you get to know him. We've been working together really well since then and we just sort of bounce sarcasm back and forth as a way to keep ourselves occupied."
Ginny looked from Hermione down to the table, still with a trace of doubt, and sat back against the booth. "Guess I'll need to see it for my own eyes to believe it. I suppose he's actually going to start acting like head boy at our meetings now. That'll be a nice change. But honestly, Hermione, that's wonderful. I know it'll make your year a whole lot easier."
"I'm glad he was able to get the whole blood obsession thing out of the way. You were right you know, Ginny. When I talked to you, you said you thought that maybe the war had changed him. Well it did. I suspect that between his father's imprisonment and the deficit in the number Slytherin students currently in attendance, it's been a whole lot easier for him to drop the whole superiority act."
"And good riddance! But if he steps out of line, you be sure and tell me. We've got some strong beaters on our team this year and I'd be more than happy to lend you them if necessary."
Hermione grinned at the redhead who was in the process of consuming that last piece of chocolate from their box and thanked her, but gave her assurance that such measures were not likely to be necessary. Hermione was glad she had eaten what she'd wanted of the chocolates earlier, because Ginny had demolished the rest, leaving instead a well-ravaged carcass of what used to be a candy box.
After an afternoon of laughter and a long, much-need chat, the two headed back up to Hogwarts with the rest of the visiting students. Along the way, Ginny caught sight of a few of her quidditch players and, apologizing, excused herself to go over to speak with them, leaving Hermione to meander the remainder of the path by herself.
Along the way, her thoughts wandered to Ron. She missed him so dearly that she was nearly regretting her decision to come back to Hogwarts. She had been offered the same auror's position as her two best friends and Neville in the early summertime. At the time she was convinced that she needed to return to school and finish her education. She had never really wanted to be an auror but the job would have given her a chance to spend time with Ron. It saddened her to think that, really, they hadn't even dated yet- at least, not in the formal sense. Sure, they'd shared hugs and kisses, stolen glances, and held hands, but they'd never really gotten any alone time to just talk about or develop their relationship. The vast majority of the memories they shared were as friends.
And though she knew that they wouldn't likely have gotten loads of time with each other living with Harry and Grimmauld place, it certainly would have been more than they were getting now. She sighed. As painful as it was, she was still confident in her decision. Education had always been very important to her, and coming back this year would enable her to get into the line of work that truly interested her. She would just have to tough it out until the end of the year.
She consoled herself with a single thought. At least I don't have to wait as long as Ginny.
A/N: Just thought I'd remind you, so you get the reference, Iris Findlay is an OC of my own invention and is a bubbly, super-friendly Hufflepuff. And, as always, thank you for reading!