Chapter 18

Hermione had seated herself in the armchair in front of the fireplace. She had just arrived back from breakfast, where Ginny had been staring at her the whole time with a broad grin on her face. The day before passed Hermione's thoughts as she stared down at the letters in her book. They had a great time together and she was glad Draco had turned in such a great person. She was snapped away from her thoughts when she saw something move from the corner of her eye. She turned her gaze to the wall and saw a big spider walk up the wall. 'Oh hell no!' Hermione groaned, staring up at the spider. She got up from the armchair and pulled a chair over to the wall. She took a glass and a piece of paper before stepping onto the chair. She tried to reach the spider with the glass, but it was too high for her reach. She jumped a few times, trying to reach it, but it didn't work. 'What are you doing?' someone asked, startling her. She quickly turned to look behind her, only to see Draco staring up at her. 'There's a spider and I wanted to catch it, but I can't reach it.' she said. 'Come off that chair before you hurt yourself.' Draco chuckled, stepping towards her. 'Can you catch it? You're taller than me.' she said. 'I can, now please just get down.' Draco said. 'Yes, yes.' Hermione muttered, but just as she wanted to step off her foot slipped and she fell off the chair. It was a good thing that Draco had stepped closer to her because he could quickly catch her before she'd hit the floor. Hermione felt his arm on her back and one under her knees, her arms wrapped around his neck. 'Merlin's beard! You scared the hell out of me.' Draco exclaimed. Hermione could feel Draco's rapid heartbeat on the side of her body. 'Sorry.' she said. 'Don't step on a chair again when I'm not around, please. We don't want you to break something, now do we?' Draco chuckled. 'I can't make promises like that.' Hermione laughed. 'Er- thank you for catching me.' 'Oh yes, of course.' Draco said, quickly putting Hermione down. Hermione looked up at the wall and saw the spider fall down to the floor, quickly moving towards them. 'Oh shit!' Hermione yelled, jumping behind Draco and tightly holding onto him. 'The girl who faced many dangerous situations is scared of a little spider.' Draco laughed. 'That is NOT a little spider! That thing is massive!' she exclaimed. 'Sure thing, but if you want me to catch it, you'll have to let go of me.' Draco chuckled. 'Oh, er- right.' Hermione muttered, letting go of his arm. She stepped away from him and stared down at the spider as Draco approached it. 'Don't kill it!' Hermione said. 'Free it somewhere other than here.' 'Where do you want me to set it free? The windows here aren't real.' Draco stated, taking the glass Hermione offered him. 'I don't know! Walk outside.' Hermione said. 'You want me to walk all the floors down with a spider so I can set it free outside?' Draco asked, turning to look at her after placing the glass over the spider. 'It sounds weird when you say it like that.' Hermione mumbled. 'You really want me to walk down?' Draco asked. 'Well, otherwise it'll still be in the castle.' 'And you think it'll come back here when I set it free in the corridor?' 'I don't know what's going through its mind!' Hermione said, staring down at the big spider that tried to escape from the glass cage he was trapped in. 'I'll set it free on the sixth floor, okay?' Draco said, taking a piece of paper and scooting the glass over it along with the spider before picking it up and walking out of the common room. Hermione looked around the common room, in search of a possible family member of the spider, but she didn't find any. Hermione placed the chair back just as Draco walked back into the common room. 'It's free.' he informed her. 'Thanks.' 'Do you need me for something else?' he asked.' Hermione shook her head. 'No, not at the moment. 'Miss Granger, Miss Weasley wants to talk to you, do you want me to let her in or are you coming out into the hallway?' Snape asked, appearing in the portrait that hung in the common room. 'What? I'll come.' Hermione said. 'I'll be right back.' she said, turning to Draco before exiting the common room. 'Hi Gin, what are you doing here?' she asked, seeing Ginny stand a few feet away from the portrait opening. 'So? Did something happen?' Ginny smirked. 'You came all the way here just to ask whether something has happened yes or no?' 'Well yes, and I was bored.' Ginny grinned. 'Well after breakfast I sat in one of the armchairs and then I saw a spider.' Hermione told her. 'Okay?' Ginny said. 'And I tried to catch it but then Draco came in and helped me get rid of it.' 'Exciting.' 'I didn't tell you something exciting had happened, you just asked if had happened.' Hermione stated. 'You know what I meant, so did something happen yesterday in Hogsmeade? Or when you got back here?' Ginny asked. 'No.' Hermione answered. 'Come on, we're best friends, you can tell me everything!' Ginny said. 'Ssssh Gin, he can hear you like this.' Hermione hissed. 'Sorry.' Ginny chuckled. 'Are you even trying to make something happen?' Ginny asked. 'Nothing is going to happen, Gin.' Hermione sighed. 'That's bullshit. Nothing's going to happen when you push yourself away, but that's something you're not going to do, because you like him and he likes you.' Ginny said. 'You don't know that for sure.' 'Do you want me to help?' 'No.' Hermione told her sternly. 'Just let it be as it is. He would never like someone like me. I mean first of all, he's a Slytherin and second of all a pure blood, remember? His family in particular don't want anything to do with muggleborns, like me.' 'So you want to be with him!' Ginny grinned. 'I didn't even say that!' 'It wasn't necessary.' Ginny shrugged. 'He liked you, trust me. Do you want me to ask him?' 'No! Don't you need to be with Harry or something?' 'Nah, he and Ron are playing chess.' Ginny shrugged. 'But I've got the feeling I overstayed my welcome. Have fun with Malfoy in there and I'll see you during lunch.' Ginny grinned, turning around. 'Or perhaps not.' she said, turning to look at Hermione and wiggling her eyebrows before winking and walking off. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked back into the common room. Draco looked up at her, a smirk plastered on his face. 'What?' she asked. 'Oh nothing.' Draco smirked. 'Right.' Hermione muttered.

A week passed and Hermione had been busy working on a big assignment for one of her classes. She and Draco had often played card games whenever they were in the common room after dinner. Hermione had taught him a few muggle ways to play cards and Draco had quickly caught up with the rules and how to play the games. Hermione was seated on the couch when Draco entered the common room, holding a playboard for chess. 'Would you like to play wizard chess?' Draco asked. 'Sure.' Hermione shrugged. Draco walked over to the couch and placed the board on the table before sitting down on the carpet opposite Hermione and they started a new game. 'Congratulations.' Hermione said when Draco won the first round. 'Thank you, thank you.' Draco grinned. 'I do want my revenge later today.' Hermione said, getting up. 'Whatever you want.' Draco smiled. 'Want to go down for lunch?' Draco nodded and followed Hermione out of the common room and down the stairs. The first few times they walked together students had stared at them in surprise, but it had passed and people barely looked at them anymore when they were walking together. 'Hi Draco.' a Ravenclaw girl said flirtatious as she passed them in the corridor. 'Hello.' Draco answered. Hermione felt her stomach slightly twist as the girl had passed them, staring at Draco the way the girl had. What Hermione hadn't noticed was that Draco hadn't even looked up at the girl, his eyes staying on Hermione. 'See you.' Hermione said when they reached the Great Hall before parting ways. She sat down next to Harry as she greeted her friends. 'Have you visited Hagrid lately?' Harry asked. 'No, have you?' Harry shook his head. 'Me neither.' Ron said. 'What about we go after lunch?' Harry asked. 'Works for me.' Ron nods. Hermione looked over at the Slytherin table and caught Draco staring at her. She offered him a smile and received one back before she turned her eyes back to her friends. 'Yes, fine by me. I don't have anything scheduled.' 'Are you sure?' Ginny grinned. Harry and Ron gave her a questioning look. 'Yes I'm sure.' Hermione said. 'Alright, if you say so.' Ginny shrugged, a grin still visible on her face. 'Did something, we should know, happen?' Ron asked. 'No.' Ginny and Hermione said in unison. Harry raised his eyebrows, but shrugged it off. After they had finished lunch Harry and Ron got up and walked out of the Great Hall. 'Can you tell Draco I'm a bit later in the common room? We would play a game of wizard chess, but I didn't know the boys would want to go to Hagrid right after lunch.' Hermione asked. 'Yes, sure.' Ginny nodded. Hermione turned around and followed the boys out of the Great Hall. A few minutes later they stopped in front of Hagrid's cabin and Harry knocked on the door. Fang started to bark, indicating someone had arrived. 'Who's there Fang?' they heard Hagrid say to his dog before the door opened and a bright smile appeared on his face. 'Good day 'arry, 'ermione and Ron!' Hagrid said cheerful. 'Hello Hagrid.' Hermione smiled. They walked in and Hagrid made some tea for them. 'So how are yer ?' Hagrid asked. 'Great.' Harry said. 'Fine.' Hermione answered. 'Same.' Ron said. 'I heard about the two of you.' Hagrid said. 'Oh yes, well we both think we're better off as friends, it wasn't really working out.' Hermione informed him. 'And we didn't want to ruin our friendship.' Ron said. 'Someone a cookie? Just made em.' Hagrid said after nodding. 'No thank you, we just had lunch.' Hermione said. Harry and Ron didn't take a cookie either and started to tell Hagrid what had been going on the past few weeks at Hogwarts. After an hour they said goodbye and went back to the castle. 'See you later guys.' Hermione said walking up to the seventh floor. She told Snape the password and the door swung open before she walked in and found nobody in there. 'Okay speak to you later.' Hermione heard Draco say in the corridor. 'Bye.' she heard Ginny say. Draco walked into the common room and saw Hermione standing. 'Oh hi.' Draco smiled. 'That was Ginny, wasn't it?' Hermione asked. 'Yes it was.' Draco said as he passed Hermione. 'Do you want to play a game of chess now?' Draco asked. 'What did Ginny talk to you about?' Hermione asked. 'Just about- that's uh- between her and me.' Draco said. 'Right.' Hermione muttered under her breath. 'Shall we play?' Draco asked. 'No, I think I'm going to read.' Hermione said, heading over to her room. She laid down on her bed and grabbed the book Dumbledore left her, The tales of Beedle the Bard. The book had helped during their journey to collect the Horcruxes and destroy them. She had started to read the book again two days ago at night, for no particular reason. A few minutes past before she heard knocking on her door. 'Hermione?' Draco said from the other side of the closed door. 'Yes?' she called, looking over the edge of her book. Draco slowly opened the door and peered inside. 'Did I say something wrong?' 'No, why would you think that?' Hermione asked. 'Because you went straight to your room when I didn't want to tell you what Ginny and I had been talking about.' 'That's alright.' Hermione shrugged, offering him a smile. 'Do you still want to play?' she asked, feeling slightly guilty. 'Yes, sure.' Draco nodded with a small smile. Hermione nodded and closed her book before pushing herself off the bed and following Draco into the common room.

'How come you play wizard chess so well?'Hermione asked as they walked down the stairs towards the Great Hall. 'You'reliterally great at it!'Draco chuckled. 'I often played it with my mother when I was younger, but you're not so bad yourself, Granger.''You're just being nice to me, I'm no great wizard chess player.''Not great, no, but quite alright.' Draco winked.Hermione laughed and playfully slapped his arm. 'Tone it down a notch, will you?'Draco laughed to himself as they entered the Great Hall where they parted ways again. Hermione sat down next to Ginny, looking over at the Slytherin table where she saw Draco sit down next to Blaise Zabini. She smiled to herself before turning to look at Ginny. 'Gin, can I talk to you after dinner?' Hermione asked.'Yes, of course.' Ginny nodded. 'How was Hagrid doing?''He was okay.' Harry said.Hermione's eyes drifted off to Ron and she scrunched her nose up. 'Seriously Ron,does it fit in your mouth?''Yes o'course it fi's.' Ron said, his mouth filled with chicken.Hermione looked away from him before she lost her appetite and started dinner herself. After they had finished dinner she pulled Ginny with her out ofthe Great Hall. 'Is there something wrong?' Ginny asked.'You know damn well why I want to talk to you!' Hermione exclaimed.'No, actually I do not.' Ginny said, raising her eyebrows.'You wouldn't interfere Ginny! Why were you talking to him when I was gone?''You wanted me to tell him you'd be back in the common room a bit later.' Ginny said. 'So I did.''That doesn't take so long. We were gone for an hour.' Hermione stated.'Yes, I know. Malfoy is apparently a slow eater. It took him ages to be donewith his lunch. I wasn't planning on just walking over to the Slytherin table to be looked at like I'm garbage.' Ginny said. 'Is this the truth?' 'Yes.' Ginny said. Hermione stared at her best friend before slowly nodding. Ginny's eyes darted away from Hermione and fixed on something behind Hermione. 'Speak of the devil.' Ginny said. 'Malfoy! We were just talking about you.'Hermione turned around, only to see Draco raise his eyebrows before walking over to them.'Couldn't have picked a better subject to talk about myself.' Draco said, his arrogance shining brightly in the corridor. Ginny and Hermione both rolledtheir eyes at this remark as he joined them. 'Everything okay?' he asked.'Yes.' Hermione nodded.'Hermione would actually to say something to you.' Ginny said.'Shut up Gin.' Hermione hissed, shoving Ginny between the ribs. Ginny chuckled and shook her head. 'Come on Draco.' Hermione said, taking his hand and pulling him away from Ginny before she'd say more she shouldn't be saying. 'Talk to you later, Gin.' she called over her shoulder, but when she turned to look at Ginny, she saw Ginny winking at Draco and a grin appeared on his face. Draco turned tolook at Hermione, who raised her eyebrows. 'Did I miss something?' she asked,letting go of Draco as they walked up the grand staircase. 'No.' Draco answered with a small smile.'That didn't seem like a no.' she remarked. Draco furrowed his eyebrows as he followed her up the stairs towards the seventh floor where they stopped in front of the portrait. 'Time Turner.' Hermione saidand the portrait swung open, revealing the entrance to their dormitory. 'Draco.'Hermione sighed, turning to face him. 'Hermione?' he said, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.'You need to be honest with me.' Hermione said.'About what?''Do you- do you like Ginny?' she asked.Draco widened his eyes as he looked down at Hermione. 'What?''You heard me.' Hermione said sharply, not having intended for it to come out so harsh. The past week Ginny had been hanging a lot around Draco. Hermione hadoften seen them together after classes, walking through the corridor or in thelibrary. They hadn't seen her, but she did see them. 'You know what, never mind.' Hermione said frustrated as she turned around and stormed off to her bedroom. She didn't know why she was angry all of a sudden. Maybe this had been the last straw for her. She locked the door behind herbefore Draco could follow her inside. 'Hermione.' Draco said, knocking on the door with his fist. 'Hermione, please open the door.''Go away.' Hermione called back. 'Hermione, I don't like Weasley like that.' Draco said. 'She's just nice to me,nothing more.''Just go away.''Weasley is just helping me out with something.' Draco said. 'Please open the door.' he said, only to remember he has a wand with which he can unlock thedoor. 'You know I can open the door with a spell.''I wouldn't do that if I were you.' Hermione called back. 'Just go away!''Please let me explain.''Go. Away!' Hermione yelled, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Why would her best friend do that to her? She knew Hermione liked Draco, why would she dosuch a thing? Hermione heard Draco sit down on the other side of her door and lean his back against it. Hermione stared at the door for a moment before she got ready to go to bed. She laid down in bed and picked her book up from her nightstand. 'Hermione, please.' she heard Draco sigh. When he didn't get a response he got up and knocked on the door. 'She was just helping me with something.''With what?' Hermione asked after a moment of silence.It was silent for a moment before Draco answered. 'I can't tell you yet.''Right.' Hermione muttered.'Hermione, please let me in.' Draco begged.'No.'