Mixed Blood

Chapter 25

A/N So I'm putting a different spin on Hermione's "lifestyle" for the sole purpose of it helping the storyline. If you're going to complain, do it somewhere else :)
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A few weeks later....

Hermione's POV

I was sitting in the library trying to do my homework after a long day of classes. To be honest, I was still trying to adjust to school. I know, I know, I used to love homework and learning but these past few months have really exhausted me to the point that I didn't even want to get out of bed anymore. Lucky for me, Malfoy always drags me out, mumbling something about needing to get a proper education. Admittedly, I didn't think he cared about school either, but I remember that he always had high marks in classes when we were young, and his education was important to him.

Speaking of Malfoy.....he and I have actually been on good terms lately. Surprisingly, what happened on New Year's didn't seem to affect our friendship. If anything, it soothed the existing tension between us. As for everyone else, they didn't seem to notice me and Malfoy's moment; they were all too busy with their own partner. Of course, all of us (I think) are happy for Seamus and Dean, who came out together. As for Pansy and Blaise, I believe they're still trying to work out their relationship, and Theo and Astoria have happily announced themselves as a couple.

Anyways, I was trying to do my homework, as much as I didn't have the tolerance to. I heard a chair scrape on the floor and Malfoy appeared beside me.

"Hey," he said.

I looked at him with exhaustion and replied, "What brings you here?"

Malfoy shrugged. "I figured you could do with someone to help motivate you...." I looked at him pointedly. ".....and everyone else was busy," he admitted.

"Well thanks," I said, turning back to my DADA book. "You'd think they'd have nothing left to teach us, but professors always find a way, I suppose." I saw Malfoy shrug out of the corner of my eye.

Suddenly, McGonagall's voice boomed throughout the library. "All seventh year students report to your class on the seventh floor." The message replayed two more times then it went silent again.

I began to collect my things into my bag. We only had one class on the seventh floor. Parenting. Perhaps I should fill you in. After the incident with our kids, more and more students began to lose track of their children. Finally, Professor Merriton called off the entire class and we hadn't met in a long time. So Merlin knows what she has in store for us now.

I accidentally dropped my Potions book and huffed over dramatically as I bent to pick it up, but Malfoy beat me to it.

He handed it to me and I thanked him. I put the textbook in my bag and we began to walk up to the seventh floor.

Draco's POV

There was an eerie silence between me and Granger as we were walking to class. I felt there were some unresolved issues in both our minds, but I couldn't quite comprehend it.

"Malfoy, you do understand that I can't just forget about what happened a few weeks ago, right?" Granger said halfway up the fourth floor.

I sighed. "Yes yes I know. But you have to realize that it's not a topic of conversation one particularly enjoys."

"Can you promise me that we'll talk about it eventually?" she asked.

"No."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, Granger. No promises. I love that you care, but I can't make you any promises," I replied flatly.

She seemed taken aback, but quickly tried to cover up her expression. "Alright, that's fair," she said calmly. I'm glad we could have a rational conversation without it turning into an argument again.

Eventually, we reached the classroom and stepped inside. Many other seventh years like ourselves sat nervously, awaiting Professor Merriton's arrival, just like the first time we were here.

Granger and I sat beside our friends just as Merriton strode in dramatically, much like how Snape did in our first year.

"Attention students. You will do well to listen to the following words. Most of you have failed this class so far, and you know who you are. If you care enough to achieve high marks, you must attend weekly lessons with the gamekeeper taking care of infant magical creatures. However, to be frank, this class does not count towards your N.E.W.T requirements, so feel free to waste the rest of your teen years on useless shenanigans. You are dismissed." Damn, she was straightforward.

Well I already knew that I wouldn't bother with taking that class. I mean, if it doesn't count towards anything, then what's the point.

I turned to the group. "Are you guys going to do it?"

Theo, Blaise, Pansy, and Astoria laughed, clearly amused by the fact that I would actually ask them such a foolish question. Granger, on the other hand, silently shook her head. I should've known-she's been pretty out of it lately. Who was I to think she would actually take an extra class on top of everything?

All of a sudden, I had a good idea that would cheer us all up, however by the looks of it, my other friends were cheery enough as it was. "It's still snowing outside. Let's go," I said, getting up and dragging everyone behind me.

Astoria, Theo, Blaise, and Pansy chatted bubbly all the way down the halls and outside. I noticed Granger trudging along behind us and gently grabbed her arm and linked it with mine.

"So tell me girl, what's the gossip?" I said with a high pitched voice, trying to imitate some of the girls I'd seen around Hogwarts.

"There's no gossip. Only what you won't tell me about what you do to yourself," she replied flatly once again.

I sighed with exasperation. "Alright, I promise there'll be a time for that. But right now I brought you outside to show you a fun time. Just enjoy it, please?"

She nodded and walked along. Once we got out into the snow, a snowball hit my chest, coming from Blaise's direction. I bent down and formed a snowball to throw back when more snow crashed into my shoulder. I stood up straight and saw Granger grinning madly at her success.

I laughed and threw my snowball at her as she covered her face. She jumped on my back and smashed a snowball into my hair. I began to run around and she giggled, clinging on for dear life. As I ran, Astoria, Blaise, Pansy, and Theo started to pelt us with snowballs to the point that I tripped and fell on my stomach into the plush snow. We all laughed hysterically as Granger laid on my back, making more snowballs to throw.

Call me crazy, but I think she looked beautiful with the snow in her hair and a smile on her face. I started to roll over on to my back, causing Granger to tip over and fall on the snow she had just formed perfectly. We both laughed and sat up straight, taking handfuls of snow and throwing it like children. She filled both her hands with snow and shoved it in my face. As I began to wipe it off, her face came close to my own and before I knew it, we were laughing between kisses, unaware of the expressions on our friends' faces.

I suppose you could say that, right then, sitting and laughing in the snow with this girl I fancied, you could say that this was happiness.

A/N Hello!!! Snow chapter in honor of my return from Big Bear. I hope you all enjoyed this cute chapter filled (hopefully) with little Dramione moments you can't miss.