The next day was Saturday when Hermione woke up. She stretched out in her bed and snuggled back into the mattress, wrapping the covers around her. She closed her eyes and sighed. Ron would probably be at her door in a few hours, wondering why she wasn't down for breakfast yet. She sank deeper into her bed and let her mind drift away from Ron. She wondered if she would ever have the courage to sit down with Ron and talk to him about the way he treats her. It could be worse though. She'd rather have a boyfriend that cares too much then one that doesn't care at all, but the only serious relationship she's been in is the current one with Ron. There were three short knocks at her door, quiet at first, but when Hermione did nothing but groan and sink deeper into the bed, they got louder. Not wanting to leave her bed, she sat up on her arms.
"Who is it?" She asked, her voice groggy from just waking up. She expected Ron to answer, demanding her to open the door and asking why she was late.
"It's me, Draco."
Draco? Why the hell is he at her door? Sheer will power made Hermione get up from the comfort of her bed and walk over to the door. The cold floor sent shivers up her body as she made her feet move to the door. She opened it and found Draco standing there with her copy of Hogwarts: A History in his hand and his bag on his shoulder.
"You left this last night."
He said holding out the book to her. She took it from his hand and mentally cursed herself for being too careless to forget her most favorite book.
"Thanks."
Hermione responded, still tired from waking up. Her muscles were stiff and she was still in the clothes she slept in, which was just an old shirt of Ron's that his father gave him, one of the many muggle artifacts he's collected over the years, and her underwear. It was a black shirt, most likely large, and had a yellow smiley face on it and the words Nirvana printed at the top in all capital letters. It was one of her favorite shirts that he's given her and she didn't have a clue what it meant, but didn't care either.
Draco was trying not to eye her up and down. He cleared his throat and adjusted his bag on his shoulder.
"Look Granger, I know your undying love for me is hard to contain, but please put on some pants."
He said while smirking.
Hermione blushed and thanked God that the shirt was long enough to cover her upper legs. She rolled her eyes and leaned against the door frame, not caring she was in her underwear anymore.
"You're the one who's crazy about me, staring at me when I have nothing on but the clothes I've slept in."
She jokingly retorted back. A pink blush spread across Draco's cheeks and he cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'm going down to breakfast." He said looking into her eyes. "Join me?"
"Like this?"
She asked smiling and looking down at what she was wearing.
"Change first."
He said rolling his eyes and smirking.
Before Hermione could say anything back, she woke up to the sound of knocking at her door.
'What the hell? It was only a dream?'
Hermione asked herself as she sat up in her bed. She felt so disappointed. The dream felt so real, almost like it actually happened. She heard the knock at her door again. She hopped out of bed and checked herself in the mirror. She still had on Ron's shirt and still wasn't wearing any pants. She lightly pinched herself on the arm, making sure she was awake this time. She heard the knocking again and quickly rushed towards the door, hoping her dream would come true. Excitement filled her stomach as she turned the door handle.
"I've been knocking for about 10 minutes. What were you doing in there?"
Ron asked giving a disapproving look at her.
"I was sleeping."
Hermione's stomach dropped with disappointment. She was hoping it was Draco at her door, here to give her back her book and then invite her to breakfast, but she didn't know why she was expecting him.
'Don't be silly. Malfoy would never have invited you anywhere. According to Ron, he's the enemy.'
"Coming down to breakfast?"
Ron asked. Hermione nodded and closed the door without another word. She sighed and changed into some jeans and as much as she hated taking off her shirt, she put on a white blouse and headed out the door, grabbing her bag on the way. She opened to door to find Ron still there, leaning against the wall between her and Draco's door. She put her bag on her shoulder and walked silently with Ron to the Great Hall. They both sat down with Harry and Ginny. The couple quickly sensed the tense mood and tried to change the subject.
Ginny cleared her throat.
"How about we go to Hogsmeade today?"
"That sounds good."
Harry said looking at Ron and Hermione, wondering what was wrong.
"What about you Ron? Do you two want to come with us?"
"Sure."
Ron answered with a mouthful of food. Hermione grimaced at him and looked over to the Slytherin table. Draco was silently eating while everyone else around him was happily chatting away with their friends.
"I've got studying to do."
Hermione answered as she looked away from Draco and down at the untouched food on her plate.
"Oh come on Hermione, studying can wait."
Ginny said taking a sip from her goblet.
"Besides, it's the weekend."
"We can go to Hogsmeade any weekend. I'm just going to stay here and go to the library."
She said looking at her friend. Ginny nodded with sad eyes and continued eating. Harry pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.
"We're leaving after breakfast in a few hours if you change your mind."
He says.
"Thanks Harry, but I'm going to stay."
Hermione said to him in an apologetic voice. She was surprised Ron hadn't said anything to make her change her mind or even demand that she was to go with them. He simply stayed silent and kept eating. But isn't this what she wanted? To finally have a say in her own life and be able to go where she pleases without Ron worrying about her and trying to constantly protect her? Hermione finished eating and quickly left the awkward scene. She decided to go to the library and try to get her mind off of things. She entered and sat down at a table in the back. Emptying her bag of quills and parchment and books on the table, Hermione sank into the chair and opened her book to take notes. She had barely even read one sentence when she felt someone pull the chair out opposite of her and sit down. Without moving her head, she looked up to see Draco Malfoy getting out his books and setting them down on the table.
"What are you doing here?"
She asked tearing her eyes from her book.
"Studying."
He answered knowing that's not what she meant.
Hermione rolled her eyes and couldn't help but feel more comfortable than before at breakfast.
"I mean why are you sitting at this table?"
"All the other ones were filled up. Is there a problem?"
He asked opening his book.
"There's no problem."
Hermione looked around and indeed all the other tables in the library has at least two or more people at them. She turned back to her book and continued to read. Three seconds later Draco pulled her from the book again.
"Granger how do you do this?"
He asked handing her his divination homework.
She took it from him and read the paper.
"Malfoy we have notes on this from Wednesday. They should be on pages 456 and 457."
She stated obviously, as if she and everyone else in the whole school knew the answer to that. She handed the paper back to him and continued reading her book.
"Granger what book are the notes in?"
He asked again, looking through his books on the table. Hermione sighed and looked up again from her notes. She just came here to have some peace and quite and to catch up on her notes, not spend her time helping Draco, though she didn't mind his presence.
"They should be in this one."
She said picking up one of the many books now scattered along the table. She held out Advanced Divination: Year Eight to him. He mumbled a thanks and went right back on doing his homework. Hermione ran a hand through her hair and picked up her book again. She had come to the library to catch up on her own studies, not help Malfoy with his, but a small part of her enjoyed him sitting with her and asking her all the questions.
"Hi Draco."
A group of Slytherin girls said in unison as they stopped walking and stood next to him.
Draco looked up at the girls, clearly more interested in them then his work.
"Hey Astoria."
Draco only acknowledged the girl in front of the other two. She had blond hair and was carrying her books in her hands. The two girls behind her didn't look the slightest disappointed, too amazed that they were actually this close to Draco Malfoy, Slytherin sex god who could have any girl he pleases. Hermione looked up at the girls and rolled her eyes. One of the girls she recognized behind Astoria was Pansy Parkinson, a girl with a squashed in face that made her look like a pug. She knew Pansy and Draco spent a lot of time together in the past years. Hermione didn't realize she was worrying about what Draco does in his free time and continued to listen in on their conversation while looking at her papers.
"What are you doing here in this dusty old place?"
Astoria asked looking around the library.
"Figured I'd catch up on my studies. Granger here has been nice enough to help me."
Draco said looking at Hermione. Astoria looked at Hermione with a disapproving look but didn't say anything.
"Well we've got to go. We're going to be in my room if you want to stop by."
She said turning to leave. Draco didn't respond and went back to his work.
Hermione looked up from her papers and watched the group of girls walk away like they had actually accomplished something.
"Idiots."
Muttered Hermione quietly to herself. Apparently it wasn't quiet enough when she heard Draco laugh.
"What's so funny?"
She asked, once again looking up from her work.
"What you said. It's true. They always try to get my attention somehow and it's always so entertaining."
He said.
"It must get annoying if they always throw themselves at you."
"I'm used to it." Draco said confidently.
"Sounds like your jealous Granger."
He said smirking.
"Jealous?" She scoffed.
Before she could say anything else Draco spoke.
"Speaking of jealous."
He muttered before looking down at his books. Hermione didn't know what he was talking about until a familiar hand was placed on her shoulder.
"Here you are. Ive been looking all over the bloody castle for you. Harry, Ginny, and I are leaving in a few minutes. You sure you don't want to come?"
He asked looking at her.
Hermione instantly felt annoyed with his presence. Wasn't it obvious that she was in the middle of something?
"Yes Ronald, I'm sure. Clearly I'm in the middle of studying so if you don't mind I would like to finish before lunch."
She said and went back to looking at her books, hoping Ron would take the hint and leave but she could still see him standing there out of the corner of her eye.
"What's he doing here?"
He asked out loud, not acknowledging Draco's presence as if he wasn't even there. Draco ignored that comment and continued to work.
Hermione loudly sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes.
"What does it look like Ronald?"
She said trying to sound calm.
"He's just sitting there."
Ron gave a glance at Draco and decided that he wasn't going to do anything drastic to hurt Hermione. He left Hermione's side and walked towards the exit of the library.
"Sorry about that."
Hermione said quietly looking down. She couldn't believe Ron would say something like that when Draco was right in front of him.
"It's alright. I'm used to it."
"How so?"
She asked looking up, a little concerned.
He rolled his eyes and looked up at her.
"Come on Granger, I'm a filthy death eater who's coming to murder your family. I get shit like that from everyone around here."
It dawned on Hermione that Ron wasn't the only one who was left hurt by the war. Many other students opposed most of the Slytherin house.
"Don't say that about yourself. I'm sure you won't murder my family."
Hermione said reassuringly, making Draco laugh. His laugh made her stomach tighten with joy, as his laugh was something she had never heard before.
"So you're saying I'm filthy?"
He asked smiling. Hermione smiled with him.
"I wasn't the one who said it. I just implied it."
"Whatever Granger."
"Whatever Malfoy."