Chapter 61

‘Draco! Stop it!’ Hermione laughed.Draco smirked. ‘Stop it! Right now!’ she tried to say without laughing, but she couldn’t. ‘Say it!’ Draco said. ‘STOP.’ Hermione laughed. ‘Say it, then I’ll stop.’ Draco said. ‘First stop!’ Hermione laughed. Draco stopped and sat up straight. ‘Draco Malfoy is always right.’ Hermione said. ‘Thank you.’ he said. ‘It’s a good thing you’re so ticklish.’ Draco chuckled. ‘Oh shut up you.’ Hermione said. ‘Can you get off of me now?’ Hermione asked. ‘I’m actually pretty comfortable.’ Draco said smiling down at her. Hermione rolled her eyes and then shoved him off of her by turning her body to the right, which caused Draco to fall of the couch. ‘Ouch.’ he said. Hermione chuckled. ‘Karma.’ she said, getting up and walking to her room. ‘Where are you going?’ Draco asked. ‘The bathroom.’ she said. When she had redone her hair and make-up she walked out again and then straight to the door. ‘And where are you going now?’ Draco asked. He was seated on the couch again, with the Daily Prophet in his hands. ‘I’m going to Ginny.’ Hermione said. ‘You’ve got a plan?’ Draco asked. ‘Nope.’ Hermione said, walking out of the common room. She walked up to the Gryffindor Tower and told the fat lady the password to get inside. She walked into the common room where Harry and Ron were playing chess. ‘Hi guys, where’s Ginny?’ Hermione asked. ‘I’m good, no great actually, thanks for asking.’ Ron said. Hermione gave him a smile. ‘Good for you, now where is Gin?’ Hermione asked. ‘Up in her room.’ Harry said jerking his chin in the direction of the stairs. ‘Thanks.’ she said walking up the stairs and to the room Ginny had to share with other girls. The room where Hermione would’ve been in if it weren’t for her being the Head Girl and all. ‘Ginny.’ Hermione said. Ginny looked up from the book she was reading and when she saw it was Hermione she looked back down. ‘What do you need?’ she asked. ‘Come on Gin, I just want to talk.’ Hermione said. ‘That’s too bad, I don’t.’ Ginny said. ‘Yes you do! Ginny you haven’t talked to me in a week.’ Hermione said. ‘And that has a reason.’ Ginny said. ‘Can you leave now.’ she added. ‘No, I won’t leave.’ Hermione said. Ginny rolled her eyes. ‘Gin, I miss talking to you and I know I have been wrong by lying to you and not telling you the truth, but I was, still am, scared. And I’ve apologized over a hundred, hell, a thousand times.’ Hermione said. Ginny didn’t respond and Hermione sighed. ‘Okay.’ Hermione said and she turned around. ‘Hermione.’ Ginny said. Hermione turned back around and saw Ginny got off of her bed and walked over to her. Ginny wrapped her arms around Hermione and gave her a tight hug. ‘I forgive you.’ ‘Oh thank God.’ Hermione sighed relieved. ‘Now sit down and tell me what’s bothering you.’ Ginny said. Hermione chuckled. ‘You know, the strangest thing happened.’ Hermione said as she sat down on the edge of Ginny’s bed. ‘What?’ Ginny asked. ‘I had the weirdest dream.’ Hermione said. ‘Again?’ Ginny laughed. ‘No, seriously and it felt so real.’ Hermione said. ‘What happened in your dream?’ Ginny asked. ‘Well it started as a normal day and then when I saw Draco we weren’t together and it seemed like all of this, everything we had together, that it all was just a dream and Draco and Pansy were together.’ Hermione said. Ginny frowned. ‘Okay that’s really strange.’ she said. ‘I know!’ ‘Does Draco know?’ ‘No of course not.’ ‘Why not?’ Ginny asked. ‘Because I don’t want to tell him.’ ‘Are you scared he’ll laugh?’ ‘Scared he’ll take it seriously.’ Hermione said. Ginny nodded. ‘It’ll be alright, try not to think about it.’ Ginny said. ‘Easier said than done.’ Hermione said. ‘I know.’ Ginny smiled. ‘But I heard you were about to explode “with all of that information inside of you”.’ Hermione said. Ginny laughed. ‘Harry?’ Ginny asked. ‘Harry.’ ‘I heard Goyle was seeing some Ravenclaw girl.’ Ginny said. ‘What! Really?’ Hermione laughed. ‘That girl he took to the masquerade ball?’ Hermione asked. ‘I think so.’ Ginny said. ‘And Luna’s dad-‘ Ginny started. ‘Yeah I know about that.’ Hermione said. ‘Do you know how he is?’ Ginny asked. ‘I didn’t want to ask Luna, in case…. you know.’ Ginny said. ‘He’s getting better.’ Hermione said with a small smile. ‘Good.’ ‘What else?’ Hermione asked.

‘And?’ Draco asked when he saw Hermione walking into the common room. ‘It’s all good.’ Hermione said sitting down next to him on the couch and resting her head on his shoulder. ‘I knew you could do it.’ Draco said kissing the top of her head. Hermione smiled. ‘It’s good to have my best friend back.’ Hermione said. ‘Did you tell her that thing that was bothering you?’ Draco asked. Hermione looked up at him, raising her eyebrows. ‘What?’ Hermione asked. ‘That thing what was bothering you that you didn’t tell me, but you had to tell Ginny, that thing?’ Draco asked. ‘How did you know there was something bothering me?’ Hermione asked. Draco looked down with a smile. ‘Come on Hermione, I could see it.’ Draco said. Hermione looked back down. ‘How?’ she asked. ‘I know you, I can see when something is bothering you.’ Draco said. ‘Who says it wasn’t just the fact that Ginny didn’t talk to me?’ Hermione asked. ‘Because it was obvious that there was something more and the fact that you’re reacting like this says enough.’ Draco said. Hermione rolled her eyes. ‘Can I know what was bothering you?’ Draco asked. ‘What about no.’ Hermione said. Draco chuckled. ‘If you want to tell me, you know where to find me.’ Draco said Hermione looked up at him and gave him a kiss. ‘Don’t wait for it.’ Hermione said. ‘I’m going to bed.’ Hermione sighed getting up. Draco took her wrist and pulled her back, kissing her before pulling away again. ‘I’m right behind you.’ Draco said. Hermione rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the chuckle in. She turned around and walked to her room.

Hermione walked hand in hand with Draco down the stairs. ‘You didn’t!’ Hermione laughed. Draco smiled. ‘I did.’ he said. ‘Oh for Merlin’s sake Draco.’ Hermione laughed, clinging onto his arm. ‘I know, I know, but it was a lot of fun.’ Draco said. ‘But serious? Blaise Zabini?’ Hermione laughed. ‘As your date.’ Hermione laughed. ‘I thought I already told you.’ Draco said. Hermione shook her head, wiping the tears away from her cheeks. ‘I would never have picked you for that kind of guy.’ Hermione said. Draco smiled. ‘I’m full of surprises.’ Draco said. ‘Apparently you are.’ Hermione said. What Hermione hadn’t realised was that they had arrived in the Great Hall, where the whole school was seated, because Hermione and Draco were late. ‘Oh damn.’ Hermione said when she noticed where they were. ‘Don’t worry.’ Draco said after he felt Hermione freeze to the spot. ‘It’s nothing they haven’t seen before.’ he reminded her. ‘I wanted to keep it quiet.’ Hermione whispered. ‘Come on, just walk, the longer you stand here staring the more they’ll turn their heads.’ Draco said. Hermione nodded and walked over to the Gryffindor table. ‘Good morning.’ Ginny said. ‘Morning.’ ‘Do you have any plans for the weekend?’ Ginny asked. ‘Just studying.’ Draco answered. ‘Good to have you back here at our table by the way.’ Ginny said. Draco gave her a small smile and nodded. ‘Unless this was not planned.’ Ginny said scanning Hermione’s face. ‘Hermione, you look quite terrified.’ Harry said. ‘Something wrong?’ he asked. ‘Just the fact that everybody knows now.’ Hermione said. ‘And the problem is?’ Harry asked. Hermione gave him a deadly glare. ‘She’s scared something bad will happen.’ Ginny whispered. Harry nodded. ‘You’ll be fine Hermione, don’t worry.’ Harry said. ‘Just like the last time?’ Hermione asked. ‘But now there are no crazy Draco-fangirls around anymore.’ Ginny said. ‘Are there? Draco.’ Ginny said. ‘Nope.’ Draco shook his head. Hermione rolled her eyes. ‘Just eat something and stop worrying, everything’s okay.’ Draco said before kissing her cheek. Hermione gave him a small smile and nodded before getting some food on her plate. ‘Finals are almost here.’ Harry sighed. ‘I know! Time goes too fast!’ Ginny said. ‘We’ll all be done here in just a little while.’ Hermione sighed. ‘You know, I overheard McGonagall say that she wanted to throw a graduation party after we made the finals. And the day after the party we’ll get the diploma’s.’ Ginny said. ‘Sounds as a good idea.’ Draco said. ‘I don’t know if it’ll happen, she was just thinking about it.’ Ginny said. ‘And it could be that you’ve heard it wrong?’ Harry suggested. ‘I’m always right.’ Ginny said smirking. Harry rolled his eyes, but Ginny saw it and she shoved him. ‘Shut up!’ Ginny said. ‘Ouch. I didn’t even say anything!’ Harry said rubbing his side. ‘Oh boohoo.’ Ginny said and now it was her turn to roll her eyes. Hermione and Draco laughed. ‘You two are cute.’ Hermione said. ‘We know.’ Ginny said. Harry laughed. ‘She certainly does.’ Harry said.

Hermione and Draco walked up to DADA class. When they arrived in the classroom Hermione found her place next to Ginny and Draco his next to Blaise. The professor walked in and the class fell silent. ‘Today we’re going to learn the patronus charm.’ the professor said. ‘Few of you already know how to do this, but I want all of you to practice it.’ he added. ‘Say Expecto Patronum and think of the happiest memory you’ve got. It has to be a strong one.’ the professor said. ‘Otherwise it won’t work.’ he said. Hermione took her wand in her hand and thought, what was her happiest memory? Then something came up in her mind. She remembered she was lying in bed, Draco hadn’t woken up yet. He looked so peaceful. She just looked at him and when she leaned forwards to give him a kiss on his cheek she stopped because he started to talk. ‘What?’ she had said. He mumbled something else and that’s when she had noticed he was still asleep. ‘I love you.’ he had said all of a sudden. Hermione had smiled down at him. ‘I love you too.’ she had told him before giving him a soft kiss against his lips. ‘Expecto Patronum.’ Hermione said and a silver otter appeared from her wand, floating through the air. A few “ow”’s and “ah”’s went through the classroom by seeing the otter swim through the air. Hermione smiled to herself. She looked down from the place where her otter was swimming through the air to the place beneath him. She saw Draco looking at her with a small smile on his face. Hermione raised her eyebrows. Draco chuckled and gave her a wink. Hermione rolled her eyes, but the little chuckle escaped her throat anyway. She fast looked back up at the otter. All around her she could hear the students start to try the spell again. ‘Good job Hermione, 5 points to Gryffindor.’ the professor said. Hermione gave him a smile before her otter disappeared.