Thanks For The Memories: a Dramione/Romione Fan Fic

Chapter 5: The Brightest Witch of her Age

Draco

        The blasted Weasel. He always assumes the worst of me, when he knows half the things I did wasn't even my choice! I just shrugged it off later. I wanted to talk to Granger and apologize. Apologize for everything I've said to her, done to her, but the Weasel...the blasted Weasel. I woke up in my dorm to the thick green velvet curtains surrounding my four-poster bed. I pulled the curtains aside to see a faint light coming from the common room, with the sound of small talk. I could see that Zabini and Goyle have already left their beds, so I was completely alone in the dorm room.
        I slowly swung my legs over the side of the bed and stretched for a moment. Then, I rubbed my eyes and got up very lazily. I opened my trunk that was sitting at the foot of my bed on the floor, and grabbed some fresh robes for the day. As soon as I changed I aimlessly walked into the common room without thought, not thinking through everyone's reactions after what I've done. I walked to greet Goyle and Zabini, but was instead greeted with complete silence. I walked in and everyone was looking at me, silent. It was like they were waiting for me to attack. Even Zabini and Goyle looked nervous. I walked to where they were sitting to greet them, but they merely nodded, and said nothing more.
        I faked being very hungry and left the dungeons. For what seemed like forever I just roamed the hallways of Hogwarts, thinking. Thinking how I could apologize to Granger without the Weasel seeing, or at least convince him to deliver my message to her, if I couldn't get her alone. After thinking, reflecting on all that's happened, I finally decided I was hungry. My stomach started feeling the oddest feeling of hunger, like I could eat a dragon. I started towards the Great Hall at a fast-walk pace. I finally reached the tall, grand, stone doors that I entered through into the hall.   
        I saw her right away.
        Granger was sitting at the Gryffindor table, wedged between the Weasel and Potter. Her face showed she was happy, and glad to be back, but her eyes told a very different story. She was worried, conflicted, and she was battling herself to fight off those feelings, trying to forget them. I tried to brush off my own feelings of worry, but it was harder than I thought. I finally was able to temporarily drown those feelings in scrambled eggs and ham. As usual, the food appeared on the golden plate the instant I sat down in front of it, as did the goblet, filling itself with orange juice. I finished the eggs and ham in a matter of seconds, and drowned the juice in an instant. A few minutes later, there was commotions of at least a thousand owls in the hall. Letters, packages, newspapers and magazines went flying everywhere to everyone. I got my usual subscription to The Daily Prophet and, as usual, most of the news was useless. Just a bunch of advertisements, stupid articles about the littlest things like a little witch team winning the Little League Quidditch championship. Until I saw one article that stood out to me...
It was about Granger. The headline read:

"The Brightest Witch of her Age"

What? I was beyond curious and kept on reading.

"Born from muggles, fellow Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry student, Hermione Jean Granger, has changed the ministry forever. She is known to be as 'The Brightest Witch of her Age' and holds some responsibility for the death of Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort. Being born from a muggle family, she has changed the muggle-born policies in the ministry and the way they control muggle-borns. For this reason, she has been offered the job of 'President of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department' as soon as she has finished her studies at Hogwarts. She has also been offered other roles in the ministry, but our reporters have told us that the minister would rather not mentions these offers."

Merlin's beard what?! I was absolutely stunned at what I had just read, I could barely utter out a word. The Brightest Witch of her Age. No doubt about that. But this was just unbelievable. Without any application to fill out, no nothing. They just offer jobs to her straight from the ministry!
        I looked over at the Gryffindor table to see Granger slightly blushing, and a crowd of people congratulating her. But she soon got up and left for something. The Weasel didn't try to follow her, which I thought was very odd. But right away I took the opportunity. She was alone, which meant I could apologize, and try to start over without the Weasel getting in the way. I got up rather quickly, but was very careful to not let the Weasel see me go after her. I was out of the great hall and saw her just turn a corner as I started towards her. "Granger!" I called. She stopped and looked at me, like I would make a smart remark like I used to. "What do you want, Malfoy? Come to make fun of me for my smarts?" She said. She had a matter of fact tone to her voice when she said that. "No, actually. I came to congratulate you. And talk." She just stared at me like I was crazy. "I beg your pardon?" She replied, very surprised. I walked up to her and stood in front of her, looked her straight in the eye, and said "I'm happy for you. For the positions you've been offered." "Th-Thank you." She replied. I could tell she was surprised to here me not call her 'Mudblood'. We started walking down a corridor together. "I wanted to apologize as well." I finally said after what seemed like ages of wandering. "Apologize for what?" She asked. I simply said "Everything." "Apology accepted Malfoy. Although I still don't understand why you're telling me this face to face, and me in particular." She said. But she was right; why was I wanting to get her alone so badly? She's the first one I've apologized to, when in reality it should've been Potter of all people. I just said the first thing that popped into my head. "Because I feel like I've caused you the most damage." Blush started to creep up her cheeks after I said that, as well as a family of butterflies, flying around in my stomach. I wasn't quite sure how I was feeling, but it felt nice, just her and me.

Hey guys! Sorry the update didn't come as fast as I hoped it would. I've been busy reading What the Room Requires and it's AMAZING! If you haven't read it, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's on alydiarackham 's page, so check it out. Anyways, I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter, and it's my personal favorite so far.
~Carebear 💁🏼