From Venice with Love

The next morning at breakfast Hermione was sad, but not surprised, to learn that Theodore Nott had “accidentally” fallen down the dungeon stairs the previous night and was in the hospital wing.

“Of course Malfoy did it,” Ron said as he told the story. “Nott must’ve ratted on him.”

“Malfoy’s too cowardly to do it himself,” Harry said. “Probably Crabbe or Goyle.”

“Can we talk about something else?” Hermione cut in. “I’m sick of hearing about Malfoy.”

“You wouldn’t have to hear about him if you hadn’t been his alibi,” Ron muttered.

“Enough, Ron! I’m sick to death of this discussion. Get over it- I don’t want to hear about it again,” Shaking with anger, Hermione got up. Both Ron and Harry stared at her open-mouthed.

“Hermione, sit. I’ll stop Ron from opening his stupid mouth,” Harry said quickly.

Hermione looked around. A lot of students were staring at her including most of Slytherin. Only Draco’s eyes were on his plate. She shook her head. “I’m going to the library-don’t follow me,” she glared at both of them before turning and making her way out of the Great Hall. She went directly to the library and took a table as far away from the entrance as possible. She went and got a book she needed for Charms class and sat down to read.

After an hour or so, her necklace began to heat up. Glancing at it, she read, “Where are you?”

“The library,” she answered.

She was only alone ten minutes more before Draco came in, looking around. When he spotted her, he walked over and sat down across from her. His eyes watched the room for people to walk in, but it was ten on a Sunday- there were not many students. He took out his patrol schedule and put it between them in case anyone did come over.

“What happened at breakfast?” he whispered.

“You did,” she replied. “Ron and I were fighting about you and he does not even know about you. How about that?”

“What about me?” he asked, still not looking directly at her.

“It was more about Theodore Nott. Apparently he had an accident last night.”

“I was still with you when it happened,” Draco said defensively. “I couldn’t have done it.”

“You still knew about, didn’t you?”

“It’d be better if we don’t talk about it,” He said stiffly. Hermione could see him beginning to close up.

“Didn’t you?” she persisted.

“I explained to you about Slytherin,” he said after a moment. “You can’t show weakness. Nott knew better. He almost got me expelled-I couldn’t let that go and not be seen as weak.”

“That’s ridiculous!” she snapped at him.

“It isn’t,” he insisted. “It could’ve been worse, you know. He won’t bother me again, that’s for sure.”

“I don’t understand you at all,” Hermione said.

He looked at her, his grey eyes dark and angry. “You knew what I was like, Hermione. I told you. Did you think I’d just magically change into Potter or something? I can tell you now, that will never happen.” He stood up. “You need to decide whether you can handle that. Let me know when you have.” He stalked off, leaving her there, staring after him.

He ran into Ginny as he left and Ginny made a face. “Excuse you,” He kept walking without turning around and slammed out of the library. “Wow,” Ginny said. “He’s a bigger arse than usual today. What’d you say?”

Hermione shook her head. “I wouldn’t let him change his patrol schedule. He wasn’t happy.”

“I heard he’s dating some girl he met this summer as well- that’s why Pansy’s so upset,” Ginny said, sitting down. “Did you see him much in Venice? Did you see her?”

“We were at some of the same places, but I avoided him,” Hermione answered. “I wouldn’t have noticed a girlfriend.”

“Ron’s sorry.” Ginny said. “He was going to come apologise, but I told him to let you cool off. Why are you here anyway? Did Alessandro leave?”

Hermione nodded. “He had to get back, get ready for class tomorrow.”

“So, how did it go?”

“Great at first. Then we had a fight.” she sighed. “Maybe we’re too different.”

“Opposites are usually better relationships,” Ginny said.

“Durmstrang has a lot of dark wizards,” Hermione said. “I’m just worried.”

“Come on, Hermione. If he was that bad you never would have fallen for him,”

“But some of the things he does-“

“Everyone does stupid things, petty things. Doesn’t mean they’re irredeemable.”

“He told me about something he did and I thought it was wrong. There’s a pecking order at Durmstrang and he has to... fight to keep himself high up. I think it’s wrong.”

“You rather he be at the bottom?” Ginny asked.

“Of course not,” Hermione said.

“Then forget about it. Unless he begins to kill people off-then you have my permission to break it off with him,” Ginny laughed and Hermione had to laugh with her. “Now come on, Harry and Ron are out by the lake. They promise not to mention any Slytherins today. Or Quidditch- and you know how hard that will be for them-we have to take advantage. Afterwards, you can send an owl to poor Alessandro.”

Hermione stood up. “Lead the way,” she smiled.

Hermione felt lighter than she had since term started after spending the day with Harry, Ron and Ginny. She felt like something was missing though and she felt a pang when she saw Draco in the distance, sitting under a tree with Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle. He seemed at ease too, and happy. Hermione wasn’t sure whether their relationship could work-they were so different, but in just a matter of weeks, he’d changed her. She was more tolerant, more open to new things then before. She didn’t know if she’d changed him at all, but she knew she wanted him in her life.

She picked up her necklace. “Come by later?”

She could see him feel at his neck from where she was, but he couldn’t check it at first. After a minute or so, when Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle were all looking towards the castle, she saw him look at his necklace. He looked up and his eyes found hers. For a minute, she thought he’d say no, his eyes were blank, but he nodded quickly at her and turned his attention back to his companions.

Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Ron made their way back a little while later to eat dinner.

“You never told me about your date with Dean,” Hermione said quietly to Ginny as Harry argued about a Quidditch team with Ron and Seamus in the hallway.

“Oh, it was okay,” Ginny said coolly. “We’ll see. He’s a bit too-I don’t know, we’ll see. I don’t think Ron will be too happy,”

“He won’t be happy whoever you date,” Hermione said as they all sat down to eat.

Dinner went quickly and she said goodbye to her friends and went back up to her room. Draco was already there, a solemn expression on his face, sitting in a chair by the table.

“Hello,” she said, slipping her shoes off.

“What did you want?” he said, formally, but not coldly.

She sat down in the chair beside him. “You told me to let you know, what I thought.”

“And?” There was still no expression on his face.

“And, what you do is your business, as long as it doesn’t affect me or my friends. I can’t pretend I like it, but you’re right, I did know what you were like before we started this and it’s not fair of me to just expect you to change.”

“You’re sure about that?” he asked.

“I think so. I can’t promise, Draco, but I’ll try as hard as I can to stay out of it. I won’t let anything bad happen to Ron or Harry though. That’s not negotiable.”

“Define bad,” Draco cocked his head to one side and Hermione knew he was beginning to soften.

“Dangerous,” she said.

“So, a Jelly-Legs Jinx is okay?” He was trying not to smile.

“Draco…” She couldn’t suppress her own smile.

“Because Weasley is just asking for one,” he continued. “What about- I’m not ticklish Hermione, so you can’t- hey!” He jumped up. “Payback,” he smiled.

She squealed and tried to get away but he pinned her to the bed. She lay underneath him, breathing hard, as his smile grew more intimate. “So we’re okay?” she asked.

He nodded, moving her hair away from her face. “So, are you still sore?”