♕ four

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That evening at dinner, Draco couldn't seem to eat. The idea of his study session with Granger had been occupying his thoughts all day. 

He couldn't put his finger on why, though. This was Hermione Granger we were talking about. They were just partners for an astronomy project and had been enemies since they were children. Draco was honestly surprised that she hadn't tried to rip his head off yet.

Nevertheless, he found himself glancing nervously over at Granger from time to time; but every time he looked over, he saw her eyes switch directions, from his to somewhere else, which made him think that she had been looking at him...

he decided.

Draco managed to eat a serving of pie before the dinner was dismissed. By the end of the night his dread had tripled and he felt that maybe he should skip his meeting with Granger. Maybe she was starting to agree with what Weasley had said before. Maybe she wouldn't even show up.

"Malfoy!" 

Someone shouted his name from behind him in the crowd. Draco whipped around to find Granger making her way toward him, arms laden with books and rolls of parchment.

Draco thought glumly. Now that Granger had seen him, there was no way he could ditch.

He acknowledged her with a small wave as she approached him. 

"I see you've already checked out the entire astronomy section," he said jokingly, holding out his arms. She gladly handed over half of the stack as they exited the Great Hall.

"I picked some stuff up before dinner," she said nonchalantly. Draco shook his head.

"This isn't 'some stuff,' Granger, this is twenty years worth of reading."

She rolled her eyes. 

"Not my fault you can barely read, Malfoy."

Draco chuckled, but said nothing else. He was still wary of what had happened earlier, still wary that Granger might start to hate him at any moment. They entered the library and took a seat at one of the nearest tables. Despite the fact that it was only 8 o'clock, they had the library almost to themselves. Granger spread the parchment out on the table and pulled a quill out of her bag.

"I can write notes while you read," Draco suggested, grabbing an inkpot. Granger nodded in agreement and began flipping through one of the books.

"Cygnus is the 16th largest constellation in the night sky, occupying an area of 804 square degrees," she began. Draco scribbled this down quickly on his piece of parchment. 

"Neighboring constellations include Lyra, Pegasus, Cepheus, Lacerta and-" she snickered as Draco looked up in surprise. 

"What?" he asked. Granger hurriedly hid the book from view.

"Nothing, it's just-" she laughed again.

"What?" Draco persisted, making a grab for the book.

"You're one of the neighboring constellations," she laughed, showing him the page.

Draco scoffed as Granger started to laugh. 

"That doesn't mean anything," he said nervously. 

She raised her eyebrows. 

"I quite beg to differ. Remember how a swan is a sign of deep, compassionate love?" 

Draco faked throwing up. 

"Shut up, Granger, you don't know what you're talking about."

But he smiled a little as he said it.

She shrugged. 

"I'm not saying anything, Malfoy, it's all in the stars."

"Let's just, continue with the notes, please?" he recommended, eager to change the subject

For a couple of minutes more they sat in silence, taking notes from the book and compiling it into paragraphs. But there was something nagging at Draco. Something he wanted to say. He felt a lump rise in his throat at the thought of saying it out loud. 

He swallowed his nerves and opened his mouth. 

"Granger," he began quietly. She looked up from her notetaking and fixed him with a pensive gaze. 

"Yes?"

Too late to turn back now. 

"I wanted to ask why you defended me this morning." 

Her expression changed to one of surprise.

"What do you mean?" she asked, setting down her quill. Draco shrugged. 

"I feel like we've never really been on the best of terms."

Granger snorted. Draco fought his urge to curl up into a ball and die. 

"The fact that you're even tolerating my partnership on this project astounds me."

Hermione laughed out loud, a reaction that Draco was not expecting in the slightest. She set her quill down and met his gaze. 

"Malfoy," she began, "If I'm being quite honest, I hated you for years. You tormented me. I punched you in our Third Year and it felt wonderful. I myself was skeptical when I found out we were partners for this project."

"Wow. No need to sugarcoat it," Draco huffed.

Granger continued. 

"But if the events of last year taught me anything, it's that I should try to be as forgiving as possible. And I think McGonagall's right, about making amends and starting anew. So I'm trying to keep an open mind."

Draco was silent for a moment as he soaked in those words. 

Forgiveness. 

The very idea of it was alien to him. If someone had told him at the beginning of the year that there was a chance he would be reconciling with none other than Hermione Granger, he would've laughed in their faces. 

But here he sat, presented with that very possibility. Granger was giving him a chance to make amends. 

He didn't know what to say.

"Are we finished here?" he said at last, a bit awkwardly. Hermione nodded. 

"Tomorrow after breakfast?" she asked, looking over at him. Draco nodded. 

"Tomorrow after breakfast."

The two exited the library and parted where the corridor split into two, Granger heading toward Gryffindor Tower and Draco down to the dungeons. 

He had been given a second chance. A second chance to prove himself to be good. 

A second chance to become Hermione's... friend. 

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