The next morning Hermione skipped breakfast. After most of yesterday she was thoroughly socially exhausted. She sat on her bed doing her homework for the classes she missed when there was a soft knock.
She groaned pinching the bridge of her nose expecting it to be yet another person wanting to talk about her and Ron or worse the start of the line of people to ask her out. That was the main reason she missed breakfast. She was dreading the extra unwanted attention she was going to get.
"Granger it's me I brought you some food." At the sound of his voice she felt herself relax. She started to shuffle around to answer the door.
"If you want I can leave it out he-" She opened the door.
"Thank you but that won't be necessary." She held out her hands to receive the tray of food.
"Right." He handed over the filled tray as she inspected it with wide eyes. He had some how managed to grab all of her favorite breakfast items.
"How did you do this?"
Draco looked confused, "What do you mean?" Unfortunately he thinks he somehow has done something very wrong, "Are you allergic to something? Dear Gods please say-"
"Malfoy these are all my favorite," She found herself smiling, "I'm asking how you could've possibly known that." She started lightly laughing at the end.
He felt the relief wash over his body, "Granger we've had meals together multiple times, and you're fairly consistent in your food choices." He smirked, "I would've brought you a drink with your food, but you change that up far too often for me to trust my judgement there."
"Thank you Draco."
Hearing his name from her made his heart ache in the most wonderful way.
He started to turn away not wanting to push her boundaries any more than he already had but she followed him and sat on the couch. So being the gentleman that he is said, "What would you like to drink?"
She sat the tray on the small table in front of her, "I think tea would be good right now." He handed her a cup already made and still hot, "I thought you said you didn't-"
"I didn't trust my own judgment so I got your two most predictable and whichever you didn't pick I would drink." He held up a glass full of orange liquid.
Her eyes grew in a puppy-ish way, "Is that pumpkin juice?"
He chuckled, "Want to trade Granger?" He teased but was already moving the cups.
She didn't know what to say or do in that moment she was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed but in a good way? It was confusing at the very least.
He cleared his throat, "Do you want to know about breakfast now or though the rumor mill?"
She grimaced. She knew with her luck something would happen but she nodded her head and motioned for him to start.
He nodded as well, "Alright to start there were a lot of people who were miffed you didn't come down and some comments that I won't be repeating but Potter handled most of those since if I did anything...well..." He winced slightly when he realized just what would've happen if it hadn't been for his friends holding him back, but continued turning to the more entertaining point, "then after that mess Weasel got a Howler." He paused and looked at her.
She held her juice and leaned in. He noticed some crumbs on the corner of her mouth. If it was some other person he probably would have laughed but he found he could never laugh at her again. In fact he found it cute as he moved to wipe the crumbs away he continued the story.
"Mrs. Weasley was bloody angry with him. She said something along the lines of," He moved his hand away trying to ignore the light brush of pink across her face, and attempted an impression of The Molly Weasley, "Hermione was the best of girls and you went and betrayed not only her but your family, we raised you better than this. Fred would be very disappointed in you."
She gasped nearly choking on the scone she had just taken a bite of. After the small coughing fit she said, "S-she actually said that?!"
He nodded rubbing her back, "Yes, she wasn't holding back that's for sure. Weasley was even surprised how far she went and it was her own idea to tell their Mum."
She hummed and smiled, "Calling her Weasley now?"
He smirked, "We've established a bit of a truce, Potter included."
"Oh dear what will happen if you all become friends?" She joked.
He chuckled slinging his arm around her shoulder, "I suspect Hell would be frozen."
"Suddenly my third eye has opened, I can see it now you and Harry become best friends."
He started laughing more, "Yes because Divination was such a serious subject."
As they continued to joke until non other than Pansy Parkinson and Luna Lovegood came into the room, "Hello Granger get ready Luna and I are taking you out for girl time."
"I feel like I'm on a sitcom..." Hermione muttered to herself.
Luna comes around and gently guides her, "No choice I'm afraid. It's the weekend and we're going to Muggle London."
Hermione did have to admit that being away from magic and the people around here did sound nice at the moment.
Once they entered her room and shut the door Draco started mildly interrogating Pansy.
"What are you up to?"
"I want to take her on a shopping trip is that so bad?" She tried her best to give the biggest doe eyes.
He rolled his eyes catching her old trick, "Pansy I like to think I know you better than that. What are you actually doing."
She looked to the door and lowered her voice speaking quickly, "Luna is extremely upset she didn't notice. She notices everything! She also knows that no one has given her any space, so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone. Give my girlfriend a chance to talk with her friend in a neutral place and give Granger a place where she isn't being hounded by the wizarding world."
He nodded accepting the answer as Hermione came back out.
She walked out wearing jeans and a grey tank top with a soft cardigan over it. Damn him, she looked stunning. He fought very hard to keep his face neutral but Pansy smirked seeing his effort.
"Well we best be off then. Don't get into trouble now." Pansy said to Draco as she linked her elbow with Hermione.
Hermione was back to feeling overwhelmed but the thought of staying in her room for the rest of the weekend was maddening to her so she let herself be led by the couple, "Alright, bye Draco I'll be back later."
"Be safe Hermione." He said as they all left. Pansy gave him a side eye and smirked as she led them away.
The other girls didn't react to him, perhaps he had said it too quietly but the more he thought about it the more he enjoyed her name falling from his lips. But it also felt too special to just say. It felt too important.
After the first round of shops the girls took a nice little break for some fish and chips.
"Honestly Parkinson, I can't believe you've never had this before." Hermione stated as she shoved her chips in her mouth.
"You should. I don't know what else to say Granger but my family never ate this stuff. We have close to Malfoy level money and if we wanted fish we got sushi."
As Hermione processed this information she paused, "Does that mean that Malfoy has also never had fish and chips?"
Luna let out a light laugh as Pansy smiled, "If he has he's never told me but speaking of Draco dearest what is up with these rumors?"
Hermione thought for a moment trying to figure out which rumor she could be talking about. There was the obvious "He's Still a Death Eater" one but everyone at the table knew for a fact that one is false. Then the "Sex God" one but if she remembered correctly Pansy had started most of those rumors, so she looked at Luna hoping for some help but she shared Pansy's anticipation.
"I'm sorry but what rumor are you referring to in particular?"
This time Luna answered, "The one where he's hopelessly in love with you of course."
Pansy smiled as Hermione nearly chocked on her food, "What!? When on Earth did that one start?"
Luna offered her her napkin, "I think the first time I heard about it was sixth year but the rumors have certainly gotten circulated more since you and he became head girl and boy.
"Sixth year? That rumor is defiantly older than that but that's besides the point Hermione?" Pansy said teasingly.
"This is certainly the first I've ever heard of this rumor," She stated regaining her composure, "Besides he is not in love with me. He's just trying to make up for being a complete and utter arse."
This caused Pansy's eyes to widen and she looked to her girlfriend. They seemed to be on the same page.
"Granger please tell me you don't think that is the only reason he's trying to help you?"
"It seems like a case of the Lypees. You should get some peppermint to help ward them off."
They were not on the same page...
Hermione rolled her eyes with a soft smile, "Alright firstly, no I don't think it's the only reason he's helping me now. I know we're friends and he's grown to be a very close one at that, but it probably is a large part of why he started trying to be my friend. And secondly, Luna I'm sorry but what are Lypees?"
"They're small invisible creature that mess with people perceptions."
Pansy raised an eyebrow, maybe they were on the same page after all.
"Ah alright, and why do I seem to have a case of them?" She scrunched her face trying to understand her friend.
Luna tucked some hair behind her ear as she took a sip of her drink, "Because your perception of Draco is skewed."
Pansy reached for Luna's hand and gave a small pinch.
"Ah, right?" Hermione tilted her head now thoroughly confused.
Luna looks between Hermione and Pansy, "They won't let me say more. If I do then they will skew my perception."
Hermione just nods not really knowing what else to do.
"On to a different topic Hermione how did you say you felt about dating again?"
She tried to hide her shock best she could, "I'm not ready for that. Everything is still extremely fresh." She started to nervously mess with the ends of her hair.
"Fair enough how about messing around or making that carrot top idiot realize he's an idiot."
She blushed, "Umm no to the messing around but what do you mean about making him realize he's an idiot?"
"Well I'm saying why don't we shop for you and get you some things to help enhance your looks?"
Hermione smiled and huffed, "And when exactly am I going to wear these things? We have fairly strict uniform codes one the grounds and it's not like I go out every weekend. Also I'm not exactly a fan of the extra attention."
"Pleaseee it'll be fun and I'll pay! You may not go out every weekend but when you do I want that moron to see he's nothing but a worm underneath your boot. Well, heel hopefully."
Luna gently held Hermione's hand and gave her the biggest puppy dog eyes.
"Also if we do this right the guys will be too intimidated to ask you out," Pansy smiled as she continued, "Boys have an extremely hard time trying to ask girls out who are clearly out of their league and with my help we can show them just how far out of their reach you really are."
She sighed and thought for a moment. She had remembered reading some books that mentioned something to the lines of what Pansy had said and with how Draco avoided talking about breakfast in depth maybe this could help, "Fine I'll let you two give me a makeover."
Pansy practically jumped from the table, "Perfect! Now let's go I saw a shop that I think would have exactly what we need!"
While the girls were having their small outing, Draco ran into Harry and Ginny later in the evening. They both stopped Draco and pulled him into an empty class room.
"What are yo-?!"
"Malfoy! glad we ran into you have you seen Mione?" Potter asked cutting straight to the point.
Both he and Ginny seemed out of breath, "We've been looking everywhere for her."
He raised an eyebrow studying the pair, "Pansy and Luna came by and took her to Muggle London why?"
Ginny and Harry shared a glance, "Well..." He started but didn't seem like he was going to finish the sentence any time soon so Draco looked to the good red head expectedly.
She took a breath, "We're worried."
He rolled his eyes. "I gathered, however I am still wondering what in the name of Merlin has happened?" He gritted out becoming quickly annoyed.
Potter started to fidget, "Yes, well, you see, we wanted to tell Hermione about a thing that may or may not happen-"
"We want her to feel prepared if it does-" Ginny rushed.
"But if she's gone and-"
"Please get to the point."
Harry took another breath in an attempt to gather his thoughts, "You know how she's already getting extra attention?"
Draco thought about breakfast and the varying boys commenting on Granger, "Yes." He sneered pinching the bridge of his nose.
Both Ginny and Harry paused again.
"If you two don't bloody-"
"There's a rumor that someone is going to brew Amortentia and try and drug Hermione..." Ginny finally said. Both Harry and she were waiting for an explosion or something similar from him but what they got instead was a deathly calm.
While his mind was racing from all the possible outcomes each getting worse and worse he shielded himself quickly.
Occlumency.
"Who knows and where did you hear it?" He suddenly sounded cold and distant.
"We told the Headmistress and we heard it from a couple of fifth years, didn't catch their names." She said.
"Mcgonagall said she would talk to Professor Slughorn to check his stock." Harry quickly added.
Draco nodded, "Our priority is to keep her safe. Keep me updated and I'll let her know when she gets back. I trust Pansy to keep her safe."
"Luna will too." Ginny chimed.
"I'm sure." Draco agreed, he wasn't insulting her he just doesn't know her as well. "Anything else I should know about?"
Harry started to shake his head but Ginny grabbed his arm and gasped, "Yes! I almost forgot!"
Draco glanced at Harry be he looked confused.
"There's also a rumor that you and Hermione are dating."
Draco hummed, "Alright. If there's nothing else I'll need to go now."
Again not the reaction they were expecting. They both stood confused and looked too each other then back to Draco's emotionless face.
"No that's all."
"Right then goodbye." He turned and left.