{ 6 }
The atmosphere in the stands and on the pitch was jovial. The sun was shining. A breeze kept the air cool enough to be comfortable.
I found Theo and Blaise in the top row of the Slytherin stands. Tracey sat on the other side of Blaise. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders and her hand was resting on his thigh. She watched me as I walked up the stairs. I could feel her eyes on me the whole time.
"You actually made it?" Theo moved over so I could sit next to him on the end rather than on the other side of the succubus named Tracey.
"I said I would." I rolled my eyes as I sat down next to him.
"You did. I just didn't believe you." He smirked, and ran his hand through his brown hair.
"How does the talent look this year?" I opted to ignore the obvious question that he wanted me to ask. I already knew why he didn't believe me. He figured I'd rather be with Granger all day, doing whatever the hell he thinks I'm doing with her.
He stared at me for a few seconds, then turned his attention back to the pitch.
"Dismal. Potter and Weasley are playing this year. The only Slytherin even auditioning for seeker is Irma Flynt."
I groaned. We were screwed. Irma could barely see two feet in front of her face, and that was when she wore her thick ass glasses.
"It's not too late to change your mind, you know." Blaise told me. "We need a seeker. A good seeker. Someone that knows what the hell they're doing."
I groaned again. Playing quidditch this year was not on my list of priorities. I had no intention of doing it. But could I sit back and watch Potter humiliate Irma like that?
"That isn't fair, Blaise." I scowled at him, but I could feel everyone else in the stands looking at me as well.
"Come on, Draco. We can't lose to Gryffindor again. We need you." Daphne turned around and looked at me with wide eyes.
"Unless you can get your girlfriend to convince Potter not to play?" Theo nudged my shoulder.
"Not likely," I huffed a short laugh. "She's not even speaking to him."
I froze, realizing my mistake a few seconds too late.
"Ha! I knew it!" Theo grinned in triumph.
"Fuck off." I rolled my eyes. He knew what I meant, dammit. He just laughed in response. He was giving me a hard time, but it was all in fun. He didn't have anything against Granger. Or Granger and I.
For the next several hours we watched as player after player auditioned. The seekers were the last position picked.
As it got closer and closer to the end, I felt a nervous kind of anxiety itching through my body. My leg bounced uncontrollably. I laced my hands together, only to pull them apart seconds later.
I decided weeks ago that I was not playing this year. Now that I am about to watch the opportunity pass me by, I am seriously reconsidering my decision. I only have one shot. If I miss the auditions, that's it. No quidditch this year. No quidditch ever again.
Fuck.
I ran my hand through my hair and released a deep sigh.
Potter is playing. There is no way Irma would be able to beat him. Which means Slytherin will lose to Gryffindor and there won't be a damn thing I can do but sit there and watch it happen.
Hell, Slytherin will even lose to the ravens and the badgers. Both of their teams have returning seekers as well.
My breaths were coming in short puffs. Was I really going to let that happen?
Fuck! I can't. I can't do it. I can't sit on the sidelines and watch my team lose game after game when I could be out there, on the pitch, instead.
"You going for it, mate?" Theo asked with a nudge to my shoulder.
I held my breath for five seconds as I reconciled what I had to do.
"Yeah." I relented. "You?"
Theo played keeper and one look at him told me he was battling the same inner dialog.
"Hell yes. Let's go save our team."
Once the decision was made, a weight lifted off of my chest. I could breathe again.
We made our way down the steps quickly, not wasting any more time than we already had. As soon as our housemates realized what we were doing, a cheer rang out from the stands. Theo and I looked at each other and grinned.
We entered the pitch just as the auditions for beater wrapped up. Theo took to the sky to claim his place as keeper.
Not long after, it was my turn. Irma looked so happy to see me out there that I thought she would start crying.
"Thank Merlin!" She yelled with a smile on her face. "I was starting to think that Theo had tricked me into actually being the seeker for the team!"
I huffed a short laugh and made a mental note to kick Theo's arse later. He played me to get me on the team with him for one final season.
With Irma out of the competition, I didn't even have to audition. I took my place next to Theo with the rest of the team.
"You could have just told me you wanted me to play this year." I told him after I punched his arm.
"Where would the fun have been in that?" He laughed.
Once all the teams had been selected, each team took to the field for an introduction. When we were done with our flight around the perimeter of the stands, we landed and left the pitch.
I had only taken a few steps when something caught my eye. Black and red hair shining in the sunlight, blowing in the wind. Even through her sunglasses, I could feel her eyes on me.
She smirked and popped her hip out as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I thought you were spending the day in the library?" I asked as we got closer to where she was standing.
"I'm taking a break." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "I thought you weren't playing this year."
"I wasn't."
"And yet?" I could hear laughter in her voice and her lips tilted up in a small smile.
"I blame Theo." I shrugged my shoulder and laughed when he gave me that innocent look of his, like he hadn't tricked me into playing.
"Blame me all you want, Draco. You're welcome, by the way." He looked entirely too smug for his own good.
Okay, fine. I'm glad I didn't stay on the sidelines. And yes, I have him to thank for that. But I can't actually admit that to him.
"Regardless, I think it's brilliant." Granger rolled her shoulders back and smiled. She took her sunglasses off and slid them to the top of her head, pushing her hair back from her eyes. "You looked like you were having fun."
My breath caught in my throat. She was watching me? My eyes caught hers. Her cheeks tinged pink and she bit her bottom lip.
"You look like you're feeling better." She still looked a little tired, but she did not seem to be in pain anymore.
"I am. Not a hundred percent yet, but close."
I don't know how long we stood there before Theo cleared his throat.
"Now Granger," he said when we both looked at him. "The important question here is this: Slytherin versus Gryffindor. Malfoy versus Potter. Boyfriend versus best friend. Which seeker will you be cheering for?"
I closed my eyes and smacked my hand over my face. I could feel my ears burning in embarrassment. I was going to kill him. Slowly. Painfully.
"Ignore him," I groaned out. I wish the Earth would just open up and swallow me whole in that moment.
When she didn't say anything, I opened my eyes to see her reaction. She was biting her lip and staring at the ground. She was trying not to laugh. At Theo's antics? Or at the idea of me being her boyfriend?
Which is laughable, of course.
She took a deep breath and looked up. She blinked several times. Then she looked right at me with a mortified look on her face.
Damn. It's not that awful of a thought, is it?
"I thought we agreed not to tell anyone yet." She whisper yelled at me and smacked my arm.
Wait. What?
Theo cracked up laughing.
"Fuck," I groaned. I ran my hand through my hair and forced a deep breath. "Don't encourage him."
She joined Theo in laughing at me. Great my best friend and my….not a girlfriend….laughing at my expense. Perfect.
"I'm sorry. The look on your face, though!" She managed to talk through her giggles. Her hand swiped at moisture in her eyes.
"Yes. It was hilarious, obviously." I rolled my eyes. As much as I wanted to be angry, her laughter was infectious. I could feel my lip twitching despite my irritation.
"And yet, she still hasn't answered the question." Theo took a step closer, standing right next to her. "Will you be cheering for the lions or the snakes?"
"I guess we'll find out, won't we." There was amusement in her voice. Her eyes met mine for a second and she winked at me.
A breath I didn't even know I was holding rushed past my lips in a short laugh.
"I guess we will, Lioness." Theo grinned. Then in a casually familiar manner, he put his arm around her shoulder.
The amusement that had been dancing in her eyes vanished. In a heartbeat it was replaced by fear. Panic.
Theo did not notice her change in demeanor. He kept talking. I have no idea what he was saying. I wasn't listening.
"Get away, Theo." I warned him. I was a split second too late.
Her elbow connected hard with his stomach. He bent over from the force, all the air forced from his lungs. Her hand snapped up, the back of her fist connecting with his nose. Then she spun around, grabbing hold of his hand as she turned. She turned his wrist and forced him to his knees with his arm held over her knee.
It happened in a matter of seconds. I didn't even have time to get my wand.
Theo was gasping for breath.
Granger was staring at nothing, lost in her own mind. I had to bring her back somehow.
"Granger." I stepped closer, but didn't touch her. "Theo is an idiot, but he won't hurt you."
She didn't move. She was completely frozen. She didn't even breathe. Fuck.
"You need to breathe."
Her eyes darted around. She took a shaky breath then looked up at me.
"You're going to break his arm." The way his arm was bent backwards, I was sure she could easily make the bones snap if she wanted to. She stared at me for a long moment before she relaxed her grip on his wrist.
He fell forward, scowling and messaging his wrist. He looked quickly from me to Granger and back again. He said something. I have no idea what it was. I wasn't listening to him.
Hermione's eyes blinked quickly and she took one deep breath after another.
Finally, she took a long, gasping breath. Her eyes focused on me, then they darted around and finally landed on Theo. He was on the ground with one arm around his stomach and the other hand messaging his nose. Blood trickled between his fingers.
"Oh, Nott!" She dropped to one knee beside him. "I am so sorry!"
"What the fuck, Granger?" He pulled his hand away from his nose and stared at the blood on his fingers.
"I can fix that." She pulled her wand out. His eyes widened as she took aim. " Episky."
The bone in his nose snapped back together and he yelped, either in surprise or pain, I'm not sure.
"Are you okay?" She cringed as she asked. Typical Gryffindor, worried about him when he was the one that put his arm around her.
"Are you?" I stepped closer and held my hand out to help her up.
She hesitated before taking my hand and letting me pull her up to her feet.
"I'm fine." She released my hand immediately, pushed her hair back and took a step away. "I'm sorry. I have to go."
She turned and was gone before I could even respond.
"I'm wonderful, by the way. Thanks for asking." Theo grabbed hold of me and pulled himself to his feet. "What the fuck was that about, huh?"
"I tried to warn you." I did try. Maybe next time he'll keep his hands to his damn self.
"Warn me faster next time. Yeah?" He scowled. He rubbed his wrist absently. It wasn't broken, but he should put some ice on it anyway. "Should you go after her?"
Should I? I can't imagine she wants to see me. Then again, she should not be alone so soon after a panic attack.
"I have no idea where she went."
Still, I left him to make his way back to the school by himself while I looked for her. It was not as hard to find her as I imagined. I found her sitting by herself on a bench by the lake.
She had her knees pulled up in front of her with her arms wrapped around them. She lifted her head to look when she heard my footsteps approaching.
"Is Theo okay?" She asked when I sat next to her.
"He'll survive. Those were some impressive moves on your part."
She smirked and looked over the water.
"I took self defense and karate classes over the summer. Sensei Terry told me that my body would remember the techniques before I even thought about them. I didn't believe him at the time, but that's the second time I've used them now without planning to."
"The second time? Who else has had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of this training of yours?"
She sighed. It was several seconds before she answered. I wasn't even sure she would. It wasn't any of my business, after all.
"Ron," she finally said. She shrugged her shoulders and dropped one of her knees to the ground. "He tried to hug me first night back. He ended up flat on his back with a black eye and a broken thumb."
A short laugh escaped my throat as I tried to picture that happening. I wonder if she would show me the memory sometime just so I could see it for myself.
"It's not funny," she insisted. She relaxed her position, bending one leg underneath her.
"Oh come on, Granger. It's bloody hilarious." I nudged her shoulder and covered her hand with my own. "That certainly explains why he was pissed when he found us in the hallway together."
She rolled her eyes. She also flipped her hand over and laced her fingers with mine.
"I told you he had reason to be." She huffed.
We sat there for several long minutes. She relaxed little by little. Her breaths evened out. I drew small patterns on her wrist with my thumb as we watched the ripples in the water and listened to the birds in the nearby trees.
"I feel bad for hurting Theo." She admitted quietly. "He was just joking around."
"Don't." She should be proud of herself rather than feeling remorse.
She turned to look at me, her eyebrow raised in question.
"What you did back there, it was brilliant. Theo was joking around, but the next person to surprise you like that might not be. Don't hesitate."
She bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling. She didn't respond, but she nodded her head to let me know she understood and agreed.
There was a reason she had taken those classes to begin with. Obviously they worked.
"I can teach you. If you want." She glanced up at me through her eyelashes. Does she have any idea how distracting that is?
It was an enticing offer. I never want to be as vulnerable as I was during the war. Never again. Self defense, she called it. A way to defend yourself without magic.
"I'd like that."
She looked at me with understanding in her eyes. And a triumphant little smile. Did she think she had just won something? Hell. Maybe she had. Draco fucking Malfoy just admitted that she knew something that he didn't, and accepted her help in learning.
I groaned to myself. I'm going soft. Especially when it comes to this girl, for some reason. This girl, that is sitting with me on a secluded bench by the lake, holding my hand and looking at me like I had just given her the best news of her day.
How in the fuck did this even happen?
"Well isn't this just cozy." A voice from behind us made me cringe. Great. Pansy. Just what I needed right now.
Granger's hand tightened in mine. Her eyes met mine. There was a question there. And maybe a challenge. Was I going to release her hand and pretend like we were just sitting side by side all along?
I squeezed her hand back. I wasn't going to move unless she did. We held like that for several heartbeats.
"Pansy," I finally acknowledged when I heard her stop beside the bench. Only then did I turn to look at her. Daphne was with her and the two were sharing amused, knowing looks.
"Draco. Hermione. It's a beautiful day today."
"Quite." Granger cleared her throat. "Although, I should get back to the library soon. I had only meant to take a short break."
"The library?" Daphne's eyebrows crinkled in disgust. "It's Saturday. Wouldn't you rather spend the day with your boyfriend and his friends?"
"Now Daph. Hermione likes being in the library." Pansy flipped her hair over her shoulder. "She probably has homework that's due by Christmas to get started on."
Granger squeezed my hand almost painfully tight.
"I actually have a research paper to write for detention. It has to be turned in Monday." Her voice was casual. Bored even. She was still cutting off the circulation in my fingers, though.
"Detention on a Saturday? That's barbaric." Daphne wrinkled her nose.
"Right?" She huffed a short laugh. Her fingers relaxed around mine then slipped away altogether. "I really should get back, though."
She stood and without waiting for a response, walked away. I watched her go and smirked to myself when I saw her curling her hand into a fist then shaking it out. The same hand that had been gripping mine only moments earlier.
"She didn't have to leave." Daphne scowled after her. "We were being nice!"
I nearly snorted in laughter. If they thought that was nice, I would hate to see what they called bitchy.
"Right." I pinched my nose and took a deep breath. "Next time, try to do it without insulting her, yes?"
I left them standing there sharing confused looks and followed Granger to the castle. I did not, however, follow her to the library. I've had enough drama for the day, thank you very much.
Are all witches so exhausting? Or is it just this one particular witch?
I returned to the common room and took a long, hot shower. Followed by a nice, long nap.
I woke just before dinner and followed a group of second years to the Great Hall. Theo stared at me as I crossed the room and sat next to him. He had an odd look on his face, like he was confused by something I had done.
"What's that look for?" I asked when I sat next to him.
"Just wondering where Granger is. Usually you come in together."
I rolled my eyes.
"We aren't joined at the hip. She's probably in the library working on her paper for Giles." I shrugged my shoulder and started piling food on my plate. Then, because I couldn't help it, I followed up with, "how's your nose?"
"That isn't funny," he scowled. "I don't know which hurt worse, when she broke my nose or when she healed it."
My lip curled up on one side. It was pretty damn funny, to be honest. It served him right, anyway. And I'm starting to realize that Granger beating people up is hilarious, as long as it isn't me.
My eyes flickered to the Gryffindor table. She wasn't there, but Potter and Weasley were glaring at me. I wonder what I did to them this time around?
A large white owl swooped in and dropped a letter on my plate before taking off again. I've never seen that owl before. At least it managed to drop the letter so it didn't land in any food.
I picked the envelope up and examined the neat handwriting on the front. It had my name spelled out in beautiful calligraphy that I did not recognize.
I did not open it straight away, choosing to wait until I was alone instead. Shortly after, I made my way to the library.
I wasn't thinking about my destination. I just walked up the stairs with the envelope in my hand. Before I turned the last corner, a raised voice stopped me.
"Just tell me it isn't true, Hermione." Ginny Weasley's voice cut through the hall.
I stopped, frozen, maybe a little curious.
"Gin, you know I don't answer to gossip mongers." I could picture her crossing her arms, popping her hip out and rolling her eyes.
"What about your friends? Do you answer to them anymore?" The chill in her voice sounded anything but friendly to me.
"I don't answer to anyone. Believe it or not, whom I choose to date is none of your business."
Fuck. They're arguing about me. Dammit Granger, just tell her we are not dating!
Or is there another rumor floating around out there that I don't know about? Maybe they are not talking about me after all.
"His father gave me a cursed book when I was eleven years old! I nearly died."
Fuck. I forgot about that. And yes, they are definitely talking about me.
"He isn't his Father, Gin. And he isn't the same as he used to be. No more than I am."
She still didn't deny anything. What the fuck?
Both girls were silent for a long moment. I held my breath lest they hear me.
"It's true then?" Her voice was bitter, tainted with her hatred for me and my family. Not that I could blame her.
Granger sighed.
"No, it isn't true. Not really."
Part of me was relieved she said it. Another part was disappointed.
"I've been sitting next to him in class. We've hung out a few times in the library. When he holds my hand, it's like…"
"Good Merlin, Hermione! Listen to yourself! Holding hands? Sitting together? Hanging out? What else, huh? Snogging in the stacks?"
Ginny's voice echoed down the hallway. I cast a disillusion charm and slipped around the corner, being careful to stick to the shadows. It was stupid, but I needed to see her reaction, not just hear it.
"Of course not! It isn't like that." She pushed her hair back behind her ears. Her cheeks had a faint blush to them. "I just…he just…he gets me, Gin."
The red haired witch stared at her. Disbelief was slowly replaced with understanding.
"You like him," she whispered, just loud enough that I could hear the disgust and accusation that bit through the words.
Hermione bit her lip and shrugged her shoulder.
My heart was beating so loud in my ears that I was sure she would be able to hear it. I should go, before she realizes I'm hiding there.
And yet, she didn't deny it.
"For fuck's sake. Of all the boys in this school, why him? He is not a good person!"
My heart sank. Weasley was not wrong. She would talk sense into Granger and our friendship would end before it really started.
"He is not a bad person." The conviction in her voice took me by surprise. Did she really think that?
"A snake doesn't change its scales."
Hermione sighed. She leaned back against the wall and propped one foot on the wall behind her. She crossed her arms and tapped her finger against the phoenix inked across her skin.
"But it can shed it's skin," she countered.
Ginny threw her hands in the air and turned away, facing the window. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Then she took another deep breath and turned back around slowly.
"Is there anything I can say to change your mind?" She asked. I had to force myself not to laugh out loud. When has anyone ever changed Granger's mind about anything?
"I'm not looking for permission or approval, Gin." She shrugged her shoulders in an effort to appear nonchalant. I could tell that she was tense, though. Nervous about what her friend would say, maybe.
Silence hung thick in the air between them for a long moment. Their eyes were locked together. Neither one of them moved until finally Ginny let her head fall back to stare at the ceiling. She ran both hands through her hair before looking at Hermione once again.
"Fine. I get it. Well, I don't, but I won't try to talk you out of it." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Do not expect me to be nice to that ferret. And if his friends so much as think about being mean to you, I will beat their arses."
Hermione grinned as the tension drained from her shoulders.
"Believe it or not, I think Pansy actually tried to be nice to me earlier. It was disturbing."
Ginny huffed.
"Pansy Parkinson was nice to you? Really?"
"Kind of?" She laughed again. "Almost, anyway."
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"What is this world coming to?" She muttered. "If they are trying to be nice to you, then I suppose we have to be nice to him."
She shuddered.
I made a mental note to be nice to the girl Weasley, just to see what she would do after this conversation.
"Come on. I'm starving. Let's go eat and you can tell me more about your unholy crush on Malfoy."
I held my breath until they were past me and I could hear their footsteps on the stairs. Only then did I drop the charm.
I stood there for a long few minutes, just staring at where she had been moments earlier. What the fuck had I gotten myself into? I rubbed absently at my heart. Why was there a warm feeling tingling through my chest?
I took a deep breath and ran my hand through my hair. I still had the letter in my other hand. I decided to bypass the library altogether and instead went to the tower that was down the hall. I climbed to the top and sat on the blue cushioned bench. Only then did I tear open the letter.
I glanced at the signature first. My breath caught in my throat.
Andromeda Tonks.
This would be where she warned me to stay away from her son. It had to be. Except, it was a fairly long letter for her to be telling me to mind my own business and leave her family alone.
Dear Draco,
You have no idea how surprised I was when Tristan wrote to me about you. I did not expect you to even acknowledge him as your cousin, let alone to talk to him in a friendly manner. It gives me hope that perhaps my sister has started to let go of some of her beliefs from years past. Or perhaps you have started to look at the world differently after the war.
Whichever it is, I want to say thank you. Tristan is struggling to adapt to life without his father and sister. Having family close is important to him.
I know I have no right to ask, but if you could look out for him at Hogwarts, I would truly appreciate it. I was hopeful that he would sort into Hufflepuff, but he does have a sneaky and ambitious side, so I was not surprised that he went into my former house.
On a more personal note, I would love to have the opportunity to meet my nephew in person. If you would be agreeable, let me know. I will have the Headmistress set it up. It will be very discreet. Your parents and housemates never need know, if you don't want them to.
I am looking forward to getting to know you, Draco.
Sincerely,
Andromeda
I read through the letter twice. Should I meet with her? What would I say?
" Hello Aunt Andromeda. Did you know Mother convinced me that you were murdered and your magic was stolen by a muggle born wizard? Yep. Fun times."
Yeah, that would go over well. I didn't dismiss the idea. It might be nice to talk to someone that has been in my shoes before. Pureblood, raised to believe in pureblood supremacy, but realizing that all of it is shite.
I folded the letter and slid it back into its envelope. Then I tapped it repeatedly on the stone window ledge as I watched the sun setting on the horizon.
What would Mother say? Would she be disappointed in me?
My gaze fell to the lake. More specifically, to the bench by the lake where I sat with Granger earlier in the day.
I imagine Mother would be quite disappointed in me, after all, for more than one reason.
I released a deep sigh. Ginny Weasley was right about me. I'm not a good person. My parents are not good people. Granger would be smart to stay away from me.
Perhaps a stronger man would walk away. Do the right thing by her even if she didn't see it that way.
I've never been accused of being a strong man, though. I find myself drawn to her. Even now, I want to find her, to see her one more time before I go to bed.
Instead, I bypassed the library and went to the owlery. On a fresh piece of parchment, I penned a reply to my aunt before I could lose my nerve.
Aunt Andromeda,
Do not get your hopes up in regards to my Mother. You will only disappoint yourself.
I am very interested in meeting you. I feel we have much to discuss. Please arrange it with McGonagall.
Draco
Short, but to the point.
My black feathered familiar, Salazar, came when I beckoned. He stared at me with his patented bored disdain as I tied the scroll to his leg. Then he circled the owlery once before disappearing into the night sky.
AN: I love this chapter, but I could be biased. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Also, big thanks and hugs to those of you that commented on migraine awareness. For those that share my fate of migraine disease, I am so sorry. I don't wish it on anyone. For those that know people that suffer from migraines and are interested in knowing more, thank you. Any time you put a piece of yourself into these stories, you open yourself up to criticism. Finding only support is heartwarming. Migraine will not play a huge part in this story, but you never know when they'll pop up to ruin your plans.
Stay safe and have a Happy Easter (if that's your thing.)
Until next time.
-mezy