poison ✞ dramione

part thirty nine

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hermione was alone when bill approached her, a kind smile on his scarred face.

"hello hermione," he said nicely, taking a seat opposite her.

"hey bill," she replied, shooting him a quick smile before returning to her book. "anything wrong?"

"no, no," he assured her quickly although hermione wasn't convinced. "it's just... you do know why i'm at hogwarts, right?"

"to watch over draco," hermione said calmly, flicking the page of her book. she has come to believe that draco didn't need to be watched over—he's not a fucking baby—but, then again, it's probably bias fuelling that thought.

"yes, that," he cleared his throat. "i just—you're close to him?"

hermione suddenly thought of the many different routes this conversation can go down. he's going to scold her, most likely.

"yes," she simply replied. "problem?"

maybe hermione was being a little too defensive for no reason, but she knew that although ginny was accepting it's not likely the other weasleys would be. even though draco never did go out of his way to do anything—he only ever said shit whenever someone else started on him—but he was a malfoy and he had the dark mark burned into his forearm.

"slightly," bill admitted. "he's dangerous—"

"i've talked to him," hermione quickly said, closing the book carefully. "and i consider him a friend. a good friend. and you know me, bill. i wouldn't say that unless i meant it."

"that doesn't change what he's done—"

"and what, pray tell, has he done?" hermione asked, trying her best to adopt the cool façade draco was so good at portraying. it didn't work.

"want me to read out the list? i have it memorised," bill muttered harshly. "i'm here to watch over him and i know he's a shifty guy. he could be using you to get out of a bad sentence!"

"ginny likes him," hermione stated simply. "harry does too. seamus is bitter. luna and neville don't care. he's not a bad guy, bill. he's just..."

"he's what?"

hermione shrugged. "a good person who has, unfortunately, faced terrible things in his life. you don't know what he's been through, bill. you can't judge him. now that's prejudice."

"there were rumours floating around during the war," bill started. "apparently draco was to be voldemorts heir."

hermione bit her lip. she didn't know that. she doesn't know how deep draco's position in the death eaters ran. she's not sure if she asked.

"rumours," hermione repeated. her throat clogged up a little bit—just a little—but thankfully bill didn't seem to notice. "that's all it was."

bill seemed to finally realise she wouldn't budge. he sighed heavily, rubbed his temples before pushing the chair back. "how was your assignment? in that new class?"

hermione smiled, thinking about the scrapbook. "we passed with flying colours. harry moved out of the dorms and back into gryffindor tower with ginny so it's just me and draco now."

"you're allowed to stay?"

hermione nodded, reopening her book. "yes. i like the privacy of the dorms."

"what's malfoy's excuse?"

hermione shrugged. she actually didn't know why draco didn't move out but it probably had something to do with privacy too—not to mention the piano, or the tv (something he has taken quite a liking too) or even the kitchen.

"he's staying, so that's all that matters," she said.

bill nodded. "sorry for interrupting your reading," he told her before leaving without a backwards glance.

hermione sighed heavily and closed her book once again. she didn't feel like reading so, instead, she packed up her stuff and proceeded back to her dorm.

draco was already back. he sat at the piano, playing a piece that sounded a little too depressing. she knew he had just gotten back from kingsley, so did the minister decide draco's fate already?

"what's wrong?" she asked draco, sliding onto the bench next to him. he shuffled over to give her more space to which she smiled gratefully at.

draco shrugged. "i don't know."

hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "what's that supposed to mean?"

"it means i don't know," draco repeated, pressing a key that obviously wasn't part of the piece. he swore lightly and pulled the lid down, resting his elbows upon it. "i don't fucking know."

hermione bit her lip. "what did kingsley say?"

draco shrugged. "he wants me to give him a reason to not have me locked away."

"then why won't you give him one?"

draco sighed heavily, rubbing his bleary eyes. "because i can't."

"you can, you just don't want to," hermione said a little too harshly. "you're too busy hiding your secrets that you'd give up your freedom for them! you can't let your actions haunt you forever!"

"fuck off granger!" he snarled, pushing himself off the bench. "you don't know shit."

"what don't i know?"

draco breathed in and out heavily, glaring at her. he ran a hand through his bright hair and sighed. "i can't tell you everything."

hermione stood up too. she closed in on him and—almost hesitatingly—hugged him tightly. he didn't respond, of course, but it didn't matter. he wasn't pushing her away.

"you can," she whispered into his chest. god, he's so tall.

"some other time," he replied, pulling away from the hug. "lets just—let's just watch some films, okay? and no 'therapeutic talks'. we just sit and watch the tv."

hermione chuckled, nodding. "okay, what's to watch? i'm feeling disney today."

draco shrugged once again. it was starting to bother hermione but she didn't show it. "sure."

they even skipped dinner (which isn't good, hermione knew, but the atmosphere was so calm she couldn't bring herself to disrupt it) while watching disney all sorts. draco was quiet throughout the whole thing which didn't worry hermione like it probably should have—he has a lot to think about.

at around ten, hermione was starting to doze off. she blamed anything that she asked from then on on the drowsiness that overtook her.

"draco?" she called tiredly. "can i ask you something?"

"okay," he replied, not sounding tired at all.

"why'd you stay?" she asked, a little insecure. his opinion mattered, damnit.

"why'd you?"

hermione chuckled, nodding slightly. "privacy, i guess. plus you're not so bad to hang around with."

"oh really? i'm flattered."

hermion nudged him with her elbow, leaning over to rest her tired head on his shoulder. "yes, really."

she fell asleep before she could hear his reply.

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i'm not satisfied with this chapter but hey character development is a thing and it's important lmao so.

anywaaaaay, i watched moonlight yesterday and let me tell you it was the best thing ever. highkey my new favourite film. i want mORe. you should totally watch it. okay now.

hope you enjoyed this shitty chapter lol

-bee.