Chapter 2
The Death Eaters have been wreaking havoc on the Wizarding world ever since Voldemort came back; but things have shifted lately. Everybody is on edge and nobody feels entirely safe anymore, myself included. Yesterday Hannah Abbott was called out of Herbology class to be told that her mother was killed by death eaters in her own home. Hermione has been worried about her muggle parents more than ever before. God forbid something happen to them.
Harry has been especially on edge lately. Dumbledore called him into his study for “a lesson.” Harry said Dumbledore had a magical item called a pensive that allowed Dumbledore to insert his memories into the cauldron and take them back to the place where it happened. Harry said they immersed themselves into a memory from a man named Bob Ogden. They explored the Gaunt House where Tom Riddle’s story began.
While Harry told Ron and Hermione about what he saw in the memory, he was turning the pages of the potions book he found in the cupboard.
“Harry, you really ought to take that book to Dumbledore. I don’t think it’s safe for you to have a book with all these teachings of someone who referred to himself as The Half Blood Prince. Especially considering everything that’s been going on,” Hermione said to him.
“Hermione, I appreciate you looking out for me but I assure you this book is not dangerous. I know what I’m doing,” he replied.
“Even Ginny agrees with me,” she said. “She thinks you’re right stupid to be trusting that book when you don’t even know where it’s come from or who it belonged to,” she stared at the dumbstruck look on his face as I sat down across from him and Ron on the couch.
“You’re awfully quick to judge someone for keeping a book when you go off twice a week with that piece of Slytherin scum,” Ron added.
“I do not go off twice a week with him. I tutor him twice a week, per Slughorn’s request.”
Ron laughed and said, “Getting awfully defensive aye?”
“I’m leaving,” she announced, before picking up my books and getting off the couch.
“C’mon Mione you know I didn’t mean any harm,” Ron said.
“Harm or not, I have things to do. I’m going to visit the library and try to find a book on quidditch to help you with your tryouts tomorrow, Ronald.”
Before him or Harry could say anything else she left the Gryffindor common room and went down to the library.
Hermione wasn’t really looking for books that would help Ron with his quidditch tryouts, she was looking for books on ways muggles can hide from death eaters. She hadn't told anyone this but her parents’ safety weighs on her mind everyday. A war is coming. It’s unavoidable. But how will she be able to keep her parents safe if there is a war?
Hermione turned the pages of various books that all spoke of obliviation and disillusionment charms. She opened a book titled “Avoiding Death for your Muggle Friends” when she heard movement behind her.
She turned and locked eyes with Draco Malfoy.
His pale blue eyes were bloodshot, as if he had been crying. He had dark circles under each eye, giving the impression he hadn’t slept in quite some time. His skin was also paler than usual.
“Evening, Granger” he said curtly.
“Good evening, Draco.”
“Come to prepare yourself for our next Slughorn study session?”
“No actually, I’m just doing a bit of light reading.”
“In the restricted section?”
He laughed and picked up the book she had been reading.
“Avoiding Death: For your Muggle Friends,” he chuckled and set the book down.
“War is upon us and I want to be able to prepare my parents,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders.
He nodded but didn’t say anything.
“Listen Granger, since we’re here I want to ask you something,” he said.
“Go ahead”
“Your best mate Potter doesn’t really believe I’ve pledged myself to the Dark Lord, does he?”
“Why would he have any reason to think that?”
“I don’t know, that’s what I’m asking you. But if you care for your friend you would advise him to stop following me around the castle, eh?”
“I’m sure Harry hasn’t been spying on you”
“Yeah? Well I saw the lot of you that night at Borgin and Burkes”
I gulped.
“Furniture shopping or spying, Granger?”
“Draco, if you really saw us that night at Borgin and Burkes why didn’t you say anything? You could’ve gotten us killed. Would've solved some problems for you.”
“Feeling generous, I suppose,” he said before walking away.
“See you Wednesday, Granger. You know how much I look forward to our study sessions,” he called behind his back as he left.
Draco saw us spying on him that night at Borgin and Burkes. Why is he bringing it up now? Why didn’t he just say something when he saw us? He could’ve easily gotten the three of us killed. But he didn’t. He didn’t.
Hermione felt that this was very twisted of her, but she didn’t want to tell Harry and Ron about what Draco said. Harry would get mad and want to go after him. Ron would try to lecture her as to why he’s dangerous and she should stop tutoring him. Hermione made the decision that she was not going to tell them to protect them. Yes, that’s what it is. I care about protecting them. I do not care about protecting Draco. I do not care about protecting Draco.
I do not care about Draco.
Hermione repeated this to herself as she fell asleep, but she knew it wasn’t true. She hated that it wasn’t true.
The next morning she sat next to Ginny at breakfast in the Great Hall. She talked about the quidditch tryouts later that day, but Hermione's mind was somewhere else.
Across the Great Hall sat Draco Malfoy at the Slytherin table by himself. He was reading a book, but she couldn’t tell what the title was.
Ginny snapped her fingers, “Hermione, are you listening?”
“Yes, sorry Gin”
“I asked how the tutoring sessions are going with Malfoy”
“Oh- um they’re going quite well actually. We have one later today. It’s all been very civil and professional,”
“Malfoy being civil and professional? Yeah I’ll believe that when I see it,” she laughed.
“It’s true. It really hasn’t been bad tutoring him.”
Ginny smirked and shot her a knowing look.
“So have you kissed him yet? Or is it just a crush,” she said laughing.
Hermione could feel the crimson slowly growing across her face.
“Ginny! It’s not like that at all. I’ve just been tutoring him”
“Late at night…. on the astronomy tower.”
“Tonight’s session is actually in the library and I am not going to talk about this. I do not have a crush on Draco,” she said impatiently as she opened her book.
A crush on Draco. What a ridiculous thought. Can a girl not tutor somebody without everyone thinking she has a crush on him? It’s outlandish. Unheard of..... And yet I still find myself marking my calendar for our tutoring sessions and wandering into the library late at night in case he’s there.