Chapter 6
“Why are they even here?” Ron asked, practically glaring at Hermione. She just rolled her eyes; this was at least the ninth time he’d asked that question since she’d informed him they’d have company, last night.
“I told you, because they’re my friends. Now stop being rude.”
“I’m not being rude. I’m just concerned as to why we’re letting two people who were horrible to you come with us.”
“They weren’t horrible, they just weren’t great.” Hermione protests, which isn’t entirely true, but she doesn’t understand why Ron is being so difficult. “And anyway, aren’t you the one who was always telling me to just let them be. Well, now I’ve let them be my friends.”
“Hermione, they’re probably just using you until they can trick you into something terrible. I mean, they’re friends with Parkinson’s crew and both their parents were death eaters!” he said in an attempted whisper that was honestly just louder than talking. Hermione couldn’t believe him, didn’t he trust her judgement?
“Ron.” she grits and when he opened his mouth to continue a voice came from behind her.
“Er, I don’t mean to interrupt…but you know we can hear you, right?” Theo said and Hermione groaned.
“Can’t you just get over yourself for one afternoon and shut up!” She said exasperated. They could be halfway to Hogsmeade but instead they were in the courtyard arguing like first years.
“Uh, sorry?” Theo said and Hermione whipped around wincing.
“Not you—sorry. I meant Ron. You haven’t done anything, I didn’t mean…sorry.” She looked back and Ron was still glaring. “You know what, never mind.” She decided, not willing to let him spoil the day. “Let’s just go. You can suck it up or just stay. We’re leaving.”
“I told you to do that half an hour ago.” Harry muttered under his breath as she walked over to where he and the boys were standing.
She looped her arm through his and started walking, “I wanted to try, Harry. I don’t understand why he’s being so difficult.”
“Because he’s Ron and you never agree on anything.”
“Oh, shut up.” She shook her head but slowly smiled. Looking over at Theo and Draco who were walking next to them she started to get excited again. “Okay, so first we’re—”
“OI!” The shout came from behind them and this time it was Harry who groaned. Ron ran to catch up in front of them before turning back. “You can’t actually leave me.”
“We can if you’re being a prick.” Hermione argued, glaring at him but continuing to walk forward so he had to move backwards.
“I’m not being a prick I’m looking out for you.”
Hermione was pretty sure she heard Theo whisper ‘here we go again.’ Luckily, she was saved by Harry’s own impatience.
“Ron, you’re my best mate, but if you don’t shut up, I’m going to petrify you and force you to not come with us.”
Ron scoffed but at the same time tripped on a root and fell backwards. Feeling slightly guilty looking down at him, Hermione said, “please?”
“Fine.” He grunted and Harry held out his hand to help him up.
They started walking again then in silence. It was terribly awkward for a moment until Hermione noticed next to her Draco’s hands were in the pockets of his coat. She wasn’t entirely sure if they were close enough for it, but concluded to go with her initial decision last week that she’d go with whatever she’d normally do until he told her to stop. So, she looped her free arm through his as they walked. When he looked down at her, she decided to play it off as being totally normal and not like a million butterflies had just exploded in her stomach at the contact.
“So, where should we go first?” she asked openly.
“I thought we were going to Hogsmeade.” Theo said and Harry laughed.
“We are mate. But Hogsmeade is a town. You’ve got to go places once you’re there.”
“Oh, right.” Theo said and Harry let go of Hermione’s arm to walk next to him, leaving Hermione to walk alone between Draco and Ron. It was unbearably awkward. She’d learned over this week that Draco was a naturally quiet person, and though Ron was not at all a quiet person, he was basically making a point to be as quiet as possible.
“So, Draco…where are you from?” Hermione asked, trying to start some kind of conversation.
“England?” He answered. Right. That was obvious. He had a proper accent. Dumb question, Hermione.
“So you grew up here?” she made a second attempt.
“Er…I suppose. My family’s manor is just outside Wiltshire down south.”
Ron scoffed at that but Hermione chose to ignore it.
“That’s wonderful. My parent’s home in London, but Ron’s family’s also from the countryside. I wonder if you two might be neighbors or something.”
“Doubt it.” Ron sneered at Draco who made no response. His face was carefully blank as he mostly just looked ahead of them.
Oh-kay then.
“Right. Well, um, my favorite shop in Hogsmeade is Tomes and Scrolls the bookstore. Do you read much?” she asked a second later. She was rewarded when she saw her first flicker of emotion from him that entire day as his lips seemed to twitch up slightly when he glanced down at her.
“Whenever I can.” He replied and Hermione couldn’t help the grin that broke out at that.
“Really? Do you have a favorite book?” she asked excitedly.
She watched as he grabbed the back of his neck in thought for a moment, and then he adjusted his other arm so that hers was held more tightly to him. Hermione was sure he was about to answer when Ron spoke up again.
“Hermione just leave the poor bloke alone. Godric, you're like a bloody leech just-just literally grabbing onto anyone who will listen and not letting them go." he gestured to where her arm was locked with Draco's and Hermione's face heated. "Nobody cares about your books Hermione. He's probably just pretending to like reading so you'll shut up sooner and he can walk away, that's what everyone else does. Malfoy I recommend you get out now before your really trapped because she'll never stop if she thinks you actually care." he taunted and Hermione felt Draco's shoulders stiffen as hers fell.
“Right. Well, you know what, I think I’ll take my chances. I don’t need advice from people who…”
Hermione wasn’t listening to whatever he said. Her face was on fire with embarrassment and everything was too close. Feeling thoroughly chastened, she pulled her arm away from Draco. Did Ron think that? She knew he was in a foul mood, and yes Hermione knew she wasn’t popular by any means, but did people really think so poorly of her? Did all her friends? She couldn’t even look at either of them as they walked, though she could practically feel their eyes on one another over her. The three of them were silent as they followed Harry and Theo the rest of the way into town. Hermione didn’t really have an interest in trying to make more small talk, so she just listened to whatever the two of them were chatting about.
When they arrived, Harry was insistent that the first place they had to stop was Honeydukes. He argued it would only get more crowded as the day went on and so that’s where they went. As they were filing up the stairs Ron grabbed Hermione's arm to pull her back and whispered, “Mione can I talk to you?”
“What Ron?” she said, rolling her eyes and pulling away from him. She didn’t really want to hear any more of his opinions today, he’d already spoiled her mood.
“Can—can you just come here?” He didn't wait for her answer as he walked to the side of the building. Hermione scoffed. Seriously? He was going to ask something of her after he’d been such a total arse?
“What Ron?” she huffed as she walked around the corner.
“I’m sorry.” He said and Hermione glared at him. “I’m sorry, Hermione. I shouldn’t have said that. It was too far.”
“But was it true?” She asked.
Ron was usually sorry about a lot of things, things he usually did again not long after apologizing. And his words hurt. Saying he was sorry didn’t take away the fact that he’d said it.
He paused for a second and Hermione couldn’t hold back her scoff.
“No—no it wasn’t true.” He said as soon as he heard the sound. It was too late though, she was shaking her head.
“You are unbelievable, Ron Weasley! You just—AGH. Seriously?” she snapped loudly. Luckily at just that moment Harry walked up next to her.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” he asked stiffly.
“Nothing, Harry. We’re just talking.”
Hermione scoffed, again. At that Ron at least had the decency to look guilty.
“Right. Well, I think Seamus was looking for you, Ron.” Harry nodded to where Dean and Seamus were walking into Zonko’s, very much not paying attention to their whereabouts.
“Huh?” he grunted.
“Seamus is looking for you, Ron. You should go find him. We’ll see you back at the castle. Hermione and I are gonna go inside.” Harry said and before Ron could even respond he grabbed Hermione’s hand and pulled her after him. “He’s being an arse Hermione. Malfoy told me what he said, he’s practically fuming actually. And he's the one who saw Ron nab you. Stopped and told me if I didn't come get you he would and Ron wouldn't make it out in one piece. I didn't even know what was going on until until then. Otherwise I swear I would've told him to shut up sooner, Mione." he ran a hand through his hair and exhaled loudly.
“It’s fine Harry.”
“No, it’s not fine, Hermione. I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but it’s not okay.”
“I know,” she said, watching her shoes. Because she did know that he was just being an arse because he was mad, but that didn't make it hurt less.
“Hey,” Harry said, stopping them. He put his hand on her cheek and forced her to look at him. His eyes were so fiercely green as he spoke, “You know what he was wasn't true, right? Because it wasn't, Mi. Ron’s just being an prick. You're perfect the way you are and everyone who knows you knows it.”
Hermione was silent and he seemed to understand she was trying to decide if he was being honest because he smiled and said, “Mione you’re my best friend and we both know it. I wouldn’t lie to you. And even if I would, we both know I tease you too much about your books to be lying about that. It would have to be something far more interesting, right?”
And he was just so Harry and so light hearted no matter how much shite life through at them that she finally relented. “Right.”
“Exactly.” He grinned, rubbing his thumb over her cheek as his smile grew. “Now can we please go buy some candy? Because I wasn’t technically allowed to come here at all last year and you can bet I’m not wasting my chance at a proper experience.”
“Yes, let’s go.” She sighed, finally feeling somewhat back into her earlier excitement.
Hermione followed Harry as he pulled her along, except that he abruptly stopped walking, which caused her to crash into his back. “Oomph! Harry, wha—” she looked around to face him but also froze when she saw what he’d been staring at. Theo and Draco were standing on the small porch of the shop, and while Theo was watching them with worried concern, Draco’s expression was practically lethal.
Harry dropped her hand and stepped away, but when Hermione frowned at him, he just ran up the stairs, “On we go people! No more wasting time! Inside. Inside.” he clapped.
She followed, by the time she got up the steps, only Draco was still standing there, his expression still violent with anger.
“Are you alright?” she asked as she climbed the final step slowly.
He huffed a laugh and glanced around, “I’m pretty sure I’m the one who’s supposed to be asking you that.”
“You look angry.”
“I am angry.” He said, his tone exasperated.
He stepped towards her then, grabbing one of her hands. Hermione noticed that, up close, there were tiny specs of blue scattered throughout his normally grey eyes. It was beautiful if not alarming, but even now she couldn’t find it in her to be uncomfortable around him.
“Hermione, no one should ever speak to you like that. Weasley’s fowl and loathsome and—”
“Thank you.” She cut him off. Hermione was used to being called names. She was used to the snide comments about her blood or how often she studied. It wasn’t that the words didn’t bother her anymore, it was just that she wouldn’t let anyone see. And she knew the boys had to put up with a lot to be her friend. She knew they found her study habits cumbersome, but it wasn’t usually hard with them. Because Harry, Ron, and the people who mattered to her were the ones who knew her. So even if they found her swot-y-ness annoying, they saw the value behind that in her too and liked it.
But Draco didn’t know her. They’d basically only become friends a week ago. For all intents and purposes from Hermione’s experience, there was no reason he should just be accepting their friendship, accepting her this quickly. He was a pureblood and had all the propriety that came with it, but he didn’t think poorly of her. He didn’t automatically dismiss her worth because her parents had been muggles. If her mum were here, she would probably scold Hermione and tell her that that should be the bare minimum. But it was just Hermione here and something about Draco made her feel seen.
He'd stood up for her against one of her closest friends when she hadn’t been able to. And he’d been so angry that he’d gone to Harry for help, and now he was standing here and looking furious on her behalf and also incredulous and she was just, overwhelmed.
“Thank you.” She said again.
“Don’t thank me, Hermione. I wasn’t being kind, I just…I know you’ve only known me for a week, but I—I just…”
“I get it.” She finished for him. Because she did. There was a connection between them. Like it was drawing them together. Hermione didn’t think she could avoid him anymore if she’d wanted to. Because something about them together just felt so, right. It was like they had to become friends, and she felt incapable of being anything but near him and he her. Like if someone were to come for him they would be coming for her as well. She felt protective of that, and something about the intensity in his gaze told her he felt the exact same.
“You do?” he asked, and she nodded.
Hermione could have sworn his eyes were a bright and beautiful blue in that moment, like a depth of water she might dive into willingly, but then he glanced at the shop behind him, and when he turned back they were their usual cool grey.
“Then, shall we?” he said, drawing her out of her imagination and into the real world around them. Eye color doesn’t change, Hermione.
“Yes, let’s.” she replied, expecting him to lead the way, but instead he held his arm out to her. Hermione stared at the appendage for a moment before it dawned on her and her face broke into a wild grin. As she threaded her arm through his, her excitement had been restored and she forgot entirely about Ron as she followed him into the shop.
Seeing as this was Draco’s first real time in the Honeydukes, she watched him hoping for some kind of reaction. Honeydukes was a world of sugar and she’d be lying to say it didn’t rank in her top five favorite magical shops; it reminded her of a rather old muggle film she’d watched with her parents years ago, and though that had been based on a chocolate factory, she felt the same magic still applied.
So she watched Draco as he seemed to take in everything around them. And had she not been paying attention she might have missed it, because a look of total awe came over his face, for just a brief moment, before he blinked, and it was gone entirely.
But Hermione had seen it and she was immediately hooked. He was back now in his usual resting frown, but she’d caught a glimpse and was now determined. Whether or not he’d admit it, Hermione now knew a secret about him: Draco Malfoy had a sweet tooth.
When Draco Malfoy was a five-year-old, his soulmate was taken from him and violently murdered.
When he was a fourth year, his soulmate was alive and leading him through a bloody candy shop like a woman on a mission.
It was impossible. But it was also real. And he was just...happy.
Apart from his fierce inclination to relieve the world of Ron Weasley’s general existence, and the momentary lapse in judgement where he’d considered murdering Harry Potter, this was probably one of the best days of his life.
When he’d woken this morning he’d been anxious, as he was really any time he was away from Hermione. But also curious because for some reason his visions had stopped. For the last week Draco hadn’t had any dreams of him and Hermione/Emmeline. Ever since the first time he’d held her in the hospital. And from what he could tell, the same was true for her.
So for the first time in nine years he felt himself relax. At least as much as was possible while he was in public.
Draco wasn’t an idiot, his father had eyes everywhere. And Karkaroff had informed him two days ago that he’d tried to visit again but couldn’t get passed the wards. Which meant there’d be hell for Draco to pay once he figured a way around it. But that was a problem for the future. For now, he was here and with his witch again. So he allowed himself to mentally sink into the moment around him while also remembering his place. It wouldn’t do for the Malfoy heir to be seen indulging in a shop such as this, but he could still enjoy watching as Hermione did.
“What about these?” she said, levitating a few colorful chocolates from a barrel beside them.
“They’re…nice.” He told her. In truth they looked incredible, the kind of thing he would have killed for as a child. But he wasn’t a child anymore. Draco had come a long way from the boy who used to spend time in the kitchens baking with the elves only to be caught and not fed for days on end. He'd been young and foolish to think he could indulge in those kinds of things. But Draco had learned that lesson from his father quickly enough—not that he'd been given much of a choice in the matter. He understood the role he was destined to fill. There were expectations and standards required of him as a Malfoy that he could not ignore. And there were consequences, dangerous consequences, he knew to not staying in line with them. So Draco would do his duty if only to protect those around him.
But Hermione’s face deflated at his once again lackluster response and for not the first time, he wished he could have been born anyone else.
“I’m sorry.” He told her, only feeling more and more guilt.
“No, it’s not your fault.” She squeezed the arm he’d given her. “We’ll just have to keep looking until we find something you like.” She smiled up at him and Draco cringed when she looked away.
Desperate for a distraction he shot a pleading look to Theo who just so happened to be glancing in his direction. He and Potter had been surprisingly . . . chummy all morning, but when he needed him, Theo was over in seconds.
“Find anything good?” he asked, smiling and nonchalantly raising a brow in question.
“Hermione’s been trying to convince me to buy something all morning.” He told his friend with a tight smile.
“Yes, but he’s being terribly picky and says he’s not interested in anything here.” She huffed. Hermione actually sounded frustrated and Draco hated that he’d caused that. Theo seemed to understand though as his brows flew up before glancing at Draco and then back at his sister.
“Well, love. Then I guess you’ll just have to come with me.” Theo answered, flashing a smile and pulling her away. Wait what? He glanced back once though, “Oh don’t look so hurt Draco, you missed your chance. Now it’s my turn.” He smiled with overly wide eyes and Draco got the memo of what he was doing. He was still slightly annoyed to have his witch taken away from him by her brother, but grateful nonetheless.
Which left him alone with Potter. Great.
“So . . .” The Boy Who Lived said.
Draco just looked at him with a raised brow.
“Look, I feel like we kind of got off on the wrong foot back there where . . . you know . . . we were doing great, saving the day for Hermione together, and then I went to go get her and when I came back you tried to kill me with your eyes.”
He didn’t say anything. Potter wasn’t wrong. It was like some instinct had kicked in when he’d seen the two of them so close together with his awful hands on her perfect face. Draco had barely been able to keep himself from jumping over the railing and forcing them apart.
As the silence droned on however, Potter cleared his throat, evidently uncomfortable. “So, I just want to say that I know you two have your whole so—” Draco shot him a glare and he quickly shut up. “Thing. Your whole, thing," He straightened a little, seemingly an attempt to gather confidence. Draco smirked. "But Hermione’s my best friend and that’s not going to change. She’s like a sister to me and I mean, well I’ve got no idea what all this must be like for you, but like if you could place a heavy emphasis on the whole she’s like a sister to me thing in your memory, that’d be great, cause you’re a little scary sometimes and I'd rather not risk death every time I hug my friend.” He finished.
Draco just gave him a single tight lipped nod that seemed to satisfy the boy.
“Great. You know, I’ll take what I can get. Good talk."
A few minutes later Theo and Hermione came walking back over with a massive tote bag that was somehow filled to the brim. Draco’s mouth practically watered at the sight of how many Chocolate Frogs she’d purchased before he shoved those thoughts down, refusing to let them show. Hermione was beaming at Theo and he at her as they approached.
“Ready?” Potter asked.
“Definitely.” Hermione grinned, and though Draco had worried she might be distant after he’d disappointed her so much today, she just walked right back up to him and linked their arms again like nothing had happened. He wasn’t sure he could fully express the relief that washed over him.
“Where are we going next?” Theo asked.
“This one’s a surprise.” Potter answered and they followed him out the door.