♕ five

★ ☆ ✮ ✯ 

That morning, Draco got ready and exited the common room half an hour before he usually did. He didn't really know what compelled him to get up so early, but he was strolling down the corridor before the sun had fully risen outside the castle windows, his only company the thoughts in his brain.

The events of last night whirled around in his brain. His question. Granger's answer. He couldn't even let himself imagine the thought of reconciliation- it seemed too good to be true. 

Draco scolded himself silently,

Still, he couldn't forget her laugh last night in the library. 

"Oi, Malfoy!" came a menacing voice from behind him. Draco flinched inwardly and turned to face Ron Weasley, who was stomping furiously toward him.

"What do you want?" he replied lazily, trying to hide the fear he was feeling. The angered ginger came to a stop in front of him. His red hair clashed with his quite red face. Draco could almost imagine there was steam coming out of his ears. 

"Listen, Weasley," he began cautiously, "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't know that my partnership with Granger would make you so upse-"

"Save it, you conniving little snake," he snarled. "I know this is part of your plan, seem all cordial with me and then slither in next to girlfriend." 

Draco's eyes widened in surprise. 

"Weasley," he replied, baffled, "you've got entirely the wrong impressi-"

Ron interrupted him once more. 

"I've told Hermione what I think of you!" he said menacingly, jabbing Draco in the chest. Draco rolled his eyes. 

"And how am I regarded in your very, very humble opinion?" 

Weasley grew redder. 

"She says you've been acting nicer than usual but I see right through that act, you swine. I know your reputation. You seduce girls and toss them to the side for your own gain. You're just using her for a grade, and as soon as you get that Outstanding on your astronomy project you'll go back to calling her Mudblood, like you always do."

The two boys were silent for a moment. Weasley was breathing heavily. Draco was wrapping his mind around the absurdity of this accusation. 

"Listen," Draco said apprehensively, worried Weasley might explode. 

"I'm not trying to 'seduce' your girlfriend. And I can get a perfectly fine grade for myself, thanks. If you have a problem with Granger and I being partners, you can take it up with Professor Sinistra."

Ron jabbed a warning finger in Draco's face. 

"You stay away from her. She doesn't need a slimy old Slytherin like you when she's got me."

Draco laughed quietly. "Just leave it alone, Weasley. We can't control what Granger wants. I would like her to be an amiable academic partner of mine, and you would like her to be your girlfriend. If she chooses paths other than that, then that's really not our decision, is it?" Draco asked innocently.

"No, it's not fine. She and I have known each other since we were eleven!" Ron bellowed. Draco shrugged.

"I've known her since I was eleven."

Ron faltered. 

"But you- you called her a mudblood all those times."

Draco rolled his eyes. 

"Yes, and you called her a snobbish know-it-all who is, and I quote, 'A nightmare. No wonder she hasn't got any friends.'"

Ron was at a loss for words. 

"T-that doesn't count!" he stuttered angrily. "We were in the first year!"

"And I was only in the Second year when I called her a mudblood."

Ron blubbered silently. He looked quite like a fish gasping for air. 

"I've learned from my mistakes, Weasley," Draco continued. "You've accused me of many things and I am simply coming to my own defense. But I assure you, you have nothing to worry about."

"You're manipulating her, aren't you?" he shouted suddenly.

Draco stared back at Weasley calmly. 

"A boy who really loved her would respect her choices."

"Yeah? What do you know about love?" he bellowed. Draco flinched. Weasley was going to wake up the whole entire castle with his screeching.

Sure enough, someone turned the corner right then, striding rapidly down the corridor.

It was Hermione, looking very much annoyed.

"Weasley, calm down," Draco coaxed, trying to resolve the argument. His eyes met Hermione's over Ron's shoulder.

"No, I won't calm down!" Weasley howled. Behind him, Hermione stopped in her tracks, as if to listen.

"Bloody hell, Malfoy! You haven't the faintest idea what a real relationship is supposed to look like because no one's ever loved you! Your whole family is full of damn Death Eaters, you're probably using Dark Magic on girlfriend so that she'll spend time with you-"

"Ronald!" Hermione exploded, looking horrified. She grabbed him by the hood of his robes and yanked him backward.

"Have you gone mad!?"  

Ron, obviously stupefied at the fact that Hermione had heard what he said, stood there in shocked silence. 

"The fact that I was busy last night does not give you a free ticket to go scream at the people you dislike! And Malfoy is not infiltrating my mind with Dark Magic!"

"That's what they always say," Ron murmured suspiciously.

Hermione scoffed. 

"What are you thinking, Ronald? We're partners for the astronomy project, we have responsibilities that need to be taken care of! Can't you respect that?"

Weasley looked down at his feet.

"I'm sorry, Hermio-"

"I don't want your apology, I want you to start treating me as an equal," she spat. 

"If I do a couple of things outside of you and we can't spend time together for one night, I need you to not go ballistic the next morning!"

There was silence for a moment. Draco was afraid to even inhale for fear of setting someone off.

"I think you've shown me what actually matters to you, Hermione," Ron muttered darkly. She scoffed.

"And you've shown me who you truly are too. An idiot who screams like a banshee at anyone he pleases. 

"So you're taking his side then?" Ron yelled suddenly, pointing a finger at Malfoy. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"This is not about sides, Ro-

"I can't believe it!" he said, baffled. "You're taking the side of this snake over your own boyfriend?"

"I guess I am!" Hermione bellowed.