Chapter Three
Hermione and Draco made their way back to their own compartment on the train. They had the first compartment at the start of the train, it was next to the prefects compartment. Hermione had heard that it was better than all the others and that they had their own bathroom in it. She liked the idea of authority and being a Head Girl. She just loved it and she was definitely cut out for it.
Hermione went to her friends cabin first to get her belongings since she would spend her time at the Head’s cabin. She dreaded to think what they would say when she told them she had to share a compartment with Draco. Although she wished she could explain later. She wanted to put off the topic of Draco until she was actually sure about him since he it looked like he had changed a lot but she wasn’t sure if it was a good change or if he would go back to being his usual self.
Hermione walked into the cabin to see Harry and Ron and the others looking at her curiously. She reached for her trunk and bag, trying to ignore them and look busy as she made sure she had missed none of her belongings.
‘Hermione,’ Ron started, frowning at her.
Hermione sighed and turned to him, resting her trunk on the floor and leaning against it. Her eyes passed Ron and looked at all of them in turn before finding Ron’s eyes again. She knew they were curious as to what Draco had or had not said.
‘Listen, McGonagall said that Draco and I have to use the Head’s compartment and sort out some business so I really should be going,’ Hermione said, trying to go to the door but stopped when Ron’s frown deepened.
‘ Can’t you call him Malfoy like we usually do?’ Ron asked, keeping his eyes fixed on her.
As expected, Ron didn't look at all happy about Hermione sharing a compartment with Draco. Harry and Ron had both made it clear to her that if anything happened they would be there for her. But what would happen? Draco wasn’t a death eater anymore and it looked like he had some sense knocked into him after all. Probably because of the war. Ignoring Ron’s words, Hermione let out a groan.
‘I know it’s hard for you to believe but Draco's changed. He didn't call me a mudblood or say anything insulting,’ Hermione tried to tell them, knowing they wouldn't believe her after everything he and his 'kind' had done.
‘Hermione you can't trust him.’ Ron said holding her hands and looking into her eyes, trying to persuade her.
‘Ron, I'll be fine,’ she pecked him on the lips then took her trunk and made her way to the Head's compartment, leaving Ron behind before he could say anything else.
Walking down the narrow hallway, Hermione neared the cabin which had a wooden door and no windows, she assumed it was so the Head's could get some privacy to plan things out for the year ahead. She walked in and was amazed at the sight of it. It was bigger than the other compartments and had two sofas with a oak table between them. They had their own bathroom just as she heard. A delighted squeal left her mouth and she instantly clamped a hand over her mouth when she noticed a figure sitting on the sofa.
‘I didn’t know you were part mouse,’ Draco commented, an amused glint in his eyes.
Draco was sat on one of the sofas already, his bags scattered helter-skelter. Hermione took the other one opposite him, blushing furiously. She decided to ignore him and picked up the folder that was on the table, flicking through it. McGonagall was telling them about their own dormitory in Hogwarts and she said they could use it any time they wanted. They could even sleep in it or just use it for homework or meetings.
‘So what will you use our dormitory for?’ Hermione asked, making conversation, looking up from the folder to meet his eyes.
‘Not sure yet,’ Draco mumbled, his grey eyes flickered to her.
Hermione stared at his eyes, loving that shade of grey. She found herself wondering if anyone could even have a chance of drawing those eyes and capturing that raw beauty. She supposed not; that shade of grey was too rare. Hermione spoke, not wanting to be caught staring at him.
‘Oh. I might just use it for homework.’ Hermione said, waiting for Draco to reply, when he didn't she continued, ‘Right, let's get down to business. We're supposed to tell the prefects to roam the corridors.’
‘I'll do that.’ Draco said and walked out without another word.
Hermione flicked through the daily duties sheet and then sighed, sitting back. She would have to discuss this with Draco when they got back to Hogwarts and assign roles and times. They would have to make a timetable of when the prefects would roam the corridors at night to catch students out of bed.
Hermione let her mind drift off to the various duties that would keep her busy all year. And, of course, those grey eyes that would be her main source of procrastination all year. After a few minutes, a voice spoke, disturbing her.
‘So, what else?’ Draco asked, coming into the cabin and running a hand through his hair.
Hermione jumped at the voice. Subconsciously, she hadn’t expected Draco to come back here since she thought he would just be bored sitting with her. Draco raised an eyebrow at her jump and Hermione scrambled over her words to form a coherent sentence.
‘You scared me!’ Hermione said finally, placing a hand to her chest, trying to control her fast beating heart.
Draco chuckled; a low, deep, throaty chuckle. He shook his head, his eyes twinkling with nothing but amusement. Hermione’s heart beater even faster at the melodious sound, not really grasping the fact that Draco could even produce such a normal, yet so rare, and beautiful laugh.
Hermione's eyes widened. Draco Malfoy laughed! He was actually laughing! Hermione chuckled to herself, still watching him.
‘So what else do we have to do?’ Draco's face once again set to stone as he saw her incredulous face.
‘Nothing else,’ Hermione stated, thinking she might as well start her studying. She fished a book out of her trunk and started reading.
Draco watched her for a second before going to lie down on the sofa. He pushed a pillow behind his head and then let his eyes close, putting his hands behind his head. Hermione couldn't help but stare at him, finding him more interesting than her book for once.
Her eyes grazed over his long and slender legs hanging off the arm of the sofa, and his muscular arms which his shirt emphasised. He had been to change his uniform and wore a school shirt and black trousers. His tie was loose around his neck since he hadn’t bothered to tie it. His neck was long and elegant and his white blond hair was slightly mussed and not slicked back like it's usual self. His long face made him even more handsome. Hermione could picture his stormy grey eyes. When he was laughing his eyes softened considerably but just as quick they turned back to their cold hard side.
‘You can stare at me all you want, Granger,’ Draco opened his eyes suddenly, chuckling that beautiful chuckle again, ‘or, you know, take a picture. I’m not sure people will appreciate your drool.’
‘I wasn't staring!’ Hermione said defensively.
‘No need to deny it,’ Draco winked at her, stretching slightly on the sofa.
‘Where did this sudden burst of confidence come from, Malfoy? I was waiting for you to say something insulting... like mudblood,’ Hermione said, wrinkling her nose a little.
She suddenly felt bad about saying that when Draco’s eyes turned downwards, emphasising his lashes against his cheeks. He let out a shaky sigh and closed his eyes completely, a hint of a frown on his face.
‘Those days are over, Granger. I've decided to change myself,’ Draco said quietly, opening his eyes to look at her, ‘I know what people think of me and that I should be the last person to be considered for the Head Boy position. But I am trying. I’m trying to get rid of my reputation.’
Hermione was quiet for a few minutes, her heart beat increasing. The train tracks could be heard and the wind whirled outside and against the window. She wet her lips, her throat feeling a little closed off, and forced herself to speak.
‘I'm glad you're changing, Draco,’ Hermione offered him a small smile, his name just falling from her lips with ease.
‘Right, Granger, we’re not on first name basis,’ Draco grimaced, putting his feet on the floor and getting up in a lithe motion. He headed for the door and walked out of the compartment, leaving Hermione alone, banging the door shut behind him.
---
Draco thought angrily, as he walked to another compartment. He didn’t want her to feel sorry for him or anything like that. To him. He didn’t need that from her and he definitely didn’t need to get closer to her and be shot down.
Draco loved Hermione, that was very clear to him, but he knew they had no chance together. He knew he should just not talk to her, that he should act like he had in their earlier Hogwarts years. But the fact was that she made him feel so different and he had never felt anything like this before. Not even close to it.
Hermione is not like Pansy in any way, shape, or form. She could make him laugh whereas Pansy... well, Draco and Pansy had a more physical relationship than anything else.
Draco passed many compartments that were all full. Some had couples who sat holding hands or were kissing as though they hadn’t seen their partners for years and years instead of a couple of months, some pupils were talking casually, others were laughing out loud. Like hyenas, Draco thought bitterly.
Draco was making his way towards his friends compartment. The one where he had been before going to get Hermione to meet McGonagall. He wouldn’t necessarily call it his compartment since he didn’t think of those people as his friends. He cant really call them friends since he was sure they wouldn't spit on him if he was on fire. Slytherins only thought of themselves. He remembered how he had been, so selfish and arrogant in the earlier years. No wonder Hermione had punched him in their third year. He was furious at that time but now he thought he deserved it. He was such a prat earlier in Hogwarts. Draco was determined to change.
‘Draco!’ Pansy flung herself into Draco's arms as he opened the door to his 'friends' compartment.
Draco resisted flinching away as best as he could and managed to envelope her in a brief hug. He moved away from her as she neared towards him. She really couldn’t take a hint, could she? Draco didn’t want to look at her face and he wondered why he had left Hermione to be here.
‘Draco, what's wrong?’ Pansy asked as her pug face turned into a smile or something that resembled a smile.
‘Nothing at all, just came to check on all of you. Is everything alright?’ Draco said, thinking quickly, he just wanted to run away and go back to Hermione.
‘Everything's fine, why don't you stay, Draco?’ Pansy asked, stepping forward and touching his arm.
Draco flinched away from her touch and gave her the filthiest look he could muster. He felt a sudden surge of anger and staying there wouldn’t help him at all. He glanced briefly at the other Slytherins who were not his friends but just people he could sit with. Draco turned on his heel and walked out of the compartment, having only been there for two minutes.
He slammed the door in Pansy’s pug face.