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I.
"You kissed her?" she asked. She knew her voice sounded harsh, probably not the reaction he’d been expecting.
She saw the smile on his lips falter.
"Yeah, what about it?"
He didn’t feel bad. There was only confusion in his eyes. She wanted to slap him, shake him, make him understand.
She took in her surroundings. They were in the Slytherin common room, sitting on a settee. No one was paying attention to them. Tonight, Hogwarts was hosting the Yule Ball with Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. Students were either with their dates, hiding somewhere in the castle, already asleep in their dorms, or still at the party.
"Oh, Merlin, I can't believe you." She put her hands over her face. How could this boy be so stupid? Why couldn’t she be friends with people who were less oblivious?
"I did what you told me to do, Pansy," he retorted, and she heard the mockery in his voice. Arse.
"I didn't tell you to kiss her, Draco," she accused, pointing a finger at him.
She could see him become tense. He wasn’t very patient, and she didn't want to end this special evening like this, but she also couldn't stay silent when her best friend was being so stubborn.
"I told you," she breathed through her nose, grounding herself, "to talk to her." She exhaled loudly. "Focus on talking - not kissing."
Now he stared at her as if she were the stupid one. How dare he?
"I talked to her," he answered, speaking low and slowly so only she could hear him, making a point that he had, in fact, listened to her. "And then we kissed. I didn't just appear out of nowhere, kiss her, and leave," he added, lowering his voice. "Who do you think I am?" he asked, his voice full of reproach.
She let out another small, angry groan.
When Draco and Pansy had left the party, she had heard Ron Weasley speaking aggressively to Hermione Granger. She wouldn’t be a Slytherin if she hadn’t seen a perfect opportunity for her friend to comfort her, help her change her mind about him. She knew they were on friendly terms, but if he wanted to be with her, he had to work harder.
"I told you to talk to her because she was crying on the stairs. Alone. Her best friend - and possible crush - had just broken her heart. And you swooped in and kissed her."
"Merlin, Pansy, you make it sound as if I forced myself on her."
She eyed him. Pointedly.
"I didn't," he added. "Pansy, I've kissed-" he looked around, afraid to be overheard, then whispered the name, "Hermione Granger. You of all people should know what it means to me!"
She could hear the sincerity in his voice. And she knew how much he liked her. Two years ago, when he had sheepishly come to her to confess his feelings, she had thought it would pass. It didn't.
Draco wasn't the subtlest person. How many times had she had to kick him in the leg because he was staring at Granger in class or at lunch?
She was sure she had once caught him with drool on his chin.
Boys.
"Draco, I feel like-" she paused, thinking about her next words, not wanting to hurt him, "kissing a girl who's been crying over another guy, who's already feeling bad in general… that's kind of like-" she hesitated, "taking advantage."
He looked at her with revulsion, eyes wide, mouth gaping, stepping back from her. She knew him well, and he definitely didn't want to take advantage. But still.
"I would nev-"
"She was being vulnerable, Dray," she added.
"But she kissed me back," he whispered, trying to make a point.
"Well, you shouldn't base everything on her bodily reactions." She crossed her arms - a sign he knew meant I am right, don’t fight me on this.
He let his head fall against the back of the settee and groaned.
"She can defend herself when she’s not happy. My nose remembers."
She snorted. He was so dramatic. "Did you talk to her after the kiss?" she asked.
"Well, kind of. I told her good night," he said flatly, looking at the ceiling.
"Draco," she looked annoyed again, "you could have walked her back to the Gryffindor Tower."
He turned his head towards her. "That would have been very suspicious."
"Well, if you hadn't been bullying her and her friends for the last four years, it would have been less suspicious," she replied, raising an eyebrow.
She knew that Draco had started tormenting this little group of friends because Harry Potter had turned down his friendship in first year. He hadn't known how to deal with his - huge - ego being hurt, so he did what his father had taught him: bullying.
He regretted it, especially once his friendship with Hermione had started.
She got an idea.
She turned towards him, her face only a few inches from his.
"Listen, here is what you're going to do." He was looking at her intently, eyes bright. He was listening. "Tomorrow, you'll talk to Granger in the library, or wherever she hides during the day, and you'll ask her on a date."
His eyes widened. "A date?" he stuttered. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that."
She rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Merlin, Draco, if she were a Pureblood, you would have started courting her two years ago. You're desperate for a date!"
He rested his head against the settee, staring at the firelight.
"I'm not desperate," he muttered.
Pansy looked at him pointedly.
"Yes, you are, and it's okay," she answered softly, mocking him beneath her kindness. She put an arm around his shoulders.
He pulled it away, crossing his arms as well, pouting. He looked like the little boy she had met all those years ago.
But she could see a smile on his lips.
"Talk to her tomorrow and ask her. Be respectful, and everything will be all right." She smiled reassuringly.
She got up, ready to leave and go to her room.
"Pans," he called, "will you help me prepare the date if she agrees?"
"Of course, Dray," she said with a smirk. "You'd be lost without me anyway."
Draco didn't answer… but he didn't disapprove either. And Draco, at least, listened to her. Advising Theodore Nott on his relationships was already a lost cause - she had tried before.
Before she could walk away, he spoke again. "Thank you for this evening, Pans. It was nice dancing with you." He smiled. "Have a good night."
She smiled, then left and went to her room. Being her best friend’s love mentor was tiring.
A week later, she entered the common room again and saw Draco waiting for her. It was late. She had been making out with a Hufflepuff guy. He kissed her with too much tongue and saliva. It was like kissing a washing machine. She let him do it, not really enjoying his kisses but at least enjoying the attention.
"How was your night?" he asked when he saw her enter the common room. Some Slytherins were still lingering, but no one was paying attention to them.
"It was okay. I made out with a Hufflepuff. Can’t remember his name. Not great, but okay. This Ravenclaw guy I've been seeing kisses better."
"Isn't he the one who put his hand under your skirt?"
"He is," she replied absentmindedly.
Draco stared at her but remained silent. She really didn't need his opinion right now. He always told her she needed to find someone who would treat her better. But better than what? She didn’t know.
She tried to change the subject. "And how was your night?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.
Draco beamed at her. "Fantastic, Pansy! The picnic by the lake was so romantic, and she loved the book I gave her for Yule." His eyes were bright, clearly happy with the night he’d had.
"And we kissed again," he said, eyes gleaming in the shadows of the Slytherin dungeon. "I kissed her respectfully, and she respectfully kissed me back."
She laughed. She could see he was relieved after being tense the whole week leading up to the date.
"Anyway, I'll explain everything tomorrow, but right now I'm knackered. I just want to go to bed." He yawned as if to prove his point, then got up to leave. "Thank you again for the help. Thank you for everything, really."
They had always been close, and he could tell her everything. "You're welcome. Thank you for waiting for me tonight."
"Always." He smiled and walked towards the boys’ dormitories. After a few steps, he turned around again.
"You know... I’m trying to be respectful of Hermione - because she deserves it. Everyone does," he hesitated, "You do too, Pans."
She forced a laugh that died in her throat when she realized how serious he was. "Draco, it’s not the same-"
"It really is, Pans," he said again, softer this time.
And that made it even worse.
She knew he meant it.
At a loss for words, she nodded and answered, "Okay." She stared out of the window, at the dark water of the lake swallowing the light from above.
He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push.
“Good night, Pans,” he said, turning back toward the dormitories.
“Good night, Draco.”
She stayed there a moment longer after he left.
Long enough to realize she didn’t know what respect felt like when it was meant for her.
She told herself she didn’t need love.
Or respect.
It sounded convincing in her head.
Less so in the silence that followed.
In the future, she helped Draco organise so many dates with Hermione Granger. She even planned his wedding proposal.
It took her longer to realize that respect wasn’t something you had to earn.
______
II.
"Neville!"
He stopped in his tracks. Ready to go to bed, he'd been on his way to the dormitories. He turned around and saw Harry crossing the Gryffindor common room.
"I know it's going to be a strange request," he said.
His eyes narrowed, it was never good news when the Chosen One had a ‘strange request’.
"I'm so sorry to ask you that, but look - " he then took out a parchment paper from his jumper's front pocket.
Neville looked at the paper and frowned.
"What is it?" he asked curiously.
"Wait a second, I'll show you." Then Harry put his wand on the parchment and whispered, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," and writings appeared all over it. He unfolded it.
"Merlin, Harry! Is that Hogwarts?" he nodded.
"Yes, I've had it for a couple of years,” he checked around him, “please don't tell anyone."
"Um, okay, Harry." Neville turned but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Wait! Look at it, don't you see anything strange?" Neville analysed the map. Hogwarts was huge, but nothing was out of the ordinary. Most students were in their rooms, some of them in the corridors, hidden. Prefects were doing their rounds.
"Everything looks normal, Harry," he said.
Harry stared at it, then looked at the map himself for a second. "No, look." He pointed to the music room on the second floor. "Hermione and Malfoy are there, in the same room.”
Neville squinted and saw the two little names, “Granger” and “Malfoy,” next to each other.
“I'm afraid he's bullying her, calling her names, hexing her, or something worse.”
"I...I think I'd be more afraid for Malfoy than for Hermione," he whispered. This witch could be scary. "Aren't they on Prefect duty?"
Harry put the map down, hesitating. "They are, yes... but isn't it strange that they are standing so close in an empty room?"
"Maybe they are debriefing, it happens." He shrugged.
"I'm worried," Harry said, "like really worried. You're a prefect, you could go and check that she’s all right," he asked pleadingly.
"Harry..."
"Please, Neville, what if something bad is happening?"
"Isn't Ron a prefect as well?"
"Well, yes." Harry hesitated. "But if nothing's going on, she's going to be so mad at us. She would never be mad at you, though. And you can come up with a white lie!"
He agreed. Did he really have a choice?
Neville went down the stairs, checking that his prefect badge was well in place in case anyone would catch him. The thought of seeing Professor Snape made him shiver.
The portraits on the wall complained, "Keep the light down, boy. "
He ended up in front of the music room. The door was closed.
Strange.
Maybe they had moved while he was coming down. He hadn't thought about taking the map with him.
He sighed and opened the door to make sure.
When it opened, Neville immediately regretted everything.
Hermione and Malfoy were kissing.
Not just kissing, but fully making out.
He briefly considered leaving the continent.
He felt a hot rush to his cheeks.
Even if he could leave, this vision would probably never - ever - leave his mind.
Draco’s back was to him. His hair was completely dishevelled, and Hermione’s hands were tangled in it.
His tie wasn’t around his neck anymore, and he was only wearing a white Oxford shirt. Whether it was open or closed, he did not want to know.
What he did see, however, was Hermione's pink bra peeking out of her half-opened shirt. She had her hands on Malfoy's back, and his hands were out of sight, but certainly gripping the girl in front of him.
She was sitting on a desk, Malfoy standing between her legs.
Ugh.
The moment he decided he’d try to escape unnoticed - already thinking about whatever lie he'd tell Harry - he heard a feminine gasp. His eyes landed on Hermione.
"Neville?!" she said, panicked.
The following happened rather quickly: hearing Neville's name, Malfoy turned towards Hermione, frowning. Before he could even turn towards him, Hermione pushed Malfoy away from her.
She tried to close her shirt.
"This is not what it looks like-" Hermione said, a pink blush on her cheeks.
"I - " he started.
Malfoy let out a short laugh.
"What does it look like then?"
Hermione let out a furious "Shut up, Malfoy!" while redressing herself.
She faced Neville. “I was helping Malfoy with something in his eye.”
Malfoy scoffed and muttered, "Merlin."
"Um," Neville commented. He wanted the earth to open below him and swallow him.
Malfoy snorted, "That's why I have my shirt open. Because I had something in my eye."
"Oh my God! Shut up, Draco!"
“Oh please,” he said, adjusting his shirt. “You could have at least attempted a halfway convincing excuse. But then again, expecting subtlety from Gryffindors was clearly my first mistake.”
He glanced at Neville.
“But sure. Let’s go with ‘eye problem’. Very convincing.”
Hermione was still blushing, but he couldn't say if it was because of shame or anger...
"I'll, uh... leave you to it," Neville responded eventually.
He left quickly, not looking back.
"Neville, wait," Hermione called.
He stopped, and she came to him running.
"I'm really sorry you had to see this." She bit her lower lip, hesitating. "You see, Draco and I started talking a few years ago - "
Malfoy appeared behind her, calm and put together. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Hermione and I are together, and we were totally making out right there."
Hermione huffed. "Draco, please,” she hissed. “Let me explain." He raised his shoulders innocently. She took a deep breath. "We are, though. Together."
She looked at him expectantly.
"Okay."
Neville had absolutely no idea what to do with that information.
Silence.
Awkward silence.
She let out a humourless laugh, trying to ease the tension.
"I mean, this must really be strange." She readjusted her shirt. Neville tried his best to look her in the eyes.
"We, uh, started talking a few years ago, and one thing led to another," she smiled, crooked and awkward. "What I mean is - "
"What she means is," Draco interrupted, his voice flat and cold, "this isn't new. Don't tell Potter."
Neville stared at them both. "Okay," he answered. "He actually asked me to come here because he saw you together in the music room."
They both reacted quickly. "What - " Hermione interjected. "What do you mean he saw?" Malfoy urged.
"On the map, he saw you on the map."
Malfoy looked confused, Hermione relieved.
"The map?"
She turned to her boyfriend and put her hand on his chest. "I'll tell you about it later... I'll go to the dormitories with Neville.” Blush still present on her cheeks.
Malfoy faced her, frowning for a second, then let it go. "All right, good night then."
They looked at each other, then at Neville.
After a second, he put his hand on Hermione's shoulder. They were standing very close. Had Neville not been there, they would probably have kissed.
"Granger, see you tomorrow at the library." He then turned to Neville. "Longbottom." He nodded and left to the Slytherin dungeons.
When he was out of sight, Hermione started talking again. "I'm so sorry, Neville!"
"It's all right." It wasn't; he blushed, thinking about the pink bra.
"It's not, we're always careful, but I didn't think Harry would look at the Marauder's map this evening, he only does when he's stressed out!" she hushed.
"I'm not going to pretend I understand what you like about Malfoy, but as long as you're happy, that's what matters," he reassured her.
She smiled brightly. "Thank you, Nev'."
"If Harry asks again, I'll say everything is fine between you two. But next time he’ll want to check on you himself, or he’ll ask Ron to do it."
They walked in silence. Portraits shushing them again.
"Hermione?"
"Mmh," she whispered, deep in thought.
"Why don't you want Harry to know? I’m not sure about Ron, but Harry would certainly understand." He’d need some time, but he would.
She stopped walking and sighed, looking suddenly very tired. "I know, I'd like to tell him, but with his connection with Voldemort, it could be dangerous. For me or for Draco. Everyone knows Lucius Malfoy is a Death Eater. What if he punishes Draco for being with a Muggleborn?" She stumbled over her words. "I can't - "
"It's okay, I understand. Your secret is safe with me," Neville said.
"Thank you." Her voice was filled with emotion.
Neville smiled at her and started walking again in the direction of the tower.
"…So how did Harry get this map?"
_____
III.
They had noticed it in their second year - the way Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy kept ending up in the same corner of the library.
"Strange," Fred commented.
"Very," George said.
They hadn't told anyone besides themselves.
But during their fifth year, they started to worry. "Umbridge has organised an Inquisitorial Squad to stop us," Harry told them during a Dumbledore’s Army meeting. Draco was a member of the Squad.
"Do you think...?" George asked slowly.
Fred didn’t answer immediately.
"No," he said at last. "She wouldn’t."
They didn’t say it out loud.
They didn’t have to.
By the next morning, they were already watching her.
"Morning, Hermione," they said in unison when they walked past her in the library. She looked up from her notes and smiled. "Getting ready for the upcoming NEWTs?" she asked.
"Yes," they lied, exchanging a knowing look.
They sat somewhere in a corner.
Rows of books hid them from their prey.
A few minutes later, right on time, Draco Malfoy came.
"Granger," he said and sat down next to her. They barely spoke - but they didn’t need to.
They looked like two perfectly normal students who were revising for their OWLs.
But Fred and George couldn't be fooled.
"They’re passing notes," Fred whispered.
"Oh, they are," George breathed.
They glanced at each other, bewildered.
"How could we get the papers they are exchanging?"
"I don't - "
"Misters Weasley, you've been talking for the last 40 minutes. This is a silent area," Ms Pince stood in front of them. "One more word and I'll ask you to leave.”
She looked at them expectantly. When she turned away, they stood up and gathered their belongings.
"Thank you, we'll be back tomorrow," Fred said.
They waved at Hermione then left the library in a hurry.
"Did you get it?" Fred asked and George took a note from his pocket.
"Of course, brother." They quickly opened the note. The writing was cursive and feminine. Hermione.
"I told you where to find us. I’ll be expecting you on Friday before our Patrol. "
Their heads shot up. "Godric," they said.
"Let’s not panic, it’s only Wednesday," Fred said.
"Two days to stop them."
The library door opened, and Draco Malfoy stepped out. George quickly slipped the note back into his pocket.
"Weasleys," Draco nodded.
"Malfoy," they answered.
Once he was out of earshot, heading toward the lavatories, Fred leaned in.
"Hermione’s plotting with the enemy."
"I can't believe it," his twin added.
"Let's not tell anyone until we're sure," George agreed.
The next day, they were the first to enter the library. Ms Pince gave them a suspicious look as she saw them standing in front of the door.
They smiled brightly at her.
Hoping Hermione and Malfoy would choose the same spot, they discreetly set up their device. A large, slightly twitching ear attached to a length of string, capable of picking up conversations from afar.
They would wait the entire day if they had to.
They nodded at each other. Today's mission: remain silent.
A few minutes later, Hermione Granger arrived. Hidden behind a book, she didn't notice the ear.
She saw them, though. "Good morning, you two." She frowned.
Truth be told, Fred and George weren't known for spending much time in the library.
"The NEWTs, Hermione," Fred started.
"They are dreadful," George finished.
Hermione gave a crooked smile.
An hour later, once the library had begun to fill, Malfoy arrived. He made a poor attempt at scanning the room for other available seats before sitting beside Hermione.
Finally - something interesting.
Otherwise, they might have fallen asleep.
"Granger.”
"Malfoy." They greeted each other.
They remained silent.
To Fred and George’s growing despair.
The day stretched ahead of them.
Fred fell asleep.
George woke him up at 11:30, before lunch.
"Listen, they are finally talking."
They sounded far away, but it was understandable.
"Tomorrow evening, we have a DA meeting in the Room of Requirement," Hermione whispered.
From the distance, they could see Malfoy nod.
Still looking in front of him and not at her, he replied, "We're meeting with the squad around 6."
"We’ll meet before then," Hermione said, then added, "I'm really counting on you, it can't go on like that," emotion clear in her voice.
"Where do we meet?" Malfoy asked.
"We can meet in the storage room next to the Potions class?"
Malfoy nodded. "Perfect, I'll bring the goods.”
Fred choked on air.
George slapped a hand over his own mouth.
“Meet me there at 5:30," Malfoy added. He got up and packed his bag.
"Granger." He left.
They noticed Hermione’s eyes briefly linger on Malfoy.
She coughed and then looked at her book again.
Fred and George exchanged an alarmed look. What was that supposed to mean?
They were interrupted by a sudden scream-
"What is this? Is it an ear?"
Time to leave.
Quickly.
As they passed Hermione’s desk, they caught her watching them.
On the way to their dorms, they debriefed.
"Do you think he's blackmailing her?" George asked.
"Yes, he said he'd bring something."
"But Hermione said in the note that he knew where to find us."
They frowned in confusion. "This is so unlike her."
"Should we talk about it with Harry?" Fred asked.
George shook his head. "Not yet. Let’s go to their meeting point tomorrow." Fred nodded.
"Let's be sure before we accuse her of anything."
The next day arrived quicker than they expected.
They spent most of it watching Hermione, earning increasingly suspicious looks from Ron.
If only he knew…
He’d be devastated.
At 5:15 on Friday, Hermione left the Gryffindor common room.
"Just grabbing a book from the library before the DA meeting," she said.
Harry and Ron barely reacted.
Fred and George, however, knew exactly what was happening.
They waited five minutes, then followed.
They kept their distance, slipping behind walls and corners whenever she glanced back - just in case.
Hermione Granger, if you only knew.
They saw her enter the small storage room next to the Potions class.
"Should we go now or wait for Malfoy?" George asked his twin.
Fred frowned, then said, "Let's go, it will be easier to corner her when she's alone."
They approached the room slowly, checking that Malfoy wasn't around. Fred pushed the door behind which Hermione was standing.
"Hi - " she gaped, shocked. "What are you doing here?" she asked quickly, clearly rattled.
What were they doing?
They had cornered the girl they both thought of as a sister.
Fred recovered first.
"We heard you talking to Malfoy,” he said “we know."
They crossed their arms, waiting.
Hermione’s expression flickered - shock, then something like guilt.
Maybe their theory had been right after all.
"I'm sorry you had to find out like that. I haven't told many people," she said, avoiding looking at them.
"Who knows?" Fred asked.
"Is he blackmailing you?" George said.
"Neville knows too and no, there is no blackmailing. We…decided to keep this a secret. We’ve been dating for a year."
Silence.
Fred blinked.
George blinked.
"You’ve been what?" they both said.
At that exact moment, Draco Malfoy entered the storage room, talking. "Look who's here, my love-"
Draco Malfoy stopped mid-sentence when he saw them.
All three turned toward him.
Dressed in his prefect robes, he was holding Crookshanks in his arms, the cat purring contentedly.
Hermione recovered first, walking to Malfoy and her cat. "Crooks!" and she petted him on his flat face.
Malfoy eyed her. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Fred and George know," Hermione said.
"What do we know?"
"I think they're dating, George," Fred murmured.
"Isn't that what you wanted to talk about?" Hermione said.
"Well, to be honest…" Fred began.
"We thought he was blackmailing you," George finished.
"To find out where we hide for DA," Fred added.
Draco frowned.
Hermione gaped.
Crookshanks meowed.
"Oh God," Hermione swore. "There is no blackmailing!" she snapped, her cheeks flushing.
"Are you sure he didn't kidnap your cat?"
"If he hexed you and you can't say it, blink twice."
She sighed in annoyance. "No. Crooks - well - he prefers sleeping in Draco’s bed, so… he brought him back." She hesitated.
"He likes me better," Draco cut in lazily. "Hermione isn’t ready to admit it. So I’ve been arranging weekly reunions.”
"Shut up, Draco."
He smiled.
They looked... in love.
The twins exchanged a look.
"But we heard you talk yesterday. You told him about DA this evening," Fred pointed out.
"Yes," she looked at her wristwatch, "actually, we'll be late if we don't leave soon."
"Hermione tells me where you are so I can mislead the squad," Draco added.
They were not quite believing it.
"It's impossible - you're Hermione."
"And Malfoy."
Their faces twisted in disgust.
"And we found a note that said he was going to find us."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What note?"
"This one," they said.
They looked at the note in George's hand.
"Yeah, that's my note. I was talking about Crooks," Draco added lazily. "Hermione keeps complaining that she never sees him anymore.”
"But the handwriting - it's Hermione's," Fred pointed out.
"It's Draco's," Hermione answered.
They frowned. "You write like a girl, Malfoy."
He raised an eyebrow, "I just had an actual tutor teaching me how to write." Draco said coldly.
He opened his mouth to go on but Hermione sent him a pointed look.
"Anyway, my nice, cursive writing is a real turn-on for Hermione, so I’m not complaining," he added, still stroking the cat.
"Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger. Congratulations, you have fooled us," Fred said.
Hermione laughed, then looked at her watch and groaned. "We're late for DA, I was supposed to bring Crooks to the Gryffindor tower before it started."
"Looks like he’s staying in the dungeons a bit longer," Draco said, scratching the cat between its ears. "Right, Crooks? Who’s the best kitty in the world?"
Crookshanks pushed his face into his hand.
"Blaise and Theo already know about us too," Draco went on. "They found Crooks in my bed. Really, he’s the reason you two found out as well. I suppose your cat is our biggest supporter.”
He set the cat down, then turned to Hermione. "I'll see you after dinner, we'll stay away from the 5th floor today." He kissed Hermione, a peck.
"Weasleys." He nodded.
Then he left, Crookshanks trotting after him.
"The ferret, really?!"
Hermione crossed her arms.
"You’ve both been spying on me for two days. I don’t think you get to judge."
_____
IV.
It was no secret that Hermione Granger was the best student at Hogwarts. Since her first year, Ms Pince had seen Miss Granger in the library every single day.
She treated books with respect. Stroking the spine, inhaling the smell of old pages. She was the perfect student in Irma's opinion.
Draco Malfoy came to the library as well. Only for a few hours a day.
Always on his own, a scowl on his face, as if he didn’t want to be there.
She tried not to listen too much to students or teachers. She didn't want to know about rumours going around at Hogwarts.
She had heard, though, that Draco Malfoy was a mean little menace. Bullying everyone, calling people names.
The two students usually didn't talk or even cross paths.
At the beginning of their second year, it happened though. Hermione walked back to her place, a stack of books in her arm. Draco came from another aisle.
"Watch where you are going, Mudblood," he said.
Hermione stared at him. Something sharp and burning in her eyes.
Before Draco could go to his seat, Ms Pince interrupted him.
"Mr Malfoy, this type of language is forbidden in the library," she said.
The boy opened his mouth to speak.
"Please take your bag and leave, you can come back tomorrow," she added. "I'd like you to think before you speak."
He took a deep breath, then took his bag and left. He stared at Hermione on his way out.
She approached the girl. "Are you all right, Miss Granger?"
She nodded. "Yes, thank you.”
Around February, Draco Malfoy approached. Trying to look confident but failing miserably.
"Ms Pince, I'm looking for books."
She looked at him from behind her glasses.
"This is a library, Mr Malfoy. You'll have to be more specific about the topic."
"Yes - well - I'm looking for a book about - " he cleared his throat and whispered, "Muggles."
"Muggles," she repeated.
He nodded. "I have to write an essay."
"There are books on Muggle studies next to the books on Herbology, aisle four. I'd recommend Truth and Lies About Muggles."
Before he moved, she added, "Mr Malfoy, as a librarian I shouldn't say this, but you can't learn everything from books. Sometimes, speaking to someone who knows the subject is enough."
She looked at Hermione Granger, who was sitting at her usual spot.
He followed her gaze and stared at the girl.
He faced her again, eyes wide. He muttered a quick "thank you" and left.
She didn't actually believe that he'd do it, but the next day Draco sat at a desk near Hermione.
He kept staring at her, earning suspicious looks in return.
After four days, on a Friday evening, the library practically empty, she heard a book slam loudly, making her jump from her own reading.
Ready to find the person responsible for breaking the silence, she saw Draco walk towards Hermione and talk to her. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but he gestured to the book he was holding.
She looked puzzled at first, but replied. After a short exchange, he sat next to her. They kept talking, but for once Ms Pince didn't have the heart to reprimand them.
Draco sat next to Hermione the day after as well, and the following too.
Around April, everything stopped. She heard from Ms Pomfrey that Miss Granger had been petrified.
She was in the infirmary.
That day she saw Draco Malfoy sit at his place. Did he know?
"Mr Malfoy, I wanted to let you know that Miss Granger would not be present today," she told him.
"Oh - um - I know. This is my usual place."
"Sure," she smiled.
He kept the seat, even when she wasn’t there. If someone wanted to take the space, he'd say it was taken. Everyone thought this was just the cruel boy he was.
She knew better.
She didn't expect to see them together the next year.
At first, their relationship was the same as it used to be. But one day Mr Malfoy appeared with a bandage around his arm, and when he sat down next to Miss Granger, she turned and looked the other way, a little too quickly.
He sighed.
Passing next to them with some books, she heard them whisper.
"I lost a lot of blood, you know."
"I'm not interested," she replied sharply.
Later that week, she found Draco Malfoy scanning through books in the Muggle section. "Mr Malfoy, may I help you with something?"
He jumped when he heard her voice. They were alone in the library as it was closing soon. "Um," he hesitated, "maybe, yes. I'm looking for a Muggle way to apologize?"
She considered. "Have you tried saying sorry?"
"Not really, no..." he admitted, blushing.
"Well, that might be a start. Flowers or chocolate, if necessary," she advised, "or fresh parchment and new quills depending on the person's taste."
Draco took her answer in. "Okay, thank you." He grabbed his books and left.
A few days later, she spotted Hermione Granger with new quills, a fresh set of ink and high-end parchment.
She greeted Draco when he sat next to her, as if nothing had happened.
A few months later, he entered the library with a black eye.
He didn't sit next to Hermione. She looked at him, biting her lips in worry.
A week later, he took the seat next to her. He had new quills, ink and parchment.
Ms Pince fought a smile on her lips.
Their fourth year was a special one, with the students of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons attending. Hogwarts was busy.
A student from Durmstrang took the spot on the other side of Hermione. She didn't know who he was, but all girls turned to him when he walked into the library.
He came in every day and usually talked with Hermione. She could see Mr Malfoy bristle with something that looked very much like annoyance.
"Could you please stop talking? I'm trying to concentrate," he said once.
"You can always go sit somewhere else if you're not happy."
This loud and irritating back-and-forth went on until after the Yule Ball.
Draco entered the library after Hermione.
It was quiet. With the holidays, not many students had stayed - and even fewer were studying.
He approached the girl and asked her if he could sit next to her.
Ms Pince raised an eyebrow. They had been sitting next to each other for two years.
Obviously, Hermione agreed.
They were both blushing, and neither of them looked away.
For the rest of the year, she pretended she didn’t see them finding each other’s hands under the desk.
Later, Ms Umbridge arrived and revised all the books present in the library, deciding that the ones about Muggles and divination weren't all that important.
Irma didn't agree but did as she was told.
Hermione and Draco talked more than usual. Hushed voices, careful glances.
One morning, Draco entered the library early in the morning, Hermione wouldn’t meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he told her, whispering.
She looked down. "It's not your fault, Draco."
He sat down. Took her hand in his.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"It's better now," she replied.
He kissed her hand and kept it in his the whole day, hidden beneath the desk.
She wondered what the next year would bring when she heard that Lucius Malfoy was in Azkaban because of an accident that happened at the Ministry. Voldemort was back.
Mr Malfoy looked distant, pale, barely talking to the girl next to him.
Hermione kept glancing at him, as if she couldn’t quite stop herself.
It lasted a few weeks until it got better.
When Mr Malfoy zoned out, Miss Granger would talk to him softly, take his arm and caress him. They started reaching for each other more. While they had been discreetly holding hands for a year, they now always had some part of their body touching - their feet, leg, arm. They were generally sitting closer.
He would often caress her back and play with a curl of her hair.
Thankfully, it didn't escalate past that.
Until one day, Miss Granger gave her a note from Professor McGonagall, granting her access to the Restricted section. Nothing unusual for such a bright student. Five minutes later, Mr Malfoy gave her his permission note signed by Severus Snape.
She glanced at him suspiciously.
She usually didn't much care for the Restricted section, as there weren't many students. That day, she checked the area a dozen times.
She had grown attached to these two students. But Merlin forbid any funny business in her library, and she'd put them in detention until the end of their lives.
Every time she came in, they were reading.
She didn’t miss the matching flush on their cheeks, though.
She narrowed her eyes.
Approaching the end of the year, she felt more and more tension between the two students. They were nervous, tense, closed.
She heard students talk about what had happened in the boys' lavatories. Harry Potter was involved somehow.
Neither Draco nor Hermione came to the library that day. Apparently, he was seriously injured.
For a few weeks, Hermione came on her own. It reminded her of their second year, when it was Draco who sat alone.
One night, she heard someone scream, then a knock on her door.
"Irma, quick. It's Albus," Professor Flitwick told her.
She didn't expect to see him back at Hogwarts the next year. Was he really a Death Eater?
When she saw him, she thought he looked like a ghost. He'd grown lanky, face pale, dark circles under his eyes.
He'd sit at his usual spot for hours, looking straight in front of him.
No books in front of him. No essay to write.
He'd stare out of the window, arms crossed.
"Mr Malfoy, are you well?" she asked one day.
He turned to her, blinking. He looked disoriented.
"Oh, sure. Sorry if I'm being too loud."
"It's quite all right." He hadn't spoken all day.
Sometimes, he'd fall asleep, head lying on the desk.
She knew the Carrows asked Slytherin to Crucio some younger students, not leaving them much choice if they didn't want to be tortured themselves.
If the library could be his refuge, she would allow it.
The Battle of Hogwarts started. She wasn't the best fighter, so she stayed in the Great Hall and helped heal injuries. She lost students she had seen grow up.
The castle was destroyed; it took months to repair it. The school reopened its doors six months later.
Students from the previous seventh year could attend an eighth year to get their NEWTs.
She was pleased to see Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy return to finish their studies. The latter had been freed of charges after the Order had proven that Draco had given them important information from the inside, as he had been attending Death Eater meetings regularly.
When she opened the library the next day, she saw Miss Granger waiting in front of the door.
"Miss Granger, it's quite early."
"I know, but I've missed books too much."
She entered excitedly, asking her if she had gotten new books lately.
With five books in her arms, Hermione sat at her desk, where she'd been sitting for years.
Mr Malfoy entered the library about half an hour later. He was still thin, but no longer looked unwell. He had bright eyes and a smile that seemed to belong there again.
He greeted her, then went straight to his desk.
Sitting down, he said, "Hi, love," grabbed Hermione's hand and kissed her hello, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She watched them talk and smiled while sipping her tea. She got back to her book.
_____
V.
It was raining outside.
Harry watched the rain fall against the leaves.
He sipped his tea.
Even with a warming charm, he could still feel the damp creeping in.
He heard Hermione through the tent. Ever since Ron had left them, the atmosphere had been tense. He could hear her crying at night.
She tried to be quiet, but he still heard her sniffling.
Hermione got out of the tent with a cup of tea. She sat next to him.
"Good morning," she said. She looked tired.
"Morning." he forced a smile.
They drank their tea in silence before starting their research.
With so little food in them, it was hard to concentrate. He looked at Hermione; she could work for hours without stopping. If he didn’t hear her cry every night, he would have thought this situation wasn’t affecting her at all.
But she'd been hurt when Ron left them.
Maybe that's why she'd been crying.
They remained silent for the day, only speaking to comment on their research.
In the evening, Harry took his dinner outside. He enjoyed the silence of the night.
He looked at the sky. "Hermione?" he called.
"Yes?" she peeked through the tent's entrance.
"Look how well you can see the stars tonight." She looked up. They'd been locked up in this tent for days.
He thought she'd stay with him, enjoying the sight, but she quickly turned back inside after looking at the sky.
After he finished eating, he stepped inside and heard her cry again.
He stood there, awkwardly.
When she saw him, she brushed her tears away.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"It's all right," he replied.
She sniffled and cleared her throat, trying to control her breathing.
"Harry?"
"Yes?"
"Do you ever regret breaking up with Ginny before we left?"
He considered her question. "I try not to think about it. I think it would have been more complicated if we had stayed together."
She nodded. "Do you miss her?"
"Of course I do."
And they stayed silent for a while.
"How do you keep yourself from thinking about her all the time? Sometimes I feel like I can't breathe." New tears fell from her eyes.
"Look," he started, "if this is about Ron - "
"It's really not," she said, anger in her voice.
He nodded. Not knowing what to do or say, he ended up asking, "Is it about Ginny then? Do you miss her that much?"
Hermione laughed through her tears. "It's not about Ginny, Harry. I miss her, but - no. It's nothing."
He looked at her. She'd been crying herself to sleep for days.
"You can tell me everything, you know."
She hesitated, then closed her eyes and breathed in. "In Hogwarts, I - uh - started seeing someone."
"Oh."
He looked at her. Why hadn't she said anything? She’d always been the one he turned to when he needed to talk.
"Someone from Gryffindor?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Ravenclaw - "
"Harry, please. It's not someone you like, so it's better if we end this conversation here."
"McLaggen?" She rolled her eyes. No.
"Someone I don't like," he said to himself. "Snape?"
She snapped her head back, frowning.
"Merlin, Harry, what is wrong with you? He's a teacher."
"I'm trying to think of people I don't like."
They stared at each other, then laughed.
It felt good to see her smile.
"As long as it's not Crabbe, Goyle or, God forbid, Malfoy, I'm fine with whoever you're dating," he said lazily.
Her smile vanished.
Harry froze.
No, no, no.
"Oh God, Hermione, tell me it's not Malfoy."
She opened her mouth and said nothing. He buried his face in his hands, trying to steady his breathing.
What was going on?
"It's not what you think it is," she tried.
"Then what is it?” he snapped, “He's a Death Eater."
"He’s not," she argued.
"Oh, believe me, he is. I saw the Dark Mark."
"I know he has the Mark on his forearm, Harry," she told him - and he didn't want to know how she knew. "And I’m telling you that’s not the same thing.”
"You've been completely brainwashed."
“No, Harry - I know him better than you do.”
“He tried to kill Dumbledore.” He argued.
"Professor Dumbledore knew about Draco's mission to kill him. We told him at the beginning of the year."
He froze. "What do you mean 'we told him'? Malfoy and you made secret plans with Dumbledore behind our backs?"
"Harry, we couldn't tell everyone about his Mark - "
He interrupted her. "But you told Dumbledore - how long has this thing been going on?"
"Three years," she said, challenge in her eyes.
"Three - " he stopped, realizing what she had told him. Three years. Right under his nose.
"Merlin, who are you, Hermione?"
"I'm still me, Harry. I haven't told you for this reason. I knew you'd react badly."
"Of course I do, you're dating a bully."
She rolled her eyes. "He's been better for the last few years. And he had to keep it up, otherwise it would have been suspicious," she said, entirely serious, no tears in her eyes anymore.
"I - " he stared at her briefly. "I'm going to go to bed, I need to process this," and he left, Hermione still in the sitting area.
He lied awake for a while, eyes wide open, before he heard her go to bed as well.
He was angry. Yes. At her for lying, but also at himself for not seeing it sooner - for not seeing her.
"Hermione, are you asleep?" he whispered.
"No," she muttered.
"Who else knows?"
"Harry - "
"Please tell me."
She cleared her throat. "Draco told Pansy Parkinson, Theodor Nott and Blaise Zabini pretty early in the relationship. Neville, Fred and George found out by accident. We had to tell Dumbledore, who also told Snape."
Eight people. That was all. He hadn’t been one of them.
Malfoy had told some fellow Slytherins, but Hermione had kept it entirely to herself.
"I know you're mad at me," she continued, "but I swear I did it to protect you - and Draco. Everyone, really," he heard her voice filled with emotion. "I did my best."
He didn't answer, he didn’t sleep.
The next morning, she woke up before him. While eating breakfast, he told her, "I'm sorry you never felt safe enough to tell me before."
She smiled briefly. "It's okay, Harry, it's not your fault."
Still, he was supposed to be her best friend.
"I always thought you had - uh - a thing for Ron."
She looked at him. "I did when I was younger, just a crush."
"But last year you looked so jealous."
"I was jealous of their relationship. They could kiss and sit next to each other while I had to hide in the Restricted Section of the library or in the Room of Requirement to have a minute with my boyfriend," she said. "And your obsession with Draco last year made it very difficult to sneak off, as you kept looking for him on the Marauder’s Map."
He stared at her for a minute, wordless.
"Shall we - uh - go on with research?"
She nodded, they were back on familiar territory.
Harry kept thinking about it though, everything he'd missed, every look he didn't see.
A few days later, he asked her, "What about Katie Bell and the Firewhisky?"
She glanced at him, then closed the book she'd been reading. "Draco wasn't doing much to complete his task, as we had agreed with Dumbledore," she explained. "Narcissa, his mother, was worried and tried to help him from the outside." She grabbed a piece of paper sticking out of the book. "He felt really bad about it," she added.
The words hung between them.
If she was telling the truth, then - everything he thought he knew was wrong.
"I nearly killed him," he whispered. And he had never even questioned it.
At first, she didn't answer, but then she nodded. "You did, yes" she muttered.
He looked at her with wide eyes. He'd reacted by instinct, so sure of his beliefs and not taking into account what Hermione had been telling him for months.
He looked at her in shock. "I'm sorry," he said.
She opened the book in front of her again, then said, without looking up, "I'm not the one you should apologize to."
He had never really thought about Malfoy, blinded by rage. He thought about himself, and the Quidditch training he’d miss.
"Do you think about him a lot?" he asked one day, late in the evening.
Every time he asked her about Malfoy, she'd look at him, as if trying to understand his intentions.
"Yes, I do," she replied.
"What do you miss about him?"
She thought about it for a second, then answered, "I miss talking to him, his laugh, his sarcastic comebacks." She exhaled. "He's very good at calming me down."
She looked outside.
Harry nodded slowly. He missed the same things about Ginny. But he’d never had to hide it.
If he hadn't known about their relationship, he would have wondered why Malfoy pretended not to recognize him when they got captured by Death Eaters - why he hesitated.
Why he had practically shoved the wands into his hands before they left.
And why Narcissa Malfoy kept gripping his arm as if pulling him back.
Hermione had been tortured by Bellatrix, though. That upset him.
"He could have done something," he whispered one night when they were alone.
"What could he do, Harry? Bellatrix would have stopped him and reported to You-Know-Who."
He didn't like seeing his friend hurting.
During the Battle of Hogwarts, he didn't think about Malfoy. There were other things on his mind.
Narcissa Malfoy saved him, though. She probably knew about them too.
After the battle, he walked through the castle. Bricks and stones littered the floor, remnants of the battle. It barely felt like Hogwarts anymore.
He heard hushed whispers coming from a corner - urgent, fragile. He tried to look at the people standing there.
And then he saw them. Covered in dirt from the battle, they were clinging to each other as if their lives depended on it. As if letting go wasn’t an option anymore.
Through their sobs, he heard Malfoy's voice break - "I'm so sorry.”
”It's okay, I missed you," she breathed.
They kissed, gripping each other's clothes like it was the only thing keeping them standing.
"I love you," they whispered, over and over.
Harry stepped back before they could see him.
He made his way back to Ginny.
And he wouldn’t take her for granted.