TRAIN STATION CAFE

Hermione sat down at her seat in the Great Hall. The tables were moved for the O.W.Ls. There were rows of desks filled with other fifth years. Hermione fidgeted with her anti-cheating quill as the students took their assigned seats. Umbridge explained the testing rules as she handed out their Theory of Charms exam. Hermione examined the questions. Sure enough, she knew the answers to all of them. She felt silly for being so stressed about them in the first place.

She was almost finished with her test when Umbridge announced there were thirty minutes left of the exam. As she looked up at her, she caught sight of a black robe with green trim and a blond head attached to them a few desks in front of her. He was stretching in his seat. Hermione cursed under her breath as she stared at him. She didn't know if she was more upset with him or herself. How could she be so stupid? Falling for the enemy like an idiot. She narrowed her eyes at the back of his head. All of her good memories of him faded away. She hated him again.

She hated him for using her. She hated him for leading her on. She hated him for not telling her why he didn't torcher her. She hated him for choking her, pulling her, grabbing her, and pushing her around. She hated him for making her think that he had changed. She hated him for making her fall in love with him. She hated the way he kissed her more passionately every time. She hated him for the way he touched her in bed. She hated the way he said her name. He hated him.

The more she thought about what happened between them, the hotter her face got. She was red and she grasped her quill so hard she almost snapped it in half. Right before her eyes, his collar started to smoke and burst into flames. The fire singed his hair and he jumped out of his desk and threw his robe to the ground, stomping on it to put the fire out. Did she do that? Hermione had never accidentally performed a wordless spell before. She was even more shocked that she didn't have to use her wand.

Draco looked around the room, flustered. Hermione looked down at her test. She hoped he wouldn't know it was her. As Hermione read the last question, there was a loud bang from the hall. Students turned their attention from Draco to the door. Umbridge stomped down the aisle to see what was going on. When she opened the door, a spark whizzed by her face and exploded into a firework above the student's heads. Not even a second later, Fred and George zoomed in on their brooms causing absolute chaos. Hermione turned around to finish her O.W.L. before it got too out of hand.

Firecrackers boomed and erupted into a million dancing colors. They streamed down and darted in every direction. One almost hit Draco in the face. Hermione finished the test right before Fred made the exams fly into the air. Students got out of their desks and ran out the door to celebrate. Hermione watched a dragon firework chase Umbridge and clamp down on her. Everyone cheered. Even Hermione was pleased to see her finally getting what she deserved.

***

Hermione boarded the train home. It was gloomy and warm rain sprinkled down. Matching her mood. She sat alone in her compartment since Ron had his prefect privileges revoked. She watched the rain patter on the window as the train left the station.

She was mentally and physically exhausted from the school year. She tried multiple times to fall asleep but she couldn't. She couldn't stop thinking about him.

Fuck him.

She overthought what he said to her the night DA was caught. She thought back and forth. Trying to convince herself that it wasn't her fault. Even though it was all a game, he was quite compelling. She didn't understand how someone was capable of treating her like that if it was all fake.

She closed her eyes and thought about the good parts. He brought her a flower on Valentine's day. Risked them getting caught in the Potion's supply closet. Gentle with her in bed when she wanted him to be. Invited her to his Quidditch match. Kissed her in front of everyone during spin the bottle. It just didn't seem like fake feelings to her. Even if he was drunk most of the time.

She watched the rain. Thinking. She watched the trees and plains pass feeling ashamed of herself. Nothing would be the same after this. Not to mention another two years of classes with him pretending that nothing happened between them.

She put her feet up on her bench and tried to relax. She even pulled out a book which she hadn't done in a while. She allowed herself to get lost in the pages. Her imagination faded when a hand smacked on the window of her compartment making her flinch. She turned around to see Draco holding up a piece of parchment against the glass.

Can we talk?

Hermione gave him an unimpressed look. She wanted to say no and show him she had some self-respect left, but closure sounded nice too. Of course, after what happened, she wouldn't let herself be seen with him on the train. She scribbled something on her notebook and held it up to him.

Café?

If they met at the train station café, they were less likely to be seen by anyone from Hogwarts. Besides, her parents were always late to pick her up. Every year they got mixed up at the platforms looking for 9 ¾. He gave a nod and headed back to the Slytherin compartments at the back of the train.

Two hours later, they arrived in London. Hermione got off the train and walked towards the café. It was small and discrete. Not many people ate there. Only the occasional customer for a late-night latte while they waited for their next train.

She sat down in the back, away from the windows, and sunk in her seat. A dark-skinned, kinky-haired waitress took her order. She asked for a cappuccino. She waited patiently for the boy she didn't know if she wanted to see or not. Minutes passed and she was the only one left in the café. She looked out the window and finally saw him as he approached the door.

He opened it and slowly made his way to her booth. She eyed him as he sat down. He looked terrible. Sleep-deprived. Dark circles under his eyes. Hair a mess under a knit stocking cap. The waitress circled by their table again. He ordered a black coffee and a shot of whiskey. He threw it back then fidgeted with the shot glass. Hermione quietly sipped her drink. They sat in silence for what felt like an eternity.

"Say something." She waited for him to reply. He didn't for a while. Just looked at his cup of coffee and back at her until he finally opened his mouth.

"I never told you why I interrogated the others and not you." He looked down at his cup. "I don't think you understood." He looked at her. "I loved you too." He said quietly, looking back down. "I couldn't bring myself to torcher you."

Hermione gave him a dull expression. She couldn't tell if he was toying with her emotions again or not. She chuckled under her breath, not knowing how to react.

"Well, that's exactly what you did."

"Don't ridicule me, Granger." He frowned at her. "It's killing me to admit it." Hermione took a deep breath.

"If you liked me as you say you do, why did you help Umbridge catch us?"

"That was about Potter, not you."

"Anything that has to do with Harry has to do with me." She said confidently. He looked her in the eyes.

"And that's exactly why we can't be together. We're from two different worlds and you'll do whatever you can to protect him."

Hermione didn't respond. It was true. As much as she would love to have a proper relationship with him, it would never work. Not as long as the Death Eaters were still after Harry.

"And next year is going to be a lot worse, Hermione." He looked once more at his untouched cup of coffee that was going cold. Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"What do you know, Malfoy?"

"More than you." His words were extremely unsettling. He looked distressed with a hint of shame. He looked down at his watch and got up from the booth. "My ride's here."

"Draco," Hermione looked into the pair of gray eyes that once made her weak. "I hope you're satisfied." Draco looked at her through his fringe as he buttoned up his jacket. He smiled from the corner of his mouth.

"Not as satisfied as you were, lighting up my robes." He straightened his back, forming a full smile. Hermione couldn't hide her guilt. "Yeah, I know it was you. Now I'll have to wear a cap all summer thanks to you." He adjusted his hat and grabbed his satchel. "See ya around, Granger."

His voice lingered in her mind as he left her alone in the empty café. She held her chin in her hand and gazed at his abandoned coffee cup. She couldn't help but smile.