Chapter Text
4th year
Hermione Granger ran from the great hall, dress flowing behind her, tears running down her face and made her way to the closest abandoned classroom she could find and slammed the door behind her.
‘Mind the door Granger, try not to break the castle.’ Draco Malfoy’s smooth voice coming from the back of the room startled her.
‘Sorry, I thought the room was empty. I’ll leave.’
‘You might as well stay. If you leave now you might give our hiding place away.’
‘Ok.’ Hermione leaned softly against the door before casting a locking spell and a silencing charm.
‘What’s with the tears? Krum not compliment your dress or your hair?’
Hermione scoffed. ‘Viktor has been nothing but a proper gentleman.’ Hermione puffed out a breath. ‘It’s Ronald who’s the jerk.’
‘I could have told you that. Pretty sure I have in fact.’
‘Yes well, maybe I’m finally in a place to see it properly. He’s supposed to be my friend but he went out of his way to ruin my night. Called me a traitor, said I was fraternizing with the enemy. What’s so wrong with being Viktor’s date? Why is he so mad at me? I don’t understand him.’
‘You really don’t know?’
‘No.’
Draco lightly chuckled. ‘He’s not mad at you Granger. He’s mad at himself for being the last one in the castle to see you went from a bushy haired know it all to a pretty girl. Who just happens to be a know it all.’
Hermione wasn’t sure what shocked her more, the fact Draco Malfoy had called her pretty or that he was saying Ron was jealous. ‘Why are you hiding?’
‘Because Pansy, her hands or her mouth can’t seem to comprehend what
“just as friends” means. My mother owed her mother a favor and she cashed it in, made me escort Pansy tonight. I made it very clear it was as friends only but she’s acting like she’s my girlfriend or something and I’m very much not interested.’
Hermione laughed at that. ‘Well good luck with that Malfoy and thanks, I weirdly feel much better now. I’m going back, I won’t let that ginger git ruin my night anymore. By the way, you’re pretty too, when you’re not sneering at me. You should keep it up. Night.’ With that Hermione unlocked the door and went to find Viktor. She’d never snogged a boy before and brimming with a new found confidence she intended to rectify that tonight.
‘How many people have you kissed?’
‘That’s rather personal Granger. Why do you want to know?’
‘Viktor and I kiss. It’s nice and quite lovely and all ….’
‘But?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe I’ve read too many muggle romance novels. When the couple kiss it’s all butterflies in the tummy, warm tingles on her skin when he touches her, her heads all foggy - you know, sparks! Have you ever felt that?’
‘Daphne Greengrass and I used each other for practice a few times back in 3rd year but it didn’t feel anything like you’re describing. But that’s probably because we were imagining other people each time, in fact I’m pretty sure it was the same Ravenclaw witch.’ Hermione laughed. ‘And then back at Yule Pansy kissed me, against my will mind you. Felt like being attacked with tongue.’
‘Why didn’t you hex her?’
‘My mother raised a gentleman Granger, you can’t hex a lady.’
Pst, Hermione scoffed, ‘She’s no lady or she wouldn’t be forcing herself on you.’
"Good to know for the future.’
‘So, bottom of the Black Lake, what’s that like?’
‘Cold.’
‘I’m scared Draco’
‘Me too Mi.’
5th year
Draco walked into Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, set wards and silencing charms then took his place on the floor next to Hermione.
‘We use wards and charms every time from now on, no exceptions.’
‘I understand.’
‘He’s at my house Mi.’
‘Are you ok? Your parents?’
‘For now, as long as we’re useful.’
‘That woman has it out for you. I know what you’re doing and you need to be more careful.’
‘She’s a monster Draco.’
Draco reached into the pocket of his robes, pulling out a piece of parchment. ‘Here, the schedule for her Squad’s rounds. Don’t get caught cause I can’t save you.’
‘I can’t believe the ministry condones what that woman is doing!’
‘The ministry can’t be trusted Mi, you’ll be better off if you trust no one and keep your secrets to yourself.’
‘I’m watching my own back, don't you worry.’
‘Oh yea?’
‘Yea, didn’t you see Marietta’s face?’
Draco laughed ‘That was you? I should have known that was your work.’
‘Do you know what occlumency is?’
‘Yes, it's the act of closing your mind against a legilimens. The Blacks are known for being natural occlumens, my mother taught me years ago. My father unfortunately was never able to master the skill no matter how hard he tried. Some people just aren’t made for it.’
‘I don’t think Harry is made for it.’
‘I would imagine not. He and the weasel are too emotional, too unorganized, too act first, think later. You though, brilliant little swot you are, I imagine your mind is organized and color coded. With proper instruction and enough practice you could lock your mind against any intrusion.’
‘Teach me?’
‘Yea.’
‘You going home for Yule?’
‘Yes, my parents are taking me to France to ski. Have you ever been to France?’
‘Many times, the Malfoys hail from there originally, lots of distant Malfoi cousins all over France. My mother is quite fond of shopping in magical Paris, she buys a new wardrobe there every spring.’
‘I’ve only been to muggle Paris, I’d love to see the magical side one day.’
‘I don’t want to go home Mi.’
‘I know Draco. I don’t want you to either.’
‘I’m worried about Harry.’
‘You should be. They’re planning something, I don’t know what but it can’t be good.’
‘Legilimens! Good Mi, keep your shields up, don’t let me in. I knew you’d be a natural.’
‘I had a good teacher.’
‘Keep meditating over the summer, build your walls, organize that mental library, don’t get out of practice just because I’m not there trying to break in.’
‘Yes Professor. Be safe Draco.’
‘I’m a Slytherin, I was born for self preservation.’
6th year
‘You’re not playing quidditch this year?’
‘No.’
‘Why not? You love quidditch.’
‘No time, I need to focus on my studies.’
‘Oh, well that’s a good reason. Ron is livid with Harry for not making the team.’
‘Potter made the right choice, McLaggen is a tosser but he’s a better player.’
‘Ron’s never needed a valid reason to be mad. He still mentions that I should have automatically just flown off to the ministry to save Sirius, I should have blindly trusted Harry. He conveniently forgets that it was all a trap and Sirius was safe at home. Godric knows what would have happened if we hadn’t gotten ahold of him on Umbitch’s floo.’
‘Haven’t seen you in the great hall lately. You are eating right?’
‘Of course I am, just busy is all.’
‘Ok.’
‘He’s got this book, it’s got tips and tricks and instructions to make his potions better than everyone else’s. It’s not fair, it’s cheating!’
‘Did I ever tell you that Snape is my godfather?’
‘No.’
‘He’s been teaching me potion making since I was 8. It’s why I always beat you.’
‘The only class you beat me in.’
‘Yes well one is more than none you see.’
‘It’s cheating.’
‘No, it’s using information given to you.’
‘You’re such a Slytherin.’
‘And proud of it.’
‘Do you think Dumbledore is trustworthy Draco? Is he a proper light wizard?’
‘No. No such thing as a light wizard or a dark wizard, it's all shades of gray. Dumbledore is no different and if he portrays himself otherwise he’s a liar.’
‘You coming to dinner?’
‘No, I need to study.’
‘Ok.’
‘What is too young to fight?’
‘Doesn’t matter because I don’t think the adults are going to give us the choice.’
‘Seems quite unfair doesn’t it? Are you ok Draco? I barely see you in the great hall anymore and you look like you’re not sleeping.’
‘Ouch Mi, is that your way of saying I look bad?’
‘I’m worried.’
‘I know.’
‘Ron’s an idiot.’
‘What did the ginger git do this time?’
‘He’s dating Lavender Brown and every time I walk in the room he grabs her and starts snoggin her. I think he’s trying to make me jealous.’
‘Is it working?’
‘It would have if this was third year but I haven’t thought of him like that in a long time. I’ve had at least one secret crush and dated a wizard since then.’
‘The wizard you dated was Krum but who are these secret crushes?’
‘They’re secret.’
‘Come on, just tell me one.’
‘Fine, it was Harry.’
‘Potter? You had a thing for scar head?’
Hermione giggled. ‘Yes, it’s very common for girls to crush on their guy friends or their brother’s friends or their girl friend’s brothers. I always thought of Harry as a brother until the end of 3rd year when we rode a hippogriff together and thought about what it would be like if he kissed me.’
‘Why were you riding a hippogriff together? You know what, never mind, tell me later. When did the crush end?’
‘4th year. When Ron stopped talking to us he swore to me it was the last time he would let him get away with that behavior, that Ron needed to grow up and apologize and until he did it was just me and him. That lasted until the first challenge. Ron never apologized, just walked right up to us like he’d never left and Harry welcomed him back with open arms.’
Hermione stared into space for a little bit before she continued. ‘The crush died right there and he went back to being my brother. Harry will always pick Ron and the Weasleys over me. I can handle being his second best friend but I won’t tolerate that in a romantic relationship. I want to be first.’
‘If you do bad things for a good reason, are you still bad?’
‘Depends on how bad and how good the reason.’
‘To keep people you love safe?’
‘I guess when it’s all said and done can you live with yourself?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Better figure that out first then.’