Butterflies Can't Stop Me Falling for You
Chapter 2 - Butterflies can’t stop me falling for you
And darling, this is more than anything I felt before
You're everything that I want, but I didn't think I'd find
Someone who is worth the wait of all the years of my heartbreak
But I know now I found the one I love
-
Narcissa was sitting in her living room overlooking the garden drinking a cup of tea, when Draco’s owl flew through the window. She smiled at the fact he’d written to her. The letters became rarer every year but she was still grateful for the ones she received from her son.
Dear Mother,
I think I’m in love. And not just like a childish love; she’s all I can think about. It’s like there’s something pulling me towards her. But it’s Hermione Granger. If it was anybody else, it would be okay. But she’s a muggle-born mother. And she’s best friends with Harry Potter. Now is literally the worst time but I love her and I don’t know what to do. I don’t even think she likes me back. I know Weasley has his eyes on her as well and I can’t believe I’ll likely have to fight a Weasley for the love of my life. But I know she’s the one mother; I can feel it.
But she also told me something that I think you should know. Sirius is innocent; it was Peter.
Love,
Draco
-
Everybody got up late on Boxing day. The Gryffindor common room was much quieter than it had been recently as Hermione walked down the stairs and saw Harry and Ron. As they walked towards the great hall, Hermione and Ron made an unspoken agreement to not discuss the previous evening.
Harry and Ron wasted no time in telling Hermione that the night before they’d overheard Hagrid talking to Madame Maxime and they informed her that Hagrid was a half-giant. Hermione wasn’t surprised in the slightest and she knew Ron and Harry weren't the brightest but it was obvious to anybody with eyes that Hagrid was a half-giant.
Throughout the following week, Hermione would look up and catch Draco staring at her. He caught her a few times as well. She trusted him and had kept her promise and hadn't told Harry and Ron about their conversation. She could only imagine how the latter would react to her having a civilized conversation with the blonde-haired Slytherin.
The younger students who’d gone home for Christmas returned, as most people older than fourth year stayed for the Yule Ball, and lessons had restarted. Hermione, along with many other fourth years, were shocked when they saw Professor Grubbly-Plank instead of Hagrid when they headed down for care of magical creatures.
“Where’s Hagrid?” Harry asked almost instantly. Hermione knew how much Harry liked the half-giant but she did agree that he was too paranoid about everything.
“He will be back, don’t worry,” Professor Grubbly-Plank reassured him. “He’s just been unexpectedly compromised for the time being.”
Hermione thought that it had been one of the most interesting care of magical creatures lessons she’d ever had. They were looking at unicorns and Hermione was paired with Daphne Greengrass, a slytherin. It was awkward at first, and Hermione couldn’t recall that they’d spoken before.
Daphne was a lot nicer than Hermione had expected and they had a really interesting discussion about the properties of unicorn hair. As the lesson was about to end, Daphne passed a piece of parchment to Hermione. “We don’t hate you,” was all Daphne said before packing her bag and leaving Hermione alone.
Hermione, confused, opened the parchment and smiled when she saw it was from Draco.
Meet me in the room tonight after supper. I want to talk to you.
From D
-
At lunch, they found out why Hagrid had been missing. Hermione saw all the boys and Ginny crowded around a newspaper.
“What’s going on?” she asked as she sat down at the table.
Ginny just shoved an article from the daily prophet towards her. Hermione looked and the title read ‘DUMBLEDORE’S GIANT MISTAKE’. Hermione just skimmed the article but it didn’t look good for Hagrid. It was obvious that he was a half-giant but Rita Skeeter had written that as if it was a bad thing. Hermione wouldn’t be half surprised if that woman had an agenda against muggleborns as well.
“How did that horrible woman find out?” Hermione demanded.
“We don’t know,” Harry whispered. “But he was talking about it to Madame Maxime at the Yule Ball.”
“Maybe she overheard,” Ron suggested before taking a bite of his sandwich.
Hermione just rolled her eyes at him. “Rita Skeeter wasn’t at the yule ball Ron. She couldn’t have overheard.”
“It was just a suggestion, Mione. We’re not all narrow minded like you,” Ron argued back.
Hermione took clear offence to this. “I’m not narrow minded. There is no way that Rita Skeeter could’ve overheard that conversation, no matter how you twist it. And I’ve told you I don’t like being Mione, it’s annoying.”
“It’s just a nickname Hermione,” Harry reasoned.
Hermione just sighed. “I’m going to the library.” She’d had enough of Ron today and it was only lunchtime.
-
“What’s got your knickers in a twist?” Draco asked when Hermione arrived at the room of requirement later that night.
“Ron is an arse,” Hermione just said before sitting down on the couch. Things had been awkward between them all year and Hermione doubted that things were going to change in the near future.
“He usually is,” Draco laughed. “But I thought you were friends?”
Hermione just sighed. “I think the only reason we’re still friends is because of Harry. We had a … slight disagreement over the summer, not that Harry knows about it. I guess I was too harsh on him today at lunch but he’s getting on my last nerve.”
Draco cleared his throat. “What was the slight disagreement?”
“No offence, but we’ve only just been friends and I don’t trust you enough to tell you,” Hermione replied honestly. “Like I said even Harry doesn’t know, but that’s only because we don’t want to cause him any more stress than he’s already under with this stupid tournament.”
“That’s fine,” Draco said. He understood that Hermione had taken a big leap of faith by becoming friends with him, he didn’t think that he would’ve done the same in her position. He was happy to let her keep her secrets, he had enough of them too.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Hermione asked, breaking the silence.
“Just wanted to see how you were,” Draco answered. “But my mother's letters over the past few weeks have worried me a bit. He’s coming back; we don’t know how much time we left.”
“Is there anything I can do to help you?” Hermione questioned. She was surprised at how easily it came out. A few weeks ago, helping Draco Malfoy would’ve been the last thing on her mind, but now…
“Not really,” Draco whispered. “I’ve been talking to Professor Snape but it’s no use. The only thing we can do is make sure that he doesn’t take residence at the manor. If he does then I’m scared what will happen. Mother’s barely recovered from the last war and if the dark lord is at the manor, I’m worried for her.”
“What’s your mother like?” Hermione wondered. “I mean I saw her at the world cup and I’ve heard things from Ron, but what is she really like?”
Draco smiled. “She means everything to me. She’s so kind and helpful and … just the best. She’s very protective of me, and I know she loves me. I think she loves father as well but more as a friend. They didn’t want to get married, I don’t really know the full story but I know that mum was in love with somebody else, but her family would have disapproved. They were betrothed when my mother was a fifth year and father was a seventh year.”
“I never knew that,” Hermione stated. “Do you think you’ll be betrothed?”
“My parents wouldn’t do that,” Draco explained. “Especially since all my grandparents are dead. The only reason I’d get betrothed was if I knew she was the one.” But Draco already knew that Hermione was the one, but he couldn’t tell her that. It would be risking too much. “So how’s your boyfriend?”
Hermione stared at him in confusion. “Oh, me and Victor aren’t dating,” she giggled. “We’re just friends. We only went to the yule ball together because nobody else had asked me and Victor was terrified of being with a girl who just wanted to talk about his fame all night, so we compromised.”
“Oh,” Draco said. “That’s nice.”
“So how’s Pansy, she’s your girlfriend right?”
“No. Pansy couldn’t have gone with who she wanted to, and I had no one to go with. So a bit of a compromise like you I guess.” Draco just smiled at her. “I never really noticed how beautiful you are.”
Of course, he’d noticed, but he just wanted Hermione to know that she was gorgeous. It was never going to work, he knew, but he just hoped that she felt something similar in return.
“I’m really not,” Hermione shook her head.
“Stop.” Draco said bluntly. “You’re beautiful and you should realise that.”
Hermione sighed. “Well if you insist. You’re not too bad looking yourself.” Hermione thought that if only he knew how dashing he looked in her eyes. But it would never work. She just hoped that he felt something even remotely similar in return.