A/N Italic in this chapter is Hermione remembering what happened. please let me know what you guys think so far. please and thank you for everything.
Chapter 4
Nov 6th 1994
"Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me that Draco Malfoy comforted you?" Ginny asked astounded. Herself and Hermione was in the Gryffindor girls room. Ron had gone straight to Ginny to complain about the library and Hermione. Ginny promptly told him to get lost.
She found Hermione say on her bed, reading a book of course but her eyes had a tint of red around them. She say with Hermione and the bushy haired witch told her everything. After making Ginny promise she wouldn't head out and jinx her brother or Flint, Ginny asked the question that Hermione responded with "I wouldn't say 'comforted' but he did help me, gave me time to collect myself"
Ginny nodded "It doesn't sound like something he would do based on what you told me about your last interaction with him"
"I'm as surprised as you are" Hermione stated honestly.
"What happened after you calmed down?" Ginny asked edging closer to the her friend.
Hermione was thankful none of the other girls had come up to the room yet "Nothing really, I calmed down but I read some of the book as a distraction and with out realising it, I ended up just sitting there with Draco reading in silence" she didn't like the smile that appeared on Ginny's face.
"And when you left?"
Hermione shifted a little "I thanked him and left"
Ginny could see a little blush on her friends face. She desperately wanted to probe more but she knew Hermione had been through an emotional day so she decided to re-visit it at a later date.
"I'm surprised you aren't cursing Malfoy out for what he said to Ron" Hermione offered, eager to move the conversation along.
"I'm not thrilled about it but my brother is being a real jackass at the moment, he's lucky I haven't hexed him yet" the two girls had a chuckle at that before Ginny placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder and asked softly "Are you ok though?"
Hermione offered a small smile "I will be, thank you Ginny" she then leaned over and gave her friend a hug.
Ginny got up to leave but looked back when she reached the door "Are you sure you don't want me to hex anyone?"
Hermione couldn't help but giggle "I'm sure" Ginny sent her one last smile before leaving the room, leaving Hermione on her own again. She re-opened her book to carry on reading. She felt bad for not telling Ginny the full truth but she didn't want her making something out of nothing.
When she realised they were sitting at a table, alone, she was surprised by how normal it felt. No awkwardness which was surprising considering what her emotional state was. She found herself staying for another ten minutes or so before she cleared her throat, put the book on the table and stood up "Thank you for what you did" her voice a little rough from the sobs she kept at bay.
He glanced up at her "Having a go at a Weasel? My pleasure"
She heaved a sigh "Must you?" a ghost of a smile was there though. He replied by shrugging his shoulders and returning to his book.
She turned to leave but didn't make more than two steps when he called "Granger" she turned to look at him, his eyes still on his book "The book I gave you is one from my personal collection, you looked to be enjoying it so you can borrow it if you want"
Her first thought was to deny interest in the book but he had clearly seen her reading it with interest and she had thought of coming back later to check out the book. She walked back over, thanked him again and left with the book.
Now, sat on the bed with the very same book in her hands. She couldn't stop her mind shifting to the blonde she couldn't seem to work out.
/
Nov 7th 1994
Draco found himself sitting on a bench outside waiting. Not many people were out due to the cold snap of winter weather but to him, it was nothing compared to Durmstrang.
"You better have a good reason for calling us out here in this cold" a female voiced complained. He turned to see Pansy and Blaise approaching him. Blaise was in the normal school uniform, the cold not bothering him but Pansy wore a thick coat, winter hat, gloves, and scarf. Along with wrapping her arms around herself.
"Cold?" Draco asked when they reached him. Blaise snicked while Pansy sent both boys a death stare.
"So what's up?" Blaise asked.
"What do you two know about someone in your house called Flint?"
Blaise raised a curious eyebrow and Pansy actually stopped shivering and looked at Draco in a way he couldn't determine but he saw intrigue in his eyes.
"Why are you asking?" Blaise asked curiously.
"Is this anything to do with what happened yesterday?" Pansy asked. Draco looked confused at her question "Last night in the common room, Flint was bragging about how he stared down the great Malfoy and you did nothing"
Draco scoffed "That's bullshit. He didn't even look at me" he sounded more amused than angry.
"But you were near him?" Pansy asked. Her tone hinting for more information. Draco gave her a deadpan stare that told her that she wouldn't be getting any.
"We expected he wasn't telling the truth, he did also mention you were with the mud-" Blaise stopped dead when he saw the look Draco was giving him "Muggle, Granger" he corrected.
Turns out Pansy would get her wish for more information "I was. Well, technically she was yelling at me because I told Weasley to get lost. Long story but I took care of it" he waved his hand dismissively.
"Right… why do you want to know about Flint then? You didn't answer" Blaise questioned again. Pansy was back to shivering.
"I'm curious about the kind of person he has been through the years and why he does it so openly"
"Tell him quickly so we can get back to the warm castle already" Pansy whined, now jumping foot to foot.
/
Hermione couldn't and didn't put the book down. Even that morning at breakfast she only looked away from it to have some food. Not even Ginny could get two words out of her.
Her days focus was only on two things. That book and her school work, nothing was going to take attention away from her school work. She didn't pay attention to the Harry and Ron situation today and it seemed Ron made a point to avoid her today anyway. That was fine with her. Not even pathetic attempts to insult her from Flint could derail her focus today.
That evening when she was walking down a corridor she heard someone call "Granger". She stopped in her tracks and turned to see exactly who she expected.
"Malfoy" she greeted with a small smile, not sure how things were between them. All they did was argue but if that meant he didn't like her, why let her lend a book? And why help her?
"Enjoying the book?" he asked when he reached her.
"It's certainly interesting so far" she was not going to let him know she was hooked.
He nodded and began walking, she fell into step beside him. Neither of them spoke and Hermione was reminded of yesterday for that breath time when they sat at the table reading. It felt the same as it did now.
"Are you enjoying Hogwarts so far?" she found herself asking.
"The castle is ridiculously big, honestly it can do with a size down and the forest is placed way too close to the castle" he answered honestly.
She lightly chuckled at his answer "Not scared of a little old forest are you?" it appeared that Draco wasn't the only one who liked to tease.
His signature smirk formed "I had heard that Gryffindors were meant to be brave but to call that place a 'little old forest' might just be stupid" his own teasing tone crystal clear.
Smile on her face she replied "You would be surprised how often those two go together"
"Are you admitting you're stupid?"
"Absolutely not. When I'm brave it's always a smart move" confidence filled her voice.
"I'm sure that's what they all say before the end" his answer was met with a glare, which of course made him smirk widen and raise a playful eyebrow "Where were you going anyway?"
She looked away with a huff but answered "I'm heading for the library, I have some work to do. What about you?"
"The library as well. Don't you have a common room to work in? Or have they kicked you out for killing the mood?"
"I'm starting to wonder if you can speak without insulting someone?" her tone more amused than anything else.
Draco shrugged "It's a blessing and a curse"
"Uh huh and is this curse the reason you don't read on your ship? Are you the one who's been kicked out?"
They arrived at the library door when Draco stopped and stared down at her "Have you tried to read on a boat full of teenage boys? Never a moments peace"
"That I can imagine, the Gryffindor common room is bad enough" she laughed. She looked up and their eyes locked. Not for the first time it felt like they were the only people left in the world. She found herself wondering what this was and why it kept happening. It looked like he was trying to decide to say something or not. She would stand there and wait as long as it took, she was in no hurry to enter the library and would wait for him.
His eyes shifted and she could tell he had decided to tell her. His voice was as soft as it had been yesterday when he gave her the book "I was horrible to your friend yesterday and give you a hard time. I don't regret anything I said to him but I don't understand why you don't hate me"
She was surprised by his question but if she was honest with herself, in the back of her mind she was wondering the same thing. He had been horrible and rude to Ron and he doesn't care that he upset or hurt Ron. Even with Ron acting the way he was, he had been her friend for the last few years.
"I don't know" she answered softly "Part of me isn't happy about what you did but another part of me is too mad at Ron to care"
He nodded and seemed content with her answer, with some effort he broke eye contact with her to open the library door "After you". She couldn't help but reply to his smile with one of her own.
/
Nov 11th 1994
Without either if them vocalising it, they had started a routine of meeting in the library every evening "That book was incredible" Hermione excitedly announced as she sat down at the table Draco was already sat at. He finished his lessons before her so it was normal for her to arrive later and sit at wherever he was "The story kept me guessing every step of the way and I didn't see that twist coming at all" She placed the book on the table in front of him.
"I am glad you enjoyed it and I am also glad that the book wasn't too difficult to understand like I first worried"
"Yes, yes, you insult me and I tease you back. Did you see the twist coming when you first read it?" she asked still animated from the ending of the book.
Draco could see that she wasn't going to bite, she looked like a ball of energy and it was hard to keep himself from smiling like an idiot about it "I thought there was something off about the caped figure but I never saw him turning out to be the forgotten prince" his jaw had actually hit the floor when he first read that reveal but he wasn't going to tell her that.
"I couldn't believe it. I thought for sure it was going to be Ezmo but after it's revealed to be the caped figure, it all fell into place" she began bringing her text books from her bag. Another part of their routine was Hermione bringing her work.
"I can see why you would of thought it was Ezmo. What's are you studying today?" he questioned.
"Herbology" she muttered. All the energy completely gone as she thought of the work she was about to research.
"Not a fan?" Draco asked amused.
She opened one of the books "It's an alright subject but I'd much rather be doing a different one"
"Like Defence Against the Dark Arts?" he asked looking expectedly at her. Two days ago Hermione had brought some D.A.D.A study material with her and Draco had pointed out that Durmstrang was much further ahead in that subject than they were.
Hermione didn't take that well, she didn't even believe him and took it as a wind up but after Draco looked at the material and effortlessly explained everything and even answered a question she was stuck on, she didn't speak to him for the rest of the evening. Which Draco found entertaining to no end.
"You are not to bring up that day with me and even if you do. You will not get me with it" she refused to look up from her book and give him the satisfaction of an annoyed look.
"We shall see Granger" he teased. His eyes leaving her to rest on the book in his lap.
Hermione peeked at him a few minutes later. His full focus on his book. She had no idea why she was spending so much time with him or why she was enjoying it so much, considering he made her want to rip her hair out most times. However with her life being a mess right now, he was the one being a constant source of consistency that she felt she needed. No matter how annoying he was.
