Chapter 16: Hogsmeade Weekend (Hermione)
Dear Silverhawk,
I've been thinking about this. A lot actually. I know things didn't really work out last time, but I really think we should meet. Let me know what you think.
Always,
Vinewood
Hermione stood in the owlery. The cool early spring wing blowing against her face . She tied the letter to one of the school's owls and it flew out the window, flapping its white feathery wings over the rolling Hogwarts grounds that were just beginning their yearly rebirth. The air smelled sweetly of the fragrance of blossoms as she headed to the library to study. There wasn't much else to do with Umbridge running the school like she was some sort of militant dictator.
At least she hadn't cancelled Hogsmeade weekend. Luckily, Umbridge wouldn't even be there. Hermione had overheard Blaise saying to Pansy that Umbridge had a meeting with the Minister so she would be gone all weekend. Pretty much the entire school was celebrating.
Hermoine spent the rest of the day studying, hanging out with Harry and Ron (a pastime she missed), thinking of Silverhawk and, occasionally and regretfully, Draco Malfoy. His blonde hair. Those grey eyes. His smile. His laugh.
That evening Hermione received an owl from Silverhawk. Her heart beat rapidly as she opened. What would he say?
She tore open the paper and read the words.
Dear Vinewood,
I'd love to meet but I'm still in the middle of that project. I promise when the time is right, we will meet. There is nothing more I want do than meet you. You are sweet and clever and funny. I think about you all the time. The truth is, even through our little owl conversations, you still manage to make me a better person. I owe you so much.
Yours always,
Silverhawk
Hermione went to sleep with Silverhawk's words on her mind. In her dreams.
The next morning she got ready for Hogsmeade just to find out that while she was reading in the common room last night, Harry, Ron and Ginny got in trouble for fighting with Crabbe and Goyle and were banned from going to Hogsmeade. Hermione almost didn't go but she had some stuff she wanted to get from Honeyduke's and Ron and Harry both had things they wanted her to bring back for them.
The Three Broomsticks was bustling with patrons, as always. People piled around the tables drinking and eating and laughing. It was welcome sight compared to the dreary world of Hogwarts under Professor Umbridge.
“One butterbeer,” Hermione ordered. The thin man poured her drink. She paid the man and went sat down in a small vacant table by the window.
It really was nice to be away from Hogwarts. She never thought she'd say that but with things had gotten really intense. It was like here she could breathe again, even in the musty atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks.
“I've been thinking,” a cool voice said. Hermione looked up from her drink. Draco Malfoy.
“Sounds like a new experience for you,” she blurted. Draco didn't react other than to raise just one of his eyebrows. “Sorry,” she muttered. “What have you been thinking about?” Being pleasant to Draco Malfoy was still not an easy thing to do.
“Your owl post guy.”
Hermione sighed. She should just get up and walk away but she couldn't bring herself to do it. “Silverhawk.”
“Sounds kind of pretentious to me.”
“You don't know him.”
“But Silverhawk.” He laid his chin on his hand and leaned forward, his shimmery eyes focused on Hermione. Her hands started to shake. “I mean come on. Who does this guy think he is?”
“I kind of like it,” said Hermione, staring back at Draco finding but finding it increasingly difficult to look at him directly.
“You finished?” There was just a little foam left at the bottom of Hermione's mug. Draco drank what was left of it. “Good. I need some stuff from Honeyduke's.” He grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her to her feet.
Why she went with him she didn't know.
Honeyduke's was as usual packed with people. That was a good thing. It was too chaotic to notice that Draco and Hermione were actually kind of together there, speaking and being civil and all that.
“Do you like these?” he asked grabbing a handful of any-flavor beans.
“It's kind of hard to like or dislike them.”
Draco shrugged and dropped the beans into his mouth.
“You have to pay for those.”
“I will,” he said with his mouth full. Draco chewed, his face going from a glistening white to pea green in a matter of second. “Oh. Uck.” He squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed then pounded the display case with his fist.
“You okay?”
“That was pepper... and ear wax... and I think banana. Peppery earwax banana. Not a flavor I'd recommend.” Draco's face slowly returned to its typical pale shade. Hermione was trying not to laugh.
“Gross,” she said.
“I need something to get that flavor out of my mouth.” Draco grabbed three giant red and orange swirled lollipops.
“Those are bigger than your head,” said Hermione.
“That's why I like them.”
“I just realized you have a really small head.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don't know.”
“Well your precious Silverhawk probably has a big head. A giant one maybe. Swollen to the size of two watermelons from thousands of bee stings.”
Hermione took one of Draco's lollipops. “I wouldn't care.”
“It's nice to know what turns you on. Giant bee sting heads.”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “It's unlikely he has a giant bee sting head.” She picked up a few of the things Ron asked her for and then box of chocolate frogs for herself. They'd always been her favorite.
“So why haven't you met this guy yet?”
Hermione groaned. “I don't know. It's kind of driving me crazy really. He says he's working on a project.”
“A project? What does that mean? Oh I know. He's trying to get the bee sting swelling to go down – or maybe your love is forbidden. Like oh, I know who he is.” Draco covered his mouth with one of his lollipops in faux surprise. “It's Professor Snape.”
Hermione laughed. “I doubt that – although Ginny did think Silverhawk was You-Know-Who.”
“I do?”
That's a really confusing name. “No. I mean Lord Voldemort,” she whispered his name. Hermione had gotten used to saying Voldemort over the past year but it felt different saying it to Draco whose father was a known Death Eater. “Which is completely ridiculous.”
“Completely,” he grinned.
“The only thing I care about when it comes to Silverhhawk is, besides the Voldemort thing, the house elf thing. I could never be with someone who has a house elf.”
Draco frowned. “I have a house elf. Guess that seals it. We'll never be together.”
Hermione let out a small laugh. “I think that fate was already sealed, Draco.” Hermione placed what she wanted to buy onto the counter and paid for it. Draco followed her (with a little extra for the handful of any-flavor beans).
“It's was... nice running into you like this,” smiled Draco. “Maybe we could do it again sometime. Next Saturday. Around noon.”
Hermione paused. Was he asking her out? Was she about to say... “Sure.” Yep. She said it.
