Pity The Living (Dramione)

First Year: Flashback #5

December 1991, Detention: Forbidden Forest

The atmosphere in the Gryffindor common room was heavy with disappointment, and Hermione Granger felt every bit of it. The loss of 150 points was a weight she carried alone, despite Harry and Neville sharing the blame. As much as she tried to blend into the background, whispers and sidelong glances from her fellow Gryffindors made it impossible to forget.

She kept her head down in class, her hand no longer shooting up with the usual eagerness. Even Professor McGonagall's encouraging smiles couldn't lift her spirits. Hermione felt a distinct shift, not just from her housemates, but from herself—she had always prided herself on being the best, on doing the right thing. But now, that certainty was clouded by guilt.

In Potions, the tension was even worse. Sitting next to Harry, she focused intently on chopping her ingredients, deliberately avoiding the gaze of the Slytherins. But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Draco Malfoy's eyes flicker toward her, lingering longer than necessary. She pretended not to notice but her heart skipped a beat. Was he smirking at her misfortune, or was there something else behind that look?

The day dragged on, and before she knew it, the time for detention had arrived. She met Harry, Neville, and—unfortunately—Draco at the entrance hall, greeted by Filch. The caretaker's malicious grin did nothing to ease her anxiety. When Hagrid appeared, she felt a flicker of relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by the realization of where they were going.

"The Forbidden Forest," Filch announced, almost gleefully.

As they trudged into the forest, the darkness seemed to swallow them whole. Hermione's heart raced with each snap of a twig, each rustle of the leaves. Hagrid's booming voice provided some comfort, but the deeper they went, the more her nerves frayed.

When the group split up, Hermione paired with Hagrid, but her thoughts weren't entirely focused on the task at hand. Her mind kept drifting to Draco. The idea of him alone in the forest with only Neville for company filled her with unease. She didn't trust him, not really, but there was something about the way he had looked at her in Potions—something that made her worry.

The silence of the forest was suddenly broken by a flash of red sparks shooting into the sky. Hermione's heart leapt into her throat.

"That's Neville's signal!" Hagrid said, turning to her. "Stay here, Hermione."

"Hagrid, no—" But before she could protest further, Hagrid had disappeared into the trees, leaving her alone.

Hermione's thoughts raced. She couldn't just stand there. What if something had happened to Neville—or Draco? The idea that Draco might be in danger gnawed at her insides. Against her better judgment, she took a hesitant step in the direction Hagrid had gone, and then another.

She didn't have to go far. Within moments, she heard voices—raised, panicked. She ducked behind a tree, peering around it cautiously.

Draco and Neville were standing in a small clearing, both of them pale as ghosts. Neville looked terrified, clutching his wand with shaking hands. Draco, however, was different. He was pale, yes, but his expression was one Hermione hadn't seen before. He looked...vulnerable.

"Malfoy, we have to wait for Hagrid," Neville said his voice trembling.

Draco sneered, but it lacked its usual bite. "What, and just stand here waiting for something to eat us?"

Before Neville could respond, Hermione stepped into the clearing. "What happened?"

Both boys jumped at her sudden appearance. Neville sighed in relief, but Draco's eyes narrowed, though not with the usual hostility.

"Granger, what are you doing here?" His voice was low, almost a whisper.

"I—I was worried," Hermione admitted, her voice quieter than intended. "When I saw the sparks—"

"Thought you'd come to save us, did you?" Draco's sneer was back, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Are you both alright?" Hermione asked, ignoring his tone.

"We're fine," Draco snapped, but his gaze softened slightly. "It was just...a shadow. We got spooked."

Hermione took a step closer, her eyes searching his. She had seen Draco in so many different lights—arrogant, cruel, smug—but this was different. He looked almost...human. For a moment, she thought she saw something in his eyes, something she couldn't quite place. It wasn't the malice she was used to; it was more like uncertainty, fear even.

Before she could say anything more, Hagrid burst through the trees, looking relieved. "Thank Merlin! Thought summat 'ad happened."

"We're fine," Draco said quickly, regaining some of his usual bravado.

But as they made their way back to the edge of the forest, Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them. She caught Draco glancing at her once or twice, his expression unreadable. When they finally emerged from the forest, he quickly retreated to the safety of the Slytherins, his mask of indifference firmly back in place.

Hermione watched him go, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind. She didn't understand what was happening, but couldn't deny that something was.

As she headed back to Gryffindor Tower, her thoughts drifted back to Draco, he had looked at her in the forest. Perhaps, she thought, there was more to Draco Malfoy than met the eye. But whatever it was, it was buried deep—hidden behind layers of arrogance and disdain. And for reasons she couldn't quite explain, she found herself wanting to dig deeper, to uncover the truth beneath the surface.