"You didn't think to tell me sooner?"
"Let's just call it payback for not telling me about my ancestors' magical book." Draco ground out, stumbling rather comically to his feet. He brushed his clothes down, wincing as the movement sent a spasm through his back.
"Do you realise how petty you sound?"
"And do you realise how loud and squawky you sound? Like someone shoving something spiky up an owl's backside." Hermione ignored him, clamouring to her feet and storming over to the green pillar with the carved rune, waving her hand over it.
"What are you doing now?" He grimaced, hobbling his way towards her.
"I'm getting the Sensieve back."
"Oh no, no, no. no. You're not actually suggesting we go back in there, tonight?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting." Hermione smacked her palm against the rune again, grumbling when it refused to glow. Draco bit back a laugh as he watched her push on it with both hands, feet slipping on the polished floor. "Why isn't this working?"
"Perhaps the Sensieve has more sympathy than you do," Draco shrugged.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Er, have you seen me? I don't know if you've forgotten but I feel everything that happens in these memories, so spoiler alert, I am currently recovering from the feeling of being stabbed," Hermione ignored him, "stabbed," Draco repeated, widening his eyes in disbelief when the word had no effect on the Gryffindor. "Okay, I'm just going to let that one percolate for a moment because I know you wouldn't just ignore the fact that I just had a knife in my back." Hermione sighed, turning to him in frustration.
"Alright, I get it, you got stabbed, but Sonyea, she' - I just want to know what happened to her." Draco slumped against the wall hating the fact that her caring made a small space inside of him, care too.
"Okay, Granger, here's the deal."
"I'm not in the habit of making deals with Slytherins," she spat over her shoulder.
"Well tell that to past, Know-it-all-Gryffindor, because I don't think she got owled the memo." He could tell she hated how true his words were - with an exaggerated effort she turned to face him.
"Fine, what's the deal?"
"You let me, recuperate, which I don't think is too much to ask, considering what I've been through."
"And don't you go on about it," Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Being treated like a pincushion will do that to you." he cut in, and Hermione bit back a smile, "If you allow me that then we will come back tomorrow." Hermione paused for a moment mulling it over.
"Promise?"
"You have my word as a Malfoy." Draco placed his hand across his heart and bowed slightly. Hermione snorted.
"Is that supposed to mean something?"
"It means everything, Granger. Now can we go?"
"You know, I am finding it hard to sympathise with you right now," she muttered, eyes rolling as Draco hobbled beside her. "It would be easier, and a lot quicker if you just leant on me."
"I do not need help, Granger. I am a Malfoy."
"Tell that to past, whiney ferret, I don't think he got owled the memo," Hermione mocked.
"Ha de ha, Granger, I forgot how delightfully funny you are."
They stepped out onto the corridor, and Draco took a deep breath, sighing as fresh air filled his lungs. The smell of blood was difficult to forget.
"It's sad, don't you think, that someone so young would try to kill, Edward?' Hermione muttered. Draco didn't know what to think – Edward had not hated the boy, had regretted killing him, even as he lay bleeding into the dirt from the wound the young muggle had given him, it was all very confusing. In his own heart, he was not sure that he could have been so forgiving.
"Well, Edward seemed to be of the mind that the muggle had little choice. But I -'' Draco paused, head tilting as he listened.
"What's the ma-" Draco quickly covered Hermione's mouth, quickly grasping the back of her head when she tried to pull away, ignoring the burning look of hate in her eyes. He glanced around quickly, dragging her with him as he headed towards the nearest door. He placed his finger over his lips, urging her to stay quiet as he tried the handle, grinning when the door opened, and they were able to stumble into the small space.
"Malfoy what the hell?" She whispered furiously, poking her finger into his chest.
"Shh, Granger for Merlin's sake."
"Don't shush me, you can't just manhandle me like that and expect me to be quiet about it."
"Granger I swear to all things magical if you don't shut your trap, I will do it again."
"I refuse to be told what to-" Her words were once again muffled as Draco yanked her back against his chest, hand covering her mouth. She could hear footsteps getting louder as they rang down the corridor. It sounded as though there was a group of people moving towards their hiding place. Suddenly she became aware of the warmth of him, the quick beat of his heart, and the space instantly felt too small.
Shaking her head, she pulled herself free, stumbling away from him. She turned quickly, freezing in horror as she knocked against a broom. It teetered for a moment, before clattering down the stairs and into the rows of cauldrons piled at the bottom. Grey eyes burned into hers communicating just how idiotic he thought she was.
"What was that?" Crabbe mumbled.
"We should check it out."
"Pansy, no. Oh Merlin, why? It was probably a rat, or a mouse, or common sense telling you to go back to bed?"
"Don't be silly Zabini, you don't have common sense do you Pans? Just a little voice corroborating every stupid thought that happens to pop into your head."
"Will you two shut up, I can't concentrate," Pansy muttered, the sound of her footsteps getting closer to the cupboard.
"Oh yes because door handles are notoriously difficult, took me half an hour to get into the library the other day, couldn't quite figure out the turn," Theo said, and received laughter from Blaise in reply.
Both Draco and Hermione jumped as the handle jiggled, their shoulders brushing in a burst of small tingles as they shifted closer.
"It's locked."
"Well let's leave it then, there's probably - and she gets the wand out. Tell me Theo, should I use my invisibility for good or evil?"
"Evil, always evil, it's more fun. More fun than this anyway."
"I could try bashing the door in," Crabbe uttered again.
"That's alright Vinny, my mentally challenged reprobate, we have these fantastic things that open doors. That is of course, if Pansy can actually cast the spell."
"If you think you could do any better, by all means," Pansy answered, her voice echoing through the broom closet.
"You're not roping me into your little ventures with that Missy." The door gave a slight click and Pansy giggled in delight.
"See I did it," Pansy said proudly.
"Congratulations, you could almost pass for a first-year," Blaise ground out sarcastically.
Draco stepped in front of Hermione, and the small witch hit his back, making him turn to her furiously.
"What in Merlin's was that for?" Draco mouthed, a frown crinkling his forehead.
"Stop pushing me around," Hermione mouthed back, hitting him again. Draco tipped his head in confusion but jumped when the door handle rattled.
"Pans, we need to go, Filch and his furball are coming."
"But, but, but…"
"No buts, step away from the broom closet." The sound of footsteps died away, replaced by the limp of Filch. Hermione held her breath the corridor was once again quiet.
"Are you a complete and utter idiot? You could have got us caught," Draco whispered harshly, turning to her and reeling back against the wall when he realised how close they were.
"And why is getting caught so terrible, scared your Slytherin possy will find out your spending time with a mudblood?" Hermione sniffed.
"How do you suppose we would have explained this one, Granger?" He bit out, gesturing to their current confines, "looks a little bit more than hanging out, doesn't it?" Hermione dipped her head to hide her blush, shaking her head.
"It was you who dragged us in here, we could have stayed where we were."
"And if it hadn't been my 'Slytherin Possy'? What then?"
"You have an answer for everything don't you?"
"Little bit yeah."
"Will you just admit it?"
"Admit what?"
"You don't want anyone to know about us meeting." The way she said 'us' made his heart beat faster.
"It's no different for you, how about we go tell Potty and Weasel you've secretly been meeting their enemy?"
"I think you're giving yourself far too much credit," she hissed, "you're more like an annoyance."
"Annoyance? Long-term arch enemy? Either way, you haven't exactly been upfront with them, have you?"
"That's different, I-" Draco laughed bitterly, she couldn't blame him – what little she'd managed of the argument sounded unconvincing, even to her.
"I would just love, love to hear how it's different." He stared at her expectantly and she bristled, stepping round him and wrenching the door open. He followed her, jogging to catch up with the furious pace she'd set. He reached for her arm, scoffing loudly when she yanked it out of his grasp.
"Come on, Granger, you can't be in a mood with me over this. We are on the same fuckin page for Merlin's sake."
"Get off me ferret."
"Woah, what's got your hair in such a frizz?"
"You don't want to be seen with me. You don't want people to know that I am – that we are - ."
"Are what?" He hated that he sounded breathless, hopeful.
"I don't know what we are, but something – we're something more than we used to be."
"So eloquent, Granger."
"Shove off, Malfoy, you know what I mean. Are you ashamed of me?"
"Er, pot calling cauldron black. Point the finger all you want, but you know as well as I do, the moment you tell Wonder-Specs and Weasel about this something, it won't be anything. Not if they have their way."
"And your friends are just going to accept it are they?"
"Don't try and play that one, Granger. I'm not the one that's throwing a fit about hiding shit from people, that's all on you."
"Of course, you don't understand."
"No, you're right, I don't fucking understand."
"Your friends hate me, they hate who I am, what I am."
"Oh shit yeah, I forgot your friends are my biggest fans. My mistake."
"They don't despise your existence."
"Really, well colour me fucking surprised. Well, guess that's it then, let's go tell them everything. Who know's, maybe once the overall shock has worn off we can all take group trips to the Sensieve."
"Wait." Draco paused mid-step, glancing back at her.
"What was that?"
"I said wait, just – just wait."
With a sigh, Draco dug his hands into his pockets.
"Look can we just agree to leave that stuff alone," Hermione tensed, and he stepped forward, "we both know this is weird, Granger. If we drag other people into it I don't – fuck I don't know how I'm going to explain it, do you?" She hated it but she shook her head, anger dying inside her, leaving her feeling exhausted.
"Why do you think they were looking for you?" Draco let out a long breath.
"Who know's with them, Pansy gets wild ideas in her head, and then - well she can be persuasive in her own way,"
He shrugged, "She seems to think there's something wrong with me."
"Well of course there's something wrong with you, you're a pompous jerk."
"Charmed Granger, really I am." Draco ran his fingers through his hair, "Look, we just need to be more careful, I'll have a word with my 'Slytherin Possy', see if I can call off the hounds." Hermione nodded slightly.
"Fine," she turned away, walking down the corridor towards the Gryffindor Common room. Wondering if there would ever be a time when she could explain what exactly was going on between them.