The iconic Granger Punch.

I was walking down the corridors with Kenny and Blaise, our laughter echoing softly against the cold stone walls of the castle. It had been a long day of classes, and I was more than ready to collapse on one of the velvet couches in the Slytherin common room with a hot cup of cocoa. Kenny, however, had other plans—mainly, tormenting Blaise with ridiculous accusations of him secretly being a vampire.

"Think about it, Blaise," Kenny smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "You're always so suspiciously composed, always lurking in the shadows like some dark prince. I swear, you've never been seen eating anything with garlic—"

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Just because I don't inhale food like Nott doesn't mean I'm a bloody vampire, Kenny."

I snorted. "No, no, let's not dismiss this theory so quickly. Have we ever seen Blaise in direct sunlight?"

Blaise groaned. "You two are impossible."

We were still laughing when we heard the unmistakable sound of hurried footsteps pounding against the marble floors. I barely had a second to react before Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle came sprinting through the corridor, skidding to a halt right in front of us.

Kenny, of course, immediately went on high alert. "Oh, great," she deadpanned. "What do you want now, Malfoy? Come to declare your undying love to Selene in front of witnesses?"

Draco shot her a glare but didn't respond, his chest still rising and falling from the sudden sprint. His gaze flickered to me, and for a split second, something softened in his expression before he smirked. "I was actually going to offer you some running lessons, but I suppose undying love works too."

Kenny gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Oh my God, was that a joke, Malfoy? Is the apocalypse near? Should we start saying our goodbyes?"

I rolled my eyes, but even I couldn't stop the small twitch of amusement playing at the corner of my lips. Things between Draco and me were still fragile, still in the process of being pieced back together, but there was an ease that hadn't been there before—a return of something familiar.

And I knew exactly when it had started.

................................................................................

I wasn't entirely sure how it happened, but the Malfoys had somehow ended up attending our annual Christmas Eve party. Our families are close, true but The Malfoys prefer to stay isolated when it comes to Christmas. Mother had mentioned something about our families needing to maintain good relations, but I knew the real reason.

Lucius and Narcissa were worried about Draco.

They knew something had changed in him.

He had been quieter, more withdrawn—sharper with his words but heavier with his silence. And if I was being honest, I had noticed it too.

The party had been extravagant, as expected. The manor was bathed in soft golden candlelight, grand chandeliers hanging above as the sound of elegant chatter and classical music filled the air. Witches and wizards from the most esteemed pureblood families had been invited, their robes pristine, their mannerisms practiced and polished.

I had been standing near the fireplace, idly swirling the wine in my goblet, when I caught Draco staring at me from across the room.

Well, staring wasn't exactly the right word.

More like brooding.

It had been happening all evening. Whenever I so much as turned my head, I found his sharp, silver eyes locked onto me before he quickly looked away.

Kenny, of course, had noticed immediately. "If he keeps doing that, I'm going to start charging him for the privilege."

I huffed out a laugh, shaking my head. "He's probably just planning his next stupid remark."

And, oh, how right I was.

Because not even five minutes later, when a group of our mother's friends had begun showering me with praise, cooing over how 'enchanting' I looked that evening, Draco had leaned against the doorway and smirked.

"Careful, ladies," he drawled, swirling the wine in his glass. "If you keep feeding her ego, there won't be enough room left for the rest of us."

The witches giggled, whispering to each other behind their fans, while I shot him a glare. "Oh, I'm sorry, should I dull my shine so you don't go blind, Malfoy?"

He stepped closer, just enough to invade my space, just enough for his voice to drop into something lower, something almost teasing. "I wouldn't dare suggest that, Selene. The Manor needs its brightest star, doesn't it?"

For a second, I had forgotten how to breathe.

He was flirting.

Not cruelly, not to mock, not to provoke—just...

Draco.

The Draco who used to sit beside me in the common room late at night, arguing over the dumbest things just to keep talking. The Draco who used to sneak chocolates into my bag whenever I was upset. The Draco who, despite everything, still knew exactly how to get under my skin.

That was the moment I knew.

Things weren't fully back to how they used to be. They probably never would be.

But maybe—just maybe—they could be something new.

................................................................................

**Back to Present**

Draco shifted on his feet, running a hand through his hair, looking almost... hesitant.

"I was going to ask you something, actually."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You? Asking? Not demanding?"

He rolled his eyes but didn't fire back with his usual sarcasm. "Do you want to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

I blinked. "With you?"

Draco scoffed. "No, with the Bloody Baron. Yes, with me, Selene."

Kenny let out a noise that could only be described as a high-pitched squeak, while Blaise subtly raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained.

But I barely registered any of it.

Because the moment he asked, I already knew my answer.

"Yeah," I said, and for the first time in a long time, I meant it. "I'd like that."

Draco looked—relieved. He tried to mask it, but I saw the slight ease in his shoulders, the way his lips twitched as if suppressing a smile.

"Good," he said, forcing his usual smirk back onto his face. "Be ready by ten. Try not to take ages picking out an outfit, walking, talking, cottoncandy."

The familiarity of the term brought about a warmth inside me.

Kenny gasped dramatically. "Draco Malfoy, did you just invite my best friend on a date?"

"It's not a date," he said quickly, a little too quickly, before turning on his heel and walking away, his usual arrogance returning in full force.

I just shook my head, a small, genuine smile on my face.

Draco had walked a few steps when Crabbe, who never opened his mouth unless it was for food, suddenly spoke.

"That bloody Granger—"

I raised an eyebrow, immediately intrigued. "Oh, oh, Mister, not so soon." I held up my hand and stopped him before he could continue. Then, with a flick of my wand, I pointed straight at Draco, pulling him back toward us. "What's with Granger?"

Draco, whose usual expression ranged from smug to mildly annoyed, was now tomato red. His eyes darted to the ground, to Crabbe, to Blaise, to literally anywhere but at us. He looked like he was debating whether running away was an option.

"She... she..." He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing like it was trying to escape the situation too.

I crossed my arms, waiting. Kenny was already biting her lip to hold in her excitement.

Draco closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and then—

"She punched me," he mumbled.

Silence. Absolute silence.

Then, Blaise made a choking noise—on air. Kenny audibly gasped like she'd just heard the juiciest gossip of her life. And I? I was fighting back a grin so wide it could split my face in two.

"Wait," Blaise wheezed, gripping Draco's shoulder for support, "you're telling me that Hermione Granger—the same Hermione Granger you call an insufferable know-it-all—landed a punch on your pureblood, elite, oh-so-holier-than-thou face?"

Kenny dramatically wiped away a fake tear. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen," she whispered.

Draco scowled, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "I hate all of you."

I cleared my throat, suppressing a giggle. "So, uh... was there blood? Swelling? Do we need to send an owl to your mother?"

That did it. Draco's glare could have melted steel. "First of all, it was an unprovoked attack—"

Kenny snorted. "Right, because Granger just goes around punching people for no reason."

"She doesn't," I added, smirking. "So what did you do?"

Draco looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. His face turned an even deeper shade of red, and he clenched his fists. "Nothing."

Blaise scoffed. "Nothing?"

"I might have—" Draco hesitated, voice dropping to a whisper, "—called her a Mudblood."

This time, it was me who whacked him on the arm. "Draco!"

Kenny threw her hands up. "Okay, nope, not even slightly sorry for you anymore."

Blaise let out a long, suffering sigh, shaking his head. "Mate, she had every right to punch you."

Draco huffed, crossing his arms like a petulant child. "Can we not talk about this anymore?"

"Oh, absolutely not," I grinned. "This is going down in history."

Kenny cackled. "Next time you try to act all high and mighty, I'm just going to remind you of the time Hermione Granger of all people rearranged your face with a single punch."

Blaise was full-on laughing now. "What's next? Longbottom is going to hex you?"

Draco groaned into his hands. "I hate every single one of you."

And that was the exact moment I knew—things were finally back to how they used to be.

.................................................................................

We were seated in the Great Hall, the warm glow of the enchanted candles flickering above us as Draco dramatically recounted the most tragic event of his life—getting punched by Hermione Granger.

I swear, he was narrating it like he had just fought off a Hungarian Horntail with nothing but a spoon.

"And then—bam!" Draco slapped his palm against the table for effect. "Right across my perfectly structured face. Absolutely brutal, I tell you. I didn't even see it coming. I was just standing there, being my usual charming self, and—bam!"

Sree gasped, eyes wide with intrigue. "Oh, Merlin! That's awful, Draco! Did it leave a bruise?"

"Of course it left a bruise!" Pansy practically shrieked, clutching Draco's arm like he was on the brink of death. "Draco, darling, did you at least hex her back?!"

Draco scoffed, straightening his posture. "I wanted to, obviously, but Professor Lupin was right there, and besides—" He dramatically touched his jaw, "—I was in too much agony to react."

Kenny, Blaise, and I exchanged a look. Blaise rolled his eyes, already done with this nonsense. Kenny? She was about to make a scene.

I smirked, leaning in, propping my chin on my hand. "Oh, Dracy baby," I cooed, my voice dripping with mock concern. "Do you need a spare nose too? I'm sure I could fish in my trunk."

Kenny immediately burst out laughing. Blaise choked on his pumpkin juice, shaking his head in disbelief.

Draco gasped, looking thoroughly offended. "Selene!" he exclaimed, clutching his chest as if I had personally hexed him. "How dare you? I am in pain—deep emotional and physical distress, and this is how you treat me?"

Kenny wiped a fake tear. "Mate, you make it sound like you survived a bloody war."

"I did," Draco deadpanned. "I stared death in the face, and its name was Hermione bloody Granger."

Blaise snorted. "And yet, you live to tell the tale."

Sree patted Draco's arm gently. "I think you're very brave," she said sweetly.

I nearly gagged. Kenny kicked me under the table to stop me from laughing.

Draco gave Sree a smug smile. "Finally! Someone who appreciates my suffering!"

Pansy leaned closer, looking far too serious. "I think we should all stand by Draco and make sure Granger never comes near him again," she announced. "We have to protect him."

I almost spat out my drink. Protect Draco Malfoy? The most dramatic, smug, and utterly insufferable person I had ever met?

Blaise muttered under his breath, "I don't know, Pans, sounds like Granger is the one who needs protection."

Draco shot him a glare. "Shut it, Zabini."

I couldn't hold it in anymore—I burst out laughing, loud enough to make some of the Ravenclaws at the next table turn to look. Kenny was full-on wheezing, Blaise had a victorious smirk, and Draco? Draco just sat there, arms crossed, looking deeply betrayed.

"Oh, go on then," he grumbled. "Laugh at my misery."

"Thank you, I will," I said, still giggling.

Draco huffed and turned his attention back to his plate, shoving a piece of toast into his mouth while muttering, "No respect, none."

I glanced at him, my heart feeling a little lighter.