Bittersweet

f i v e

Hermione's mind had gone blank.

She couldn't actually process the words McGonagall told her. Her heart was beating fast, and she was sweating like she'd run a marathon. She didn't understand why. She tried to collect her thoughts and regain little or no control over her emotions.

"....What?" she asked, ignoring the growing migraine that was throbbing painfully behind her skull. "Professor, I'm afraid I didn't hear you properly..."

Minerva McGonagall paled and gripped her wand tightly, regretting her words immensely. Maybe this was a bad decision. But once said, she couldn't deny it. Hermione would find out eventually, and it would be better to find out this way.

"Hermione, dear, sit down," Minerva said, her motherly instinct kicking in when she saw Hermione's shocked state. She put a firm yet gentle hand on her shoulders and sat her down into an armchair. Hermione's eyes were glassy and colorless.

"Draco Malfoy isn't safe as of now. There are death eaters still waiting for a chance to kill him. It was a collective decision to keep him at Hogwarts for the time being." 

McGonagall sighed and continued, "The Order saw it fit that you protect him. In the process, also sharing your living quarters with him."

Hermione felt like kicking something.

Draco Malfoy.

Draco bloody Malfoy.

Bloody fantastic that she had to live with that weasel.

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short, i know! but i feel like it works better this way. because they're kinda short, ill update more often. thank you for reading!