Chapter 3
~Y/n~
“Do you want to get a Butterbeer with me?”
“Sorry Y/n but we’re busy,” Fred and George said at the same time. How can they be busy? They’re the most un-busy people I have met.
“I have asked everyone. I can’t go alone, I’ll get mugged!” I said sitting next to Fred, who gave me a candied spider, which I broke the leg off and ate.
“You probably haven't asked Mr. Malfoy right?” George said sitting on the other side of me, I was sandwiched between them now.
I gave him a look, Ginny told all her brothers, Harry, and Hermione about the incident, “Of course not. Why would I? Just because he fixed my bruise does not mean he had the pleasure of sharing a butterbeer with me.” I broke off the spider's head and chewed on it.
George handed me a jelly bean, “He also saved you from getting caught by Filch”
“And he didn’t push you down the stairs on your way back,” Fred finished.
I rolled my eyes and put the jelly bean in my mouth, almost having to spit it out because of the funky earwax flavor.
“Fine. I’ll ask him but I’ll bet you ten chocolate frogs that he’ll say no.” I say and shove the rest of the spider in my mouth and chew it while I walk over to the Slytherin table, where it is mostly empty. Draco was sitting away from everyone, and the Slytheirns seemed to be watching me with a weird look as I approached him.
I tapped him on the shoulder, making him jump and turn to look at me quickly, “Woah- I’m not here to kill you.” I said backing up a bit.
He glared at me once he realized who I was, “What do you want, Granger?” He asked me, and closed the book that he was reading. But he was only on the first page… He must have been spacing out.
“Do you want to get butterbeer?” I asked putting my arms behind my back, I knew he wasn't going to say yes but I did bet 10 chocolate frogs on this. And I am trying to grow my collection of those cards-
“Sure, why not.”
“...what?”
My eyes widened, surely he was joking, “You're being serious?” I asked and he stood up. He glared at me as he pulled gloves out of his pocket.
“Don’t make me regret my choice,” He said looking down at me, he smirked when he saw my shocked expression, “I was about to go to Hogsmeade anyways… to get a new quill.” He said walking past me. I looked back at Fred and George who shrugged at the same time.
They were no help, and they were not getting 10 chocolate frogs from me.
As we walked down to the side exit of the castle and where the carriages were. In the spring they let us either walk or fly our broomsticks there, but in the winter we are taken by carriages pulled by beautiful white horses. I walked a bit behind Draco, starting into the back of his head trying to figure out why he was being so nice to me.
“For someone who asked me to get butterbeer, why am I leading the way?’ He asked suddenly and stopped walking, almost making me walk into him.
I glared at him and walked in front of him, “I don’t get it. You’re being nice, and it's almost believable.” I say as he walks beside me.
“I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about.” He said sarcastically. He knew what he was doing.
“Do you want something from me? Are you trying to get me in on your shenanigans?” I crossed my arms.
He laughed a bit, more like a chuckle as he put on his dark green gloves. I’d forgotten mine… “I would never take something from the mud- from someone like you.” He said he was about to call me a mudblood but stopped himself, leaving me shocked.
I widened my eyes, “I have never seen you think before you speak, what’s gotten into you Malfoy?” I asked with a smirk. He only glared at me and opened the door for himself, trying to shut it quickly in my face before I could slip through.
I did however and he smirked, “Maybe I’m trying to spare you from the Dark Lord.” He said it sounded as if she was joking, but he probably wasn't.
“You shouldn’t joke about those kinds of things, especially with your family,” I said as my boot got stuck in a thick pile of snow and I had to use lots of force to get it unstuck. He didn’t respond to what I said.
We boarded the carriage and the white horses galloped effortlessly through the snow. I watched out the window of the carriage as snow started falling. I’d expect Draco to be looking out the other window as well, but when I turned to look at him he was looking at me.
I gave him a look, “What are you looking at Malfoy.” I questioned, crossing my arms.
“You look like a kid when your face is pressed up against the glass like that,” He said with a smirk. I huffed and looked out the window while sitting up in my chair. When we reached there the snow had been shoveled, so luckily my feet wouldn’t sink into anymore snow. I got out of the carriage first, followed by Draco, and made my way to the Three Broomsticks… I walked, not paying any mind to Draco. However I should have, because he stopped walking without me noticing.
Thud.
“Ow!” The back of my head had been hit with a snowball. I spun around to see Draco's gloves dusted with white, and also an evil look on his face, “Malfoy! What in the–”
He hit me again in my face this time, cutting me off. He laughed, “What? Never had a snowball fight before Granger?” He asked to ball up another ball of snow but before he could I stooped down and just grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at him. It wasn’t a ball so the snow just went all over him.
I laughed when he was covered in snow, “You look like a snowman now.” I shouted from where I was. But he picked up a chunk of packed snow and started walking over to me.
My eyes widened and tried to run away but the snow was slippery, if I did run I’d probably fall. I tried to back away without slipping but of course, he reached me first and dumped the pile of snow on top of me.
I was covered in snow, and I shook my head to get it off of my hair. When I saw Draco's face he was practically laughing. But…his laugh was different. It seemed like he was laughing because he found it funny. Not because he was making fun of me.
I smacked his shoulder, “You are evil.” I said slightly laughing. I dusted off my hair because if we walked into the three broomsticks like this, my hair would be soaked. Draco did the same, as we walked to the Three Broomsticks with smiles on our faces. Genuine ones.
It was weird seeing him so nice. It’s still weird how right now he’s not being mean or anything. And he’s not giving off any weird vibes… Usually, when you meet someone they give off this kind of aura that makes you either feel good about them, or weird. Usually, I stay away from people who give off bad vibes, and Draco is one of them…
But ever since he got here this year…he has been different. And the fact he didn’t call me mudblood… or called me that, he has been surprisingly nice to me.
We reached the entrance of The Three Broomsticks and kicked the snow off our boots before walking inside. Greeted by warmth on our faces and the smell of hot Butterbeer. Some students were sitting at the tables, who gave us a weird look but I ignored them and walked up to the counter.
“Ah hello– what can I get you?” A lady asked from behind the counter, she was cleaning a mug as she spoke.
I looked and Draco before I ordered but he was looking at the menu above us, so I turned back, “Two butterbeers and a Pumpkin patsy,” I said, “What do you want” I asked quickly”
His head seemed to turn quickly to me, and his words were jumbled. Did he not like ordering food?
“Oh… just the butterbeer is fine. Thanks.” He said quickly looking away and I nodded to the lady and gave her the galleons.
“Let’s go find a table before they all get taken…” I left the counter and walked to a table at the back of the restaurant. As I walked I knew Draco was behind me, but he was walking rather close. And as I looked around, the students gave us weird looks.
I sat down and Draco sat across from me, “Why are these kids looking at us like that?” I asked, scanning the room, my hands on the table clasped together, “They look younger than us.”
I looked at Draco who was looking at my hands, “Did you scare them Malfoy?” I asked teasingly.
He glared at me with a look, “Of course not, I’m not that cruel.” He looked at me now, and then at the students. They seemed to go back to their conversations.
“So you admit you are cruel?” I questioned with a raised brow.
“Only to those who deserve it, like you.”
I chuckled a bit, I wanted to ask why he was being so lovely, but the butterbeer arrived before I could open my mouth.
“Here you dears are,” An older lady said, placing down the butterbeers with her wand, and also my pumpkin pasties in front of me. I smiled. They were warm and they went great with hot butterbeer. I thanked her, and so did Draco, and I sipped my Butterbeer. It was very hot so I was going to let it cool down before I continued to drink it.
As I bit into my pumpkin pasty, I smiled. “This is delicious,” I said to him, though he didn’t respond so I was pretty much talking to myself. I looked at Draco and decided to ask him after a few moments of silence, “Why are you being nice to me?”
He practically choked on his drink. I raised my brow in confusion. With that reaction, I could tell he was shocked I would ask that, but he knew he had to answer.
He sighed, “Maybe I’m not as bad as you think I am.” He looked out the window of the restaurant, “And…” He hesitated.
“And?” I raised a brow, looking at him.
He sighed and looked at me with cold-ish eyes. He smirked suddenly making me confused, “We're all going to die to Voldemort eventually, I might as well give you a break.”
I scoffed and gave him a look, “So you still hate mudbloods.”
“I wouldn’t say hate, I just tolerate you.”
I glared at him and thought of a monument. I picked up my unbitten pasty and handed it to him. I sighed, “A peace offering.”
He eyed me, “You already bought me a butterbeer.”
“Just take the bloody pasty.”
He took the pasty from me and bit it, his eyebrows raised slightly at the taste but quickly went back to his normal demeanor. I could tell he was telling the truth. But why?
“...Somehow, I know you are not lying,” I said, biting my pasty, “But the reason for that I have no clue– I understand if you don’t want to discuss it.”
Maybe because his father was sent to Azkaban he had a change of heart…? I know his father is quite controlling, that’s why he is the way he is. Draco kept quiet, it seemed I had stunned him, “What if I’m a really good liar?” He asked after a second, “What if I was to betray you?’
I glared a him, “I’ll have you know I passed transfigurations with flying colors, I can make you permanently into a ferret if I want to”
I smirked and he did the same, “You’re a smart witch Granger, I won’t doubt it.” He said, sipping his butterbeer. I liked this side of Draco, I could tell he wasn't acting because he was horrible while trying to act like Harry under a polyjuice potion.
When we finished our food we walked out in the cold, and Draco got a new quill from a nearby store. I picked up some stamps for myself so I could send an owl to my parents. We rode in the carriages back to Hogwarts and through the snowy courtyard to the great hall.
Draco stopped me suddenly, “Are you heading to your common room? You’ll have to be outside a while more to get there right?” He asked, I nodded. To get to the correct side of the school, the fastest way is by circling the outside of the castle, instead of going on those moving stairs. Draco started to take off his gloves, “Take them, your hands look freezing.” He said handing them to me.
I furrowed my brows, “But the Slytherin room-”
“It’s indoors, Unlike you I won't have frostbite when I arrive there.” He said now taking my hand and forcefully putting the gloves in my hands, “Take them. Otherwise, I won't hear the end of it from your sister.”
Before I could thank him, he walked into the Great Hall and to the left, vanishing from where I was standing. I was a bit shocked, but my hands were cold. I put on the green gloves and continued to walk to my common room. The gloves were warm from his hands, but they were soft and a bit too big for my hands. When I entered the family room of the common room, it was fairly empty. Harry and Ron were sitting on the couch, and Hermione and Ginny were by the bookshelf. They seemed to be talking while Harry was showing Ron a book.
“Oh, Y/n your back,” Ginny said looking at me. I walked up to her and her eyes went down to my hands as I pulled my coat off, “Whose… gloves are you wearing?”
I grew red they had the wrong idea, “Oh… nobody-”
“Malfoy’s.”
I turned to see who ratted me out, Fred and George stood behind us, and Ron and Harry also seemed to be listening to our conversation.
I glared at them, “This is-”
“And you owe us 10 chocolate frogs”
I huffed, “My hands were cold. He gave me his gloves, that's all.” I explained, “Plus, he wasn't lying to me, or acting. He was being genuinely nice…”
“That's impossible, Y/n.” Harry said standing up and walking over to us, Ron following suit, “Malfoy cursed Katie Bell.”
I thought for a second, “How do you know? Listen I know he’s evil but–”
“If you say he’s changed, you are delusional.” Ron cut me off, “Did you even take a good look at him? He looks sick like he’s about to faint at any moment.”
“His father was sent to Azkaban. How would you feel if your father got sent there?” I crossed my arms.
“His father is a bloody Death Eater.” Ron crossed his arms as well.
“...right.” I sighed, “Well, he doesn't seem to be attacking me or anything,”
They gave me a look, “Just… be careful around him.” Harry said, “I doubt he can hurt you.” He said nudging me playfully.
I smirked, knowing I already threatened to transfigure him into a ferret. That ought to scare him since he was absolutely terrified last time.