Then & Now

Chapter 7

Draco POV

The instant Granger had thrown herself into him, he felt his entire world shift. All of his anger had dissipated. He felt an overwhelming sense of calm wash over him. He felt lighter, as if all his concerns about his parents, about obtaining the required grades, about becoming a model citizen were gone. The only thing he was aware of was the witch pressed against him and the fact that he never wanted her to be anywhere else. When he had wrapped his arms around her small frame, he felt how perfectly they fit together - two halves of a whole.

He wasn't sure how long they had stood there like that. It could have been minutes. It could have been hours. Eventually her weeping had turned into a soft whimper until she was as silent as him. Then, ever so steadily, she picked her face off of his shoulder, staring up at him. The second their eyes locked together he felt his heart skip. Even after crying, she was gorgeous. Her face was red and puffy, eyes rimmed with the remnants of shed tears, but none of that could hide her beauty.

Watching her look up at him, no walls, no barriers between them, made him hope. He wished desperately she could see in him something worthy, something to keep her standing there in his arms. She had been the only person to accept him as he was. As terrible as he had been in the past to her, despite all of his ill-fated decisions, against everyone else most likely telling her what a worthless specimen he was, she was here. With him. She didn't look afraid. She didn't even appear to look sad anymore. Her expression mirrored his own. It was as if they were seeing each other, truly seeing each other, for the first time.

A rapping at the portrait startled them both.

Instinctively, Draco dropped his arms and took a step back. He saw Granger flinch slightly, before recovering and taking her wand out. She waved it before her, clearing up her face immediately and removing all tear stains from her garments. Then, pausing for a split second, she did the same to his robes. All signs of her disappeared from his clothing.

"Hermione?" a voice called through the door, before the rapping started up again.

"Coming Gin."

Granger stepped out of their Common Room to meet with her friend, leaving him staring at the spot that had just been damp with her tears. Draco took it as his cue to get ready for the feast, retreating to his bedroom.

He had dozens of dress robes for all sorts of occasions. Halloween was a critical holiday in the Wizarding World, especially to Pureblood families. He had made sure to back a special set of black robes for the feast. As he removed them from his wardrobe, he hesitated. As Head Boy, it was expected of him to be at the feast. However, after the events of the afternoon, he had no interest in going. Potter and Weasel were not his favorite people. He was less inclined to be sociable to them after seeing the state Granger was in. His anger from earlier crept back. Noticing how his hands were tensing, he returned his robes and closed his wardrobe. He would not be going to the feast.

Draco decided to go for a walk. The day had brought about a vast mixture of emotions. He was unsettled and, as such, was in no mood for a celebration. Instead, he needed to get some air and put some distance between himself and the witch who had him perturbed. He waited by his bedroom door until he he heard her come back. Once she was in her own chamber, he exited.

He didn't have a plan on where to go. Students passed him by without a second glance. The hallways were bustling with traffic headed towards the Great Hall. Draco turned to head outside onto the grounds. He walked out toward the Whomping Willow, passing the Greenhouses on his way. He didn't focus on any particular thing. He allowed his mind to wander as he ventured further and further out.