The Right Choice

Chapter Six

Draco couldn't seem to get Hermione out of his mind. He laid in bed all night after they parted ways on the staircase, unable to sleep. She wouldn't let him. It frustrated him to no end. All he could think of was how he seemed to be angry with Weasel for disregarding her affections, and as a result upsetting her. Hermione was smart, kind, a very powerful witch. Her hair had lost its bushiness and had become a head of soft brown curls somewhere between third and fifth year. Draco had finally gotten a close look at her eyes last night, they were a nice brown, and her lips looked quite soft. He wondered what they felt like...

And that was where he stopped himself. He sat up and decided to go for a walk. He slipped on his shoes and set about in no particular direction, determined to get her out of his head.

However, everywhere he walked he would just think of her. The statue where he made her teeth grow, the place where he had called her a mudblood after the Heir of Slytherin's message had appeared on the wall, the place he had almost wiped her memory.

He realized he didn't have many pleasant memories, he found himself ashamed to have called her mudblood. Since he had gotten to know her, he realized that nothing about her was lower than him. She was an exemplary witch, and powerful too. She had taken his remarks in stride all these years, and bested him a few times. He could still distinctly remember the pain her fist had caused when she punched him in third year.

And now that he was older, Draco realized how much of a git he had been. There was no use in teasing Hermione, or anyone else for that matter. He supposed he was only doing what he was taught by his father. He didn't have the best example for one. Lucius Malfoy would often put his own son down when he saw fit.

Draco made a decision to be a friend and a schoolwork partner to Hermione. After all, she was someone he could actually have an intelligent conversation with. His usual crowd wasn't the brightest. Besides, he could surely use a friend at the moment, particularly a friend like Hermione.

He headed back to his bed, careful not to be caught by Filch or Mrs. Norris. With his new resolve, he seemed to be able to finally go to sleep, even if it was already three in the morning.

The next day in Arithmancy, Draco tested the waters of his new resolve.

"Erm, how are you?" he asked awkwardly.

She glanced up at him, considering his question. "Fine, thank you. And yourself?"

Draco seemed less embarrassed about his blunt question now. "Ready to be done with this work already."

She smiled to herself. "We've only just started, but if we hurry we can be done before the class period ends."

That sounded rather nice to Draco so he set to work. They set a personal record by finishing halfway through class, earning a look of astonishment from the professor.

They returned to their seats and Draco began an idle chat.

"Are you sticking to your resolve that you discussed with me last night?" he asked. He was quite curious to see if she really had given up on Weasel. Somehow, the idea that she had pleased him.

"Yes, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how unhappy I was with my situation. I don't need a distraction of that nature right now. NEWTS are next year. I talked to Ronald and we worked it out." She informed him.

Draco rolled his eyes, only she would be so concerned about those damned exams already.

"You two spend so much time together, it astonished even me that he could be so thick. And that's saying something."

"Draco, don't be mean about it. It's better for me that he acts that way. A relationship is the last distraction I need at the moment."

Why did that upset him just a little? He shrugged it off. But before he could stop himself, something he would never say to Hermione slipped out.

"They can be fun, if you have the right person."

He prayed she didn't take it as him hinting at the two of them together. But, the idea didn't seem as foolish now. Draco mentally slapped himself for what felt like the thousandth time lately.

Hermione didn't seem to take it that way, she simply smiled. They chatted for the remainder of class that day, about anything really. Professors, books, even the Triwizard Tournament came up.
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Hermione spent dinner going over Draco's remark in her head. She wondered what he meant by "having the right person." Did he mean himself? Or was he just referring to his previous experience with Pansy. She found that she didn't mind the idea of him thinking about her in that way.

"Hermione!" Harry nearly shouted.

Hermione came out of her reverie. "Yes, Harry?"

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine, just distracted. Worried about NEWTs" she lied.

"Hermione, those aren't for a year. You've got to stop worrying about that, there are much more important things at the moment." Harry exclaimed.

"You know me." she said, eager for the subject to change. She wasn't a very good liar.

Harry didn't seem to notice, he had other things on his mind.

"I know you and Ron had a fight, but he told me he saw you and Malfoy together last night."

Hermione was a bit angry at this. Ron had no business saying that, so what if Draco had finally become friendly to one of them?

"Did he now?" She asked suspiciously.

"Yes, Hermione you shouldn't get involved with him. I seriously think he's-"

"A Death Eater? Honestly Harry, he's only sixteen. Voldemort wouldn't want someone so young and foolish within his ranks. He had a question about an essay for Ancient Runes, that's all. We've been partnered up lately so we've actually been civil with each other. Unless you would rather he taunts me?" She raised her eyebrows.

"No, I'm just concerned. He's been acting suspicious."

"Besides, Ronald and I have moved past our differences."

Harry was quiet then, and Hermione knew he would relay every bit of that to Ron. She could care less at the moment.