poison ✞ dramione

part nine

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on their way to the hall, draco trailed behind them far enough so that they couldn't touch him—even if they turned around while he wasn't paying attention. hermione noticed that even at six years old he was a careful boy so she guessed that he was born with it.

"i'm finding it hard to believe that kid is malfoy," harry whispered to her as he ran a hand through his dark hair. he shot a quick glance over his shoulder. "hardly talks, doesn't like people touching him, no emotionless mask. damn, it's like he's a completely different person."

hermione rolled her eyes. "he's the same malfoy just less closed off, harry." she paused. "actually, we have no right to think like this about him. we never did know him. we don't know him."

"and what makes you say that?" harry asked.

hermione bit his lip. "i saw him helping out a first year earlier today. she was a mess because her twin brother wouldn't talk to her and he calmed her down and even offered to help her! that's not the malfoy we have implanted in our heads, harry. we have no right to judge him."

harry sighed heavily. "i guess we gotta be kind to him now."

before hermione could say anything, harry had spun around and crouched so he was around draco's height. draco stopped just short of harry before taking a careful step back.

harry smiled weakly at draco. "hi. so, we didn't get off on a great start, right? let's start over again."

draco seemed really uncomfortable. "i just want to go to bed."

"well, you can only go to bed after you've eaten," hermione said kindly. "we're only looked out for you, draco."

"why?" draco asked quickly. "why d'you care?"

hermione paled and pursed her lips tightly. "what's it like for you back at home, draco? how does your father treat you?"

draco acted like he didn't hear her. "you know what? i am hungry. let's go to the hall."

"draco—" harry started.

"you said you wanted to go to the hall and now i'm agreeing with you—what's the big deal? what do you bloody want from me?" draco snapped. hermione sighed; for a six year old he has quite th vocabulary and still a pretty cynical look on life. maybe he was born like that?

harry turned to hermione then back at draco. "okay they, let's go to the hall."

soon enough they were back on track to the great hall. draco was walking in between the two but he still wouldn't let either of them touch him. when they reached the hall boisterous noises could be heard even though the large sores were closed. draco stared at them in wonder. "we're really in hogwarts."

hermione smiled. "you're now just realising that?"

draco didn't reply but he followed the two in. "gryffindor," harry said, pointing at the long table. "i'm sure slytherin can survive without his presence."

"i want to go to slytherin," draco insisted. "my whole family was in that house!"

hermione licked her lips. "you can go to any house you want, draco. it doesn't have to be slytherin."

"i want to be a slytherin," draco repeated, his eyebrows furrowing. "slytherins are ambitious, cunning and resourceful. that's who i am."

harry shrugged. "we're sitting at gryffindor because that's mine and hermione's house. no where else."

draco seemed crestfallen but he nodded anyway. he followed the two to gryffindor table and sat between them although he made it quite clear he didn't like how bunched up they were.

"hey," harry said, gaining hermione's attention. "it's ginny!"

hermione looked up and over at the slytherin table. ginny sat with her head held high next to a miniature version of theo nott. daphne was busy instructing theo about something. ginny noticed them looked then waved wildly, giving them the thumbs up motion to show that she was okay. then her eyes landed on the six year old malfoy and she gasped—well, hermione assumed she gasped.

ginny was then poking daphne. the blonde girl did her best to ignore ginny but it became too much so daphne snapped. ginny muttered something to her then pointed in their direction. daphne looked over with her eyes narrowed but she zeroed in on the young malfoy. her eyes softened and soon enough she was smiling just a little bit too. then daphne ducked her head and carried on with eating her food.

"do you think daphne has anything for...?" harry asked quietly.

hermione shrugged. "i think it's more platonic than anything but who are we to know?"

hermione looked around. she saw a little seamus, a little pansy and a few other younger kids and that made her smile. they were all joking around, laughing and whatnot but draco—poor, little draco seemed to be the only one who couldn't stand being here. so, the second they finished their food hermione suggested they leave.

draco was content with the idea and jumped up faster than either of them. he waited for harry and hermione to lead the way.

when they were inside their dorms, draco turned to them. "am i still allowed to go to my piano lessons?"

hermione halted in her steps. "piano lessons?"

draco nodded. "in the manor. a tutor comes by every other day to teach me. will they come here too?"

hermione looked at harry for help. he shrugged. "well, your lessons are on hold while you're staying with us. but i'm sure we can get a piano for you to practise on anyway..."

draco nodded understandingly. "okay... goodnight, i guess."

hermione stopped him. "you have to have a bath!"

draco froze for a second before starting up to his room again, but much faster this time. "i'll have one in the morning."

"we have classes—" hermione started but she was ignored as draco climbed the stairs faster than she thought a six year old could. she sighed heavily then turned to harry. "i'm not sure if he'll be the easiest or the hardest one to deal with."

"why?" harry asked.

"there's so much shit about him we don't know," hermione said. "and, although he's much of a recluse, he's not used to affection. it's glaringly obvious and when confronted with it he doesn't know what the fuck to do."

harry groaned. "and we're stuck with him for two weeks. who knew he'd be as much work?"

hermione chuckled. "six weeks, actually. although it'll only seem like four for when we are children too."

they were both quiet for a little while before harry struck up another conversation. "what you said... about malfoy not being used to affection—how'd you figure that out?"

hermione shrugged. "it's just the way he was acting, you know? it's a theory anyway. i hope, for the first time, that i'm wrong."

and she did. she really hoped that draco malfoy didn't have to go through the shit she has running through her head because she may not like him but no one deserved to be at the receiving end of that. no one.

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hello! it's me. and i'm ill lmao.

so this is a pretty shit part imo but i'm ill and i feel like shit but what gives two fucks? not meee.

anyway, it may not seem like it, but daphne and draco are not romantically involved. they've never been. physically probably but like that shit don't matter with the slytherins. they're just friends—well, used to be friends.

-bee