Chapter Seven

Hermione

Isn't it funny that no matter what I do, someone always ends up angry with me?

Ambrosia is glaring at me from across the Charms classroom. I offer her a measly wave, and she rolls her eyes, turning to talk to Parvati Patil, who's sitting beside her.

"Don't worry about it, Hermione," Harry says, referring to the cold shoulder Ambrosia is giving me.

She hadn't taken the fact of Draco and my new friendship very well. In fact, she attempted to hex me immediately after I told her. Thankfully, I dodged it and disarmed her, running to Draco's and my common room. All of this occurred last night, two days after Draco and I made up.

And speaking of people who are mad at me, Ron- who's currently sitting on Harry's other side- and I still haven't talked. I expected Harry to at least force us into a small conversation by now, but he's being quite respective of our space.

"Your homework for tonight is to write an essay- only two rolls of parchment- on the profound difference between a jinx and a hex," Professor Flitwick announced from his desk at the front of the classroom, "You are dismissed."

Everyone abruptly rises from their seat, including Harry, Ron, and me. Using the spell, I gather my things, placing my book-bag on my back.

"What are you doing tonight?" Harry asks me. It is the last class of the day.

"I... Um, well, nothing much," I lie. The truth is, I'm going to the Head Boy and Girl common room, hoping that Draco will be there. He doesn't need to be alone right now.

"You can come watch Quidditch practice if you'd like," He inquires, and I shake my head.

"It's raining. I'd rather not sit out there," I explain, looking at the ceiling as we walk into the corridor.

Harry really has been quite sweet since Ron and I got mad at each other. He's made sure I'm not alone, that I always have something to do. I wish I could tell him he doesn't have to do that anymore, because I'll probably be spending most of my off-time with Draco, making sure not lonely.

"That's alright," Harry says, "Ron and I have got to go to practice. I'll see you in a bit." I wave at him, putting a fake smile on my face. As soon as they're out of sight, I begin heading to the Head Girl's and Boy's common room. If Draco is in there, it wouldn't surprise me at all; he spends most of his time in there anyway.

I feel a slight tug on the back of my robes. When I turn around to see who it is, I realize it's a tiny first year, his eyes bright.

"Hello, Hermione," He exclaims, and I smile, bending down to get on eye level with him, "What do I do now?" You would've thought that by more than a week of school, he would've caught on.

"You can do anything you want. Homework, explore the grounds- but don't go in that forest, mind you. Just walk around. Whatever you'd like, as long as it's within school regulations."

He grins and thanks me, holding out a hand for me to shake. I do, and I turn around and start venturing toward the common room again. Finally, I reach the door and lazily draw the pattern on the wall. As usual, the door appears, and I walk inside, setting my book-bag down on the desk.

"Greetings," Draco says, smiling, watching me as I come to sit down.

"Good afternoon," I respond, sitting on the golden love-seat beside the couch.

"And how are you on this fine day?" He smirks, a gesture that enhances his every feature. It's not a fine day, and he knows it; it's raining outside and dull inside.

"Fine," I answer, getting out my wand and igniting a fire in the fireplace.

"You can't say that," He says, propping his head on his hand. I look at him.

"Why not?"

"You can't answer a question with an adjective that was in the question." A grin creeps across his face.

"Oh, really now," I ask, trying- and failing- to withhold a smile myself, "And what rule book is that in?"

He responds.

"There's no such thing!" I chuckle.

"You're right. If there was, you would've already read it." He replies, and I can't help but laugh out loud. He does the same.

When he laughs, he crinkles his nose. His white teeth coruscate like pearls, and his eyes stand out, the color of the sky on a cloudless day. His skin is smooth like porcelain, and his hair- which he doesn't slick back anymore- is platinum blonde. As cliche as it sounds, he looks like an angel.

I snap out of my daze, getting up to retrieve my book-bag, which contains my homework. We don't have much tonight, so I might as well get it over with.

"Hermione," He calls, "Would you like to go for a walk?" I look back at him, dropping my book-bag. This is the question Ron asked me before our huge fight.

"I don't... I mean, we've got all this homework to do," I lie, contemplating the pros and cons of going. When I say this, he almost looks disappointed, so I add, "which we can do later. Come on."

His eyes light up, and I flash him a smile as I head toward the door. He rushes to it, opening it for me, and I blush.

"Where are we going to walk?" I ask.

"Outside, if you want. But if you think a little rain is going to hurt you..." He smirks in his classic Draco Malfoy way, and I elbow him.

"Fine. We'll walk outside if you won't melt." I say, standing up straighter.

"Me? Melt? You're the witch here!" Both of us laugh. We turn around, heading for the main entrance of the castle. The portraits gawk at us and whisper to their neighbors as we stroll down the corridor. Draco walks in a unique way; he uses the swagger he's always possessed, but somehow a certain vulnerability shines through now. I doubt it's visible to anyone but me.

"There's Peeves," He warns me, pointing down the corridor, "Let's take this way." He veers to the left, heading for a corridor that branches off from this one. I accidentally bump into him and our hands touch, sending a shock through me. I can tell it has affected him too. His hands are cold and smooth and, suddenly, I want to hold them. I take a step away from him.

When we get to the entrance, he opens the door for me once again. I mutter a small thanks and he nods, stepping outside.

"Tell me three things about yourself," He demands suddenly, looking at me. His paleness stands out against the dreary, rainy backdrop behind him.

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything I don't already know."

"Well, I'm Hermione Jean Granger-" He cuts me off.

"That doesn't count. I knew that."

I scoff. "Okay, fine. I like to watch the clouds," I say, jumping over a puddle, "When I was little, I played tennis for two weeks, and then I quit. Obviously, I've never been athletic."

"And the third?" He implores.

"I've always wanted to fall in love," I answer, against my own will, somehow.

"Hmm, look at you, Granger, being all cliché. What about Weasley?" His voice cracks on the last word. I shake my head.

"Love is... it's... not that," I reply, looking out at the Black Lake as we stroll towards it, "And by the way, don't call me Granger." I add, stifling a grin.

"Sorry," He says, smiling, "Force of habit."

Out on the Quidditch pitch, I see people flying around on brooms, racing for the Quaffle, which is a dot in the distance to me. I hope neither Harry or Ron see Draco and me.

"And you, Draco? Tell me three things about ." I command.

"I have no secrets," He says, poking out his chest in a mockingly proud way, "I'm an open book."

I scoff. "You, an open book? You're anything but that! Come on, I'm sure you can find ."

"Well, I've always wanted to ride a dragon. That's one thing. Also, I... hmm... I suppose my favorite spell is or . And, sometimes, I think muggle music is quite... fascinating." He shrugs.

"Aren't you interesting?" I respond.

"Very. Here, follow me." He says, and I meander after him, dodging puddles. The ground is very slippery and hard to venture on, and I almost fall quite a few-

I gasp, as I fall into what's supposed to be a giant puddle; instead, it's Draco's arms.

"I've got you," He says in a smoothing tone, and I feel my heart going back to normal, beating at its proper pace. But as I look into his eyes as he's holding me in his arms, it speeds up again, and my stomach jumps. The rain has plastered his hair to his head, and his eyes are the same color as the drops that are still falling steadily from the sky. He stares at me, making sure I'm alright, I suppose. We stay in this position for only a second longer, but in that second, I think we're about to- 

"Thank you," I tell him, backing away and brushing imaginary dirt from my knees.

"No problem." He answers, and he begins to head back towards the Black Lake again. I skip into step beside him.

"So you've always wanted to ride a dragon?" I ask. "Well, I have, and it's actually quite fun."

"I bet it'd be even better if you were not on the run." He adds.

"Oh, you've heard about that? Yeah, I suppose it would take some of the anxiety of it away... And, plus, our dragon was a little old and damaged... But it could fly well, just the same." I'm rambling now, and my voice fades out. I'm surprised to hear him laugh. "What's so funny?" I ask.

"I'm not sure," He responds. Two days ago, I didn't even know if Draco could laugh, and without reason.

We reach the Black Lake, and he pulls his wand out of his shirt pocket, pointing at the ground. He casts a drying spell. Suddenly, there is a place to sit without getting soaked. We sit down beside each other with our shoulders almost touching. Out in the distance, I see a mermaid pop out of the water for a mere second. She sees us and descends once again, leaving only ripples in her place.

"What was it like," He asks suddenly, "under the surface of the lake?" He's talking about fourth year, where I was taken down into the lake and Viktor had to find me.

"I don't remember it much. Mad-Eye- well, Barty Crouch Jr.- took us into his office and immediately placed the charm, and I don't remember anything after that. I could hear, though. I could hear the mermaids conversing, I could hear very creepy sounds of random creatures. It was... frightening." I explain, reminiscing.

He nods his head, and for a while we don't say anything; we just look out at the lake. It's very beautiful. The water rises and falls in gentle waves. It could be on a postcard, reading something likeBut I don't wishanyone besidesDraco was here, I realize with a startI steal a glance at him, and he is very immersed in the view.

I have described him in so many different ways in my head today, but every time I look at him, I see something different, something else hidden under the surface. Right now, I see an older version of the Draco I met on the first day at Hogwarts, an innocent little boy, so interested in the world around him. And he is truly beautiful.

"So you've always wanted to fall in love?" He asks.

The answer is clear: I just did.