poison ✞ dramione

part fourteen

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draco acted as if last night didn't happen. at lunch he silently took the painless potion hermione offered him and rolling around two hours before dinner he was playing his piano like nothing happened.

hermione still needed to talk to professor ellis. she needed some confirmation about the potion.

"i'll ask her," harry offered while they both continued on with the scrapbook. they had two more pictures to place inside. it was starting too look good but it wasn't very aesthetically pleasing. some doodles here and there would help but hermione and harry couldn't draw to save a life.

"harry, you'll be too obvious," hermione deadpanned as she duplicates the second picture. it was of herself and draco in class as he had to attend with them but he mostly just read throughout the hours. "we can't have anyone knowing about draco's childhood. not even the teachers."

harry nodded. "i know that—it's just—i can say he has a scrape on his knee, you know? but we didn't do anything because it just appeared and he says it hurts and that he knows it was because he fell over but he didn't. some bull crap like that, you know?"

hermione thought it over. although harry may be a shit liar she wasn't any better but draco was, admittedly, much more comfortable in her company. "alright, you go. but i swear to merlin harry if you fuck this up—"

"i won't," harry assured her, standing up. "i'll be super stealthy. and a sweet talker. kinda like older draco."

hermione scoffed. "you'll never be as smooth as that, harry."

harry seemed to deflate a little but he nodded anyway. "yeah, that's true. a truth i'd rather not be real but i can't change it," he said, walking towards the door. "bye draco!"

"bye," draco replied over the sound of the piano. he had somehow found a music sheet in his room and was currently practising from it. he'd start and play up until he made a mistake, go over the correct note then restart again. someone only with great patience could do that and hermione was surprised draco malfoy was one of them.

she abandoned the scrapbook and moved over to draco. if he noticed her standing next to him he didn't show it. "when did you start learning?"

draco shrugged. "before my mother died. she wanted me to know how to play so they paid for lessons at the manor."

"is there anything else you secretly know how to do?" hermione joked, sliding onto the bench next to draco when he shuffled over.

"i'm learning to dance too," draco added, accidentally hitting the wrong note. he frowned then went over the sheet again before starting from the beginning. it was a beautiful composition, simple but affective. "but i prefer the piano."

hermione smiled at that. did draco malfoy really know how to dance? wow, he's been hiding a creative personality behind his stoic composure? she mentioned it. "you seem like a creative person—the dancing and the piano. can you anything else to?"

draco shrugged. "i like to draw."

hermione's eyes lit up. she knew the sketch book she found in his room meant something but she didn't want to snoop through without his permission. draco wasn't an overly trusting person as everyone knew and she didn't want to taint the steadily building one between them. hopefully it'll stay when he's older, which'll be just over a week away.

"think you could show me some?" she asked shyly, hoping he won't shut down on her. "i've been particularly good at drawing, myself, although i always did want to know as my dad was somewhat good at it."

draco paused his piano playing and turned to her. "you want to see my drawings?" he asked, clearly shocked.

hermione frowned. wasn't there anyone who wanted to see his drawings? has there ever been someone who wanted to see his drawings?

she nodded. "of course! don't you show anyone them?"

draco stood up, stroking crookshanks. "not really—no one asks. i show hyperion but he's to young to understand. i show dobby but he always says the same thing. my father thinks drawing is a waste of time and effort—last time i showed him something i drew he threw it into the fire."

hermione gasped. that's harsh! now she wanted to see them more than ever. "i'm sure they'll be brilliant. i'll wait for you here."

draco disappeared and hermione pressed random keys on the piano. she tried to read the music sheet but she didn't know what each note stood for so she came up with her own tune. it wasn't good—far from it but she was proud of herself.

draco reappeared besides her and he sat down on the bench. his large, black, hardcover sketchbook sat on his lap.

"they're not good," he almost whispered. "but i showed them toy grandfathers portrait and he said that they were very good for someone my age. i'm proud of them," he said a bit louder, "but i hope to become even better at it when i'm older."

he then handed her the book. hermione held it between her hands, shot draco a quick smile before opening it. inside were pretty drawings of simple things—a little scenery, a extensively decorated vase holding daisies and even a snake. they weren't the best but they were definitely very good for a six year old.

"they're brilliant, draco," she praised, flicking through the pages. there weren't many so when she finally took a good look at the last one—a very simple fruit bowl but it was still good—she closed the book then handed it back to him. "better than what i can do, for sure."

draco smiled at that. he quickly disappeared back to his room to put his book away and while he was gone harry tumbled back in. "so, i talked to her," he said.

hermione's eyes widened as she rushed over to him. "what did professor ellis say?"

"basically that it shouldn't be a problem," harry stated. "he'll remember him 'falling over' in the back of his mind and the pain is only in his head. distract him enough and he'll completely forget about it."

hermione bit her lip. "so, basically, the pain potion is fruitless?"

harry nodded with a grimace. "yeah. he's probably only taking them to make you feel better, hermione."

"so all we have to do is distract him from the pain?" hermione clarified, thinking it over in her head. harry nodded. "i think we should pay ginny a visit."

harry frowned. "not that i'm totally opposed to visiting my girlfriend, but why?"

hermione watched as draco sat at his piano once more and began playing the composition all over again. "draco and theo seemed to hit it off. and it's always loud when those two are together. that's a good distraction."

harry nodded. "that's true. want to go now? i'm sure she wouldn't mind."

hermione nodded and shot harry a smile. "let me just pack up."

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abrupt ending but i didn't really want it to drag on lmao so hey guys what's up.

hope you guys had a great christmas. i would have posted yesterday but it turns out that for a family who doesn't even celebrate it we are still hectic and shit. idek man but like who cares.

next part will be up soon hopefully!

-bee.