poison ✞ dramione

part thirty eight

_
"potters turning back today. finally."

hermione rolled her eyes. "you secretly tolerate him, don't lie."

draco snorted, flicking the page of his book harshly. he seemed to be having a off day. "he's six. it's not like i can punch him in the face."

"does that mean you have morals? i'm shocked," hermione gasped jokingly, darting her eyes around their secluded area of the library. she caught a few people staring at them but hermione didn't care—it was still quite an odd sight. ex-death eater and one third of the ever-so brave golden trio.

draco scoffed, slamming the book shut. his leg bounced madly and his hands shook slightly, as if he was nervous. "morals my arse."

hermione frowned. she gently closed her book and pulled her chair forward, reaching across the table separating them to clutch his shaking hands. "what's wrong, draco?"

draco pulled his hands out of her grasp. "nothing's worng. i'm fine. why'd you ask?"

"famous phrases said by people who want to talk about their problems," hermione muttered, pulling her hands back and folding her arms atop of the table. "talk to me."

draco glared at her. "i'm always fucking talking to you. it's all you want me to do. talk about my fucking problems. well, guess what, granger. fuck you."

hermione didn't even flinch. maybe it should have bothered her but she knew him well enough to know that he didn't mean that and he'd make up for it later, maybe with some homemade food and films.

"talk to me," she repeated.

draco bit his lip. "adrian died today last year," he said bluntly, staring her dead in the eyes.

hermione gulped, leaning back in her chair. "oh."

"yeah, oh."

"sorry," hermione murmured, not sure what else to say. "we can... we can go back to the dorms. lie down a bit. unless... would you like to visit him?"

draco shook his head rapidly. "his parents won't want to see me. they know that it was me."

"his parents?"

"christian and roselyn pucey," draco said, leaning back against the chair. hermione could feel his legs brush up against hers. "they treated me like a son, up until last year. haven't spoken to them since."

"i'm sorry."

"don't be. you didn't do anything," he told her calmly, pulling out his pack of cigarettes. he was careful not to smoke in front of her but hermione knew this day must be pretty shitty for him so she didn't stop him, she just put up a spell to block out the smoke.

hermione was tempted to say something along the lines of maybe i should have but it wasn't worth it. she can't change the past—well, technically, she could with the time-turner, but that could drastically change the future. it's never worth it.

hermione packed her stuff up and stood up. "come on, let's go to the dorms. you can teach me how to play the piano."

"you want to learn?" draco asked, packing his stuff away while the cigarette was poised between his lips. "why?"

hermione shrugged. "maybe i'm just jealous you can do something i can't," she joked harmlessly, lightly punching draco's arm when he stood up. he raised an eyebrow at her. she sighed. "my mum could play. sort of. ish."

draco rolled his eyes. "okay then."

their short journey back to the dorms wasn't all that eventful—all that happened was hermione, who had tried on multiple occasions to trip draco up by hooking her foot around draco's leg but he must have some sixth sense as he always stepped away before she could, a small smirk lighting up his previously gloomy face.