Beginning at the End ⏃ Dramione

Chapter 7: Truth

Grabbing the serum, Draco looked back at Hermione, "I can only assume this is actually veritaserum and not something else?"

Hermione considered this. "Oh I see, I'm the one not to trust right? Malfoy, I don't have any other motives but to hear the truth and I wouldn't waste time like that. We have a war to fight..."

Draco rolled his eyes, but saw that she was watching him closely. Holding her gaze, he sipped the potion. He had anticipated the serum to be tasteless, but instead, he tasted something he had never added to his vial before: a hint of spearmint.

She added flavor? Wow, I'm impressed. Did she notice my toothpaste flavor? Did she just decide to do something nice for me? A moment later, he was struck with another thought, Or maybe she can prove I drank it if my breath smells like-Wait, maybe she thinks I have bad breath. Crap. He glanced up to notice her watching him. Okay, I need to focus and try not ramble. Setting the emptied vial on the table in front of him, Draco made himself comfortable and awaited her questions.

Hermione glanced at the vial to confirm he drank it, then back to study him. She almost expected him to act differently now that he had taken it, though he appeared only slightly fidgety. He rubbed the pad of his finger over the bed of his nails as she had seen him do before. She could not decide if it indicated his nervousness, or his concentration. Remembering she only had an hour to ask him all her questions, she began, "Ready? Let's get started. Question 1: What is your name?"

"Draco Lucius Malfoy."

"What school did you attend last?"

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Who are your parents?"

"Narcissa Black Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy."

"What is your favorite color?"

"Green, but not just Slytherin green, a lot of different shades of green..."

Draco could feel himself saying too much, Ugh, she doesn't care about your shades of green, keep it together!

Hermione raised her eyebrows at the detailed answer, which seemed slightly out of character for him.

"What is your favorite food?"

"There are a lot of things I like, but when I'm hungry, my go-to is an apple."

Hermione paused at this mention of one of the three smells from her Amortentia scent. She stored the fact away in her memory, resolving to think on it later. For now, she knew she needed to continue with her questions.

Draco noticed her pause, which he thought strange, considering his answer. Why is that so strange? I like apples... is that weird to her?

"Your favorite potion?"

"Felix Felicis: the ingredients are hard to come by, not to mention I could use some luck these days..."

Is there no controlling myself? Keep it together, man...

Hermione grinned, he was visibly uncomfortable. His serum must be top-quality to make him open up like that. She wished he would just say what was on his mind more often, as maybe they would not bicker so much.

"Have you ever cheated on an exam?"

"No."

Hermione raised her eyebrows at his answer, not because she thought he would have needed to cheat, but because school rumors had implied that he and his Slytherin buddies had stolen homework from other students. His answer made her feel a bit ashamed to have believed rumors, especially since she and Harry had been the subject of so many before.