Venom and Velvet

Ghosts

Chapter 25: Ghosts

a/n: why yes i am returning to this fic years later because i just logged into wattpad for the first time since 2020 and am feeling nostalgic, thanks for asking!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She really needed to lay off the shots.

Hermione's head was pounding as a violent assault of sunlight burned her retinas. A grumpy wave of her hand drew the curtains of her four-poster tightly closed, eliminating the rays of fire.

Coaxing her eyes back open, she glanced at her watch. She wouldn't be late to class if she hurried. Of course, because she was in a rush, her hairbrush got tangled in her curls, her left shoe was nowhere to be found, and the nausea from her hangover was threatening to bend her over the loo.

It was ten past nine when she finally clambered out of the portrait hole, cursing under her breath.

"Well if it isn't the golden girl herself! I was just coming to see if you were planning to join the land of the living this morning."

Hermione glared daggers at him. "You're way too entertained by my suffering, Malfoy."

Draco's face cracked into a grin. "Oh, you brilliant witch, you. You'll remember that you like me as soon as you toss back this beauty." He held out a familiar blue potion. Clearly, he had already had his dose or he wouldn't dare be talking so loudly.

Eyes still narrowed, Hermione took the bottle and downed its contents. "You know, I've been wanting to see what you look like as a ferret again ever since fourth year."

Draco's eyes widened and he threw up his hands in surrender. "Alright, I'm sorry! We do have to go before we're late to potions, though. I believe I'm earning another tally mark today and I've been putting lots of thought into what favor I'm going to ask do you when I win."

Hermione rolled her eyes, the brew beginning to take effect. Normally she'd whip a clever comment back at him, but her brain had yet to fully return to normal function. "In your dreams, Malfoy."

Draco slid his hand into hers and began walking them through the corridor and down the moving staircases. "Back on last name terms again, are we, Granger?"

"You're about to be on pushed-down-the-stairs terms if you don't stop being smart with me," she replied arching her eyebrow.

"Yeah, yeah. Idle threats."

Professor Slughorn shot a disapproving look at the couple upon their late entrance to the dungeon classroom. Hermione felt her face flush with embarrassment as she realized that, not only was she entering class late with her boyfriend, but she looked incredibly disheveled and the bastard was positively beaming. Judging by the whispers of her classmates, it would only be a matter of time before they were talk of the school.

"As I was sharing with the rest of the class, today we will begin discussing your upcoming end-of-term exams." Slughorn launched into a speech about how the fall term had flown by and he was delighted to see his students doing so well in his class.

Certainly the year was going by at a record pace. Apparently, when your best friend's life isn't constantly in imminent danger, things get a bit less eventful. With no major traumas unfolding, the simpleness had made time fly. It was a strange kind of peace, one Hermione hadn't really experienced since before learning she was a witch and meeting Harry. Bizarre as it was, it seemed that being with Draco settled things down.

"Hermione, did you catch that last bit?"

"Hm?" Hermione realized she hadn't been paying attention to the professor. Her notes listed nothing but the date, November 8th. Upon seeing this, Draco's eyebrows knit. It wasn't like Hermione to space out during class.