Beginning at the End ⏃ Dramione

Chapter 12: Discovery

Hermione looked closer at Draco's notes in his journal were he had recorded dates of when the Amortentia potion was tested, ranging back from first year, up until only a few months ago, with the same results.

Those are clearly his initials... Hermione's mind started reeling. Those items-I love old parchment, and my shampoo... Is Draco attracted to ME? I mean, he admitted to wanting to know me in that letter after first year... but I didn't assume- She flipped to the next page, inspecting it as if to find more detail. Disappointed to find nothing more, she flipped it back. I mean I've always used that shampoo, but actually, I honestly can't recall when I started... She flipped to the next page again. Maybe this isn't about me. Get over yourself, Hermione...

Though she could feel the heat in her face, she dared to glance up at Draco.

Draco was deep in thought from the song he had just heard. He felt as if the lyrics were referring to him directly. He found that the underlying emotion and style of the song connected to him in such a way that it nearly disturbed him. He chided himself, It was just a song, a lot of songs express deep emotions. But this one had felt like it was about them, at least from his perspective. She just likes this artist, who knows if she even likes this particular song.

Sensing that he was being watched, he glanced up to find that Hermione was bright red and staring at him.

He pulled off the headphones, "Did you say something?"

Stalling for a moment, Hermione thought quickly, "Oh, um, why do you have samples of my hair, and others in your case?"

Draco remembered, "Oh, think I'd use it for polyjuice potion, huh? Nah, it was for testing potion potency on different hair types... male versus female, and so on..."

She tilted her head suspiciously, mainly to keep up the pretense that this was why she had been staring at him, "Creep."

Grinning at her, he shrugged, "I can get rid of them if you want." As he began to put the headphones back on.

She smiled, "Who am I to stop science? ...Like any songs?"

Draco glanced up and paused slightly. Deciding not to be specific, he only nodded.

Hermione smiled. She somehow enjoyed that Draco Malfoy approved of her musical choices. Then she looked over to the little stove, and then continued back to read his journals, until she was distracted by the familiar tingling sensation in her legs. Sighing, she pulled one of the vials from her purse, noting that it was a blue tint meant to relax her but really caused her to become very sleepy.

Watching her open the vial and sip it down, Draco picked up his medallion to send her a message.

After the last drop from the vial, Hermione noticed her medallion alert and she lifted it to read; 'sorry-back-to-day-zero.'

She looked up at Draco with a half-smile and shrugged. Neither seemed bothered by the delay.

As Hermione continued flipping through the journals, she wondered if Draco remembered that he had made those notes about the Amortentia. Does he want me to find out? Would he care? Should I bring it up? ...no. Is it possible that we both... like each other? That would mean he has liked me for a long time, and basically still does! Is that why he saved me?

If her conclusions were correct, all the pieces of the puzzle would finally fit into place. Her stomach fluttered and she felt a warm sensation at the thought. After all, he had done so much for her recently, and she decided that if she were someone on the outside looking in at their recent interactions, she would think it obvious.