Hermione got up from her bed with a sudden rush. She glanced around her surroundings, only to find her other roommates absent. She took her wand and cast a Tempus charm, letting out a relieved sigh when she saw it was still Saturday, with only an hour remaining for dinner.
A dream.
That was all it was.
Just. A. Dream.
She groaned and fell back against her bed. Of course, it was a dream. Why would real-life Malfoy kiss her? Why would she ever in her right mind kiss him back?
Maybe she wasn't in her right mind? Who would be, going back in time to save the only man she has extreme hatred for?
Well, not extreme hatred. The past few days had been pleasant. He had been pleasant. Especially with what he had said to her the night before.
Maybe her mind was jumbled up. Or it could be hormones. Maybe it might have to do with the fact that she was a 17-year-old female spending hours alone, in the night, with a very good-looking boy.
"It's just a dream, Hermione. It doesn't mean anything." She told herself. Somehow, she had a feeling she would have to repeat that statement a lot.
"You're quiet today," Malfoy remarked and Hermione snapped her head towards him.
"What did you say?"
Malfoy gave her a weird look. "Just that you're not saying anything or asking any existential crisis-related questions like you normally do."
Hermione glanced around them and stopped when she realized where they were going.
"Why are we here?" She questioned quietly.
Malfoy tilted his head. "To patrol? Are you okay Granger?"
"Why the astronomy tower?"
Malfoy huffed out a breath. "Because Granger, it's a Saturday night and unlike us, most of the students are in their common rooms partying or, they are hiding away, snogging someone. And the Astronomy tower seems to attract many people as it is very comfortable there."
"And you know that from personal experience? Bring many girls up to the tower in the guise of 'looking at the stars' and taking their virtue?" She questioned, choosing anger over jealousy.
Malfoy paused and took a step back from her, raising her hands in surrender. "I have, but not with as many girls as I assume you are thinking of." He shook his head. "And I don't entrap girls and steal their virtue, whatever the hell you mean by that. I don't need to force girls to be with me."
Hermione scoffed. "Right, I forgot, you have a long line waiting for you."
Malfoy crossed his arms across his chest as he waited for her near the bottom of the tower. "I do have a long line of girls. And I would've probably been with one of them if it wasn't for this stupid patrol." He gritted out as they both reach the top floor.
"Instead, you're stuck here with me," Hermione said, slightly dejected.
Malfoy moved closer to her, lowering his head at her height, and gripping her waist tightly. He laid his forehead against hers. "Instead I'm stuck here with you." Hermione closed her eyes at their proximity. "What's wrong Granger? I know you're not opposed to snogging, I saw you with Krum."
Hermione opened her eyes and she heard Draco curse. She pushed him away with her hands. "What do you mean you saw me?"
Malfoy moved towards the ledge, leaning against the railing. "Nothing. I didn't mean anything."
Hermione couldn't help the smile forming on her face, the previous moment at the back of her mind. "I think you meant something."
Malfoy groaned. "I saw you and Krum after the Yule Ball, okay? And before you start, no, I was not peeping or anything. I stumbled across the two of you and was disgusted by the scene, okay?"
"Why were you disgusted?" She questioned and Malfoy once again leaned over the railing, shaking his head, looking away from her.
"He was 18, you were 14. And while I may not be well versed with muggle laws, I'm pretty sure that's illegal. In fact, I think that's illegal here as well."
Hermione couldn't hold back an amused chuckle. "I think it's legal in Brazil." Malfoy snapped his head at her and gave her a glare.
This time Hermione let out a laugh. "If it makes you feel any better, I was 15, not 14. And haven't you heard? Females develop faster than males."
Malfoy shook his head and turned again, looking outside. "Still felt wrong." He glanced around the empty space. "No one here. I guess we're done with our week of torture together." He turned and smiled at her. "We survived."
Hermione smiled, feeling sad inside that their time together was over. "You're not that bad Malfoy."
Malfoy laughed. "And you are exactly how terrible I imagined you to be." The smile he gave her told her it wasn't meant as an insult.
He started walking away and Hermione also moved ahead, when her foot caught on the carpet and she fell, twisting it. She let out a small screech as she reached the floor with a thud.
"Again?" He questioned, turning to look at her. "How are you still alive in this castle Granger?"
"I have been wondering the same thing for six years." Hermione retorted, knowing she wouldn't get any help from him.
"And may I ask, why are you afraid of healing yourself?" Malfoy asked as he leaned against a pillar.
"No, you may not." She retorted. At his raised eyebrows, Hermione sighed and looked away from him, not wanting to see his reaction. "I'm not a trained professional, and I haven't read enough about the mechanisms. I don't want to unknowingly cause unrepairable damage to myself."
"That is fucking stupid Granger."
"Why are you still here?" She questioned. "Patrol is over, you don't have to stay here, you know." Then Hermione scoffed. "Oh don't tell me you're so starved for entertainment, that you'll once again watch me suffer."
Malfoy just shrugged at her innocently. Hermione ignored him and tried to get up on her own.
She had finally managed to stand when she felt another piercing pain and was about to fall down again when she felt a pair of arms holding her up. She glanced at Malfoy and saw him frowning at her. He took his wand out and muttered a quiet episkey.
"That was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen." He stated as his face contorted as if he had eaten something sour.
Hermione didn't pay attention to his words. She was more focused on the space between them. Or, lack of. She glanced up at him, her eyes looking straight into his. She hadn't ever taken time to look into his eyes and she cursed herself.
They were beautiful, more so than the rest of him. They glittered silver in the light, unlike the steel gray she associated him with.
Malfoy was looking back at her and her heart was racing so wildly, she was surprised the entire castle couldn't hear it. She could've sworn she felt him move closer before he gripped her shoulders and moved her away from him. He started walking away, towards the stairs. "Try not to break another appendage of yours before reaching your room. Or do, I could not care any less."
"Thank you!" She called out.
"Don't read into it. I was feeling pitiful." He grumbled to her as he went down the stairs.
Hermione smiled to herself as she walked back to the Gryffindor Tower. Maybe she wouldn't fail to save him.
The next day, Hermione got up late. She looked around her room and was relieved to find it empty. She took her time, getting ready, replaying the previous week in her mind as she showered. She had to figure out how to remain closer to Malfoy.
Hermione glanced down at the 26 mark on her hand. She'd make it work. She knew she'd make it work.
Hermione had chosen to skip breakfast and go directly to the library and get some studying in. She felt as if she was falling behind in class, especially now that Harry had that wretched book helping him out in Potions.
She was busy reading her book when an apple was placed in front of her. She glanced up and was mildly surprised to find Malfoy standing there with his bag slung across his back.
"You weren't there for breakfast." He stated simply and pulled out the chair beside hers, slumping down on it. He glanced at the book in her hand and nodded. "That is a very helpful reference guide for potions. If you're facing trouble, I could help you."
Hermione knew he meant to taunt her, but she found an opening and quickly grasped it. "Yes, please. I am suffering this year. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Snape."
Malfoy raised his brows in surprise but quickly schooled his emotions. "Well, I agree with you, but I might be biased, godfather and all."
Hermione scoffed. "No wonder you were his favorite. You're his bloody godson. Although, I can't quite imagine Snape doing godfatherly things, like changing diapers or keeping you overnight to give your parents some free time."
Malfoy shook his head. "Granger. I'm rich. Rich children are not raised by their parents or their parent's friends. We're raised by the servants."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, boohoo, Malfoy didn't get enough love from his parents. How terrible."
Malfoy narrowed his eyes at her. "You didn't even thank me for the apple."
Hermione glanced at the apple and then toward him. "How are you so sure I didn't have breakfast before you reached there?"
Malfoy placed an elbow on the table, resting his head on his palm, and turned towards her. "Well, in that case, you probably had breakfast 4 hours ago and must be hungry for a snack." He pushed the apple towards her and she begrudgingly accepted it.
"So, about the tutoring. Are you serious?" He questioned.
Hermione bit into her apple as she nodded.
"Are you sure Granger? Merlin, I can't believe how abysmal you must be at it if you're willing to beg me for help."
"If you do not shut up Malfoy, I will punch you. I can assure you, I have only gotten better with time." She grumbled, slamming the apple down.
"How do you know I won't enjoy it this time?" Hermione glanced at him in astonishment only to find him smirking at her, rocking his chair.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I didn't know you were a masochist, Malfoy."
He dropped his chair on the ground and leaned in towards Hermione. "There's a lot about me in that department that you are not aware of Granger." He moved back with a wink, opening a random book.
Hermione exhaled slowly, trying to refocus her thoughts.
She was not at all affected by Malfoy's presence.
NOT. AT. ALL
They had agreed to meet in the library the next day for 'tutoring'. Hermione had already dreaded her decision. Did she have to act like those girls in films did? Act dumb and pretty to make the guy feel better about himself?
Hermione shuddered at the thought.
She had to wait only for a few minutes before he showed up, his bag sung across his back. He paused at the sight of her as if he were shocked.
"I wasn't sure you would actually show up." He stated as he took a seat beside her instead of in front of her.
"Well, I'm never not serious about my academics."
Malfoy nodded. "I can see that. Although, why aren't you asking Potter to help you? He seems to have finally opened up his textbook."
Hermione scoffed. "Yes, well his textbook, has other instructions written on them. Someone named Half-Blood Prince has made annotations about how the textbook has incorrect instructions. Harry's just following those."
Malfoy looked up at her in astonishment. "You mean to tell me that Potter is fucking cheating?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's technically not cheating, if he's following exactly what's written in his textbook."
He nudged her with his elbow. "Nick it from him, then we could both have a laugh the next day when he isn't as smart as he believes to be."
"That is just rude Draco. Now, please if we could actually do what we are here for?" She opened up her potion textbooks and her notes from the class.
Malfoy nodded and started off. After a while, she realized that he was actually a good teacher. He made the difficult topics a bit less complex and even though she knew it all, she found it to be a good revision.
She started playing with her hair, instead of actually paying attention and batted her eyes at him whenever he glanced over at her. He would frown and then continue his explanation.
After she had answered the third question in a row wrong, he let out an irritated sigh.
"Why are you behaving like that?" He snapped.
"Like what?"
"Like you're dumber than Weasely. I know you know this stuff Granger. This is from the fourth year."
"Well, the fourth year was very traumatic for me. You know, my best friend was in a deadly competition, an attention-seeking journalist loved writing terrible things about me, I was being threatened and also, I am pretty sure a very scary Quidditch player was stalking me."
"If you were so frightened by Krum why did you agree to go to the ball with him?" Malfoy asked solemnly.
Hermione smiled. "I'm not talking about Krum. I'm talking about the boy who so conveniently managed to have a front-row seat for my makeout session with my date."
He groaned. "I was not stalking you, it was an accident. And can you please stop bringing it up? It was a very disturbing night for me."
Not wanting to discuss that night either, Hermione decided to change the topic. "I don't think just theory is sufficient for me. I guess I need to practice the practical aspect of Potions."
Malfoy nodded. "I think that might be true. Let's meet in the Room of Requirement tomorrow then, I'll have it prepared for potion making." He got up from his seat, packing all his stuff into it. Before walking away he looked at Hermione with a smirk. "Just remember to bring something for that atrocious hair of yours."
He ran away before she could throw her quill at him.
"Hermione! Where have you been?" Harry called out as she entered the Common Room. She glanced towards him, thinking of some lie when she saw he had the Marauder's Map in his hand, a suspicious look on his face.
"You already know where I was. Why are you asking?" She crossed her arms across her chest.
Harry shrugged, placing the map down. "I don't know. I was hoping for an explanation why your name has been stuck to Malfoy's for the past week."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, no, you caught us. We've been plotting your demise."
"Seriously Hermione, what's going on?"
She sighed and sat down on the couch. "Nothing, we had patrol together, and somehow the topic of Potions came up and he has agreed to help me."
Harry stared at her for a moment. "You need help in Potions?"
Hermione sneered at him. "Yes, well, we all can't rely on the Half-Blood Prince now, can we?"
"Hermione, it's not that. What if he's using you?"
"Oh yes, I'm stupid enough to share your secrets with him. And for your information, I'm the one using him. I'll figure out if he's actually up to something or not."
"That's all there is?" Harry questioned.
Hermione avoided his gaze as she nodded in affirmation. "What else could there be?"
"Ah, you're late today Granger," Malfoy spoke up from the table which had multiple potion ingredients and cauldrons placed on it. Hermione looked around to find the entire room stocked like an apothecary.
"It's funny actually." Malfoy folded his sleeves up his arms and Hermione found herself forgetting her train of thought. "I asked for a place to brew potions and the room ended up making it exactly like my Potions room back at home."
At that, she rolled her eyes. "Of course, you have a 'Potions Room' at your house."
"Technically, it's a manor." Hermione tilted her head and he winked at her mischievously. She couldn't help but smile at him.
"Will you teach me something, oh great Malfoy sir?" She placed her bag down on the ground and stood right beside him.
Malfoy scrunched his nose cutely. "Only my father is 'Malfoy sir'. I liked it better when you called me Draco."
Hermione smiled shyly. "Okay, Draco, what will we be doing today?"
Draco smirked at her. "Oh no, the sir stays." Hermione smacked his arm and he let out a laugh. "Fine Granger, no need to resort to violence. We'll be doing Draught of Living Death."
Hermione groaned. "No, that was a terrible day. I failed terribly."
Draco snorted. "Precisely why we're starting with that. Can't go easy and bore you now, can I?"
She shook her head. "Well, it's a good thing I brought a hair tie."
"What the bloody fuck Granger?" Draco stormed into the room, interrupting Hermione as she was reading on the couch.
"What's wrong?" She got up instantly worried something bad had happened.
"A bezoar? A fucking bezoar?! We all worked our arses off finding the perfect antidotes and he just shows up with a bezoar all smart and brilliant like it wasn't the lazy way out. And Slughorn kisses the ground he walks on. This is just fucking stupid." He threw his bag on the floor and there was a sound of glass breaking. He closed his eyes a let out a sigh. "Shite."
Hermione was near his bag so she picked it up, opening it to find a broken jar of sugar quills. She carefully brought it out. "Why do you have a whole jar of sugar quills?'
Draco shrugged. "I brought them for you." He mumbled, turning his head away from her.
"Me?" Hermione pointed towards herself.
"Yeah, I've heard you like them, so I thought you would like to have some while we're brewing. We might be here for quite a while."
Hermione couldn't help herself. She went up and hugged him. Draco let out a surprised noise but didn't push her away, for which she was grateful. Before pulling away, Hermione couldn't help but take a deep breath inhaling his smell. She almost moaned at how good he smelled. A combination of citrus and vanilla, something she never knew she would like.
"Are you sniffing me?" Draco asked unsurely and Hermione quickly pulled back from him.
"No, I'm not."
Draco grinned at her. "You were. You just sniffed me."
She crossed her arms and scoffed. "In your dreams."
Draco laughed. "Well, do I at least smell good in my dreams?"
Hermione cleared her throat. "You smell very delicious. In your dreams." Draco couldn't stop his laughter, so she stomped her foot in irritation. "Don't you have some teaching to do? I'm not getting much better at potions you know. I completely botched my antidote."
At the reminder of Potions from that day Draco groaned. "Ugh, fucking Potter."
Just before Hermione could enter the potions class, she was blocked off by Draco standing in front of her. At her pace, she almost bumped into him. He quickly grabbed onto her shoulders. "Easy there Granger."
"Draco? What are you doing?" She questioned, sidestepping him to enter the class.
"Nothing, I just wanted you to be my partner today."
Hermione whirled around. "What?"
Draco pretended to be hurt. "You don't have to sound so shocked. I like spending time with you. And this way, I'll get to see what you're actually doing wrong."
When she didn't respond, he exhaled heavily and dragged her to an empty bench. "Come on, set up your station. I'm going to go get the ingredients listed for today."
Hermione frowned at the instruction but followed. She was the one who got herself in this mess and would now see it through.
"What is the Mudblood doing here?" A voice screeched, one she was familiar with.
"Hello to you too Pansy. I believe I am attending class. Heavens, are you here for sightseeing?" Hermione continued setting up their station, placing the cauldrons and knives properly.
"Look at me when I'm talking." Pansy grabbed onto her shoulder and pulled her. "Get the fuck up from here. You can't sit with him."
"And why can't she?" Hermione looked behind Pansy and narrowed her eyes at the sight of Theo leaning against another bench. "I believe Draco has asked her to sit there."
Pansy let out a choked laugh. "Has he now?" She turned towards Hermione and looked at her with wild eyes. "Are you whoring yourself out to him? Are you truly becoming the Mudblood slut people believe you to be?"
Before Hermione or Theo could say anything a hand came out grabbing Pansy and pulling her away from Hermione. Draco stood between the two girls. "Apologise." His voice came out cold and deep. Hermione couldn't see his face but from Pansy's expression, she knew it was terrifying.
"But Draco-"
"Apologise to Hermione, right now."
Pansy gulped slowly and glanced toward her. "I'm sorry Granger."
Hermione didn't say anything in response.
"Good, now leave, and don't come back until you find those manners your mother instilled in you. It might be buried deep away, but do find it before talking to me or Hermione."
Pansy rushed away and she saw Theo nod at Draco before going away. Draco turned around toward her and sat down beside her. "I'm so sorry Granger. I told them all before but I don't know why she still showed up."
Hermione shrugged. "It's okay, it wasn't your fault."
Draco shook his head. "But I was just like her, worse actually. How could've you forgiven me?"
Hermione gave him a small smile and placed a comforting hand on his thigh. "There are bigger things that changed my perspective. Holding hatred isn't beneficial to anyone, is it? And I'm glad I got to know you."
Draco smiled and held onto the hand she had placed on him. "I'm glad too. And it seems like we're brewing Amortentia today." He moved his head closer to her, his lips touching her ears. "I hope you remember what I smell like because that is all you'll be smelling in that potion."
Hermione shivered at his voice and closeness but managed to push him away, instead of pulling him towards her. "I already know what my Amortentia smells like."
Draco scoffed. "Amortentia changes Granger, just wait and see."
One advantage of sitting next to Draco was that he truly did help her out, which resulted in a near-perfect Amortentia. Obviously, Harry managed to get the most praise, but Hermione was happy with her result.
When Draco had left his seat, Hermione took a sniff of the potion. Unsurprisingly, it was mostly the same. She still smelled fresh grass and parchment, but the third scent was different. She could make out hints of vanilla and citrus, with undertones of sandalwood.
She felt her face flush when she realized it was exactly what Draco had smelled like. She couldn't face him after that revelation. Hermione got up from her seat and rushed out of the class, not caring about the class still going on.
She had almost made it away when she heard Draco call out her name. She felt Draco grab her hand and pull her to him, her back against his chest. "Why'd you run away?"
Draco wound his hand around her waist, holding her tightly, the other hanging beside her, softly touching her hand.
Hermione held her breath as she felt him bend his head, placing his lips on her neck. "I was right, wasn't I?"
Draco didn't wait for a response and started placing soft kisses on her jaw, trailing them toward her ear.
"Don't worry Granger," He inhaled deeply. "My Amortentia smelled better than I could've ever imagined." He let go of her and she turned around to see him rubbing the back of his neck, his face also red.
Draco smiled. "I was talking about you, just in case you didn't realize."
Hermione let out a laugh. "I think I realized." They were still standing very close and everything inside her screamed to cover his lips with hers but Draco looked back and frowned. "I have to go back, I left my potion burning." Hermione nodded and let out a small chuckle when he rushed back inside.
That evening she got a note from Draco explaining how his potion had indeed exploded and he had to spend the evening in the Hospital Wing. Hermione fell asleep feeling lucky that she didn't have to encounter Draco that early after the incident from that day.
First, he had defended her against Pansy, one of his oldest friends.
And then there was the Amortentia. Hermione groaned as she realized she had gotten herself in a heap load of trouble.
Both Hermione and Draco were seated on a desk in the Room of Requirement, for once, not working on Potions. They had both been appointed a lot of homework and had decided to work on it, together, even though neither had said a word since they had started.
The tension in the air could have been cut through with a knife. Hermione had not planned on her actually having feelings for Malfoy. Isn't that the first rule in every mission? Don't get emotionally attached.
Did he even feel the same way or was it just her? Maybe he did if he wasn't lying about his Amortentia.
Suddenly, Draco spoke up from his seat. "I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me this Saturday."
She whipped her head towards him in shock. "You want to go to Hogsmeade, with me?" Draco nodded. "As a date?"
Draco shrugged. "It could be if you wanted it to be. Otherwise, we could go as friends." Draco rubbed the nape of his neck.
Hermione smiled at him. "Is that what we are? Friends?"
Draco glanced up at her, pausing at her lips, then moved to her eyes. "Something like that." He exhaled softly, his voice low.
Hermione couldn't but feel gravitated toward him. He must've felt the same as he moved closer and soon they were just a breath apart, their lips almost touching.
"Do you want to be my friend, Granger?" All she could do was nod. "That's too damn bad because I don't want to be just your friend." He closed the gap between them and kissed her, his hands reaching out and grabbing her waist.
Hermione responded in kind. She might've not been over-experienced, but she knew enough. She ran her hands through his hair and grabbed onto it, forcing him closer. She could him smiling against her lips.
Suddenly, he held her up and pulled her towards him, setting her across his lap. The desk behind her dug into her back but she didn't care one bit.
Hermione moved back to catch her breath and Draco quickly moved onto her neck, placing kisses down to her collarbone. She let out a gasp when he bit her, smoothly lathering it with his tongue. He moved one hand and deftly removed her tie and opened the buttons, revealing her cleavage. Draco groaned at the sight.
"Fuck, Granger, you'll be the death of me."
Hermione ground herself against his erection and pulled him closer, whispering softly in his ear. "I'll go if you stop calling me Granger."
Draco pulled back and smirked at her. "So, Hermione. Hogsmeade on Saturday?"
Hermione responded with a smile and kissed him once again.
"I just don't get why you have to go with him," Ron whined as the trio made their way out of the castle.
Hermione sighed. "Look, Harry believes that he's up to something and I believe otherwise. Therefore, I am going to utilize the opportunity I have to prove Harry wrong."
"Thanks for that Hermione," Harry mumbled from beside her.
"Oh, hush." She rolled her eyes. "And, it's not that bad. He's been kind of nice to me."
"Kind of?!" Ron exclaimed, pulling his gloves up his hand. "What the bloody hell does kind of nice mean? You're either nice, or you're an arse. He is most definitely an arse."
"Ronald, just let me handle this. I know what I'm doing."
They silently continued their journey toward Hogsmeade, the snow crunching beneath their feet being the only sound coming from them.
"Look at him, smiling as if it's already Christmas," Ron grumbled and Hermione glanced up to see Draco leaning against a tree, smiling in her direction. He made eye contact with her and raised a hand waving shyly. Then, as if suddenly noticing the two boys beside her, he frowned and turned around quickly.
Hermione let out a laugh. She started to make her way to him when Harry pulled her back. "Are you sure this is just to prove me wrong? He seems to be truly happy to see you."
Hermione shrugged him off. "No offense Harry, but you are the last person I would go to for relationship advice."
She made her way to Draco who still stood facing away from her. She tapped his shoulder and he whirled around towards her. She instantly hugged him. "Hello." She smiled up at his surprise.
"Hello." He hugged her in return and hummed. "Tweedledee and Tweedledum are looking this way. Will I have to duel them?"
Hermione smacked his arm. "Don't call them that. And no, I have told them that we have been spending time together and I seem to like it."
Draco looked at her in amusement, his arms still wrapped around her waist. "You like spending time with me, huh?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't let it get to your head." She grabbed his hand and dragged him away. "Come on, I need to buy a bunch of books, maybe then we could go to the Three Broomsticks?"
Draco rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, maybe not the Three Broomsticks. It seems pretty crowded."
Hermione shrugged. "Something from Honeydukes should suffice then."
They made their way to the bookstore first, where Draco went off to buy supplies for himself. Hermione made her way to the historical section, looking for some light reading.
On one of the shelves, she saw a book titled 'Death and His Symbolism'. Instantly intrigued, she reached up, trying to get the book off the shelf. She stepped on one of the shelves to give her a boost but she almost fell back, if someone had not helped her.
A man in a grey suit stood before her, helping her down. "Be careful." The man said as he held the book out for her. "You never know what accidents might befall you."
"Thank you," Hermione said uncertainly as she took the book he held out for her.
"I have to be honest, you are not at all what I expected." The man continued.
"I beg your pardon?"
The man shrugged and leaned against the shelf. "Don't worry yourself, Hermione."
She looked around for an escape and saw Draco moving towards her. He was smiling until he saw her expression and the man standing beside her.
"Hermione, got what you needed?" He questioned while placing a protective hand around her waist.
"Sure, let's go." Hermione steered them away from there, moving towards the payment counter. She turned around to look at the man once again but found the aisle empty. She frowned but had a hint as to who that man could've been.
"Did you know that man?" Draco asked as they walked out of the store.
"No, but he seemed slightly creepy. Do you know him?" Hermione asked.
Draco shook his head. "I don't think I've ever seen him. If he ever troubles you again, let me know." Hermione smiled and nodded.
Soon, they were on their way back to the castle and she saw Harry and Ron walking ahead of them. Harry had seen her and gave her a tight smile, while Ron frowned at them.
Suddenly there was a piercing scream and she saw a girl up in the air. Hermione knew that was Katie Bell. She then fell down to the floor and they all rushed towards Katie, only to be stopped by Hagrid.
Hagrid had told them not to touch the parcel she had been holding and took Katie away. Hermione remembered this scene occurring right in front of her. She also knew how Harry suspected that Draco was responsible for it. But this time, he had been with her, so it couldn't have been him, right?
When Hermione turned around, she saw Draco standing still, pale as a sheet. His eyes were wide in shock and fear. She quickly made her way to him. "Draco, it's fine." She grabbed onto his hand and felt him entwine their hands. He nodded in thanks and they quietly made their way back to the castle.
Draco didn't have anything to do with the cursed necklace, right?
Hermione spent her entire Sunday making an elaborate plan on how to manage her entire studying schedule as well as tutoring with Malfoy. She had underestimated how difficult it would be to pretend to be dumb.
It was an instinct for her to instantly answer any question correctly, but with a great deal of pain, she managed to withhold her answers. She glanced down at her wrist, which she had covered with a bracelet, and rubbed the 19 standing out. She felt worried as she realized that she only had about half of the days she initially had.
However, Hermione was also very excited. Draco was going to take her to meet his friends, officially meet them. The previous years and the small encounter at his funeral didn't count at all. She rushed out, telling Harry and Ron that she was going to the library.
As soon as Hermione stepped inside the Room of Requirement, she knew there was something wrong. She took her wand out and frowned at the sight of the man she had seen at the bookshop that day prior.
The man was sitting on the couch as if it were a throne, his grey suit buttoned, his shoes shining.
"Hermione Granger, I've been waiting for you."
AN:
A cute chapter to make up for the next two not-so-happy chapters. :)