Stay By My Side ✅ (Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy)

Speculations And A Truce

Hermione POV

It took me a solid ten minutes to drag my body out of bed. I could really do with an extra hour of rest but breakfast was going to start in ten minutes. I was dressed in less than five, fixing my hair included. I grabbed some books and my wand before I left. I noticed that there was no evidence of Malfoy being in the common room. ‘Maybe he’s still in bed’ I thought to myself. Reluctantly I knock loudly on his bedroom door.

“Draco? Sorry to be a burden but Breakfast is almost starting. Are you awake?” I call. I knock and call his name again when there was no reply. My knocks became more urgent. “Draco if you don’t answer me I’m coming in… alright here I come.”

I quickly pushed the door open and gasped. He was sprawled out across the bed with his blankets wrapped around his legs. His lips had a loss of colour and were slightly parted and he looked a lot paler than usual. I approached him and shook him by the shoulders desperately. “Draco can you hear me? Draco!” He didn’t budge and I struggled to find a pulse. Panic took over as I continue to violently shake him hoping for a response.

My panic disappeared when a light groan escaped his lips, his eyes still firmly shut. I breathed a loud sigh of relief.

“W-what is going on?” he fluttered his eyes open and looked up at me confused. “Granger?” Back on second name basis I see.

“You prat! I thought you were dead of alcohol poisoning or something.”

He deeply laughed. “Relax. I’m a deep sleeper, that’s all….and where the hell are my clothes?” I was unable to hide my smile as he looked down onto his body. He quickly covered himself with sheets and gave me a questioning look.

“Don’t you remember anything from last night?” I ask.

He nodded. “Yeah… but I don’t remember stripping off. You seemed to enjoy looking at me anyways so I guess I shouldn’t worry.” He winked and I looked away.

“Well now that I know you’re alive and well, I should get going to the Great Hall.” I tell him with a small smile. “And you should probably put some clothes on.”

He smirked. “Whatever. Enjoy your day.”

“You too.” I was about to walk out until something came to mind and I stop. “Draco?”

“Yeah?”

“Are we… uh never mind.”

“Are we what?” he says flatly. “Tell me.”

“Well I’m just wondering… seeming as we’ve been rather civil with one another lately… are we okay with one another? Like can we leave the past behind us and move on?” My words came out slowly. I never expected that I would ever try calling a truce with the boy who tormented and bullied me and my friends for years. But that was in the past now. Things changed, people have changed. And I’ve definitely seen a change in Draco lately. I waited eagerly for a response from Draco but he remained silent.

“I’ll take that as a no then.” I whisper sadly.

“Yes…I mean NO. Shit.” His response amused me. I raised my eyebrows in question and he sighed. “I don’t want to fight with you anymore. I’m willing to call a truce but it would be difficult. It wouldn’t receive a good reception from our peers and other houses. It would probably result in you getting harmed…again.” He said the last part with caution. I knew what he was referring to. The memory of what Crabbe and Goyle done to me a few weeks back made me feel sick.

“I’m on the same page as you. I no longer want to fight with you or anyone else for that matter. I said to myself before coming back here that I wanted a stress free year… I haven’t exactly avoided being stressed yet but I still intend on sticking to that promise I made myself. And yes I am aware that a truce between us would be frowned upon but nobody has to know about it. It’s nobody else’s business really. And I would much rather that nobody like Pansy, Goyle, Crabbe and Blaise found out to be honest. I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time and-“