After a double Transfiguration class where Hermione's head spun as she tried to focus and get herself back into student mode, Hermione said goodbye to Ginny and made her way to the library to wait for Malfoy.
She was rather curious to know what he wanted. And to hopefully find out more about why he had been helping Belle.
It wasn't quite lunchtime yet, but she had plenty of things to occupy her such as homework and notes she wanted to revisit and the recently assigned homework from Transfiguration.
Hermione found her favorite table and sat down. She mindlessly pulled out her notes and books. She stared blankly at them, feeling a sense of unreality.
Where am I? she wondered. Of course, I'm at Hogwarts, she said to herself, stop being foolish.
But am I really here? Oh sure, my physical body is here but am I here? she pondered.
This gave Hermione pause. Before coming back from her fairy tale adventure, she'd been physically present in life, but she hadn't been truly, consciously present. Hermione had been going through the motions, not really caring about what she did. She had buried herself in schoolwork and her research, avoiding what really mattered.
Now, she had to be here and confront what she'd done. She'd forced someone out of their life and into hers. She hurt her dearest friends by leaving them without warning. What did Harry and Ron think about the whole situation? Belle met them and they had to be confronted with the reality of the switch. And Ron! Oh, what was she going to do about Ron?
If she were honest with herself, Hermione was relieved that Ron wasn't here at Hogwarts with them. Though she did feel guilty for thinking that. What kind of girlfriend was she? She'd have to face him sooner or later. He would likely be visiting with Harry at the next Hogsmeade trip. When was that? Next weekend, she thought. She had time. I ought to write him though, she thought.
She took out a blank sheet of parchment to begin a letter to him and realized she had no idea what to say. I'll leave that for later, she decided.
Sensing that someone was nearby, Hermione looked up and saw Draco Malfoy standing a few feet away from her table watching her.
"Oh!" Hermione said, flustered. "I was just getting some work done while I waited." Hermione felt extremely nervous and off balance at finding Malfoy there watching her. How long had he been there? She'd been seriously woolgathering and lost in her thoughts.
"Yes," Malfoy said. "I see that." He nodded towards her blank paper.
A sense of embarrassment came up at being caught not doing anything arose in her. No. Hermione refused to feel ashamed at his words. She reminded herself that this was Draco Malfoy. The same Malfoy who did everything he could to get Hagrid into trouble over the years. The same Malfoy who called her a Mudblood and cursed her heritage. The same Malfoy who had been there when Bellatrix had… She shook her head, not willing to think about it. Any nervousness was gone, replaced by anger and wrath.
"What did you want, Malfoy?" she said, straightening up and glaring at him.
A sigh escaped him. A flash of happiness crossed his face and then immediately disappeared.
"Ah," he said. "You're back." He then moved across the room and sat down at her table in front of her. "Belle is gone."
"Yes," Hermione said shortly, still peeved at him. Then his words hit her. He knew. He knew that she wasn't Belle anymore. "Wait, what? How did you know?" She was too surprised to pretend otherwise.
"There are too many ways to count," he said. "But I'll start with the fact that you're calling me Malfoy again."
"Ah," Hermione said. "And naturally Belle wouldn't know to call you that." Hermione lowered her voice when she said the name, Belle, not wanting anyone to overhear.
"No," he replied. "She was very kind," he added.
"She was," Hermione said sadly. "She didn't deserve what I did to her."
"You might have done her a favor," Malfoy pointed out. "You helped her realize that she could do magic."
Hermione was at a loss for words. She didn't know this person sitting in front of her. He'd deliberately made the observation that Belle was kind. And he said that she might have done Belle a favor. If she didn't know better, she would think he was trying to make her feel better.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, feeling suspicious of his motives. "What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked again.
"Can't we just have a conversation?" he asked, playing dumb and acting like he didn't know why she was suspicious.
"Since when have we ever had a conversation?" Hermione asked pointedly. "Normally, you're trying to sabotage someone, land someone in prison, or just insult someone. Oftentimes, you're insulting me. I'm just a filthy little Mudblood after all, right?"
Malfoy winced. "You have a point," he murmured. "I've been a right little shit to you, haven't I?"
Hermione drew back. What was he saying? He was admitting to being wrong?
"What's gotten into you?" she asked, feeling absolutely bemused and baffled at his behavior. She didn't know how to talk to him when he acted liked this.
Malfoy sighed. "The war got to me," he said. "And it sounds like it got to you too."
"Why do you say that?" she asked, defensively.
Malfoy raised his eyebrows. "Come on, Granger. I'm no fool. Not like your Weasley paramour."
"Don't insult—" Hermione started hotly, but Malfoy cut her off. "Old habits die hard," he said, by way of explanation of insulting Ron. "I'm not trying to make you angry. I'm merely pointing out that if the war hadn't affected you, you wouldn't have run off and switched places with someone."
Hermione huffed. "You're going to have to try a lot harder to not make me angry."
"Well," Malfoy said, his eyes becoming mischievous. "Maybe I like seeing you angry."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione said, flaring up again despite herself.
Malfoy grinned. "I thought you had all the answers, Granger. Figure it out." He stood up. "Great chat," he said. "I'll see you around." And with that comment, he turned on his heel and strode away from her, disappearing into the stacks.
Hermione's head was spinning. What was going on with Draco Malfoy?
She had no idea.