Good Company
November, 1994
Hermione’s heart practically stopped on Halloween night when she found out about the champions for the Triwizard Tournament. Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts, Viktor Krum from Durmstrang, and a beautiful blonde girl named Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons had been selected. But there was an unexpected fourth champion, Ginny told her.
“Harry?!” she had asked Ginny, shocked.
Harry didn't take it well.
It was five days after his name had been picked by Dumbledore and it was still all anyone talked about. They all thought he somehow put his name in even though he was underage. They thought him a cheater. Even Ron. Hermione was not so quick to let her imagination run wild. She talked to Harry and listened to his explanation. The thing was, he didn't have one. All he could say was that he didn't put his name in, and she believed him. Crazier things had happened in their time at Hogwarts and she wouldn't be surprised if there were some secret dark wizard trying to get Harry killed by entering him into a dangerous competition when he was three years underage.
Harry had already isolated himself from Hermione because of the Malfoy thing but now he was beginning to separate himself from everyone else because they all acted like they hated him. She wouldn't allow it. She began sitting with him in classes and talking to him more frequently again. She wasn't going to leave him alone. She was over their argument and he needed her. He didn't seem to think so. He still tried to push her away, telling her that nothing would help and she should just let him be, but she stayed by his side. She knew he was just scared and unsure what it could all mean. Someone had put his name in the Goblet of fire, but who? Her immediate thought was Malfoy, of course. He had been reading a book about dark magic for the past month. Surely he was trying to bypass Dumbledore’s age line and fulfill some vendetta of his father’s by putting Harry’s name in. But that would take a very strong wizard, wouldn't it? She was so unsure about it all. Her only idea was to talk to Malfoy about it and try to get him to say something incriminating even though she was almost positive it couldn't have been him. It was a start.
She was in the dining room waiting. Malfoy had not gone to the astronomy tower during dinner in over a week, ever since he and Hermione had had their meeting. She figured he might be going at a later time.
Ginny and Hermione seemed to be the only two people in the school who believed Harry’s claim that he didn't drop his name in the Goblet. However, Ginny liked to sit with Dean Thomas, the boy she’d been owling over the summer, and his friends, so it was only Harry and Hermione sitting across from each other, everyone else keeping their distance from the pair. Sometimes Harry left early or got angry at Hermione so she left to sit with Ron and Seamus, but tonight he was being nice enough.
“Have you read about the tournament? What are the challenges like?” he asked.
Hermione swallowed. She had read a great deal about the tournament and its overly dangerous tasks. The death toll was ridiculous. Hermione wondered how Dumbledore had convinced the Ministry to allow the three schools to do it.
“Harry, the challenges are–well–intense. They're dangerous. You need to be careful with every move you make.”
He nodded, looking nervous. The first task would take place in november. No one knew what it would entail or how dangerous it might be. No one had a clue how to prepare or what they should do in the time between now and then. That was the worst part in Hermione’s opinion, going in blind. It was like taking a test without having reviewed the material. She simply couldn't imagine it. That was what Ron always did and look at how he did in school!
She kept glancing over to Malfoy although she knew it was trivial. He hadn't gone in over a week and she doubted he would leave his table when Hermione could see him. He may have gotten a new hiding place altogether.
The only way to find out, she knew, was to go to the Slytherin common room and wait him out. But what if he didnt leave tonight and it was a waste of time? She would need to bring a book. Quiet, yet still able to make her feel the least bit productive.
She found herself hidden behind a tapestry in a little nook in the wall where no one could see her in the darkness of the dungeon. She had her psychology book and her little notebook to write definitions and theories down to review later. The psychology book had not helped her with Malfoy, but she kept reading it because it was interesting. You never heard about psychologists or mind healers in the wizarding world because they were only really needed in wartime when people were being tortured and enslaved and then in need of deep psychological help. There was no war at the moment, but there was something brewing with Voldemort and the death eaters. They had already tormented those muggles, what would they do next?
She continued with chapter three.
“There are three curses which wizards have been studying for years. Their direct link to our emotions has baffled scholars for years. The “unforgivable curses” must be meant. The performer of these spells must have so much hatred for the wizard they intend to hurt in order for the spell to work at all. Rage and detestment must drive the minds of these wizards. They must have cruel intentions.
So why is this? Wizards have been asking that question for years. However, it is difficult to legally study spells which are outlawed in the wizarding world. The curses were banned from use in…”
There was a big section about the history of the unforgivable curses and their history, why they were banned and all. Hermione skipped some of that. She didn't need to know about all of the people who were tortured hundreds of years ago before the Ministry stepped in. She continued reading to the section about how naturally powerful wizards are more likely to suffer from episodes of distress and madness as they grow older. This baffled her. She had never heard of that. Dumbledore seemed fine and he was the most powerful wizard she could think of. It did say “more likely” so she kept it in mind and did not dwell on it.
Then she got to another part about dark magic. There were a lot of them, she realized. It seemed that dark magic had the biggest connection to emotions out of all types of magic. This part was about insanity. Many dark wizards had been driven to insanity in the later years of life due to the effect dark magic has on the soul. It literally rips it to shreds. Hermione wondered why anyone did dark magic with the effects it could have on you before she got to the next paragraph.
“Severe dark magic is not to be ‘tested’ or ‘once attempted.’ Once you have harmed another wizard with these spells, it is difficult to turn back and do what is referred to as ‘light’ magic again. As stated in Chapter Two, dark magic tends to infect the minds of those who attempt it without extreme caution. The user begins to crave it, although it is technically tearing them apart from the inside out.”
This chapter went more into depth about why dark magic is so addictive and why it is a common cause of hysteria and psychosis. It was very interesting to read about. It stated that wizards were never meant to use this kind of magic, it wasn't intended for their species. That was why it caused such sickness and ruined a wizard completely.
According to her pocket watch, the time was 11:04 p.m. when she heard footsteps leaving the Slytherin common room. She almost jumped at the sound after the rustling and walking noises had ceased completely after 10:00 which was the curfew. She cautiously moved the tapestry out of the way and gazed at the back of the curfew breaker’s head. It was just a Slytherin prefect, probably on patrol, watching for students out of bed, students like Hermione. Great, now she would have to be cautious going back to her common room.
She finished three and started the next chapter which was about research into the way powerful wizards present themselves, and if confidence has any correlation with power. It was all boring stuff but not completely unimportant.
Another hour went by and she decided to give up when she finished chapter four. He clearly wasn't leaving his common room tonight. She used a muffliato charm on her feet before she walked through the school to her dorm, listening for any sign of life so she would be ready to hide. She made it to the common room without issue, having taken hallways that barely anyone used. It took her longer but she knew that the prefects and some teachers would be mostly in the main corridors. She whispered the Gryffendor password and then walked up the stairs to the girls dormitories, suddenly feeling exhausted. She quietly brushed her teeth in the bathroom and thenn slipped into some nighttime clothes before laying in her bed. Suddenly, she heard a creak–and a rustle. Parvati appeared above looking down at her.
“Where did you sneak off to?” she asked with a smirk.
“Have you been up waiting for me?”
Parvati gave a sarcastic look, sitting down. “You woke me up with all of your clamor and messing about when you got in.”
Hermione shrunk slightly, embarrassed. “Sorry, I thought I was being quiet.”
The other girl shrugged, looking unbothered. “It’s fine–but you never answered my question. Where were you?” she repeated.
Hermione gave a weak smile, trying to think of something to say. She was barely ever out past curfew, she never needed to be. What was a good reason anyone would be? The silence from Hermione’s thinking seemed to make Parvati uncomfortable.
“Okay–well if you can't possibly tell me–that's fine. But I think I have an idea.”
Hermione looked amused. “And what might that be?”
Parvati grinned and raised her eyebrows like there was something she knew that Hermione didn't. “Were you out with Viktor?” she finally asked.
Hermione visibly recoiled, shaking her head against her pillow. “Parvati, how could you–possibly–think something so–so–absurd. Ginny’s convinced you, hasn't she? This is–this–it’s just absurd.” she reiterated.
Parvati smiled even harder. “So you have then?”
Is that what Hermione's explanation conveyed? She was sure it did not.
“No-no–I didn't say–”
“Shhhh,” Parvati drawled, “I won't tell a soul. Your secret is safe, no need to explain further.”
Hermione thought her brain might be playing tricks on her as Parvati slowly backed away from Hermione’s bed with a knowing smile, completely convinced that she and Viktor Krum had just been off snogging in the Forbidden Forest. At least she didn't have to explain where she’d actually been. Her entire night had been a waste of time. It was embarrassing.
The next day was filled with looks from both Patil sisters. Parvati had clearly told Padma something about what Hermione had accidentally led her to believe last night, but it seemed that the secret sharing stopped there. Ginny, the holder of all school relationship information, didn't seem to know which was an indicator that only Padma and Parvati were under the impression that Hermione was dating Viktor Krum. That was good, atleast. The rest of the day, however, was not.
Hermione was tired for most of the day but the little clip-on badges which read “Potter Stinks” did not go unnoticed by anyone in the entire school. People were still on the whole hating Harry thing. She wondered how long it would be until he would save the whole school and everyone would love him again. That seemed to happen far too often. She heard Ron talking amusedly about the badges in the common room before lunch and rolled her eyes when he gazed in her direction. He got up from the couch and approached her. She had a History of Magic textbook in her hand that she was pretending to read as she listened to Ron boast so she closed it when he got closer.
He sat in front of her without a word and stared at her face thinkingly for a few moments. She gazed back at him, imperturbable, daring for him to wait for her to say something. He would be waiting all day.
“What's got you scowling and rolling your eyes at me?” he asked at last.
Her eyes narrowed. “Those badges are cruel,” she chided.
Ron made a shocked looking face. “Well–I didn't make them!”
“I know you didn't make–” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “Harry is our friend, Ron–and you–you just talk about him like he means nothing to you because of some silly tournament. I heard you just now–talking about the badges–it's–even if he did put his name in–it's all just cruel–and he's our friend–and you need to get over it.”
Ron’s expression did not flicker. “We have our different opinions, don't we, Mione.” He walked away as she shot daggers into his back.
She shouldn't have started the argument in the first place but she felt the need to. Harry didn't defend himself and she found it her duty to. She wished they would just resolve all of their issues and make up so Hermione could stop having to choose between the two of them on a daily basis. It was exhausting, being neutral in a war between boys. Truly exhausting. But they both expected her to play the middle man so she did.
That night, although her body wholly protested, she elected to wait outside of the Slytherin common room in the same spot again. She only did it because it was a Friday and she could just sleep in late the next morning.
She didn't bring her psychology book this time. She instead brought along one of the few fiction books she could find in the library, having grown tired of the constant facts invading her mind between school reading assignments and her personal study of psychology. The book was called The Tales of Beedle the Bard and was filled with children's stories about made up prophecies and elder wands. It was all very entertaining even though it was intended to be read to young wizards after they had been tucked into bed by their parents. They were bedtime stories, although Hermione doubted they would give it such a muggle name in the wizarding world. It made her think of her own parents, misty-eyed and nostalgic, as if she hadn't seen them in years. It felt like it had been much longer than a few months. She usually never grew so homesick, but with death eaters looking to murder anyone with a muggle heritage, she could help but feel that her last goodbye might really be her last goodbye. It tore her apart just thinking about it. Her parents were all she had, all she needed. All of a sudden, she wanted to go home to the muggle world and never return. Forget about magic and Hogwarts and Harry and Ron, all of it. But then she came to her senses. What was she thinking? Leave Hogwarts? Her home? It all sounded crazy. Hogwarts had given her everything. Her power, her friends, her whole life. The thought of going back to the muggle world and staying was laughable. She just missed her parents more than usual. That was all.
Footsteps.
She peaked out of the nook in the wall. Blonde hair bounded swiftly toward the main part of the castle. She crept out of her spot and followed Malfoy toward the astronomy tower, relieved that this wasn't another wasted late night. He looked upset, from what she could tell. She looked at her watch. It read 10:39. She had to be careful not to be seen, not only by Malfoy, but by prefects and teachers. He looked less concerned about that. Hermione thought he might stupefy anyone who stood between him and the astronomy tower, the way he walked with long, exasperated strides, tension marking his body. She followed him, less concerned than usual with keeping a great distance and keeping her noise down. She remembered the muffliato charm but she was so close behind him that it was counterproductive to whisper the incantation. She was drowsy, her eyes felt like weights as she followed him blindly into the night. VI
November, 1994.
It was a staring contest. They were in astronomy.
He was looking at her and he wouldn't stop. She was looking at him because he was looking at her and he wouldn't stop until she stopped. He looked away. She breathed.
“Why does Malfoy look like he wants to kill you?” Harry asked from beside her.
She shrugged.
Many reasons, probably. She was a mudblood, he hated her, she yelled at him two nights ago and then caused his curse to fire on both of them. She went back to her parchment. They were given class time to work on their essays and Hermione had to use it for once. Usually she would complete it over the weekend but she had been distracted during this one. Thoughts of Malfoy consumed her. His demeaning words. His deafening stare. His overall anger. She found herself wondering why he was like that; He was fueled by rage.
He looked at her and she looked back. Now her essay on the formation and history of nebulae was only half way finished and she couldn't help but feel his eyes on her. His gray, thunderous eyes. She felt paranoid and calculated her every move. She dipped her quill in the inkwell, cleared the hair from her face with her other hand. She looked up for a millisecond, he was looking at Crabbe. She continued writing.
“...and class dismissed!” Professor Sinistra announced as Hermione laid the finishing touches on her essay.
She handed it in with a grimace, only having been able to read over it one time. This whole thing was a nightmare. Why couldn't she get him out of her head.
She headed to lunch, her head down as if she’d just lost the quidditch final for the Gryffindor team. Ron swooped in behind her, putting his arm over her shoulder and she looked up in confusion.
“Cheer up, Mione. It's lunch!” he chanted.
She smiled brightly but it quickly faded when she remembered. “My essay was horrible, Ron. You should have seen it. It would have shocked you.”
“Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure it was better than Seamus’. I did read his and I can tell you for a fact yours won't get the lowest score. It made no bloody sense, like he made everything up. I swear!” he said, noticing her disbelieving grin.
“I feel like I can't do anything right these days,” she told him, unsure of what he would reply.
He didn't say anything. He just laughed like she was joking and left to talk with Dean right before they entered the doors of the Great Hall. She took in a deep breath and walked inside.
She sat with Harry, Neville, Fred, and George today, although all of the Gryffendors were slowly inching closer to Harry and talking to him more. The hatred had already worn off and it had been replaced by Gryffendor pride and a desire for Harry to win the tournament and bring honor to their house. Everyone still thought he put his name in, they just didn't ridicule him for it now. Hermione thought it was all pretty messed up. They love him and then they hate him and now they love him again? The only thing stopping her from voicing her opinion about the whole thing was that it didn't seem to bother Harry. He appeared to be pretty content at having someone other than Hermione to speak to. Some people were still mad at him and voiced it but enough had gotten over it that he didn't notice the stragglers. Well, except for one. Ron still wasn't speaking to Harry but that wasn't Hermione's problem. She tried not to think about it as she watched Ron sulkily look at Harry talking to Seamus from across the table. It was very sad but they would make up in time.
She turned to look for Ginny and found her near Ron talking to Dean a few seats down. Neville was next to her but he was turned around talking to Luna from the Ravenclaw table at the moment. The twins were across from her, their noses buried deep in some old library book.
“What’s that?” she asked them.
They looked up in unison and Fred said, “Big, big secret, Hermione.”
“Big, big secret,” George repeated as they both returned their attention to the book.
Hermione was alone–well–she was surrounded by her friends but they were all preoccupied. She elected to go to the library and work on her homework from her first two classes of the day. She gathered her things and headed out the Great Hall doors. They only had thirty minutes until their next class so she just started her weekly reading for History of Magic, taking notes on a separate piece of parchment.
She gazed at her watch five times in the first eight minutes. The time seemed to be moving so slowly. The subject wasn't boring per say, but it reminded her of the Professor, who bored her to death. Professor Binns had started a habit of forgetting to tell them when they had a quiz the day before so he labeled practically all of them as surprise quizzes even though it was unintentional. This meant that Hermione always had to be on her toes, studying constantly, taking notes, reading her notes, trying not to fall asleep in his class. Dreadful.
She felt her head tilting a few times but tried to ignore it, believing that if she focused extremely hard on the text in front of her, she couldn't fall asleep. Her eyes closed and her head dropped onto the book.
She woke up twenty minutes later to someone putting a small shocking hex on her hand. She wrenched her hand towards her and sat up, saying “ouch” and holding her hand defensively. Malfoy stood above her, a smirk on his face.
“What d’you want?” she asked in a sleepy voice, feeling on her hand where she had been hexed.
“You're supposed to be in potions,” he stated simply.
She looked at her watch. Potions had just started. She was late.
“And you couldn't have woken me up sooner?” she exclaimed, gathering all of her stuff into her bag.
“I just got here–you're lucky I woke you up at all,” he spat, his expression now ice cold.
She snatched her bag from the desk and speeded out of the library without a word. He waited a moment just watching her and then followed her out, catching up to her in a few seconds.
“Why are you in such a hurry? I didn't even get my thank you for waking you up.”
“It’s Snape’s class, he’ll take fifty points from me and none from you for us being late. And thank you–even if you were rather late,” she muttered the last part under her breath.
They bursted into class and all eyes found them. Hermione muttered an apology to Snape and took her seat, and Draco went to the other side of the classroom and found his own. She felt all Gryffendor eyes on her as she pulled out her potions textbook and a piece of parchment for notes. She heard Ron whisper her name from behind her but Snape cut him off.
“Miss Granger,” Snape said, drawing out all of the syllables. “Five points from Gryffendor for tardiness.” He turned and began writing something on the board.
She received annoyed looks from her fellow housemates but most people’s eyes were on Malfoy. They had all seen him come in with Hermione but Snape didn't address him or take away house points.
Ron timidly raised his hand, muttering a small, “Professor?”
Snape's eyes turned to bore into the Weasley boy. “Yes, Weasley?”
“Um–you took points from Gryffendor, sir–but Malfoy–you didn't take points from him–for being late as well–I just don't find that fair–”
Snape was calm as if he was expecting this.. “You're right. Five points from Slytherin as well.” Astonishment marked Ron's face until– “And for tattling on your classmate like a five year old–ten points from Gryffendor.” The Slytherins broke into laughter.
Ron’s eyes widened and he looked around him at all of the angry faces. Snape turned and went to write a potion recipe on the chalkboard as the class calmed down.
Ron approached her after class.
“What were you doing with Malfoy today?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
Ron stopped, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into a separate corridor away from all of their classmates.
“Don't play dumb. Everyone saw you guys walking in late today. It lost us 15 house points, after all–”
“I lost five house points! I didn't ask you to say that and make Snape mad.”
“Well, we were all thinking about it. Snape treats every house that isn't his own like scum and no one ever complains about it. I was sticking up for you.”
She swallowed. “You're right. Sorry. Thank you for sticking up for me.”
“So.”
“So?”
“You didn't answer my question–about Malfoy–”
“Oh–he just found me sleeping in the library and woke me up for class and we were late.”
“He found you? Why was he looking for you?”
Hermione had not thought about that. Or any of it. Why had Draco been in the library when he was supposed to be in potions? She needed to talk to him. Clearly he wasn't angry about her remarks about his father anymore–if he had ever been. He had woken her up for class when he could have left her there to miss the whole day. But why oh why? She needed to find out.
She found herself in the astronomy tower that night with The Tales of Beedle the Bard in hand. Ron had seen her reading it in the common room earlier and had asked her where she’d found it like it had been missing from him personally for decades. He explained that his mother used to read those stories to him and Ginny before bed when they shared a room at five and six years old. She found it quite amusing that this was what got read to wizard children at night; stories outlining the details of death and other chilling topics filled the pages.
She was sitting on the balcony with her body facing the forbidden forest. She looked up from reading every once in a while, actually enjoying the look of the forbidden forest. It felt calm rather than scary for once. She set down her book after a while and checked her watch. It was already past curfew. She pondered about her constant staying out past curfew this year. Previously, she’d been terrified to step out of the common room past ten, but now, she found that it was easy not to get caught by prefects and there was no reason for her not to sneak out when she needed to. Tonight she was waiting for Draco, although he may not come. There was no knowing. She was just enjoying her time on the tower for now. Big balls
Half past ten, she heard the countercharm for muffliato behind her and then footsteps walking closer to her. She didn't turn her head. A body sat down next to her, his legs stretched in front of him and his hands behind him, holding him up. They sat in silence for a few minutes, staring at the sky and the forest.
Hermione looked over at the Slytherin boy. “What were you doing in the library?”
“Waking you up.” He said it like it was obvious.
She rolled her eyes and gave him a look. “Well, I know that–thank you by the way.”
“You already said thank you.”
“Oh yeah. I did.”
He hummed in response.
“Are you–what I said the other night–I–”
“I don't care, Granger. Stop talking.”
“I wanted to apologize. That's all.”
He studied her for a moment and then looked forward again, back at the stars.
“Do you like astronomy?” she found herself blurting out of nowhere.
He smirked slightly, still looking forward. “The class?”
“Or just in general.”
“Quit asking me questions.”
“I only asked two–”
“Granger.” He gave her a rather annoyed look.
She found herself sucked into the silence once again. He wasn't in a talking mood, she could tell. She wondered if there was something she could say to just make him lighten up around her for once in his life. She had no clue. The quiet spanned for a long time before Malfoy actually spoke.
“Why were you tired today?”
She looked at him. “I haven't been sleeping well lately.”
“Why?”
“Why do you get to ask questions?”
“Tell me why,” he demanded.
Because of you, she thought. She had stayed up late hours after her outburst at Malfoy, thinking he would hex her in her sleep. She’d spent hours lying awake thinking about how much she regretted saying those words to him. All of the things about Lucius Malfoy being a puppet were genuine and she was proud of herself for saying that–but the thing about Draco’s only purpose being to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a servant of the dark lord was too much. It wasn't a fair thing to say.
“I was studying History of Magic and got bored,” she finally told him.
“Why were you studying during break?”
“Because I wanted to,” she stated matter of factly. “Why were you in the library instead of potions?”
“You know why.”
“No–I know that you woke me up–but I don't know why you were there in the first place during Snape’s class.”
He shook his head. “You probably think I was carrying out some sort of dark magic ritual to burn the school down.”
“I wouldn't put it past you.” She looked right into his cold gray eyes as she said it.
He stared at her for a moment before his mouth turned up into a small smile. “How little do you think of me, Granger?”
She grinned back at him before averting her gaze back to the forest. Silence engulfed them once again. Not the uncomfortable kind.
“I was looking for you.”
Hermione thought she might have heard the wind, how quiet he said it, but he was already looking at her when she turned her head. Her expression was laced with confusion. What was he talking about?
“I saw you leave the Great Hall and I thought you’d gone to the astronomy tower so I looked and you weren't there, and then I went to the library and found you.”
Her breathing faltered for a moment and, holding her eye contact with him, she asked, “Why were you looking for me?”
His expression was like steel, unflinching. “I don’t know. You’re good company sometimes.”
—
The strangest two weeks of Hermione’s existence occurred after that night. She didn't go to the astronomy tower or sneak out at all–actually–but they were still strange. Draco would catch her eye across the room but he would never look away. It was like he was studying her–as she had been studying him. Now she was just trying to get through a day without making nervous eye contact with him. Sometimes he looked perplexed or thinking and sometimes his expression was just the normal scowl.
To be clear, he wasn't constantly staring at Hermione, she was sure of that, but she always seemed to catch him by accident when he was. She was avoiding him–that was for sure–but she wasn't completely sure why. Their conversation on the astronomy tower had been inexplicable in a way which frustrated Hermione. She went over it a million times in her head, every single word, and still, none of it made any sense to her.
He was looking for her. Good company? Sh considered asking the divination teacher, Professor Trewlawny, what it all meant. Apparently she could tell the future. That’s how much her mind was enraptured in Draco Malfoy. She needed to understand but she–just–couldn't. She lost sleep over it the first few nights before she’d exhausted her thoughts and succumbed to ignoring him until she could think properly. His little looks at her which she always noticed were not helping.
Harry was extremely on edge through these weeks as well. Probably for a far better reason. The first task was announced to be taking place on November 24. He came up to Hermione one day in the common room looking somewhat frantic and out of breath as if he’d run there or was in the beginning stages of a panic attack.
“Mione–” he took in some air, “Its–dragons–for the–first–task”
She felt her stomach drop. Dragons, he had said. Fire creatures. “Is–are you sure? Is Dumbledore allowed to make you all fight dragons?”
It turned out that Hagrid–although he wasn't supposed to–had shown Harry where the dragons were being kept in cages in the Forbidden Forest so he could get Harry ready for the task. Hermione practically ran to the library, dragging Harry behind her, to read about dragons. The only issue was that they didn't know exactly what the task was yet. Obviously, Dumbledore wouldn't have them attempting to slay the dragons. That would be preposterous. So what did he want them to do? Harry asked Hagrid but he didn't know either. Without knowing the full extent of the task, it was difficult to devise a plan which would allow Harry to live past November 24. All they could do was research things like defensive spells and shields which they were not even sure he could use against a literal dragon.
Ron approached Hermione a few days before the task.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
“Yeah–of course.”
He pulled her to the couch of the Gryffendor common room where no one was sitting.
In a low voice, he said, “I'm worried about him–Harry–he’s been waking up in the middle of the night all sweaty–and I think he’s having nightmares. Has he told you about that?”
“No,” she said. Harry hadn't told her anything like that, just that he was nervous about the task. “What kind of nightmares?”
“Well–that–that's what I wanted to ask you about because–”
“Because you refuse to ask him.”
“Mione–its not–”
“No–I don't care anymore–I'll talk to him.” She stood up from the couch and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry sat alone at the Gryffendor table with a book and a plate of uneaten food. She sat down across from him and he lifted his head.
“Morning,” he said.
“Morning, Harry. How are you feeling?”
His eyes narrowed a small bit. “Fine,” he said with a questioning tone.
“It's just–well–” she looked up and took in a breath, “Ron said you've been having nightmares.”
He tilted his head in annoyance. “Why does he care?”
“He's worried about you, and so am I. What are they about? If you would just tell me things like this–”
“I don't want to talk to you about it!” he protested. “Ron doesn't know what he’s talking about–he–he’s a liar–saying he’s worried about me. He hasn't said a word to me in weeks! And you–you can't just fix everything–I don't want to talk about my stupid nightmares with you because–there's nothing you can do no matter how badly you want to–just stop trying to help me!” His volume was increasing and a few heads had turned at the noise. He got up from his seat, taking his book with him and stormed out of the Great Hall.
Hermione sat, now alone, a shocked expression on her face. It had happened so quickly. Like he was already angry at her and whatever she said would set him off. Harry was stressed and tired and he took it out on Hermione like he always did. Tears formed in her eyes but she refused to cry in front of all the people in the Great Hall. It was still early so there weren't too many–but it was enough for her to feel extremely embarrassed. She took a deep breath and caught the eye of someone across the room. Draco again. Her expression turned to fury at the sight of his unfriendly eyes on her. Why was he always there? She mustered up the meanest look possible and directed it at Malfoy before getting up from the table and storming off herself like Harry had.
Her body seemed to lead the way. It knew where it was going before she even thought about it. A few minutes later she stood at the base of the astronomy tower and began climbing the steps. Once at the top, she stopped in her tracks. Professor Sinistra stood before her with a look of confusion.
“Hermione–I have fourth years in last period today–”
“I know–I’m sorry to barge up here,” she told her professor apologetically. She had always gone to the astronomy tower at night when the professor was sleeping. She was too much in a daze to remember that she had classes during the day. “I was just–I wanted to look at the view–I–I’m having a bad morning,” she stuttered.
“Oh–yes! By all means–I don't have students for another twenty minutes–go ahead.” She gestured to the balcony and Hermione smiled appreciatively before walking over to it.
“Is there anything you wanted to talk about?” the professor asked.
Hermione turned her head to look back at her. “No, I would only bore you, Professor. I just need to calm down before class starts and the first place I thought about was the astronomy tower.”
“I’m glad you enjoy being up here. Let me know if you need anything–at any time.”
Hermione grinned softly. “Thank you, Professor.”
With that, the Professor went to sit at her desk to grade essays while Hermione stared out at the grounds and the forest, taking deep breaths and trying to resolve her anger at Harry. He was stressed–and for good reason. She couldn't blame him for that. She just had to be supportive and let him handle things his own way. Draco popped into her mind as well. He was a nagging source of her thoughts these days. She couldn’t control the way her brain wandered off in all directions, all centered around Malfoy. What was he thinking about? Why was he looking for her? Why was he staring at her? That was the biggest one.
She pushed all of those thoughts out of her mind–about Harry and Draco. When did her life start revolving around them so much? Instead she thought about the Yule Ball. It was a big dance for the Triwizard Tournament which would take place on Christmas Eve. It was one of the only things she was looking forward to in the foreseeable future. Big fancy dresses, boys asking girls to be their date, dancing. The school would be covered in beautiful Christmas decorations, all enchanted with magic and glistening. She got butterflies just thinking about it all. They never got to do things like that at Hogwarts. Dressing up and just dancing. It all sounded so unbelievably magical.
In Herbology that day, Harry rushed over to Hermione to apologize. He explained that he wasn't sleeping and was so anxious–which she already knew–and said that he was sorry like a million times for yelling at her earlier that morning. She told him it was nothing to worry about, she knew how he was feeling and said she was not mad at all. The astronomy tower had calmed her down.
She still went through the day feeling a little down. It just wasn't a great start to her day. She talked to Ginny about the Yule Ball at lunch which lightened her spirits.
“I just need someone in your year to ask me and I’ll be able to come,” Ginny explained. The Yule ball was for fourth years and older so Ginny, a third year, could only go if someone older asked her.
“There's always Neville,” Hermione said.
“That’s true. I’ll have to have a word with him when it gets closer to the dance. I just couldn't possibly miss it.”
Hermione smiled. “Me neither. It’s supposed to be the most magical night of our years at Hogwarts.”
Ginny grinned widely in the way she always did when she was about to say something she knew would get a reaction out of Hermione. “Do you think you'll be asked to the ball by Krum?” She raised her eyebrows up and down in a suggestive manner.
Hermione laughed at Ginny’s expression and shook her head. “You're still on this idea?”
“It’s not an idea. He’s always looking over here and he told his friends he would ask you!”
“I’ve never seen him look over here, actually,” Hermione said, a playful grin on her lips.
“He just knows how to hide it well.”
That made her think of Draco. He was anything but good at hiding his cold looks at Hermione. She looked past Ginny at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was talking to Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini–more Slytherins. He looked to be very focused on this conversation so she took to staring at him and studying him for once. He was smiling at something Blaise had said–laughing. He shook his head and looked straight forward, catching Hermione’s eye. The side of his mouth turned up and Hermione tried to hide her own grin at being caught by rolling her eyes.
“Who are you looking at?” asked Ginny. She looked behind her. “Were you staring at Krum? Mione?”
“No–Gods, Ginny–it wasn’t Krum.”
“Then who was it? Another suitor for the Yule Ball?”
Hermione blushed slightly and laughed Ginny’s comment off, trying not to think about it too much.
She was walking down the corridor after astronomy. She had stayed after to help Professor Sinastra set up for a star gazing assignment tonight. Their whole class had to go to the astronomy tower and take turns on the balcony drawing constellations and labeling different stars for their project. They got to change out of their school uniforms and wear comfortable clothes for once. It was to start a little bit after dinner, at 8:00 p.m. Hermione helped her move tables out of the way so they could set out blankets and pillows on the floor because it was supposed to be a sort of cozy, fun night as well. Hermione would be excited for it if it were only Gryffendors doing it, but of course, they had astronomy with the Slytherins.
The hallway was almost empty. Everyone always went to clubs or to the common room to rest after class. That was where Hermione was headed. Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini appeared around the corner, headed the opposite way she was. They immediately stopped talking when they saw her. Her and Draco locked eyes for a second before they were past each other. She rounded the corner but could hear their voices start back up.
“Did you hear what she said though?” Blaise asked.
“Yes.”
“And you didn't think it was–strange?”
She wondered who they could be talking about. Perhaps Professor Sinastra as they had left her class fifteen minutes ago. Their voices faded out for a minute before another noise faded in.
There were quick footsteps behind her. Malfoy appeared by her side.
“Hello,” he said, semi out of breath.
“Malfoy.”
“Why did you stay in Sinastra’s?”
“She needed help setting up for tonight.”
“Oh–I forgot about that.”
She nodded her head. “Where were you and Blaise going?”
He straightened up a little. “Nowhere.”
She narrowed her eyes but didn't press further. “Why’d you leave him behind?”
“I saw you and thought I’d come talk to you. I told him I left my wand in the dungeons.”
“Oh,” was all she replied.
“What was Potter yelling about this morning?” he asked.
“Oh–um–he’s just nervous–about the task.”
“But what was he yelling at you for? It’s his fault for putting his name in the bloody goblet.”
“He didn't put his name in.”
He scoffed. “You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Little Potter’s always looking for a new source of fame.”
She didn't reply. He stopped, forcing her to stop and look up at him, an expectant look on her face.
“Why do you defend him?”
“He’s my friend–what are you talking about?”
“I just mean–” he paused, looking conflicted, “He goes and gets nervous about a little tournament and then shouts at you for it at seven in the bloody morning. You just–forgive him–for that?”
“Yes.”
He shrugged. “I just don't understand it.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to. We’re best friends–I’m not going to turn on him for getting a little upset at me.” She turned to keep walking again and he followed.
They stayed silent for the entire rest of the walk to the Gryffendor common room. She felt his presence like the sun beating down on her face. He was just there. He was walking with her and he was there. She wanted to ask him why he was set on walking her all the way upstairs but she didn't. She just turned to him and stared awkwardly for a minute before he turned and left without a word.
She willed her heart to slow down as she said the password and climbed through the portrait hole. Ginny and Harry sat on the couch. They stared at her, peculiar expressions on their faces as she walked over to them. Harry had a piece of parchment in his hands. As he drew closer, she realized it was the Marauders Map.
“What were you doing walking with Malfoy?” Harry asked.
Hermione’s eyes widened. Spies!
“How did you–”
“Mione, please tell me you've given up this obsession with him.”
Ginny looked concerned.
“It's not–I’m not obsessed with him, Harry.” She sat down on the couch next to Ginny. “He approached me just now. Did you catch that on your stupid little map?”
Harry looked like she’d just insulted his newborn baby.
“And what were you guys doing spying on me anyway?”
“We were spying on Malfoy,” Ginny said.
“Why?”
“What he said after astronomy–Harry, tell her–”
“Stop, Ginny. It was nothing,” he cut her off. “We didn't mean to spy on you. You just happened to be with him. Sorry.” He now had a reserved look on his face as he leaned back and kept looking at the map.
“What did you guys talk about?” Ginny asked. “He walked all the way here.”
Hermione glanced at Harry and then averted her eyes. “He was just being mean–talking about Harry putting his name in the goblet.”
She felt bad saying it. He had talked about Harry but mostly about how he shouldn't have taken his anger out on Hermione. He was being anything but hostile.
“He’s such a prick,” said Ginny.
Hermione remembered what Ginny had said about Malfoy–that he had said something to Harry. “So what dod Malfoy say to Harry?” she asked Ginny in a low voice.
“Well, basically, Malfoy told him that–”
“I can hear you,” Harry said in a semi-raised tone. “I'm sitting right here.”
Ginny mouthed the words ‘sorry’ to Hermione and went back to looking at the map with Harry. Hermione got up a minute later to do her potions homework for the week in the quiet of her room. Harry’s voice rang out behind her.
“See, I told you! He’s just left the map! How is that even possible?”
Hermione kept walking, too annoyed at Harry to care about his hatred for Malfoy anymore. If he didn't want to talk to her or tell her anything, she would stop trying so hard.