Only Ones Who Know

Flying Lessons

Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table for breakfast Monday morning. She buttered her bagel as if it were a ritual. She spread the soft butter across her crisp bagel as if she was being tested on her buttering abilities. She was very thorough with her work. The perfect ratio of bread and butter. She had almost got it just right until Ron dropped beside her on the bench making her drop her knife on her lap. She glared at him as she discarded the now ruined bagel and started on a new one.

"It's just a bagel, Mione." Ron said, rolling his eyes. Hermione noticed that his bruising had gone down tremendously but his nose was at an awkward angle. She might fix it for him later if he stops being such a tosser.

"Shouldn't you be flying laps?" Hermione said hastily, still upset about the stunt he pulled.

"Can't until Malfoy's finished for the day. He gets mornings, I get nights. Were not allowed at the same time." Ron's plate was overflowing with food and he dug in. Hermione averted her eyes. She never liked watching him eat. "Don't you have a test to study for?"

Ron reminded her of the O.W.Ls. They would be taking place in less than four months from now. She hadn't studied for them since New Years when Draco...

Draco.

Hermione hadn't seen him since before the Quidditch match on Saturday. At least she knew where he was. Flying around the pitch until it was time for class. Hermione thought she better go see him and find out why exactly he pushed the fight in the first place. Hermione stood up from the table without saying another word, taking her prize-winning bagel with her.

"I'll take that as a yes." Ron said under his breath.

Hermione started for the Quidditch pitch, eating her breakfast along the way. From a distance, she could make out a figure making circles in the air. He was incredibly fast. She watched him from the hill, practicing what she was going to say to him when she got down there.

It was a chilly morning and her robes were blowing in the wind. She stood at the entrance with her arms crossed and looked up at Draco slicing through the breeze. He was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt which Hermione had never seen him in before. He looked odd flying a broom in street clothes.

As soon as he saw her, he came to a sudden stop and turned towards the gate. His hair was windblown and his cheeks windburned. He floated down softly but didn't come to the ground. He just hovered over her, making him fifteen feet tall. She had to stretch up her neck to make eye contact, shielding her eyes from the sun. The longer she focused on him, she noticed a faint bruise around his neck from where Ron had choked him. She felt more sympathy for him than she felt for Ron.

"I have to say, I'm fairly disappointed in you." She started. "The little stunt you pulled." She had to shout so he could hear her all the way up there. He smiled and brought his broom down a few feet so he could be at a closer level with her. His feet were still not touching the ground.

"I had a rough match. So what? Besides, I think it's fair to say he had it coming." Draco said coolly.

"Oh yeah?" Hermione said. "And why's that?"

"You shoulda heard the rubbish he was talking before the game. You can't say shit like that and expect to get away with it."

"You get away with it all the time!" Hermione rolled her eyes.

Draco just laughed and started to fly circles around her. Making them both dizzy. He did a few tricks to show off. He looped upside down then shot himself towards the sky and then came back down in a matter of seconds. He finally planted his feet.

"Aren't you supposed to be doing laps?" Hermione said, trying to hide the fact that she was slightly impressed.

"As long as I'm here on time, I can do whatever I want." Draco dismounted his broom and rested his chin on the end of the handle. "Have you ever flown?" Hermione thought that was a ridiculous question.